Who Do You Say That I Am?

21st Sunday of Ordinary Time

Who Do You Say That I Am?

“But who do you say that I am” (Matthew 16:15).  Jesus poses this question to his disciples.  And Peter enthusiastically exclaims: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).  Indeed, Peter answers correctly as he is illuminated by the Holy Spirit.  In faith, that, too, is our response.  I’ll always remember what a former spiritual director said to me when I was a seminarian studying for the priesthood at Mundelein Seminary.  While in the Gospel Jesus poses the question – and of course it is important for us to take ownership as a follower of Christ and be able to profess faith in him – it is also equally beneficial to pose Jesus’s own question back to him, he explained.  In other words, that spiritual director invited me to ask Jesus in the silent prayer of my heart: Lord, who do you say that I am to you?  That is a powerful question, and one worth bringing to your personal prayer.  Lord, who am I to you?  As you rest in the presence of God this week, may the Holy Spirit enlighten “the eyes of your heart that you may know what is the hope that belongs to your call” (Ephesians 1:18).  May the answer you hear from the Lord affirm you deeply – to know that you belong here; you belong to God; you belong to the Light – you are a beloved child of God, beautifully and wonderfully made, in His image and likeness. 

Seminarians at Mundelein Seminary focus on both aspects of that question.  As they undergo formation in the spiritual, human, pastoral and intellectual dimensions, they must continue to respond to Jesus’s question once posed to the disciples.  Who do you say that I am?  The first office or duty of the ministerial priest is to preach the Gospel to all people.  And so like Peter, they must have the right answer: you Lord Jesus are the Christ, the Son of the living God!  In addition, the seminarian must be grounded and centered in his identity or relationship with the Lord.  Therefore, he also must ask Jesus: who am I to you, Lord?  Here at St. Francis de Sales, we will be blessed to accompany 3 seminarians this Fall, helping to form them as they prepare to become priests.  We are also going to be so fortunate to learn from them, too, as they bring with them a heart for ministry and service and a willingness to share their spiritual gifts with our community.  Last weekend, I announced the names of the 3 seminarians assigned to us: William Jordan, from SS. Joseph and Francis Xavier Parish in Wilmette, Archdiocese of Chicago, entering into Discipleship I (first year of Philosophy); Benjamin Wemhoff, from St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Diocese of Wichita, entering into Configuration I (First Theology); Alex Klein, from St. Jude Parish, Diocese of Wichita, entering in Configuration II (Second Theology).  Please join me in praying for our seminarians, and together, may we pause to ponder and reflect on that deeply reciprocal question: who do you say that I am?

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Thank You! 

Principal Mary Keller and I are pleased to announce the installation of brand new concrete steps adjacent to the school’s main entrance as well as new mulch for the school’s playground.  We are confident that these improvement projects will promote safety and enjoyment for our students.  I want to take this opportunity to thank Dcn. John Sfire and Fidelity Construction for their excellent work and a job well done with both of these projects!

Wishing you God’s peace and everything good, I remain – 
Yours in Christ,

A House of Prayer for All Peoples

20th Sunday of Ordinary Time

A House of Prayer for All Peoples

“For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (Isaiah 56:7b).  In a time of restoration, when the Israelites were able to return home to Judah after the Babylonian exile, it was an opportunity to reestablish themselves.  It was also a moment to reclaim their identity as a covenantal people with God, to have high expectations for what God was going to do for them.  Within this framework came a reminder to the Israelites that they are to be “a light to the nations, that [God’s] salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6b).  This is what is meant by “a house of prayer for all peoples.”  Through the Israelites who were first called, they are to help all the ends of the earth come to know the knowledge and friendship of God, thus making the whole world “called” and therefore creating true community in the household of God.

A house of prayer for all peoples.  Indeed, today the New Testament Church is a house of prayer for all peoples – as Christ is the fulfillment of the Law and prophecies of the Old Testament.  Through Christ, the new and eternal covenant, there is fulfillment and extension of the original covenant.  In the words of Jesus, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (John 12:32).  Or in another place, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10).  St. Francis de Sales boldly witnesses to the Gospel and we as a parish community remain committed to being a house of prayer for all –  to remain centered on Christ, mission and evangelization, to go and make disciples!  

