June 2004 Newsletter (to view as a .pdf click here)

Index

• Enmity by Fr. Bob Camuso
• Move Over Frazier Crane! Father Bob’s on Radio!
• Jeff Smith - From the Executive Director
• Look for the Joy! by Ann Trepus
• SacraMentors— the Mystery and the Spiritual Journey By Aaron McDonald
• Stewardship Campaign ’04 Update By Ron Reierson
• SacraMentors Retreat
• Return and Renewal By Don Grainer

Enmity by Fr. Bob Camuso

“It is hard to fight an enemy who has outposts in your head.”
—Sally Kempton

I am amazed sometimes when, for what appears to be no reason, the thought of an old enemy enters my mind. Someone out of my past, with whom I had a war of words or thoughts or acts, begins to “mess with my head” as teenagers say. Recently, I thought of Norman, a classmate in high school. We got into a fist fight one day between classes. I don’t recall what prompted the skirmish. But I do recall that I started it for no good reason. I ended up with a bloody nose. Norman got a few bruises and we never crossed paths again.

Enmity is an ugly emotion. It is a greater emotion than anger, resentment or even rage. Webster’s dictionary defines enmity as “a feeling or condition of hostility; hatred; ill will; animosity.” The word “enmity” comes from the Latin, inimicus, which means “enemy.”

We find a great deal of enmity in our world today. We see it in photos of Iraqi detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq being humiliated by American soldiers. We see it on television news reports in the faces of radical Muslims and terrorists who want to launch a holy war against us. We find it in news reports about Palestinians and Israelis blowing up each other; we find it in Christians killing Muslims in Bosnia and Hutus butchering Tutsi in Rawanda. Enmity respects no boundaries or culture.

Enmity existed from the beginning when God said to the serpent in the Garden of Eden,
“I will put enmity between you and the woman…” Gen 3:15 It may be troubling for us to consider that God was the first to put enmity somewhere. But God did not put enmity anyplace again. Humans are the ones who soon discover that enmity exists and then we use it, as when Cain took his brother Able into a field and killed him. Gen 4:8

Jesus tries to put an end to enmity when he says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Mt 5:44 Jesus tells us that when someone strikes us “on the right cheek, turn also the other.” Mt 5: 39 According to Jesus, enmity is to be overcome by nonresistance. I don’t know about you, but I find the idea of nonresistance difficult to follow. If someone strikes me, I may not resist but I will protest. If an injustice is done, I don’t believe Jesus wants me to become passive and accept it as if injustice is just. Yet, I do believe Jesus wants me to respond to enmity by willing the good for my enemy and by praying for them, despite what they may have done.

But what does loving my enemy require beyond willing the good and prayer? Of course there are many answers to this, but I offer one that I find helps me. Be the first to seek reconciliation. If your enemy refuses to reconcile, well, that is between them and God. If you are hesitant about being the first to seek reconciliation, consider the following story by Anthony Bloom:

“I remember a man of some standing who once came to me and told me that a friend of his had offended him. ‘Who should go and make his peace with the other,’ he asked. ‘I cannot answer your question,’ I replied, ‘as I cannot set myself as a judge between you. But one thing is certain: the meaner of the two of you will wait for the other to make the first move.’ ”

From this story, another thing is certain. We cannot be passive about enmity. It requires a response, even when we are dealing with the enemies within us.

The enemies within can be the most troublesome. How do we love those enemies that arise in our minds and hearts such as our fear? Fear of inadequacy. Fear of failure. Fear of being rejected. We can store up fear in a similar way that a bee distills poison from honey and stores that poison in its stinger. Then, when it is hurting, the bee will sting itself. Many of us do the same with enmity—that self-hatred distilled from the venom of fear.

