Parish the Thought

Prayers for Bishops

2011-10-11T06:56:00.000-07:00

During the Eucharistic Prayer at Mass, we always pray for our Bishop(s). I think I know why.

I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would accept the role of Bishop and less still continue as a Bishop.

I've been able to see just a small part of their lives in a close up way. I briefly held a chancery position and was able to see the daily working of the diocese and what is required of a Bishop to keep things moving. Our new Auxiliary Bishop has chosen to live in my rectory, so I see how a newly consecrated Bishop begins to learn what it means to be a Bishop and what it takes to be a Bishop. A friend was named the Bishop of Gallup, NM a few years ago, and I hear back from him and from other friends what is happening in his life.

From what I have witnessed, it takes an impossible mixture of holiness, fortitude and humility. I once heard Marriage described as a 'Saint making process.' I have the feeling that being a Bishop is a 'Martyr making process.' It might not be a red martyr, when actual blood is shed and life is lost for the faith, but a white martyr in which lifelong suffering and ridicule is accepted and offered to God in union with Christ on the Cross. Many times that suffering comes from the ones who are supposed to be the closest collaborators with the Bishop, the priests of the diocese.

Pray for our Bishops.

Western Beauty

2011-10-07T09:59:00.000-07:00

Several of the scenes in the *incredible* video were taken near Sedona, AZ, and I grew up just a few miles from there. This entire video is stunning and breathtaking.

http://www.vimeo.com/29950141

Landscapes: Volume Two from Dustin Farrell on Vimeo.

SAFE?

2011-10-06T13:43:00.000-07:00

from ADAM'S ALE by Fr. V

SAFE?:
Many people see Church as a safe place to be. Just think of the word “sanctuary.” If you are in danger you run to a church and claim sanctuary and supposedly are afforded a certain amount of protection as long as you remain there.But church and the realm of faith is anything but safe. One need only look at the statues and stained glass windows in his local parish (if he is fortunate enough that it is thusly equipped) to see people who were stoned, beheaded, set on fire, and whose leader Himself was crucified.

If you think things are much different today you are mistaken. Martyrs are still made throughout the world. But of course one might be inclined to think, “those things happen over there though, not here.” Wrong again. I’ll grant you that we do not have martyrs in the United States. But things are not all roses. That is because the Church is involved in the world of thoughts and ideas and it is one of the very few institutions that does not put its Okay stamp on modern culture and go along with the tide of popular opinion.

What is at stake? Men and women in the medical field who want to live out their Catholic faith run the risk of losing their jobs because they refuse to perform procedures or administer drugs that the government wants to mandate ridding us of our conscience clauses. Institutions come closer every year to being in direct conflict with new government regulations in hiring and in practices that go against Catholic teaching such as supplying medical coverage for abortions (just one example.) As same sex marriages are made legal the Church runs the risk of having to recognize such marriages or face sanctions. If you do not believe this take a look at what Archbishop Broglio is facing as archbishop of the military.

Faith is not safe. If you are safe it is only because such things have not yet directly affected your life. All of this prompted Francis Cardinal George to comment, “"I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will die a martyr in the public square".

Study: Most Priests Are Happy, Appreciate Celibacy

2011-10-06T13:41:00.000-07:00

Study: Most Priests Are Happy, Appreciate Celibacy:

By Genevieve Pollock

This interview with Msgr. Rossetti was a topic he discussed with the priests in our diocese (Phoenix) just over a year ago. It was very insightful and a great morale booster to all of us who keep hearing how wrong and unnatural it is to be celibate in modern U.S. society and how all priests are miserable and lonely.

On bending the knee

2011-10-05T11:15:00.000-07:00

from Servant and Steward by daren@servantandsteward.org (The Rev. Daren J. Zehnle)

On bending the knee: In the ancient world the knee symbolized the strength of a man. Why? Take a stick and whack a man on the knee and see what happens.

To genuflect, then, - to literally "bend the knee" - is bend one's strength to God. To genuflect before God serves both to place oneself at his service and to honor his authority.

Too many Catholics genuflect far too lightly, both exteriorly and interiorly. Sometimes I wonder - without judging individuals - if too many of the elderly too lightly opt to bow instead of genuflecting.

This morning at the altar of God the importance of genuflecting hit me, as it were, in a particular way.

After the consecration of the host and then of the chalice the priest is instructed to make a genuflection. With my arthritis, genuflecting in the morning is not always a simple effort and this morning I had to muster additional strength to place myself back at a standing position (the weather forecast, by the way, seems to be missing something).

As I worked my way back up, I said offered a little prayer: "What strength I have, Lord, little as it is, I give to you."

It seems to me this is not a bad way to start a day, if the reminder of weakness is not always welcome.

Clever advice for parents of teenagers

2011-10-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

from Patrick Madrid » Patrick Madrid by Patrick Madrid

Clever advice for parents of teenagers:

Hard to believe, but Nancy and I have been raising kids for nigh unto 31 years now. We’ve done our best to lovingly and prudently herd our oldest 10 children into and through their teenage years and, so far, everyone seems intact and no worse for the wear.

Nancy and I, on the other hand, while not any worse for the wear either, have come to the point in life where we can begin to savor the tantalizingly pleasant realization that our eleventh and last child, Stephen, will soon be entering teenagehood. And that means (dontchyaknow), that, for us, raising teenagers will in the not too distant future be something we wondrously behold . . . in the rearview mirror.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that we haven’t loved and been grateful to God for all these years of living with a rambunctious throng of teens in our house at any given time, but we’re . . . shall we say, close to being ready, to transition to the next phase.

One of our favorite comedians, the insanely funny Tim Hawkins, delivers in this video some innovative advice on how to deal with teenagers. If only I could play the guitar and sing as well as he does, maybe I’d try it on my kids. Check it out.

Persevere in Prayer

2011-10-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

This is a test of Google Reader's Send To feature - but it is still a worthwhile post

From Catholic Exchange by Maurice Blumberg

Persevere in Prayer:

First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones. (Ephesians 6:18)

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument. (1 Timothy 2:8)

My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

In the previous article, I described the call of each of us as Catholic men to be ministers of the Gospel (see Colossians 1:21-23). However, I believe it will be difficult to be faithful to this call if we do not develop a habit of coming into the Lord’s present each day to pray. I once had a priest tell me of a pastor who, every morning when he woke up, looked at his schedule for the day. If it was fairly light, he would then pray for one hour. If it was a very busy and demanding schedule, he then prayed for two hours. I smiled when he said it, but I got his point.

Br. Lawrence of the Resurrection once said that “Prayer to him was simply experiencing the presence of God” (The Practice of the Presence of God). St. Paul considered prayer vital for every Christian. Writing to Timothy, he encouraged his young coworker and all people to offer “prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving” for everyone (1 Timothy 2:1). Not only is prayer “good and pleasing to God,” it also has the power to transform lives (2:3).

God wants all of us to share in his desire that everyone “be saved and come to knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). And we do that by praying for people on a regular basis. However, being faithful to daily prayer can be a challenge at times. We all have days when we find it easy to pray, days when words of praise and intercession just flow effortlessly. But we also have days when prayer feels like nothing more than a burdensome chore – or we feel too busy, distracted, or harassed to pray.

What do we do on those days? Keep on praying (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)!

It should be comforting to know that we’re not alone in our times of dryness. Every saint has faced this exact same challenge. And we need to do exactly what every saint has done. We need to push through and knowing that Jesus’ “grace is sufficient” (2 Corinthians 12:9). When she felt “incapable” of praying, St. Thèrése of Lisieux said: “I want to keep telling Jesus that I love him. It is not difficult, and it keeps the fire going.” Brother Lawrence had this to say about distractions during times of prayer:

One way of recalling the mind easily during prayer and of keeping it more tranquil is not to let your mind race . . . but to hold it close to the presence of God. Being in the habit of coming back to him . . . you will find it easy to remain peaceful during your prayer time, or at least to bring your mind back from distraction (“The Practice of the Presence of God”).

And from her own well-tested experience, St. Teresa of Avila said these words:

Imagine that the Lord is at your side … stay with so good a Friend for as long as you can . . . If he sees that you love him to be there and are always trying to please him, you will never be able, as we put it, to send him away, nor will he ever fail you. He will help you in all your trials and you will have him everywhere.

She knew that the “only remedy” when we have given up praying regularly is to “begin again.” Persevere in prayer. Have faith. This is truly pleasing to God (1 Timothy 2:3). Plus you will find great rewards in your own life as you spend time with the Lord everyday in prayer! Then you too can echo St. Paul’s words and “Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

“Lord Jesus, I desire to come into your presence in prayer every day. I want to be faithful to you not only when my prayer is flowing but also when it’s a labor of love. Holy Spirit, keep the fire of prayer burning brightly in me! I believe your grace is sufficient.”

Many thanks to The Word Among Us for allowing me to adapt meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

Take some time to meditate and reflect on the Scriptures at the beginning of the article. What do you think God is trying to reveal to you through them?

Why do you think the pastor mentioned in the article felt he had to pray two hours, instead of one, when he knew he knew his schedule for the day would be “very busy and demanding?”

How would you describe the obstacles that make it difficult for you to pray every day? What steps can you take to overcome these them?

If you do not pray everyday are you willing to commit to trying to pray every day for 10-15 minutes? If not, why not?

If you do pray every day, what are some of the fruits that have come from it? Do you have a routine you use every day? How would you describe it?

Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord for the grace to do whatever it takes to persevere in prayer every day. Use the prayer at the end of the article as the starting point.

Google+ - Never Mind

2011-09-28T14:14:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: Thanks to Fr. Cory Sticha's Google+ post, folks have noticed this post. Please realize, I'm not upset, I'm not mad, and I'm not complaining. I understand and accept Google's policies and knew I was playing fast and loose with the rules. If my post sounds snarky or upset or like a complaint, it was not my intention at all.

I got kicked off Google+ today due to my violation of their 'real name' policy. By the way, that only usually happens if someone reports you as not using your real name - so I'm wondering who took a dislike to me, but those numbers are almost too great to consider.

Anyway, they didn't like the fact that I was using "Father Bud" as my first name. They're right, it isn't my legal first name, but that's how I ask folks to address me. So, farewell Google+, it was nice to know you.

It is somewhat ironic that I use Google's Blogger service to announce that I'm no longer on Google+.

Google+

2011-08-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

~~Over on the right side of the blog is a link to 150 Google+ invitations. As I write this, four people have used the link.~~

One thing to consider, Google+ has a policy that you must use your real name. Unless or until they change or modify that policy, you need to consider that. Yes, you can still probably register under a fake name, but once they discover the fake name, you have four days to fix it, or get banned.

Update: I was banned under this policy.

~~So what is Google+ and why do I use it?~~

Google+ is a young, growing, social network. Yes, kind of like Facebook. Yes, most of the world (they claim 750 million members) are on Facebook, but I'm not. Here's the link to a previous post called Why I Left Facebook Today.

What do you do on a social network? You act socially, either with small groups of friends or followers, or with the public at large. Some people use it for a status update - what they are doing at any particular moment in time, like "I'm drinking coffee and reading the morning news online."

Some people use it for a way of expressing a particular thought or feeling they might be having, like "I'm glad the library has extended it's hours on nights and weekends, and these are the recent books I've read from the library . . . "

Some use it to express longer thoughts and views on a subject, kind of like how I use this blog. With Google+ you can link to blogs, or re-share posts from other people, or put a video in the post, lots of different things. You can link to things outside of Google+ too. You make it what you want.

~~I use Google~~+ as a combination of Twitter and this Blog. ~~I post~~ small status updates (I just spent $3,000 on auto repair), and ~~I reshare~~ things from other Plusers (I guess that's what we're called). ~~I've also started~~ putting more info there, than on this blog. It is just easier to do. When I sit down to blog, I feel like I need to write something more profound than usual. Those who know me will realize that profundity is not my strongest ability. I don't post often, because I don't feel profound often. ~~I use Google~~+ more because I feel like it is a group of friends and acquaintances who chose to be made aware of what I want to say, whether profound or not. If they get tired of my use of the service, they just 'uncircle' or block me, and they hear no more. (Parishioners have to go to another parish to make that happen in real life!)

Update: No one is bothered by me, since I was banned.

Yes, there are some games to play too. Being an "Angry Birds" addict, ~~you can see my scores~~.

You choose who to follow, and who to share with by using the Circles feature. Just like in real life, you have different relationships with different people. They have some Circles set up for you to start. One for Family, one for Friends, and I think one for Acquaintances. As you find people on Google+, you drag them to one of those Circles, or make new Circles. For example, I've added Circles for Priests and for Deacons and Religious. I also have a Circle for people I want to follow and read their public updates, but probably won't ever interact with, I just want to listen to them. So I also have a Circle called Following.

With Circles, you can choose to share your posts with just some of the world. I might post something that would only apply to other priests, ~~so I don't share it with the entire public~~ (anyone on Google+) or with my family. ~~I might post something to my family~~, and choose to only share it with them (none of my family are on Google+ and don't see a reason to join, they want me back on Facebook, so we're at an impasse). Facebook only has one level, Friends. You either Friend or Unfriend someone, and that's the only choice. With Circles, ~~I can move someone~~ around to different Circles, or include them in multiple Circles, and remove them from a Circle at my discretion.

I can also export my data and leave Google+, and that's the feature I like the most.

One major thing to consider. Google+ is just starting and not a completely finished product. ~~That's why you have to be 'invited.'~~ They will add new features, and change the way things work, and might even remove features, so you are participating in a Work in Progress. So don't join if you don't want to be part of the growth of a new service. But if you do join, and want to include me in a Circle, just search for "Father Bud Pelletier" (without the quote marks) and there I am. No, Bud is not my real first name, but I think they might let me use my nickname.

Update: Nope, not the nickname, nor the title. C'est la vie.

And in my free time . . .

2011-08-09T08:32:00.000-07:00

Last September I was asked to serve as the Spiritual Advisor to our Diocesan Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Below is a video from the National Council giving a bit of an overview and history for the Society in the United States.

When I accepted the role, I really thought I knew all there was to know about the Society. After all, every parish I've been in has had a local Conference. They help people with food and other needs, direct Charity, very good, very nice, end of story.

Oh but I was so very, very poorly informed. As it turns out, the Society has a rule, much like the rule of a religious order, that very definitely spells out that the goal is the spiritual growth of the members (also called Vincentians). The way they help in the spiritual growth of the members is through the charitable activities.

That puts a much different spin on things for me, especially as a pastor. These people seek to grow in a relationship with Christ, and through that relationship, serve the needs of others. But it works both ways. Some might come just out of a sense of charity, and through the Society, then come to a better relationship with Christ. Any way you want, it all works, since the goal is the relationship with Christ.

I think I'll be writing more on the Society, and using some of the great social media work they've been doing at the Phoenix Council. You'll probably get tired of it. That's OK, just as long as you see the Society a little bit differently. And if this gives you the itch to volunteer or donate, so much the better!

St. Michael's Abbey

2010-11-14T06:10:00.001-08:00

Vignette of the Norbertine Life at St. Michael's Abbey from St. Michael's Abbey on Vimeo.

Let Sleeping Blogs . . .

2010-10-23T08:58:00.001-07:00

I think I’m going to let the blog go to sleep again for a while. The problem is finding time to do this, and finding a consistent ‘voice’ for the blog.

You might also consider that the blog is just entering a phase of silent, contemplative prayer.

No matter what, let us always continue to pray for each other and for the whole world.

Retreat!

2010-10-14T14:53:00.001-07:00

Next week (Oct. 18-22) I will be on my annual priest retreat. This year I’m attending the diocesan sponsored retreat which will be directed by Fr. Zachary of the Mother of God, SOLT.

I’m happy to learn that our new Auxiliary Bishop will be with us, as my brother priests and I hear about “The Priestly Soul & the Priestly Spirit.”

A time to pray, to reflect, to ask God’s continued Grace and Strength.

May the Lord continue to Bless all priests to be the sign and instrument of His Love in our world.

Cutting the Cord

2010-10-07T10:39:00.001-07:00

I’m not a big watcher of what is called Prime Time television. These are the shows produced by the big networks (ABC, CBS, CW, Fox, NBC) and usually air from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. around the country (though in Arizona it has always been 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.) But for some reason, this year, I’ve been recording and watching more of these shows, and frankly, I have begun to wonder both why I do it, and why I still pay for cable TV.

