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Posted on 07/10/2003 12:57:47 PM PDT by B Knotts
Every once in a while, I find myself engaged in one of those intriguing conversations where someone just back from a trip will come up to me and, rather breathless with surprise and excitement, say, "While we were away, we found the most wonderful parish, Father?" Often, these are interesting conversations. Sometimes it's just a matter of a family struck by the loveliness of a particular church building, situated in a charming spot.
But sometimes they return with interesting descriptions of what they have seen, of parishes with wonderful music programs, full devotional schedules, a chapel for the perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. I recall, years ago, a professor from our congregation beaming as he described to me the wondrous experience of attending Mass in the parish I'd suggested he visit while he was in Minnesota - the incomparable Msgr Schuler's incomparable parish, St Agnes, with its unusually excellent liturgy. I've so often heard the phrase, 'Mass factory,' used of their parishes by people who sadly describe a large place where endless Masses are perfunctorily celebrated, devotions nonexistent, the Forty Hours a dim memory. It's uplifting to hear people describing those parishes where the love of God is expressed clearly and joyfully, and has left an impression on a devout heart.
(Excerpt) Read more at diocesereport.com ...
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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I would never try to guess the motivations of Bishop Charles Grahmann. He does some very strange things, like trying to jam an accused rapist into one of the fastest growing parishes in the diocese, in Frisco. The parishioners raised so much hell that he was forced to renege, and, in fact, told the priest he couldn't come to the diocese.
That's why so many influential Catholics want him out, but, if Rome doesn't act, he'll stay another four years until he reaches 75.
Removing this priest is just the kind of thing he would do, for meanness or jealousy.
This is positively cruel to all those wonderful people. A light HAS gone out.
Somebody ought to punch Grahmann's out.
This goes beyond sad ... it is excruciatingly agonizing! Have the parishioners done anything about writing or calling the bishop? Can those of us who support this amazing priest freep the bishop with emails or letters and hope for some redress to the situation? How about writing to Rome?
I read this story in The Wanderer and had planned to post it after typing it up. Thank you for finding an online version. This story needs to be broadly disseminated.
Hmm, that would have to be someone who is near him, lives in the same city, hmm ... ;-)
In the future, I will look back on last week and see important milestones in my life:
-Sunday, June 15th, my 10th anniversary as Pastor at Blessed Sacrament
-Saturday, June 21st, the six-month anniversary of my dear father's death.
Also, on Tuesday, June 17th, Bishop Grahmann and Bishop Galante informed me that I was not part of their plans for Blessed Sacrament's future. After more than an hour of discussion, the agreement was reached that I be allowed to stay at Blessed Sacrament until January 5, 2004, whereupon I would be sent to Rome for a 3-month sabbatical at the North American College- an excellent sabbatical program. They did not mention to me where I would be sent upon my return to Dallas.
While I would treasure assisting at Mass in the Pope's private chapel and spending Holy Week and Easter in Rome (what an opportunity!), I would gladly trade it all to be at Blessed Sacrament Church for Lent and Easter in 2004. "Death" and "Resurrection" are the two themes of the Mystery of Lent and Easter and these themes are vitally connected to Blessed Sacrament Church.
When I arrived 10 years ago, the Church was in a sad state for any Catholic Church. It appeared ready to be closed. In fact a "rumor" which circulated widely among informed Catholics was that soon this Church would be closed and the land sold to DART. Instead of "hitching my wagon" to failure, I saw the opportunities present and we began to work and pray. On June 18, 1993 I made the predictions that "by or before our parish centennial in 2001 our parish would be completely out of debt (at the time of its resolution it was just shy of one million dollars), the crumbling, stained-glass windows would be repaired, the Church interior would be repainted, the hole-ridden asphalt parking lot would be replaced and that Blessed Sacrament Church would be a prominent, positive force in the Diocese of Dallas in many ways." The parish in the last 10 years has truly "risen from the dead." While ALL of these predictions were realized through God's Providence, the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Joseph, the tremendous help of the Catholic Foundation and the prayers and cooperation of our parishioners, the last part of my forecast is still in "Limbo"- my own future here as Pastor.
After making that forecast without having completed even my first week at Blessed Sacrament Church,
I asked you to include me in your prayers. I said on my first Sunday in 1993: "Please pray that the Bishop who sent me to Blessed Sacrament will forget that I am here and just leave me here to serve.
