Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Responding to Iraq
While I believe the reasoning behind our engagement in Iraq is terribly faulty, the truth is that many good people respond in heroic ways to that challenge. Reader Fred sends this from the Kansas City area, a feature on a parish priest, Peter Jaramillo, who leaves pastoral ministry stateside for a tour of duty with his National Guard unit, soon to be heading to Iraq.
I had a phone call today from a parishioner. Her husband is doing contract work in Iraq. She asked, why don't we ever pray for non-military personnel. Good question. It was the first time anyone had asked us. No, she replied, I asked (the former pastor) and nothing happened. I asked that new priest, and he said I should talk to you. You should have done that, I thought, but I assured her that I always took input from parishioners for prayer of the faithful. She further suggested we have a display for people to sign names or place photos of loved ones serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Great idea, I replied. Would you be interested in leading an effort like that? Then she explained that with her husband gone and her children moved away, she was leaving the area to move nearer her kids. She'd be gone the next week.
CS readers and friends of mine know of my profound opposition to war, but Father Jaramillo's quote seemed apt, “The church is everywhere. I answered the call to do God’s work and to serve his church. I go where the work is.” I can accept that wholeheartedly. My views of the war are irrelevant when it comes to my role to serve and be with my parishioners. They want to pray for the soldiers? That prayer is my prayer. They want to pray for civilians in harm's way? That prayer is my prayer.
My new, but now departing friend didn't know anyone else in the parish who might want to put together a display. But it's a fine idea, and I'll be looking out for people who need to express their prayers in this way.
