Three Wiser Women

Giving an update on the I.C. capital campaign

01/05/2025

Matthew 2:1-12 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod,  behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

I saw a cartoon recently that put a whole new spin on the visit of the 3 wise men from the east, the feast we celebrate today, the Epiphany. As you would expect, the cartoon depicted Mary and Joseph kneeling prayerfully next to Baby Jesus in swaddling clothes in his manger.

But standing on the other side of the manger were three women who were dressed conspicuously like the counter-parts of the 3 wise men. One woman stretched forth her hands with a gift and said, “Fresh diapers.” The second woman showed her gifts and declared, “Casseroles for the week.”

And the third woman smiled and revealed her gift and said, “Lots of baby formula.” The caption below the cartoon read: “After the three Wise Men left, the three Wiser Woman arrived.” In other words, the cartoon was contrasting the practical gifts of the wiser women against the symbolic but impractical gifts of the wise men, namely, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

After all, what practical value were the gifts of the wise men? You cannot eat or drink them if you were hungry, you cannot wear them if you’re cold, and you sure don’t want to get any myrrh in your diaper! And yet, their impractical gifts were symbols of faith, and faith is the best gift we can ever give Jesus. Indeed, faith is the only gift Jesus wants (or even needs) from us.

Today I want to give you an update on our “Yesterday, Today, and Forever Campaign.” And in some surprising ways all our projects resemble either the gifts of the 3 wise men, or the gifts of 3 wiser women. How so? Well, the centerpiece project of our campaign is a new back altar where we will place the tabernacle so Jesus will be in the front and center of our sanctuary.

And when you compare this altar project with the other useful and necessary projects, it appears very impractical, extravagant, and maybe even a waste of money. But this altar is ultimately a gift of faith; in a sense, a manger made of marble for the Baby Jesus to sleep on.

As you can see on the list of YTF campaign projects for the church, the new back altar was estimated to cost $200,000 but hopefully it will come in a little less than that. It is being built with marble in Italy and should arrive by the end of January. The first weeks of February, therefore, you will see some construction behind the main altar while it is being installed.

Another impractical but faith-filled gift is the new statue of St. Patrick that will arrive and be installed at the same time as the altar in early February. We would not enjoy worshipping in this magnificent Gothic church were it not for the faith and sacrifices of the intrepid Irish who founded I.C. church in 1843. In other words, the altar and statue are like the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They are impractical but important.

Now let me share the projects that are more like the “fresh diapers, casseroles, and baby formula”, that is, the practical, down-to-earth, common sense projects that we need very much. Projects we have already completed (or almost finished) are (1) refurbishing the pews and the new kneeler pads. (2) We upgrades to the stairwell in St. Anne’s Convent.

(3) We bought a new A/C unit at the Youth Building. And over at Apollo’s house (where we priests also live), (4) we’ve painted the outside trim. (5) We repaired the mortar in the chimney and basement walls so the rectory won't collapse. And (6) we installed a new fence for Apollo. All combined, these “church projects” cost $213,062.

In the past 9 months since we started the YTF Campaign, we have completed 7 school projects on the other side of Rogers Avenue: (1) laying new flooring in the offices and teachers’ lounge, (2) water-proofing the exterior walls, (3) installing no-touch toilets which use less water, (4) adding a new preschool classroom and bathrooms, (5) painting the gymnasium, (6) painting the auditorium and installing new ceiling tiles, and (7) erecting a new cooling tower.

The total cost of these 7 school projects came to $343,217. The total amount we have spent so far, therefore, is $556,279. That is over half-a-million dollars! But the good news is we have raised in pledges and donations $1,493,000, and we did that in just 9 months!

By the way, what is just as impressive is that our parishioners have continued to tithe generously so we can still pay our normal bills. So, the YTF Campaign so far has raised almost $1.5 million more than you already give every Sunday. You can see on our list of projects that we still have some big ticket items, like a new roof on the school, and a new roof on the parish center and gymnasium.

So, if you have not made a pledge or one-time gift, please consider doing so. Maybe you are like the 3 wise men and want to give a symbolic, impractical gift of faith. Or perhaps you are more like the 3 wiser women and want to give a more useful, necessary gift. Regardless of your gift, just don’t come empty handed to visit the manger.

Jesus warmly welcomes all gifts, no matter their size, cost, or value. And the best gift you can give Jesus is the gift of your faith. Why? Because then, the Baby Jesus will give you the greatest gift of all, namely, Himself, which he does at every Eucharist. That is, every Eucharist is like a little Christmas gift-exchange.

Praised be Jesus Christ!