Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
Sister Helen Prejean wrote a book “Dead Man Walking” which was made in 1995 into an Oscar-winning film. She has become known as the Death Penalty Abolitionist Nun.
She was not always that way. For years, she taught the novices in her convent in New Orleans that their purpose was to pray and put God into people’s hearts. They were to stay above politics.
Then at a conference in 1980, she was hit like lightning by the Holy Spirit. “Integral to that good news is that the poor are to be poor no longer,” a presenter said. The Good News of Jesus Christ was for everyone, especially the poor. Charity and prayers were not the fullness of the gospel. Staying above politics was in fact a political stance that supported the status quo. Working for justice was part of discipleship.
Sister Helen went home and eventually moved out of the convent into a housing project. “River of Fire: My Spiritual Journey” tells the story of her conversion. https://www.sisterhelen.org/
Our own ongoing conversion might not lead us to live in the projects and visit death row inmates. It must, though, lead us to the cardinal virtue of justice.
Our bishops’ annual statement for this Labor Day notes that the pandemic has worsened the injustice, inequalities, and indignity of our society. Already working low wage jobs with little chance for improving their lot, the meat packers, agricultural workers, janitors, transit workers, grocery workers, and other essential workers have been hit hard by the virus. One New York subway worker said, “We are not essential. We are sacrificial.”
“The good news is that injustice does not need to have the last word.” Our bishops turn us towards God. “The Lord came to free us from sin, including the sins by which we diminish workers and ourselves.”
Besides the power of the Lord, we find power for justice in our politics and in our purchases. “We might ask when we buy goods from stores or online: do we know where they came from? Do we know whether the people who made them were treated with dignity and respect? Was the workplace made safe during the pandemic, and did workers receive a just wage? If not, what can we do to remedy this?”
The full Labor Day statement is at
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) helps low-income people participate in decisions that affect their lives, families, and communities. Rather than a hand-out, CCHD gives a hand-up. It gives dignity. Its annual collection on November 22 funds its efforts guided by our bishops. https://www.usccb.org/committees/catholic-campaign-human-development
The bishops’ Labor Day statement concludes with a prayer for the grace to participate in God’s work in healing what is so deeply wounded in our society. “Lead me in your justice, Lord” (Psalm 5:9).
In Christ,
Father David
NATIVITY UPDATE
- Please have a safe Labor Day! Dangerous spikes in COVID-19 followed the traditional gatherings and picnics on Memorial Day and 4th of July holidays. Social distance is a virtue.
- The 2020 Nativity Fall Festival, as with fall festivals throughout the diocese during the pandemic, has been canceled. It will be missed! We look forward God willing to next year. We do though have something to celebrate. Nativity’s First Mass took place on October 23, 1960. Save the date for the 60th Anniversary Mass at 7pm Friday, October 23. The next day, Saturday, October 24, we will hold the 60th Anniversary Parish Picnic, times to be determined. The Mass and picnic will follow social distance protocols. Let us give thanks to the Lord for our Diamond Jubilee!
- You may have wondered about the burned-out lights in the church. We are looking into whether the church electrical panels can support LED light bulbs and give us long-term cost-effective light. Thanks for your patience.
