Fr. Don’s Weekly Letter ~ 21 September 2025

Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,

Well, everybody, it is Commitment Sunday when we make a commitment to do something extra for parish life, and maybe give a little more to the offertory to help the parish keep up with the cost of living.

By the time I’m preparing this letter, I haven’t heard from anyone who has received their Parish Renewal Handbook, Ministry Catalog and Annual Report. Bulk mailing is frustrating. I can only ask that you read it when it comes (or look for the copy on the parish website with a link on the front page) and really think about what you might do in the coming year. Remember, the time for dating God and keeping our options open is over.

If your catalog and commitment card come, please fill out your card and drop it in the second collection. It also comes with a return envelope which is also very handy. If your packet doesn’t arrive until next week, please consider returning your offertory of prayer, time and treasure the following weekend.

Monday and Tuesday of this week I’m attending a national conference at Georgetown University about Nostra aetate. This 1965 (60th anniversary) constitution from Vatican II, the shortest of all, redefined our relationship with people of other religions, particularly Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu people. It literally changed the way the Church is to look at people who are not baptized. All are made in the image of God, it says, and all persons require our respect, acceptance, and kindness. All persecution and hatred is not the Christian way.

Nostra aetate began as a document to redefine ourselves with the Jewish people. It condemned 2,000 years of persecution and derision that the Jewish people suffered from the Christian churches, mostly the Catholic Church. The Jewish people are not to be blamed for the death of Jesus, and are to be considered the older brothers and sisters they truly are. It says, basically, that God does not make mistakes and therefore has not withdrawn his covenant with them. It leaves still a lot of questions which need to be worked out by sincere dialogue, but it was a start for healing.

The way dialogue begins is when we connect as human beings. The relationship has to be the beginning, because dialogue has to arise out of authentic concern for another. Getting to know each other, differences are not impediments to friendship, and frank, honest conversations can happen. Too often we enter into dialogue with others because we want to say something about ourselves: you must do so to hear something about them.

The keynote speakers and panels were very interesting. One priest who has been working with Jewish Catholic dialogue for three decades said the light finally went on for him when he was told by a rabbi that their dialogue didn’t work because of his arrogance. “You looked down on us for 2,000 years... and now you have decided to recognize me as an equal... and determine the terms by which we do this? What arrogance!” He continued about how it might be better to start with a conversation about what both people in the dialogue might expect or hope to accomplish, to attain an outcome that would be meaningful for all.

Today (Monday) was all about the Jewish-Catholic relationship. Tomorrow will be Islam and the Dharmic Traditions (Hindu and Buddhist).

Did I tell you? We will host our Burke-Springfield Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service on Tuesday, November 25. Please, mark your calendars!

This Wednesday 41 pilgrims and I will start our pilgrimage in the steps of Saint Paul. We won’t be making the trip in the exact sequence as Saint Paul, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t travel on Celebrity Infinity. But we will be visiting the places he visited: Corinth, Athens, Crete, Ephesus, Thessaloniki, and Philippi. And, since we have gone all that way, we are going to add Mykonos, Santorini, and of course Istanbul.

It’s a pilgrimage and when we go we take all your intentions with us at Mass in all these remarkable holy places. If you would like me to celebrate a Mass for your intention, please contact Janet in the office. Τα λέμε σύντομα (See you soon!)

The Lord be with you,