STEWARDSHIP—LIVING CHRISTIANITY [ RADICALLY]

New World Articles

10-13-02

Heaven on earth

By Anne Marie Tirpak

Bus No. 4—so named because there were three others like it traveling around Chicago’s South Side that late September day—may have been just a small representation of Chicago’s rich and vibrant history of faith.
I was on that bus and listened to the comments of the passengers; they undoubtedly were shared on the other buses too.
Countless times I heard, “This is where I was baptized;” “I was married here;” “It’s so nice to be back in the old neighborhood;” “These churches can’t close.”
The archdiocesan-sponsored bus tour, dubbed “Heaven on Earth,” brought together an array of Chicago-area Catholics to visit, tour and remember five awesomely beautiful Southeast Side churches: St. Anselm, St. Ambrose, St. Michael’s (South Shore), Our Lady of Peace and St. Philip Neri. The tour fittingly ended with Mass celebrated by Bishop Perry at St. Philip Neri.
As remarkable as the church structures are, I was most impressed by the hospitality extended by the pastors and parishioners. They welcomed our 200-person tour, shared their faith homes with us, graciously fed our hungry crew and certainly nourished us far beyond our delectable lunch.
Those words—“I was baptized here”—remain with me.
Living as Christ intended us to begins when we respond to our baptismal call. We are loved and called by God and invited to be God’s disciples.
In responding to that love, in answering our unique calls, in acknowledging our giftedness and that all is gift from God, we recognize our blessedness and feel compelled to share, to love our neighbor. As members of the Body of Christ, we are asked to be God for each other and are plentifully blessed with talents and resources to share with others in building God’s kingdom.
During my short time with the Stewardship and Development Office, I have had the wonderful opportunity to experience the vitality of that spirit in the people I’ve met, the parishes I’ve visited, and the programs I’ve become familiar with.
There is so much good being done throughout our archdiocese—the Spirit is alive.
When the parishes began, the founding members of the churches highlighted on the Heaven on Earth Tour used their resources to build magnificent places for worship and shared their talents to create vibrant faith communities. Generations of families celebrated life within the walls of these churches and within their parish community and, today, these parishes continue to nurture the lives of parishioners in becoming bearers of God’s goodness and love.
These parishes are now financially struggling yet continue to be lavishly rich—rich in history, culture and beauty. Tour participants experienced this richness—a vitality which transcended culture, neighborhoods and the passage of time.
Participants left lighter and freer, filled with the Spirit and ready to share this goodness with others.
Maybe it was the gift of a beautiful fall Saturday, maybe it was the bus tour of the “old neighborhood,” maybe it was the graciousness of our hosts. Most likely it was the recognition of God’s lavish generosity found in the everyday.

Tirpak is the vicariate stewardship coordinator for the archdiocese’s Office of Stewardship and Development. She can be reached at (312) 534-7713.