Just a word before we go...Fifth Sunday in Easter...May 7, 2023

This past Wednesday, I attended the 38th annual Fairfield Holocaust Remembrance Service at First Church Congregational.  It was a moving service, attended by many constituencies in town, with music provided by the orchestras from the local high schools.  A particularly stirring piece was offered by the Fairfield Children’s Chorus. The audience that filled the sanctuary was attentive and respectful, never more so than when Rabbi Philip Lazowski, a survivor of the Holocaust, told his story.  The number and diversity of the attendees was striking, and numbered among them were several parishioners, as well as Fr. Gerry Blaszczak, who delivered part of the closing prayer. We were gathered there to draw attention to and combat the rising anti-semitism in Fairfield and the nation, to work together to address a challenge that we face as a community.

Our first reading this weekend highlights the division that was occurring among the early Christians regarding the inequality of the distribution of food.  The community came together to address that challenge and worked out an agreement.

The challenges that face our present day Catholic Community are many and more complex. Pope Francis called for a world-wide Synod to address these difficulties and people of all countries were invited to participate through Listening Sessions that were to be held in each Catholic community. The next phase of the Synodal Process has now concluded with the publishing of the Final Document for the North American Continental Stage of the 2021-2024 Synod.  Unsurprisingly, the document recommends an ongoing synodal process, relying on the Holy Spirit, to foster the three fold qualities of communion, participation and mission.  Emphasizing the essential role of listening to one another, the document calls for fostering a greater sense of welcome and inclusivity, honoring the gifts of all as well as the responsibility of each, conferred at Baptism, to use those gifts for the betterment of the church and society. In other words, the document calls for us all to work together to address the challenges we face as a church, with mutual respect and ever mindful of our being centered in Christ.

We know the way forward to meet the challenges we face as a Church; we have but to follow the lead of those early Christians and the advice of our current Synod, as we look forward to a Church, united in our diversity, with the ultimate goal of the many dwelling places promised in our Gospel today.