I plan to be here a loooooong time." My goal was to "spoil the poor"- the goal of Mother Teresa's life. I thank God for these 10 years - the happiest of my life. But the time has flown by. My hope was that I would be allowed to enjoy the same option that some Pastors are experiencing today. They have been allowed to serve in Dallas over 20 years in the same parish. I wanted the same for the poor here.
This is not mere "pie in the sky" thinking. The poorer a parish is the greater the need for a stable Pastor. Here at Blessed Sacrament, without the administrative staff of the more affluent parishes, so much MORE depends on the day-to-day guidance of its Pastor. If the Pastors of 2 affluent parishes are switched one to the other, the impact on the parish is minimal. Why? They both have a large staff to absorb the shock of the change. This is not possible in a parish such as Blessed Sacrament. The impact, in my opinion, will greatly undermine the progress made at such a dear cost over the last 10 years.
My goal as Pastor has been not only to celebrate our 2001 Parish Centennial but to prepare the parish for the future. My goal has not been to nurse the Mexican Immigrants as a hen sits on an egg. By integrating Mexican immigrants into a parish which also offers Mass in English, their children have a place to attend Mass. Many teens of immigrants are more comfortable with Mass in English, although their parents speak Spanish. Also, by introducing the Mexican immigrants to native Dallasites, the possibilities for everyone increases exponentially. I have avoided a "ghetto" mentality in serving the Mexican immigrants in order to help them in the necessary process of acclimating to a new home - the USA. There are no fights or jealousies present between my Mexican immigrant parishioners and my native Dallasites. Rather, there is mutual love and respect. And all of this has been done "on a shoestring." Week after week, your contributions have not sat in a bank vault earning interest. What $$$ came in, went out in the same week. While we have NO DEBT, we also have no savings account either. Instead God has provided through you from week to week. (For example, 2 weeks ago, after paying all the bills and writing all of the checks on Friday, there was a remainder of $93.95 left over in the checking account.) Each week I recalled God's Providence - that this is exactly how it has been during my 10 years as Pastor. Like the manna in the desert, our people had "just enough." It truly shows you Who has been taking care of us at Blessed Sacrament. During these years of unending scandals, our Parish has been a constant beacon of positive, Catholic life in Dallas, Texas. Pray for God's Will and if possible that I be allowed to remain as
Pastor. Rev. Paul L. Weinberger, Pastor
June 22, 2003, Feast of Corpus Christi
Now, now! Much as I am a fan of Der Maeuseturm, the striking of a Bishop is punished by laete sententiae interdict, if I am not mistaken.
On the other hand, there is no punishment for praying "That our Prelate Grahmann may be taken speedily to his eternal reward if it be in conformance with the will of the God. Lord hear us! Lord graciously hear us!"
Now, you know when Fr. Paul refers to "Mexican immigrants" above, he is talking about illegal aliens. There are those on FR who would condemn him for this (I'm not among them; it's not his job to shepherd them out of the country).
Is that still the case? I thought only attacking the Pope carried that penalty. Also, does the term interdict apply to individuals? My understanding is that it refers to groups or states.
Any members of Most Blessed Sacrament who feel the need to "jump ship" are welcome to join with us as we receive Our Lord while kneeling at the altar rail.
There's nothing wrong with not getting involved in that particular issue; I do, however, take issue with those who knowingly and intentionally assist in harboring illegal aliens. There is nothing particularly honorable about doing so, and it encourages dangerous behavior which often results in tragedy to the immigrants themselves as well as others. No one, especially a priest, should condone that.
Knotts. The illegal population in Texas is approaching half of the legal population. Fr. Paul wouldn't have to "harbor" them. He likely never inquires about legal status. But he's clearly ministering to a significant minority of illegals.
There it is.
Can. 1370 §1 A person who uses physical force against the Roman Pontiff incurs a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See; if the offender is a cleric, another penalty, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state, may be added according to the gravity of the crime.
§2 One who does this against a Bishop incurs a latae sententiae interdict and, if a cleric, he incurs also a latae sententiae suspension.
§3 A person who uses physical force against a cleric or religious out of contempt for the faith, or the Church, or ecclesiastical authority or the ministry, is to be punished with a just penalty.
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