|
From the Pastor: The Latest CMA Update
After looking over the latest Catholic Ministry Appeal update this week I want to share some thoughts with you. In case the name of the appeal doesn’t ring a bell, it is the Bishop’s fund drive that pays for the various ministries of the diocese. It replaced APA, the Annual Pastoral Appeal, a couple of years ago. When Bishop Parkes first introduced this new appeal, the priests wrongly assumed that it was just a rebranded APA, which itself was just a rebranded BAPA (Bishop’s Annual Pastoral Appeal). We were quite pleased when we discovered the differences. The APA “goal” for each parish, for instance, was a mandatory amount of money that the parish was required to either raise through appealing to the parishioners or, falling short of the goal by those efforts, take from the parish savings account. Due to the way the APA goals were calculated, if a parish appeal fell short and had to be paid from savings, the subsidized amount was essentially “taxed” twice through a long and impossible-to-verify taxation (or goal-setting) formula. The diocese needed the money, we were told, and they were going to get it one way or another. The double taxation encouraged parishioners to donate to APA so that their money was only “taxed” once. Behind the CMA was a new strategy aimed at encouraging the Catholic generosity of the parishioners to shine forth brightly and voluntarily rather than threatening them with a cudgel. The administrative costs of running the diocese were taken out of the Appeal (and are now paid for with a flat tax on our collections) so the CMA now only funds the “charitable” and “ministerial” activities of the diocese. If the diocese’s overall goal isn’t met, the Bishop said that he will take that as a sign that the people don’t want to support what he is offering and, rather than take money against their will, he will simply cut the programs the people don’t want to support. Gasp! It was hard to believe that he would cut the funding for pro-life activities, prison ministry, the Marriage Tribunal, Vocations programs, Seminary Education, and so many other great programs we have traditionally supported as a diocese. But he gave his word. He trusted that the goals would be met when people of faith were given choices as to where their hard-earned money would best be put to use. Catching more flies with honey than vinegar, and all that stuff. And how, you may ask, would he tell which programs the people wished to support and which they did not wish to support? By allowing them to choose which specific ministry they desire their money to go to when they donate. If you go to our parish webpage you can scroll down on the homepage and click on the CMA link. On the page that opens up, you can see many of the ministries financed by the diocese through this appeal. Once you then click on the “make a gift” button you can specify to which ministry you would like your donation applied. Targeted donations like that are legally and morally to be used only for the specified purpose. If the ministry you wish to support does not appear on the drop-down menu (the menu would be too unwieldy to list every single ministry) you can check, “I don’t see my ministry, please contact me” and they actually will do so! Of course, you also have the option to allow the donation to be given “unrestricted” so that it can be used to fund any of the diocesan ministries in need. Under this new system, if a pastor gives his “best effort” to reach the parish goal yet falls short, the bishop will neither take the remainder of the “bill” from them nor penalize them the following years in any way, shape, or form. If the “best effort” was not exerted, however, all bets are off the table. I have written about this before when the bishop questioned my “best effort” at Epiphany. So far this approach has worked on a diocese-wide scale. But for some reason, it has not done too well at this parish. We eventually meet our goal but with minimal participation. The last two years this was understandable since we were (and still are) threatened with having the Traditional Latin Mass taken away from us and that has a tendency to reduce one’s generous tendencies. But, as mentioned last week, Bishop Parkes has done all he can to support us and protect us from those in Rome who seem, to put it mildly, to dislike people who attend the TLM. If calamity strikes us, it is certainly not Bishop Parkes’ fault! Supporting the Bishop and financially supporting his/our ministries, is just plain Catholic. It seems to me that everyone should be able to find at least one charitable ministry within the diocese that they can willingly support, even if they cannot send in thousands and thousands of dollars. Yet, as of this being written, only 18% of Epiphany households have donated to the CMA this year. We have reached 67% of our goal, which means that those who have donated have been very generous and I thank you very much for that! But how about the rest of you? I know, inflation is high and your wallets are light. Those in worse shape are often the ones receiving help from CMA. Don’t know if the Bishop will spend the money “correctly”? Does your boss withhold your pay because he thinks you are wasting it? Are there really any good reasons not to give at least a small gift, like the widow’s mite? We should all support Church ministries out of love of God and love of neighbor. Consider making a cheerful, charitable gift. With prayers for your holiness, Rev. Fr. Edwin Palka From the Pastor: Confirmations Are Coming Quickly!
