Disaffiliation from Catholic Church

 Father Carl Chudy, sx, D Min. has released his report on disaffiliation of Catholics in the Archdiocese of Boston.  

I just finished reading it.  It's not long--23 pages.  The stories are sad.  I could sense their heart breaking.  They've been hurt by people, priests, administrators, and others representing the church.

However, no one said that they once believed in the Eucharist and now they don't.  Some said that they never did believe in Church doctrine; I assume that means the Eucharist.  But that means that they never had the gift of faith. Faith is a divine gift that enables an encounter with God.  Faith is a mystery.  How can I explain a supernatural grace?

And the Holy Spirit goes wherever.  I believe everyone can have faith if they want it.  They have to want it and pray for it.  There's the rub.  I guess some never see the need of it.

Of course, if the Lord has need of someone to cooperate in Divine Plans than we'd see a Saul to Paul experience.  But most of us aren't called in that way.

This report tells many sad tales of people being hurt and not listened to.  I can relate.  But I would never let poor pastoral practices keep me away from the Eucharist.  That's what the Catholic Church is to me--the Eucharist and only Catholic priests have Apostolic succession (Matt 16:18).

Preserving History

The recipe for preserving history: The archive is home to many treasures. While searching the archive, we sometimes find pieces of our history that have been lost to time, whether intentionally or unintentionally. What to save is up to the archivist.  In the Archdiocese of Boston, the archivist is Thomas Lester.

As the archivist and records manager, Lester’s main responsibilities include ensuring the long-term preservation of Archdiocesan records, organizing collections to make them more accessible, and assisting researchers.  He also writes a biweekly column for The Pilot, the Boston Catholic newspaper, highlighting historical events and the archive’s collections.

Evangelization of Witness

Pay attention to my parish's seminarian, Patrick Fiorillo. His journey is what we hope for all our children, indeed, all people.

Turning the Corner

The Archdiocese of Boston has turned the corner.  That's what Father George said in Sunday's homily.  After years of being ashamed and struggling and plodding along to keep the faith, there's hope.  Father George related an experience he had as he was walking to a parishioner's home.  A young man across the street from where he was walking raised his hand in a salute and shouted, "The Pope's the man!"  This is the equivalent of "hurrah!"

Father George also told the story of something that happened at a catechesis class for adults.  This class had been advertised for weeks before it began.  The night it started, the priests and teachers were outside the church to greet the people coming to class.  A man came holding a baby.  He said he was coming, but forgot something.  He asked a lady to hold his baby.  She did.  He went.

He was gone.  The class was held and he didn't return.  The class ended and he wasn't back.  As they were discussing what to do, the man appeared.  He thanked the lady holding his baby and took the baby.  He also gave her something in return--a gun.  He swapped the baby for the gun.  He said he went off to kill himself, but decided he couldn't.  He came back to try and start all over, for his baby.

Our Lady of Fatima came to Visit Us

The traveling Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima came to my parish, tonight.  As I've said before, Our Lady wasn't dressed so flashy, "a la Las Vegas."  This is the traveling statue.  Mary's traveling clothes.  Like all us, when we go out, we get dressed up.

Sr. Lucia gave the sculptor, Fr. Thomas McGlynn, OP directions on what Our Lady looked like.  Her heart was on the outside, and she was dressed very simply.  But this statue is the Pilgrim traveling statue.  The Pope crowned this statue to honor Mary, and a Bishop in Portugal dressed her up to travel around the world giving the message to pray for peace in the world and in the family.

With the permission of Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the World Apostolate of Fatima is traveling the diocese of Boston.  This Statue travels throughout the diocese of the United States.  The Statue was blessed by Pope Paul VI in 1967 and given as a gift to the U.S. by the Bishop of Fatima, under the care of the World Apostolate of Fatima, USA.

It is the hope of the Apostolate that more men, women and children will have the opportunity to learn more about the Message of Fatima, gather to pray for peace in the world and in the family, and give honor to Our Lady.  May many prayers be offered this October for these intentions, and may Our Blessed Mother continue to intercede for us, especially the Archdiocese of Boston, and the parish of St. Mary's Franklin.

Catholics Come Home

I'm glad the Archdiocese of Boston is promoting this "Come Home" initiative.  We've been doing this alone.  Now we have help.

I love being Catholic and want everyone to experience what I feel and see, too.  I want to share the wealth.

Those of us who feel likewise are inviting our non-practicing family and friends back to church.  C'mon, let's talk.  Tell us what questions you have.  What' s bothering you.  We can faith share.

What are you waiting for?

Adopting a Priest

Image via Wikipedia

Keeping a priest can be expensive.  I use to take out a priest to dinner every week.  That got to be very expensive for me.  I was glad when he was posted somewhere else.

