Bob Jensen

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.

A Christmas Invitation

Christmas reveals to us a God who wants to be close to us. The awesome Christmas message is that, out of love for us, God has become one of us so we can become one with God.

This is the faith that animates St. John the Baptist Catholic Community. We gather to worship in gratitude for all that God has done for us and trusting in the promise of eternity. We grow in our discipleship. Each one of us is on a particular journey of faith. Each one of us has another step to take. We accompany each other, wherever we may be on this journey. And we go in service. We have Good News to share, doing so with acts of love and compassion, caring for all God’s people, and caring for God’s creation.

Christmas is a day we welcome many people. There are those who are now here every Sunday, for whom Mass is the highlight of the week and a source of strength for the coming week. We welcome family members and relatives who are visiting for the holiday. We welcome those of other faith traditions who join their family members and friends today. COVID has kept many people away from in-person gatherings. We welcome those who are now are transitioning back to in-person worship. There may be other things that have kept folks away. If you are one of those joining us today, we are so glad you are here with us today. We hope that whatever has kept you away can be resolved, healed, or forgiven. If you are one of our neighbors without a faith community to call your own, welcome!

Wherever you are at on this journey of faith, St. John the Baptist Catholic Community is here to walk with you. Together, may we discover the presence of the Risen Lord who has promised to remain with us forever.

You can find more information about our faith community on our web page at sjtbcc.org . You can also call the parish office and chat with myself or any of our staff at 253 630-0701.