The antivenin for enmity within us is God’s love. What I find helpful when confronted by self-enemies is to become awake to God’s love for my enemy and for me. Then I try to become awake to the negative thoughts in my mind. Our self-enemies, our negative thoughts, can anesthetize us as a mosquito inserts its numbing liquid before it inserts its venom. Thus, I recognize my self-enemy as my first response. Then I ask God to bless this enemy. Using the case of my memory of a fight with Norman as an example, I ask God to forgive that 17-year-old Bob who started the fight. I ask myself to forgive Norman. Then I pray for Norman and for myself that God will love us both and relieve me of this enemy within. After that, I begin to listen within for God to speak of love for me. I hear in my mind and heart the message of love God wants me to hear. Then the enemy is defeated. If the enemy returns, I repeat this process.

Enmity will always be a part of our world and a part of us. Our best way to deal with it is to deal with it, which means to not be passive, but, instead, to actively seek peace with enemies outside or within ourselves.

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Move Over Frazier Crane! Father Bob’s on Radio!

Join Fr. Bob Camuso on his new radio program, “Conversations With Father Bob,” each Saturday morning, 8-9 am on KKNW 1150AM. Fr. Bob and his guests discuss the extraordinary ways God works in the lives of ordinary people. It’s also streamed on the internet at www.newschannel1150.com. To listen, click on the “listen live” button at the top of the home page. Send Fr. Bob an email about the show at: conversationswithfatherbob@comcast.net.

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Jeff Smith - From the Executive Director

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

It is hard to believe that summer is almost upon us! Although we have presented our final spirituality series until the fall, there will be a variety of SacraMentor activities this summer that I encourage each of you to attend. On June 5th we will have a daylong retreat with Fr. Jim Northrop at Holy Family in Kirkland. Entitled, “The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me: Forming Bold Disciples for a New Millennium,” the retreat is open to everyone and will provide a wonderful opportunity to draw closer to God and to your SacraMentor brothers and sisters. On July 18th from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. we will have our annual picnic. This year’s picnic is being held at Seahurst Beach in Burien. This is a family affair so please mark that date on your calendars and plan on attending. Our summer Sacramentum will be held in August and once the details are finalized, we will be sending out an announcement. So stay tuned for details!

One final event is worth special mention. We will hold our annual Leadership Retreat on September 11th at the Palisades Retreat Center in Federal Way. The focus of the retreat is discerning a new SacraMentors board and it is critical that we have representation from every Apostles Group and parish. Those currently serving in a leadership position (i.e., parish coordinators, trainers and the current board) will receive a written invitation but everyone is invited to attend. I realize that many of you may be thinking, “Serving on the board is not for me,” but you must realize that the discernment process is a community activity. Thus, even if you don’t feel you are being led to serve on the board, please consider attending the retreat to assist with the process of discerning the board that will lead the SacraMentors movement for the next two years.

Finally, let me say what a blessing it is to serve as Executive Director.
I especially enjoy the opportunity to see and speak with you at a SacraMentors function and to hear how God is working in your lives.
I hope that many of you will take advantage of the various programs that will be offered over the next few months and let me hear how God is blessing you!

May God’s peace and blessings be with each of you,
Jeff

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SacraMentor Board Members

Look for the Joy! by Ann Trepus, Women’s Parish Coordinator, St. Vincent de Paul

After the Resurrection, the visitation of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles was an awesome act of God. The power of the Holy Spirit is a benevolent force for which we all yearn. Can the power of the Holy Spirit be unleashed upon you or me? If so, how do we make ourselves ready to receive those blessings? On April 28th over 60 SacraMentors attended our Spring Sacramentum with Fr. Jim Lee, pastor of St. Michael parish in Olympia, to find answers to those questions.

Father Jim began his presentation with a discussion of Acts 8:1-8, which was one of the readings for that day’s daily Mass. That passage relates how there arose a severe persecution of the early church in Jerusalem and that the believers were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Father Jim explained that, despite that persecution, the early believers preached the word and Philip went down to Samaria and “proclaimed the Messiah” resulting in “great joy in that city.”

Father Jim then tied in the idea of experiencing great joy and finding the Holy Spirit by telling of an experience he had when he was a young Maryknoll missionary in Tanzania. He told of a wise, old woman who gave him a very valuable piece of advice when she told him, “Padre Jim, look for the joy! If there is joy, then the Holy Spirit is close by.” Father Jim stated that one way we can experience joy is by having the proper priorities in your life – Jesus, Others, and then Yourself. Father pointed out how often we miss out on joy because we have reversed that order and made ourselves first, others second, and Jesus a distant third.