I use to have a spiritual director who wouldn't take any money from me.  So I'd take him out to dinner once a month.  That was good and some of my best spiritual direction.

Last year, I adopted Father Jojo Vattakeril, MCBS during the Year for Priests.  He was from India and had been a priest since 2004.  He is still in my prayers.

Now, the Serra Club of Boston, is promoting Adopting a Priest or a Seminarian.  I'm glad to see this.  A few years ago, my parish priest invited a few parishioners to go to a Serra meeting at Saint John's Seminary.  It was a disaster.  The building was locked up.  Father was embarrassed.  He didn't know what to do.  We drove around and eventually he found someone who said he'd get someone to unlock a door for us.  I think about two other parishes were there.  We weren't many at all.  It was like they weren't expecting us.

Father kept apologizing.  But it wasn't his fault.  He gave us a tour of the building.  Eventually, an apologetic lady came and said that the priest in charge of vocations wasn't there.  It was his mother's birthday.  So she set up a video for us to watch.

What a specious excuse that was!!!  Your mother has the same birth date, every year!!!  Why didn't he change the date of our meeting?

While we watched the video, which was about Father Junipero Serra and the Serra Club, the nice lady made coffee.  Then we went home.  The video whetted my appetite to join the Serra Club, but there didn't seem to be one in Massachusetts.  I think  the contact address was in Attleboro but no one ever responded to my inquires.  I even wrote to the National President of the Serra Club, who was a Lay Dominican, like myself, and he never answered.

OK.  I can take a hint.  God wasn't leading me in that direction.

That's why I'm happy to see the Serra Club in the Archdiocese of Boston.  And I'm also happy to have the opportunity to adopt a priest from my diocese.  You can too.  Go to this link.

Readville, MA

Hubby is always talking about Readville.  He comes from there.  When I married him we lived there--for about 8 years.  I liked it.  I particularly enjoyed that I lived in Boston, and could take advantage of all that Boston offered; yet I was outside of it.  Readville is the name for a section of Hyde Park, and Hyde Park is a section of Boston.

Anybody who lives, or comes from Readville, does not say they're from Boston, or even Hyde Park.  Oh no!  As Thomas Aquinas says, "Distinctions are important."  You are from Readville.  And proud of it!

Now I live in the suburbs.  But when I do take the train to Boston, I always gaze wistfully out the train window at Readville, and reminisce about the many times I heard those trains go by and listen to the train whistles.

All this came to mind tonight.  I was at Mass.  The celebrant was the Rev. Msgr. Peter Conley, from St. Jude's Parish in Norfolk, MA.  Msgr. Peter told a story from his youth.  He comes from Readville, too.  He told of learning the Lord's Prayer.  He thought "Lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil."   was   "Lead us not into temptation,  and deliver us from Readville."

City boys have a peculiar sense of humor.

Directives for Flu Season

Read the latest:

MEMORANDUM

To: Archdiocesan Parishes and Institutions
From: Rev. Jonathan Gaspar, Co-Director of
Office of Worship and Spiritual Life
Date: 10/26/2009
Re: Archdiocese of Boston Flu Season Directives

The Office of Worship, in consultation with local health authorities and the Archdiocesan Office of Risk Management, continues to encourage the clergy and faithful to observe necessary standard precautions to protect the health of others during this flu season, and especially with the risks related to H1N1 influenza. The best way to prevent the spread of contagious disease is to practice good hygiene. In addition to practicing good hygiene, the Cardinal directs the following for the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy and for flu prevention:

• The Holy Water fonts are to be drained, cleaned with a disinfecting soap, and re-filled with holy water on a regular basis. Please note that old holy water should be disposed of in the sacrarium.

• The distribution of the Precious Blood for the faithful is suspended, with the exception of those who must receive from the cup due to medical reasons. The faith of the Church teaches that Christ, whole and entire, is received even under only one species.

• The exchange of the Sign of Peace is to be offered without any physical contact. If the priest celebrant chooses to extend the invitation for the sign of peace, the faithful, instead of a handshake, may bow to the persons nearby.

• While the faithful retain the option of receiving Holy Communion on the tongue or in the hand, all ministers of Holy Communion are advised to distribute the consecrated hosts with care, being cautious not to touch the tongue or the hand of the communicant.

• Parishioners should be reminded that if they are ill or suspect they are ill with a contagious illness, they are not bound by the Sunday Mass obligation. They should remain at home and return to church when they are well.

These directives are effective Saturday, October 31, 2009 and remain in effect until the cold and flu season has come to an end. We thank you for your understanding and support of these directives, which aim to protect the health of our people.