Most of these shows are available for free using an antenna. I grew up in a rural town, so I know that is not always the case, but now in the city, I can get all the channels just fine OTA (Over The Air as they say). That goes for most of our local sports teams and a small amount of sports on weekends (even though that’s my busy time of the week).

Many of these shows are now available over the Internet as well through services like Hulu, or from the networks’ web sites. Even Netflix is getting into the act with offering many NBC (and affiliated cable networks) shows for Internet streaming the day after broadcast.

But two other things have caught my attention of late, especially with these Prime Time shows. First is the lowering or abandoning of all moral standards in these shows, and second is the heavy-fisted preaching of modern themes in these shows.

In what used to be called the Family Hour – the first hour of Prime Time – that was safe for viewing by all members of the family, I can't believe the number of sexual innuendo and references. Maybe because I haven’t been watching these shows regularly for a while, it makes it even more jarring to me since I wasn’t slowly made numb to it by the increase over the past few years. (Look up, on your own, a reference to slowly boiling a frog.)

TV has also always pushed for modern themes. The original Star Trek pushed the boundaries during its initial airing by having the first scripted interracial kiss on television. (Kirk and Uhura in the episode “Plato’s Stepchildren”) But over the last couple of decades it seems to have really accelerated, or at least I’m a lot more aware of it. Maybe this is behind the rise in popularity of the reality based shows, the viewers choose them so they don’t feel chastised if they hold views contrary to those of the writers and producers. It is just getting more difficult for me to separate out any kind of entertainment from the barrage of preaching about how I’m supposed to think and act. (Look up, on your own, Brownies with a Difference.)

Modern technologies are making it possible for me to drop cable TV completely. I can use iTunes or Amazon to purchase or rent the shows I want to watch. I can use antenna to still watch the local news or sports. Google, Apple, Microsoft, Sony, Roku and others have competing technologies to let me watch, record or stream television shows. Even modern smart phones like the iPhone and Android phones will let me watch more and more video. Maybe it is time I sat down, really looked at the math of the money I’m spending on television and video, and found alternate ways to watch things that entertain me and won’t bludgeon me with innuendo and condescending modern attitudes. It will be more difficult at first, and probably a technological nightmare to organize it all. But I’m not sure I can take much more of the way it has always worked before.

Jammies

2010-10-06T10:45:00.001-07:00

OK, I’ve gotta wonder aloud. When did pajamas become acceptable fashion outside of the home?

This last weekend I was in Los Angeles for the EOHSJ Western Lieutenancy annual meeting (see previous post). I stayed at a Doubletree, and one morning ate at the hotel’s restaurant breakfast buffet. This was not a “free” buffet, but had a price. I was rather taken aback at the amount of people wearing sleeping attire into the restaurant.

At first I was rather taken aback, and then an old childhood rhyme stayed with me. “I see London, I see France, I see someone’s underpants.” Many people, of all shapes and sizes, including a table of 20-something young women. Let’s just say I had breakfast and a show.

Consider me old fashioned. Consider me prudish. I don’t care. I just don’t want to see your choice (or lack of choice) in sleepwear. That privilege should be reserved for the closest family members.

And yes, this goes for Mass attendance too. I have seen people attend Mass in sleeping attire.

EOHSJ Update

2010-10-06T10:04:00.001-07:00

This past weekend I was fortunate to attend the annual meeting of the Western Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Also known as the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre.

We met in Los Angeles, heard about the efforts of the Order in the Holy Land, and celebrated promotions within the Order and new Investitures in the Order. Two Cardinals of the Church were in attendance, the Prior of the Western Lieutenancy, Cardinal Mahony of Los Angeles, and the Grand Master of the Order, Cardinal Foley. At the Investiture Mass we had two Cardinals, an Archbishop, 15 other Bishops, almost 40 priests, and over a thousand Knights and Ladies.

I invite you to visit the website of the Western Lieutenancy at www.khswesternusa.org or the main USA website at http://holysepulchre.net

I have the honor of being a Knight for the past three years, and it is always a spiritual lift for me to meet with so many people who try each day to live the Order’s motto, “Deus lo vult” (God wills it). Placing ourselves into the Will of God is one of the most difficult, but most rewarding things we can do. May God always bless our efforts with His grace.

An Honor to Serve

2010-09-15T14:36:00.001-07:00

Bishop Olmsted has asked me to serve as the Spiritual Advisor to the Phoenix Diocesan Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

This evening I will offer Mass for the Diocesan Council, have dinner in the family dining room at the Watkins Center, and then attend the Council Meeting where I will give a short spiritual reflection and offer whatever advice I can to the Diocesan Council.

Please pray for our Diocesan Council (and all the local parish conferences) that the love and service of Christ continues to shine through in all our efforts.

If you so choose, you also might want to follow the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Phoenix Council Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/SVdP.

Football Season

2010-09-12T06:45:00.001-07:00

I always get a chuckle out of the sports headlines with Catholic schools

Archbishop Murphy rolls past Kennedy Catholic
West Catholic earns victory over Monsignor Bonner
Central Catholic defeats Bethel Park
No. 3 Catholic Central rolls over Inkster

10 Days

2010-09-10T11:25:00.001-07:00

I returned to the parish from my summer vacation just 10 days ago. With the Labor Day holiday, there was even an extra ‘quiet’ day when the office was closed.

I have finally gotten through the stack of mail.

I think I’m up to speed on anything that ‘happened’ while I was gone. A pretty bad roof leak in the Church is a major concern – luckily it doesn’t rain much in the desert.

I’m still getting lots of phone calls from folks who were waiting for my return in order to make appointments or settle ongoing items.

The school is in full swing – and this year we have two Sisters from the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, Sr. Maria Frassati and Sr. Jude Andrew join the school. YAY! (Yes, the Order that was featured on the Oprah! show.)

Weddings and Quinceañeras are scheduled for most of the weekends from now through November.

But nothing compares to being back ‘home’ and offering the daily and weekend Masses for the parish of St. Gregory. It is good to be home.

All My Passwords/Days of Our Passwords

2010-09-02T09:09:00.001-07:00

Yes, it feels like a long-running soap opera.

A few months ago, my iPad was stolen from my bedroom. Because the iPad will let you store some of your passwords on the device, I had to quickly scramble and change as many passwords as I could. I never put financial passwords or data on any device, but I did have some of my email passwords (yes, I have multiple addresses I’ve collected over the years), and some of my blogging and other account passwords as well.

I recommend that somewhere – NOT on any electronic device that can be stolen – you keep a list of all the accounts that have passwords. I’m not saying to write down the passwords, but simply list all the services and accounts you have that use passwords. That way, if something like this happens, you know all the places you need to go.

I’m still picking up the pieces, and still running across accounts and services that I haven’t gotten around to changing the passwords yet. A list, like I’ve suggested, would have helped tremendously.

And to my former boss Jim, who occasionally reads this blog, you would be correct in guessing the root word I use for all my passwords. Maybe I should change it to include either a prefix of $DTR or DTR>?

Madonna di San Biagio

2010-08-27T16:48:00.001-07:00

First “Pastoral” Decision

2010-08-22T05:17:00.001-07:00

Over on her excellent blog “Adoro” tells of her First Formal Act as a Theologian and it reminded me of the very first decision I was asked to make as a new Pastor.

I had just been named to my first assignment as a pastor of a parish. The current pastor had announced his retirement, and the diocesan placement board and Bishop had selected me as his replacement. The announcements had been made, and I was on countdown to moving.

The Deacon at the parish where I was to be the new pastor wrote me a long letter giving me an overview of the pastoral and administrative shape of the parish. He did this at the urging of the current pastor who wanted to get me up to speed as quickly as possible and to help with a smooth transition since I was a first-time pastor and all.

At the end of the letter, the Deacon, at the recommendation of the current pastor, asked for my very necessary decision regarding the use of parish funds.

Would I like them to purchase the longer lasting, but more expensive urinal deodorant cakes for the Men’s bathroom, or the cheaper ones?

Yep, that was it. Welcome to being a pastor in a parish.

Some might say that my pastoral decisions have been at the same level ever since.

The New Missal is Here! The New Missal is Here!

2010-08-20T12:12:00.001-07:00

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It is with great joy that I learned today that the Vatican has approved the English Translation for the United States of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal. The full text of the press release can be found at the U.S. Bishops’ website by clicking here.

The date for the implementation of the new MIssal is set for the first Sunday of Advent, 2011, just about a year and a half away. This gives us plenty of time to do a full and proper education for the parish on the new Missal, which has some changes in some of the English texts and responses we’ve used for so many years.

On occasion, the Church updates the texts for the Mass, and issues them in the (still) universal language of the Church, which is Latin. Since the Novus Ordo Mass was implemented after Vatican II, there have been three editions of the Missal.

Each major language group then has to translate the texts to the vernacular language, and submit those translations back to Rome for approval. This is done so that the vernacular translations can be as close as possible to the meaning and if possible the poetry of the Latin texts.

The English version we have been using was approved for ‘temporary’ use for the first edition of the Missal, all the way back in the 1970’s. The translations were sometimes in more of a paraphrase style, rather than including as much of the sacred Theology and beautiful poetry of the Latin prayers. Several years ago, the Vatican informed the English translation committee that they needed to work very hard and get this newest edition (third edition) of the Mass translated quickly and properly.

Their hard work has finally been approved for use, and now we start the process of bringing this new, beautiful, theological, and poetical translation to our people.

I will be posting more on the new translation, on our parish efforts to learn the new translation, and how this moves us to a greater and deeper love and relationship with our Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

(I am almost giddy with excitement!)

Evangelization, part 2

2010-08-18T09:35:00.001-07:00

So today I’m with my Dad and we’re touring Rome. I’m really enjoying being here again, and I’m glad to be with my Dad. Being one of seven children, I think this might be the longest time I’ve ever had alone with him. We’re seeing everything and loving every minute.

We’re at the Colosseum, and we’re with a tour group. This is the same group I took a tour with five years ago. Back then, the tour guide made a comment when we saw a large cross erected inside the Colosseum. He said that it was there remembering the Christians who were killed there. But then he adds, “There is no historical evidence that ANY Christians were killed in the Colosseum. It is just not true.”

WHAT? WHAT?? WHAT!!?? The rest of the tour is OK, but he still put in that bit about Christians. Hmm, methinks he doth protest too much.

So now today we’re on the tour, different guide, and I’m waiting for the line. It isn’t there. Good. In fact he talks about Christians being killed there, and why, and how. OK, this is going fine. Then he starts talking about WHY Christianity was hated. He gets it MOSTLY right, so no problem there, but then he says that once Roman Society became Christianized, the empire fell. Yep, the Roman Empire collapsed because THEY ALL BECAME CHRISTIAN. Christianity caused the collapse of the Roman Empire. Christians ruined the social, political and economic foundations of the empire. His words, not mine.

Now can you see why I’m just a little suspicious of all the private tour guides at the Vatican? I really think we’ve got to do something ourselves, along the lines of my other post.

Why you can’t comment on my posts.

2010-08-13T00:42:00.001-07:00

I’ve always been chided for not allowing comments on my posts. I used to disallow comments because I didn’t have the time to read them, comment back, and properly ‘curate’ them.

Now I do it because my blog, and some others, were targeted by some hackers, using the comments to place links to websites that exploited flaws in most computers and did bad things to your computer. The black-hat hackers (there is a difference that I’ll explain someday) would make a relatively mild comment and then put in a link. I started getting suspicious because the same ones started commenting on everything, and my blog doesn’t get enough traffic for that kind of sudden popularity.

So I got out an old computer I use for testing purposes, installed some security sniffing software and clicked those links. The computer suddenly lit up like a Christmas tree, but not with good presents. The software started telling me all kind of bad things were being attempted. So I modified the comment system to block the bad people. They just surfaced again with new names, and if I don’t have time to moderate the posts, then I don’t have time to play games with black-hats.

Long story, still no commenting.

A New Evangelization?

2010-08-11T09:33:00.001-07:00

Last year some brother priests and I were talking about all the folks, throughout Europe, who visit Cathedrals and parishes as a tourist attraction on summer vacation. For that matter, it happens in the good ol’ U. S. of A. too.

It got us to thinking, especially regarding visitors to the Vatican. Might we use those visits as a method of evangelization? Especially given the dreadful numbers coming out of Europe regarding unchurched people?

It might be as simple as a standard brochure, welcoming them in their visit to a Catholic church. We might give some general things to look for when visiting a church, and a quick teaching on some of our Sacraments and Sacramentals. What is that gold/silver box up front with the candle near it? What do those racks of burning candles mean? All this sacred and precious art, why should it be kept in this stuffy building? Some proper methods to explore a church as a tourist, etc. Of course, the local Mass times. That’s the simple method.

Here’s one for the Vatican. How about a corps of young people, who volunteer from all over the world, to lead visitors around St. Peter’s Square and the Basilica? Let people see a vibrant and alive church, with enthusiastic young people who know a thing or two about their faith and Church history? Of course, there would be training sessions. The tours could be in several different languages, by the young people, and used as a way of spreading the gospel to folks who are, after all, visiting a sacred place.

Members to this corps would be selected by bishops from all over the world from among their youth, and the expenses for their time at the Vatican would be paid for by the local diocese. It would be an honor to serve as a Vatican Evangelist for some length of time. Of course these same young people would receive not just training for their “jobs” but a close look at the splendors of our faith, and be sent home to bring that back to local towns and parishes.

I’m sure I’m missing a thousand details, and I’m sure there are lots of issues to be solved. But right now I’m seeing hundreds of folks walking into our churches each day, and not a single thing is being said or done about inviting them to know more about Christ and His Church.

You see tour groups being led around by private companies, but who knows what they are being told?

Right now at the Vatican, you’re checked with a metal detector, told to cover up bare arms and legs, and left to wander around on your own. You can rent a recording that guides you around the Basilica, but that seems to be about it.

Just seems like a good opportunity to me.

This wasn’t MY Mass (or was it?)

2010-08-08T04:38:00.001-07:00

This morning I attended Mass at the local parish church.

I wasn’t greeted at the door, welcomed, given a worship aid or shown to a seat.
There was no music.
The pews were oddly arranged and MOST uncomfortable (not a bit of padding to be found).
At the time to start Mass, an elderly gentleman rang a bell and everyone stood.
The priest was not blessed with an orator’s voice, it was more of a monotone drone.
The sound system was not very good.
The lighting system was not very good.
People were streaming in (and out) all during Mass.
Did I mention no music?
I think the older man next to me fell asleep once or twice.
The priest prepared the altar and went right into the Eucharistic Prayer while the collection was still being taken. The collection finished about halfway through the Eucharistic Prayer.
No one held my hand or attempted to hold my hand during the Lord’s Prayer.
At Communion time, those who wanted to receive just kind of sauntered up to the front, there were no organized lines and no ushers.
When Mass ended, the priest went back into the Sacristy.
No one said anything to me as I left.
No coffee and doughnuts were offered after Mass.
And lastly – THE MASS (including the readings and homily) WAS IN A LANGUAGE I DID NOT UNDERSTAND!

All the things that I’ve been told that are so essential to the “proper” celebration of Mass were missing – there was no “community” feeling and no encouragement from the priest to make us more of a “community.”

So did I really attend Mass?

Some would say that I didn’t really attend a “good” Mass, or I couldn’t participate in the Mass, or I should stay home or shop around for a “good” parish that has that community feeling.

One little detail – I’m in Italy right now, and the Mass was in Italian at the local parish church – which happened to be built in the 1400’s.

I have to tell you, I did attend Mass. I gathered as the Church tells me I must (CCC 2180). I participated – by interiorly lifting my heart and mind to the Lord, and offering the responses as best I could. I received Holy Communion with great joy. I offered thanks to God for so great a gift as His Son given freely to the world and to me a sinner.

I wasn’t entertained, I wasn’t crooned to, I wasn’t fawned over. I attended the Mass of the Roman Catholic Church, I received our Savior through the Word of God, and through His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in Holy Communion. And I look forward to next Sunday’s Mass, at the same place, at the same time. It is, after all, the “source and summit” of my life, even when I’m not entertained.

Drive us not into temptation

2010-07-28T13:54:00.001-07:00

As I was contemplating last weekend’s Gospel, where Jesus teaches us the Lord’s Prayer, my mind immediately went to the “Lead us not into temptation” part of the prayer. Of course I would like the Lord to remove all temptation from my life, but that isn’t going to happen. And one particular temptation I think is part of our modern society. I call it, “The Holy Parking Lot of God.”

