March 9, 2008 THE UNFINISHED IMAGE
I suppose you could classify this week’s column as “Clergy Correspondence.” It’s part of that vast sea of letters that come to priests which help to describe what the priesthood is about. I think some people may wonder what we do all day. A friend of mine keeps reminding me that priests work only on Sundays! This correspondence doesn’t have so much to do with a priest’s work as it does to do with the priest’s role.
Most parishioners know of a fund in the parish called “Parish Fund for Works of Charity.” It is a fund that is nurtured by offerings given to the parish at the time of a wedding, a funeral, a baptism. Sometimes people just contribute to the fund, knowing how it helps the poor. According to diocesan guidelines the priest alone administers this fund; it is outside the purview of the Finance Council. Almost always a check is made payable to the vendor, not to the person requesting help.
In another city, in another parish, in another age, this correspondence was exchanged. I had answered the door of the rectory to a family rather desperate at the time. The father had been arrested for a misdemeanor in my city, though he hailed from a city several states away. I assessed their several needs and provided some help from our Fund for Works of Charity. Some weeks later I received this letter, misspellings and all.
Thanks Father Cook for taking us in. Thanks for breakfast, shelter, and the ride to the towing reckor (sic). Also, thanks for your generosity (A loan of $20). I’m sorry you had to meet us because of our incident with the police. I’ve never been arrested before and I never want to be again. If we ever meet again I promise it won’t be on the same terms. Thanks again. I really appreciated what you did for us. (Signature, enclosed $20)
I wrote back, Dear Joe, it was very nice to hear from you. I’m glad you made it home without further incident. How’s Austin? Joe, when I loaned you the $20.00, I didn’t ask you for your home address. I sensed that I could trust you. There was no need for me, I thought, to get any collateral or insurance; and I was right. Thanks for helping me keep my faith in human nature. Take care to learn from your experience. I think you’ve got a good life ahead of you – because of the kind of person you are. Good luck. Come back to visit sometime. Next time I’ll show you the inside of the church. God bless you. The Lord be with you. Father Cook