Following a brief break, Fr. Jim discussed eight things we can do to unleash the power of the Holy Spirit in our own lives.

Prayer. The importance of prayer cannot be overemphasized. Father Jim told of teaching his parish the “5/5” technique – pray five minutes in the morning and five minutes at night. Use this schedule as a starting point and then add additional minutes morning and night or try an extra five minute session or two during the day. Father also said to “pray as you can, not as you can’t.” In other words, find a style of prayer that works for you. Whatever the type of prayer, however, one must always be attentive to the Holy Spirit. Father Jim also encouraged couples not only to pray individually, but also as a couple.

Scripture Reading. This is an important part of unleashing the Holy Spirit in our lives. Father Jim said that you need to “make scripture part of who you are,” and suggested a good place to start in the Gospels is with the Book of Luke. When finished, move on to Mark and then go on to Acts to learn about the Holy Spirit working in the early church. Another suggestion Father provided was to read the daily Mass readings each day. By reading the scriptures we can experience peace and tranquility.

Meditative, Reflective Reading. Father Jim said that the idea here is to engage in “holy, leisurely reading” where we “read with the heart.” The object is to read and reflect, being attentive to the lessons the Holy Spirit wants to teach us. Parish libraries and Catholic bookstores have numerous books for such reflective reading. Reading a wide variety of topics by Catholic authors helps to expand our understanding of our faith and allows God to lead us where He wants and needs us. Additionally, sharing spiritual reading material with members of our families and Apostles Groups enlivens these faith communities. This reminded me of the intent of the “Study” portion of the Apostles Group process.

Sacraments. Accepting Christ through the Eucharist moves each of us into a deeper relationship with Christ. The Holy Spirit is right there when we receive Communion. Father Jim reminded us that attending daily Mass recharges us, too.

Support/Accountability Group. Father Jim stressed the importance of being involved in a support group, such as SacraMentors, that holds one accountable. Such groups need to consist of “dangerous” men and women who challenge us to go ever deeper into our relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. SacraMentors is a great example of support group involvement because it’s a place where we can let our feelings, problems and concerns out without being judged.

Evangelization. Another way to unleash the power of the Holy Spirit is through evangelization. Father Jim discussed how that includes reaching out to those who have left the Church. Evangelization is through both word and deed and in that regard, Father quoted St. Francis of Assisi who said, “Preach the gospel; use words when necessary.” Father Jim said that, just like the Apostles and the devout men and women of the early faith communities, we must go out and spread the news of the Holy Trinity through our actions and our words.

Service. Being of service to others in our community brings Christ to us as we bring Christ to others. “Community” begins in our family and branches out to our parish family. As Fr. Jim talked about how service opens us to the power of the Holy Spirit, I thought of the service portion of our Apostles Group process and how important it is for us to serve others both individually and as an Apostles Group.

Stewardship. Father Jim told us that to unleash the power of the Holy Spirit, we have to be involved in stewardship. That is, we need to share our time, talent and treasure with others. The first step is to recognize that everything we have is a gift from God and that we are called to be good stewards of the gifts God has given us.

Father Jim’s wise counsel and his action list provide specific actions each of us can take to help unleash the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In so doing, we will begin to experience joy in everything we see, hear and do.

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SacraMentors— the Mystery and the Spiritual Journey By Aaron McDonald, St. Francis of Assisi

I couldn’t help but notice that I was asked to write a brief article about my recent spiritual awakening on the first day of spring. Spring is the season of new growth after a long and deep winter sleep. Lately, I feel like I am in a season of spring in my spiritual development.

One Sunday morning, my wife, Judith, and I were going through our normal Sunday morning routine, getting ready to attend the 10:00 Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Seahurst, Washington. There was nothing noticeably different or unusual about the morning. But this morning would be the beginning of a new life for me. Everything about the Mass proceeded as usual, even the new part with which our congregation is still struggling— when to kneel and when to stand! Then, at the end of Mass, things began to happen in my life. Something was taking place that I cannot explain, but my faith comforts me in this new dimension.

