Pastor's Letter

Innovation
 
As  I was reflecting on today’s gospel, which is timely for us, I began to think about innovation and ran across this insightful observation from an entrepreneur:
 
“In my conversations with millennials over the past few years, I’ve found that many believe that the best way to make a positive impact in the world is by building a non-profit organization.”
 
The non-profit is attractive to those who want to make a positive impact in the world; to be a part of something that truly matters. They don’t want to make profits. They want to make a positive difference. They want to give their all—their life—to something important.
 
The thing is, isn’t that what we want, too—whether we’re a Millennial, a Baby Boomer, part of the Greatest Generation or Generation Z or anything in between or yet to be? In fact, one of the greatest non-profit organizations that’s been created in the world is the Catholic Church. It’s 2,000 years strong. It’s inspired billions. And, despite her human errors, grave wounds and deep faults in how the clergy has betrayed its trust, her mission is her purity, because her founder is the greatest innovator to ever impact the human race: Jesus Christ. He is the light of the world.
 
Innovators create something that makes life better, and they do it with passion. Innovators see the world differently. They see the world better than it is now.
 
Jesus wanted this. He sees the world as God the Father created it to be, and so he inspires us to bring out the best in ourselves to bring a new way of living into being.
 
That’s why in today's gospel Jesus urges us to make him the absolute priority—above family, above institutions, above all we know. He asks us to lose our life—our way of thinking that puts us in the center of everything—to make room to put him in the center. That’s when we begin to gain everything. And it’s when we begin to see that we’re not competitors with each other, but contributors to the mission Jesus asks us to hand on to the next generation.
 
That’s significant, because today St. Hubert and St. Matthew become SS. Matthew and Hubert. It’s an innovation. Something new and different, and something we have to experience before we can understand it fully. But, it’s also something that isn’t meant to take away all we’ve put our heart and soul into; instead, we’re inspired to build upon what we know. Both our communities are filled with passion and purpose. Both communities know our faith makes a difference in how we live. And now, we join together to bring out the best in both of us.
 
Together we are the Catholic Church, united in one faith, one baptism, and one mission. And this weekend, we become one parish; one family of faith. Together, we’ll never stop embracing Jesus Christ, our priority, our wisdom, our light, and our truth.
 
Along with Fr. Matt, I feel humbled and blessed to begin this innovative journey of discovery with you. What we know to be true is that we walk forward on a solid foundation of faith, hope and love in the One who brings us life. We’ll build this new beginning of parish life together in the faith we share.
 
          —Fr. Mike