This is the parish parking lot, where it is my personal belief that our faith is tested more than at almost any other time of the week. We attend Mass, and (hopefully) lift our hearts and minds to the Lord, and receive His Grace, especially through the Eucharist. We are at the “source and summit” of our lives as Catholics.

Then we go out into the parking lot to go home, and immediately receive temptations to our lives of faith. This is especially true at the great celebrations of Christmas and Easter, when I have seen and heard octogenarians swear in great and long sentences at Knights of Columbus who are directing traffic. At one point, a rather exasperated Knight asked a lady who was verbally abusing him, “Do you take Communion with that tongue?”

This can be the first real test of our lives of faith each and every week. We pray and ask the Lord to guide and strengthen us in His path of peace and holiness – and then we get to practice those traits just trying to get out of the parking lot. Talk about a quick answer to a prayer!

(For a great exposition on the Lord’s Prayer, check out the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 2759-2865, which is the last section of the Catechism. You can reference the entire Catechism online from the Vatican by clicking here.)

It Knows Us

2010-07-26T08:53:00.001-07:00

This morning as I checking through my email, I was deleting the usual junk solicitations when I suddenly went back and retrieved one from Amazon.com. I guess I have ordered enough from them that they are really zeroing in on my likes and dislikes. It is easy for them to recommend books on Catholicism and Theology since I order them, but now the recommendations have started to branch out to my ‘secular’ tastes, and it seems really good at identifying the kinds of fiction that I have read and enjoyed. The recommendations have started to look like my personal library, not only for books, but for video and audio as well.

I have never entered in any kind of personal information, or made lists of my favorite books, audio or video at Amazon. I have never ordered fiction works or anything that is not directly related to my life as a priest – yet here it is, after a few years, recommending things that it thinks I would like based on my preferences, and the preferences of people who order the same things I order.

This isn’t really creeping me out, too much, since I see several things in it:

I’m not quite as unique as I like to think, because other people seem to have similar taste in reading material and media. This is a good thing, it shows that people have more in common than we think, and that can be a good starting ground in friendships, in evangelization, and in local and national politics.
In some ways, it is like being in a small town (like where I grew up) where the restaurants know your favorite foods, the clothing stores know your favorite styles, and there is a real sense of community because of this shared knowledge.
While I may wonder how Amazon is using this knowledge of me, it is the same as the above mentioned people who have specific knowledge about me. I cannot control and may wonder how those people are using that specific knowledge.

The thing that bothers me about Amazon getting to know me so well is that I can’t get to know Amazon well. The people in my hometown know me, but I also know them. I lived with them, worked with them, spent leisure time with them, in other words, I know them too. I know their character, and for the most part, can kind of predict how they will use their specific knowledge about me. I can’t say that about Amazon. The company has never done anything (that I am aware of) with this knowledge of me that I don’t like. But if they do, to whom do I complain? If a friend or acquaintance does something I don’t like, I can tell them.

But this is our brave, new, online world. As companies and websites gain more sophistication, and links with each other, we are becoming ‘known’ to them. I just wish I could get to know them as well.

Bon Homme

2010-07-17T09:02:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, Patrick Madrid posted a link to a short audio clip from his excellent radio program (each Thursday). Here’s the link to his post:

http://patrickmadrid.blogspot.com/2010/07/here-lies-man-who-has-everything-but.html

I listened with some interest at the audio clip, especially to see what the laicized priest had to say. Good stuff all around, from the callers and the host.

I can't imagine the pain and loss that Dwayne (the laicized priest) feels. I just heard a lot of hurt, and loss, and regret in his voice. But one thing he said did grate a bit. He said that parishioners should invite a priest out to dinner and provide a place for him to let his hair down (or something like that).

I personally think that's a way to danger too.

More and more I think that calling priests "Father" is a sign of the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and not just some ancient Irish custom or other nonsense they teach in seminaries.

Think of the role as Father in a family. You have little ones, and you have grown up ones. Do you want the grown and married children to provide a place for you to go and let your hair down? Do you want the relationship to be as friend to friend (just call us Pat and Nancy, not Dad and Mom)? Being a father changes as the children grow, but it never goes away. It is healthy for the families that the patriarch and matriarch exist. I don't think your children want just another “Pat and Nancy” in their lives, but Dad and Mom.

I think part of our problem is calling the priests to that role. I'm the first one to admit that being just another pal or friend is infinitely easier than being a father. Fathers guide, teach, and hold THEMSELVES accountable. None of those are a barrel of laughs. Do we want jovial dinner companions and social friends or fathers/pastors/shepherds? A bon-vivant or a pray-er?

All Catholics have a hand in continuing to form the priest. What we ask for from the parish determines what the priest has to do. If we want the kinds of prayer and spirituality that only the priest can provide, it requires the priest to live a certain kind of life, always being around prayer, spirituality, and the traditions of the Church. If we want a jolly joker and a bon homme, then that's where the priest spends his time.

Yes, a priest has to do much of this himself, but it really, really helps to have parishioners who gently and lovingly call him to this kind of life too. Do we want what the priest can provide, especially the "persona Christi?" Sometime we all shy away from that because we think it won't be any fun. St. Augustine felt that too when he would pray for the Lord to make him chaste "but not yet."

Just my weak and feeble two cents worth. I also realize I follow none of this advice myself.

What Happens on the Web . . .

2010-07-10T10:26:00.001-07:00

. . . stays on the web.

I just heard from two different parishioners:

- A young man was rejected by a college after they viewed his MySpace and Facebook pages. From the information on those pages, he was viewed as possibly being ‘troublesome’ on campus.

- A young woman was interviewed for a job. During the interview she was told that if she wanted to be considered for the job, she would have to clean up her MySpace and Facebook pages because they did not show the type of person the company wanted to have working for them. Part of the job interview process was to search those sites for information about candidates.

Another year of blessings

2010-07-01T09:23:00.001-07:00

I’ve been blessed to serve the people of St. Gregory the Great Parish in Central Phoenix as pastor for one year. It was a great year, full of blessings and full of the joy of being with the People of God. It was a year that I will always thank God for allowing me to have.

If it is to be God’s Will (we never know what God might have planned for us), I look forward to another year of service and joy here at St. Gregory the Great.

For those who like to try to read between the lines – there is no sort of hidden or coded message here (Ron and Karen) – I’m just thankful and looking forward to the future.

May God continue to bless and prosper our parish.

Phoenix Controversy

2010-06-25T06:03:00.001-07:00

A clear explanation that you won’t get from the newspaper or TV.

Blackstone Legal Fellowship

2010-06-18T13:27:00.001-07:00

Over the past two weeks I’ve had the honor of offering Mass for the Catholic participants in the Blackstone Legal Fellowship, which is a ministry of the Alliance Defense Fund.

The Blackstone fellowship is an intensive nine week program for law students to equip them for facing the moral and ethical challenges in today’s legal system. You can go to their site for a better explanation. The students told me of the incredible speakers and programs offered during this two week session in Phoenix. In fact, I was kind of jealous not to be able to attend the sessions myself.

I just wanted to offer my impressions of the Catholic students who attended Mass each day it was offered.

The students have a very full schedule from early in the morning until quite late at night. The Mass was an optional part of the Catholic students day, and time that could have been devoted to free time, study, or simply trying to cope with the 100 degree plus days of a Phoenix summer (a few of the days were over 110). The students who attended Mass were not there out of some sense of obligation, but out of a desire to grow closer to Christ. I also was asked for some advice and for some impromptu confessions. In fact, if I have this opportunity again, I’m going to schedule special time for confessions.

I cannot speak highly enough about the Blackstone Legal Fellowship and about the Alliance Defense Fund. I know Mr. Alan Sears, the President & CEO of ADF and his family. I know them to be faithful Catholics, in love with Christ and His Church, and alive in Christ in their family and in the world. I invite you to go to the ADF site and read the section called “Actions” which outlines their current activity, their past victories, and the emerging issues facing all of us. It is sobering reading, but issues where our prayers and support are needed.

May God continue to bless the efforts of the ADF and Blackstone Fellowship.

Free Office Software

2010-06-15T07:39:00.001-07:00

For all of us on a budget (parishes, students, family), here are three ways to have free office software (Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Presentation software, etc) available.

Microsoft now offers a free version of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. All you need is a computer with internet access. You also get 2GB of free online storage called SkyDrive. The site is office.live.com. The site is supported by advertising, so you see some ads for other products, but they aren’t distracting.

Why would you use this?

Opening a file attachment that someone sent you in email when you don’t have Microsoft Office installed on your computer.
Creating a document quickly, saving it to your SkyDrive (the free 2GB of storage), that you can retrieve from another computer (at work or home). I actually have a few homilies I created this way until I got back to the parish to print them out.
Just having a free version of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote at your disposal.

But if you don’t like working on documents “in the cloud” and want those programs living on your computer, I recommend Microsoft Office Home & Student edition. It sells for $150, but you can usually find it for $99, and it is what Microsoft calls a “family version” meaning you can install it on up to three computers.

Other free office helps are Google Docs at docs.google.com and you can download a completely free office suite called OpenOffice at www.openoffice.org.

Geek Factor Extreme!

2010-06-15T07:17:00.001-07:00

Giant robots, made of Legos, playing chess. We have achieved Nerd-vana.

It is a bit slow watching bits from just one game – but it is giant robots, made of Legos, playing chess!

Sweet 16

2010-06-08T08:00:00.001-07:00

Recently I celebrated my 16th anniversary as a priest. It was a good day. As folks are likely to do, I did a little reflection on those years. When a parishioner asked if I’d do it all again, the answer was an enthusiastic and immediate “Yes!”

There have been joys that I could not have imagined possible, and I’ve been part of people’s lives in an incredible way. I’ve been able to tell people about Christ and His love. I’ve been able to offer the Sacraments of that Love to the world. There just isn’t anything better. This always brings me to rejoice in Christ my Savior. Thank You!

There have been detractors. There have been people who have decided that I am wrong in everything I do and say, and make every effort to not only show me and tell me that, but spread it around in the parish and in the diocese. There are folks who believe me to be the most incompetent clown ever to be ordained. These are the folks who drove me to prayer the most. These are the folks who made me turn in humble supplication to God for His guidance in my priesthood. These are the folks who have forced me to spend the most time in front of the Blessed Sacrament in prayer. Thank You!

My inner geek smiles

2010-06-03T06:17:00.001-07:00

What’s out in the public . . . stays in public.

2010-05-31T19:34:00.001-07:00

Last post on the whole Facebook privacy issue, but here’s a website to check out.

youropenbook.org

Using tools that Facebook provides to the world, you can do a search for any information you would like to see, and it scans through all of Facebook for that information. Remember, this is the information about you that Facebook is making available to the public.

Search for “new cell number” to get a picture of a person and whether they actually posted their new number. Stalker’s delight!

Search for “I hate my job” to see who might be next when an employer needs to lay someone off.

Search for “I cheated on my wife” or “I cheated on my husband” to see the sad state of marriage in our world.

Use the quotes in the search if you want that exact phrase.

And all this is public information about these folks.

I’m just sayin . . .

Why I Left Facebook Today

2010-04-23T10:52:00.001-07:00

I have deactivated my Facebook profile. It is a matter of privacy. Basically any and all of your information belongs not to you, but to Facebook, and they will use it in any way they see fit, and sell it to anyone they see fit.
Notice, I couldn’t even delete my account. I only deactivated it. It will exist forever, with its information, on Facebook’s servers – and if they find some way to sell or use it, trust me, it will get used.
But what’s the big deal? I CHOSE to go to Facebook, I CHOSE to give it limited information about me, I’m even on the internet right now with this blog. So why get upset?
You’re right, I did all those things, and I still maintain a web presence through this blog and email, but I just don’t like the implications of Facebook working in close collaboration with lots of other folks I don’t know, to use and market my information.
They are going to roll out a new LIKE feature. If you stay logged in to Facebook, which actually is pretty easy – it is difficult to actually log OUT. As you browse the web, you will be tracked, by Facebook. When you come to one of their partner sites, read or participate in something, and click the LIKE button, a note appears on your wall so your friends know. Harmless, right? Pretty much, except that now Facebook knows more about you, and now that partner site has your permission (by you clicking LIKE) to have access to your entire Facebook life, from day one. Everything they know about you, every website they know you’ve visited, all your data, and – here’s the kicker – all your friends’ public data. Yep, even if I don’t want to play, just one of my friends stopping by the site automatically shares out my public data too. Just a little too much for me.
I was already starting to feel uneasy about the way that Facebook was getting to know me. It took the info I gave it, and started running its fingers through the web and through itself to sift and find out more. Folks I hadn’t thought about in years were suddenly being suggested as friends, and it was kind of creepy the way the site could put things together to know more about me. Of course those folks I knew years ago were also getting little notes about me too.
Yes, this information has almost always been available, but never in such a connected way before. Facebook is a 24/7 machine that constantly sifts your data and constantly looks for connections to grow in its knowledge of you. It doesn’t sound or feel insidious until you think through some implications.
- Watch the movie Minority Report. Not for the plot or acting, but for the way that every person is targeted with personalized advertisement everywhere they go.
- What happens when work and social life begin to collide? Oh you may never ‘friend’ someone from work – but what happens when one of your friends does? Or if work decides that Facebook is a perfect place to promote collaboration among employees and the next thing you know you’re being asked to sign up. You might create a second, alternate identity, but the slightest slip, or one of your other friends makes the connection, and bingo, it all gets linked together. FOREVER.
- What happens when someone uses or borrows your computer and Facebook is still tracking you? Your teenaged relative uses it for just a few minutes, and suddenly YOUR web activity shows that you sometimes hang around on teenage chat sites.
- Government subpoena or frivolous lawsuit. Are you sure that all of your web activity shows you to be the most loyal, hardworking, upstanding citizen that ever existed? By telling the world about the power of the LIKE button, Facebook made themselves the target of those who want someone’s personal life and web activities made public.
- I personally think a hot new business will be in doing background searches for employees.
- Just imagine your best friend, who knows all your info and life, sitting down, every day with marketing folks and telling them anything and everything they need to know about you in order to help them sell you something. I like my friends, and invite them to know me better, but I depend on their discretion too. Facebook publicly states that they do not intend to have that discretion.

What We Needed to Hear

2010-04-20T07:24:00.001-07:00

Msgr. Stephen Rossetti was the speaker at our Spring Clergy Day yesterday (4-19-2010) for the priests working in our diocese. He presented some results of a Priest Wellness Study he has done. In the study he found that:

Over 90% of priests report themselves as happy and with good morale.
Only 4% of priests believe themselves to be suffering from ‘burnout.’
84% report a strong sense of inner peace.
Almost 80% have a positive view of celibacy in their life. This is much higher than the general population’s positive view of marriage.
Just around 3% of priests felt they needed to leave the priesthood in order to be happy.
Compare these results to the stereotypical idea of priests as lonely, isolated, frustrated, unhappy, with low morale and are trapped in an unsatisfying life.

When looking for the things that lead a priest to feel happy about his priesthood, he generally found that working toward holiness is the best predictor of happiness. That may seem obvious when stated, but compare that with what society is telling us that priests should be doing, and it rarely includes steps toward holiness.

He then outlined those 10 steps and we each received a booklet of his steps.

Thank you Msgr. Rossetti, and thank you Bishop Olmsted for bringing him here to tell us this good news.

CREATIVE MINORITY REPORT:Sin and Cafeteria Catholicism

2010-04-20T05:30:00.000-07:00

Sin and Cafeteria Catholicism: "I was speaking to a woman I know and she said that a man she knows had stopped going to Church months before and that he didn't believe in many things the Church taught including the Church's stance on contraception. But he still considered himself a good Catholic. Pretty normal stuff nowadays sadly.

The women is a committed Catholic and she said that she'd told him that she wasn't a 'Cafeteria Catholic' but he reminded her of many things she'd done which are against church teaching throughout her life and he said triumphantly, 'See we all pick and choose.'

She said that she'd come to believe what he'd said was true. Now without going into details I told her that her friend was wrong. Very wrong. There is a big difference between sinning and picking and choosing.

We all sin. But that doesn't make us cafeteria Catholics. The real difference is that cafeteria Catholics simply don't acknowledge sin.

