August 17, 2025: Both/And

Both/and

Let me tell you a story. Back in January 2007, when I first arrived in this area, I was named pastor of St. Edward’s in Princeton. That summer, Fr. Steve Binsfeld (who presided here just last weekend) became pastor at St. Pius X in Zimmerman. But after just one month, he was reassigned to Alexandria. So in July, the Diocese came to me and asked if I would also pastor St. Pius—essentially twinning the two parishes.

I said, “Only if that decision comes from the people—not from the top down.” And with that, a broader initiative began in our Diocese—inviting communities to discern how to pastor parishes with fewer priests. Some of you long-timers remember—it was rough. At that point, each of the five parishes in Sherburne County—Elk River, Big Lake, Becker, Zimmerman, and Princeton—had its own pastor. But we had to face a new reality.

So our two parishes met. We argued, we laughed, we cried. Eventually, we presented three options to Bishop Kinney. He chose for us to merge into one parish and, eventually, one worship site—which we fully realized 15 years later. It wasn’t easy. But as I’ve often said, we trusted the Holy Spirit working through the Diocese.

Now, the whole Diocese of St. Cloud is walking a similar path through an initiative called All Things New. Every parish is being asked to create a plan in collaboration with its neighboring parishes. These groupings are called Area Catholic Communities—or ACCs. We are part of the Sherburne County ACC, which includes St. Andrew’s in Elk River, Mary of the Visitation (serving Big Lake and Becker), and now St. Marcus in Clear Lake, added just this July.

Some parishes will be designated as primary parishes, serving as administrative centers. Others may merge, close, or become subsidiary parishes. It’s a major shift—but as we’ve experienced firsthand, good things can come from this. With fewer priests, declining attendance, and limited resources, the goal is not just to survive—but to be renewed for mission. It's about reimagining how we live the Gospel, serve one another, and stay rooted in the sacraments.

Which brings us to today’s Gospel. Jesus tells us there will be division. And let’s face it—conflict is part of parish life, and family life too. Politics, immigration, sexuality, climate change—you name it, we’re divided. Too often we aim for “compromise,” which really means, “let’s talk, but you need to change because I’m not going to.”

It’s not just that conflict is inevitable and some fights are worth having; it’s that conflict is one of the ways God gets most deeply to us. That is, when we figure out that unity is about more than agreeing with each other and reconciliation has more to do with staying in the room than with winning . . . hence remarkable things can happen. Two sides can discover a third way 

When Jesus names the divsions that can occur, what if he is calling us to live with differences? Not an “either/or” approach—but a “both/and” way of thinking. That both sides may hold some truth. That we can disagree—and still stay in relationship. Maybe there’s a third way forward in every conflict—something neither side has considered. And maybe, when we speak our truth and listen to the other’s, we don’t have to end up with hurt feelings, winners and losers, or broken families.

Think of that conflict you are currently experiencing with a family member, or acquaintance. How’s it working out for you by arguing and needing to be right. The vision is to remember who you are (and who that other person is) and what matters most in the midst of conflict, is to hold yourself to higher standard of engagement. 

One that you probably rarely see in the culture we live in, and to love each other in ways that just might mystify your neighbors. To love as Jesus loved. 

Yes, the Diocese will be going through a time of division, even harsh words thrown out. Cardinal Michael Czerny (from Canada) said, “The choice is not to between continuity and change. The choice is to go forward, and that include both continuity and change.”

Back in 2025, Christ Our Light Parish made a decision to go forward. Of course, that revealed different opinions —but more importantly, we’ve held onto respect, dignity, and a welcome for all. That’s what real unity looks like. Not everyone agreeing, but everyone belonging.