In the business of blessing

Some who know me might say that I'm in the business of blessing.  Priests and deacons are usually the ones who are called upon (at least in our tradition) to pronounce words of blessing or to pray for divine protection, but we're not the first (nor will we be the last) to be confided with this privilege.

Long before current-day blessings were ever conferred, the task of speaking holy words and conveying benedictions was conferred upon shamans and others like them.  In fact, thousands of years before modern-day times, people like the Celts were speakng holy words.  Such words are still conveyed today, perhaps no better known than through the dulcid tones of chants, hopes and blessings set to the music of the Emerald Isles.

A new setting has just recently been spread, complete with its wishes for peace and goodwill, its wafting tones and lulling melody.  Have a listen, give thanks, and make a difference in the world that you see around you.

Where everyone has a place

Just when you need a push in the right direction, one always comes along.  Today, I am reminded more than ever that if I speak alone, there is only one voice, but if I speak in unison with others, the word that is spoken stands a much better chance of being heard.

This bit of wisdom has a place at our meeting tables, at our dining tables and at the tables that still are empty for want of people to encircle them.

Evidence the following video which made its way to me in just the past couple of hours.  The story is about a young boy named Ike Ditzenberger who has lived with Down's Syndrome.  Despite his abiding dream to play football, many would have doubted his ability, but he didn't give up.  In fact his brothers, and their friends made it possible for him to live a dream that he thought would never come true, a dream that will no doubt be the subject of conversation for the rest of his life:


What dreams still lie dormant within us, either because we believe them out of our reach, or because someone else has led us to believe that they are?  What would it take to prove them wrong?

A new look at the Penitential Act

In the second of the series of homilies aimed at helping people in our pews to understand and appreciate the revised translation of the Roman Missal, we focus our attention on the importance of the Penitential Act, the words we utter at the beginning of the liturgy.  More, we attempt to provide an opportunity for a deeper appreciation of the gift of forgiveness offered freely by our God.

Listen in or read the text of this week's reflection entitled

Forgiveness freely offered
The Church celebrates the Sacrament of Baptism when people of faith bring their children to a believing community and ask for them to be accepted as members of Christ's body.  Traditionally, parents are the ones who bring their children to a Christian community with this request, although at times grandparents or legal guardians are the ones who take this responsibility.  The Church teaches that the waters of baptism have the power to wash away sin.  A child who is baptised is washed clean of Original Sin and each time we enter a church, we sign ourselves with a cross, and we remember the day of our baptism, when we first heard God tell us that we are forgiven and free.

Each time we gather in prayer, we hear God's voice anew, speaking the same message, telling us that we have been transformed by the power of His love.  In his time, the apostle Paul wondered about the true meaning of this gift.  He had no doubt experienced the encouragement, consolation, compassion and sympathy that are found when we experience the gift of love from God.  In fact it was God's love that allowed him to discover the truth that no matter how much he had previously fought against the Church, he himself was to become one of the Church's most ardent defenders. Have you ever noticed that those who have experienced great love and forgiveness are the ones who are most keenly aware of the ways they themselves need to be instruments of love and forgiveness for others?  Each one of us has been called in love to follow in the footsteps of Christ. Whether we recognize it or not, each one of us is here because we have been forgiven and invited to be instruments of encouragement and compassion for others in our world.

When we gather for the celebration of any of the Sacraments, we begin by admitting that we ourselves are only human.  We most often are very aware of our own frailty and weakness but in truth it is this awareness of our imperfection that allows us to appreciate even more the gift of God's mercy.  Even in the time of the prophets, Ezekiel recognized that God calls all people to conversion. How else could the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful?  The liturgy of the Church invites us to celebrate the forgiveness that brings us back to wholeness.  At the beginning of the Eucharist, even before we do anything else, we pause to recognize our weakness and to express our belief in God's forgiveness and mercy.

The Penitential Act can take one of a number of forms.  Sometimes when the Christian community gathers, we recite or sing the Greek words Kyrie eleison or the English equivalent Lord, have mercy. At other times we speak the words of the Confiteor: I confess to Almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.  There is also a third option, more rarely used, but just as beautiful.  After the period of silence during which we recognize our sin and our need for God’s forgiveness, the priest would say Have mercy on us Lord, and the congregation would respond with one voice for we have sinned against you.  The priest would then continue Show us Lord, your mercy, and the congregation would respond and grant us your salvation.

Regardless of which form of this Act we may use, we are all in some way like each of the two sons spoken of in the Gospel today.  There is a part of us that readily answers yes whenever God asks us to work in the vineyard, and there is a part of each of us that tries to deny God's invitation to friendship, to intimacy and to a relationship of unimaginable love, preferring to fill our days with all manner of other activity and excuses.  In the end however, the Church gathers in prayer because we recognize that we are also the ones who first respond to the Father's invitation by denying his request, and then at some point change our minds and go into the fields.  Thankfully, our God is always ready and willing to forgive.