While we all transgress, a committed Catholic will still judge themselves against an established standard. We will inevitably fall short of those standards but we still strive to achieve it and emulate ourselves after Christ to the best of our ability.

The cafeteria Catholic may act in very much the same manner as a faithful Catholic but simply removes all that striving. When confronted with a discrepancy between their will and the teachings of the Church they simply change the standards based on what they feel is right for them. And let's face it, when we set our own fungible standards, sin becomes impossible because our decision making becomes the standard of behavior.

We all fall short of the standard. The cafeteria catholic just lowers the standard.

Phoenix Parish Worker and Priest Stabbed

2010-04-16T07:16:00.001-07:00

The stabbing occurred yesterday (4-15-2010). The newspaper and television link are below.

Let us pray for the recovery of Mrs. Conway, Fr. Conlon, and the man who was arrested, Mr. Manriquez. Let us also pray and thank God for the young people who heard Mrs. Conway’s screams, and then pursued and held the alleged attacker until the police could arrive.

Both Mrs. Conway and Fr. Conlon are recovering and some surgery was required.

Parish work is not always safe and secure.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2010/04/15/20100415phoenix-priest-stabbed-abrk.html

We are not amused

2010-04-01T06:19:00.001-07:00

I’m not a fan of April Fools’ Day, and no this is not a joke and not part of the “fun.” An entire day when I cannot trust the veracity of anything from anyone. Already I’m seeing, all over the internet some attempts at fooling us all. One example was another priest’s blog in which he announced he was leaving his religious order.

Yes, buried in his post was a link to the Wikipedia entry on April Fools’ Day – which means the entire post was a joke. I looked at all the comments to his post. the first dozen or so were offering real heartfelt prayers and support – all of which were genuine. Then they started revealing that this was indeed a joke.

What is funny about that? Getting people concerned enough to offer prayer for a difficult and painful decision about leaving a religious order, only to tell them that they are fools for believing you.

Maybe this comes from a gag I played on someone years ago – which I thought was uproariously funny at the time – but in hindsight was terribly cruel.

There are sites I go to for humor, and I enjoy them – but I’m reminded that the Lord has not granted everyone the same comedic gifts.

Oh this little rant isn’t going to change anything, and today will be much more about pranks and gags than about the fact that it is Holy Thursday. I will follow the sage Catholic advice – I’ll “offer it up.”

Belly up to the . . . Altar?

2010-03-31T07:53:00.001-07:00

The title is a take on the song from “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” called “Belly up to the Bar, Boys.” (I looked for a Youtube clip to embed, but couldn’t find one. Copyright stuff, I’m sure.)

Click over to an article from Christianity Today called “Should Churches be as Friendly as Bars?”

Do we want a friendly, affable, chatty place to go ‘where everybody knows your name’ or do we want something more?

In a place where people really belong, they are free to talk about the most uncomfortable things—sin and salvation, hate and forgiveness, suffering and hope, death and life. And they learn the fine art of forbearance and forgiveness. Merely friendly churches avoid such unpleasantness. But churches that take people seriously cannot avoid it.

A Passionate Thought

2010-03-27T18:38:00.001-07:00

Tonight (Saturday) at the Vigil Mass we had the reading of St. Luke’s Passion narrative for the Gospel of Passion/Palm Sunday. I’ve done this for fifteen years, but tonight, some of the words from St. Luke struck a new meaning for me.

“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me;
weep instead for yourselves and for your children
for indeed, the days are coming when people will say,
‘Blessed are the barren,
the wombs that never bore
and the breasts that never nursed.’
At that time people will say to the mountains,
‘Fall upon us!’
and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’
for if these things are done when the wood is green
what will happen when it is dry?”

Have we begun to reach those times? Are not barren wombs much more in desire today? Don’t we treat our fertility like a disease to be prevented at all costs? If a couple has too many children, people scold them – sometimes in a teasing manner, and sometimes not – and let them know that their choice of embracing their fertility is not something that is in fashion any more. We bless and extol the virtues to those who do the reasonable thing and choose to be barren.

And we tell our elderly and sick to go let mountains fall on them. They are used up, they are of no more economic worth, they are just a drain on resources, especially medical resources. So we use names to cover up suicide, and euthanasia, and we call it compassion as we vote it into law in our states and in our country.

The wood of our society is certainly green. We have a higher standard of living than at any point in our past. We are more than capable of caring for children, and for reaching out to those who do not have someone to care for them. Yet if we look at children as a disease now, when things are so fertile and blessed, what will happen if we truly face a dire, worldwide catastrophe? If human life is valued so little now, what will the future hold?

All this flashed through my mind as I was reading the Gospel, and I thanked the Lord for letting me find new meaning in a familiar passage.

Phoney Solutions

2010-03-20T10:24:00.001-07:00

Yesterday (Friday) afternoon, a problem occurred with our parish phones. Somehow, when you called the parish, your calls were redirected to an *ahem* naughty phone number. OK, not just naughty, but sick, twisted, and evil.

I was first alerted to this around 5 p.m. when I received a voicemail message (on the parish system) that this person had ‘trouble’ getting through to the parish, and kept getting “a party phone.” So I picked up the phone, used an alternative number, and dialed our main number. No problem. Tried it again and no problem. And the person had left me a VOICEMAIL message on our system, so they did get through – so apparently it was a transient problem that was fixed.

Not so. It seems that using our own system to call ourselves would not trigger the problem.

We had our parish penance service last night, and no one there reported any problems to us. A staff member called someone else to say that there was still a problem, but I was busy, and I couldn’t investigate right away.

Once I had time I used a cell phone to call the parish. I was greeted with “Welcome to the Party Line! For English, press 1. Para Español, marque dos.” Trust me, that is NOT our usual answering message.

I hung up, knowing there was a problem. I didn’t need to call a second or third time. I obviously wasn’t reaching the parish, even though I dialed the correct number.

I called the phone company and within seconds they told me what the problem was, and how I could fix it. I did. Problem solved in seconds.

But here’s the part that puzzles me, but maybe it doesn’t because there is a spiritual analogy to it.

When someone called and got the wrong number, the “Party Line,” rather than just hang up and wait for the problem to be fixed, or possibly even call the phone company FOR US and have the problem fixed by them. THEY KEPT CALLING. Not only did they keep calling, THEY STARTED LISTENING TO THE MESSAGES AND KEPT PUSHING BUTTONS. Over and over and over again, calling the number, FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIONS, and getting nasty, nasty, nasty messages, AND THEY KEPT LISTENING. TO THE ENTIRE MESSAGE. OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. Thinking somehow, this time, it was going to be different.

Why? Why keep calling? Why listen to those nasty messages, not just once (and why keep listening the first time – did you expect to hear my voice saying APRIL FOOL or something), but again and again? And then get upset at THE PARISH because of the nasty things they were hearing.

Don’t we do the same thing in our own lives. We encounter a problem, and we try to fix it (maybe an addiction?). Our fix doesn’t work. So instead of taking a step back, realizing there is a bigger problem, we just try the same broken routine, over and over and over, and find ourselves getting into bigger and bigger problems. But we don’t stop, ask someone (perhaps God?) for help, or ask the advice and counsel of a wise and holy person, we just keep going back, doing the same thing, and wondering why the problem isn’t solved.

Now I’m not equating God with the phone company, but the simple call for help and guidance set me on the right track right away. But I had to admit there was a problem and that I WAS POWERLESS to change it (sound familiar, people), and turn to a HIGER POWER (or at least an expert in the field – the phone company) to fix the problem. Then I had to follow their directions, and keep those directions handy in case the problem reoccurs.

By the way, I know that phone systems like ours can be hacked from the outside, and the problem we had can happen. We are taking steps to prevent the problem from happening again.

On the Life and Mission of St. Joseph

2010-03-19T10:40:00.000-07:00

John Paul II's great Apostolic Exhortation on St. Joseph.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_15081989_redemptoris-custos_en.html

SANCTE PATER: General Councils of the Church

2010-03-19T09:52:00.000-07:00

General Councils of the Church:

Jerusalem (Acts 15:2)

When and where: 49.
Crisis or controversy: Gentile converts must follow Mosaic Law; 'Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.' Acts 15:1
Attendees: 'Apostles and presbyters' Acts 15:6, and the following notables: Paul and Barnabas, Peter, James (Acts 15:6-22)
Decrees and resolutions: 'It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities.' Acts 15:28

Nicea I

When and where: 325. (Now Iznik, Turkey, 70 miles from Constantinople on the Asiatic shore of the Bosporus)
Crisis or controversy: Christ was a pure creature; made out of nothing; liable to fall; the Son of God by adoption, not by nature: Arianism.
Attendees: 318 bishops, and the following notables: Convened: Constantine I, Emperor; Eusebius of Caesarea, historian; St. Athanasius, theologian; Ratified: Silvester I, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: The Nicene Creed; The Consubstaniality of the Word: homousion with the Father; Solved how the date of Easter should be calculated.

Constantinople I

When and where: 381. (Now Istanbul, Turkey)
Crisis or controversy: The need to insist on homousion; Demonstrate to the world that Christians of the East are not Arians; Apollinaris was teaching that Christ was not true man.
Attendees: 186 bishops, and the following notables: Convened: Theodosius I, Emperor; St. Basil the Great; St. Gregory of Nyssa; St. Gregory of Naz., theologians; Ratified: Damasus, Pope
Decrees and resolutions: Renewed the work of Nicaea; Condemned the heresy of the Macedonians (the Holy Spirit was not really God); Condemned the heresy of Apollinaris (that Christ was not really a man).

Ephesus

When and where: 431.
Crisis or controversy: Nestorius was teaching that Mary was not the mother of God; Proponents of Nestorius began claiming that Christ was actually two separate persons, human and divine.
Attendees: 250 bishops, and the following notables: Convened: Theodosius II, Emperor; St. Cyril of Alexandria; St. John Chrysostom; Ratified: Celestinus I, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Condemned Nestorius; Decreed that Mary was also Theotokos, mother of God; Declared that Christ is true God and true man, that he has two natures (human and divine) joined in one person.

Chalcedon

When and where: 451. (Ancient seaport of Bithynia on the sea of Marmara)
Crisis or controversy: Monophysites were teaching that Christ had a single divine nature and no human nature.
Attendees: 600 bishops, and the following notables: Convened: Marcianus, Emperor; Ratified: Leo I, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Condemned Monophysitism; Declared that Christ had two distinct natures and was both true God and true man; Promulgated canons of church discipline.

Constantinople II

When and where: 553.
Crisis or controversy: Emperor Justinian I wanted the Church to consider the orthodoxy of three Greek theologians: Theodore of Mopsuestia, Theodoret of Cyrrhus, and Ebas of Edessa.
Attendees: 150 bishops, and the following notables: Convened: Justinian I, Emperor;
Decrees and resolutions: Condemned the writings of theologians as having been infested with Nestorianism.

Constantinople III

When and where: 680.
Crisis or controversy: Monothelism was teaching that Christ did not possess a human will.
Attendees: 174 bishops, and the following notables: Convened: Constantine IV, Emperor; Ratified: Leo II, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Condemned Monothelism; Declared that Christ has two wills, human and divine.

Nicaea II

When and where: 787.
Crisis or controversy: Iconoclasts taught that using sacred images was idolatry.
Attendees: 390 bishops, and the following notables: Convened: Irene, Empress; Ratified: Adrian I, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Condemned Iconoclasts; Declared that sacred images may be honored without idolatry. Promulgated canons of church discipline.

Constantinople IV

When and where: 870.
Crisis or controversy: Needed to decide the right of Patriarch Photius or the restoration of Ignatius.
Attendees: 102 bishops, and the following notables: Convened: Basil, Emperor; Ratified: Adrian II, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Photius was condemned in 27 canons.

Lateran I

When and where: 1123. (Basilica in Rome, Italy)
Crisis or controversy: Needed to face the social and religious problems of the day; First ecumenical council in the West.
Attendees: 300 bishops, and the following notables: Convened: Callistus II, Pope; Ratified: Callistus
Decrees and resolutions: Promulgated canons of mixed matters.

Lateran II

When and where: 1139.
Crisis or controversy: A double papal election and ensuing schism when two rivals claiming to be pope divided the church.
Attendees: 1000 bishops, and the following notables: Convened: Innocent II, Pope; St. Bernard of Clairvaux Ratified: Innocent II.
Decrees and resolutions: Took measures against schism of antipope Anacletis II; Promulgated canons of church discipline

Lateran III

When and where: 1179.
Crisis or controversy: Reorganization had to be faced; there was the ever-needed pressure to reform; restraint of abuses.
Attendees: More than 300 bishops, and the following notables: Convened: Alexander III, Pope; Ratified: Alexander III, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Decreed that papal elections required two-thirds majority of cardinals at the conclave; Promulgated numerous disciplinary canons.

Lateran IV

When and where: 1215.
Crisis or controversy: Albigensian heresy: two supreme beings, Evil and Good; Christ did not die; all material things must.
Attendees: 412 bishops; 388 priests, and the following notables: Convened: Innocent III, Pope; Ratified: Innocent III, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Declaration of Canon Law: the law of the Church; Decrees against Albegensians and Waldensians.

Lyons I

When and where: 1245. (City in E. France)
Crisis or controversy: The difficult and heretical behavior of Emperor Frederick II; The persecution of religion.
Attendees: 140 bishops; more than 300 in toto, and the following notables: Convened: Innocent IV, Pope; Ratified: Innocent IV, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Excommunication and deposition of Frederick II.

Lyons II

When and where: 1274.
Crisis or controversy: A marked decline of the detachment of the popes from the things of the world; Chronic restiveness of the Greeks toward Roman primacy.
Attendees: 500 bishops; 570 priests, and the following notables: Convened: Gregory X, Pope; St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bonaventure; Ratified: Gregory X, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: General reformation of the morals of clergy and bishops; Dogmatic constitution of filioque; Profession of faith of Greek Emperor Michael VIII.

Vienne

When and where: 1312. (City in E. France near Lyons)
Crisis or controversy: Problems with the religious order of Knights Templars.
Attendees: 122 bishops; 300 abbots, and the following notables: Convened: Clemens V, Pope; Ratified: Clemens V, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Templars were suppressed; Canon Law enacted; Three definition of dogmas; Disciplinary decrees written.

Constance

When and where: 1414 - 1418. (City in Germany on Swiss border)
Crisis or controversy: The Great Western Schism: two sets of popes.
Attendees: 32 Cardinals; 183 bishops; 100 abbots; 350 priests, and the following notables: Convened: Segismund, Emperor; Ratified: Martin V, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Reformation of the Church; Material organization of religion.

Florence

When and where: 1438. (City of N. Italy)
Crisis or controversy: East/West reunion; Constantinople was being threatened by Mohammedans.
Attendees: more than 150 bishops, and the following notables: Convened: Eugene IV, Pope; Ratified: Eugene IV, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Reunion of oriental churches.

Lateran V

When and where: 1512 - 1517.
Crisis or controversy: Needed reform in church administration; Rise of atheistic philosophy; Friction between bishops and orders of friars.
Attendees: 115 bishops, and the following notables: Convened: Julius II, Pope; Cajetan; Ratified: Leo X, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Condemned the Averroes philosophy: the soul of man is not immortal; Promulgated reform decrees; Established principles of book censorship; Rights of bishops defined.

Trent

When and where: 1545 - 1563. (in Hapsburg's Germany; now N. Italy)
Crisis or controversy: Martin Luther; Revolt against the Pope; Widespread heresy.
Attendees: 70 - 252 bishops, and the following notables: Convened: Paul III, Pope; Ratified: Pius IV, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Doctrinal decrees: restatement of belief in opposition to the new theologies; The Catholic Reformation: the reformation of Catholic life.

Vatican I

When and where: 1870. (St. Peter's Bascilica)
Crisis or controversy: A return to life of the Catholic Church: needed a revival of religious life General restoration and restatement of the faith was needed; Christian marriages and education needed safeguarding.
Attendees: 747 bishops, and the following notables: Convened: Pius IX, Pope; Ratified: Pius IX, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Promulgated decrees on the Catholic Faith and on the Church; Condemned the Rationalists and Semirationalists; Defined the charism of infallibility.

