It’s all about the food:  A week ago, I gave a talk at the Country Club of Detroit.  This annual dinner and talk is hosted by the family who brings us the bibles each year at Christmas.  This couple not only hosts the dinner but they also provide the parish with a $10,000 check for our Monsignor Bass Scholarship Fund for school tuition scholarships.  It’s a delightful evening and a great opportunity for me to share insights into some scriptural passage or teaching of the Church.
 
This year, given all the news on the clergy sex abuse scandal, I focused part of my time giving a brief overview of our processes and procedures in the Archdiocese of Detroit in handling allegations of clergy sexual abuse.  The second part of my time was spent on a phrase from the Letter of Saint James: “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only (1:22).”  I talked about how God wants us to be doers of the Word, that is, we need to put his saving word into action.  I think it’s a powerful line to remind us that God’s word needs to be put into action every day.  One resource I read indicated that listening actually has four distinct components:  1) you have to HEAR the word; 2) you have to UNDERSTAND the word; 3) you have to ACCEPT and ASSIMILATE it and finally, 4) you have to ACT on it.  Without all four components, our hearing is incomplete.  God wants us to put his word into action.
 
My talk follows dinner and dessert.  Dinner was phenomenal; but we all know I always leave room for dessert, which for me is the best part of any meal.  When dessert came around I was a bit disappointed.  I already convinced myself that night I could indulge in any dessert.  Given we were on the verge of the season of fall, I was looking forward to an apple pie or something apple-ish.  Dessert ended up being a scoop of ice-cream with a shot of caramel.  Now, I don’t want to sound as if I was ungrateful for the scoop of ice-cream but I really had my heart set on something apple or the all-time: something chocolate.  Now remember, I already dispensed myself from all dietary restrictions for the night and I got myself all psyched up about getting this all-time apple or chocolate dessert.  A scoop of ice-cream with caramel sauce wasn’t going to do it for me.  Eventually, I ate my ice-cream but I knew I would be on the prowl for some dessert when I got home.
 
After I concluded my talk and the final blessing, I went into the vestibule of the Club and stood to thank people as they were leaving.  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw this candy dish on the receptionist’s counter.  I was delighted because I saw these tiny little packages with shiny green covers; that could only mean that Andes Mints were sitting there.  I couldn’t wait to dine on those little chocolate mint candies.  I tried several times to move over to the counter to snag a few but I couldn’t move fast enough because the moment one person got done talking to me, another one was waiting in the wings.  At this point, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on those Andes Mints.  After the last person left the reception area, I moved quickly to the counter.  My hand was outstretched waiting to grab a few.  I was trying to plot how I could make it look like I only snatched maybe two or three while in reality take a handful without looking gluttonous.  When I got up to the counter, I was stunned.  Wait, this couldn’t be!  They weren’t Andes Mints at all; they were matches!  MATCHES?  I couldn’t believe it.  Seriously, who puts matches on a counter these days?  Even worse, why match books that look like Andes Mints.  I was thoroughly bummed.  As I drove home, I started to plot my chocolate seeking journey.  Would I stop by Kroger or would I scour the campus looking for something that would satisfy my chocolate quench.  I ended up going home but landed at the Parish Center and grabbed a handful of these wonderful chocolate and sea salt covered almonds (that few seem to like because the bag has been around for a bit).  I may have been temporarily foiled, but in the end I still got my chocolate! It just took a little bit of time and some determination.  I wasn’t going to be foiled for long.  And believe me, I know where all the good junk food is kept around our parish!  And, even better, I have all the keys!
 
Congratulations to Deacon Tom:  Monday, October 1, marks the 7 ^th anniversary of Deacon Tom’s ordination to the permanent diaconate.  Please join me in thanking Deacon Tom for his ministry at our parish not only for the past seven years but for many decades.  Deacon Tom and Josie have been huge pillars in our parish community for a long time.  Congratulations Deacon Tom!  Thank you for the many and varied ways you put into action the saving Gospel you proclaim and were sent to preach.  To quote that letter from St. James, you certainly are a “DOer of the Word!”
 
FREE Money:  You’ve often heard me talk about “Free Money.”  One of the most significant ways our parish earns “Free Money” is through the Kroger Community Rewards Program.  The program is simple and doesn’t cost us a penny.  We earn the money because YOU shop at Kroger and have designated SJA School as the recipient of your Kroger Community Rewards program donation.  When the program first started, we regularly saw quarterly checks around $10,000!  Right now we average about $2,500 per quarter.  I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for you to make sure you are registered in the program.  If you are registered and have designated St. Joan of Arc School as your charity of choice, then SJA School will be listed as such on the last line of your receipt.  It will say, “Kroger Community Rewards: At your request, Kroger is donating to St. Joan of Arc School.”  If you don’t see that on your receipt, then your Kroger purchases are NOT helping us earn free money!  Please make sure you are enrolled in the program and have designated SJA as your charity of choice.  You can enroll in the program at the Kroger website:  www.krogercommunityrewards.com.  Please make sure you are registered today!  You shop … the school wins!  If you have questions about the program, please call the Parish Center.
 
Enjoy the week.  Know of my prayers.
 
In Christ,
 
gmb
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