Come then dear friends along the road of discipleship.  Whether in song or in speech, let us ask for the gift of God's mercy, but let us do so trusting that the gift of forgiveness is always freely offered and freely given, for it is the gift of love, offered by God who is love.

Pray, hope and don't worry

A few years ago, my parents visited some parts of Southern Italy.  One of the stops along the way was the church of San Giovanni Rotondo, located in the province of Foggia, Puglia.  There they were among the throngs who visited and prayed at the graveside of Saint Pio.

Born Francesco Forgione, Padre Pio, as he was (and still is known among the thousands who hold him in special reverence), was a Capuchin Franciscan priest who became world famous for his piety.  Gifted with stigmata, he was also revered for his holiness.

Padre Pio's earthly existence ended on September 23, 1968 at the age of 89 years.  Having returned to the Father's house, His Holiness, John Paul II declared him a Saint on June 16, 2002.  More than three hundred thousand people were estimated to be in attendance for the Mass of Canonization held at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Forty-three years after his death, and nine years after his canonization, we pray today, in union with all Catholics around the world, asking for his intercession on the occasion of his liturgical Memorial.

Welcoming new friends

What happens when 340 little ones gather for the very first prayer service of the academic year?  Answer, a little bit of nervousness, some questioning about protocol, and lots of kids just being kids.

This was a moment for staff and students at Saint Francis to give thanks for the success of construction that has taken place over the summer months (the work isn't yet quite finished, but it won't be long), and to give thanks for the opportunity to learn in a faith environment.

The words of the blessing for the newly-renovated building were pronounced, and then holy water was sprinkled around the gymnasium, to the joy and surprise of some and all of the students.  Various students were called upon to pronounce various parts of this blessing, and to welcome the newcomers who have arrived from Saint Michael's school (which closed its doors at the end of June).  Symbols and prayer candles were presented by children from each grade level, including one prayer candle from each grade level as well.

For most of the returning students, the rythm of prayer as part of the day is not new, however there are five classrooms of JK-SK students.  For these (and there are more than 140 Kindergarten students involved here), this was their very first exposure to the rest of the students in the school, and to the practice of prayer in common.  No doubt there will be more such opportunities, but its fun to watch as little ones become acquainted with the structure of learning.

First in a series

As part of my activities last week, I visited with staff at both Saint David's elementary school and St. Francis.  Schedules for visits with students were worked out then, and this week they have begun.

This morning, I appeared at St. David's shortly before the children were ushered into their classes.  The plan (for now) is that I will visit with one class each Wednesday morning.  Saint David's is located in an area of the city which is among the lowest in per-capita income, so for a number of years, the local parish (Holy Trinity) offered a breakfast program for the children, however the breakfast program was moved last year into the school.

Early morning visits with students therefore allow me to help with the daily routine of providing breakfast for the students in one class each time I visit.  I'll then have a few moments to chat with them before they continue with structured learning.

Today, I began these visits, with the Grade 1 class.  Thanks to Ms. Cimino and the rest of the staff, it was a most enjoyable occasion for all of us.  Some of these children are still getting used to the new routine: it's only been about two weeks since they started school, but already they're becoming more and more familiar with one another and with the structure of the classroom.

Next week, on to another class, and another adventure.

Visiting with the little ones

At the end of this last scholastic year, Saint Michael school, the only elementary school which still was associated with the Church of Christ the King, closed its doors as part of the re-organization of resources presently being undertaken by the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. Students who had been enrolled at St. Michael either went to St. Francis, a neighbouring elementary school, or to St. Benedict's, which has just begun offering Grade 7 and 8 classes in addition to High School level classes. 

In addition, since the beginning of 2011, I have also been asked to assume the responsibility of pastor for the territory of Holy Trinity as well as Christ the King, which means in effect that we now include St. David school in our territory.

The first day of classes for the new school year was Tuesday, September 6, and not long afterward (last week to be exact) I had a chance to visit with staff and students at both St. David and St. Francis.  In the coming weeks, I hope to be able to visit with them on a regular basis.  While I was at St. Francis last week, it just so happened that two of the School Board's technical support people were also present, and one of them had a camera.  The result: a picture was taken and a story was born.

As it turns out, St. Francis now has not one but five Junior Kindergarten classes, three of which are French Immersion.  Each of these classrooms is also equipped with an area designated for story telling, complete with 'surround sound' for the benefit of all the children.  I look forward to future visits with the children.  Who knows what adventures will unfold.

The good news is spreading

News of the homilies written and published within these pages is spreading, and that's a very good thing.

