I oftentimes say in prayer, “Grant me the wisdom to see Your will for my life and the courage to follow that will.” It is a request for true discernment to see that God’s will is always more important and fruitful than my own will. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking happiness and fulfillment lie in doing what I want to do and following my own wants and desires. Our entire secular culture is filled with that message. However, that road has led too many to a place of emptiness and regret. I must pray to keep in the forefront of my mind that God created me on purpose and for a purpose. Being wise enough to see that purpose is the key to true satisfaction in this world.

Giving of our gifts and talents in only ways we want to means that we become deaf and blind to the numerous times Jesus Christ calls us to give. We also easily avoid any form of real sacrifice, which often leads us to give only from our excess. Wisdom allows us to see where we are being called, even if we are unsure what increase will result from our investment. Our trust is no longer in the gift given but instead in the One who is calling us to give. When our lives of generosity and compassion are ordered in this way, it is hard for anything to steal our joy away. Our purpose is found, our aim is true, and our desire is fulfilled.

 Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS is the Director of Parish Community and Engagement for LPI, Inc. He has a BA in theology from DeSales University and a MTS from Duke Divinity School.

On Sunday October 14th, the Cathedral Church will celebrate being 90 years young. While the 14th is no longer the liturgical celebration for the Cathedral’s dedication, since its dedication anew on December 2nd, 2009, we will still celebrate this important day in our parish life of faith with a concert of sacred music on Saturday evening, October 13th at 7:00PM in the Cathedral. The choirs of the Cathedral, Blessed Sacrament, Christ the King, and St. Boniface in Edwardsville have been working to provide what will surely be a wonderful evening of song and praise. I hope to see you there.

I described the Cathedral’s birthday as “90 years young” because, while the building may need some care here and there due to time, the church itself is the epicenter for many great things happening in the parish. If you have not noticed in past issues of the Cathedral Weekly, there are many things happening in our parish. The parish’s faith formation program is in full swing with weekly offerings from talks on various theological topics, to Bible and book studies, to the Forge young adult ministry, and the parish high school youth group. The Parish School of Religion program is running, as is the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. And if you are looking for service and fellowship opportunities, I invite you to check out the parish choir and other liturgical ministries, the Cathedral Council of Catholic Women, or the Father Tolton Knights of Columbus Council. If you have any questions about any of these offerings, please contact Vicki Compton at the parish office.

 Each week, Katie Price drafts our publication of the Cathedral Weekly and I am very happy to share with you that Katie and her husband Darren welcomed twins this past Monday, October 1. Please join me in thanking the Lord for the gift of Anne Marie and John Eugene. I would also like to thank Katie’s brother, Chris, who is filling in for Katie for the next several weeks to help keep the Weekly coming to you.

Blessings to you and yours for the week ahead!

 Father Christopher House is the Rector of the Cathedral and serves in various leadership roles within the diocesan curia, namely Chancellor and Vicar Judicial.

The office was a large historic brick building on the south side of Peoria, nearing the downtown area. I remember thinking it was a mansion! Growing up I remember visiting the “mansion” when my mother would be at a Board meeting and I was an important “member” of the office staff. At the age of five, my first experience in “volunteering” was at the Peoria United Way “mansion” and my role included stuffing envelopes, but organizing the suckers and office candy was also a high priority for me. My mother thought it was very important to give back to her community. She brought me along to the United Way, but also to plant the initial flower beds at the Heartland Clinic in Peoria, which she was a Board Member of as well. From these experiences to many more over the years, she was example of a Christian servant and steward. I never realized at the time how much she was planting a seed within me. I am sure her demanding job and raising my brother and I kept her quite busy, but I always remember my father and mother giving back to the community in some way.

We all have unique ways in which we are called to serve. Some might find ourselves on Boards, some of us might be helping a neighbor next door, some of us might be serving at Mass. All of these are excellent examples of how to act as a disciple and answer God’s call in your life. We also should acknowledge that we are examples for each other. Just as my mom was providing an example to me, we provide examples to children around us. We also serve as examples to each other. I am sure many of you have volunteered for an event or ministry before, in which you were asked by your friends and family why you participate. Your witness story is important and you should be encouraged to share it!

When we are in service to each other, we are also being hospitable to each other. Hospitality is often understood as the way in which we prepare a meal or event, but it is so much more than that in light of stewardship! Hospitality focuses on Christian kindness. We are looking at how we care about each other, how we share with each other, and how we share a deep sense of belonging to each other. We each play a role in welcoming the stranger and encouraging hospitality.