This upcoming year brings uncertainty to Epiphany. You are all aware of the efforts of some in Rome to shut down the Traditional Latin Mass. You are also aware that Bishop Parkes continues to fight on our behalf to keep not only Epiphany parish going but also the other two parishes in the diocese that offer the TLM. In March of 2023, Bishop Parkes obediently wrote a letter to Cardinal Roach making a case to keep the status quo in the diocese and his plea was (relatively) well-received. In July or August of 2023, he was granted a 2-year “indult” to continue the celebration of the TLM in all three parish churches with the possibility of asking for an extension of that indult when the two years are up. In the meantime, the TLM at all three parishes has kept growing even as other parishes struggle to keep congregations from declining too sharply. Bishop Parkes has been striving to find a solution to this strange situation, for he sees a sizable minority of his flock finding solace and holiness in the form of the Mass loved and cherished by centuries of both Saints and (non-canonized) saints. He understands that we are not just “in it for the nostalgia” for he sees the overall youthfulness of our congregations, those who are not pining for something they grew up with (since they were born long after the change from one Mass to the other) but are rather those who have discovered the treasure-trove of riches comprising the ancient Mass after perhaps never having heard anything positive about it in their lives. “The priest had his back to the people, nobody understood what was going on, and the little old ladies fingered their rosaries,” is all that most people under 60 ever heard regarding the Tridentine Mass and, hence, never gave a second thought to it. That is, until they happened upon it for whatever reason, and fell in love; in love with God, for His love for them and their new-found ability, inflamed desire, and even the realization of the necessity to love Him in return is what the “old” Mass showed them so clearly. They knew as they had never known before Jesus’ perfect act of love for all men, the Holy Sacrifice of His Life upon the cross for our eternal salvation. And they loved right back, immersed as they were in the whole experience of the soul-moving liturgical ritual that had been honed for nearly two thousand years. These groups want to stay in that place at the foot of the cross, Adoring Him and offering their lives back to Him, a place they arrived at by spiritually entering into His Most Sacred Heart through the Traditional Latin Mass. And the bishop wants them/us to be able to do so. And he doesn’t want the Sword of Damocles hanging over our heads, always threatening to fall and wipe out the TLM at the whim of someone who has never even visited the diocese, let alone met the people. He is still diligently striving to come up with a way to give the TLM long-term (perpetual) stability. But, alas, so far all possibilities have shown dire and unintended (on his/our side, anyway) consequences, making them not worth pursuing unless/until forced into a corner. With that being said, it is apparent that we don’t know what the future holds for us and, although we all hope that things will continue as normal, I have made the decision to move Confirmations up a few months earlier than we have had them in the past, just in case the sword does fall this spring. I petitioned the Bishop to allow us to have our Confirmations in February this coming year. Mark your calendars. Wednesday, February 12, at 7:00 pm, Bishop Parkes is scheduled to come to Epiphany to confirm, using the 1962 ritual, however many children have been properly prepared to receive this important sacrament. His schedule is even more grueling than mine and, although it is on his calendar at the present moment, we have seen in the past that it may change and either we will change our date/time to accommodate him or else I will be given delegation to bestow the confirmations in his place on the above scheduled day and time. Either way, it is imperative that: 1) the children start their confirmation preparation immediately if not sooner; and 2) everyone who is planning on being confirmed that day fill out the information sheet we have on our website so that we know how many people to expect. I cannot stress this enough. In the past we have often had children signed up only at the last minute. This year, the bishop wants to know (already!) how many are being prepared. I must give him a number, so you must tell me ASAP if you want your children included. If the worst case scenario occurs, March of 2025 (two years after the letter asking permission to keep the TLM was written by Bishop Parkes) will bring news that the current TLM indult will not be renewed. If so, the February Confirmations may be the last time the old ritual is used for this sacrament. I pray that it will not be so, but I would rather not take the chance, hence the early Confirmation date. As always, if you need help preparing your child(ren) for this sacrament, let me know and we will arrange whatever assistance is necessary. For those already doing the preparation through Catholic homeschool programs, you may need to step it up a bit, since the curriculum may be expecting a full school year (an extra couple of months) to get through all of the material. As always, keep praying for Bishop Parkes. With prayers for your holiness, Rev. Fr. Edwin Palka From the Pastor: What Is So Special About Monday?