I began sharing advance copies of the texts of homilies I've prepared with some new-found friends in Edmonton while we were conducting our 'friendly competition' for the sake of the famine relief efforts in East Africa and as of this morning, there is a link to some of my homilies (which are published in the pages of this blog every week) on the webpage of Celebrate! the liturgical publication that in its print form is disceminated in parishes throughout Canada, and beyond.

Over the next couple of weeks, the homilies in this parish (and probably in many other places throughout this country and even beyond our borders) will focus on helping people in the pews to implement the revised translation of the Roman Missal, and the directives contained in the new General Instruction of the Roman Missal.  The folks at Celebrate! have generously agreed to share copies of my homilies with others via their website, so that together we can help each other to make this translation as seemless as possible.

I for one am very excited about this new 'partnership': yet another way of spreading the good news beyond the walls of this church, to places throughout this country, and beyond.  More information about the implementation of the revised Roman Missal and the GIRM are also available on the parish website of the Church of Christ the King.

Introducing the new translation

Now that the period of government matching for contributions to the East Africa Famine Relief effort have come to a close, we reflect with thanks for the generous hearts within this congregation who contributed $24,856.31 toward helping those in need.

Now, we turn our attention to the implementation of the revised Roman Missal, which will be upon us before we know it.  This week`s homily is the first in a series of explanations which will be provided to the people in this place about the reasoning behind the changes.  It is my hope that through these homilies and a series of other catechetical tools, we will be able to help our people understand the changes, and more that this will be an occasion of deep grace for all those who may come to appreciate the Eucharist as an invitation to grow in our love for God, and our willingness to be of service to our neighbour.

Listen in, or read on for the first installment, entitled

The usual daily wage
People come through the doors of this church at all times of the day, all week long, just to utter a silent prayer or two. Each of these people is in his or her own way seeking the Lord where He may be found, for that is the essence of prayer. The words we use for our private prayers can be as varied as the people who utter them, but the words we use for common prayer, such as the recitation of the Mass are usually a bit more fixed, so that no matter where we go (whether it's this church or another building) we will know what to expect.

On November 27 of this year, the first Sunday of Advent, we will begin to use a new translation of the Mass we celebrate each day. Like the workers in the vineyard, mentioned in today's gospel who grumbled and muttered because they thought they were being cheated, some, if not many of you may be wondering why the words we have used for almost 40 years have to change? The answer to this question dates back a few decades, to the early 1970s. Officially, the language of the Mass we celebrate is Latin, but the Second Vatican Council (which took place in the mid-1960s) gave permission for other languages to be used as well. The work of translating began almost immediately, and English was one of the first to be completed. The words we speak during the Mass today were written down and published in 1974, but this translation was hastily done, and therefore was always meant to be only a temporary measure, until the refined translation was completed.

The work of refining the English translation of the Mass began in earnest in 1989. In the meanwhile, there was also a revised version of the Latin text published in 2001 in order to incorporate the newly-named saints proclaimed by Blessed John Paul II. The English translation was finally approved last year, and is now being implemented throughout the world, in all English-speaking countries.

Because this is a new translation of the entire Mass, almost every prayer and response has been changed in some way. On the walls of the church, you will find posters that outline the changes that will affect the responses that you, the people will say at various points during the Mass. Some of these changes are minor. For example, when the priest says, The Lord be with you, we are used to answering, And also with you, but this response will change to and with your spirit. There are also changes that will be made to the texts we pray and sing together, such as the Glory to God, the Holy, Holy, Holy, the Memorial Acclamation, and the dialogues that take place between the priest and people at the beginning of the proclamation of the Gospel, the beginning of the preface to the Eucharistic prayer and at the time of the final blessing.

Over the next couple of months, we will try to outline some of the changes, as well as the reasoning behind them. Know that all Catholic churches throughout the English-speaking world are also experiencing these changes at the present time. Change is never easy. We may indeed find ourselves reacting like the workers in the vineyard, quarreling with the land owner but we hope that you will understand that this particular adaptation has been a long time in coming, and is finally here. Please feel free to examine the charts on the walls of the church at your leisure. In the coming weeks, we will also provide cards in each of the pews which will allow us to become familiar with the changes, and we will also introduce a new Mass setting written by a priest from the Archdiocese of Winnipeg, including music for the Penitential Act, the Glory to God, the Holy, Holy, the Memorial Acclamation, the Great Amen and the Lamb of God.

Throughout this process, it is my hope that we will all come to a deeper understanding that the Eucharist is a gift from Christ, in order that with Him, we may give praise to God our Father and continue His work of salvation in the world.

Two birthdays

It's not often that we have the privilege of celebrating a centinarian's birthday.  I heard this sentiment echoed over and over yesterday afternoon while attending a birthday party for one of our oldest parishioners.  He's a little guy, who walks with a cane and a stooped back, but who can still vault over fences (small ones) and makes sure to get out in the fresh air every day, even just to venture out to the neighbourhood.

