Catholic Hotdish

Shawn O’Brien, a member of St. Boniface in St. Bonifacius, sent a note saying that his daughter, Katelyn, a gifted writer and a senior at Watertown-Mayer High School, wrote a poem for a creative writing class and it was recently published in a national teen magazine. The poem subsequently has been published in a few area church bulletins as well. Here is Katelyn’s poem:

Sunday Morning

Every Sunday Morning you can be sure to see,

The beautiful old couple sitting in pew three.

I can’t help but notice the love in his eyes,

Not just for his bride, but his God lifted high.

The strong bond between this man and his wife,

It’s something I’ll strive for my entire life.

I sometimes notice my thoughts drift away,

I think of their love and forget to pray.

We say the Lord’s Prayer, the church as a whole,

Her hand in his, they pray with their souls.

He steals a glance of the woman on his arm,

He smiles and blinks as a tear causes alarm.

He bows his head, quickly finishes his prayer,

Squeezes her hand, and smiles with care.

As Mass comes to close, he looks at the cross,

Mouths a quick thank you, then nods in awe.

Now Mass is over, I slide out of my pew,

Smile at the man, who then smiles too.

The lesson I learned is short but true,

Love is so strong, it captivates you.

All this Advent spreading of inspiration. What follows is a post that was headlined “Silent Christmas Angels” and shared by Bob Proctor as his “Friday story” on http://www.Insightoftheday.com

By Virginia Hay

From the emails I have been receiving lately and my own observations out there in the world I would have to say that a lot of people are really going through some difficult times right now.

The population is aging and this is impacting those who are growing older, those who are taking care of them, and those who are alone.

The other day I witnessed a lady in our building who had just been dropped off by one of those handicapped vans, and even though she was not in a wheelchair herself, I could see that she had serious mobility issues.

She had just returned from visiting her beloved husband and lifelong companion who was now confined to a nursing home. I had seen them out walking together a few years earlier, laughing and holding hands and thoroughly enjoying each others company.

As she slowly made her way to the front of the door, she held the key in her hand ready to open the lock. And then at that precise moment she just leaned in toward the building and started to cry. I could see from the look of anguish on her weary face, that she was trying to summon the courage to enter the building, walk up the stairs, and open her apartment door, just to be alone once again for yet another evening without him.

 Should I go comfort her?

My heart went out to her. I wanted to rush over and hug her but got the feeling to just honor her presence instead and the precious space she was in. I sensed that she was a very private person and just needed to be alone in that moment. Sometimes the moment can carry us through when we don’t have the strength to carry ourselves.

I did hold her in the light in my heart and whispered a quiet prayer that somehow things would get better for her and that she would know that she is deeply loved, even though I am sure she was certainly not feeling that love right then.

I think sometimes if we can simply acknowledge each others pain, without trying to fix things, then that may be the greatest gift we can give to another human being. I don’t mean wallow in the pain or focus on it, but to just acknowledge it with deep compassion, would make a huge difference to so many.

We are human and pain is part of the journey. If we ever allow ourselves to love anyone or anything for that matter, pain is an integral part of the process because some day we may, probably will, lose that person, place or thing to which we have become attached, either physically, mentally or emotionally. Of course, the price of not loving, of not seeking, of not becoming involved, is a much deeper and emptier pain that strips away at our soul and destroys our spirit.

Your spirit will always reach towards the love and your soul will always take the higher road.

 Let’s do our angelic part

And so I would suggest that this holiday season, we answer our soul’s calling and “take the higher road” by becoming “Silent Christmas Angels” for each other, especially at this difficult time of year for so many. Christmas has a way of surfacing so many emotions and memories, some joyful and some not so joyful.

So, as a “Silent Christmas Angel”, be on the look-out as to where you could shine your light on someone else’s darkness. Be constantly aware to where your wings may take you, whether it be in a busy shopping mall, a lonely sidewalk cafe, a homeless shelter, a park bench, a Christmas dinner or party. Be constantly vigil of where you could look beyond the surface to the deeper pain that may be lurking there and attend to it in whatever way and means may lie before you.

Pretend you have been given a mission and are part of the “Silent Christmas Angel Invasion” of whatever city you live in or visit and it is your job to keep the home fires burning and heal the hearts and souls of those you encounter along the way.

Sounds daunting? Fear not! You have at your command an arsenal of tools with which to do your work.

We have all that it takes

A magic wand that you can point and shoot better than any camera will ever do and grant silent wishes to unsuspecting troubled hearts, uplifting them in the twinkling of an eye and restoring peace on earth.

