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This link will keep 'parishioners-at-large' in touch with current creative liturgy sources and resources that respect a variety of 'traditions' within the Church.

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A 'lay' Catholic weekly publication with an accent on an intelligent analysis and commentary on curent issues, trends and concerns of interest to Catholics.

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A national Catholic lay newspaper covering events not usually covered or presented with a clerical bias in the local diocesan press or but of concern and interest to Catholics.

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A National Network of self-help support groups for people abused by clergy or religious.

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Vital information about the disclosure of sexual abuse and related issues affecting Catholics in the pew and the manner in which Bishops continue to exempt themselves from accountability

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A 'movement' of lay Catholics 'inspired' by the abuse scandal calling for greater accountability of bishops to 'Catholics in the Pew.'

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Daily Scripture

+ 4th Week in Lent

Hope, an endangered species.

Readings: Isaiah 65:17-21 Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-13 John 4:43-54

Thus says the Lord, “Now I create new heavens and a new earth. The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind.” [Isaiah 65:17]

The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “You may go, your son will live.” [John 4:49-50]

Most of us, no, all of us have made mistakes that we would rather forget. We don’t want to be reminded of our blunders—embarrassing moments to be sure. “Lord, do not remember the sins of my youth!”

This is also true of us corporately as a ‘people’ – as a church and as a nation. Yes, we have sinned as a church and we have sinned as a nation. However, failure – personal or corporate, cannot have the final say.

The latest edition of ‘Time’ magazine in collaboration with New America Foundation is focused on negotiating “the new reality” and being prepared for the next decade. It is their thesis that our future as a nation cannot be dependent on the mistakes of the past. True!

In his excellent book, The Naked Now, Richard Rohr, OFM, deals with the major shift in spiritual paradigms taking place inside and outside of the Church. He cites 20th century theologian, Bernard Lonergan, SJ in demonstrating the need for a conversion that is not based on fault-tinding but on a positive shift in the way we think about God, about ourselves and about our future. He states that we need to be healed of our subjectivity and become more open to conversion. Lonergan states that “conversion is the experience by which one becomes an authentic human being.”

Lent is a time for the healing of memories. Confession is good and necessary for the soul to heal but excessive guilt for past offenses can limit our potential for good and frustrate our effort to change what needs to be changed (healed) in our lives.

God has an intentional ‘amnesia’ when it comes to our failure. In fact, God counts our good efforts more than our failures. One of the greatest challenges of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is to forgive ourselves for past offenses. The recognition and admission of wrongdoing is essential in order to obtain forgiveness but once that has been accomplished, we need to” let go and let God.”

Good people make mistakes but good people say they are sorry and keep trying to do their very best and they keep hope alive.

I recommend The Naked Now by Richard Rohr, OFM, A Croosroad Book, The Crossword Publishing Company, New York, 2009.

Thanksgiving - 2008

Thursday November 27, 2008

An attitude of gratitude is the best cure for the blues.

Readings: Isaiah 63:7-9 Psalm 138:1-2a, 2bc-3, 4-5 First Corinthians 1:3-9 Luke 17:11-19

“The favors of the Lord I will recall, the glorious deeds of the Lord, because of all he has done for us.” [Isaiah 63:7]

Though I have watched it more times than I can count, believe it or not, I have never traveled to New York to see the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I do not feel particularly deprived because of this void in my life. I watched many a high school football game at Bayley Ellard Regional on Thanksgiving, but in truth I had ‘cold feet’ when it came to standing or sitting along the sidelines no matter what the event.

My earliest remembrance of the Thanksgiving Day parade was at in the bar and grill at the Hotel Revere in Morristown when my uncle Ray was the hotel manager. This was before home TV! Not to worry, the bar was closed but the small 10 inch black and white screen on the Dumont TV worked just fine.

It’s astounding how easily pleased we were as kids. We didn’t have a lot in those days but we had a lot to look forward to on Thanksgiving as we waited for the Turkey and fixings later in the day.

It seems to me that folks with least often have the most for which to be grateful, or at least, they seem to act that way. I’m sure I’m overstating this but it is true that when we look for blessings, they are all around us and the greatest blessings do not cost big bucks.

This will be a lean feast for many but may only be a prelude to a leaner year ahead for many more. Our Christian spirituality offers much in the way of advice and ascetical practices that can help us to cope with the hard times without focusing too much on guilt or blame. The memory of earlier times when we lived more modestly not by choice but by necessity should not be forgotten. In those days, less was more and the prayer of blessing and thanksgiving before dinner was meaningful no matter how much or how little we had.

Talk about our becoming the most prosperous nation in the world is not as helpful as talk about becoming the most grateful nation on the earth for whatever we have.

An attitude of gratitude can change the flow of the day and the flow of life.