Vatican II

When and where: 1962 - 1965.
Crisis or controversy: Constant need for reform and revival; Needed translation of faith into modern era: communication media; Christians and Jews; religious freedom, etc.
Attendees: 2908 bishops, and the following notables: Convened: John XXIII, Pope; Ratified: Paul VI, Pope.
Decrees and resolutions: Issued 16 documents: On Divine Revelation; The Pastoral Constitution; On The Church in the Modern World; On The Church

Link

St. Joseph

2010-03-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

This morning as I celebrated the Mass and talked about St. Joseph, a thought kept going through my mind.

St. Joseph accepted the responsibility that God gave him, no matter what his personal thoughts or misgivings might have been. In true humility, he accepted his role in the Holy Family to watch over and guide Mary and Jesus. Their holiness and wisdom probably surpassed his, but he accepted what God laid out for him.

As the pastor of a parish, I can tell you for certain that the holiness and wisdom of the parishioners far surpasses mine. But God, through our Bishop has asked me to be here and asked me to watch over and guide the parish. I accept that responsibility, and I let it call me to strive for an increase in my personal relationship with Christ, leading me to holiness and true humility. As for the wisdom - well, I gotta work with what God gave me, and know that God's Grace and Wisdom are far more effective than anything I can do.

Morning Musings

2010-03-15T08:06:00.001-07:00

After looking at the excellent work at www.catholic-hierarchy.org, especially the list of United States Bishops who are active at or near the age limit of 75 (which you can find here), it just sets a mind to musing about the influence that Pope Benedict can have on Catholicism here in the US.

Here’s a list of those dioceses which have the Ordinary near or at the age limit. The full list, including the Auxiliary Bishops is at the link above. The order listed is from the oldest to the youngest of the group of Bishops.

Active at or over 75

Lafayette, LA
Seattle, WA
Spokane, WA
Oklahoma City, OK

Close to 75 (Two years or less)

Philadelphia, PA
Savannah, GA
Trenton, NJ
Yakima, WA
Manchester, NH
Altoona-Johnstown, PA
Lincoln, NB
St. Augustine, FL
Bismarck, ND
Evansville, IN
Miami, FL
Rockford, IL
Los Angeles, CA
Buffalo, NY
San Francisco, CA
Erie, PA
Las Cruces, NM
Orange, CA
Chicago, IL
Portland, OR

ADAM'S ALE: TOO OLD AND SICK TO SIN?

2010-03-10T11:08:00.000-08:00

TOO OLD AND SICK TO SIN?: "

“Father, I am 75 years old. I can’t go out. I sit around the house all day. What can I do?”

This is heard more often than I like to think in the confessional. In essence a person is saying that they are sin free because they are incapable of doing anything anyway. But none of us is sin free. “Anyone who says he is without sin calls God a liar.”

Sin may take on a drastically new and unfamiliar face however. A person may no longer be able to be (or have the desire to be) unchaste or steal a car or fly an airplane into a building. When one is capable of such terrible sins not saying grace before meals may seem so trivial as to not be worth mentioning. We have bigger fish to fry. But when you sin capacity is reduced, things that once seemed picayune are now greater in proportion because to be honest, if we are physically and situationally less capable of sinning, we are also have less opportunities to be loving. So our focus on our examination of conscience must become recalibrated, more refined, and more thoughtful.

Here are some things to consider. This is not an exhaustive check off list of sins for shut-ins, but a springboard for further thought.

With more time on your hands have you developed an exponentially greater relationship with God? Has your prayer time greatly increased? Have you developed a habit of contemplation and meditation? Have you gotten to be old friends with God? Have you taken time to read Scripture? Have you shared your friendship with God with others?

Have you carelessly used God’s name Who we are to love above all else? Is His name reverenced by you? As an elder have you attempted to gently correct those around you who take His name so?

Have you made an effort to attend Mass and other services that are available to you? Have you made arrangements to receive Holy Communion and confession if you are unable to get to Mass? Do you do something special to mark Sundays and Holy Days of obligation? Are the people around you aware that you are Catholic and what services you desire should you become very ill?

Have you become that elder in the Church through your example and love and have so lead others to Christ? Have you actively worked and bringing peace and forgiveness to your family? Do you pray for your deceased relatives and friends? Do you support and assist your children in their roles as spouse and parent? Have you supported your grandchildren in the faith?

Do you speak about others in gossip? Do you harbor ill or unkind thoughts of others? Are you always kind to your caretakers? Are you always patient when you are in the role as caretaker? Are you honest with your doctor about your health? Do you take care of yourself, eat well and get enough sleep? Do you follow the directions of your doctor? Do you fulfill what your therapist asks you to do? Are you faithful about your medication? When the burdens of taking care of someone else becomes more than you can do well, are you able to admit it and seek help?

Have you given in to despair or grief? Have you given up on hope? Do you have joy? Can you accept the afterlife?

Is your estate in order? Do you have a will? Do you have a Catholic living will? Is the executor of either of these documents been properly informed as to their location and what is contained in them? Are they willing to uphold your Catholic wishes?

If you cannot give to charity or do works of charity have you carried forth charitable prayers? How do you fill your day? Is it in keeping with all virtue? What do you spend your time watching on T.V. or on the computer? Have you wasted too much money of gambling and other forms of entertainment?

Have you envied someone else’s good health or mobility or family? Have you reached out to others or have you become self centered? Do you write off poor behavior to some excuse? As an elder have you taken care to set an exemplary example of Catholic living?

Do you harbor ill feelings? Have you ever done a lifelong examination of conscience expressing repentance of things now realized sinful though you may have not paid it much thought in the past?

Is there good you could have done but not taken the effort? Is there a letter that should be written? An apology that should be extended? A phone call that should be made? A complaint about family that should be reserved? A prayer that should be prayed? Any restitution that should be offered? Any love withheld?

ADORO: Byzantine Divine Liturgy - Ruthenian Rite

2010-03-08T08:20:00.000-08:00

Byzantine Divine Liturgy - Ruthenian Rite: "

This morning, accompanied by friends and younger friends (their children) we descended upon St. John the Baptist Ruthenian Byzantine Church, in northeast Minneapolis which, for those who are not aware, is one of the 22 Rites of the Church united with Rome. So, yes, they are a fully Catholic Church!

This visit to the Byzantine Church was the first for all of us, and we knew some very basic differences and that the Divine Liturgy (their term for the Mass) is quite different than what one would find in a Roman Catholic Church, although it is the same thing; the re-presentation of the Holy Sacrifice of Calvary.

For those who may not know, the Eastern Churches make the Sign of the Cross from right to left, as opposed to the Roman version which is left to right. As today, the 3rd Sunday of the Great Fast, they celebrate the Sunday of the Holy Cross, there is an explanation in their bulletin for the very reason for this tradition:

'Blessing oneself with two fingers brought to the thumb represents the Trinity. The last two fingers held to the palm represent the two natures of Jesus - God and man. For the first 1,200 years of the Church, in making the Sign of the Cross, the hand was typically brought from the right to the left shoulder even in the Western Church. In the East this is still the practice, to signify Christ enthroned at the right hand of the Father. According to tradition and in the words of Pope Innocent II (1198-1216), the Sign of the Cross is made with three fingers because it is impressed upon us in the name of the Holy Trinity. From the forehead we pass to the breast, then from the right to the left.'

I admit I did not know this as the reason for the difference and I will have to look into why the tradition changed in the Western Church (that's us, Roman Catholics!). I surmise there must be a theological reason for our tradition of left to right, or we wouldn't be doing it. Does anyone know?

We arrived early, and upon entering the Church was empty. I took the opportunity to take a couple photos of the very small church, which was built in the Western style, but inside, was clearly Eastern in worship. The Iconostasis was striking, as was the scent of incense that permeated our senses. We knew immediately that we were in for a real treat! Nothing says "Heaven touches earth" than the smell of incense!

All of us are familiar with both expressions of the Roman Rite: the Ordinary Form (often pejoratively called the "Novus Ordo") and the Extraordinary Form (often pejoratively called the "Pre-Vatican II Mass"). Of course, what this means is that we all immediately were attracted by the holy scent of incense which does amazing things to prepare one, all by itself, for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, or, in Byzantine Terms...the Sacred Mysteries.

When a few people arrived, we went out into the entry area with the children as their footsteps and toddler commentaries echoed throughout the space, and we wanted to be respectful of those who desired to pray and might better do so in silence. After all, as guests in a new place, we wanted to be polite! Besides, not knowing the character of the Church, it is always best to stand back an observe as opposed to insinuating oneself into a situation!

As it was, we became the impromptu "welcoming committee" for the regular parishioners, most of whom seemed thrilled to run the short gauntlet of young families and children. Several people commented on the dear children and how welcome was their presence. Even though I am not called to marriage and have no children, I have to admit it warmed my own heart to hear and see such expressions of love and welcoming for them.

Still, though, I have to admit; I now have a new appreciation for Protestants and other non-Catholics who visit a Catholic Mass for the first time, knowing only the most rudimentary things. I think I had the same misgivings and really, wanted to be sure not to offend. I was quite comfortable with the idea that we would stand out as visitors (well, not exactly "comfortable"...more....acquiescent to the terms of being a visitor to something new) and even more so when we saw the small size of the church itself. While when I first attended my own parish I could "hide", it was impossible for any of us to simply "blend in." We all knew it up front and just went with the flow.

A wonderful thing happened, though, as we waited for the Divine Liturgy to begin: an old friend of mine from college walked up the steps and into the Church. I haven't seen him in years, but he looks just like he did back then. (I swear..some people NEVER age!). On the other hand, I've changed quite a bit (I got fat like the rest of my Irish farmer family), but simply didn't have it in me to pretend I didn't know my old friend. Initially he didn't recognize me but all was well, he introduced us to his daughter and spent some time talking with us, helped us with some common things, emphasized that at Communion we should not stick our tongues out as Roman Catholics are wont to do, and, we found, he himself had prepared the leavened bread to be consecrated at that Mass! (Yes, this is proper in the Byzantine Church and it's not something EVERYONE does.)

Initial Observations:

When people entered the church, they did not genuflect as we do in the Roman Church. It appeared that they reverenced (kissed) the icons upon entry, some wrote something in a book (forgot to ask about that), and bowed before entering their pew. Instead of kneeling to pray in preparation as we do, they stood for a time, then sat. This is of course quite alien to the Roman but given our surroundings, did not seem "out of place".

The parishioners were very helpful and directed us to the books and guides that would help us follow along, and I found that, in fact, the Liturgy was very easy to follow as it was in English. While (I think) there were a few songs and prayers in Slavonic, overall all was in the vernacular with all the traditional chants.

Divine Liturgy

There are no musical instruments in a Byzantine Liturgy. As some explanations for this go, all come as they are, with what they have, and who they are. Instrumentation is not necessary, for God gave us voices to raise to Him in praise and supplication; nothing else glorifies God so much as that which He Himself created.

The melodies were very easy to follow, and believe me, there is a LOT of singing in the Byzantine Rites! But in those places where the choir sang, and although I am familiar with Byzantine Chant, it is an entirely different thing to hear that chant in the proper setting of the Liturgy.

Oh! I know now how angels sound when they sing their eternal praises to God!

I'm sorry, but very little of the music I have EVER heard in the Roman Catholic Church can compare to the simple chants of the Byzantine Liturgy.(click the link to go to a Byzantine site where you can hear the chants and order the CD.) And I put their music far over and above what we hear even in the holy ostentatiousness of the Baroque choirs of Mozart and his ilk at the infamous St. Agnes. (Which I admit, quite un-popularly, to be quite loud and too ostentatious at times. Sorry to those who love it, and yes, I do think it is far better than the Broadway faire of Haugen-Haas)

For those who have never experienced an Eastern Liturgy of any type, it is quite different. There are some similar elements, but it takes a LOOONG time to get to those things we recognize, such as the readings (which differ from ours) and the Consecration, which DOESN'T have bells to call our attention to it. Incidentally, there ARE bells in the first half of the Divine Liturgy, although I forgot to inquire as to the significance.

In following along, though, what impressed me was the ongoing praise to God alternated with the cries for His mercy, which is what the Liturgy throughout the Church, properly done is all about: knowledge and praise of God, while coming to know oneself in the face of God. So much of this is lost in the Roman Liturgy, not because of the liturgy itself, but through the music which, in the Roman Mass, tends to be more of a celebration of ourselves as opposed to great praise and supplication to God. (This is the point of reform within the Roman Catholic Church, and for good reason!)

There was absolutely no doubt, in this Liturgy, to WHOM it was addressed, and WHY. Yet, for those who want to juxtapose the interior with the exterior practices of our Faith would find them quite united here. I think that those who love to focus on the physical participation in the Mass in the Roman Catholic Church would find their home here in the Byzantine, for there are few pauses and it is dominated by the active singing and response of the congregation. In fact, I know someone who has a very difficult time focusing unless she is doing something at Mass, and may really find that the Byzantine Divine Liturgy keeps her attention as it demands a constant response.

I have to wonder if the minds behind Sacrosanctum Concilium were looking at the Eastern Liturgies as they wrote that document, seeking to combine the focus that has always oriented the Liturgy in all Rites to God with both the interior participation as well as the 'active' participation of the Faithful.

The Doors and the Icons

While the Byzantine Church also has an Offertory (for which I was not prepared today, to my shame), it is followed by the Liturgy of the Eucharist, which again, differs greatly but was still helpful in orienting me as to what was going on at the time. The book containing the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom was very helpful, but still, I found that I needed to be focused on what was happening in the sanctuary through the opened Doors, to which our attention is called throughout.

To explain, briefly, the Iconostasis, which operates much like a Communion Rail in a Roman Catholic Church (in those few where it remains), separates the human world from the heavenly world. It contains 3 doors: in the center are the Holy (or Royal) Doors, which open to the Sanctuary where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved, and represent the Gates of Heaven. Only the Priest may pass through these particular doors; any others are automatically excommunicated for the infringement. The Deacon's Door, to the right, is graced by the image of St. Stephen (at least at St. John the Baptist), the protomartyr behind which we see the Deacon's Altar. The door to the congregation's left is the Server's door, and portrays most often, and clearly in this particular Byzantine Church, the icon of St. Michael the Archangel.

Of note in every Byzantine Church, you will find on one of the doors to your right, the icon of St. Nicholas of Myra, the Patron of the Byzantine Church.

Holy Communion

I admit I was nervous to receive Communion in the Byzantine Church, if only because it is a little different. I am accustomed to receive on the tongue, so opening my mouth to receive Our Lord isn't the problem. Rather, because this is such a Holy Moment, a Holy Action, I wanted to be certain that if I screw up at any point, it wouldn't be THAT point! I even seriously considered not receiving at all!

Yet I knew I could...I went to Confession yesterday, am sure I had not committed any mortal since since my Confession, and really, the newness shouldn't detain me. Yet..that's just me. I'm a wimp and often want to hang back instead of trying new things, especially when making a mistake with new things can become sacrilege.

I had asked my friend, in the entryway about this, and this is where he emphasized to receive by tilting the head back, mouth open. For all the Roman Catholics out there....do NOT stick out your tongue! He laughed about how they always know a Roman by the instruction, "Tongue in!" and according to habit, we stick our tongues OUT to receive!

Not in the Eastern Church. I actually LOVED Holy Communion in this form, so I will explain it from a newbie perspective in anticipation of other newbies:

You will queue up like we always do. Like the English, we Roman Catholics in America are very serious about our queues, so you can expect here what you do at Communion time at Mass.

There is a small table (Tetrapod) near the front containing an icon (Pictured) with two candles on either side. Today, as we venerated the Holy Cross, the Tetrapod contained an icon of the Crucifix. At Holy Communion, consistent with the spirituality of each person coming to God as they are, each person went forward to the Priest to receive. We formed two lines, waited at the Tetrapod. and when the person before us had moved aside, went forward.

I noticed that the server beckoned me...I don't know if he does that for each person or just for newbies. It could be that I waited too long to advance.

The servers on either side of the Priest hold up a red cloth (I know there is a name for this, please inform me) beneath the chin of the one receiving. Many people bent their knees, and although I am short, I did a little, too, to make it easier for the Priest. Make a sign of reverence while standing in line (much like the Roman Rite), then approach, the Priest will offer Christ from a chalice where the leavened break is mingled with the Precious Blood in the Chalice that he holds. If needed, bend your knees, open your mouth (tongue in!), and the Priest will use a spoon to place the Sacrament in your mouth.

