This week as I was travelling between our two parishes, I was struck by the beautiful landscaping around each.

   When I arrived as pastor of Sacred Heart in 2003, I was struck by the beauty of the grounds and the several different gardens around the parish plant. There was the sharing garden, a meditation garden, a children's garden, and a garden meditation walk. All of this was (and is) maintained by the landscape committee and they do a wonderful job maintaining all of these gardens. I have done so numerous times, but I want to thank them once again.

    St. Augustine Parish recently formed a landscape committee as well and in a short period of time the grounds at St. Augustine have shown a wonderful improvements. The landscape commitee has been busy, cutting, pruning, planting, repairing, watering  and tending the different areas of landscape around St.Augustine. It looks great! I want to thank all of the landscape committee at St. Augustine. You are doing a wonderful job and I appreciate your dedication to the task and to let you know once again that it has not gone unnoticed.

   This October, the Stewardship Commission of both parishes will conduct our annual stewardship appeals. This is the time of the year that we are reminded of our challenge to be good stewards of that which God has entrusted to us. The landscape committee at St. Augustine saw and need, stepped forward with their talents, and we are the better for it.

   What will be your contribution of time and talent?

   Last night (Thursday, August 12), I had the opportunity to attend the Clark County Chapter of the American Red Cross's Humanitarian Awards Dinner. Our parishioner Tiny Barthold was honored. Being a past recipient of the award, as are many of our parishioners, it was an honor to add Tiny to our group.

   When I read her "bio" at the ceremony I was surprised to learn many things. Maybe all you long-time parishoners knew this, but I did not.

   Tiny went back to school in her mid 50's and completed her degree. She eventually applied to Law School. She was finally accepted and completed her JD.

   She took a job as a probation officer (I think they said she was the first woman in Clark County to hold that position). It was in this position that she guided many young men and women toward productive rather than destructive lives.

   In time she ran for the position of judge and was elected. Once again she used her position to mold young people and helped many turn their lives around. Even today, people who she counseled in their youth will stop and thank Tiny for the respect she showed them, for helping them to believe in themselves. She was instrumental in the building of the juvenille detention center here in Clark County.

   Tiny is just one among many humanitarians in Clark County and in our parish that make the Jeffersonville community a great place. Thanks, Tiny for the ways you worked to make our community a better place to live!

   And while I am saying thanks, I also thank my parents, John & Rosie Clegg, for all they did to make me who I am today. August 12, 2010 would have been my parents 60th wedding anniversary. They had a double wedding ceremony with her sister, Carol and her husband Ray. Of the four, only my Aunt Carol is still living.

   I have always said that my parents not only loved each other, they also liked each other! They were an example of what marriage can be and should be. I was lucky to have them and I am grateful for their example!

  The motto, "Together in Christ," was chosen as the motto for The Catholic Community Connection, our joint parish newsletter.  It was chosen to emphasize that, while we are still two separate parishes in Jeffersonville, Indiana, there are many things which call us to work together to build up God's kingdom. I want to share some thoughts on our clustering now that we are three years into it.

  For the most part I think things are working out well. I see much more trust and cooperation between and within our two parish communities. I see many, many people attending a Mass at one Church while being members of the other. Most of the time it is because that Mass time fits into their schedule better, but that it is happening more than it was three years ago I see as a positive sign. Events such as the joint parish picnic, the Sacred Heart Street Dance, and the St. Augustine Harvest Chicken Dinner are regularly attended by parishioners of both parishes. Last week, our pastoral councils spent the day together on retreat at Wooded Glen and then returned to be installed at their own parish Church. This type of cooperation is a model for all of us. It reminds us that we are "Together in Christ."

   However, every so often I still hear a bit of grumbling (usually not firsthand) that people think I favor one parish over the other or that one parish gets a "better part of the deal" than the other. The fact that I hear it from both parishes probably tells me that we (the pastoral team and I) are doing something right. But nonetheless I find this type of complaining to be hurtful to the Body of Christ in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

  Most of the time I think the concerns are easily answered. St. Augustine always has Midnight Mass at Christmas and Sacred Heart always has the Easter Vigil at Easter because the Church building at the respective parishes particularly lend themselves to those Feasts. Weekend Mass times are based on the respective size of the crowds that normally attend those Masses.

   One of my chief concerns when I hear the grumbling is that the people are not complaining to me, the pastoral team, or the pastoral council members. They are complaining to other parishioners. This kind of negativity breeds unhappiness and discontent that damages the whole community.

  I would challenge any of you who have concerns to bring them to me or to a member of the pastoral team or pastoral council. This is especially true if it is something that you truly believe is unfair. I made the promise when this clustering began that I would always be above-board and honest with you. But you have a part to play in this and that is to take your concerns through the proper channels. If you do otherwise, just remember you are damaging the Body of Christ.

Fr. Tom