Every three years the members of my Congregation who live and work in the U.S. meet for a few days. This year the sessions were held along the Chicago River at Gordon Tech High School.
At these chapter, most of the time is usually spent in reviewing financial reports and carping about ministerial snafus (Yes, I know what the acronym signifies. I think it’s a kind way to remember past errors and hurts.)
This time we listened to one another in a new way. We read reports but not of financial stuff or statistics re funerals, weddings and baptisms. Instead, we read of issues of the heart. In individual reports, our members told how much living and working in the Congregation has meant and continues to mean for them. In this age of secularity, they believe that Our Lord is with them in their personal lives and in their ministries
Though we are older, we seem to be getting better at sharing with one another. With less members we continue to serve the needs of the Church in more parishes and ministries than ever. During the past six years we’ve taken on two parishes in the Rockford diocese and four parishes in the Joliet diocese.
The Holy Spirit has re-energized our men and it could not have come at a better moment in the life of our province.