His family organized a celebration for him, to mark his 100th birthday (which actually was dated for September 15, but which was observed publicly on September 17).  Dignitaries from far and near joined the (not so little) celebration for this well-deserving 'young' man.

For his part, he welcomed all those who were present, and thanked them for their well-wishes.  He was just happy to be able to spend some time with friends and family (many of whom don't get the opportunity to see each other too often).

Buon compleano Thomaso, e cent'anni.

***
While one was celebrating a birthday here on earth, another of our long-time parishioners was celebrating his birthday in heaven.  As it happens, they both share the same birth date, so it was perhaps not by coincidence that these 'births' were to be observed together too.  For the past week or so, he had been lying in hospitals, increasingly debilitated after a fall last weekend.  His family and close friends by his side, he peacefully slipped from earthly existence yesterday afternoon.

Five years Tomaso's junior, these two often shared joys and sorrows together.  On more than one occasion, I had invited them to break bread with me, and to share some of the stories that make up their memories of this place we call home.  These were precious moments, and the past week has been no exception.  An occasion for Al's family and close friends to spend some time with him, it has also been an occasion of great blessing.

Requiescant in pace!

Welcome

There were two text messages received early on Friday morning to inform us that Priscilla had gone into labour through the night.  The baby was going to be a bit early, but hopefully everything would go well.

No more news was received until the latter part of the morning.  Just before the beginning of the regular noon Mass, I sent a text telling them that I would offer Mass for a safe delivery, and was assured that the message would be passed along.

When the liturgy was complete, and during the lunch break, the response arrived, Meet Natalia Anne, born Friday, September 16, 2011 at 12:40pm.  Weighing in at 8lbs 1oz and measuring 22 inches, she's bound to be off and running soon.

Welcome little one, and congratulations to mommy and daddy!

Young talent

Who said that children couldn't inspire and captivate?  Even as babies, they have a way of capturing the heart, and as they grow, each new accomplishment is also a new opportunity for pride and for recognizing their ability to call children of all ages to recognize the beauty within.

Evidence the artistry of young Melissa Venema, who was invited (at the tender age of 12 years) to play with André Rioux`s orchestra, a trumpet rendition of Il Silenzio.  Listen, watch, wonder and above all, give thanks.

All in how you see it

Life can be lived in a number of situations and people's approach to life depends on their outlook, or on how they see the world around them.

One person I know refuses to believe that there are any such things as challenges in life.  Rather, he prefers to believe that there are only opportunities ... to learn or to make a difference.  Evidence of such an outlook can appear in many different ways.  Evidence the video of David Garibaldi posted four months ago in which he is depicted hard at work drawing.  At first the object of his work is not so evident, but as he continues, it suddenly comes to light.

Have a look, and remember that when life seems to send us challenges and opportunities, perhaps the full picture is still in the works.


David Garibaldi: Jesus Painting from Thriving Churches on Vimeo.

Toronto visits Sudbury

Last night, there was a special concert held in this city.  At the invitation of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's travelling show arrived.  The TSO is beginning its 90th year, and each year (for the past nmber of years) the TSO travels to Northern Ontario to share classical music.

This year's concert will take them to Sudbury, Elliot Lake and Sault Ste. Marie.  In the space of just a few days, they will interact with more than 10,000 people, adults and students.  The concerts they perform are slightly different in composition, but the focus is to expose as many people as possible to the music of the classical masters.

This travelling show included the added talents of conductor Alain Trudel and soprano Shannon Mercer.  The programme for the evening included works from the Italian operatic tradition, including Rossini's The Barber of Seville and Una voce poco fa.  Below is video of Joyce Didonato (another famous opera soprano) singing this latter piece:



Other soprano solos from last night's performance included Adieu notre petite table and O Dieu! que de bijoux from Gounod's Faust (here's a sample performance by Argentinian soprano Mercedes Gancedo):



Other works included an orchestral arrangement of arias from Bizet's Carmen, the Bootlegger's Tarantella by Canadian composer John Estacio, and all four movements of Tchaikovsky's Second Symphony.

The TSO concert opens the 36th season of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra.  There are six more concerts planned by the SSO in this season.

Life to the fullest

From the time that we're very young, most of us have dreamed of the day when we'll have no worries.  Have you ever wondered what that day will look like?  Most of us will probably be retired, but will we all be in good health?  Will we have financial stability?  Will we be able to enjoy life?

For the moment, consider the possibility that this is so.  Can retirement living look like this?  We all hope so.

When words and stories combine

Every day, we should look for at least one reason to be thankful.  Sometimes when we live in the midst of great luxury, we forget this little bit of advice, and it takes a reminder every now and then for us to keep focused.  As it happens, someone sent a link to video coverage of X Factor: the Australian version of the talent show that seems to have swept this country (and others) by pop storm.

