Fr. Albert's Corner 

Many years ago I gave school retreats. In my first address to the students I kicked off with this question: In twenty seconds name twenty gifts that you have. Without exception each child had an unusual twist to their answer: "I like doing".

In this retort they were either shy or overtly humble or unaware of the myriad of gifts and talents already bestowed upon them. Our initial discussion moved them from doing to being. We established what they had become without as yet discussing their likes and dislikes.

Likewise as adult Christians we might take stock of all the gifts bestowed on us. Someone asked recently: How do I know that I am loved? The plain and simple answer is: "You are alive". Imagine that energy that breathes life into us at every moment. More and more we need to sit back for longer periods every day and evaluate in reflection and silence who and what we have become as human beings and more so as God’s elect in whom God delights.

We soon realize that even in these harsh economic times we are richer than most. We have access to the best medical systems. We have food on our table. When last did I starve? Here at Blessed Kateri and in all parishes we have second to none outreach programs. On the week before Christmas we will be making a huge effort to ensure that all homeless men and women, our brothers and sisters under our bridges in Newark, in New York have enough food and warm clothing. Our concern stems not from what we should do but from what we have received. We all have families, neighbors and friends with whom we comfortably reciprocate those same gifts.

We have our faith. We are claimed by God and by God’s great gifts from the moment of baptism. In one of our Sunday prefaces we pray: "In him we live and more and have our being". As God’s children we are gifted with extraordinary power. In another preface: our prayer of thanksgiving nothing to your greatness but makes us grow in your grace. This is gift in that we enjoy the certainty of living in the fullness of God’s life forever:

"I look up at your heavens, made by your fingers,

At the moon and stars you set in place-

Ah, what is man that you spare a thought for him

The son of man that you should care for him?" Psalm 8

We are blest with a beautiful community, a beautiful church. Yes, it is true that thru sacrificial giving in time, treasure, and talent, we have given back to God. On this Talent Awareness Sunday, I am imploring you to ponder all of life’s gifts bestowed on you by God. On December 1st, I will sadly announce the departure of Joanne Rossi and Anne Lopuch from our Religious Ed. Program. They feel called to wider educational challenges. They will help in a voluntary and limited capacity. After cutting costs and unable to replace Ginny, Charlie, John, Shirley, Pat, Fr. Tom, Sr. Barbara, Joanne and Anne (December 1st.)

I have had to resort to asking our diocese to designate this parish as a Special Needs Parish. This might give us a small grant and allow us as in other parishes the huge luxury of hiring a part-time Religious Ed. Director in our 650 children program. This will not dig us out of an $85,000 deficit in our 2008/2009 budget. The words of today’s gospel haunt me: "So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter". Our awareness of our giftedness can become our new starting point to tackle our $3,000,000 debt. Fr. Albert