The Rock that Changed Everything

 For over ten years, (not hyperbole) I've seen this book, on the top shelf.  I always passed it by, barely dusting it.  Acts of Faith, the title, is quite bold.  That's what made me pass it by.  The noun, "Faith", blaring so bright.

I thought it was a theology book.  It was probably a religious textbook.  I ignored it.

Until the day I decided to weed my books.  Acts of Faith was written by Erich Segal. Erich Segal wrote Love Story.  That Erich Segal!!!  Acts of Faith is a novel!

All these years have gone by, and I could have enjoyed a good Erich Segal story.  This particular story intertwines the lives of 3 people who grew up in New York.  The reader gets involved and even though he kind of highly suspects the way the story is going, he rapidly turns each page.  Danny and Deborah are brother and sister.  Their father is a famous Jewish Orthodox rabbi.  Danny is the heir apparent.  Deborah is to be married when she turns 18.  Both buck the system.

Tim Hogan is an orphan.  He is brought up by relatives who never read Dr. Spock.  Tim had it rough.  In fact, he was a bully, even beating up Danny. However, the day he threw a rock through the rabbi's window changed everything. To pay for the damage, Danny becomes the Shabbat Goy.  He lights the lamps for Shabbat.  Doing that job, Danny learns Yiddish, and more importantly, meets Deborah.

Since he is Catholic, and she is Jewish, there is no way they can be a couple.  They move on.  More or less.  Sometimes more.  More often less.  He becomes a priest.  Deborah moves to Israel and when she's 18, she moves to a kibbutz.  

Meanwhile, Danny tries to survive the pressure to take over the family ministry.  He and Tim become good friends, but their lives take them on different journeys.  

How these three become involved, and grow together, is the story.  Besides the passion, religious politics, and religion, the reader actually learns about the Jewish and Catholic faiths.  In fact, I finally understand why Catholic priests can't marry.  (I'm sure Erich Segal intended to prove the opposite.) Tim Hogan advances to become a bishop in Brazil.  Segal in describing the ceremonial rite states, "Such was the silence in the massive basilica that His Holiness could be heard to whisper, "L'anello." He then said quietly in Latin. "Your hand." Tim complied and stretched forth his wedding finger as the Holy Father pronounced in solemn tones, "Take this ring, the seal of your fidelity. With faith and love protect the bride of God, His holy Church."

This exchange dope slapped me.  Don't we say the same vows in our marriage ceremonies?  The words spoken during the ring exchange are very significant.  They express love, fidelity, and commitment.  

Take this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment to you, and as a reminder that I will always be by your side, no matter what life brings.”

I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and devotion to you. I promise to stand by your side, to support and encourage you, and to cherish you for all the days of my life.”

WOWZA! The priest is marrying the church.  The church is the bride; hence, her partner must be male.  The church has always been called the bride of Christ.  The priest marries the church and vows to "love and protect the bride of God, His holy Church."

How do you like that?  I learned.  I understand.  Finally.  Oh, and it was a good story, too.  

The Deacon's Homily

 Today, Deacon Ron Gerwatowski, gave the homily to Luke 2: 41-52.  He talked about losing his daughter, on a Fourth of July. This tied in nicely with the Gospel about finding Jesus in the temple.  

A parent losing a child is a nightmare.  Fortunately, I have never had the experience.  My children were always hanging on me.  But I can relate to the feeling of a child losing their mother.

Back in the 1950's, my family didn't have a car. We walked to a corner store and shopped.  It was a small store, like 7-Eleven, Cumberland Farms, etc.  The aisles were small compared to Big Y, Stop & Shop, etc.  

I was around five years old and still remember that feeling of looking up and not seeing my mother.  She was only around the corner--less than 10 steps away.  

Now back to the Deacon's homily.  He spoke of how parents take care of their children and then twenty plus years, those same children are taking care of their parents.  

It struck me that no priest could have given a better homily.  They don't know that feeling of fear, of losing a child, nor will they ever experience their child taking care of them.  Priests aren't parents.

New Dominican Friars

Please pray for these newly ordained Dominican priests from the Province of St. Joseph.

