Gulf Pine Catholic

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Gulf Pine Catholic
•July 28, 2017
I remember chatting with a very out-
going, charismatic and popular gentle-
man with a high degree of energy and
enthusiasm. He surprised me when he
said, “As I grow older, I feel the need to
spend more time alone. I need the time
alone to reflect on my life, what I have
accomplished and how I want to spend
my twilight years.” Here was a classic
lifelong extrovert who recognized that
he needed to discover and embrace the
introvert possibilities.
Recently, I read the NewYork Times
bestseller book, “Quiet: The Power of
Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain.
For the extrovert, action is more important than contem-
plation; certainty than doubt; quick decisions than pondering
outcomes; extroverts are more talkative, have a more appeal-
ing personality; are rated as being smarter, better looking;
more desirable as friends. Basically, extroverts are friendly,
forthright and always on the go. On the other hand, introverts
can be shy, highly sensitive. They tend to work alone, be de-
liberate; abhor small talk; prefer to listen rather than talk; are
more comfortable with a few close friends than in a large
group. They express themselves better in writing and have
distaste for conflict.
Cain indicated that, as a society, we have moved from
a Culture of Character to a Culture of Personality. We have
moved from the ideal of being serious, disciplined and hon-
ourable to a pressure to entertain and to sell oneself. Dale
Carnegie empowered us to win and influence people. Tony
Robbins has become the guru for the Culture of Personality.
Also, Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” as
well as many of the televangelists, became prime example of
that same Culture of Personality.
The more recent phenomenon of “Groupthink” suggests
that creativity, success and achievement come from teamwork
only. Some of these teams are virtual, working together, shar-
ing on-line calendars, working in an open office plan where
no one has a room of their own, with only the walls of the
building to surround them.
In the Old Testament, God choose Moses to lead the
Chosen People out of slavery in Egypt. He was the introvert.
When Moses wondered if he was up to the task, he wondered
if God had chosen the right person. Later on when the people
complained and Moses brought their complaints to God, he
felt inadequate to the task. God turned to Joshua, the extro-
vert, to complete the task.
It is interesting, in our talkative world that Jesus who kept
people spellbound by his teaching, preaching and miracles
also took time off to come aside and pray. Even when he met
his disciples when they returned from preaching to tell him of
their success and their excitement; he simply invited them to
come aside and pray for a while.
Some time ago, I employed a man to erect a polytunnel for
growing my organic vegetables. During the two days of con-
struction, we engaged in some conversations. He was married
for twenty-five years. As a master carpenter, he likes to work
alone and likes to befriend nature. He likes the solitude of get-
ting in his fishing boat on weekends and heading off fishing
alone. The fish he catches, he gives away as he is not a great
eater of fish. On the other hand, his wife is bubbly, gregarious,
enthusiastic, loves to be around people and to travel. Recently,
she said to him, “We have been married for twenty-five years.
How did we survive? We are such opposites.”
Toward the end of her book, Cain says, “We all write our
life’s stories as if we were novelists with beginnings, conflicts,
turning points and endings. And the way we characterize our
past setbacks profoundly influences how satisfied we are with
our current lives. Unhappy people tend to see setbacks as con-
taminants that ruined an otherwise good thing, while genera-
tive people see them as blessings in disguise.
Love is essential. Gregariousness is optional. Cherish
your nearest and dearest. Work with colleagues you like and
respect. Scan new acquaintances for those who might fall
into the former categories or whose company you enjoy for
its own sake. And don’t worry about socializing with every-
one else. Relationships make everyone happier. Think quality
over quantity. The secret to life is to put yourself in the right
lighting. For some, it’s a Broadway spotlight; for others, a
lamplight desk. Use your natural powers -- persistence, con-
centration, insight and sensitivity -- to do work you love and
work that matters. Solve problems, make art, think deeply.”
Father Michael Tracey is retired and lives in Ireland. He
can be contacted by email at . His
website is
Talking and listening
Across
the Pond
Fr. Tracey
Wyrwich
From page 1
Wyrwich has spent the last five years in the Diocese
of Corpus Christi working at both the diocesan and par-
ish level. As a Development Specialist for the diocesan
Office of Stewardship and Development he served the
pastors and parishes of the diocese by developing ways
to help parishes increase redemption rates for the
diocesan-wide “Legacy of Faith-Future of Hope”
Capital and Endowment Campaign. In 2015 Wyrwich
began serving as the Parish Administrator of St. Philip
the Apostle Catholic Church, also in Corpus Christi.
Prior to working in the Diocese of Corpus Christi,
Wyrwich spent 20 years in the restaurant business as a
general manager for several national concepts. During
his time in the restaurant industry, Wyrwich learned the
value of team work and mission-oriented service to oth-
ers. Although he enjoyed his time in restaurants, he
always desired to serve people in a more spiritually
focused manner.
Wyrwich eventually found his way to put his talents
and skills to work in serving others through the Church
in 2013.
Wyrwich served three years as an Army Armor
Officer with the 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Carson,
Colorado. He graduated from Texas Tech University
with a Bachelor of Science in RHIM.
Wyrwich has two grown children, Haleigh and
Haden.
“I am humbled and grateful to be offered the chance
to serve Bishop Kihneman and the priests and people of
the Diocese of Biloxi,” said Wyrwich. “When I attend-
ed Bishop Kihneman’s ordination I was so impressed
with the welcoming and loving spirit that I felt from
everyone in the community. I look forward to working
with and getting to know the people of this great dio-
cese and I am excited to help share and teach the
Gospel of Christ through Stewardship, Evangelization
and Discipleship.”
Wyrwich plans to hit the ground running by visiting
pastors, administrators, principals and school develop-
ment directors as soon as possible.
Pope prays for dialogue, reconciliation in Jerusalem
BY CINDY WOODEN
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis called on
Muslims and Jews in the Holy Land to “moderation and
dialogue” as tensions continued around a key site in
Jerusalem that is sacred to members of both faiths.
After reciting the Angelus July 23, the pope asked
people gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the midday
prayer to join him in asking the Lord to inspire recon-
ciliation and peace in the region.
Tensions in Jerusalem have been high since July 14
when three Israeli Arabs armed with knives and guns
killed two Israeli police officers at an entrance to the
site the Jews call Temple Mount and the Muslims call
Haram al-Sharif. The site includes the Western Wall
and Al Aqsa mosque.
In his main Angelus talk, Pope Francis spoke about
the parable of the weeds among the wheat from the
Sunday Gospel reading.
The farmer in the parable from the Gospel of
Matthew tells his workers not to pull up all the weeds
because they might uproot the wheat, but to wait until
the harvest when the wheat and weeds can be separat-
ed.
“With this image, Jesus tells us that in this world
good and evil are so intertwined that it is impossible to
separate them and eradicate all the evil -- only God can
do that,” the pope said.
Human beings are called to the “difficult exercise of
discernment” in choosing between good and what is
evil, he said, and when they fail -- which all people do
sometimes -- the church stands ready to help with the
grace of baptism and of confession.
Like the farmer in the parable, the pope said, God
calls Christians to be patient as they await the harvest.
“Patience means preferring a church that is leaven
in the dough, that is not afraid of getting its hands dirty
washing the clothes of its children, rather than being a
church of the ‘pure,’ who insist on judging beforehand
who is in the kingdom of God and who isn’t.”