Father Carlos Villarreal

My brothers and sisters in Christ, I hope you all are doing well. I was going through my ACTS things and I ran into something that I thought might help us focus on the hope the future brings.

This is from the youth ACTS retreat of Oct. 04

"Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago.
Watch for the new things I am going to do. It is happening right now!" (Is. 43:18-19).

Peace,
Fr. Carlos A. Villarreal




My Reply:
Greetings Father Carlos..

Thank you for your comment directed to Reflections of the Spirit.

I don't know if I can get through to you with this reply. As of 4/12/05, all of my attempts to send you notifications of our posts have been returned. I think someone there at the Diocese has put me on your "spam list", as several other addresses there at the Diocese are also being returned.

You always have the choice of going directly to our web page at: www.kanickers.blogspot.com

As always, we welcome your comments...

Kanickers~




Comments:

Dear Fr. Carlos,
Thanks for your dialogue, unique among priests in this diocese. Why is honest, meaningful dialogue (as opposed to shallow chatter) with the clergy so difficult these days?

I agree with you; we should not dwell in the past, and we are not. We are trying to address grievances that are happening today. The letter to Mr. Brum signed by over 270 parishioners refers to things that he is doing now that are killing the parish, not things that happened when he was not there 2 years ago! Can you help, or are you simply going to periodically issue trite phrases?

Justice and peace,
Guy Hallman



Fr. Brum
You demand obedience to your will by all parishioners. If you want to make changes to our parish, YOU need to be considerate of your parishioners.

270 members of this parish have told you that they want you to meet with them concerning issues that we have. You have been asked to meet with 5 representatives to discuss these issues. You have received a request by your superior, the Bishop, to handle this complaint.

To date the only move you have made is to meet with 2 of the 5 individuals, and all that came from that meeting was a request by you to meet with the 2 individuals again. This is a delay tactic on your part, probably because you do not think it matters. I want to let you know that it does matter. As long as you keep up this segregating of our parish, we will not agree to anything that you may want.

Yes, you may have the support of those that believe in blind obedience, but that group is not the true voice of Holy Spirit parish. Yes, they were here before you came, but they never spoke of wanting things to be different.

You have let this dissension go on for too long and now is the time for you to listen to all of the parish, not just those that you favor. We will be here long after you are gone, so lets make the little time that you are with us enjoyable for all.

We will never let one person destroy what we have spent so long building. Call us, meet with us, and lets settle these grievances once and for all. We are one family and it takes only a little humility on your behalf to bring this family back together. It is time for you to stand up and be the Pastor of Holy Spirit parish, not just some visiting priest that is waiting for his next assignment (who knows maybe by fixing this parish you might get what YOU want sooner).
-A Parishioner Waiting for an Answer.