Boy, I hope I can remember (store up) all the sunshine
and nice temperature for the winter months. Wouldn’t it
be nice if we could “can” them?
Well I digress from the real message I hope to convey to
you this month. With the growth and changes in St.
Bedes, deliberate communications rather than off-the-cuff
conversations are necessary for the health of the “body”.
That is why I treasure Mary Ann Bailyeat’s e-mails, John
Pope’s web-site management, Bonnie Dalrymple’s
forming and editing the “Tidings” newsletter, and
Kathleen’s administration in getting announcements,
letters, and bulletins to you.
However, the above communications are “paper works”
and, essentially, just one way: us to you. More personal
“one to one” opportunities are necessary.
Several moths ago, the Tidings and other publications
announced the establishment of a shepherding system for
the Bishop’s Committee. The intent is for BC members to
make sure they (the leadership) of the congregation are in
touch with the membership. Each BC member is
encouraged to make monthly contact with those in their
group. That contact could be in-person at coffee hours, in
coincidental meetings, by phone call or all the above.
At the July BC meeting, we decided that it would be
appropriate to list the BC members with their constituent

articular BC “go to” person for questions, concerns or
comments.
Of course, lists have a way of becoming outdated even
before they are published. However, they have most of
the information people need. If your name is not
included, please let us know. If you sense that you have
not been contacted, I need to know that as well. However
in all fairness to the BC member, I would suggest that you
call him or her to just check-in and welcome contact.
This is also another way for a congregation to stay away
from the “mind reader” syndrome. Maybe you haven’t
heard of it. However, I and many others have had
extensive experience with it. It’s an affliction with the
following major symptom: “You should have known”,
with the subset “even though I never said anything”. In
addition, the shepherding system helps keep gossip,
another terrible “affliction,” down to a couple of isolated
cases which, with proper treatment, can be healed.
Hope you have a blessed August and that
the “dog days” of the month are kept at bay.
Blessings to all,
Father Mike+