Monday, September 9, is a big feast day, one that long-time Epiphany members (and readers of Fr. Z’s blog) know quite well. But for any newcomers, you might be unaware of the special celebration that is upcoming. Sure, it is St. Peter Claver’s feast day. I certainly don’t want to downplay that. In fact, I will celebrate two morning Masses dedicated to him, so important is that Saint. It is also the feast day of St. Gorgonius, although he will only receive a commemoration at St. Peter Claver’s Masses. But the special day of which I make mention is not the feast day of a Saint at all. “Then what is it?” you may ask, and I will gladly tell you should you do so. So, go ahead and ask! Ah, that’s better. Yes, I will gladly answer your most earnest inquiry, but first, sit down for a minute, and let’s open a couple of cold bottles of Alaskan Smoked Porter. What’s that? You’ve never tasted that particular brew? Join the club, for neither have I. I have a description of it, which I will share with you in just a minute, but it is in the tasting that the truth will come out. Whether or not it lives up to its advertised wonderfulness, we will have a delightful time praising it or criticizing it, offering thoughts about it and comparing it to other beers, perhaps even to other food and drink, and spending a bit of time together just doing something we are not able to do very often, namely, a lot of nothing. Yes, there is much to be said for doing nothing of any discernable import. To be able to set aside the “necessities” of the day, to be able to trust that we are not indispensable, that the world will survive without our input for an hour or so, that God, not man, is in control of everything, and that He gave us the very inspiration to produce such a delightful beverage to be shared among friends and family. But I said that I was going to give the official description of the beer, not the description of what we would do with it, so here you go. “Crafted with malt smoked over alder wood, Alaskan Smoked Porter showcases a unique and intriguing smoky character, akin to a campfire’s embrace. This robust porter carries notes of toffee and caramel, offering a delightful contrast to the smokiness. It truly shines during fall camping trips, adding a touch of the Alaskan wilderness to your outdoor adventures.” Smoked malt? It sounds like anyone who enjoys a peaty scotch will enjoy that part of it. Toffee and caramel? Let’s face it, somebody’s tastebuds have got to be seriously messed up to turn away at the thought of those flavors. Camping and campfires? Is it pure marketing? Absolutely! But I’ve already bitten. Let’s pop it open. No, it’s ok. I understand. Not everybody likes such a flavor bomb in their beer. You say you would prefer something else? I won’t hold that against you unless you ask for a Bud Light. Thanks for being upfront about it instead of fighting through a beer you won’t enjoy. I, myself, though generally preferring porters and stouts, willingly order just about any type of local beer if I am traveling. After all, I can get a Guiness anywhere in the world. But if I were to visit Arizona and found a light-bodied Cactus beer, I would gladly give it a shot. But, then again, I like darn near any food, so it makes sense that I enjoy, or at least tolerate, most beer and other drinks, too. The fruity beers, like Grapefruit beer from Florida or Blueberry beer from Michigan, are not my favorites, but having one or two every couple of years isn’t beyond my comfort zone. So what can I get you? How about a Maine Lobster beer from Bar Harbor? Ha, ha. You should’ve seen your face! Nah, I’m just pulling your finger... I mean, your leg. But if you want to try something a little off the beaten path without going either too dark or too light, how about an Avocado Honey Ale? “The beer has a light golden haze appearance with an ivory frothy head. Moving to its aroma, the beer shares a biscuity and nutty aroma with hints of sweetness reminiscent of wildflowers...Additionally, it has a super smooth and silky texture that further makes the drink mouthful and appetizing.” No? I’ve got just the one. Do you remember sweet breakfast cereals with the little marshmallows? Check out the description of this beer. “Saturday Morning IPA is a soft, light, and mouthful beer that knows how to satisfy one’s taste buds. The drink has a soft pillow body made using the following: Toasted marshmallow; Dehydrated Marshmallow; Calypso and Galaxy Hops. All these ingredients are united to give a sweet cereal taste to the drink with hints of orange/pear mixed aroma.” You’ll try it? Wonderful! Now that we have that settled and we both have a beer we’ve never tried, let’s get ready to have a blast critiquing them together! But before we take the first swig, I need to (finally!) tell you the reason for this get-together. In case you have forgotten or, poorly catechized Catholic that you may be, were never taught, September 9 is Buy A Priest A Beer Day! Alas, because I don’t have free time anymore, the above conversation about drinking such beers is just wishful thinking. But next year this feast falls on a Tuesday, which, after the morning schedule of Masses, confessions, and Adoration, I generally take off. Perhaps with a bit of advanced planning, we could make it happen. Start searching out your favorite (or weirdest) brews! With prayers for your holiness, Rev. Edwin Palka From the Pastor: The Final Last Vacation Story