When talent exhibits itself, there is great beauty, but when the talent entwines with the hidden stories, there can be magic.  See for yourself as this Aussie up-and-coming sings John Lennon's Imagine:

Life unlimited

On Saturday evening of this past week, there was a new display of artwork that arrived at the W.K.P. Kennedy Gallery in North Bay.

Entitled Life Unlimited, this display of new and retrospective paintings by North Bay artist Helen Whitehead is not her first, but represents the first time she has been granted a spot in the prestigious Capital Centre's art gallery.


At the opening reception, more than 60 people (and actually closer to 100 people) gathered to listen as the artist herself recounted some of the tales which led to her creations.  Each piece of art tells a story.  Each painting portrays a part of history.  Each one brings back memories for those who gaze upon them.

The subjects of the work range from buildings to portraiture to interpretive work.  Each one is unique in its use of various media, and each one of the 30 works is worth the time it takes to truly appreciate the genius it contains.

Still on the to-do list

The re-pointing of the exterior brick is now happening alongside all the rest.

All of the old mortar seems to have been removed, and the pain staking process of re-applying the mortar is in progress.  One by one, each course of brick is getting a fresh coat of mortar.  There is approximately two to four inches of mortar that has been removed from around most of the brick from the top of the tower down to the roof line, and this all has to be replaced.

In some cases, broken bricks have been replaced, but by the time the job is complete, all the walls will be fresh and new.  Careful attention is being paid to the colour matching of the mortar as well, so that from near and far onlookers will see a uniform consistency in the work from top to bottom.

Also still to be decided are the details concerning the louvers that will find their way to the openings at the top of the towers.  The design has been submitted, including sloped louvers to keep any rain and water away from the inside of the towers, and bird wire attached to the inside of each of 16 louvers (there are eight window openings in each of the two towers), to keep our feathered friends from roosting in places where we don't want them to leave remnants.

If all goes well, we are now being told that the exterior scaffolding (and all other evidence of the work now being done) will be removed by the end of October.  Then we will proceed with the connection of the bell which has been silent for so long.  We will probably also have to complete the installation of the louvers at or around that time, so the job isn't quite complete yet.  Some attention will also be required in the near future, especially toward the state of the rose window and the two other windows which are located in the south face of the church.

From below, the state of the rose window appears to be just fine, but an areal view shows that the lower section of the casing which is holding it in place is in need of some help.  It appears that the wood is damaged and quite possibly also rotting as a result of water damage.  We are currently considering temporary solutions to this challenge, even as we make plans for future restoration of this part of the church as well.

.... and the windows

The painters showed up this week for the first time too.

There are a total of twenty (20) windows in the two towers: ten in each.  These too need some tender loving care.  Each one of them has been boarded up for the better part of this project, but now the coverings are being removed, and the window frames are all being scraped and repainted.  In addition, if there is any evidence of broken glass, this will be replaced so that once the scaffolding is removed, all will be shining and new.

Now for the floors

Now that the steel reinforcements have been installed in the towers, it's time to turn our attention to the floor on which the bell sits, and the floor in the other tower that's also at that level.  For the moment, the wooden louvers which were installed have been removed in order to allow the steel to be installed.

Now that that part of the work is complete, we will need to install a sloped floor over the existing wood, and to reinforce the floor from the underside so that the weight of the bell will not compromise the structure.  The framing for this sub floor is now being installed.

Once the workers are happy with the framing, the floor boards will be installed over this structure.  The purpose of this addition is also to ensure that any water that might get into this part of the tower (it shouldn't be much once the louvers are installed) will run away from the centre of the structure and not pool.  This should ensure a longer life for the wood and for the towers in general.

Still learning, ten years afterward

Ten years ago this weekend, the western world was changed in ways we are still discovering.  Hidden deep within the rubble of the World Trade Centre, there were treasures of all sorts uncovered, but I'm not sure we're finished mining the richness of this experience yet.  What about the richness that comes from learning lessons of forgiveness?  Some lessons are well worth learning.

Listen in or read on for this week's reflection.

How often should I forgive?

There are very few moments in life that mark us deeply, so deeply that we can recall with great detail where we were, and what we were doing, but for many if not most of us here today, such details still remain vividly in our minds, as vividly as they were when they were first etched ten years ago tomorrow (today). For the past few days, it seems that the news media has opened the floodgates and brought back memories of that fateful day when so many thousands of innocent lives were lost in New York City, in Washington D.C. and in the fields of Pensylvania. On that day, thousands of families began a period of mourning for their loved ones that continues even to today. On that day, the American government was put to the test, and whether they believe it or not, a country that has prided itself on its invincibility was forced to admit that nothing is invincible.

