Saint Aidan Catholic Church - Livonia, MI
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  • Discover
    • About >
      • About Us
      • Our Patron Saint
      • Church Tour
    • Schedule
    • Contact
    • Register
    • Livestream Masses
    • Follow Us on Social Media
    • Groups >
      • Women of St. Aidan
      • Men's Club
      • Men's Prayer Group
      • Christian Services
    • Links
  • Grow
    • Become Catholic
    • Children's Liturgy of the Word
    • Families
    • Sacrament Prep >
      • Baptism
      • Reconciliation & Holy Communion
      • Confirmation
    • Staff Articles
    • Young Adults
    • VBS
  • Service
    • Pray
    • Assistance
    • Christian Services
    • Volunteer
  • Give
    • Electronic Donations
    • CSA
    • Endowment
    • RMD QCD IRA Contributors
    • Annual Report

What's in a Name?

9/30/2019

 
Like last Sunday, the First Reading and the Gospel today (the 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time) speak about the proper use of wealth. Two weeks ago we celebrated the prodigals’ father’s feast: compassion, mercy, tenderness and reconciliation. The self-absorbed rich of the readings today eat a banquet that consists of self-indulgence, carnality, oppression and injustice. Our lives as Disciples involve choices for the use of our time, talent and treasure!

​
At a Lenten Parish Mission in my former parish, St. Roch in Flat Rock, I once heard Fr. Hugh Burns talk about all the essences of the Kingdom of God. The letters of the word K.I.N.G.D.O.M stands for several things in acronym form—and the “N” meant now—as in we do not know when we will be called. Our lives must be lived with the urgency of our salvation. In the readings today we hear that after death it is too late. Salvation consists of heeding the Word of God now.

One of the most awful moments for me in today’s Gospel story of Lazarus and Dives, is how Dives (the rich man), knows Lazarus’ name. Dives knew the name of the man starving on his doorstep! Think about it: Dives knew him well enough to know his name, but did nothing to alleviate his suffering. We all know that a name may express the essence of a person—and in revealing our names to others we become accessible by inviting this intimacy. By our names we are known—and by our names we are called! Dives knew Lazarus’ name—yet was so self-absorbed he did not help him.

St. Paul says it clearly in his Letter to Timothy: “But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, patience and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life to which you were called…” What (or who) will convert the world to justice and to the Kingdom on earth? We will. We know that the lowly will be lifted up and the mighty put down from their thrones (that was the Blessed Virgin Mary’s song). We will accomplish this with the grace and help of God and each other. I guess the question is: Will God know your name at the final judgment? The answer is obvious: He will know you (and your name) by your works in faith and by your life lived according to the Gospel. Food for thought…

Keep singing!

Elizabeth Dyc

Chaplains Courageous

9/21/2019

 
PictureFr. John Patrick Chidwick
This weekend we are blest with another guest article from two of our parishioners, Randal Hoyer and Michael Marihugh, professors at Madonna University here in Livonia.  This is a good weekend to publish their article, for their subject is Father John P. Chidwick, only the third Catholic priest to serve as a chaplain in our country’s navy.  By his actions onboard the USS Maine following its catastrophic explosion (1898), and after, in providing prayers and dignified burials for the victims, Father Chidwick gave witness in a profound way to what we hear we are called to do in this weekend’s second reading from the first letter of Timothy - to offer supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings…for everyone…[to] pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.

​Answering the call with you,

David J. Conrad

​
Commander (Msgr.) John P. Chidwick was honored to be appointed as the third Catholic Chaplain in the U.S. Navy.  A native New Yorker, he earned BA and MA degrees from Manhattan College. He later entered St. Joseph Seminary in Troy, NY, and was ordained a priest in 1887.  After seven years at a New York parish, Fr. Chidwick was then appointed Chaplain in the U.S. Navy in 1895.  His first assignment was to the battleship USS Maine, serving until March 1898.

Chaplain Chidwick quickly became well-liked by sailors whether Catholic or not. Late in the evening of February 15, 1898, while making a port visit to Havana, Cuba, a violent explosion racked the USS Maine. It happened while the people of Cuba were trying to throw off Spanish colonial rule.  Despite the fact that no cause of the explosion has even been identified, Americans were sympathetic to the Cuban Independence Movement and tended to blame Spain for the disaster which killed 266 of its crew (only 89 survived).  This led to the outbreak of the Spanish-American War.

Fr. Chidwick was saying the Holy Office of the Priesthood in his quarters when the explosion occurred on the USS Maine. When he went out on deck, he saw a horrible sight. The front of the ship was twisted and burning as the ship sank.  Dead and wounded sailors were everywhere.  He gave a general absolution and then, ignoring the threat of another explosion, Fr. Chidwick joined the rescue effort. He was all over the ship tending to the wounded and ministering to the dead and dying. Fr. Chidwick was one of the last to leave the ship. The Captain’s report to the Navy Department included the highest praise for the Chaplain.  The Secretary of the Navy also sent a letter praising him. 

As Chaplain, Chidwick wrote consoling letters to the relatives of those killed in the explosion of the USS Maine. He also conducted burial services for the sailors in Havana cemeteries.  Later, he repeated the services when they were moved to Arlington National Cemetery.  Since the ship was a hazard to navigation, in 1912 it was raised from Havana Harbor and then sunk again in deeper water.  Fr. Chidwick conducted burial services then, and again at Arlington, for three sailors whose remains were recovered during the raising of the ship.  

Fr. Chidwick continued to serve in the Navy, achieving the rank of Commander before resigning his Commission in 1903.  He served as a priest in New York for about 30 more years during which time he was appointed a Monsignor.  In addition to parish service, he was Chaplain for both the NYPD and the Spanish-American Veteran’s organization.  He also had academic appointments as President of his old seminary and of the College of New Rochelle. 

Father John Chidwick died on January 13, 1935, and was buried with all military honors and rights.  Veterans of the Spanish-American War erected a plaque in his memory at New York’s Columbus Circle.

Never forgotten.
​
By:
Randal L. Hoyer, PhD, Professor Emeritus
Michael W. Marihugh, MA, Adjunct Assistant Professor
Department of History
Madonna University - A Catholic, Franciscan University

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    Authors

    ​Elizabeth Dyc. Our Director of Music Ministry.

    Paul Pyrkosz. Our Youth Minister & Bookkeeper.

    ​

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St. Aidan Catholic Church
17500 Farmington Rd. 
Livonia, MI 48152
Phone: 734-425-5950
[email protected]

Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM
Sunday: 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 AM

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