 Think about your favorite restaurant for a moment. Maybe it was fancy, maybe it is a local favorite, but think about that exceptional restaurant. When you think about getting the chance to go there, how does that make you feel? When you arrive, does someone greet you or do they recognize you warmly? Think about the ambiance, the feelings you get when you are seated. How does the ambiance, the smells, or the music make you feel? How about the service at the restaurant? Are the servers attentive, warm, knowledgeable, and engaging with you? Think about the tables that surround you, how are those individuals feeling? Are those people at the tables around you also sharing in the positive experience and seemingly enjoying this restaurant?

 Now, think about Sunday. How would you feel if I asked all these questions about the Sunday Mass experience to you? How would you answer?

Hospitality through the lens of stewardship begins with Sunday hospitality. We warmly greet each other, we enjoy being present in the Eucharist to each other through a warm smile from one pew to the next, we find the priests and liturgical ministers knowledgeable and engaging, and we find the music or smells spiritually nourishing. When we all participate in the Mass together- friends, family and strangers– we are being radically hospitable. We always have room for improvement, but when we think about hospitality through the lens of stewardship, consider what that looks like—being radically obsessed with invitation and participation.

We are always trying to explore new ideas of stewardship through service and hospitality at Cathedral. While we continue to develop and grow these ministries at Cathedral we hope you will be encouraged and feel welcomed to join us. In the next couple of weeks you will have the opportunity to hear more about stewardship and each of our call to live a stewardship way of life. You will be invited to answer the call and plan with us, as we become Jesus’ hands and feet in the world.

 Katie Price is the Coordinator for Discipleship and Stewardship at the Cathedral. She is also working in the Discipleship and Stewardship effort at the Diocese of Springfield. She can be reached at [email protected].

People can spend their entire lives looking for their most suitable partner. Some have an unattainable ideal in their minds that makes the search impossible. Others may choose a different partner over and over again without any real discernment, leading to a long series of breakups and heartache. Perhaps the greatest obstacle for people lies in their assumption that the most important criteria for choosing a partner is that the person they choose to love needs to be devoted to them and be faithful to them above all others. The truth is that if you want to have a suitable partner who you find yourself drawing ever closer to as the years go by, then the focus of both people involved needs to be on a much more important being than the two of you.

When I was a teenager, I remember seeing a triangle used as a visual aid in explaining how true love works. God is the top point and the two lovers, friends, or family members involved are the bottom points. If the two involved in the relationship love God more than each other, than in time it will be their love for the Divine that will bring them ever closer, like how a triangle narrows at the top point.

The more I give of myself to my God, the greater I find my love is for my wife, my children, and my friends. A stewardship way of life will eventually strengthen all our relationships, for a surrender to the One who is love means an increase in the love we have to give to others. For those who continue to search for the “one,” pause, pay attention, and see the One who has always loved you and will do so forevermore.

Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS is the Director of Parish Community and Engagement for LPI, Inc. He has a BA in theology from DeSales University and a MTS from Duke Divinity School.

Sometime over the coming month, about this time every year, I will make time to watch the movie The Exorcist; I bet your eyebrows have risen at this point in reading this. The movie is based on the book written by William Peter Blatty that focuses on a twelve year-old girl who is possessed by a demon and the investigation that ultimately leads to two Jesuit priests performing a major exorcism for her deliverance. I read the book when I was in seminary at Mundelein in 1998 for the 25th anniversary of the movie’s release; the book spooked me far more than the movie ever did and I remember not sleeping well for a few nights.

The book itself was inspired by actual events concerning a Lutheran boy in Silver Spring, Maryland whose family turned to the Catholic Church for help. The quest for help eventually took them to the Jesuits in St. Louis, Missouri where the boy was delivered from the power of demonic forces after a major exorcism in 1949. In the story The Exorcist there is a break in the ritual being performed by the two Jesuit priests. During this break, the younger priest, who is having a crisis of faith, asks the older priest why a twelve-year old girl; the older priest responds “to make us despair.”

In the Book of Genesis we see that it is the devil who tempts us to turn inward on ourselves and away from God, which is ultimately the definition of sin; to the present day, we are tempted to serve ourselves, our wants, our desires, to be the ultimate end in ourselves.

Let’s be clear: the devil does not make any of us sin; we make the choice ourselves even though the devil may give the invitation. Why? Sin separates us from God directly or indirectly.

