From Our Pastors
Last year, as you may recall, we established an anti-racism committee for the parishes. Soon they will publish the results of the survey of parish committees and organizations. In the meantime, the committee’s first initiative is a resource page.
The link will take you to a calendar of events for Black History month, with suggestions for articles, podcasts, books, film, and TV. There is a special section for children and students.
In honor of Black History Month and with a view to Lent we share a reflection from St Boniface Parish Council member and Committee co-chair Tracy Garrison Fienberg.
“It has been a year. The fact that we’re coming close to the first anniversary of the world shutting down, and we’re still in a form of lockdown, is shining a very different light on Lent this year for me. In years past, I looked forward to this time of year as a moment to pause, reflect, and reevaluate priorities, but it feels like many of us have been doing that since last March. Had we only had the pandemic to deal with over the last 11 months, it would have been more than enough to deal with. But we’ve also been confronting the persistent crisis of systemic racism as a society at large, and within our community. It has been energizing to be part of our Oratory community’s commitment to social justice and anti-racism this year for many reasons, but mainly because it is a shared burden. Too often anti-racism work in the past has fallen more heavily on people of color. This past year has felt different, it gives me hope that sharing the work will lead to more long lasting change. So, as we begin this season of Lent, I am grateful and hopeful.
Each year I have a hymn that helps to focus my Lenten practice - this year a Marty Haugen song has been kicking around in my head:
We remember how you loved us to your death,
And still we celebrate, for you are with us here;
And we believe that we will see you when you come,
In your glory, Lord, we remember, we celebrate, we believe.
So this Lent:
I will remember the challenges and struggles of this past year.
I will celebrate the work that is being done by so many to confront systemic racism, and continue to pray that this is lasting change.
And I believe that we will be together before too long, celebrating and working together in person.”
Peace, Tracy GF
Fr. Mark Lane, c.o. and Fr. Michael Callaghan, c.o.