(l-r) Fr. Bernard Knapke, O.P.; Fr. Luke VanBerkum, O.P.; Fr. Paul Marich, O.P.; Fr. Damian Day, O.P.; Fr. Philip Nolan, O.P.; Fr. Pachomius Walker, O.P.; Fr. Maximilian Jaskowak, O.P.; Fr. James Ritch, O.P.; Fr. Bartholomew Calvano, O.P.; Fr. Albert Dempsey, O.P.

150 Years a Priest

The Apostle of Prisons, Pere Marie Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P. was ordained a priest 150 years ago, on February 8, 1863.  Here are some of his impressions on that very day.  These are compiled by Renata Commazind from the Resurrection Community in Casco, Maine.

Ordination to the Priesthood of Fr. Lataste – February 8, 1863  The Apostle of Prisons

Approaching his Ordination, Fr. Lataste still felt the fear before the sanctity which such a mission demands. But he is not crushed anymore by that call, as when he was young.; he trusts now in God’s mercy:

He writes;” Oh! How the power of the Priest is high, marvelous, redoubtable! Also, when one often sees men at the hight of their position of their work in the world, never though can a priest, as virtuous and saintly he might be, ever be worthy of his mission, rigorously speaking; he will always be less; what he will be, he will be, not by his merits but only by the great mercy of God towards him.”  

                                                                                                  Pg. 100 of “Ces femmes qui etaaient mes soeurs”      

                                                                                                              Book by Fr. Jean Marie Gueullette O.P.             

February 8, 1863- Marseille - Br. Jean Joseph Lataste is ordained to the Priesthood by Msg. Petagna, representing the Bsp. of Marseille. In the Oratory of the Third Order Sisters of St. Dominic.

February 10.- Fr. Jean Joseph celebrates Mass for the first time. It is the Commemoration of the suffering of Our Lord.

Febr. 11, - Feast of the Engagement of Mary and Joseph. Fr. Lataste celebrates the second time ,Holy mass at the Grotto of St. Mary Magdaleine at La St. Baume.

February 23, 1863 he writes to Mrs. Piron ( a good friend )  “ Yes, now I am a priest, a servant of God, priest for all eternity. I leave it to you and your heart and piety to guess what feelings were then in my soul and still are every day. Feelings of joy, gratefulness, love, of total giving of myself to the will of God, who is so good, so merciful, so wonderful toward his children, even to the weakest and most unworthy. The 8th and 10th of Feb., are two days, which I will never forget. My father and my oldest brother Theophil and the youngest of the three, my brother Honore, were with me. The always pious and good Honore and the two others were first uneasy, but then deeply touched. The light has not yet touched their souls, but everything moved them: the dignity of the celebration, the impression which a first Mass gives, especially in the presence of 80 Monks, a day of a solemn exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the fraternal welcome, which they received, the intimate joy and the true fatherly affection which one receives in a Cloister.”            By Robert and Claude Evers in “Apostle of Prisons” 

If I Were Pastor

Surfing the net, this morning.  Musing over a cup of coffee.  I came across this chart and planned my own parish.

What Parishes are most successful at:

1.       Managing parish finances                                                                90%

2.       Recruitment and retaining ministers/staff                                           89

3.       Communicating with parishioners                                                     89

4.       Educating parishioners in the faith                                                     86

5.       Welcoming new parishioners                                                            85

6.       Promoting ministry opportunities                                                       85

7.       Listening to parishioner concerns and input                                         83

8.       Effectively using committees and councils                                          79

9.       Providing social activities and programs                                             77

1.   Providing accessibility for persons with disabilities                               77

11.   Ministering to the elderly                                                                   76

12.   Ministering to families                                                                       75

13.   Ministering to those who are grieving                                                  75

14.   Ministering to those in financial need                                                   66

15.   Collaborating with other parishes                                                        61

16.   Providing cultural, ethnic, or national celebrations                                 59

17.   Celebrating cultural diversity                                                               56

18.   Providing Mass in preferred languages                                                 56

19.   Ministering to young adults                                                                 56

20.   Outreach to inactive Catholics                                                             43

21.   Ministering to recent immigrants                                                          35

   If I were Pastor I’d put # 15, first.  I figured I’d get more accomplished with others.  Yes, that might be more work, but the more people, the bigger the talent pool.  The first thing I’d do is publish and coordinate the Mass schedule and other sacraments.  The Mass Schedule would always be posted in my bulletin: if St. Joe’s has a 7:00 Mass, then I’d have a 7:30, and St. Mary’s would have an 8:00.  I definitely wouldn’t forget evening Masses.  One of us should have a Saturday Evening Mass, and another a Sunday Evening.  Confessions—likewise.