I have read this too, and know this is hard to envision. But I can tell you this: today I KNEW I had received God Himself, the very BLOOD AND FLESH of Christ on my tongue. I can't describe it, but it is completely different from the physical "feeling" of Holy Communion in a Roman Catholic Church. I have received by valid intinction (consecrated hosts on a paten with a small chalice attached, where the Priest intincts the Host.)

I have a strong devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ, but don't often receive from the chalice, and found that Holy Communion today has brought me more deeply into that particular devotion in a way I will not soon forget.

After Holy Communion, the Faithful return to their pews and stand, for in the Eastern Church, THAT is the sign of reverence. I knew this in advance and thought that I would miss kneeling, and indeed, I WANTED to kneel. This Church had kneelers utilized by some, but I found that I wanted to remain standing given the practice and the ancient sign of respect in this Church. After all...when in Byzantine, do as the Byzantines do.

Please note that this differs from the odd Roman Catholic Churches that stand at the consecration in disobedience and outside of the tradition of the Roman Rite; I attended some of those prior to my conversion and 'knew' that standing was wrong...and had a sense of the kneeling that was missing during the consecration.

I did not have that sense of discomfort today. That speaks volumes.

Dismissal

During Holy Communion there are several Hymns, and following, prayers of Thanksgiving. There are more prayers to be merciful to we, the sinner, supplications to God, and an admonition from the Priest to be attentive to Our Lord and the Holy Spirit, as I recall. (I'm sorry I can't link to this part of the Liturgy)

There was no procession out to which we Romans are accustomed.

The people in front of us took this time to introduce themselves and welcome us to their church, invited us back, exclaimed over the children, and said that they had been raised as Roman Catholics. Lovely people, and for some reason, reminded me of Texans. I don't know why and can't explain this. (no accent, they just..quirkily, made me think of Texans).

But because they were so homey and personable,and seemed so informal even though something was STILL going on in the Church, I was a bit discomfited. I was watching the Faithful filing forward, as if for Holy Communion, instead of filing out.Clearly people were receiving a blessing from the Priest, who was holding a glass bowl containing what appeared to be oil.

To either side stood servers, the one to my left holding the Bulletin, the one to the right holding a basket and a bulletin.

The man I asked explained that because it was the Sunday to venerate the Holy Cross, they were going forward for the veneration of the Icon of the Cross, and then to the Priest for a blessing. He explained that the basket contained the bread that was not used in Communion.

I went forward, kissed the Cross, and found that the person in front of me was engaged in a conversation with the priest. I'd started to move forward but saw that I should wait as their conversation continued...clearly this was more informal. It reminded me of the Roman Rite of the Liturgy of the Priest Greeting after Mass.

The Priest used what looked like a fine-tipped paint brush to paint a cross on my forehead with the holy oil from the bowl. I had to hold back my bangs for this, as did other women. He spoke in Slavic, so I have no idea what he said.

I did not take any of the bread from the basket, but one of my friends asked the Server if it was the Eucharist. He said that it was.

No, it wasn't. It was blessed bread, but as I understand, not consecrated, so not Christ Himself. This was a cause for concern for a time, but my friend explained it to us (thankfully!) and I can assure anyone who experiences this that no one is desecrating the Eucharist!

After this, we received a tour of the Church, I took photos of the icons while listening, and find that I will need to attend again both with more knowledge of the Ruthenian Divine Liturgy, and to get better photos of the icons.

I left feeling blessed, knowing that I had received Our Lord, and with a greater appreciation of the Universal Church.

Thank you, Jesus.

ADAM'S ALE: BISHOP SHOPPING

2010-03-04T06:10:00.000-08:00

BISHOP SHOPPING: "

What do you do when you do not like your bishop?

When still a seminarian there was a student/friend of mine who left to go to another diocese where there was a bishop that he liked more. He was there for a while and then as things go they changed bishops and he was once again unhappy.

Liking or disliking a bishop is more than just having a preference for a boss or even a politician. Bishops are more to us than that. We all belong (hopefully) to a parish and the parish is just part of a larger entity known as the local Church of which our bishop is the head. This is not a company with a CEO, it is more like a large family with a patriarch. And it is a hard job. Terribly hard. Especially in this difficult times.

Did you know that it is difficult even to find priests willing to become bishop? I think no sane man would do it unless he was an upper level saint. As one person once said, “Anybody who wants to be a bishop deserves to be one.” The glory days are way over.

And so we have a consecrated man as our see, a combination of administrator, politician, father, teacher, chief priest, healer, and at times, because it is necessary, CEO. Is there any other job requiring so many hats? And he is expected to be good at all of them plus be a saint if possible.

“It’s lonely at the top” is an understatement. A bishop makes decisions and they are wildly popular with some (these people remain quiet) and condemned as damnable by others (and these are quite vocal.) This past week I made a decision on socks for our uniforms in the school. You would have thought that I required each student to be flogged. I can’t imagine making decisions on whether a school or parish remains open.

Hopefully you like your bishop. But perhaps you do not. It may be that your bishop, in your eyes, is making terrible mistakes. You don’t have to like him but love him. Pray for him. Or this whole thing falls apart. I know some are facing terrible things in their lives because of how a decision of a bishop is effecting them but do not let hate enter your soul – do not become what you hate – do not, in trying to “save the Church” lose your soul.

WDTPRS: The Perfect Priest

2010-02-28T08:16:00.000-08:00

The Perfect Priest: "

The entry here reminded me of an old chestnut about a chain letter:

The Perfect Priest

The results of a computerized survey indicate the perfect priest preaches exactly fifteen minutes. He condemns sins but never upsets anyone. He works from 8:00 AM until midnight and is also a janitor. He makes $50 a week, wears good clothes, buys good books, drives a good car, and gives about $50 weekly to the poor. He is 28 years old and has preached 30 years. He has a burning desire to work with teenagers and spends all of his time with senior citizens.

The perfect priest smiles all the time with a straight face because he has a sense of humor that keeps him seriously dedicated to his work. He makes 15 calls daily on parish families, shut-ins and the hospitalized, and is always in his office when needed.

If your priest does not measure up, simply send this letter to six other churches that are tired of their priest, too. Then bundle up your priest and send him to the church on the top of the list. In one week, you will receive 1,643 priests and one of them will be perfect. Have faith in this procedure.

One parish broke the chain and got its old priest back in less than three weeks.

Post from: WDTPRS

The Perfect Priest

SANCTE PATER: Social Hacking

2010-02-28T06:08:00.000-08:00

(title unknown): "

The Satanic Inversion of Values Gets Pwned

CATHOLIC HIERARCHY: Pelletier retired, Raharilamboniaina named Morondava Bishop

2010-02-26T18:09:00.000-08:00

No relation, but it sure caught my attention

Pelletier retired, Raharilamboniaina named Morondava Bishop: "Bishop Donald Joseph Leo Pelletier, M.S. retired and Bishop-elect Marie Fabien Raharilamboniaina, O.C.D. was named Bishop of Morondava, Madagascar.

ADORO: Urgent Prayer Request for Christians in Mosul

2010-02-25T20:56:00.000-08:00

Urgent Prayer Request for Christians in Mosul: "I found this at Padre Steve's blog, Da Mihi Animas, and post the letter from Dominican Sister Donna Markham, OP:

From: Angelo H Camacho To: rpnarrin@aol.com Sent: Thu, Feb 25, 2010 12:33 pm Subject: URGENT PRAYER REQUEST
Just got this tragic news from our Dominican sisters in Iraq... prayers, please
Fr. Camacho

Dear Brothers,

Please read the following e-mail sent by Sr Donna Markham, O.P., the Prioress of the Adrian Dominicans, about our Dominican Sisters in Iraq and the entire Christian community in Mosul:

Dear Sisters, This evening I have received very tragic news about the situation in Iraq. I have just returned from being with the 5 Iraqi sisters who are with us in Adrian. Today, all the Christians have fled from Mosul.

There have been murders and rapes of Christians there and for now they are fleeing to the Christian villages. Sister Maria is very frightened about the safety of the sisters and the Christian people. As of now,the five elderly sisters who have been holding down the Motherhouse are choosing to remain there because they do not want to lose their Motherhouse to the terrorists. She said most Christians are making plans to evacuate from Iraq and, as a consequence, she does not know what will happen with her Congregation. She said they will follow the Christian people where they go, but where that will be is uncertain. The sisters' families remain in grave danger and, as you can imagine,the young ones with us and with Springfield are terrified. As of now, nothing is being reported in the US press. She asks if any of us know people in Washington whom we could contact and tell the story, to please do so. Most importantly, she asks for our prayers. Love, Sr. Donna

Please keep this situation in your prayers, and, as Sr. Donna asks, if anyone has any contacts in DC who could bring this to the press or to Congress, please consider doing so.

Fraternally, Fr Brian Mulcahy, O.P.
Socius

ADORO: Why Do Catholics Eat Fish on Fridays in Lent?

2010-02-25T20:54:00.000-08:00

Why Do Catholics Eat Fish on Fridays in Lent?: "I don't know about you, but I am sick and tired of hearing both Catholics and non-Catholics trot out the 'saving-the-fish-industry' tripe in explanation as to why Catholics eat fish on Fridays.

I did a quick google search today and saw all kinds of weird questions, such as: "Where does it say that in the Bible that we have to eat fish on Friday', and 'Why do Catholics have to eat fish?'

Those are the wrong questions.

Let me answer this once and for all:

Catholics DON'T have to eat fish on Fridays in Lent!

This is why the 'fish industry' myth is so unbelievably stupid, and I'm flummoxed as to why it is so popular and remains so unquestioned! When it comes to Catholics and public opinion about us, what ever happens to the "critical thinking" of the so-called "enlightened" crowd? Why is it that myth reigns and anti-Catholic stupidity becomes such a part of our lenten practices?

And really, I wonder why ANYONE cares whether or not Catholics eat fish on Fridays? Why is something so inane even a topic of discussion? Who had the pettiness to invent this myth, and who is so petty as to pass it on? If this myth were true, wouldn't it actually be a GOOD thing, for it would have been an exercise of the Church's teaching on social justice and charity for the poor?

My dear friends, if you run into someone who lodges this accusation, please point out to them that at NO point in the history of the Church were Catholics EVER ordered to eat fish on Fridays. If they continue to press the point, demand in turn that they locate the Church document that ordered the practice of EATING FISH.

It isn't there. It doesn't exist. If you think it does, please find it and send it to me.

What we are asked to do is to offer a universal penance in honor of the death of Our Lord on the Cross, by abstaining from meat. That is a FAR CRY from the claim that we "have to eat fish on Friday."

But as Fr. V. at Adam's Ale said in a perfect summary of fallen human nature:

'When we feast we feast. When we fast, we cheat.'

THAT (read the whole post to understand 'that') is why the Church asks us to practice a common discipline, a common penance, during lent. NOT because the fish union went to a pope and said that they needed help getting people to eat their slimy offerings. “Please make Catholics not eat meat on Fridays so that we can improve our bottom line!” If that were the case the pope would have said, “Eat fish on Fridays!”

We do not eat fish on Fridays. We abstain from meat. The reason so many Catholics eat fish on Fridays is that when we feast we feast, and when we fast we cheat. “They didn’t say we couldn’t eat fish so let’s eat that!” And Holy Mother Church rolls her eyes and says, “Fine, eat fish instead.”

Now, that's ONE explanation, but there is another that gives us some insight into the actual DISCIPLINE of this particular penance. The fact that there is a tradition (small "t") of SOME Catholics eating fish during Lent goes back to the allowance of fish in place of meat. And I can tell you, growing up, while I LOVED to go fishing, I HATED eating the catch. I hated everything ABOUT fish: the smell, the taste, the texture, the fact I had to eat it anyway if I wanted dessert, etc. For me, eating fish on Fridays was a very real penance. (I don't mind fish now...I've grown up. But I still don't eat it on Fridays especially during Lent. I tend to go vegetarian instead.)

But I digress, as usual. So let me offer you another explanation that comes from St. Thomas Aquinas himself: (Thanks to Taylor Marshall at Canturbury Tales for the tip to look to this part of the Summa: check out his post and comments as well.)

From the Summa Theologia, IIa-IIae Q.147.8:

Whether it is fitting that those who fast should be bidden to abstain from flesh meat, eggs, and

milk foods?

I answer that, As stated above (a. 6), fasting was instituted by the Church in order to bridle the concupiscences of the flesh, which regard pleasures of touch in connection with food and sex. Wherefore the Church forbade those who fast to partake of those foods which both afford most pleasure to the palate, and besides are a very great incentive to lust. Such are the flesh of animals that take their rest on the earth, and of those that breathe the air and their products, such as milk from those that walk on the earth, and eggs from birds. For, since such like animals are more like man in body, they afford greater pleasure as food, and greater nourishment to the human body, so that from their consumption there results a greater surplus available for seminal matter, which when abundant becomes a great incentive to lust. Hence the Church has bidden those who fast to abstain especially from these foods.

Reply to Objection 3. Eggs and milk foods are forbidden to those who fast, for as much as they originate from animals that provide us with flesh: wherefore the prohibition of flesh meat takes precedence of the prohibition of eggs and milk foods. Again the Lenten fast is the most solemn of all, both because it is kept in imitation of Christ, and because it disposes us to celebrate devoutly the mysteries of our redemption. For this reason the eating of flesh meat is forbidden in every fast, while the Lenten fast lays a general prohibition even on eggs and milk foods. As to the use of the latter things in other fasts the custom varies among different people, and each person is bound to conform to that custom which is in vogue with those among whom he is dwelling. Hence Jerome says†: “Let each province keep to its own practice, and look upon the commands of the elders as though they were the laws of the apostles.”

* Cf. P. I., Q. 118, a. 1, ad 3. † Augustine, De Lib. Arb. iii, 18; cf. De Nat. et Grat. lxvii.
e “Summa Theologica” of St. Thomas Aquinas. Literally translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province. Second and Revised Edition, 1920.

*******

Well! That's interesting, isn't it? Keep in mind, before you start arguing about what science tells us about nutrition, that the questions regarding the discipline of Lent really don't have anything to do with nutrition at all. They have to do with SACRIFICE and controlling our passions in order to be better conformed to Christ. You can read the entire question of fasting here. Note how the Angelic Doctor uses the term "flesh" and its relation to humanity and thus to Christ.

We don't eat fish on Fridays by any decree from Rome. In fact, I'd argue that Lenten Fish Fries go against the spirit of Lent, except for the fact that they are usually held for the purpose of giving alms, another Lenten requirement. (Yes, we are called to fast and offer our savings from the food we AREN'T eating to the poor, or offer alms in some other form.)

When I was a child I HATED fish, but every Lent, it was a tradition from Mom's family to eat fish, and actually, my Dad's as well, and he was Lutheran! In fact, they made it a habit to eat fish on Fridays THROUGHOUT the year at the Moose Lodge! (Go figure on that one...I think it had to do with the Moose....)

I loved fishing and have written of my memories of fishing with my Dad as a little girl. But I hated the smell, the taste, the processing of the fish, and found the seeming obligation during Lent to eat fish to be truly penitential, but for a few exceptions. I don't mind it now, but tend to make it a point to deny even the fish that I like in order to experience the deprivations and penance required by the true spirit of Lent which point to the sacrifice of Christ and our obligation as Christians to become more like Him.

The fact is this:

As Catholics, EVERY Friday throughout the year is a commemoration of Good Friday, thus it is a penitential day. EVERY FRIDAY requires us to do some kind of penance. In America, in most dioceses, we can decide what we want to do as penance. Most observant Catholics continue to give up meat on Fridays as it is easy to remember and consistent...and when there are social plans that may involve meat, say, at a friend's home, it reminds one to recall Christ's own sacrifice and maybe give us a chance to proclaim our faith even if in social discomfort.

I don't know why, but the Jews and the Muslims don't seem to have a problem proclaiming their faith through observance of their dietary laws and observances. Why is it such an issue for Catholics? When did WE turn into such complete wusses?

News for most Catholics: it's a sin to NOT do some sort of penitential observance on Fridays throughout the year! It's not a "Lenten" thing, but a WEEKLY thing!

During Lent, though, we are required to abstain from meat in union with all Catholics throughout the world, and if you want to focus on the Social Justice end of it, in union with all the starving peoples everywhere, to whom you can give the money saved so that THEY can have meat for once.

What's so hard about that, and why is it such a cause for controversy?

