A Baptism at a Seminary?

Absolutely!  Our chapel is not part of a parish, so it is not normally done.  But sometimes exceptions are made.  This was a worth while exception.

Last year, a young, single lady found out that she was pregnant.  Not wanting an abortion, she went to the Pro Life Office in the diocese.  One of our seminarians was working there on assignment.  He heard her story, and we took up a collection to help her with some financial needs.  She joined us for Mass last year and on the 4th Sunday of Advent, Kayla Marie was born in to this world. 

This morning Kayla Marie joined the ranks of the baptized in the Catholic Church.  Her mom (and her dad) were in attendance along with many friends and members of the Pro Life Office.

For Greater Glory

We have had the opportunity to preview the movie "For Greater Glory" twice in the last week.  It is "A chronicle of the Cristeros War (1926-1929), which was touched off by a rebellion against the Mexican government's attempt to secularize the country."

This will be opening to 700 theaters on June 1st, with a rating of R for the violence portrayed.

This movie makes you think, less than 100 years ago a country effectively banned Catholicism, shot priests, and exiled Bishops.  Sadly, many people will never see this movie because of the limited release, appeal and rating. Do look for it and look for parallels in the culture here in the USA today.

Wedding Homily #1

    On behalf of Kevin and Susan, welcome and thank you for coming to share in their joy during this special moment in their lives.  It is traditional in the church for the priest to offer a few words of reflection.  Since I came to priesthood later in life, I am fortunate to have personal experience of thirty years of marriage to draw upon in these comments. 
    If you are anything like me, there are movies that can suck us in whenever they are on TV.  One of those movies for me is “The Music Man”, especially the older, classic one.  Now Professor Harold Hill and Marian the Librarian never get married in that movie, but I like to think they were on their way to getting that done next.  Now I can see a bit of Professor Hill and the librarian here in Kevin and Susan.  Kevin's is not a con man like the good Professor was but he had a “bit of the devil” in him in his younger years.  He certainly put Susan firmly in his sights several years ago and did not give up in trying to get her to be his wife.  Susan is not a librarian, but she does certainly seem to know what she wants in life and has a sensible way about going to get it. 
    One of the most forgettable songs in the movie is “My White Night”.  I cannot even hum a bit of it for you.  However, it has some amazingly useful words.  At one point the lyrics say, “I would like him to be more interested in me than he is in himself; and more interested in us than in me.”  If every bride and groom could live by those words, what wonderful home lives they would have.  Let me rephrase those words for you.  If Kevin loves Susan more than he loves himself and loves the two of them together more than he loves Susan; while Susan loves Kevin more than herself and loves the two of them together more than she loves Kevin we will be celebrating their 25th and 50th anniversaries sometime down the road.  The very examples of love that you both grew up with in your own families should be useful to you.  Family life is important to you both and this new expanded family you will share will be full of love and joy.
    Susan and Kevin have chosen to get married here in the Church in the presence of God adding yet another dimension to their wedding day and their marriage.  God is part of every marriage ceremony here in the Church as He has been a part of your lives up to this point.  As we heard in the 2nd reading today, “hold onto what is good, love one another with mutual affection,... do not grow slack in zeal”.  These are powerful words and a strong challenge.  I can speak from personal experience that your words to each other, at times, will be taken the wrong way and will cause pain.   Be quick to apologize,  be quick to reach out to the other, be even quicker to acknowledge that you may have been wrong.  Remember that Christ lives in each of you; strive to see God in each other every day.  Pray privately every day and pray together every day.  I know that sounds strange, but let me add a bit more.  Spouses  need private time and couple time.  In that private time, I usually spent some time in prayer.  If I did not, my wife noticed and called me on it.  She could tell, just in how I was relating to her, if I was praying or not.  So, do pray in private and together.   I also invite you to pray with the community wherever you decide to live by staying connected to God through His local Church. 
    This day will soon, perhaps too soon, come to an end.  There will be glitches (there always are), it will not be absolutely perfect.  But your memories of it will be perfect.  To paraphrase my wife, “It wasn't a perfect day, but there were perfect moments”.  That is a good model for your married life.  Not every day will be perfect, but you can forget the bad and remember the good.  Look for those perfect moments and cherish them.  God willing, there will be thousands upon thousands of days and perfect moments for you to spend with each other as a married couple and with the children you plan on bringing into the world. 
   

Summer Assignment - preview

...after famine, a feast of postings...

I met with my summer assignment supervisor today and I can now reveal that I will be at St. Agatha's in Milton for an eight (8) week assignment beginning on June 2nd.   I will be living in the rectory there and learning what life is like in the rectory and the parish. 

Triduum - Part 2

Let's review... as a first year seminarian, I am still very much a member of the laity.  As an instituted Acolyte, I am the least extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and am allowed to serve at the altar.

Going into the Triduum, I knew that I would be playing the organ on Holy Thursday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.  That's been my job for the last 30 or so years, and there was no reason to change that now.  The music director was amenable, so we went with that plan.  I let the pastor and liturgy committee know that I would be available on Good Friday (the organ is silenced)  for any role they needed.  They did not need, so I sung with the choir on Good Friday. 

I suspect that the same type of arrangement will take place next year as well.  It is likely that will be my last time at my home parish for the Triduum.  The following year, my third year, I will probably be assigned to another parish for the year, and their needs would come first.  It is all rather nebulous now, but it will become clearer in the future.

I must confess that I learned a lesson in humility during the Triduum.  I expected to be on the altar on Good Friday.  Most of my classmates served every Mass of the Triduum...I played the organ and sang in the choir.  God's plans are not our plans.  I need to meditate on that much more often.  It is not about me, it is about God.

Triduum - Part 1

I have been remiss in posting my Triduum activities.

I went back to my home parish of St Catherine's.  The priests there kindly put me up in the rectory for three nights while I was there.   The absolute highlight of the weekend for me was not actually Triduum related.

On Saturday afternoon the pastor invited me to make two communion calls with him.  I gladly accepted.  He prepared the oil for anointing and gave me the pyx with consecrated hosts and a small prayer book that he uses. We made the 2 visits and I watched as he blessed and talked with 2 elderly women.  I offered them both Communion. 

As we were heading back to the rectory, we got an emergency call from the hospital.  There was a stroke victim and the prognosis was not good.  We drove to the hospital and the pastor gave an anointing and we prayed with the family.

It was indeed a privilege to watch an experienced pastor shepherd the Lord's flock.  I was blessed to be able to watch and participate.

Funeral #2

On behalf of the Pastor, the staff and all of us here at St. Catherine's, please accept our deepest condolences on the loss of your husband, your father, your friend. Pamela, while I know what it is like to lose a spouse after 30 years of marriage, I cannot imagine your shock at losing Henry on a vacation celebrating those 30 years. 

 

Your time of planned joy, a trip to celebrate your life together, had a much different outcome than you had planned. In the first reading today, we hear that there is a “time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.” This is probably not the time for laughing and dancing, but it is certainly the proper time for weeping and mourning. We must, however, temper our sorrow with the thought that there is more to life than this existence on this earth. God knows what it is like to watch a loved one die. He watched His own son suffer and die on the cross for us. Our pain and suffering is no stranger to our God. 

 

The paschal candle, burning brightly with the light of Christ, reminds us that Christ is the resurrection and the life. Those of us, who in faith, believe in Him, will never die. If we keep that promise in our hearts, we will more easily find “a time to build” and a “”time to heal”.

When Henry first arrived at the entrance of the Church today, there was an American flag on the casket. This flag represents his service to his country in Kuwait and we honor him for that service. He treasured his friendships with his VFW brothers. Those brothers are well represented here today as well. In long standing practice, we remove the flag here in the Church and replace it with a white shroud. That white cloth reminds us of the spotless garment that Henry wore at his baptism. Henry was baptized into the family of God's children. As a member of God's family he participates in the eternal life of Christ. Henry may be dead in this world, but he lives on in Christ. As Christ said in the gospel, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” and “In my Father's house, there are many dwelling places”. We trust that Henry is on his way, even now, to a place that God has chosen for him. That brings us a measure of comfort and peace, knowing that God is caring for Henry now.

At the wake, I heard stories about Henry, both good and less than perfect. He and Pamela may not have had an “Ozzie and Harriet” marriage, but who can claim that today? Henry was human, he had faults and don't we all. What does our God think about our human failings? He loves us just as we are, no matter how often we fail. There were some damaged relationships between Henry and some members of his family. That does not make those involved bad people, just human beings. I understand how a falling out can occur. For the better part of a year, my mother and I barely spoke. I know how that can affect a relationship. It is never to late for any of us to have a conversation with Henry. He will hear you and might respond in ways you never expected. 

 

In the second reading today, we heard “Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over Him”. In a similar manner, death has no more power over Henry. Death has no power over those who believe in Christ.

Let us remember Henry as God saw him, a beloved son trying to do his best for his family in this world.

Easter Break

Easter break starts on Wednesday.  After joining my home parish for the Triduum, I'll be in Maine with the family for the week after Easter.  I cannot believe that my first year at the seminary is almost over.