Baptism Blues

Jan. 10th
(I only had the title 'Baptism Blues' up from Jan.10th-Jan13th, hence the reason behind comments one and two)

Jan. 14th

Ok, I cannot promise that I am done sighing, or shaking my head, but I am ready to communicate. I would like to think that most of us are pretty 'good natured' about a lot of things that happen in our parish. Most of us readily acknowledge our humanness and move on.
Once we were told to stay after mass to take group pictures for the parish directory. We were promised that it wouldn't take long. I admit I thought they would call out the different groups: CCD teachers, lectors, hospitality etc and everyone would dutifully gather and smile. I actually had a huge grin on my face when we all were instructed to gather in the pews, regardless of areas of participation, and the photographer took one large group shot. Many were grinning at me and I admit I did sigh and say that this was a 'blog item', another sign that we were institutionalized. I am looking forward to seeing which groups were considered distinct enough to warrent a picture together? Stay tuned.

Back to the Baptism blues! Recently, the couple who had been in charge of the baptismal instruction for almost 18 years received a call from our new deacon that he would be doing the baptism class that Sunday and he would need the materials they had. Two others who had also been involved with the team were also called and told that they were no longer needed. I seriously doubt that anyone considers the deacon in a negative light. One of the team members graciously told me in a letter that doing part of the ceremony is actually the role of a deacon.

So why am I blue? Because the team members could see it coming, but were not prepared for the rug finally being pulled out from under them. Noone actually sat down face to face and discussed it with them. I guess I am sad that good people continue to be moved out of positions where they have been asked, or actually expected to use their gifts for many years under different priests. The institutionalization of the parish probably won't stop. Is that a bad thing? I am the first to admit that the bulletin looks good, everything is neat and orderly, and there seems to be a lot of activities in our parish. So why does the institution still cry for "unity" and 'healing'? Transfiguration of the Lord Parish is looking verrrry professional and that is all that is really important, right? Nod our heads and look the other way, we really don't understand how to be good parishioners anyway.

I thought of the scene in Forest Gump where Forest asked Jenny to marry him. As he is quietly rejected (thinking its because he was not intelligent) he turned and said to her, "I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is."

Yes, lots of parishioners who ministered to the people for years, may not have been theologians, but they knew what love was. And it was enough. God bless 'em.