• Bulletin Board, Announcements, Calendar
• Welcome and Website Protocol
• Editorial - Op Ed
• Article Archive

Print this page

Article Categories

• Book Reviews
• Open Letter
• Editorials
• Notes, Quotes & Comments
• Pastor's Study
• Project Millstones
• Sidebar Comments
• Weekly Message

Links

AMERICA Magazine
A balanced Catholic weekly magazine published by the jesuits of the United States for an intelligent Catholic readership. Go online to subscribe.

Liturgy
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.

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

Survivos' Network for those Abused by Priests or Religious
A National Network of self-help support groups for people abused by clergy or religious.

Bishop Accountability
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

National Catholic Reporter
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.

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

Search

Daily Scripture

+ 7th Week of Easter

“Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

Readings: Acts 20:17-27 Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21 John 17:1-11

I am in the world no longer, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. [John 17:11]

Shakespeare ‘penned’ the phrase quoted above. I didn’t understand it as a student of Shakespeare in high school but I began to understand it when I waved goodbye to my family as I sailed off to Italy on September 21, 1963 for a three-year stretch in Rome. In fact, it has multiple meanings and applications that I appreciate now more than ever before.

There is another phrase that perhaps gives credence to my thoughts so poorly expressed and it’s this: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Ah, that’s it. At times we need to separate from ‘the source’ in order to appreciate how important it is to stay connected.

The farewell speech of St. Paul in Acts and the farewell ‘prayer’ of Jesus in John’s gospel were more likely composed by the authors of these texts along the lines of the farewell speeches of great leaders of their times in order to attract the attention of Jesus’ followers.

The departure of Jesus and later that of Paul created ‘fallow’ time in the hearts of the neophyte believers that was absolutely necessary if they were to grasp the significance of Jesus’ message and the teachings of St. Paul.

We are once again in ‘fallow’ time as we prepare for Pentecost. It’s a time of discernment during which we are invited to ponder the words and deeds of Jesus so that in his absence, we may come to know his presence in the Spirit that remains within us and around us.

As we ponder, it is important to reflect on the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and reverence of the Lord. And the fruits of the Holy Spirit are qualities that are characteristic of a community living in Christ: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty self-control and chastity.

There is much to ponder as we wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

Daily Scripture

Monday December 6, 2004

+ 2nd Week in Advent

Readings: Isaiah 40:1-11 Matt 18:12-14

There’s a middle ground between condoning and cajoling.

“It is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones be lost.”

When my grandfather got frustrated dealing with the demands of others or what he perceived to be their ‘incompetence’ he was say, “Dealing with the public can be exasperating.” Indeed, it can be. I don’t know how department store personnel keep their sanity in the face of holiday shoppers. I suppose it is also fair to state that shoppers also need a lot of patience in dealing with certain store personnel who are less than courteous with shoppers.

But life is more than a trip to the store or to the mall. It’s about finding a safe path ‘home,’ which of course is a euphemism for our destiny. Life is also about paving a safe path for other people in the pursuit of our common destiny.

When we are frustrated, we tend to cajole. When we are preoccupied the desire for praise, we tend to condone. Disciples of Christ avoid both and find a middle path, a safe path for themselves and for others.

Prior to a difficult encounter, Bishop Casey used to say, “Always avoid the acute angle!” In other words, don’t look for a fight or go to war because you’ll loose. Look for common ground and build on the confidence of both the right and the left. Challenges work better than hassles and they bring the best out of everyone.

Jesus challenged his disciples but never hassled them. He left no stone unturned to reach out to those who strayed the farthest from the path of righteousness. You and I have strayed too but the patient challenge of those who never gave us on us brought us home.

Advent is homecoming time.