Our seminarians studying at Mundelein Seminary undergo specialized formation and training so they can do just that in response to their call to the ministerial priesthood (as ordained priests).  As I announced this past weekend at our Masses, St. Francis de Sales has been named a teaching parish by Mundelein Seminary!  This means, in the Fall, we will be blessed to have up to 3 seminarians join our community to experience mission and ministry within our ranks.  The seminary’s Tolton Teaching Parish Program enables seminarians “to spend time each week at their teaching parishes—learning practical and pastoral skills from experienced mentor pastors, participating in Masses and parish events, getting to know parishioners personally, and gaining a better understanding of what it takes to shepherd a community of faith.”  In addition, the parish is enriched by the spiritual gifts a young seminarian brings: his prayers and witness to faith, his service in giving talks to various groups or teaching in the youth or religious education program, as well as a sense of renewal and hope for the future of our Church.  This is a momentous occasion and a very exciting time, and this is a testament to our parish’s history and legacy – the Archdiocese and Seminary recognizes that St. Francis de Sales is a leader, and now we will be able to help form and shape future priests of the Catholic Church.  

While we do not yet know who will be assigned to our parish, I ask that you please join me in praying for our seminarians and more vocations to the priesthood.  Once I have more information, I will share that with you.  I know seminarians always look forward to getting out to parishes – to be on the front lines with the people of God they feel called to love and serve.  I look forward to how we will walk together with them. 

In Christ the Teacher, 

Fr. Christian Shiu
Administrator

High Expectations!

19th Sunday of Ordinary Time

High Expectations!

From working in the field of education, I know the word “expectation” carries great importance. Teachers and coaches use that term quite often. There are expectations for the classroom or athletic field; there are expectations a student must observe in a particular course of study or sport; there are expectations that we hold ourselves to. In the spiritual life, we have expectations that point to our capacity to have hope in a new opportunity or future. What do you expect from God? I hope it is the impossible, the incredible, the inconceivable. When it comes to God, the invitation is to always have high expectations.

Peter, as he responded to Jesus’s imperative to “Come” seemed to have solidified his belief in the expectation that he could actually walk on water. And Peter did – as we learn from today’s Gospel passage – at least until Peter turned away from Christ and got caught up with hope’s antithesis: fear. Indeed, fear has a crippling effect on our spiritual senses. Fear clouds and mars the inner capacity to trust in God. Fear distorts and distracts us from keeping our eyes focused and attuned to Christ. Fear can be scary, just as that tempest was for Peter. What are we afraid of: perhaps it is the future, illness, suffering or the greatest unknown which is death. But in the midst of the storm and strong winds, Christ beckons us to “come”, to keep our hopes and high expectations on him – and even when we fall short, to try again and again, for the Lord is near; he always stretches out his hand to catch us.

That is why we gather each Sunday as a worshiping community to celebrate the Lord’s Day – to renew the sacrifice of human redemption. It is in the Eucharist that the Lord renews his covenant with us and we renew our covenant with the Lord.

This strengthens Christian hope, whereby we are once again able to reorient and recenter our lives on Christ. We fix our gaze on the one who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life.” In the words of theologian and spiritual master Henri Nouwen, “we do this [as people] who can support each other in patient expectation until we see him again. And then our hearts will be full of joy, a joy that no one can take away from us.” Have high expectations in Christ, in whom your joy will be made complete.

Wishing you God’s peace and everything good, I remain – 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Christian Shiu
Administrator

P.S. As I announced at all the Masses last weekend, I am pleased to report that brand new concrete steps have been installed at the east entrance to the Church. Dcn. John Sfire will share more about this important improvement in the adjacent column.

Welcome to the Mission

18th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Welcome to the Mission

Welcome to the Mission, St. Francis de Sales! When Jesus calls the twelve apostles, Mark the evangelist writes, “He appointed twelve that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach (Mark 3:14). That they might be with him: indeed, the intent of Jesus is to intimately associate the apostles with him – and his mission! In today’s Gospel, we also find a clear indicator that the Lord calls us to active participation. When the disciples are eager and enthusiastic to dismiss the crowds so that they can go home and get some food on their own, Jesus encourages them to pause. No, they don’t have to leave. Rather, Jesus instructs them: “Give them some food yourselves” (Matthew 14:16b).

Give them some food yourselves. We can’t do everything, but we can do something. And that something that we can do is how we witness to the Gospel as missionary disciples. I want to take this opportunity to affirm each of you, with your own unique experiences, gifts and talents. You are equipped; you are enabled; you are empowered to “give them some food yourselves!”

In other words, always remember that you can make a difference and the impact you have on others in the name of Christ has inestimable value.

Do not be afraid to get involved, to discern a new ministry, or maybe to volunteer at the food pantry or Emmaus House – for in the words of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, “we can do small things with great love.” Somewhere here at our beautiful parish and in our wonderful community of Lake Zurich, you will have the opportunity to be the hands, feet, and voice of Christ – as you reach out with the compassion of Jesus.

As Pastor of St. Francis de Sales, I pledge to remain committed to the Mission of Jesus Christ. Like Jesus who took, blessed, broke and gave bread back to the disciples who in turn gave it to the crowd, we the parish staff, lay leaders and pastoral ministers assure you of our prayers and support. We will continue to provide substantive formation that enriches your life of missionary discipleship. We will continue to listen to your needs and the kind of training you want to receive. We will continue to accompany you in your faith life so that you will feel more and more confident and capable of giving them some food yourselves.

Meanwhile, let us continue to pray for each other and our parish and school community. Let us pray for Jake, Marc and Chris, and all those newly and recently confirmed in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Indeed their commission is a reminder of our very own: welcome to the mission; the Church needs you!

Assuring you of my prayers, I remain – 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Christian Shiu
Administrator

A Listening Heart

17th Sunday of Ordinary Time

A Listening Heart

“Whatever you ask I shall give you.”  In this Sunday’s first lesson, we find wisdom from Solomon, as he prudently responds to the Lord’s magnanimous proposal.  “Give your servant, therefore, a listening heart to judge your people and to distinguish between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9).  In other words, Solomon asks for wisdom – he desires right judgment in order to discern God’s will.  Only a listening heart will allow him to do that.

A listening heart: last week I reflected on discipleship and the inherent response associated with being an apprentice or learner of Jesus: mission.  Mission moves us from passive to active, from observer to participant; we are sent by the Risen Lord Jesus to be missionary disciples, those who become the hands, feet, face and voice of Christ in the world.  

In the process of living and witnessing to the Gospel as missionary disciples, we are called to conform our hearts and minds more and more to the pattern of Christ.  Through prayer, we develop a listening heart, we become obedient to the will of God.  In fact, the Latin for “obedience” literally means “to listen”.  When we truly open ourselves to hearing God’s voice in the whisper, then we can begin to understand the direction God is leading us, and like the Blessed Virgin Mary, we, too, can offer our “fiat” – let it be done!  Let it be done unto me according to thy will. 

What is the direction that God is leading us?  To be sure, in the spiritual life there is only one direction: and that’s forward.  Missionary discipleship necessarily beckons us to go out into the deep (cf. Luke 5:4).  In addition, the Lord reminds us that he is always doing something new – do you not perceive it (cf. Isaiah 43:19)?  As we walk together in faith, my prayer – and I invite you to join me in your own prayers – is to embrace a listening heart so that we may discern where the Holy Spirit is leading us.  A great question to bring to prayer asks where the Holy Spirit is leading St. Francis de Sales Parish in the months to come, in the next year, how about in five years?

With regard to the months to come and the future, I have been listening and learning a lot from members of our esteemed parish community.  I have brought feedback and insights to prayer, seeking to discern God’s will.  I am happy to share some updates that will transpire in just a short time, with the exception of the first item.  

1. I have consulted with parish staff and I will be convening an ad hoc committee to guide me in implementing and executing our parish church renovation and improvement using funds raised from the parish “Fix-It Campaign”.  More information and details will be forthcoming.

2. Our parish communications coordinator, Katie McGlauchlin, is leading the process of revamping our parish website so that it will be vibrant, possess the latest features and applications as well as be user-friendly.  Our launch date is projected for this Advent Season!

3. Thanks to a donor, we have funds directed towards the beautification of our campus.  Over the summer, we will remove weeds and plant some new flowers, adding greenery to our beautiful campus.

4. Our St. Francis de Sales School Athletic Board has generously donated funds to layer the playground and playlot with tire mulch for the upcoming school year.  This new mulch will provide added safety for our school children and raise the surface level to the appropriate height.  Principal Mary Keller and I are grateful to the Athletic Board!