If you're one to attack the practice, get over yourself and turn your heart and soul to Christ in place of bitterness. He did not die for any of us so that we could be free to be jerks. He died so that we might follow Him, take an example from His own Holiness, and rise above our fallen nature in cooperation with Grace. Lent and the imposed disciplines of Lent help us to do that.

Is that so hard to understand? Really?
*

Adoro: Jesus, Take Me With You!

2010-02-25T10:16:00.000-08:00

Jesus, Take Me With You!: "A few months ago, while praying during Mass, as I gazed upon the crucifix after Communion, I found myself asking Jesus to take me with Him. This is a variation of an old prayer from a few years ago, one of those things that spontaneously comes upon us, and we pray it even if we really don't understand what we are really asking in that moment.

This morning while meditating on the mysteries of the rosary, I suddenly understood, at least to some degree, of what I was asking that day, and as I continued to pray, it all began to make sense. As always, God's timing is impeccable.

Jesus answered my prayer long before I ever prayed it.

When Jesus went down into the Jordan river, He took on His mission, giving his formal fiat, taking us and the sins of the whole world upon His shoulders. His baptism is symbolic of his acceptance of death, through which we must all descend, and his rising from the waters points to the resurrection. As He took us with Him into the river, so, too must we die so that we can rise again with Jesus in the resurrection.

That means that when Jesus went into the Jordan to be Baptized....He took me with Him.

When Jesus preached His Sermon on the Mount, He was speaking directly to me and telling me not to live only according to the minimum requirements, but to go deeper, sacrifice more, and become more and more human.

When Jesus healed the lepers, restored the sight of the blind man, and exorcised demons, he tooke me with him in tow to show me that it's not actually about physical healing, but spiritual, and that's what He REALLY wants to offer. And so I went with Him into the Confessional so that I, too, could become a sign to the world of His mercy and forgiveness.

When Jesus broke bread and gave thanks, when He washed the feet of the Apostles, He brought me with Him there, too, to reveal the beginning of the Mass and the origins of the ordained Priesthood, so that not only would I recognize the fulfillment of the Covenant when he died on the Cross the next day, but I would recognize God's own authority in His ministers, and the ongoing presence of Christ in the Mass and in all the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist.

When Jesus prayed and wept in the Garden of Gethsemane, He took me with Him for He was not just weeping over my sin and those of the whole world, but He was fully entering into and taking on our own suffering so that He could weep WITH us and not just FOR us.

When Jesus went before Pilate, He took me with him so that I, too, could choose to either wash my hands and walk away, or instead, become docile to His love and become the Cross that He carried for my salvation.

When Jesus was scourged at the pillar, He took me with him so that I would know the selflessness of love and the sacrifice that restores true dignity.

When Jesus was crowned with thorns, He took me with Him so that in his degradation, I would be brought to my knees, desiring to offer mercy to Mercy Himself, reaching out to remove the thorns He wore to fulfill the punishment for sin, only to find them piercing my own hands, drawing my own blood, helping me to enter into the suffering of my Savior.

When Jesus walked the road to Calvary, He took me with Him upon His own back, and only fell because I did and the weight of my sin was so heavy he condescended to fall even lower than I so that I would not be lost forever.

When Jesus was nailed to the Cross, He took me with Him so that I would recognize the impact of sin not just on myself, but upon the world, for which He was willingly being sent to His innocent death.

When Jesus was lifted up on the Cross, He brought me with Him for He drew me into His embrace and gave me rest under the shadow of His wings, where I begged to remain, for I recognized the Cross as my only defense.

Yes, Jesus HAS taken me with Him, every bloody, painful, wretched, agonizing step of the way. In spite of my obstinance, in spite of my rebellion, in spite of my willful disobedience. He has taken me with Him and has not let me out of His sight, even when I tried to hide from Him.

The price He paid for my redemption was so great that He would not, could not, let me go. He chose instead to suffer in patience, knowing that my hardened and fickle heart could be softened, that His love could overcome my rebellion, and that one day, I might still have a chance to return to Him with all my heart, all my soul, and give Him my whole life.

He asks for nothing less. And I ask for nothing more.
*

Take me with you, Jesus. Always.

Amen.

Hancaquam: What to do (and not do) about vocations

2010-02-25T10:10:00.001-08:00

What to do (and not do) about vocations: "

A four year old post on vocations to the priesthood. . .

I wanted to suggest the following about vocations:

1). There is no vocations crisis. God is calling more than enough men to the priesthood to cover the needs of the Church. The real crisis is twofold: a). crisis of commitment and b). crisis of encouragement. The crisis of commitment is the result of the reluctance of the men who are called to say YES to their call. Most men called to priesthood are opting for careers that will only partially perfect their gifts. They can be happy, of course, but they are not picking up the greater challenge of sacrificial service in the Church. The crisis of encouragement is more complex. Basically, mothers and fathers are not supporting sons who express an interest in say YES to God’s call. This has to do with a decline in the prestige of the priesthood and the easier availability of a formal education for lower and middle-class men. We also have to look to the bishops, their vocation directors, and their discernment and vetting processes. Do the people the bishop trusts to recruit and vet his vocations really believe that an ordained priesthood is necessary for the flourishing of the Church? Is there a culture of priestly community in the diocese? Are the priests happy and encouraging of vocations? Bottomline: no sensible young man with a vocation is remotely interested in signing on to a religious order or a diocese if it is clear that those in charge think his vocation to ordained ministry is an ideological problem, a theological inconvenience, or a political obstacle to the Great Lay Revolution. And no young man is remotely interested in joining an order or a diocese controlled by bitter, angry ideologues who loudly and proudly celebrate the coming demise of the priesthood. Who wants to jump on a failing project as it sinks under the weight of its stewards’ neglect?

2). If we have all the vocations we need, but those vocations aren’t saying YES, what do we need to do? First, give God constant thanks for the vocations He has called. Gratitude sets the stage for humility and the current crisis in commitment and encouragement needs all the humility it can get. Second, pray that God will encourage (literally, “strengthen the hearts of”) those whom He has called. Pray that they will say YES. Third, personally, one-on-one invite a young man to think about priesthood. If there’s any inkling in his mind that he has been called, your affirmation will reinforce that inkling into a stirring and the stirring into a desire and so on. Fourth, make sure that you understand who your priest is. I mean, study up on the nature of the priesthood. Get the Catechism and spend some time studying what the Church teaches about priesthood. Ignore functional models of priesthood (i.e., the priesthood is a job or a role) and ignore attempts to turn the Catholic priest into a Protestant minister (i.e., a minister of the Word in the pulpit but not a priest at the altar of sacrifice!). Also avoid all attempts to understand that priesthood is rooted in baptism only. We all minister to one another out of our baptisms. But the ordained priest ministers out of his baptism AND out of his ordination. To say that he ministers as a priest out of his baptism only is an attempt by some to diminish the sacramental character of Holy Orders and reduce the priesthood to something like a Parochial Facilitator of Charisms. One more thing to avoid: please don’t lump a vocation to the priesthood in with vocations to the married life, the single life, ad. nau. Of course, these vocations are perfectly true and good and beautiful. But we aren’t suffering as a Church from a lack of husbands and single women. Lumping priestly vocations in with all other Christian vocations tends to level the priestly vocation and hides the urgency of the crisises of commitment and encouragement. This is NOT about the priestly vocation being “better” than any other vocation. It is about the Church being loud and clear that we need priests and that we value the vocation for itself and not as a tacked-on afterthought during the prayers of the people.

Those called to priesthood will not be encouraged to say YES to their call until it is crystal clear to them that we need them. Communion Services and other forms of “celebrations in the absence of a priest” only serve to reinforce the idea that a priest for Mass is a luxury. Given all the other negatives about the priesthood these days, do we really need to carry on with our Sunday worship as if the priest were a rare creature slowly moving into extinction? I imagine a young man in the pews at St. Bubba’s, attending a month or two’s worth of Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest and thinking, “Hey, I don’t need to say YES to God’s call to priesthood. We’re getting along just fine here at St. Bubba’s w/o one.” In fact, why don’t we just elect one bishop somewhere in Kansas to consecrate several warehouses of hosts every week and then use FedEx to ship those hosts to all the parishes in the country for communion services. That way we can get rid of the priesthood and the episcopate altogether. Much cheaper and easier than educating men to be parish priests. Well, I guess we would have to keep one priest and one seminarian in the pipeline at all times as replacements.

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Patrick Madrid: McChurch

2010-02-25T10:10:00.000-08:00

McChurch: "

'Pop culture is culture like McDonald’s food is food.'

Father Paul Ward, a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit has written an excellent reflection on how Catholics have been affected, afflicted, and infected with a 'pop culture' mentality toward the Faith. Toward truth. Toward God. My humble suggestion to the parish priests who read this blog, consider reprinting this in your parish bulletin (with Father Ward's permission, of course). With a few adjustments, it might even make a good sermon!

“McChurch” is neither a real name nor a real word, but an expression I coined to convey “commercial Catholicism,” or even “consumer Catholicism.” Not only in America, but in many other places as well, the Catholic Church has largely gone the way of pop culture. That is, it became an object of the market.
Culture is a term which can have several meanings. Its more philosophical definition makes it the development of man’s superior faculties (intellect and will) in the material world. Another definition makes it the productions of such development, for example, the work of art, the composition of music, the opus of some great author; and here, we refer not to the mean productions of inferior skill, but the greatest and most superior of such works.
This second definition makes a man “cultured,” therefore, if he is familiar with the works of Bach, Aristotle, Descartes, Kierkegaard and Michelangelo, with Latin, Greek and Hebrew or some modern languages as well, and has acquired certain mental disciplines – logical thought, refinery of tastes, etc. – which come only with the exploration of these greatest and superior works which have come forth from the souls of men.
“Pop culture” is culture which you can buy or sell. Now, it would be overstating the case to assert that there is absolutely no artistic, intellectual, philosophical or theological contribution that a rare few pop artists make; that would be an exaggeration. But we all know that much of pop culture is junk. The proof lies in the endless stream of noise, violence and impurity which is broadcast on local music radio stations, or the hundreds of cable channels which simply multiply the amount of worthless material with which today’s man might entertain himself. (Oh, and about cable channels, I’m convinced that HBO stands for “Hell’s Box Office.” No, I don’t have cable, nor a TV in fact, but as a diocesan priest who invests time with his flock, I continually brush with such things.)
Pop culture is culture like McDonald’s food is food.
Now, imagine a religion you could package up and sell. You can make it appeal to lots of people, like McDonald’s sells French Fries, like pop singers sell their rhythms, like Pepsi sells their pop (for non mid-westers: “pop” is “soda”), and like tabloids sell their gossip. A pretty package, perfectly accommodated for the consumer; tasty, delicious, appealing to the senses, and en vogue. Such a religion is what we can call McChurch.
We have seen some communities, especially our Protestant brothers and sisters, start “coffee house Churches,” “cinema Churches,” “mega Churches,” “non-liturgical Churches.” None of which, of course, makes any sense; yet their (scant) popularity rises from the natural religiosity of persons completely uninformed, misinformed or frankly malformed in the message of Jesus Christ. Let’s dupe the consumer into buying into our religion, and appeal to his senses, to what’s en vogue. Let’s neglect the conversion, themetanoia, demanded by Christ, because it simply doesn’t sell: that’s McChurch.
What qualities does McDonald’s have in common with McChurch? It’s easy, it’s comfortable, it’s cheap. At McDonald’s the customer is always right. But real Christianity, which subsists in the Catholic Church alone, is not like that. It is not easy, it is hard, very hard. It is not comfortable, it is uncomfortable, in fact it is downright crucifying! Is the customer always right? No, the sinner is always wrong, phenomenally guilty, returning sin for redemption, ungrateful beyond all telling… but with hope through the grace of Christ.
McDonald’s wants to sell a product, and so does McChurch. And when the local branch manager (the pastor of a parish) fails to keep sales up, he just might get fired. As the market offers a specific good, service or rent for a price, similarly some clergy provide services for income, instead of for the salvation of souls. The market wants to convince the buyer, even by duping, to pay money for something; McChurch wants to convince the faithful, even by putting on a show empty of all true faith, to pitch money into the collection (or fundraiser, or whatever), but cheating them of true holiness which only Christ can give.
The consumer market it centered on the consumer: if the consumer will pay money for it, the vendor will sell it and make piles of money; and so McChurch will give the faithful whatever they like, whatever pleases them, even if that implies complete alienation from the Gospel. God doesn’t provide us what pleases us, but only that which truly makes one happy, even if that happiness is bought with tears and agony.
McChurch is religion like Lady Gaga is culture.
What is the solution to McChurch? Clearly this: holiness of life. When one finds Christians, Catholics, even clergy who put on the weekly show to the “ooo’s” and “aaaw’s” of the crowds, but live in continual and habitual sin, perhaps even mortal, that’s McChurch, and it will wither and die like a branch separated from the vine.
Yet how often the pastors of the Church will cave in to some perception of popularity to continue selling their product? How much ruthlessness, injustice and failure of basic charity there is when they flounder who are devout, and they who are wicked or proud or greedy or intemperate flourish, all with the blessings or mandate of those whom Christ appointed as pastors. What will such men do when Christ comes in the sky with his angels? Where will they hide?
McChurch is religion you can buy and sell; religion packaged for the market, thriving on popularity. But none of this shares anything in common with Jesus Christ the Lord, for he was slandered, abused, humiliated, violated and crucified… at the hands of the priests and Pharisees who should have been the quickest in perceiving in Him the Messiah.
Down with McChurch, up with true Catholicism!

http://patrickmadrid.blogspot.com

WDTPRS: Michael O’Brien on “Twilight”: modern man’s futile flight from conscience

2010-02-25T10:09:00.000-08:00

Michael O’Brien on “Twilight”: modern man’s futile flight from conscience: "

From a reader:

I think Michael O’Brien’s new piece (12/19/09) on "Twilight" and its popularity is a much better analysis than the one written by Sophie Caldecott. I have both read and written a lot on Twilight and O’Brien’s piece is the most thought provoking, and, I fear, accurate analysis I have read yet.

Here is an interesting segment from O’Brien’s article:

"E. Michael Jones has written that at the root of the phenomenal rise of horror culture [I would add dystopia especially in movies.] is suppressed conscience.

Tracing the pattern from Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein (first published in 1818) through to Ridley Scott’s film Alien (1979) [The only that made me crawl the back of my chair.] and its sequels, Jones argues that the denial of moral law produces metaphorical monsters that arise from the subconscious of creative people and spread into society through their cultural works. The monster in the Alien films, for example, is a ghastly abomination of the feminine, and salvation is possible only through expulsion of the offspring it implants and incubates in humans—a subconscious eruption of internal conflicts (and guilt) over abortion. [!]

As Jones points out:

By following our illicit desires to their logical endpoint in death, [cf. John Paul II’s discussion of a "culture of death".] we have created a nightmare culture, a horror-movie culture, one in which we are led back again and again to the source of our mysterious fears by forces over which we have no control.

Even though modern man denies the authority of moral conscience, he cannot escape it. He is created in the image and likeness of God, and deep within the natural law of his being the truth continues to speak to him, even as he adamantly denies the existence of God (in the case of atheists) or minimizes divine authority (in the case of nominally religious people, the practical atheists). In order to live with the inner fragmentation, which is the inevitable effect of violated conscience, he is driven to relieve his pain through three diverse ways:

a) He makes open war against conscience and all its moral restraints, and pursues with radical willfulness an aggressive consumption of sensual rewards—generally a plunge into various kinds of addictions and a life of sexual promiscuity;

b) More passively, he simply ignores the inner voice of conscience and distracts himself from it by sensual and emotional rewards—generally the search for love without responsibility and a restless striving for worldly success;

c) He tries to rationalize a self-made form of conscience for himself, based in values such as “tolerance” and “non-dogmatism.” Generally this produces a new kind of perverse moralism, a self-righteousness which is, paradoxically, quite intolerant of genuine righteousness. Its anti-dogmatism is its dogma. Here there is no absolute rejection of morality, but rather a rewriting of it according to subjective feelings.

None of the foregoing coping mechanisms need be conscious. Indeed they tend to be largely subconscious processes through which a person feels that he is finding his personal identity, is living out the principle of freedom, discovering his path in life, and getting from it a portion of happiness. Though he is afflicted from time to time by a sense of the inner void, he presumes that the remedy for these dark moments will be found by increasing the dose of the very drug that is killing him.

