This weekend we hear from the prophet Jeremiah and his prayer to the Lord that he duped him into doing his work and now he cannot help himself but speak in the Lord’s name – even if it brings him much more grief, “I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.”
These words are so powerful when we hear the “call to action” from God himself. If we bring that “call to action” to prayer and get it validated in prayer, then we need to act and act swiftly because it is like a fire burning in our hearts. Pope Francis felt that fire burning within him in 2015 about the need for desperate and swift action with regard to caring for our common home, our earth, as he wrote early in an encyclical called Laudato Si. He has been a champion for Climate Change action across the globe and consistently raises the point of the impact it has on the poorest of nations and communities. They really are the ones to feel the impact first and deeply. For us it is not so easy to see because we are often not close to those in need or rarely visit the poorest countries when we travel.
Last week, I spoke about the different biases that we have inherently in our human condition that prevent us from being able to see more clearly. One of those biases I mentioned is called “contact bias” which states that “if we lack contact with somebody then our brains will not easily see what they or the way they see.” This is particularly true for us on the impact of climate change on the environment or on the poor. So, what are we do?
The first thing we need to do is be open to learning and to seeing differently. It requires us to deliberately halt our inherent biases and learn to ask new questions and find answers from truthful sources as best we can. Then it requires us to move closer in contact with nature and the poor so we can see more clearly for ourselves.
Over the last year, the Social Outreach and Justice Council here at St. Simon discerned what they could do to serve the community in learning more about the impact of Climate Change and the Pope’s call to action with Laudato Si. They decided after much input and listening to take up this challenge by joining the Laudato Si’ Action Platform as a parish. The Pastoral Council agreed with this call to action and for the month of September we will be highlighting what that means for us as a community and individuals.
The Laudato Si’ Action Platform is an international movement sponsored by the Vatican’s Dicastery (Department) for Promoting Integral Human Development. It is a shared space where the Church develops a bold and active response to the ecological crisis, so urgently illustrated in Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’. The Laudato Si’ Action Platform equips every Church institution to take action now, when it is “urgent and necessary.” (LS 57)
For us here at St. Simon each week we will share more information and hopefully open your eyes to see more clearly our shared responsibility as a community of faith and what we can do as individuals and a community. A few simple examples of steps we have already taken – we are forming a St. Simon Green Team to promote and implement these strategies. We want to put this plan into action and not just talk about it. As a parish, we are purchasing only compostable paper goods for all parish events (you will see them at the Parish BBQ). In mid-September, we are hosting an Environmental Fair with displays and demonstrations and Dr. Paul Shutz from Santa Clara University will be our guest speaker on the topic…. While this is happening, 20+ local charities will be picking up donations from our rummage sale to serve those in need. The rummage sale is more than just a “sale” it has a major impact on those is need locally as we provide donated goods to charities to help our neighbors in need. I encourage to join us on September 16 to volunteer or shop at the rummage sale, visit the Eco Fair at 2:00pm and then to hear Dr. Shutz speak at 3:30pm.
In October, save the date for the viewing of the movie, “The Letter” about the Pope’s call to action and his role at the Paris Agreement. We will also have multiple Season of Creation “four minutes” during September into October to continue our learnings. If you have a tip to share, please drop us a line here
This is just a start for the year ahead. It is particularly timely as this week Pope Francis announced that he was releasing an update to his Laudato Si calling all Catholic institutions to step up to the challenge. We will include that when it comes out. So please be open to new information that will challenge our inherent biases and be ready to see anew.
Finally, before finishing I want to thank everyone for a successful Stewardship Weekend. It warmed my heart to see so many of you at Saturday’s 5:00 pm Mass and enjoying dinner in the courtyard followed by an inspiring concert. I want to thank Francisca LaRosa and Meredith Augustin for the wonderful concert on Saturday and for their beautiful music at all Masses. It is always dangerous to put names to thank because I might leave someone out, but I think it is necessary to say thank you to some people. I want to acknowledge all the efforts of the different cantors and musicians to ensure beautiful music for the weekend Masses. Thank you to our Music Ministry team – Jed de Torres, Robbie Ocampo, Chynna Cavales, Tamami Honma, and John Kellett. Thank you to Jurgen Krehnke, Tim Petersen, Carol Peterson and Attracta Lee and all involved in the tech team. They work tirelessly behind the scenes to make everyone sound and look good live in the Church, on video and livestream.
A huge thank you to the many volunteers who helped pull it all together especially those who provided hospitality for all the guests – Erika Ibarra, Ann Kozlovsky, Michelle Nealon, Elle LaRussa, Edel Deleon. Elizabeth Montgomery-Eder, Mary Belinksy, Mark Belinsky, Cynthia Lucero-Obusan, Oliver Obusan, Tina Lipscomb & Dave Lipscomb. In a special way, I want to thank Clare D’Agostino, Rachel Haydon, Donna Mohammadi, Kalena Moreira, Joan Mibach and all the staff for their hard work.
If you did not get a chance to sign up for a ministry, you still can peruse all the Ministries and ways to volunteer here and sign up with this link here and enrich your life as a disciple. My heart is full after seeing so many last weekend learning more about our many ministries at St. Simon and signing up to volunteer their time and share their talents with our community. We are one community in faith, and I thank you for your help in making our community come alive with ministry!
God bless.
Fr. Brendan