I am writing this column on the 14th, a few days after the devastating earthquake in Haiti. From the first word of this catastrophic disaster, so many people of good will have found a way to assist the people of that impoverished country; and our Catholic Church has been a beacon of hope, in the way we have funneled resources and our love to our brothers and sister in Haiti. Our parish is "ramping up" to assist in providing food and water and medical supplies to the people of Haiti. You will be hearing more about our efforts to assist in the care of the Haitian people, and will be asked to take part in the effort.
When such a tragedy places itself on the world stage, most everything else becomes secondary for a time. And, with the immensity of such a disaster, our own "complaints and sufferings" are put in perspective. And this "perspective" is a good thing for us! Still, the truth is this, that there is hurt and hunger and unemployment in our own Gwinnett County, and we are called in His Name, to act on these local issues while still taking part in the world-wide efforts in assisting the people of Haiti.
One such local assistance our parish offers is our Career Ministry. The Career Ministry is a group of dedicated parishioners that have developed ongoing workshops for those either unemployed or those working only part-time (and needing a full time job). These workshops offer advice and counsel for those seeking employment. With the sad state of the economy and the persistent level of unemployment, this ministry is in need of additional workers, to offer more services. If you would like to know more about SJN's Career Ministry, please contact the ministry's coordinator, Dave Smolinski (
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, 770- 985-9924). Or, simply go to the SJN web site (www.sjnlilburn.com) and click on the Career Ministry article.
Another way of assisting the parish's Career Ministry? If you are a small business man or woman, running a company, and you might have openings, our Career Ministry will publish your opening at no cost. Why not look for employees from within our SJN parish family?
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This weekend, a bunch of our teenagers received the gift of the Sacrament of Confirmation. This weekend, you heard (or will hear) homilies offered by the wonderful deacons of SJN. This weekend, you and I have experienced so many blessings. Let us be grateful for the gifts given us. Let us be grateful for the gifts given us, and offer in return, our obedience to the Giver of the gifts. This is what being a steward means. Stewarding... managing... all the gifts according to the plan of God. Stewardship is the Way that the Lord Jesus lived. It must be our way as well, if we are to live the life of the Kingdom.
And as a part of that obedience, we will continue to assist in caring for the people of Haiti. Our Career Ministry will continue to offer hope for the unemployed and the under-employed. Our friends at St. Vincent de Paul will continue to offer food for the hungry. And we will continue to worship and to catechize and to evangelize and to proclaim…with our very lives…that Jesus Christ is the Lord…and our way to joy!
Msgr. David Talley
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