   Our Deacons would be involved in all of the above, especially the funerals of people who are Catholic, but don’t request a Mass.  I’ve been to a family funeral where the family were fallen away Catholics.  They weren’t anything.  Although if you asked them, they’d say, “Catholic.”  They were grieving.  But they would have been extremely uncomfortable if a priest ministered to them.  A Deacon was there and explained that he was “like” a priest, but he was married with children.  The family loved him.  He was perfect.  If there were a Mass, they wouldn’t have known what to do or how to act, and that would have just caused them more discomfort in a difficult time.  The Deacon was a godsend.

     The priest can’t do it all, but I think he can be perceived as doing it all.  CCD/religious ed for example: he should always make an appearance .  Five minutes out of a day to show up.  Sometimes it would be to greet the kids; sometimes it would be to say good-bye.  Even a walk through, is something.  For gosh sakes, wish the kids a “Merry Christmas”.  Just casting the priests’ shadows, now and then, is enough.

      I also think my priests should do likewise (make an appearance) at EVERY single event and group the parish runs.  That’s every sodality, Bible Study, prayer group, etc., cast a priestly shadow as you walk through.  Five minutes is all the time I’d ask.  The priests can alternate with the Deacons and parish administrators, or seminarians.  I’m after the perception that the parish administration cares.

Outside of # 18, lay people can coordinate all the efforts.  The priest would know what’s happening, because he’s casting his shadow everywhere, but I think all of the above can be coordinated by lay people.  Every week or two they’d be a team meeting where everybody would give an update on their ministries.

      I’d get rid of parish councils.  They are not representative of ALL the people.  Just by the fact that they’re chosen by vote tells you that it’s a popularity contest.  Newcomers, who should be welcomed and invited into ministries, don’t have any say on a parish council because they aren’t known enough to garner the necessary votes to get elected.  In fact, I’d bet the ranch, that most of the people on the parish council are elderly because they’ve been in the church the longest; therefore they know most of the people.  Next, I bet the rest of the parish council are Lectors, because they come out before Mass and introduce themselves!  No, parish councils will be out, and the Ministry Teams will replace them.

     The Ministry Teams definitely will meet no less often than bi-weekly.  For gosh sakes, parish councils only meet seasonally, at best—that tells you how necessary they are! 

     Since the laity is coordinating everything but the sacraments, the priests should have a better prayer life.  And pray in and with the people.  Join the Rosary before Mass.  Be seen praying in church—pray your Office in front of the Blessed Sacrament, pray in the sacristy with the altar servers, and no cop out excuse that the people keep interrupting your prayer.  What would John Vianney say about that?  Over a priest’s life span, someone asking for Confession, or help, during private prayer, doesn’t happen the majority of time.  Priests must be seen praying.  Perception is important.  Make the perception reality.

      The problem I’d always have is “money.”  As pastor, I am a priest first, not the financial executive officer of a corporation.  My parish would not be a business.  I’d need enough money to meet expenses, and the rest would be given away.  I’d pray that if I were ministering to my people well, they’d support the parish.  I’d do what I could; the rest is up to the Holy Spirit. 

      Such as it is, this is my model for pastoral leadership. I had fun planning my parish.  Surfing the internet this morning I was reminded of my mother, who’s been gone for over thirty years.  Somebody has her name on Facebook.  The name is an uncommon, old Lithuanian name.  I read her page and saw that she works for the Archdiocese of Boston.  She’s into Lay Ministry.  That’s how I came across the chart posted at the beginning of this article.  You’ll find everything you ever wanted to know on the web site of Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership.  http://emergingmodels.org/files/2012/08/Parish-Leader-Report.pdf 

Rest in Peace, Mom.  

All Perceptions are Misperceptions

My friend and I were sitting next to each other, on the bus.  We were catching up on each other’s “doings.”  She mentioned that she had been to a funeral Mass, at my parish.  (My friend is a fallen away Catholic)  She proceeded to tell me how bleak, boring, and particularly tedious the Mass celebrant was.  She said the priest obviously never even made an effort to learn anything about the deceased.  ….yada…yada…yada

Instinctively, I rushed to his defense.  Of course he knew of the deceased.  Maybe not personally, but I’m sure he was told. 

