Living Sacramentally
Fr. Tom Slowinski

If you would like to listen to the parish mission talks given by Father Tom, click the links below

Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

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First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself.  My name is Father Tom Slowinski and I am a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit.  As some of you already know, I have known your pastor, Father Nick O’Brien since college.  For a small fee I am willing to share some stories about him from those days; in fact, the greater the fee the better the story.  Seriously, I have known him for a long time and as you know, the Lord has blessed you with a fine and dedicated pastor. 
   I was ordained almost twenty seven years ago and presently serve as pastor at Saint Andrew Church in Rochester Michigan, a suburb located approximately twenty miles north of the City of Detroit, and this is my third pastorate.  I am also an adjunct faculty member at Orchard Lake Seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan where I serve as an instructor in homiletics.
   It is both my pleasure and privilege to be conducting your parish mission this year, entitled: “Living Sacramentally” from March 1 through March 6, 2008.  Just a brief word on how I settled upon this theme and what you can expect from the mission this year.  Obviously, sacraments are central to not only our prayer but also to our identity as Catholics.  Two elements present a potentially enormous challenge to our embrace of them.  While it has always been counter cultural to live the gospel that has probably never been truer than it is today.  Materialism, greed, and individualism coupled to an already present sense of loss of mystery, sacrifice, and permanency in terms of life commitments all contradict the spirit of the gospel. The second factor, an often misunderstood perception of sacraments in terms of their role and purpose serves to only blur the picture and hinder the promise that sacraments hold in our lives. 
   The answer cannot simply be to withdraw from these pressures and demands of the world; after all, God created all that is good and that includes the world and all that is in it.  The challenge is one of transformation.  Through our sacramental practice and embrace we become transformed from image to likeness into the One who created us in love.  This empowers us to transform the world within which we live because we will have experienced conversion.  Images, stories, and examples from scripture will be used to help us understand this journey as it relates to our own lives today.

To Listen to the Mission Talks Click the links below
 
“Introduction & Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism & Confirmation”

“Eucharist”

“Sacraments of Healing & Service: Reconciliation, Anointing, Marriage, & Holy Orders”

   Even though Eucharist is one of the sacraments of initiation I thought it best to treat it as a single entity since it plays such a significant role in our lives as Catholics.  The Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday sessions will be repeated the following day immediately after morning mass for those who choose or are unable to attend the evening gatherings. 
   I cordially invite and sincerely hope to have the opportunity to greet and welcome you to the upcoming parish mission.  Thank you for your hospitality and welcoming me into your parish and lives through this series.  I hope you will find this mission beneficial in your own Lenten journey this year.