The New Wine Press vol 25 no 8 April 2017 | Page 9

Precious Blood Companions
function of the religious establishment of his time,
Jesus pushed his followers and the church out of their
safe zone into an area that required constant reflection
and reconnection with God as a living, compassion-
ate being.” He also talked about the gifts that we have
been given to do the work of anticipation. He writes,
“In the grace of God, we can let go of our insecurity,
let go of our rigid rules, let go of our power, and invite
Christ to help us discern the will of our gracious God
in the ministry of inclusion.” He concludes with a
definition of the work that I believe each Companion
must embrace to make our hopes for younger people
and people of different cultures a reality: “Inclusion
is a discipline of extending our boundary to take into
consideration another’s needs, interests, experience,
and perspective, which will lead to clearer under-
standing of ourselves and others, fuller description
of the issue at hand, and possibly a newly negotiated
boundary of the community to which we belong.”
The work of inclusion, like the work of creation,
is at times hard and can often be overwhelming. As
a Precious Blood community, we make the com-
mitment to stand with people who are living at the
margins. We are called to offer safe space so people
can speak their truths. We have also each made
commitments in our covenants as Precious Blood
Companions. The future will call us each to individu-
ally reflect upon these commitments as we expand
our boundaries and expand the space of our tents as
the Isaiah calls us to do. When our boundaries are ex-
panded, we enter into what Law defines as the “grace
margin,” which allows each of us to have the time and
space to explore, discover and reflect upon what has
drawn us together. Because we are a people of renewal
and reconciliation we are used to bringing others into
this sacred space.
As Companions, we are now each called to enter a
season of grace. We are called to look at our fears and
anxieties, our prejudices and limitations, and try for a
moment to step outside those circles to meet the other
that might frighten us. My hero Archbishop Tutu
described what the hope for our growth would be.
He writes, “God’s dream is that you and I and all of
us will realize that we are family, that we are made for
togetherness, for goodness, and for compassion.” May
this time of anticipation, this time of groaning bring
forth the new creation that the prophet speaks about.
Take a moment and “Perceive it!” W
Go and Bear Fruit, continued from page 5
began to figure out who did what. There is a perma-
nent deacon, who is a parishioner of St. Patrick in
Melrose and is assigned to all three parishes. Each par-
ish has a part-time secretary/bookkeeper. They have
been a wealth of assistance to me.
At the first parish council meeting of each par-
ish, I told them I was there to serve them and invited
comments on what I could do. The common response
was: “Whatever you want, Father.” I replied that I was
there to serve them. What did they think would work
best for the parish? I have been told a couple of times
to be patient with them, that this approach of servant
leadership was new for them.
Due to the size of the parishes there has been coop-
eration between St. Mary Parish in Albia, St. Patrick
in Georgetown, and St. Peter in Lovilia for a num-
ber of years, especially for Religious Formation and
rcia. I sit in on ccd classes in Melrose and then go to
Religious Education classes in Albia on Wednesday
evenings. The Albia Companion group is not only
people from St. Mary’s in Albia but from throughout
Monroe County. I make it a priority to attend their
gatherings in Albia.
With this new appointment, there are new chal-
lenges and learning curves with new people, customs,
concerns, distance, and situations. One of these chal-
lenges is moving from a city to a rural area. Since I
grew up as a city boy, I find myself listening closely to
the stories of those who work the land to learn more
about rural life here in Iowa. I think it can help me
bring the Scriptures more alive in my homilies, espe-
cially when the readings contain agricultural referenc-
es. Parishioners from all three parishes have expressed
that a number of people have quit participating over
the years. Some have returned since I came, but there
is still work to do. While there are challenges for me
and for these communities, I view these as opportu-
nities for growth in our faith together to bear much
fruit. Living close to other members and Companions
has been beneficial. I appreciate the advice of Frs. Jim,
Bill and Mike, the Companions and parishioners as I
live into my new position as a pastor/administrator in
rural Iowa.
As Missionaries of the Precious Blood we have often
gone where we are needed the most. Rural Monroe
County is one of those places. We are called to serve
those who live on the margins. Being on the western
edge of the diocese—as in other areas of society—there
continued on page 9
April 2017 • The New Wine Press • 7