Sin directly separates us from God when a sin is ours, when it is the result of our own action or inaction, the result of our own choices. Sin can also indirectly separate us from God when it is the sin of someone else and we are moved to despair. I am afraid that this indirect phenomenon is more pronounced than ever right now, especially in the Church. We see evil committed by another, and some run into the danger of losing hope and falling into despair, which then can ultimately lead us to despairing of the goodness and love of God.

The Lord gives us strong words in this Sunday’s Gospel reading from Mark: if your hand, foot, or eye are going to keep you from entering into heaven, then get rid of them. The Lord Jesus is telling us that there is nothing in this life be it material things, relationships, pleasures, behaviors, whatever that are worth risking the gift and the promise of eternal life with God in heaven. We are also warned sternly to be on guard that we do not lead anyone else into sin, because the punishment for that will be severe.

Our sins separate us from God and can also work to separate others from him as well. We must be on guard to seek the good, to seek the things of heaven, to seek God in all that we do. Personal sin can lead us to despair in that we can fall into the trap of believing that we are unforgivable. Sins can lead us and other people to despair by questioning why God would let such things happen. As disciples, we are called to never lose hope; hope in the power of God’s mercy and forgiveness in our own lives and in the lives of others; hope that the grace of God can effect true change in our lives through conversion; hope in the fact that God is alive and at work in the world and that his sacred act of our redemption is on-going.

When faced with the power of sin, when tempted to lose hope because of evil in the world, let us always remember the words emblazoned under our Lord in the image of Divine Mercy: Jesus, I trust in you.

Father Christopher House is the Rector of the Cathedral and serves in various leadership roles within the diocesan curia, namely Chancellor and Vicar Judicial.

“Nothing we do as a good steward is more important than our relationship with Jesus. Your volunteerism, hospitality and formation is nothing without the beating heart of stewardship, which is your relationship to Jesus. Jesus is the example steward.”

Many of us find stewardship challenging. At the heart of a good steward is a deep acknowledgement of God’s love, mercy, and blessings in their life and their willingness to give all of it back. Yes, all of it. That is a challenge for many of us. It is clear why Jesus is the ultimate steward. He sacrificed everything.

What relationship do we have in our lives in which we are willing to sacrifice everything? I am sure you might be thinking of a family member, spouse, or a child. You would sacrifice your life for them, right? Now, would you so quickly sacrifice everything for Jesus? Jesus’ unconditional love for me and His sacrifice convinces me that the activities I do with being a good steward must begin with the acknowledgement that a relationship with Him is the first step.

The first pillar of stewardship is prayer. It is through prayer that we can encounter and experience a deeper relationship with Jesus. In fact, if we did not begin with prayer, we would be acting like the Church is just like any other nonprofit. For example, what nonprofit doesn’t ask for volunteers or donations (talents and treasures)? I can’t think of any nonprofit that doesn’t ask good stewardship from their supporters. What Jesus is calling us to be is more than that. Jesus asks for your soul and substance. He asks for your non-renewable resource— time.

When you give of your time, you are giving unselfishly because you will never get that time back. Consider this, if you gave $5 extra to the offertory basket this weekend what are the chances that you would get that $5 back at some point? Probably high because you might get a promotion, or a monetary birthday gift, or perhaps win on a lottery card. However, when we give our time toward deepening our relationship with Him, we prioritize this unselfish gift. You will never get time back. But isn’t that time with God a worthy sacrifice? Despite our busy lives, stewardship of prayer is an act of trust. When you are worried you won’t have time to make it to Mass, make time and trust. When you are worried you won’t have time to make it to Bible Study, prioritize it and trust. When you feel overwhelmed with your calendar, prioritize your relationship with Jesus, don’t squeeze Him in.

Another pillar of stewardship closely tied to prayer is formation. This year at Cathedral we have added a collection of faith formation offerings, from liturgical ministry training and formation to reflections with the priests. Consider joining us! While formation can be done in community, it can also happen at home. When a family prays before meals together or when you offer a Mass Intention, you are being formed into the disciple Jesus is calling you to be. Formation is an ongoing process. As we all know, no one is perfect and surely no one is an “expert.” Yes, even our wise priests have continuing formation! Each of us should be constantly growing, learning, and sharing in the beauty and wisdom of our Catholic tradition.

As you continue to learn about stewardship over the next few weeks, we hope you will take some time to consider the benefits of stewardship as a way of life. You will never regret praying more, serving more, or giving more. In 2 Corinthians 9: 6-8, we are reminded that a life of giving is often a life filled with abundance:

“Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work.”

Katie Price is the Coordinator for Discipleship and Stewardship at the Cathedral. She is also working in the Discipleship and Stewardship effort at the Diocese of Springfield. She can be reached at [email protected].

We are excited to announce a series of faith formation programs at the Cathedral this fall! Please bring a friend and join us for any or all of these formative programs. All are welcome and we will do our best to provide light hospitality. If you have any questions, please contact Vicki Compton at [email protected].

Book Study

Facilitated by parishioner Mary Francis and open to all, the book study group will choose a book on saints, spirituality, prayer, Church teaching, or something else to read and discuss. Bring your book suggestions and a snack to share if you like.

Cathedral School Hall, Wednesdays beginning September 19, 6:30-8:00pm

Bible Study

With men and women of Cathedral parish on the first and third Tuesday of the month beginning on September 18. Facilitated by parishioner Larry Travis.

Cathedral parish library, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays beginning September 18, 6:15-7:45pm

Catholicism Series

Bishop Robert Barron journeys around the world and deep into faith to teach us what Catholics believe and why. This video and discussion program uses the spiritual and artistic treasures of the Faith to illuminate the key teachings of the Church. Facilitated by Vicki Compton.

School Hall, Tuesday mornings, September 18-November 20, 10:00-11:30am

The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters Join Father House for a DVD presentation by Bishop Robert Barron followed by discussion. This series will explore the mystery of the Triune God as understood in the Church’s Tradition and taught by such individuals as St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Pope Benedict XVI.

Cathedral Atrium, Tuesdays September 25th and October 2nd & 9th, 7:00pm

Festival Choir Concert

Choirs from throughout the diocese will come together for a musical celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Cathedral.

Cathedral, Saturday, October 13, 7:00pm

Priest, Prophet, and King

The three-fold ministry in which all of the baptized share comes from Jesus himself as Priest, Prophet, and King. Father House will present this DVD series by Bishop Robert Barron that explores who Jesus Christ is as God-made-man and Savior of the world.

Cathedral Atrium, Tuesdays October 23rd, 30th, & November 6th, 7:00pm

The Last Things

As the Church year comes to an end and the faithful are reminded to turn their attention to the Second Coming of Christ, Father Stock will explore the concept of the Four Last Things as taught by the Church: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell.

Cathedral Atrium, Mondays November 19th & 26th, 7:00pm

My oldest son is named Nathanael. We used the biblical spelling of his first name, and he has spent his entire life of 20 plus years having to correct people who try to spell his name. Those who have not met him before have no idea for sure how to spell his name. Of course, when we named him, we gave him a name that not only his friends would know him by, but by which God would know him.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells Nathanael that he is “a true child of Israel.” Nathanael wonders how Jesus knew him. Jesus knows him before he even speaks to him. Jesus knows us and calls us to believe in him. However, do we know him enough to be willing to follow him?

Many of our sons and daughters believe in Jesus. We believe in Jesus. He knows us all better than we know ourselves. But do we truly know him? Do we have a genuine relationship with him? Have we allowed him to transform our lives? I know my son believes in Jesus. I believe in Jesus. I hope and pray we both can grow to know Jesus at least half as much as he knows us.

Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS is the Director of Parish Community and Engagement for LPI, Inc. He has a BA in theology from DeSales University and a MTS from Duke Divinity School.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

We’ve all heard the Golden Rule a thousand times. We’ve all told people to remember the Golden Rule another thousand times. It seems, though, that nine times out of ten, when someone tells you to remember the Golden Rule, what they’re really saying is: “Don’t do unto others what you wouldn’t have them do unto you.” The Golden Rule gets twisted into one more rule telling you what you can’t do. This may seem subtle, but it’s the difference between the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46, and that is the difference between heaven and hell. We learn to be nice and tolerant, we learn how not to hurt others, but we don’t learn how to be kind or merciful, and we don’t learn how to help others.

It’s much harder to rise up from our bed of apathy and help others than it is to learn to leave other people alone. But that is the challenge we receive from the Gospel: to move from apathy to empathy. The first step we need to take is to consider what we “would have them do unto us.” One of the greatest obstacles to extending mercy to a friend or a stranger is the nagging thought that they would much rather just be left alone. But it’s precisely those moments when we’re absolutely miserable to be around that we need mercy the most. Another obstacle can be the perception that “everyone” we show mercy to is ungrateful and unpleasant. Here we need to call on God to increase in us the gift of fortitude so that we can be bold enough to be merciful and fully live out the Golden Rule.

