It is Memorial Day Weekend – a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  Please take time to remember in prayer and thanksgiving those who paid the ultimate price in defense of our country.  And remember, too, their friends and families who still grieve their loss – from our World War II veterans to our veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Memorial Day weekend is also the time when Hollywood begins to release their summer blockbusters.  Of course, some studios are releasing them earlier every year.  One of the movies coming our way is “Catching Fire,” the second of the Hunger Games trilogy authored by Suzanne Collins.  The tag line for the movie is that “every revolution begins with a spark.”

I am writing this on the afternoon of Pentecost when “catching fire” seems like an appropriate message.  It has set me to thinking about what are the sparks of faith that could start a revolution in the life of an individual parishioner, a ministry group, or an entire parish.  Maybe you can help address my musings by participating in the spiritual assessment survey.

Last summer we offered a special six-week course on covenant theology that not only sparked a lot of interest, but several people took the time to write and say how it had so changed their understanding and appreciation of God’s love for them.  This summer we are offering a six-week course on Early Church History (described in the next column).

But there are other kinds of “sparks” out there that might be wafting in the air seeking the right people to “ignite.”  Maybe it is a women’s or men’s prayer group; maybe it is a justice and peace group or a group dedicated to working for a solution to homelessness.  It could be a “Catholics Come Home” program or a series of retreats, outside speakers, and a whole host of things not yet even on our radar.

Take the survey, send an email, write a note – let your voice be heard and let your spark ignite a revolution of faith!

Every once in a while we need to stop and look around and ponder what we see.  When I look around I see lots of new and wonderful things that weren’t here a year ago.  We have a new space, the San Damiano Center at the corner of Florida Ave. and Madison.  It has allowed us to hold sacramental preparation for our children here in the locale of the church.  The space hosts Bible Study, workshops, meetings, and even retreats.  Two weeks ago it hosted the first Dismas Ministry meeting.

The Dismas Ministry is part of the “portfolio” under the banner of Franciscan Care Ministries lead by Fr. Sean and a whole host of wonderful parishioners.  Other ministries in that portfolio are “Bereavement Care,” “Divorced and Separated Care,” “Franciscan Hands of Hope,” an expansion of the Eucharistic Ministry at Tampa General, all the while continuing the prison ministry, and ministry for the AA community.  So much good being done for the greater glory of God – and so much of it new in the last year.

One of the things that surprised me when I became pastor was the absence of social events – the community getting together because we wanted to share a meal, some fun, and our friendships.  But this is just another area in which there are new things!  Last Fall, we had a parish gala (there is another coming up – Oct 12^th – Save the Date).  Next weekend, we will have a parish picnic at the Sacred Heart Academy campus – in the words of Bob Barker – “Come on down!”

This year has seen a wonderful growth and energy in our Children’s Faith Formation programs (Sunday catechism, children’s liturgy of the Word, and sacramental preparation).  We have so many new and vibrant volunteers – that it almost all seems new.

In every corner and aspect of the parish, there is something new, lively, and Spirit-filled.  We seem to be on the leading edge of Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem…and to the ends of the earth.”  Our end of the earth is here in downtown Tampa – and what a change we have seen in one year.  I can’t wait to see more people catch the Spirit and can only imagine what we will be able to see a year from now!

Every once in a while we need to stop and look around and ponder what we see.  When I look around I see lots of new and wonderful things that weren’t here a year ago.  We have a new space, the San Damiano Center at the corner of Florida Ave. and Madison.  It has allowed us to hold sacramental preparation for our children here in the locale of the church.  The space hosts Bible Study, workshops, meetings, and even retreats.  Two weeks ago it hosted the first Dismas Ministry meeting.

The Dismas Ministry is part of the “portfolio” under the banner of Franciscan Care Ministries lead by Fr. Sean and a whole host of wonderful parishioners.  Other ministries in that portfolio are “Bereavement Care,” “Divorced and Separated Care,” “Franciscan Hands of Hope,” an expansion of the Eucharistic Ministry at Tampa General, all the while continuing the prison ministry, and ministry for the AA community.  So much good being done for the greater glory of God – and so much of it new in the last year.

One of the things that surprised me when I became pastor was the absence of social events – the community getting together because we wanted to share a meal, some fun, and our friendships.  But this is just another area in which there are new things!  Last Fall, we had a parish gala (there is another coming up – Oct 12^th – Save the Date).  Next weekend, we will have a parish picnic at the Sacred Heart Academy campus – in the words of Bob Barker – “Come on down!”

This year has seen a wonderful growth and energy in our Children’s Faith Formation programs (Sunday catechism, children’s liturgy of the Word, and sacramental preparation).  We have so many new and vibrant volunteers – that it almost all seems new.

In every corner and aspect of the parish, there is something new, lively, and Spirit-filled.  We seem to be on the leading edge of Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem…and to the ends of the earth.”  Our end of the earth is here in downtown Tampa – and what a change we have seen in one year.  I can’t wait to see more people catch the Spirit and can only imagine what we will be able to see a year from now!