Billie Joe Armstrong, lead singer of the American rock band, Green Day, wrote a famous song called Wake Me Up When September Ends. It is a lament about his father who died when the boy was only ten. Released in 2005, it was adopted by the citizens of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina struck at the end of August and devastated the landscape through the following month rendering tens of thousands of families homeless. The song was borrowed again by survivors and family members of murdered victims in the 9-11 terrorist attack that occurred a few years earlier as the story is remembered and retold by our nation each September. Armstrong’s message is a desire to return to sanity after enduring a difficult period of time.
I know that many Americans would like to doze off for a while and not be reawakened till after the general election this fall because political vitriol and bombastic cruelty tend to escalate in every direction until it’s over. When it ends there is hope, once again, for normalcy.
My desire in the months ahead is different from the rest of the world’s. I have enjoyed a somewhat restful and peaceful summer but, starting on August 1, I will begin work as pastor of Saint Francis Xavier Parish while also tending my two other urban faith communities: Saint Therese Little Flower and Saint James. With Sunday morning Masses at each place overlapping in time, and with my desire to get to each of the churches on a regular basis, and with our priest shortage that prevents me much help, I will be scrambling for a while, begging for assistance, and attempting to care for all three while they lament their loss and deal with having only one-third of a priest assigned to them. It gets more complicated when I factor in the eight weddings I committed to officiate during September weekends, the Irish Festival Mass I committed to preside at on Labor Day weekend, and the annual revving up for autumn schedules and events. I have lots of work to do and many factors to contend with, yet I am aware that many good people are nearby to help as they can. I also trust that the Holy Spirit is in charge—so my major task is to get out of the way and let the Spirit guide the parishes and me.
I am hoping that, by the time September ends, I will find a pace that works, the support of priests who can occasionally chip in to take Masses, and an interest of Catholics throughout the metropolitan area that will help these parishes grow stronger so that their ministerial impact in our urban core can flourish to new realms. To celebrate “When September Ends,” there will be a party to which you are invited on Saturday evening, September 28, at Southside Bar & Grille on 103rd Street in Kansas City, featuring the locally famous Big People band. Very wonderful friends who coordinate an Angel Fund for my spirituality center, a fund that helps poor families, individuals or families in a difficult situation, or friends and strangers in temporary need, are hosting this celebration fundraiser to help me get situated with the three parishes and to address several issues there that can be alleviated or greatly improved with monetary assistance. If you are able to join us, please mark your calendar. If you are unable to attend but willing to donate to the needs of the three parishes (from supporting social ministries to enhancing social media and development efforts) there will be opportunities for you to do so between now and then.