I couldn’t convince my friend.  I just flamed her tirade.  Once, she was hurt by the church…not really, but that’s how she perceived it.  You see, she was in a situation where she turned to the church for help.  And what she was told, was not what she wanted to hear.  Ever since then, the church can’t do anything right.

So I sat beside her and listened to her berate my priest, my confessor, my spiritual father, my spiritual director, my pastor, the one whom I constantly pray for—and prays for me.

I felt like punching her in the mouth.

Instead, I prayed for her.

Early in my Lay Dominican formation, I was impressed by St. Catherine of Siena’s The Dialogue.  The Dialogue is the perfect book to read and reflect upon.  It’s applicable to our times, as well as it were to St. Catherine’s.  St. Catherine was adamant in defense of priests.  Then, as today, priests didn’t always behave as they should.  Scandals have been around since Abel and Cain.  

...it is my will that the sins of the clergy should not lessen your reverence for them,...Because the reverence you pay to them is not actually paid to them but to me, in virtue of the blood I have entrusted to their ministry...

   ...And just as the reverence is done to me, so also is the irreverence...

   For this reason no one has excuse to say, 'I am doing no harm, nor am I rebelling against holy Church.  I am simply acting against the sins of evil pastors.'  Such persons are deluded, blinded as they are by their own selfishness.  They see well enough, but they pretend not to see so as to blunt the prickling of conscience. ...  For I have said and I say it again: No one is to touch my christs.  It is my right to punish them, and no one else's.

And I prayed for my parish priests, and all priests.  They are alter Christi; in their indelible "likeness" to Christ, they are a sign of the constant love God has for us.

Atta a Priest

Think of encouraging a priest as a gift of the Holy Spirit. I learned this on the Encourage Priest Site. This is a good idea. I often feel sorry for our overworked, lonely, and unappreciated priests. I'll look at a Rectory at night, and see one little lone light in a window. One priest, all alone in the rectory, looks so sad. Sometimes, I wonder how the priest feels at family celebrations of the sacraments. Is he afraid to enjoy himself, damned if he does; damned if he doesn't?

I do appreciate their service. I'm humbled by their humility, at services, out in public. I see the image of Christ in them. They need our prayers, and a pat on the back, "Atta boy, Father."

A Representative of Christ

Yesterday, I posted about Confession. However today, I find a need to clarify a statement I

wrote. I was reading Father Z, this morning, and he makes a distinction that is important enough for me to call attention to:

The priest is there not as a “spiritual counsellor” (a phrase I – unfortunately – have seen used to “advertise” confession in another parish), but as the representative of Christ.

As Aquinas would say, "Distinctions are important."

A Catholic Priest Needs Your Help NOW

A Catholic Priest Needs Your Help Right Now!

"My dear friends, be aware of the great gift that priests represent for the Church and the world. Through their ministry the Lord continues to save mankind, to make Himself present, to sanctify. Give thanks to God and above all remain close to your priests with prayer and support, especially in moments of difficulty".

May 5th, 2010 General Audience

    

We provide life-saving care for thousands of priests experiencing difficulties. Please join us as a partner in mission today.

     Opus Bono Sacerdotii is a Catholic charity that in partnership with our benefactors, assist bishops, religious superiors, and Vatican officials in finding solutions for the proper care and treatment of priests who are experiencing difficulties. In the past nine years since our founding we have been contacted by thousands of priests and many bishops, including the Holy See.

     I would like to ask you to consider helping us as a partner in missionwith a donation, so that we can provide much needed support to Catholic priests for their healing and renewal.

     A Catholic priest needs your help right now! Please consider making a donation today. For your convenience, I have posted the link below to make an on-line donation if you prefer.

     I look forward to hearing from you soon and may Our Lady of Priests be your health and your protection!

     Sincerely,

     Joe Maher
     President & Co-Founder
     joemaher@opusbono.org

Related articles

• Opus Bono Sacerdotii: Work for the Good of the Priesthood (deaconjohnspace.wordpress.com)

Contest for Priests

Zenit is announcing this contest for priests. Why don't you copy and paste this announcement and send it to all the priest you know? Maybe one of them will win.