For a sterling literary example of courage and mercy, look no further than the character of Sam Gamgee. Consider this scene toward the end of The Fellowship of the Ring:

“Of all the confounded nuisances you are the worst, Sam!” he said.

“Oh, Mr. Frodo, that’s hard!” said Sam shivering. “That’s hard, trying to go without me and all. If I hadn’t a guessed right, where would you be now?”

“Safely on my way.”

“Safely!” said Sam. “All alone and without me to help you? I couldn’t have borne it, it’d have been the death of me.”

“It would be the death of you to come with me, Sam,” said Frodo, “and I could not have borne that.”

“Not as certain as being left behind,” said Sam.

“But I am going to Mordor.”

“I know that well enough, Mr. Frodo. Of course you are. And I’m coming with you.”

“Now, Sam,” said Frodo, “don’t hinder me! The others will be coming back at any minute. If they catch me here, I shall have to argue and explain, and I shall never have the heart or the chance to get off. But I must go at once. It’s the only way.”

“Of course it is,” answered Sam. “But not alone. I’m coming too, or neither of us isn’t going. I’ll knock holes in all the boats first.”

Frodo actually laughed. A sudden warmth and gladness touched his heart. “Leave one!” he said. “We’ll need it. But you can’t come like this without your gear or food or anything.”

“Just hold on a moment, and I’ll get my stuff!” cried Sam eagerly. “It’s all ready. I thought we should be off today.” He rushed to the camping place, fished out his pack…grabbed a spare blanket, and some extra packages of food, and ran back.

“So all my plan is spoilt!” said Frodo. “It is no good trying to escape you. But I’m glad, Sam. I cannot tell you how glad. Come along! It is plain that we were meant to go together.”

 This article was written by Br. Bartholomew Calvano, O.P., who received a B.A. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry/ Mathematics/Computer Science from Rutgers. He worked for two years with The Brotherhood of Hope, helping out with campus ministry at Northeastern University in Boston, before entering the Order of Preachers in 2015.

We tend to over complicate stewardship. We see it as a large task, a hurdle, a burden. Stewardship seems countercultural and unattainable. However, at the heart of discipleship and stewardship is simply being willing to get on the cross with Jesus. He reminds us that we have a cross to bear, and we will all endure struggles. However, it is often through the struggles and adversity that the most joyful and grace filled moments present themselves.

I had someone ask me the other day if I believed in tithing. “Really, Katie, how do you make it work?” I understand that tithing is a leap for many of us. Considering that we are asking to give 10% of our time, our talents, and our treasures back to Him is a challenge for most Catholics that give 1-2%. So, how do I respond to that question. My first thought was how I would respond to Jesus. He might ask, “good and faithful servant… were you?” How am I to respond? Like this, “Sure did! I gave 10% to you!”… really? Is that all we have? Is that all I have budgeted for Him, for His church? Why am I even budgeting my faith life?

The first pillar of stewardship is prayer. Through prayer we are able to more deeply and fully commit our lives to Jesus. We prioritize the Eucharist in our lives. We open our hearts and minds to follow Jesus’ teachings, not just when and where we are comfortable but when and where we are uncomfortable. Are we comfortable praying before meals at a restaurant? Are we comfortable sharing a prayer with a friend or family member who has fallen away? Are we comfortable saying no to Sunday activities that may take us away from the Mass?

When we join Jesus on the cross it hurts! It is suppose to hurt. This last week I was able to listen to a Norbertine Canon of the Abbey of St. Michael, Fr. Sebastian Walshe, who reminded us that “If you don’t have a cross, you are not following Jesus.” We are meant to be uncomfortable when we sacrifice. We are meant to be uncomfortable when we evangelize. We are meant to be counter cultural, so that we can be witness to the Gospel in our daily lives.

So how do we begin living a stewardship way of life? We begin with prayer, with devoting 5%, 10%, 20% or more of our time to building a relationship with Jesus. As we live out this call to discipleship, we will find that we increase our stewardship in other ways. We will begin to prioritize our treasure and our talents. As you do these good works, be aware of the blessings you receive, despite the cross you bear. The fruits of this relationship with Jesus will be everlasting and grace filled!

Katie Price is the current Coordinator of Stewardship at the Cathedral. She can be reached at [email protected].