The story of my recent journey left off before I made it back home, so you are stuck with yet another tale of my trip. After the long detour and blocked road from last week, I finally made it to North Carolina where the Carsons had invited me to visit them while they were spending time in their mountain cabin. As I left off last week with the delay causing me to either arrive after dark or spend a night in a hotel, I opted for the hotel. In the morning I had a cup of coffee and sat down to pray my breviary as I drank in both the mountain view and the coffee between scripture verses. It was a good way to start the day. After getting back in the car, I let the Carson's know my approximate arrival time. I checked in with them about an hour out and it seemed like in no time the GPS lady was telling me to turn off the main drag and onto a small, steep mountain road leading up to their house. The distance left to travel wasn't exactly making sense relative to the time it was saying it would take, but I was to find out soon enough why it would take so long. As I mentioned before, I am glad I didn't attempt this part of the trip at night, for even in daylight it was a tough drive. The road was very, very twisty, very, very narrow, and very, very steep. The going was very, very slow. And then the GPS lady got lost. She wasn't showing me to be exactly on the road and didn't warn of forks in the road demanding a decision of which way to turn. At one point the paved road was going left and a gravel road went right and she said nothing. I chose pavement. Up, up, up I went, the whole time thinking, "If I had a cabin up here, I would take a year's worth of food and never venture back down until I was ready to leave." This paved part of the “road” ended up being a driveway. There was no place to turn around so I followed the drive right up to the front door of the house and continued past it as it looped back down. I waved just in case somebody with a shotgun was watching. Going back down I had the Honda in low gear and the GPS girl found me before I got to the gravel road. "Take the other road this time, you big dummy!" she screeched. So I turned. Up and up and around and around I went, this time on wet, loose gravel. Then I came around a tight turn and had to hit the brakes when I came face to face with a four-wheel drive All Terrain Vehicle, which also slammed on its brakes. It was driven by the Carsons, who were coming down to make sure I found the right road. They put their vehicle in reverse but it simply spun the tires and started sliding sideways toward the edge of the mountain. Not a good sign. They finally got it moving in the right direction—backward—and found a small place to pull over and motioned me to pass. I, too, spun some gravel but the tires soon caught and up I went, the transmission and engine straining as they have never strained in Florida. I certainly knew why GPS said it would take so long for such a short trip. The Carsons make this trip up and down every single day, for they never miss daily Mass. They have memorized the Mass schedule of parishes in various distant towns to which they travel since none of the parishes has Mass every day. I, on the other hand, was very happy to be able to celebrate Mass in the cabin and stay put. Of course, that was not to last long, for they insisted on showing me around. We went to the top of the mountain in the rain on the four-wheeler as they talked about how they almost went off the edge the other day in the exact same conditions. Back home once again, we saw their "pet" woodchuck that lives just down the hill from the house. We watched a multitude of hummingbirds fighting incessantly over the feeder and flowers. I heard about how a bear completely destroyed their apple tree this year, the first year it produced apples, never to be capable of producing fruit again. And they drove me (in their four-wheel drive SUV, not the ATV) all the way down the mountain and into various small towns to show me where they went to Mass, where they shopped, and where they hiked. There is a parish that has a TLM and they are just starting to clear the ground to build a new, beautiful church. Our Lady of the Mountains in Highlands is worth checking out online. We also watched people swimming in "Bust Your Butt Falls" right off the main highway in Highlands. The Carson’s know how it got its name, for others from our parish have visited them and one of the girls busted several body parts there. We also went hiking to some waterfalls and came back drenched in sweat and gasping for air, though the temperature was only about 80 degrees. Go figure! Finally, after much too short a vacation, I had to head back home. The rest of the return trip was uneventful, with the exception of a major thunderstorm on I-75 just outside of Tampa (yes, I took the interstate the last day). And that really does bring me to the end of this series of articles. How was your vacation? With prayers for your holiness, Rev. Fr. Edwin Palka |
Author:
|
RSS Feed