Right before the closing hymn, a speaker named Jeff Smith gave a brief talk about a men’s group called SacraMentors. He said that the group would be meeting every Saturday for four weeks and that interested men were invited to sign up in the back of the church. Out of the blue and from deep within me, without questioning, I was moved to sign up. I couldn’t get to the back of the church fast enough to get my name on the list; in fact, my name was the first name to be entered on this list. At that very moment I experienced a spiritual peace within me that I thought I had lost years ago. I had, on some level, committed myself to a greater purpose in life. I was off the fence, and my years of spiritual wandering were over. I was ready to put my faith into action in a more meaningful way.

These feelings all occurred before I had even attended an apostle meeting. I knew that this was huge for me, but I didn’t know in what sense because SacraMentors was still an unknown. At that first meeting, I remember being asked why I was joining SacraMentors. I felt like it was less me “choosing” and more me “being chosen.” It was as if it were my time to become a part of a larger spiritual body. Last year wasn’t the time, anymore than it was five years ago or even twenty years ago. These years were years of character growth, to be sure. But now it was time for me to be a more conscious part of the body of Christ and to live more consciously as a child of God.

Most all of us have baggage from our past; I know that I do. And most of us have heard the impatient exclamation, “Hurry up; pack your bags and let’s get going.” At my first SacraMentors meeting, I heard the freeing statement, “Leave your baggage; your Father is waiting!”

I still remember walking into my first meeting. It was all new and strange to me. But, deep inside, I knew that this was the path that I was called to be on. And although I had not known any of my SacraMentor Brothers prior to our first meeting, there was a connection that was present from the start that I hadn’t ever experienced before. Remember the sign up day? I already knew that I was going to take a leap of faith into this new situation. I swear that within twenty-four hours there was a change coming over me that was Christ-driven. My days became more peaceful, not because my external circumstances had changed, but because something had changed within me.

My relationships—family, friendships and acquaintances— all were more intense, like the difference between a black and white picture and a picture in full color. There is a big sense of mystery about all of this, but my inner depths are throbbing with enlightenment and life. It is amazing the difference that this has made in my life.

Although we have only been meeting every Monday for the past two months, I have come to depend on these meetings. I look forward to the time together with my SacraMentor Brothers. Being a part of this group is really helping me to grow in my faith. Experiencing myself as a part of the body of Christ is helping me to know more deeply the Christ within. In his book, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren has compared each member of a spiritual group to the organs of a body. In its very unique way, each organ contributes to the health of the whole body. If the organ were removed from the body, the organ would whither and die. Each member of SacraMentors contributes to the Body of Christ. If a member becomes isolated or stops coming, the health of the Body of Christ is affected. Each and every one of us has something to offer. I believe that God is pleased to know that the gifts that He has given to each of us are being used. SacraMentors is an arena to witness each and every brother’s unique gifts. My SacraMentor journey has led to self-discovery and growth in my character and spirituality. Although I have always been blessed with an awareness of God’s presence in my life, both in good times and in bad, this new phase of my spiritual journey is different because I have my SacraMentor brothers journeying with me. We are a few good men who have come together at this point in time to do God’s work…to live the mystery and the spiritual journey together as brothers in Christ.

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Stewardship Campaign ’04 Update By Ron Reierson, Financial Advisor
God’s abundant blessings to each of you!

As all of you know, we began our second annual Stewardship Campaign this past March. The purpose of this annual campaign is to provide sufficient funds to allow us to continue to bring the SacraMentors program to more men and women within our Archdiocese and, if so led by the Holy Spirit, to other dioceses. Additionally, the campaign allows us to qualify for grants by being able to demonstrate to potential grantors that we have a regular source of income to cover the cost of our day-to-day operations.

This year, it has truly been a blessing to have so many of you answer the call to make SacraMentors a part of your planned charitable giving. As of early May, 127 SacraMentor brothers and sisters have pledged almost $17,000.00. Compared to last year’s campaign, that represents an increase of over 33% in the number of SacraMentors making a pledge! Although there has been a slight decrease in the total dollar amount pledged, it is a true blessing to see more and more of you answer the Holy Spirit’s call to share the many treasures God has bestowed upon each of us.