Wishing you God’s peace and everything good, I remain – 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Christian Shiu
Administrator

“Go, therefore, and Make Disciples”

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time

“Go, therefore, and Make Disciples”

Discipleship has been the focus of my bulletin reflections as well as my Sunday sermons. This is because discipleship is integral to the Christian life. In fact, the word disciple derives from the Latin root which means “learner”, or in other words, to be an apprentice. A disciple is an apprentice of Jesus – one who learns and follows and studies under the tutelage of Jesus. One way we can see ourselves as an apprentice of Christ is through the medium of Sacred Scripture. Our study of Sacred Scripture, and the New Testament in a particular way, transmits the life and teachings of Jesus. However, once received into our minds and hearts, the question that remains is: what is my response? I affectionately refer to this process as spiritual physics. After encountering the Risen Lord Jesus, after undergoing this study that is apprenticeship, after learning from Him, I believe we are necessarily inspired to mission!

Mission isn’t something new – it’s not just the vision of the modern Church. Rather, mission goes back to the vision of Christ, himself. For instance, consider the calling of the twelve as found in Mark’s Gospel. “He appointed twelve [whom he also named apostles] that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach” (Mark 3:14). “That they might be with him” points to this concept of discipleship – being a learner or apprentice of Jesus. Following that clause, though, comes something revolutionary! “And he might send them forth to preach”. That’s the resulting clarion call and commission of a disciple. The word “apostle” literally means one who is sent away. The contemporary disciple is to be an apostle – one who is sent out on mission to proclaim the Gospel. And this action or work of proclamation (“kerygma” is the Greek word meaning “proclamation”) is what is known as evangelization. Mission means to be sent out in the name of Christ, and evangelization is what we do once we are sent away: to proclaim Christ to others that will facilitate an encounter with the Risen Lord, so that someone else can become a disciple, and make a personal choice and commitment to follow Jesus.

On a side note, if you’re ever wondering how you can succinctly and simply pronounce and proclaim the kerygmatic proclamation, I would encourage using the words of the late Pope Francis in his Apostolic Exhortation “Evangelii Guadium”: Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side to enlighten, strengthen and free you! (EG 164). Those three points are all that’s needed to make the initial proclamation to someone.

Within this framework, one can ascertain that the nomenclature "disciple" is actually inadequate. That is why Pope Francis asserts that the baptized person must become a “missionary disciple”. Pope Francis goes on to explain, “Every Christian is challenged, here and now, to be actively engaged in evangelization; indeed, anyone who has truly experienced God’s saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love. Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus: we no longer say that we are “disciples” and “missionaries”, but rather that we are always ‘missionary disciples’” (EG 120).

People of St. Francis de Sales, we are missionary disciples! We remind ourselves of that truth every time we exit church – a sign that quotes the words of the Risen Lord Jesus: “Go, therefore, and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19a).

Wishing you God’s peace and everything good, I remain – 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Christian Shiu
Administrator

Disciple, Shepherd, Steward

15th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Disciple, Shepherd, Steward

Having completed my first full week at St. Francis de Sales, including a weekend, I am grateful for the warm welcome and hospitality, and I am elated to be a part of your parish.  From my conversations and encounters with people, it is clear to me that there is a strong sense of community here.  Last week, I spoke of walking together; it has already become evident to me that you are disciples of Christ who walk together with each other.  I have witnessed this from the incredible synergy and spirit of collaboration among the staff, I have witnessed this from the dedicated liturgical ministers who ensure that we can all belong, believe and become here in our spiritual home, I have witnessed this from those who serve in the food pantry ministry; I have witnessed this from our committed Ministers of Care, leaving church after Daily Mass to bring Holy Communion to those who cannot join the worshipping community in-person, and I have witnessed this from the assembly in the celebration of Eucharist – as you walk together with each other in worship, exercising your common priesthood, uniting the story and substance of your lives to the one sacrifice of Christ on the Cross for the salvation of the world. 

As I have been spending time praying about my new role as pastor of a parish, a thought comes to mind: disciple, shepherd and steward.  In the Archdiocese of Chicago, an important model of priesthood entails these three categories, and they each speak to the three-fold duty of the priest.  As a Disciple, I am entrusted with providing spiritual vision and ensuring that we stay grounded on the Mission.  In the words of the Risen Lord Jesus: to go and make disciples (cf. Matthew 28:19).  As a Shepherd, I am entrusted with teaching and preaching the Gospel and providing pastoral care.  And as a Steward, I am entrusted with the great gift which is the holy People of God – to help you to “shine like lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15b) as I celebrate the Sacraments and ensure the life of grace.  

