30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 23, 2011
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Matt. 22:34-40 “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Homily summary: We know that money is in scarce supply today. At St. Odilo, our work is an educational, sacramental and apostolic undertaking. These buildings help us keep in contact with God. Our school is a unique piece of architecture. It”s like a building out of Tuscany, Italy; the bell tower out of Assisi. No one has a school like this.
Walk on the spiritual path along with St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal into the Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Are you a lay person interested in plunging more fully into a way of daily devotion? Or considering a vocation to the monastic Visitandine tradition? Go to Visitation Spirit website.
The architect was saavy. His name was McCarthy. He designed the Archdiocese of Chicago”s seminary and other buildings in Chicago. And the parish”s rectory and convent form a unified whole. The buildings were built in 1950, but they look like 1920.
Reflected in beauty
The presence of God is reflected by the beauty, and that presence gets into our minds subliminally. Someday, those who come in contact with this will realize it.
You might ask, why keep the rectory and convent open? Because they tell everyone in Berwyn and the surrounding area, “These Catholics are serious about their faith.” The buildings have become a sign to the area. We have one of the largest churches in the area. We can hold one thousand people with no sweat. When the church was built by Fr. Buckley, he could have avoided the costs here, of the travertine marble, for example, but he didn”t. All the statues are hand-carved wood. And Our Lady of Guadalupe — God himself painted that. All of the art is to inspire us, keep us close to God.
Growing parish
Our totals are up. We have 2,200 people coming to Mass every week. The school and CCD attendance is up. Three hundred come to CCD and 100 come to adult instruction. Since April we have had 215 baptisms; that”s about ten a week. We have had 185 Confirmations, 135 Communions, 22 weddings and 32 funerals.
We have an incredible parish, and we”re getting busier. This is why I am asking you to raise your Sunday giving. This parish is getting reborn.
How to give?
I know that for some of you, it is financially difficult. Beyond that, how do you determine how much to give? One way is with a pledge or promise. A promise you make to yourself and to God.
Another is to take what you earn on the first hour of Monday. Give God the first hour.
Still another way is tithing. Give God one-tenth of your income. This is a tremendous amount, but I know two families that give one-tenth of their income. They have expenses like everyone else. They made a decision that they would give to God ten percent, and He would take care of them.
God will not be outdone in generosity. He will bless you, and I will thank you.