Ten years after that fateful day, the second reading proposed for today's liturgy is perhaps fittingly one of the texts most often chosen for the Mass of the Resurrection. Paul reminds the community in Rome that people of faith do not live to ourselves. Instead, if we live, we live to the Lord. It was for this reason that Christ died and lived again. Our lives of faith must therefore motivate us to make choices to be people of mercy, people of forgiveness. September 11 will always remain as a day of mourning, but it can also become a day of action. While we will never forget the devastation of that day, we can also use this opportunity to spur on awareness of the plight of the weak in our world, and efforts to help those who are the most vulnerable in our society to recognize the dignity to which they are called.

The Holy Father issued a letter today (yesterday) adressed to the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, asking him in turn to share it with all his brother bishops and with all the faithful of the country. The Holy Father expressed his prayerful support in commending the thousands of victims to the infinite mercy of Almighty God and in asking our heavenly Father to continue to console those who mourn the loss of loved ones. He also explained that the tragedy of that day is compounded by the perpetrators’ claim to be acting in God’s name. The Church has constantly taught that every human life is precious in the eyes of God and no effort should be spared in the attempt to promote throughout the world a genuine respect for the inalienable rights and dignity of individuals and peoples everywhere.

No circumstances can ever justify acts of terrorism. In fact, even in Old Testament times, anger and wrath were seen as abominations. For many in our world, anger leads to acts of vengeance, but anger also controls the one who perpetrates vengeance, and as long as we are controlled by anger, we are not free to love. In fact, this is the lesson Jesus was teaching Peter in today's gospel. Living a life of faith, being a person of mercy, providing an example of forgiveness is not something we can choose to do one day and ignore the next. We must be willing to forgive not seven times, but ... seventy-seven times. Forgiving another person is not always an easy thing to do. It means that we ourselves must make ourselves vulnerable. It means that we ourselves must run the risk of being ridiculed by those who themselves may judge us for our actions, but more often than not, these are the same people who will secretly admire us for our strength of character. How often have we ourselves asked for forgiveness from our God for something we have done? How often, how freely is this forgiveness given? If we ourselves have known the sweetness of this pardon granted for sins that once imprisoned us, should we not ourselves be willing to forgive others for the petty ways in which they harm us?

Work has already begun on the construction of a memorial tower at Ground Zero in New York City. When plans to erect a mosque not far from the site were announced, there was a mixture of reactions. Some were outraged, perhaps understandably so because when we have been wounded, it seems almost impossible to forgive the hand that inflicted the wound, but consider for a moment what such a decision would say to the world about the power of forgiveness. Is it possible that we might one day find it in our hearts to truly be people of forgiveness? Perhpas then a firm commitment to justice and a global culture of solidarity will help rid the world of the grievances that so often give rise to acts of violence and create the conditions for greater peace and prosperity, offering a brighter and more secure future.

Steel's in

On Thursday of this week, the steel installers left the property.  That signaled yet another moment of completion (almost) in the process of restoring the towers.

There are now three steel ring beams in each of the two towers, as well as four X-beams (in each tower) to ensure that they don't sway with the force of wind and other forces.  At the very least, these reinforcements are meant to ensure that any swaying that does occur won't result in any further damage to the bricks or the mortar.

In addition to the re-inforcements, there are also two new steel ladders and cages (one in each tower).  They have been installed as well, but each of them is about two feet too short, so the steel fabrication company has been asked to rectify the problem.  Most probably, this will be done before the exterior scaffolding is removed (in about six weeks' time).

What a wonderful surprise!

Beginning November 27, 2011, the first Sunday of Advent, the Church in Canada (and the United States of America) will begin using the Revised Roman Missal for the celebration of Mass.

In preparation for this date, priests and parishioners need to learn new Mass settings (including the musical settings) that will be used.  In Canada, many dioceses have decided to use the musical settings written by Father Geoffrey Angeles (2008).

Tonight, the first of a series of workshops was held to teach the music for these settings to choir members, directors, musicians and to parishioners in the Sudbury area (which includes areas as far west as Walford Station and as far east as Coniston).  Organizers of this first session were expecting about 50 participants to be present.  Instead, there were more than 150!

Within two hours, these participants had begun to sing the parts of the Mass (some of them in various muscial parts as well).

While CD-ROM copies of the printed music are available for purchase, MP3 copies of the music are also available so that people who know where to find them can also begin to learn the music.  Permission has been granted by the Canadian Conferece of Catholic Bishops' Liturgy Office to begin using these Mass settings now, in an attempt to allow people in our pews to become familiar with the settings before the beginning of the Advent period.

Various resources are also available to help people learn more about why this change is necessary, and being implemented now.  In the coming weeks, stay tuned for more information about the revised Roman Missal and its implementation.

