|
ST. JUDE CHRONICLE Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus THE DOMINICANS 1909 S. Ashland Chicago, IL 60608 |
 |
January 2001
 |
 |
 |
January 2001
Dear Friend,The beginning of a new year always presents challenges as we face the unknown of the new year ahead. Some challenges can be exciting; others can be demanding. But, in either case, with the new challenges comes the excitement of living out God’s will in trust and humility. This is all part of the challenge of faith. Here are some of the challenges we Dominicans face as we begin this new year:
At our Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus a picture of the future is revealing itself to us. We are aware of, and responsive to, a larger number of patrons of the Shrine coming to the daily Masses and the Novenas. Our mailing list keeps increasing which indicates an ever-increasing devotion to St. Jude in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and many other parts of the world. To meet the needs of all these people is an exciting challenge.
In our Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great we also face some demanding challenges. With our ageing membership and, at the same time increasing number of vocations, we face the challenges of providing for the health and care needs of the older friars who have ministered many years fulfilling our preaching mission and for the education and formation of the younger friars to enable them to carry on the mission. Added to those challenges is the challenge of supporting our missions in Bolivia, the poorest country in South America.
And, finally there is the challenge of ageing buildings. Our Priory of St. Pius V in Chicago is to be remodeled to meet the care needs of our elders. And our Dominican Conference Center (formerly our House of Studies) in River Forest, Illinois, needs renovation to enable the ministry of our Conference Center to expand and to enable collaboration with our Dominican Sisters at Dominican University.
Meeting these challenges requires faith and trust. We look forward to the possibility of your partnership in these ventures as you join us in our mission of preaching the Gospel. We depend on your good prayers and whatever financial support you are able to generously provide. Thank you, and may St. Jude walk with you as you face your challenges in the year ahead!
In Jesus' name,
Rev. Bede Jagoe, O.P.,
Director
As we enter into a new year we may find ourselves asking: "What will God bring into my life this year?" With this question one can almost have the image of God being a master puppeteer with many strings attached to everything from the weather, to the flow of traffic, viruses, our brains (when we’re taking tests for example,) to biological pro- cesses and on and on. In this view all of creation, including us, seems to be passive and God, the only active one, is managing the entire show.
God, however, gave us and all creation much more dignity than to be just passive entities that He manipulates. God endowed all of creation with inherent principles by which various creatures can manifest their identities. When it comes to us, He even gave us free will and intelligence with which to steer the course of our destinies.
Perhaps instead of asking: "What will God bring into my life this year" it would be more accurate to ask, "what, with my God given intelligence and freedom, will I bring into my life this year?" Fr. Benjamin Russell put it nicely to me one day when he said, "God is the cause of my being. I am the cause of what I do with my being."
I do not want to create the impres- sion that God made us, something like a watch maker might, and now we’re all ticking on our own. God is always with us in an intimate way. In his great letter to the Ephesians, Saint Paul writes of our God who is "over all and through all and in all." Eph. 4:6. The great insight into the "reign of God" is that God is actively present in our midst. But the Presence does not obliterate our free will nor does it obliterate the principles by which nature functions.
What we have here is a partnership between God and his people – where the excellence of God and the dignity of his creation are honored. We are called to honor God from whom we come, ourselves, and all of creation. One way we honor all three is by not "doing it alone." We need God’s supportive presence, our own best thinking, the help of other people, and we may need other aspects of creation like medicine. When we embrace all aspects of life we come to a mature spirituality that af- firms God and all of creation.
| In Christ's love, |  |
 | |
| Fr. Richard de Ranitz |
Father de Ranitz is a member of the Shrine of St. Jude Staff. He also gives retreats and workshops on physical, mental and spiritual health.
| Reverse Mission |
My former missionary experiences keep coming back into my life. My two decades in Nigeria in the sixties and seventies, preaching the Gospel, are unforgettable and very much formative of my life. Preaching is the hallmark of my life, and I will always be amazed at the working of the Holy Spirit in bringing God's people to the faith.
Today we Dominicans at the Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus are preaching daily to the friends of St. Jude who come for novena prayers and the celebration of the Eucharist. The Holy Spirit is very much alive in their lives and is deepening their faith. Preaching is related to the Gospel readings and empowers each of our listeners to carry on, and oftentimes to cope with the difficulties of the day.
Preaching at the Shrine of St. Jude becomes a conversion experience as well. Many missionaries coming back home to the States speak of their preaching today as being 'reverse mission'. Each of us is in need of the Gospel message in a society that is riddled with violence, sexual impropriety, greed and racial tensions. We are a society in need of conversion especially where peace and justice are in jeopardy.
Let us make our Solemn Novena prayer one of fostering conversion during these days of 'reverse mission'. We can call upon the intercessory power of St. Jude to help us and place our trust in the Holy Spirit continually alive in our midst. We know that God cannot fail us and with our continual prayer and service to others we might change the society we live in.
 |
Daniel Shanahan, O.P. is a member of the Dominican Province of St. Martin de Porres. He is a former high school teacher and a chaplain to the Dominican Cloistered nuns in Lufkin, Texas. Fr. Shanahan resides in Irving, Texas and brings Irish charm and wit to his preaching. |
 |
|
|
The St. Jude Legacy Club is our special way of recognizing those people who have remembered us in their will. On the 28th of each month, all the members are remem- bered in a Mass celebrated at the altar of St. Jude in the Vatican. "Where there is a will there is a way" Would you prayerfully consider during this novena including in your will the Dominican Fathers, Province of St. Albert the Great? You may remember us with either a cash amount or a percentage amount. By including us in your will your generosity will continue to support the preaching mission of the Dominicans. If you notify me about your decision to remember us in your will, you will be enrolled in the St. Jude Legacy Club at our Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus. This is our way of honoring all who have made an estate gift to us. As a member of this club you will receive a specially designed gift and will be remembered in a Mass celebrated on the 28th of each month for as long as we exist. We have a free brochure about preparing a will. For a copy of the brochure, write to us or call us at 312-226-0020. You should always talk with your attorney or financial advisor as you make decisions about your estate.
I assure you your gift will be put to very good use. Thank you so much for supporting us.
We Dominicans keep you and your intentions in our prayers and Masses throughout the
Province each day, confident that the Lord will bless you as you have blessed us.
Dominican Fathers
|
Shrine Services
Daily Services
Perpetual Novena
Solemn Novena
Saturday
Sunday
|