It’s not too late to make a pledge! I would ask each of you who haven’t yet responded to the campaign to prayerfully consider making a pledge. Your pledge may be a commitment to regularly pray for the SacraMentors movement or a financial donation. Either way, your commitment to SacraMentors will allow us to continue to follow the Holy Spirit’s direction and lead. And remember, all of your donations are tax deductible.

Thanks again for your continued faithfulness to God and to your SacraMentor sisters and brothers. God bless each of you for your financial – and prayerful – support.

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SacraMentors Retreat

On Saturday, June 5, from 9 AM until 5 PM, SacraMentors will sponsor a retreat with Fr. Jim Northrop, pastor of Sacred Heart parish. The topic for the retreat is, “The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me: Forming Bold Disciples for a New Millennium,” and it will be held in the Holy Family Parish Center in Kirkland.

This is certain to be a Spirit-filled day that will inspire and bless everyone in attendance. So mark your calendars now, encourage your SacraMentor brothers and sisters to attend, and bring your family and friends to the retreat! As an added incentive, lunch will be provided!

To get to Holy Family parish, exit I-405 at NE 70th and go east. Turn left at 120th Avenue NE and drive down the block to the parish center at the corner of NE 73rd and 120th Ave NE. See you there!

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Return and Renewal By Don Grainer, All Saints

Like most of my fellow SacraMentors, I left the presentation series excited and spiritually charged. I was looking forward to the weekly meetings and the chance to continue the process of growing spiritually and letting go of my ego.

Expectations got in the way and as we were warned, expectations can lead to frustration. And that is what happened with me. I found the weekly meetings somewhat boring and not very spiritually stimulating. And I felt that I just didn’t fit in. I let my ego rule and eventually I stopped attending the Apostles Group.

There were practical concerns that kept me away, such as the distance traveled to and from the meeting site. And then gas prices zoomed upward.

Why did I become active again? In a word, INSPIRATION. I had been praying to our Lord, asking if there were anything I could do during Lent that would make it more meaningful. One Monday afternoon it came to me as I was reading from a church magazine and my thoughts began to drift to what could I do. After thinking more about it I decided I could not do it alone and chose to bring the idea to my Apostles Group. Our weekly meeting being scheduled for Mondays we were able to discuss my idea and begin work on it right away.

On a more personal note I had approached our Lord earlier, asking for advice and guidance concerning a major aspect of my life that I had been having a very hard time resolving. The monthly board meeting was scheduled for the same week I had returned to my Apostles Group and I decided to attend. As I had never been to a board meeting it had to be inspiration again playing a part. I had seen that the issue of inactive members was to be discussed at the meeting and when the time came I presented my inactive issues to them, which included the subject of my fitting in. I felt I didn’t belong in part because of my homosexuality. My announcement was received with no negative comments or reactions from those present. My fellow SacraMentors were true to their word about seeing through the outer trappings and images of the individual and perceived only the child of God within. I was heartened by the warm response I received upon revealing the fact that I am gay. (True to their calling my fellow SacraMentors saw only another child of God.)

SacraMentors has helped me immensely in the time I have been a member. It has aided me in letting go of many grudges, some of which have been with me for nearly thirty years. Those grudges eventually led me to leave the church all together. It was in the midst of my returning that I discovered SacraMentors.

It hasn’t been easy. But I will make an extra effort this time to remain active and not let my ego tell me it isn’t being meaningful to me or helpful to me. I need to realize that it can be meaningful to someone else, helpful to someone else, that my being there can be a help and inspiration to a SacraMentor brother. And just as importantly, I feel more confident that I was called for a purpose. Finding SacraMentors was not just a coincidence.

My advice to other inactive members: Come back. Opportunities abound when you do. Don’t wait for inspiration to get you going. But mostly we need you. Your presence, your thoughts and input can scatter seeds that grow and grow and grow.

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