From the Pastor October 25/26

Love God, Love the Poor 

Last week I started out with the intention of writing about Pope Leo’s first official written statement released on October 9. It is an Apostolic Exhortation entitled Dilexi Te, On Love for the Poor. I got side tracked explaining the hierarchy of papal documents instead. I’ll try to stay focused this week.

In this first document, Dilexi Te, Pope Leo clarifies the centrality of concern for the poor for Christians. Pope Leo explains that his letter is a follow up to Pope Francis’ last encyclical Dilexi Nos, which was published by Francis in October of last year. Leo’s letter is actually the completion of a letter begun by Pope Francis but Leo claims it as his own.

It isn’t surprising that Pope Leo should chose to complete a letter on Christianity’s focus on the poor as one of his first actions. For more than half his priesthood, first as a priest and then a bishop, Pope Leo was a missionary working among the desperately poor in Peru. During those years he gained a reputation for closeness with the poor.

Leo’s letter highlights the powerful bond between the love of Christ and his call for us to draw near to the poor. He writes that, “the centrality of the love for the poor is, in fact, at the heart of the gospel itself.” Leo states that, “love for the poor can’t be dismissed as a “pet concern” of certain popes, theological currents, nor be presented as a merely social or humanitarian consequence extrinsic to the Christian faith and its proclamation.” 

Gerard O’Connell, Vatican correspondent for America Magazine wrote, “The exhortation is an important teaching document because in it Leo summarizes and reminds believers (with concrete examples) how throughout church history, “love for the Lord is one with live for the poor” and has always been a central tenet of the Christian faith and life.” 

The Pope says that love of the poor is not a matter of mere human kindness but a revelation. He wrote, “I often wonder, even though the Sacred Scripture is so clear about the poor, why many people continue to think that they can safely disregard the poor.” He also said, “Contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history.” He laments the tendency among some Christians to dismiss concern for the poor and consider it a distraction from love and worship directed towards God. 

Pope Leo XIV renews the Christian focus on a preferential option for the poor. He explains that preference is not exclusivity or discrimination towards other groups, but emphasizes God’s actions, which are moved by compassion towards the poverty and weakness of all humanity. 

Soon after his election Pope Leo explained his choice of names as a tribute to the late Nineteenth Century pope Leo XIII who began the development of modern Catholic Social Teaching with his encyclical Rerum Novarum. In that letter Leo XIII addressed concerns about the neglect and exploitation of human dignity that was an outgrowth of the Industrial Revolution. The present Pope Leo can be expected to make modern affronts to human dignity a theme for his pontificate. 

Christ’s teaching concerning love of the poor shouldn’t be limited to attending to their material needs. If we are concerned about the poor, we need to address the root causes of poverty in our world and work to overcome them. Let all Christians make Christ’s concern for the poor our own. 

Up for A Challenge?

The 2025 Capital Campaign is underway. It has received donations and pledges of $370,000. Just short of half way to our goal. A generous donor has a challenge for us. They are willing to match donations to the 2025 Capital Campaign, dollar for dollar, up to a total match of $50,000. The challenge is on until the end of October. 

Registered parishioners who have yet to donate to the Capital Campaign received a second letter from Fr. Sullivan, a project brochure, and pledge card asking for your gift to the Capital Campaign. Over the next three years we will raise $750,000 for several projects. 

Proceeds from the Capital Campaign will be used for various capital improvements to the parish facilities. The largest project will be replacing the cedar shingles, at a cost of $350,000, on Holy Redeemer with siding to match the new addition. The siding is made of a composite material that will last much longer than the shingles. Replacement windows for the Rectory and cosmetic improvements at Our Lady of Grace and the Rectory are also planned. The last big ticket item is improvements to the Holy Redeemer Lot. Please prayerfully reflect on your making a truly sacrificial gift to the 2025 “Unless God Builds the House” Capital Campaign. 

Ministry Fair On the Calendar

Save the date of the weekend November 8-9 to participate in the Holy Redeemer Parish Ministry Fair. We are building a great parish here at Holy Redeemer and so many people are involved but we want you involved too. There are so many ways to become active in our church. People are active volunteers as Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Choir members, and Greeters. Some are active in the Woman’s Club, Bereavement Group and St. Vincent de Paul Society. Small Faith Sharing Group are a major way to become more active in the parish community. Over the last year we have organized a Building Maintenance Squad and Gardening Ministry. We are setting up a Knitting Ministry this year. There is a place where everyone in the parish can contribute to making Holy Redeemer even better. Come to the Fair! Refreshments will be served. 

November Book of the Dead

November is the traditional month for Catholics to pray for the souls of the faithfully departed. Annually the parish compiles a Book of the Dead listing the names of parishioners who died last year and those of our faithful departed. Parishioners recently were sent a letter and All Souls Envelopes to compile a list of our faithfully departed to include in the Book of the Dead. The book will be reverenced with incense at the beginning of weekend Masses throughout November. You are asked to donate at least $1 per name. Envelope proceeds will be donated to the Chatham Children’s Fund. Envelopes can be dropped in the collection basket or sent to the Parish Office.