Fr. Tim's Corner

29 June 2008

 
Dear Parishioners,

Last weekend, I mentioned in my homily Father Gary Smith, S.J. the Jesuit I befriended some years ago while living monastic life at the Trappist Abbey in Oregon.

As you may recall, I spoke about his work with the homeless in Tacoma, then Portland; and that, most recently, he’s lived in Uganda ministering to Sudanese refugees there.

I mentioned three books he’s written about these experiences.  Some of you have asked about these books, and so let me list them here for you:

·         Street Journal  (Tacoma experience)

·         A Radical Compassion (Portland experience)

·         They Come Back Singing (Uganda/Sudanese refugees)

I can assure you that any or all three would make for thought-provoking reading during the summer months.

Father Gary Smith is a man who takes to heart the vision of Vatican Council II when it addresses the approach we ought to have in relation to the wider world.  This vision is expressed in the Vatican II document called Gaudium et Spes:

 
The joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted in any way, are the joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well.  Nothing that is genuinely human fails to find an echo in their hearts.


It was due to these words from Gaudium et Spes  and the example of Gary Smith, S.J. that  I asked you  to consider signing after the Masses this past weekend two letters:  one to Mayor Greg Nickels; the other to the Seattle City Council in which we expressed our concern over the way the homeless are being treated at this time.  Those letters have nothing to do with politics and everything to do with what it means to be a follower of Christ.  Over 150 parishioners signed the letters, and I want to thank you for your concern.  Let us pray that such concern bears fruit in our city and within our hearts.

 

Fr. Tim Clark

 
View Past Messages: