Today I went for luch to Our Lady of Calvary Retreat House in Farmington where some women of our parish were making their annual retreat.
A retreat is such a wonderful time because it allows one to 'get away' from all the pressures of everyday life for a brief time, to listen to the voice of God, and to be rejuvenated to re-enter 'life' with a renewed sense of energy and purpose. I look forward to my own retreat every Fall, and these women clearly were benefitting from this weekend away.
Many people view retreats as something for 'holy rollers' or hours spent in deep, quiet prayer. While it IS a time for prayer and reflection, it is also a time for relaxing and socializing. When I arrived, the retreatants had gathered in small groups and were discussing a talk that had just been presented to them. The conversation centered around the practice of saying 'God bless you' after one sneezes, and what that really meant, how one asks the Lord to bless the person who has sneezed. I am told one's heart actually stops momentarily when a sneeze occurs, and so the practice began of asking the Lord to bless that person and allow his/her heart to resume beating once again.
From there the talk went to parents who bless their children as they leave for school, or one mother who had offered a blessing to her son who was off for yet another job interview, and how he actually returned later that day to say he got the job. Also mentioned was the age-old practice of saying a prayer before embarking on a longer trip, and even saying a prayer when an ambulance passes with its lights and sirens blaring. All of these practices, many that were popular in previous generations but have lost popularity in recent years, can have the effect of keeping in mind that the Lord walks with us always, and, if we allow Him, He can and will lead us and keep us safe.
Then it was on to lunch - soup, salad and make-your-own sandwiches. But the best part was the homemade chocolate chip cookies, and the chance to chat informally with parishioners who I usually only see in the 'formal' setting of liturgy. I found myself returning for my usual Saturday afternoon of confessions and Mass with a renewed sense of energy myself.
And, I was given a unique gift by Sr. Tirasina - a small clay 'figure' from Peru of eight figures carrying on their shoulders a huge cross, a depiction of what happens in Peruvian villages when they erect a new church. The villagers carry the cross to the top of the hill on which the church is to be built and 'plant' the cross there amid prayers and songs, asking the Lord and their patron saint to bless them.
May God bless you all, especially as we continue in this joyous Easter season!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Happy Easter
Happy Easter! Alleluia! He is Risen! Buona Pasqua!
As I sit here at my computer putting the last few touches on the preparations for the Easter Vigil, I look out my window, into my courtyard, and see what Easter is truly all about. It is a grey, dreary, foggy day. The rain has stopped, the birds are chirpping, and my garden is coming to life after a LONG winter!
Daffodils are in full bloom. Hyacinth are almost done. Violets and primrose are sporting their wonderful colors. Tulips - five of them - are preparing to unfurl. Lillies and pampras grass push their greens skyward. Rose bushes have sprouted leaves. Everywhere, there is new life, even amid the gloomy weather conditions of the day.
Just two days ago, on Holy Thursday, I gathered with Archbishop Mansell and 30 other priests for our annual Celebration of Priesthood Luncheon. There were 1,010 years of priesthood there!
Then I returned to celebrate the Mass of the Last Supper. One of the most moving parts, for me, is the Washing of Feet ceremony. It reminds me why I have become a priest in the first place - to serve the people of God, and to continue the work Jesus began over 2,000 years ago. Two of the people actually thanked me after I washed their feet; that kind of startled me, because I do not do what I do to be thanked, but because this is what God has called me to do. And yet, it WAS nice to be thanked.
Yesterday, I presided at the Good Friday services, reading the Passion, unveiling the Cross, and leading in the veneration of the Cross. What an awesome God we have - one who was willing to die for me, and for every person, of all time! How can I ever repay Him? The best I can do is try to live that same love every day.
And now, the culmination of all of this - the Easter Vigil! It is my privilege to baptize three people into our church this evening, and to welcome two others, already baptized in different faiths, into our church. I also get to confer the sacrament of confirmation, something usually reserved for the bishop. But because it is done in the context of the Easter Vigil, I have permission to confirm this evening - a special time for me as well as for the five becoming Catholic! It will be a long ceremony, but one that is so moving and filled with such dramatic imagery.
The church will be in total darkness as we begin, and the light of the new Easter candle will illumine the entire church! It doesn't get any better than that - to SEE how the light of Christ enlightens us all!
By tomorrow afternoon, I will be totally drained, but it will be a good tired, for knowing it is Easter makes all the difference in the world!
Happy Easter!
As I sit here at my computer putting the last few touches on the preparations for the Easter Vigil, I look out my window, into my courtyard, and see what Easter is truly all about. It is a grey, dreary, foggy day. The rain has stopped, the birds are chirpping, and my garden is coming to life after a LONG winter!
Daffodils are in full bloom. Hyacinth are almost done. Violets and primrose are sporting their wonderful colors. Tulips - five of them - are preparing to unfurl. Lillies and pampras grass push their greens skyward. Rose bushes have sprouted leaves. Everywhere, there is new life, even amid the gloomy weather conditions of the day.
Just two days ago, on Holy Thursday, I gathered with Archbishop Mansell and 30 other priests for our annual Celebration of Priesthood Luncheon. There were 1,010 years of priesthood there!
Then I returned to celebrate the Mass of the Last Supper. One of the most moving parts, for me, is the Washing of Feet ceremony. It reminds me why I have become a priest in the first place - to serve the people of God, and to continue the work Jesus began over 2,000 years ago. Two of the people actually thanked me after I washed their feet; that kind of startled me, because I do not do what I do to be thanked, but because this is what God has called me to do. And yet, it WAS nice to be thanked.
Yesterday, I presided at the Good Friday services, reading the Passion, unveiling the Cross, and leading in the veneration of the Cross. What an awesome God we have - one who was willing to die for me, and for every person, of all time! How can I ever repay Him? The best I can do is try to live that same love every day.
And now, the culmination of all of this - the Easter Vigil! It is my privilege to baptize three people into our church this evening, and to welcome two others, already baptized in different faiths, into our church. I also get to confer the sacrament of confirmation, something usually reserved for the bishop. But because it is done in the context of the Easter Vigil, I have permission to confirm this evening - a special time for me as well as for the five becoming Catholic! It will be a long ceremony, but one that is so moving and filled with such dramatic imagery.
The church will be in total darkness as we begin, and the light of the new Easter candle will illumine the entire church! It doesn't get any better than that - to SEE how the light of Christ enlightens us all!
By tomorrow afternoon, I will be totally drained, but it will be a good tired, for knowing it is Easter makes all the difference in the world!
Happy Easter!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Palm Sunday
So we begin Holy Week, the most sacred time for us Catholic Christians.
We started with the 'long' Mass today - tiring, but a 'good tired', from my vantage point. It takes alot emotionally to preside over these liturgies.
But it is also an honor and a privilege, and I try my best to make each liturgy, even if it is a 'repeat' for me, as special as the one before, knowing that it is the first and only liturgy for those in attendance.
We began with the blessing of palm branches and the 'special' Gospel reading proclaiming Jesus' triumpant entry into Jersualem. The crowds intended to make him their king! But Jesus knew differently how it would all turn out.
And sure enough, in a few short minutes, we joined together in playing the various parts of the Passion Narrative, depicting Jesus' suffering and death. Life is so unpredictable, isn't it. We never know what lies in store for us from one minute to the next, no matter how well we think we have it planned out.
So we are challenged to simply put it all in the hands of the Lord, and to - as Mother Teresa was so fond of saying - simply live faithfully each and every day: faithful to where the Lord is asking us to go. Then the rest will take care of itself.
This afternoon I watched the Passion Play as presented by members of our community. It is a wonderful tradition in this parish to present the Passion Play each Holy Week. It is a true labor of love; men, women and children from near and far, who have been rehearsing since January for this special time of the year. And although some of the scenes have been modified this year, it is still as poignant and powerful as ever. It is a treat to be able to witness this at the beginning of this Holy Week. I will return on Good Friday to see it once again. In the meantime, the next few days will be filled with the behind-the-scenes preparations for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday!
We started with the 'long' Mass today - tiring, but a 'good tired', from my vantage point. It takes alot emotionally to preside over these liturgies.
But it is also an honor and a privilege, and I try my best to make each liturgy, even if it is a 'repeat' for me, as special as the one before, knowing that it is the first and only liturgy for those in attendance.
