Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - July 12, 2015

Did you ever adopt a “pagan baby”? To answer that question, or even to understand it, you would have to be at least around my age. In our days, we saved up money to send to the missions, where it would help small children overseas. In my school, and by my time, the whole program was not as much of a big deal. But there was a time when, after you had donated a certain amount of money, you got a certificate stating that you had adopted a particular child. You could even name the child after your favorite saint.

In an article published by Catholic News Service a couple of years ago, Oblate Father Andrew Small reflected on those days. Fr. Small said, “We can smile at it now at perhaps how silly it was. But, in fact, the entire program was rooted in a sense of solidarity and charity in the broadest understanding of the word. No one was, in fact, adopted or bought. Despite its apparent condescending tone at times, it instilled a radical sense of urgency in children that we are responsible for one another.” In other words, it was an attempt to explain our responsibility to one another in terms children could understand. Today, with more instantaneous communication, we can see images of children in other countries who are in need of help.

I write this in preparation for next weekend, when our parish will have its annual Mission Appeal. Every parish in the diocese, and in every diocese in our country as far as I am aware, hosts a visiting missionary once a year. That missionary tells about the work of his or her order or organization. There is then a special second collection to help the missionary work of the Church around the world. We are not only supporting a worthy cause; we are also expressing the unity of the Church throughout the world.

Next weekend we welcome Fr. Ken Breen of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy. Fr. Breen will speak about their community in Cuddaph, India. There is a great problem there of lost, abandoned and runaway children who are living in the streets. These children are vulnerable, and many of them are dealing with malnourishment and various diseases.

When supporting this mission appeal, please make any checks payable to St. Malachy Parish. We will forward the money to the diocese, and they will send it to them. This allows the diocese and our parish to keep records of how much is collected. So please do not make the check payable to the mission order. Besides, “St. Malachy” fits much better on the “Pay to the order of” line than “The Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy.”

On another note: When Fr. Breen’s superior called me to schedule the mission appeal, he told me that they are happy to help out by scheduling the appeal when the pastor is away. So please note that I will be leaving this Wednesday for my vacation. I will be back to work on Saturday, August 1.

                                                                                                         Father H