Visuals might help

The time specified by the Canadian Government for matching of donations for the relief effort toward the Famine relief efforts in the Horn of Africa is quickly drawing to an end.  There are only two more weeks left, so this week we are adding a visual to the homily.

Read on or listen in to find out the details.

Learn the lesson of love

In just a few days time, I'm sorry to say that the summer vacation will come to a screeching halt for many of our children.  Classes will resume, teachers will be waiting.  Even now, parents may still be scrambling to find the last minute school supplies, the outfits for their children and the snacks they'll need for lunches.  Formal lessons begin on Tuesday of this coming week, but have you ever noticed that some lessons are better learned outside the classroom?  The trick is to never stop learning, so I suppose that we are all students, and every experience we live has the potential to offer us a lesson or two.

Were you paying attention to the lesson we heard today?  Paul's words to the Christian community at Rome are equally addressed to us today: Owe no one anything except to love one another.  In this part of the world, those of us who can count ourselves 'debt free' are truly the lucky ones.  It seems that more and more people today owe money to credit card companies, to financial institutions, to other money lenders, the list can become rather daunting, and the longer the list, the more out of control the situation.  This is not the kind of debt that Paul had in mind.  Rather he spoke of our obligation to love one another, perhaps echoing the words spoken by Jesus himself.  The currency of love never runs out, only the currency of our will to use it.  Love that is freely given costs us nothing, yet it holds the potential to break down walls of division, to strengthen relationships, and to bring people together.

Love for our neighbour compels us to speak out when we recognize injustice.  Even in the time of the prophet Ezekiel, some were appointed as watchmen (for the good of their brothers and sisters).  We are still compelled today to be on the watch for the good of our children, and for all our brothers and sisters.  Like Ezekiel, we must call to them out of love when they need a word of correction, or when there is injustice that must be corrected.

Over the past month or so, many of us have heard this call.  Specifically, we have responded to a call for help from the people of East Africa.  For far too long, innocent bystanders in that part of the world have fallen victim to a number of injustices, most of which have been relatively unknown to those of us who are so far away.  In the past few weeks though, the world has become ever more aware of the plight of hunger and the very real possibility of starvation facing children and parents in the nations of Ethiopia, Somalia and Ethiopia.  One of the images so often seen on our television screens is that of long lineups of people waiting for food and other rations.  This image is all the more poignant given the fact that this weekend, there is a rib fest being celebrated in the downtown streets of Sudbury.  While you and I can so easily walk out the doors of this church, and within just a few blocks find food in such abundance, millions of our brothers and sisters have had to walk for days and even weeks in hot, dry dessert-like conditions, just to reach one of a few distribution points, and even then their reward is often a simple bowl of Ugali: corn meal mixed with water and perhaps a bit of salt, barely enough to fill their stomachs, and surely not rich enough in vitamins and nutrients to provide what they truly need.

It's hard for us to understand the enormity of the situation, so in order to help you drive the image home, we will offer you a small portion of Ugali at the end of this Mass. Accept is as our gift.  Accept it as a way to remind us all of the great abundance that we are so fortunate to have.  Ugali is known in other cultures by other names.  It's rather tasteless on its own.  It is most often spiced or eaten with a stew, or with a tomato sauce, or with gravy, but none of these luxuries are available to those who must face the dessert heat and land baked so dry because of drought that even the corn that provides the Ugali can't grow.

In today's gospel, Jesus exhorts his disciples to recognize injustice, and to call for its correction, but to temper this vigilance with mercy toward those who have offended.  The hungry of our world are often innocent bystanders, caught in the midst of political systems far beyond their own control, so let us continue to respond to their need if we can, but let us also pray for those who have it in their power to change this situation.  There's just over a week left before the Canadian Government's deadline for matching of contributions to the Africa Famine relief effort.  We have already raised $11,675 in the past four weeks, and our friends in Edmonton have surpassed $33,000.  What wonderful lessons this whole experience has taught, to children young and old.  Imagine the summer adventure stories that will be told in our classrooms in the coming days!

Back to school

Yesterday was not only the first day of September.  It was also the first day back to work for teachers who are preparing for the return of students to the classroom on Tuesday of next week.

Last year, I accepted an invitation to celebrate Mass with the staff of one of the local high schools at the beginning of the first day back to work.  This allowed them to set the tone for their commitment to living faith in the corridors of their school, so much so that they invited me to return yesterday for a 'repeat performance'.

As it turns out, the scripture passages proper to the liturgy for September 1 of this year included the call of Jesus 'Duc in altum ... Put out into deep water ...'  What a wonderful piece of advice for the teachers who had gathered for this moment of prayer!  The reflection I shared with them went something like this:

Last night, I arrived home just in time to see the 10:00pm news.  One of the first items spoke of the death of Wade Belak, a well-known NHL player.  This was not the first, but rather the third report in recent months of Hockey personalities having been discovered dead.  As I listened, I couldn't help thinking that Mr. Belak and other NHL players are the modern-day heroes for many of our young people.