Priestly Contest: 1st Prize Is Free Trip to Rome

NORTH HAVEN, Connecticut, FEB. 2, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Catholic.net is sponsoring a contest, awarding a free trip to Rome or the Holy Land for the winner.

Any priest can enter the contest with multiple submissions at no fee.

Contestants are asked to narrate the "most inspiring moment of their priestly ministry," and submit it through the Catholic.net Web site.

A press release from the group noted that this initiative aims to "promote the beauty of the Catholic priesthood," especially during this Year for Priests.

Thus, the winner will be given a trip to Rome for the closing of the year in June 2010. For those who already live in that city, an alternate Holy Land pilgrimage is offered.

The contest organizers noted that this competition aims to help priests in this year to reflect upon the "extraordinary presence of God's Providence" in their lives and ministry.

It is also "a gift from priests to the Church" since "the best testimonies will be compiled into a book at the end of the contest for the enrichment of Catholics everywhere."

Contest entries must be received by March 19, at which time the best story will be chosen. Runner-ups will be selected for publication in a book, or online posting at the Catholic.net Web site.

Praying Priests

Praying Priests is almost an oxymoron. Have I got your attention? Yeah, I'm a little tongue in cheek here, but upon reading Zenit, this morning, I was reading something Cardinal Christoph Schonborn said, when he was giving a retreat to priests in Ars, France.

"In Vorarlberg [Austria], in the afternoon, there was always a light in the church: It was the parish priest who was praying there. That remained engraved in my memory."

It has always been a pet peeve of mine that I never, alright not never--only twice in my life, have I ever seen a priest pray. I'm talking about outside of Mass. One was a priest who use to kneel in the church, by himself, and pray his Office. The other was a priest who obviously was praying his Rosary while he walked inside his Church.

Why wouldn't a priest want people to see him pray?

Beats me.

Thank You for All Priests

Last Friday when I went to see Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, O.P. give his talk,( 2009 Speaker Series at Christ the King Parish), there was a question and answer session afterwards. One of the comments made at that time bothered me. The comments more than bothered the pastor of St. Anthony's. He said he almost wanted to go over and fight.


What she said was callous. I'm sure she wasn't thinking. In praising the Dominicans, of whom, Father Timothy belonged, she critized all parish priests. She said she lives in San Francisco, California, and travels about 70 miles to go to church. She does this every Sunday because the Dominicans there preach so wonderfully and seem to energize the community, unlike the parish priests.

As a Lay Dominican, I thank the young lady and appreciate her praise of my brothers, the friars. However, as a Lay Dominican, I also feel that I must speak up ( a la St. Catherine of Siena)and defend the parish priest.

It is not difficult to craft homilies to a particular people, if your parish belongs to the academic community. Many people go to the priory, or monastery, etc., to go to Mass. The people who attend these Masses and travel to these locations are often all of the same mind set. A preacher can really hone in on their particular needs.

As Father Costello of St. Anthony's was telling me, it is hard to hit everyone in his congregation. His parish consists of the world. Tourists from God knows where, locals, old, young, Cape Verdeans, rich, poor...you get the idea, make up his parish. And every one of them wants excellent preaching, every week. They want the perfect prayer for every occasion. They expect the priest to be present when they need him. They want the priest to like what they like, and not like what they don't.

The hardest expectation to live up to is that people want them to be human and be a "party animal" when occasions call for that; yet, people want priests to be just like Jesus.

Instead of critizing the parish priest, people should offer to help, try to be non-judgemental, and assist the priest. If a priest moves you to prayer because he celebrates Mass so wonderfully. Thank God for the blessing of this priest. If you think the priest is boring, then pray for him. Ask St. John Vianney to intercede for blessings to fall on the priest. All priests need us to pray for them.

If you have a chance to see the last speaker in the 2009 Summer Speaker Series, I recommend that you do. Many people attended Father Timothy's and the audience was very welcoming to everyone. The cost is free. What more do you want?

The 2009 Summer Speaker Series is held by the parishes of Christ the King, St. Anthony's, and Our Lady of Victory. The above picture is Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, O.P., with Msgr. Daniel Hoye,the pastor of Christ the King, in the background.