Bob Jensen

When We Are Called Home

Recently, people have been asking about the “Last Rites.” This term has not been used for the past 60 years. The Second Vatican Council, in its reform of the liturgy, restored Extreme Unction (the Last Anointing) to its more ancient practice of being not just for the dying, but for the sick. Now known as the Anointing of the Sick, this sacrament prays for healing of body and soul. It is celebrated with those who are seriously ill, anticipating surgery, or suffering from advancing age.

The Church has a special care for those who are dying. There are two prayers for the dying. The first is called Viaticum, which translates “for the journey.” It is sharing Holy Communion with the dying and focuses on the gift of Eucharist as the promise of eternal life. “Jesus said, ‘The one who eats my body and drinks my blood will live forever.’” (Jn 6:54) Viaticum often includes a renewal of one’s baptismal promises that began the journey of faith, now that the journey is reaching its conclusion.

The other prayer for the dying is called the Commendation of the Dying. It is a beautiful prayer that includes the litany of the saints and entrusts the dying into the gentle embrace of God. In one sense, it is the sending forth of the Christian soul from this life to eternity. Not only a comfort to the person dying, this prayer can have great meaning for family and friends who have gathered.

The Anointing of the Sick is led by a bishop or priest. Viaticum and the Commendation of the Dying can be led by a priest, deacon, or even a layperson. With fewer priests possibly covering larger areas, lay people may be called upon more and more to pray with the dying and accompanying them on this journey of faith. Though often difficult, it is a very holy experience.

Parish Priorities

In our parish priorities, we state, “St. John the Baptist Catholic Community offers Christ-like inclusion and acceptance.”

To further this goal, the parish staff, for its own development, is reading Fr. James Martin’s book, Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity. Martin takes those last words from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which teaches that Catholics are called to treat homosexuals with “respect, compassion, and sensitivity” (#2358).

One of the insights Martin gained was realizing that far more people than he had imagined are touched by this topic. Many Catholic families are affected by LGBT issues, be they moms and dads, brothers and sisters, grandparents uncles and aunts, cousins, or friends of gay Catholics.

Martin does not start with those issues that are divisive for the gay community: our Church’s teaching on marriage and sexual relations. His approach is to focus on how we first can build a bridge in order for folks to be more receptive and understanding of our Church’s teaching. The more foundational issue is our baptismal identity. We are all children of God, members of the Body of Christ.

What does it mean to offer Christ-like inclusion and acceptance? In part, it means being a place where all people will experience respect, compassion, and sensitivity. That challenges all of us.

Time to Step Up for a New Year’s Resolution

“How many Masses did you have?” is a common post-Christmas question priests ask one another. I was surprised when one of my priest friends mentioned he just had one Mass for Christmas Eve. It was not because of small crowds, and it was not because he did not want to celebrate an additional Mass. It was because that parish could not find enough liturgical ministers to staff a second liturgy. Besides a priest, a Mass depends on sacristans, greeters/ushers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, musicians, servers (we also need sound and video technicians).

We were able to have the regular schedule of four Christmas Masses. However, some of our ministers did double duty. We were short ministers, and we missed some opportunities like not having enough greeters at all the Masses to welcome people and to pass out bulletins as people left, giving our visitors an opportunity to learn more about our community.

This is not just a Christmas problem; we are very short liturgical ministers year-round. It would be nice to enter into our new parish family with a strong cadre of liturgical minsters. If we cannot adequately staff four weekend Masses with liturgical ministers who do not have to serve every week, maybe we shouldn’t have so many Masses.

Another great need we face is Eucharistic Ministers to the sick and homebound. If we are not able to bring Holy Communion to the sick and the dying who cannot get to church, how can we call ourselves Church? The main reason we reserve the Holy Eucharist in the tabernacle is to bring it to the sick and dying. Often, when I first meet someone who needs Communion brought to them at home, I look at who their Catholic neighbors are. I send out an appeal for help. I hope you would consider serving if you get that call.

To become a liturgical minister, to explore being a Eucharistic Minister to the sick, or to request Communion be brought to someone homebound, contact Laurie at lauriem@sjtbcc.org. Make it a New Year’s resolution.