The Twilight series, it would appear, follows the third coping mechanism mentioned above in c), the one which appeals to the broadest possible audience."

Grist for the mill.

Post from: WDTPRS

Michael O’Brien on “Twilight”: modern man’s futile flight from conscience

Adoro: Feast of St. John of the Cross and the Dark Night

2010-02-25T10:08:00.000-08:00

Feast of St. John of the Cross and the Dark Night: "

Today we celebrated the Feast of St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church. His spiritual writings have had a great influence on many souls over the centuries. He is most prominently known for his work, "Ascent to Carmel', from which, tragically, his poem 'Dark Night of the Soul' and accompanying commentary was separated.

Why do I call this separation "tragic"?

A year ago in our Spiritual Theology course, we had the great privilege of being students of not only a solid, faithful Theologian, but one who was also a Secular Carmelite, and one who had studied St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila in great depth.

He explained this tragedy first by pointing out that the "Dark Night" was part of "Ascent to Carmel", was INTENDED by the Saint to be a part of that work, and that logically, publishing it separately removed the entire context of that work. What happens when you remove context?

Imagine what happens when you try to interpret the New Testament without the benefit of the Old Testament. (pause and think for a moment or two.)

Bingo.

So let's talk a little about the tragedy: The Massive Misunderstanding of the "Dark Night".

How many of you have heard people complain that they are experiencing the "Dark Night of the Soul"? They describe their "night" as depression, dryness in prayer, going through many trials, feeling abandoned by God because He doesn't seem to care that they are going through a divorce, suffering in school, suffering some disease, etc.? They are in tears, they don't get any 'feelings' out of Mass or prayer, and coupled with this sense of sadness and depression, they come to the conclusion that they are in the 'Dark Night'.

Does that sound familiar?

The problem is...what they are experiencing ISN'T the Dark Night described by St. John of the Cross.

Most people, even of those we think are the holiest among us, most CONTEMPLATIVES don't ever experience the "Dark Night". And if they did...well...none of us would actually know about it. They certainly wouldn't complain about it. In fact, "complaining" and "The Dark Night" are completely incompatible.

It becomes obvious, especially when one reads the entire Ascent to Carmel that the "Dark Night' belongs to those souls who have worked very hard at prayer, who have suffered for it, who have been faithful and have eradicated both mortal sin and deliberate venial sin from their lives. It is a very high state, spiritually speaking, and one most people never attain.

When one actually considers the actual words of the poem, one can see that the Dark Night is NOT a time of depression or our popularly-defined "feelings of abandonment." Rather, the Dark Night of the Soul is a night that is 'fired with love's urgent longings', it is 'secure', it is 'glad' and illuminated by a light 'more lovely than the dawn!'. It speaks of the intense spiritual wounding of love, where even though there come trials and conflicts and temptations, one is 'abandoned into the arms of the Beloved.' It is a night of

'the Lover with his beloved,

transforming the beloved in her Lover'

This poem, this theology of St. John of the Cross is about a deep mystical union with Christ. Have you clicked on the link to the poem describing the Dark Night? Is it not one of the most beautiful descriptions of mutual self-sacrifice you have ever read?

NONE of that speaks of depression. The reason it is a "Dark Night" is precisely the same reason one is blinded when going from a place of darkness into, say, a room where one is forced to look directly into the sun. It is the interior closeness with God that so blinds the soul and draws it into perfect abandonment, enduring all things, suffering all things out of a return of sacrificial love to the Beloved.

But But But....What about Aridity? How Come I am not Feeling Anything in Prayer? Isn't that the "Dark Night"?

This is a common misconception. Many people who return to their faith, enter the Church and maybe begin reading some of these mystics have a tendency to conclude that the very moment prayer doesn't "feel good" anymore it must mean they are entering the "Dark Night". And then, through the promptings of Pride, they think they are entering a new level of prayer when really, they are only beginners. Now, understand, these people aren't claiming some massive level of holiness; they are only misunderstanding the meaning of "Dark Night". While there IS a "Dark Night of the Senses", before one gets to the degree written of by St. John of the Cross, there are many little trials of aridity that must come that cannot even TOUCH the level discussed by our beloved Saint.

When you are faced with dryness in prayer (aridity), whether you are a convert, a revert, or a cradle Catholic, know that aridity is normal. It is God's way of withdrawing the breast so that we can learn to eat normal food. We can't be spiritual infants forever, can we? In order to stop depending on the wonderful consolations and feelings of love and affection and awe, God will withdraw the sentiment so that we can take our same actions, even as we seem to "get nothing out of it." This is a test of our character, our will, and above all, our love for God.

Do we love God for who He Is? Or for how He makes us feel?

Everyone goes through these periods of aridity. Quite honestly, I haven't received any massive consolations in YEARS, whereas, when I first returned to my Faith and attended Daily Mass, I LOVED being there, there were many consolations and affirmations, but then, well...they ended. And I faltered. Thankfully at the time I was reading something that helped me to understand that this was normal and the only remedy was to persevere.

Every so often God sends me some sort of little gift during Mass or during prayer, but more often than not, prayer seems like a chore, it is dry, seems meaningless, and even when connections somehow are made, I'm not "blown away". I often question whether I really love God or whether I'm just looking for consolation. What I've learned is that I need to remain faithful to prayer. For now, that is the Rosary, Liturgy of the Hours (which should be a foundation, people...it is the Prayer of the Church and makes present the Paschal Mystery), and some time in mental prayer throughout the day.

I have learned that I don't pray because I want something out of it, but because I love God and owe Him, in justice, time to acknowledge His Greatness, time to remember that I am nothing and need to depend on Him for all things, time to recall that of all I have for myself, it is nothing to offer a few moments of my day for His Glory.

Yes, I often fail. I'm not vowed, after all.

There is another consideration, though, in aridity.

Are we choosing deliberate venial sin? Let us assume that we don't regularly choose or fall into mortal sin. In doing our examination of conscience and in going to regular confession, are we recognizing a habit of sin? Of ANY sort? If so, it means we are CHOOSING some pleasure of the flesh or of the world in preference to God, who is all Good and deserves ALL our Love.

If we are dry in prayer and receiving no consolations, can we then properly claim to be in the Dark Night? OF COURSE NOT!

If God is not favoring us with little consolations, instead of crying 'foul!', maybe we need to clean up our lives. Maybe we need to realize we are depressed and anxious through our own grievous fault!

The Dark Night of the Soul - What it IS:

* A place of Joy
* Security
* Abandonment into the arms of the Beloved
* Fired with love's urgent longings
* Illumined by a light more lovely than dawn!
* Belongs only to those who have attained, objectively, a high level of sanctity by cooperating with God's grace and eradicating mortal sin and deliberate venial sin

(This is akin to descriptions of mystical union and even mystical marriage written of by other Saints.)

The Dark Night of the Soul - What it IS NOT:

* Anxiety
* Depression
* Terror
* Living a life of mortal sin
* Living a life of choosing deliberate venial sin
* mere aridity, lack of consolations, not 'feeling' like going to Mass or praying

In fact, the above speaks more of the Vice of Sloth (Acedia, spiritual laziness, Spiritual depression, abhorence of things of God, etc) than it does of anything else. Do NOT confuse the two!

There is, of course, a great deal written on this, and my guess is that I have readers far more versed in Carmelite spirituality than I. I will guarantee you this, though: there's not a single person who HAS or IS experiencing the Dark Night as described by St. John of the Cross who will comment in my combox. Why? Because it is so intimate, so holy, and, in fact, they won't even know THEMSELVES that their state in prayer is at this level. Their spiritual director may know, perhaps people who know them well, but...they'd never actually DISCUSS it.

For the record...no, I haven't. In fact, I'm still in the very first age as described by ALL spiritualities: my main prayer is vocal (rosary, LOH, etc.), I'm still trying to eradicate sin, including some serious sin, from my life, and when I'm faced with aridity, I don't dig in; I run away.

So know here that I condemn none, for I am probably far less advanced than most, if not ALL of you.

St. John of the Cross, pray for us!

WDTPRS: How to save a Catholic school

2010-02-25T10:05:00.000-08:00

How to save a Catholic school: "

Something unexpected came from the site of The Catholic Spirit of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

What works: St. Matthew’s School increases enrollment by 30 percent

By Julie Carroll

Thursday, 03 December 2009

While most inner-city schools continue to struggle in a difficult economy, one school — St. Matthew’s in St. Paul — has been experiencing unprecedented growth.

Last year, enrollment at the school increased 30 percent. This year, despite the worst recession since World War II, enrollment continues to grow.

What’s the secret? It depends on whom you ask.

Like other urban schools, St. Matthew’s had been losing students at an average of 10 to 15 per year. When the kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school’s enrollment dipped down below 140 students, principal Doug Lieser realized he needed to find a way to increase enrollment and financial support if the school was to survive.

The first thing Lieser did was conduct a survey asking parents why they chose St. Matthew’s for their children. Their answers surprised him.

“We have two mobile computer labs, we have a great lunch program, a great curriculum. . . . But that’s not why they’re choosing us,” Lieser said. “The three primary reasons that we found for our families choosing St. Matthew’s were that we were small, we were Catholic, and we provided a safe environment.”

Lieser took that information and designed a marketing campaign around it that included yard signs, newspaper advertisements and word of mouth.

Around the same time, alum Jerry Sexton worked with Lieser and Father Steve Adrian, pastor of St. Matthew’s, to form an Alumni and Friends group. Sexton used his experience in publishing to create a school newsletter for alumni, parents and donors.

‘Communication is key’

While every urban school is unique, one common problem many of them share is poor communication, Sexton said. “Communication is key. . . . You raise money for tuition support and then you publish the fact that you have tuition support money.”

The newsletter is filled with success stories to show how St. Matthew’s is making a difference in students’ lives and in the community.

“You love God by loving your neighbor, and that is what we’re about at the school,” Sexton said.

Another reason St. Matthew’s has succeeded in recent years, according to Father Adrian, is its focus on serving families with limited financial means.

“There are just tons of people who never ever thought of a Catholic education because they assume they could never afford it,” he said. “So what we have done is rather successfully gotten the word out that money cannot be the issue, that we will find the money and you’re welcome in the school. And people come.”

Ninety percent of families with children at St. Matthew receive financial aid, Lieser said.

The school is able to provide scholarships through support from the archdiocese; FOCUS, a nonprofit organization Sexton helped found to raise funds for urban Catholic schools; and assistance from other organizations and donors.

Since it was formed in 2007, Alumni and Friends has raised an additional $270,000 for the school, Father Adrian said.

Being a ‘good Samaritan’

To those who might question why St. Matthew parish directs so much of its resources toward education, Father Adrian responds: “What we say to our donors is that the commitment on the part of St. Matthew’s is to seek to be the ‘good Samaritan’ on the banks of the Mississippi River, and part of that mission is the educating of kids.”

He points out that a majority of children attending St. Matthew’s are Hispanic.

“We all know that the Catholic population in the United States is growing largely because of Spanish-speaking immigrants, and that it’s not too far down the line when those folks are going to be making up, if not the majority, at least a very significant chunk of what the church is, and it’s out of those folks that the future leadership is going to come,” Father Adrian said.

“If we don’t invest in the education of the kids of Latin background today, we’re missing the opportunity to provide new, fresh, well-prepared Catholic leadership a generation from now.”

All of St. Matthew’s efforts — the marketing campaign, the newsletter, the Alumni and Friends group, and the focus on mission — have shown impressive results.

In 2007, enrollment at St. Matthew’s was 136. This year, 192 students attend the school, two classes have waiting lists and the retention rate is 95 percent.

“The future of the school is strong,” said Father Adrian. “And it’s growing.”

And their advice?

How Catholic schools can replicate St. Matthew’s success

“Be clear about who you are, what your message is,” principal Doug Lieser advises. “In our case, we did it through a survey. Other schools might do that in a different way. But be clear about it and make sure people know it.”
“Make it a group effort,” Lieser said. St. Matthew’s owes its success to its pastor, alumni, donors, volunteers and a host of people acting together toward a common goal.
“Put together a handful of people who are really committed to turning the school around and who have financial resources,” said Father Steve Adrian, pastor. “Then trust upon the good instincts and the energy of those folks.”
“Get the word out as clearly as you can that everyone’s welcome,” he added.
“I found that alumni will respond to the raising of dollars when you can say and you can demonstrate that because of their gift you were able to welcome ‘X’ number of new students into the school,” Father Adrian said.
Expand your school’s mission to improving the community, Father Adrian added. In addition to educating children, St. Matthew provides a child care center, it’s a St. Mary’s Clinic and Loaves and Fishes site, the rectory is a Catholic Worker House, etc.
“Take a look at your communications,” suggested St. Matthew’s alumnus Jerry Sexton. Make sure you’re communicating far and wide the good things that the school does.

Post from: WDTPRS

How to save a Catholic school

EXPOSED: If it is my right ...

2010-02-25T10:04:00.000-08:00

If it is my right ...: "If it is my Constitutional right and freedom to kill my child through abortion, then I’d rather be a slave to my Catholic Faith. If it is my right and freedom to dress and act provocative, then I’d rather be considered a prude. If it is my right and freedom to sterilize myself through contraception, then I’d rather be fruitful. If it is my right and freedom to become some “thing”, a sexual"

EXPOSED: My Calcutta (click here to view video)

2010-02-25T10:03:00.000-08:00

My Calcutta (click here to view video): "When Blessed Mother Teresa was alive, she would frequently tell others, when they wanted to help her in India, to "find your own Calcutta". This wise pearl of wisdom is what inspired me to begin my speaking career. It dawned on me that the Calcutta I was looking for could be found in the wide eyes of young girls, as they searched desperately to be loved by the world...I understand their pain"

This is not the blog you are looking for

2009-10-31T17:13:00.001-07:00

Nor are these the droids you are looking for.

Parish the Thought

Prayers for Bishops

Western Beauty

SAFE?

Study: Most Priests Are Happy, Appreciate Celibacy

On bending the knee

Clever advice for parents of teenagers

Persevere in Prayer

Google+ - Never Mind

Google+

And in my free time . . .

St. Michael's Abbey

Let Sleeping Blogs . . .

Retreat!

Cutting the Cord

Jammies

EOHSJ Update

An Honor to Serve

Football Season

Archbishop Murphy rolls past Kennedy Catholic

West Catholic earns victory over Monsignor Bonner

Central Catholic defeats Bethel Park

No. 3 Catholic Central rolls over Inkster

10 Days

All My Passwords/Days of Our Passwords

Madonna di San Biagio

First “Pastoral” Decision

The New Missal is Here! The New Missal is Here!

Evangelization, part 2

Why you can’t comment on my posts.

A New Evangelization?

This wasn’t MY Mass (or was it?)

Drive us not into temptation

It Knows Us

Bon Homme

What Happens on the Web . . .

Another year of blessings

Phoenix Controversy

Blackstone Legal Fellowship

Free Office Software

Geek Factor Extreme!

Sweet 16

My inner geek smiles

What’s out in the public . . . stays in public.

Why I Left Facebook Today

What We Needed to Hear

CREATIVE MINORITY REPORT:Sin and Cafeteria Catholicism

Phoenix Parish Worker and Priest Stabbed

We are not amused

Belly up to the . . . Altar?

A Passionate Thought

Phoney Solutions

On the Life and Mission of St. Joseph

SANCTE PATER: General Councils of the Church

St. Joseph

Morning Musings

ADAM'S ALE: TOO OLD AND SICK TO SIN?

ADORO: Byzantine Divine Liturgy - Ruthenian Rite

ADAM'S ALE: BISHOP SHOPPING

WDTPRS: The Perfect Priest

SANCTE PATER: Social Hacking

CATHOLIC HIERARCHY: Pelletier retired, Raharilamboniaina named Morondava Bishop

ADORO: Urgent Prayer Request for Christians in Mosul

ADORO: Why Do Catholics Eat Fish on Fridays in Lent?

Adoro: Jesus, Take Me With You!

Hancaquam: What to do (and not do) about vocations

Patrick Madrid: McChurch

WDTPRS: Michael O’Brien on “Twilight”: modern man’s futile flight from conscience

Adoro: Feast of St. John of the Cross and the Dark Night

WDTPRS: How to save a Catholic school

EXPOSED: If it is my right ...

EXPOSED: My Calcutta (click here to view video)

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