In just a few days' time, students will walk through the doors of this school to begin another academic year.  They will bring with them the dreams and adventures lived over the past couple of months, and they will also bring with them the experience of some of their heroes having met 'unexplained' tragedies.  The task of helping them to understand these realities (if understanding such realities is at all possible), will fall to you, the first people these students will see when they walk through these doors.  Will you accept the responsibility to be examples of faith and hope for them?

In the first reading we heard today, Paul speaks to the Christians at Collosae, telling them 'from the day we heard about you, we do not cease praying for you'.  Students who come through these doors next week will very possibly look to you for words and encouragement such as this.  They need to know that you too pray for them, that you too continue to love them with the love of Christ, that your faith can be strong enough to help them face the trials that today's world puts in their paths.

Today's gospel passage also provides some interesting observations and points of departure for our prayer.  I have always pictured this particular scene, Jesus on the shore of the Sea of Geneseret, as being crowded, literally being pushed into the water because of the crowd that had gathered.  What did this crowd come to hear?  There must have been some report about his wisdom .. perhaps the possibility of a miracle ... to peak their interest.  Students will look to you too for wisdom, for guidance, and perhaps even for miracles.  Certainly, teachers today have a place of great honour in the eyes of the students who will sit before you.  You also have a great responsibility: to share faith with them, to help them to discover the importance of faith in their own lives, to help them to encounter Jesus in their daily lives, and to learn how to live lives of faith.
 
Jesus was so crowded on the beach that day that he had to enlist the help of Simon, one of the fishermen who had recently returned from a night of unfruitful angling.  At times, you too will be called upon to be creative about the ways you enlist the help of those around you in order to speak the good news of faith to today's world.
 
I'm not sure that Simon was too enthused about taking Jesus out into the water, but what's important is that he did it.  There will be days in the coming months when you will be excited to enter these doors, and there will be other days when you will want to be anywhere else BUT here.  What's important though is that you are here, ready to share your gifts, to allow the Lord to use you as instruments of his presence, his mercy, his love.
 
After the teaching was complete, Jesus wanted to reward Simon, so he invited him to put out into the deep and to let down the nets for a catch.  Peter must have thought that Jesus was nuts.  It would have been already about 10:00am, and fishermen would never be caught out on the water in the heat of the sun, much less would they even try to catch fish at a time of the day when most of them would be seeking cooler, deeper water rather than being found anywhere near the surface.  Here again, Peter (Simon's other name), did eventually follow Jesus' advise, and as it turns out, he was richly rewarded for his decision.
 

Will you listen for the voice of Jesus in the early hours of the mornings, especially the ones when you might be tempted to grumble about students who try you?  Will you be able to hear his invitation to put out into the deep, and to let down the nets for a catch?

 

For the sake of the students who will walk through these doors next week, dare to listen for this voice.  Dare to pay attention to its call to be people of faith.  Dare to seek out opportunities to be examples of faith and belief each day as you walk these corridors, as you stand before a classroom of inquiring eyes, as you find yourself in frustrating situations, as you go about forming the minds and hearts of the leaders of tomorrow.

For the beginning of September

Early this morning, I received the following text, a fitting reflection for the end of the 'summer month':

Welcome Back

Fall is opening its window to cool

While hot breezes slowly slide from

Drowsy blooms and warm memories;

Lazy pastimes turn into busy hum.

So raise the flags of beginning again,

Walk paths that take a new chance,

Ask myriad questions; marvel at tiny;

Child discoveries, they ask us to dance.

No matter where, or what, the Spirit

Changes our energies amazingly on cue,

Each night Sabbath sleep heals and calms;

No matter the season, life welcomes you!

Give the holy One who fashioned Creation

Centre place in planning, let outcome belong

To love's Spirit; and abandon ourselves to

God's grace; be ready to trust in the song.

In all your days ahead,

May the Spirit of God surround you,

Keep your love unbound

Abide in your Faith, Joy and Peace!

S. Diane Trollope, 2011

... and there it was ... gone

Yesterday, the steel workers were hard at it, but today, the crane that was afixed to our front lawn is no more.

I was returning to the rectory just a little while ago, and saw the flatbed parked in the street just off the property.  The driver was still securing the safety belts, and within minutes he was gone.  No more will that crane be seen in the front lawn of the church, and with this departure, another milestone has been reached.

As of yesterday, the last of the large pieces of steel - the ladders and the cages - have been hoisted.  They will be affixed to their new homes, and by next week, the two-foot extensions that are required for each of them in order to bring them up to code, will also be hoisted and put in place.