Taking the Time to Make a Difference

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It was remarkable that way he referred to “our” parish. I was speaking with Butch Feulner, an active member of St. Joseph Church in Vanderburgh County, about parish efforts in Haiti. The occasion for our conversation was the relief effort under way following the terrible earthquake in Haiti, but the assistance given to a parish in Haiti by this parish in southwestern Indiana is part of a long-term relationship. Over and over, Feulner referred to “our parish” – and at times, I had to check over my notes to see if he was talking about the parish in Indiana or the parish in Haiti. Never once in our conversation did he say, “They have a grade school” or anything similar. He said, “We have a grade school.” “We have a high school.” “We have a clinic.” St. Joseph Church is one of about 20 churches in our diocese with a “twin” parish or mission in Haiti, arranged through the Parish Twining Programs of the Americas, headquartered in Nashville. Each of theses parishes in Indiana – their pastors and their parishioners – have developed a relationship with the parish leaders and people in Haiti. They all have the right – along with the challenges and the joys – to refer to “our” parish, “our orphanage, “our” mission. And truth be told, the parishes in Haiti are able also to refer to “our” parishes in Indiana. What would it be like, I wonder, if we all responded to the challenge of Jesus to accept each other as brother and sister, children of “Our Father” in heaven? I have never been to Haiti (in part because a trip planned some years ago was cancelled out of concern for political upheaval at the time). But I can say that I have experienced a similar relationship. It is still difficult for me to understand – certainly not to accept or forgive -- some caustic comments made by a relative of mine in regard to the entire population of Mexico. I was offended by this relative’s insult to “our” Marukita – a member of a family who had hosted my wife and me when we attended a conference in Merida, capital of Yucatan, in Mexico. Marukita later came to visit us in Indiana. We returned for her wedding in Merida. She and my wife continue their connection on Facebook. Marukita is not one of them. She is part of us.

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The problems in Haiti are overwhelming, and no personal relationship is required to send a contribution. In fact, we could say that one of the most inspirational realities about our faith tradition is that so many people are willing to assist total strangers. That is the lesson taught by Jesus in Matthew 25, when “the righteous” will wonder what the Son of Man is saying when he says, “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” The answer, we have all heard often: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” Jesus is the one who not only restored unity between God and humankind; he is the one who has made it possible to put an end to all divisions between us and them. It is time for all of us to do our part to coninue to bring about this unity within the great family of humanity; it is our family.

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Take the time to share the good things you have received with those who have lost the few good things they may once have had. Take the time to get to know people in other places, other circumstances, or of other races or faith traditions. Take the time to acknowledge that the needs of our family do not end when the dead are buried or when the disaster falls off the front page. It takes time to make a difference.

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