The fourth verse is that people of different cultural traditions will also eagerly discern and answer their call to become Companions. Our community in the United States was born to serve people who came here from different countries. Today many people from countries around the world call America home, despite the message they sometimes receive that they are not welcome. Many people from different cultural traditions understand what it means to be a minister of reconciliation because they have stood outside the circle and were not welcomed in. They have lived out Precious Blood spirituality in the core of their being without even knowing what it was. By entering into relationship with people from different cultural traditions in this country, our Companions would be stronger, as well as grow in their faith through the example of people who come from different cultural traditions and backgrounds.
The final verse is my dream that Companions and members can continue to foster relationships and truly begin to minister together in service to the community. Our Companions have many talents and gifts that they would love to offer to the community. I hope that as we move into the future we can trust each other and have confidence that we are all working for the common good. Companions value and care for the community as much as you members do. I hope that in the future that Companions will be allowed to work together with you for the good of the community that we are care deeply about.
Congregation at the gathering at Techny Towers
I conclude with a writer from this generation who reminds us of the importance of this moment as we dream about the future. In the hit musical“ Hamilton” Lin Manuel Miranda wrote,“ History has its eyes on you.” History has its eyes on us today. Our community comes from a long line of dreamers who looked
Vicky Otto and Fr. Richard Bayuk visiting during the gathering
into the future with conviction as they carried forth the message of reconciliation and renewal. Will we continue with the same visionary boldness or will we get let obstacles and challenges deter us? I hope that we will do our ancestors proud in this moment. The powerful play of our future will go on. We have a verse to contribute. Let’ s make it count. �
Fr. Alvin Herber, continued from page 3 put the parish plant to bed.” But rather than walking through the buildings and rooms and turning on lights as he went, he would instead carry a flashlight. He didn’ t want to spend the money to pay for the electricity to turn lights on and off as he made sure everything was secure.
He walked around with a flashlight. And one of his favorite tv programs every afternoon,“ sacred time” to him, was the soap opera“ Guiding Light.”( When he left St. James, the parishioners arranged for him to receive autographed photos from the actors and actresses of the series!) He was for the people wherever he served, a guiding light. He often said to me,“ You know, a missionary is at home wherever he finds himself." And whenever we would be out somewhere for the evening, he would at some point say,“ I think it’ s time to go home.”
Al, thank you for being a guiding light, pointing out to us the way, the truth, and the life. You knew that you were only the flashlight, that you were pointing all of us in the right direction, not wanting us to get lost in the darkness. Rejoice and be glad, Al, for you have come to Mt. Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. To myriads of angels who accompany with song and trumpets, and to a blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel. You are home. Turn off the light. You don’ t need it, because your light now reflects the one who is the Way, the Truth, the Life. W
8 • The New Wine Press • November 2017