We began with the blessing of palm branches and the 'special' Gospel reading proclaiming Jesus' triumpant entry into Jersualem. The crowds intended to make him their king! But Jesus knew differently how it would all turn out.
And sure enough, in a few short minutes, we joined together in playing the various parts of the Passion Narrative, depicting Jesus' suffering and death. Life is so unpredictable, isn't it. We never know what lies in store for us from one minute to the next, no matter how well we think we have it planned out.
So we are challenged to simply put it all in the hands of the Lord, and to - as Mother Teresa was so fond of saying - simply live faithfully each and every day: faithful to where the Lord is asking us to go. Then the rest will take care of itself.
This afternoon I watched the Passion Play as presented by members of our community. It is a wonderful tradition in this parish to present the Passion Play each Holy Week. It is a true labor of love; men, women and children from near and far, who have been rehearsing since January for this special time of the year. And although some of the scenes have been modified this year, it is still as poignant and powerful as ever. It is a treat to be able to witness this at the beginning of this Holy Week. I will return on Good Friday to see it once again. In the meantime, the next few days will be filled with the behind-the-scenes preparations for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Final Four
While the basketball results were not what I had hoped, the trip to Indianapolis was a good one. The guided tour of the city provided some historical background. The city is somewhat in disrepair infrastructure-wise because they are beautifying for the next Super Bowl. Apparently, the Women's Final Four is not on par with the NFL....which, surprisingly is not in the same universe as the Indy 500, which draws over 425,000 people!!!
Where DOES everyone park? That's alot of people for a one-day event, although there IS a massive party associated with the actual race which starts well before and goes on long after the actual event.
We were treated to a guided tour of the Speedway, and even got to go onto the track, view the finish line from the spotter's booth in the pagoda, and sit in the broadcast booth. Pretty fascinating.
And while the women's team lost in the semi-finals, those on the trip gathered at the hotel to watch the men's team beat Butler, whose campus we toured that day decked out in our finest UConn gear!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Indianapolis
The Final Four is an awesome experience witnessed in person. I have been fortunate to have gone to the Final Four that the UConn Women's Basketball team has participated in in Philadelphia, St. Louis, Atlanta and Tampa. While Philadelphia and Atlanta were much more joyous because UConn emerged as National Champions, it was still a great environment, and a nice experience to see different cities in our nation.
Unfortunately, the Final Four often coincides with Holy Week or Easter.
Last year, for instance, where a National Championship was a foregone conclusion, the Final Four was held in San Antonio, an absolutely beautiful city I am told, beginning on Easter Sunday Night. I figured people might be a tad upset if they showed up for Easter Sunday Mass and found a 'Closed - Gone to Basketball Game' sign on the front door. Next year the Final Four falls on Palm Sunday and Holy Week. So that is out as well.
But this year, because Easter is as late as it can be, I prayed really hard for UConn to make it to the Final Four. And my prayers were answered.
And so I am taking the opportunity to head to Indianapolis - where the 'off' evenings will be spent with other UConn fans watching the men's team in Houston on tv - and I get to witness my fifth Final Four.
Having never been to Indianapolis, there is a tour arranged, complete with a trip to the Brickyard. And although the forecast doesn't promise any sun until the day we head home, temperatures should be in the 60's a couple of the days. And most importantly, no signs of snow!
Go Huskies!
Unfortunately, the Final Four often coincides with Holy Week or Easter.
Last year, for instance, where a National Championship was a foregone conclusion, the Final Four was held in San Antonio, an absolutely beautiful city I am told, beginning on Easter Sunday Night. I figured people might be a tad upset if they showed up for Easter Sunday Mass and found a 'Closed - Gone to Basketball Game' sign on the front door. Next year the Final Four falls on Palm Sunday and Holy Week. So that is out as well.
But this year, because Easter is as late as it can be, I prayed really hard for UConn to make it to the Final Four. And my prayers were answered.
And so I am taking the opportunity to head to Indianapolis - where the 'off' evenings will be spent with other UConn fans watching the men's team in Houston on tv - and I get to witness my fifth Final Four.
Having never been to Indianapolis, there is a tour arranged, complete with a trip to the Brickyard. And although the forecast doesn't promise any sun until the day we head home, temperatures should be in the 60's a couple of the days. And most importantly, no signs of snow!
Go Huskies!
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