Homily: Feast of St. Peter Claver
Feast of St. Peter Claver “Called to Serve the Powerless”
When I was in graduate school, I spent a month living in inner city Indianapolis with about twenty other seminarians. A lot of time was spent in the African American Catholic community. I was impressed by the upbeat nature of the liturgy in the parishes and by the depth of faith I witnessed. One of the organizations that was important was the Knights of Peter Claver.
I had never heard of Peter Claver before, but the Black Catholics I met had a great affinity for this saint. I thought that he must have been African or African American, but to my surprise I found out later that he was not. His story is a heroic one.
Peter Claver was born in Spain to a working-class family. He became a Jesuit in 1602. Peter was inspired by Alphonsus Rodriguez to become a missionary to the new world. He was sent to Cartagena, Columbia where he became a priest six years later. Cartagena was a center for the slave trade. Peter began ministering to the slaves and educating them in the faith.
Claver would meet the slave ships when they arrived and nurse the men and woman who had spent weeks in the hull of a ship stacked on top of each other like cargo. The slaves came off the ship starving and physically depleted. Peter Claver would bind up their wounds and teach them about Jesus using signs and pictures. He wanted to care for the black slaves physical and spiritual needs. It is said that he baptized over 300,000 people in his life.
When Peter Claver was 70 years old, he took ill with the plague. He lived the last four years in constant pain and suffering. Even though he had nursed many his care was neglected. A man who was designated to take care of him, neglected and abused him. He died in 1654.
Peter Claver exemplified selfless service. Quite often charity is done with a hidden agenda. We want to be thanked and recognized. St. Peter Claver had to know that the slaves he ministered to were considered unimportant, no better than farm animals. Peter Claver saw in them images of Christ. He served the slaves as if they were Jesus himself. Because he did, he is revered by their descendants today.
Reflection Questions:
- Do I like to be thanked when I provide service to others? How do I feel when I am not thanked?
- What motivated Peter Claver in his missionary work? Is there a greater spiritual reward in serving those who cannot repay me?
Dear Parishioners,
We got some good news about Seton School yesterday which is that our Catholic School has 457 students enrolled for the year. There was some fear that enrollment would drop again this year because of the ongoing COVID pandemic. We have gained some students from last year when enrollment was adversely affected by all the uncertainty. Thank you to Jane Barrett and the rest of our administrative team for their hard work with recruitment.
Remember our changes in Mass Schedule. On Thursdays the second daily Mass will be at 8:30 a.m. rather than the regular time of 8 a.m. This Sunday, as religious education begins, we will shift our 9 a.m. Mass to 9:15 a.m. Our hope is that this will encourage more families to come to Mass.
May Our Lady and All the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark