Pastor's Corner

Dear Nativity Parish,

This is evangelization minister, Michael Sanem, filling in for Fr. Mike this week. Today we launch Respect Life Month, and Nativity is a living witness to the dignity of human life! This week we are shining the light on our growing, vibrant Gospel of Life Ministry. While many charitable outreach efforts predate this ministry, the Nativity Gospel of Life Ministry, which began in 2021, acts as an umbrella, an incubator, and a support network for our many forms of outreach, support, and
raising awareness of life issues. Each week this month we will highlight a different issue addressed by our ministry.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have chosen the theme of Radical Solidarity for this year’s respect life month: “The Church’s entire social doctrine is guided by the fundamental principle that every human life has innate dignity and incomparable value: ‘Every human being is the object of God’s infinite tenderness, and he himself is present in their lives.’ As disciples of Christ, we are called to make a sacrificial gift of ourselves for the sake of our neighbor, for “to love
someone is to desire that person's good and to take effective steps to secure it.’

“Fulfilling Christ’s command to love one another takes shape in our practice of solidarity. Solidarity is the means by which we put our love for others into action, making the good of others our own. Solidarity ‘is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people… On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good…to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.'”

Our Gospel of Life Ministry tries to follow this guidance from the bishops and create a culture of radical solidarity that “gets involved by word and deed in people’s daily lives… and it embraces human life, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in others.” We seek to protect life in the womb, to walk with moms and families, to reach out to the most vulnerable among us and provide material assistance, spiritual assistance and emotional support, and wrap them in a community of love. To that end, our theme for the first week of our Respect Life month is Radical Solidarity from the Womb to the Tomb.

Please look at the attached overview of all the life ministries at Nativity. From Walking with Moms to Foster Care Ministry to grief support to caring for the homeless, to all the wonderful Works of Mercy our parishioners and staff perform here and in the larger community, we seek to be a credible witness to the Gospel of Life, and thereby serve, evangelize, and be a light to our community and wider world.

And WE NEED YOUR HELP! Our approach is “big tent” and we welcome and invite ALL parishioners to get involved. You’ll see a video this week with invitations from our ministry heads to get involved.

As Pope Francis said in a recent homily, “Do not forget the poor, because they will be the ones who will open the door of Heaven for you.” I’ve found in my own ministry, when we reach out to help those most in need, we often meet and see Christ, face-to-face.

May God continue to bless us abundantly, and may we abundantly share our blessings with those in need!

Michael Sanem
Minister of Evangelization
msanem@kcnativity.org

Gospel of Life Page

How wonderful to welcome the season of fall! The change of season gives us pause to realize and appreciate the beauty of the Creator at work around us. Pope Francis has marked the days of September 1 to October 4 as the Season of Creation, reminding each of us that we share a responsibility to be good stewards of creation and to care for our common home.  

I include a picture of seasonal beauty on our campus that we’ve appreciated all summer long. Mums will replace the mountains of Impatiens and it won’t be long until tulip bulbs will go in the Guardian Angel Garden in anticipation of spring. A favorite hymn of mine serves as a beautiful prayer in this Season of Creation. 
1. For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies. For the love which from our birth, over and around us lies… Lord of all to you we raise, this our grateful hymn of praise. 2. For the beauty of each hour, of the day and of the night. Hill and vale and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of night…  Lord of all to you we raise, this our grateful hymn of praise.” 

Next month, representatives of the Church throughout the world will gather for the Synod on Synodality in Rome. The title of the Synod is: “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission." This is a continuation of the process of listening that began on the parish level two years ago, when Pope Francis invited all the baptized around the world to participate in the Synod on Synodality by sharing their experiences, hopes, and concerns for the Church and to listen to the same from others. I’m glad that we were able to participate as a parish family and as part of the Church in the Archdiocese and the Church in America, along with other baptized Catholics around the globe. Some have met this process with great anticipation and welcome, others with fear and reservation. I suggest we continue to participate in the process by praying. 

The following is the invitation from our USCCB: Every session of the Second Vatican Council began with the prayer Adsumus Sancte Spiritus, the first words of the Latin original meaning, “We stand before You, Holy Spirit,” which has been historically used at Councils, Synods and other Church gatherings for hundreds of years, being attributed to Saint Isidore of Seville (c. 560 - 4 April 636). 
We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name. With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts; Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it. We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder. Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions. Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right. All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen

Pray for the priests of the archdiocese who gather for workshop at Conception this week. I will soon be on my way to France on pilgrimage with two couples who are great friends. I’m looking forward to visiting the holy sites and cultural attractions, while experiencing French wine and cuisine. You will be in my prayers at Lourdes and all the holy places I visit.

This past weekend, Luke Jennison, (our school principal) and I had one of our dinner parties that we sold at Knights Under the Star Gala Auction. Luke is a fabulous cook and prepared a scrumptious dinner. I was the sous-chef, bar-tender and waiter. We are so grateful to Tom & Kelly Boling, who bought the dinner and let us host it at their home. It was a great time with Tom, Kelly and friends!

Autumn Blessings!
Fr. Mike