Last month, I became the community director for the St. Juan Diego Knights of Columbus Council #15729 and spoke at this month’s meeting on the topic of community.
The Love of Christ Impels Us:
For the love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died. He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 2 Corinthians 5: 14 -15
A few weeks ago, we had a fellow parishioner Paula who needed help moving into her new home. She had to put in 500 hours of sweat equity to qualify for this Habitat for Humanity home. Gary, Walter, and Larry came through she was able to complete moving in by Friday morning on January 29th. Ron, Bruce, David and Roger, and I were waiting in the wings and I know supporting the effort with prayer.
On Saturday, I attended the district officers meeting. We had the biggest turnouts of all with Roger, Gary and David attending. Part of the meeting dealt with the various programs. After hearing about awards, points and forms; I turned to Bruce and said, “Is this why we do acts of charity? I hope not.” Bruce replied, “No that is not why he volunteers and that is not why we volunteer.” Yes, it is the love of Christ that impels us.
Justice is who are as Catholics:
Catholic social teaching is a central and essential element of our faith. Its roots are in the Hebrew prophets who announced God’s special love for the poor and called God’s people to a covenant of love and justice.
Community is our faith community, our neighborhood, city, state, nation and the whole world. We all have a part in carrying out that covenant of love and justice. Our faith is calling us out as Catholics and Knights into the wider world.
Muslim Educational Trust (c) John M. Kingery All Rights Reserved
In December, I attend the opening of Muslim Educational Trust’s grand opening in Tigard. They have waited 20 years to move into their building; we waited 8 years. We are concerned with adding meeting areas; they are concerned with getting donations for bars and bullet proof glass for their classrooms. The Washington County Argus had a story about the Crescent Islamic Montessori School with a signing announcing they were enrolling students. They took it down on December 2nd; they feared a backlash from that event. The school has 32 students from ages 3 to 12.
Our community is vast and we are called to protect all who are vulnerable and be in solidarity with them.
The Assisi Pledge had its 14th anniversary in January 24. The pledge was the result of over 200 leaders from the Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Islamic and other traditions answering the call of St. John Paul II. The outcome was a pledge to work for peace.
Article 2: We commit ourselves to educating people to mutual respect and esteem, in order to help bring about a peaceful and fraternal coexistence between people of different ethnic groups, cultures and religions.
The complete pledge can be found at http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/letters/2002/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_20020304_capi-stato.html.
On the January 27th of this year, Muslim leaders from 120 countries around the world gathered in Marrakesh, Morocco. There were Chaldean Catholics from Iraq, government officials along with the religious leaders attending. The outcome was the Marrakesh Declaration defending the rights of religious minorities in predominantly Muslim countries. Education is mentioned the declaration.
Urge Muslim educational institutions and authorities to conduct a courageous review of educational curricula that addresses honestly and effectively any material that instigates aggression and extremism, leads to war and chaos, and results in the destruction of our shared societies.
The text can be found at http://www.marrakeshdeclaration.org/marrakesh-declaration.html.
These are mere words on paper if we do not live them out. Let’s help put that into practice. Ann and I will be going to a potluck this Saturday from 5:00 pm to 7:30 at the MET – 10330 SW Scholls Ferry Road, Tigard, OR 97223
Called to Serve:
As Catholics and Knights we are called to be servants as Christ was.
“For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
There are many opportunities to serve the community through the Knights, individually and other groups.
Head Bowed Down (c) John M. Kingery All Rights Reserved
I work downtown for Outside In and take the MAX downtown every day. This morning as I walked to work, I saw a number of homeless. They were bent over, looking at the ground and shuffling along their way. I tried to look into their eyes; they kept their heads bowed down. Christ’s head is bowed down on the crucifix. These homeless and all in need are part of our community. We are called to serve them with charity and justice service impelled by the Love of Christ.
Did you know Pope Francis has called for “24 Hours for the Lord” from the evening of Friday March 4 to the evening of March 5? He is calling us to a time of prayer, reconciliation, works of
Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica
(c) John M. Kingery – All Rights Reserved
mercy and service.
Pray and let Christ’s Love impel you! Be changed and build our community at St. Juan Diego and beyond.
In Christ and Peace,
John