On occasion Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity unite with others at Arise Milwaukee’s Wednesday evening Eucharistic Adoration and Mass at St. Robert’s Parish, Shorewood, WI. It is ever a peaceful evening.
One of those recent occurrences, we joined many others to welcome Cardinal James Michael Harvey home. Ordained for the Archdocese of Milwaukee, Cardinal now serves as the Archpriest of St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of the four major basilicas in Rome. He comes periodically to spend time with family and friends.
Cardinal’s homily that evening focused on the fact that the parables are more about God’s perspective than about us and what we do or don’t do. For example, the Sower and the seed story is about God’s word ever prevailing, no matter what the circumstances. The parable is all about hope.
Cardinal was an assistant to St. John Paul II for many years. His homily also included a story about the Pope’s desire to thoughtfully remember anyone who asked him for prayer. A mistake on the Cardinal’s part was presuming that the people’s mention to the pope to pray for them was enough. The Pope, after noticing that the Cardinal was not writing any notes, looked at him straight in the eyes and told him that he wanted him to write out names on paper. These slips of papers were gathered up and then placed on the pope’s kneeler in the papal chapel. There was no doubt that these named souls were remembered in the saint’s personal prayers. We, too, were encouraged to have faith that God hears our own prayers of petition.
Check out Arise Milwaukee for yourself. Begins each Wednesday at 7 p.m. at St. Robert Church, Shorewood, WI.
