October 2, 2009
Parish celebration not for the building, but for Christ at center
Reflection By ZOE CANNON | Vincennes
I love these facts . . . the history of the Catholic Church started with Jesus Christ, and the teaching on the Eucharist being truly the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ goes straight back to the Last Supper. The words “The Catholic Church” which mean universal church are found for the first time in the letter of St. Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, written about the year 110. It read: “Wheresoever the bishop shall appear, there let the people be, even as where Jesus may be, there is the universal Catholic Church.” To be a member of something so grand is empowering and a gift I am honored to share.
On Sunday, September 27, 2009, we remembered the 100th Anniversary of my Catholic Church, Sacred Heart, in Vincennes, Indiana. Mass was celebrated at 2 o’clock in the afternoon with Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger, Father Jason Gries, Pastor of Sacred Heart, and several former pastors, directors of religious education, music ministers, secretaries and sisters, who served at Sacred Heart. Three deacons were present and Father Adolph Egloff was recognized as one of the oldest members of Sacred Heart and applauded for his 69 years as a Catholic Priest.
I enjoyed being one of the 360 people in attendance to celebrate the beautiful traditions of our church. There was plenty of incense, music and baptismal water for a blessing. In the year 51, St. Paul wrote to the Corin-thians. “I commend you be-cause you have remembered me in everything and maintained the traditions as I have delivered them to you.” It must be pleasing to Jesus that we continue today, His teachings of so long ago.
There is a photo of the “Founding Fathers” of Sacred Heart dressed in their coats and ties. I don’t imagine they knew the picture being taken would later be laser copied and sent to others by computer. The word digitized was not even in their vocabulary. They would have laughed at the idea of something called a memory stick with gigabytes. Would Bishop Silas Cha-tard and Father John Becher enjoyed having a Blackberry phone with voicemail and internet access, with information about everything from Scripture readings to weather information at their finger tips? I wonder if they would have imagined people wearing jeans and shorts to celebrate the Eucharist. We’ve come a long way . . . maybe?
In spite of, or in conjunction with all these changes and lasting traditions, we are still provided with the greatest gift, the means to honor and serve our Lord. Sacred Heart has truly been blessed with a history of wonderful people, those called to serve as the religious of our parish, to educate our children and minister the sacraments to our families, and those willing to share their time, talent and treasure with one another. There is power in the sharing of this fellowship drawn together for love of God.
In his homily, Father Jason told us about his time spent in Mexico as a newly ordained priest. The priest he stayed with ministered to 60 or 70 parishes by himself. He remarked that this experience makes his ministry to the families of his two parishes in our diocese, St. Philip Neri in Bicknell, as well as Sacred Heart, seem a little less challenging. The priest in Mexico could only celebrate the sacraments with these faithful Catholics once or twice a year. Father Jason celebrated 17 masses that week, and he reminisced about the joy the people ex-pressed at the opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist. Festivals were planned much like we honored for our anniversary. Having a priest available may sometimes be taken for granted, because we can enjoy the sacraments nearly every day if we choose. For the faithful in their dirt floored church of Mexico, it was as welcomed as a 100 Year Celebration. In closing, he en-couraged us not to celebrate the building, but who we welcome each time we enter . . . Jesus Christ. Celebrating each day as the Anniversary of our Baptism where as temples of God the Spirit resides within us.
The reception that followed at Green Activities Center on the campus of Vincennes Univer-sity was much like our church, beautifully decorated and celebrated with music from our church choir. A wooden facade replica of our church and a miniature iced graham cracker replica were displayed, as well as a beautifully restored and treasured paten and chalice belonging to our first Pastor Mon-signor John Becher. A “Brief History Book of Sacred Heart“ was available with pewter ornaments and Sacred Heart anniversary t-shirts.
Guests enjoyed a “Proclamation” read by Mayor Alan Baldwin, and a brief congratulation from State Representative Kreg Battles; a letter was also read from Senator Richard Lugar. A power-point presentation was viewed during the meal with pictures, past and present. Remarks were made and memories shared from former pastors. It was commented that regardless of whether we have a pastor and an associate pastor, like the old days, one priest or half a priest, like the present days, the church is only as strong as the faith of the people who worship there. We received a blessing from Bishop Gettelfinger, which would have pleased St. Ignatius. The day marked the end of a year-long calendar of events planned to honor Sacred Heart, the people, the pastor, Father Jason and not just the building where we share with the faith community, but the presence of Christ which dwells through us in our universal church. God bless those 100 years from now, who will be reproducing images from our gigabytes and CD’s.
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