The Priest as disciple, shepherd and steward is the one who walks together with the people – praying, listening and discerning so that true co-responsibility can occur.  Remember a moment ago I spoke of the common priesthood: this is the priesthood of the Baptized!  And therein is the reality that every single member of the Body of Christ is co-responsible for the Mission of Christ.  Simply put, co-responsibility means that every baptized member of the Body has a unique call or vocation, ministry and lifestyle that enables her to participate in mission and evangelization – building up the Body of Christ and proclaiming the Gospel.  

The ministerial priesthood – that of the ordained – is called to be at the service of the common priesthood.  And I couldn’t be more excited than to do that here at St. Francis de Sales.  As I mentioned in my weekend homily, always remember that you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in you, you are a beloved child of God, and God loves you – never let anyone tell you otherwise.  Because of that truth, you are being equipped and enabled daily by Christ to also be disciples, shepherds and stewards of the faith, “to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1b).  While the priest consecrates the Eucharist, You consecrate the world! 

Wishing you God’s peace and everything good, I remain – 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Christian Shiu
Administrator

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Watch Fr Christian’s Homily from last week below!

Walking Together

Walking Together

St. Francis de Sales would resort to writing notes teaching and explicating the Catholic faith on sheets of paper, slipping them under doors. That was the only way he might hope to re-evangelize in Geneva. The Catholic Revival didn’t come easy for St. Francis, but he had a resolve and resiliency to forge ahead, to walk together with others, in gentleness and love.

Walking together in the spiritual life is pivotal. We find countless examples from Sacred Scripture: Jesus instructs the apostles to walk together in pairs, as he sends them out as those who share in his mission (cf. Mark 6:7); later, Jesus will call forth the seventy-two who will also participate in the mission, they, too, are to walk together in pairs (cf. Luke 10:1); or think of that monumental and momentous Resurrection day, when Cleopas and the other disciple are walking together with the Risen Lord Jesus on the Road to Emmaus (cf. Luke 24:13-35). If we flip back to the Old Testament, we discover equally compelling examples of walking together: Naomi and Ruth in their pact of true friendship, Enoch and Noah, both depicted in the Book of Genesis as righteous ones who walked with God. Even the psalmist who writes “under his wings you may take refuge” absolutely believed that the Lord – in whom refuge is found – was walking together with him (cf. Ps. 91:4).

This past week, I had the opportunity to visit the University of Notre Dame for some rest and reflection. One of my fondest memories was praying at the Grotto. There, I saw people walking together in faith, young and old, parents with their children hand-in-hand, college students, summer camp kids, visitors and tourists. Above all, in the midst of the sacred silence, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, allowing this concept of walking together to become tangible in the unity of the human family – because we are all looking for something, we are all yearning for something; we are all desiring something to settle and satisfy our restless hearts. Indeed, how wonderful that people walk together toward Christ, seeking the aid and intercession of Our Lady who leads us to ever deeper friendship with her Son.

As the new Pastor of St. Francis de Sales, I am deeply honored to have the privilege of walking together with you in your unique human experiences: the worries, challenges and concerns, goals and aspirations, hopes and dreams. That’s all okay! I pledge to walk with you and to point us to Christ so that we may find hope in Him and in each other. At the Corby Hall residence for Holy Cross priests and brothers, right before entering the Holy Spirit Chapel, the seal of the order is stamped on the floor; it reads “Spes Unica”. That means: our only Hope. Indeed, the direction in which we will walk together is Christ – Christ through his saving work of Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension is the only source of our Hope! And it is having hope that enables us to move forward, to take that next step, even when we are uncertain, because we trust that God is with us and God loves us. If we ever need reminding of the love of God, let us gaze upon the Cross: there we see love outstretched and open to all, a new and eternal covenant that our parish continues to share with others through mission and evangelization.

St. Francis de Sales wrote notes and letters; I will, too, in the medium of a new pastor’s column entitled “Eagle’s Landing” that will appear each week in the bulletin. In the days, months, and years to come, I look forward to using this platform as a way to communicate and share faith, news, and ideas. I am also eager to engage in avenues and events that will afford us the opportunity to meet, for you to share your faith, news, and ideas with me, and for me to listen.

As we walk together with Our Lady’s guidance, be assured of my prayers as I remain –

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Christian Shiu
Administrator