A big, beautiful, heart full of love, with light beams that extend from you for miles and miles ahead washing away any sadness that may appear in the distance and replacing it with joy, wonder, belief in the magic, trust in the knowing, that we are all in this together and we are truly loved.

Dancing, daring, delightful Angel eyes, that dispense laughter, spread kindness, seek miracles, offer compassion, give thanks and beam these out into all the other eyes that meet yours along the way, eliciting an enchanting smile of knowing and surprised look of tender acknowledgement.

And we “Silent Christmas Angels” have the ability to recognize each other. A knowing glance, a curious nod, a gentle, sweet and unsuspecting touch. A sacred salute to a comrade in arms and wings and halos.

And so, dear heart, will YOU join me? Will you take your place among us? Will I sense you standing there next to me wherever I may journey?

I think I already have and I know that I will, for I feel you here, reading these words, and I already recognize you.

Veronica Hay is an inspirational writer. She provides inspirational support and resources to help you live a richer life. Visit her website at:http://www.insightsandinspirations.comor email her at:veronicahay@telus.net

Guest post by Jackie Daugherty – The Catholic Spirit

How do YOU keep warm in the winter? With Hats, Scarves, Mittens, and Socks, of course!

This year, The Catholic Spirit decided to decorate the Christmas tree – differently. We’re making our tree “warm and cozy” with items that’ll be donated to St Joseph’s Home For Children in Minneapolis.

St. Joseph’s Home for Children, a program of Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, serves children and their families by addressing immediate needs for shelter and stability and offering long-term solutions to emotional and behavioral issues with quality mental health care.

If you would like to find out more about St Joseph’s Home (and their other affiliates) and how you can help brighten up their holiday, visit their website for more info.

http://cctwincities.org/stjosephshomeforchildren

or call

Sheila Senescall
Corporate and Foundation Relations
Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis
1200 Second Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55403
612-204-8364 (w); 612-664-8610 (f)

In 1099, during the siege of Jerusalem in the First Crusade, a lay religious fraternity led by Fra’ Gerard (Fra’ was short for Frater, Latin for “brother”), began ministering to the sick and wounded at a hospice adjacent to the Church of St John the Baptist. After the victory, Fra’ Gerard and his companions continued to help the sick and wounded of all faiths, the pilgrims to the Holy Land and all in need. Seeing the Christ centered work the fraternity was doing, a number of Crusader knights joined Fra’ Gerard and his companions creating what became the first “order of chivalry”.

The vesture and implements of the Knights of Justice. Photo from the blog of Cardinal Sean O'Malley.

In 1113, by Papal Bull, Pope Paschal II approved the institution of the fraternity of “The Hospital of Saint John” recognizing it as a religious order of the Church and placing it under direct protection of the Holy See. As such, it is “exempt” from other ecclesiastical or lay authority, is a sovereign entity (having diplomatic relationships with 80 countries and a permanent seat at the United Nations) and is the first religious order of the Catholic Church with a centralized administration and government. It is the fourth oldest religious order in the Catholic Church.

Today, nearly 13,000 Knights and Dames around the world, as lay religious, continue to live out the motto Fra’ Gerard and his companions created more than 900 years ago, “Obsequium pauperum et tuition fidei” – Service to the poor and defense of the faith.

In Minnesota, Knights and Dames, along with the Auxiliary and friends of The Order, carry out their lifelong commitment made during Solemn Investiture Ceremonies at the Cathedral of St Patrick in New York City, by serving meals at the Dorothy Day Center, staffing over flow shelter space for homeless men, marching on behalf of the unborn and the elderly, coaching the unemployed and the under employed, and serving our parishes as Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Catechists and in a multitude of other capacities. Service is central to who we are.

Officially the Sovereign Military Hospitaler Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, we are more commonly known as The Order of Malta. Information on world wide efforts is available at http://www.orderofmalta.int. Information on The American Association is available at http://www.maltausa.org.

Steve Hawkins, KM
steve@hawkins-associates.com

Steve Hawkins is a member of St John Neumann Catholic Church in Eagan, MN and a member of the Order of Malta, a lay religious order of the Catholic Church which for more than 900 years has lived out its call to “Serve the poor and defend the faith”. He and his wife Judi reside in Burnsville, MN.

As the weather in St Paul turns ever colder, the number of tents appearing out side the Dorothy Day Center increases.  For the first time in its 30 year history, the Center has begun to turn away those seeking a warm, safe place to spend the night because there is simply no more room.  Inside nearly 300 of the lucky ones sleep shoulder to shoulder on mats upon the floor grateful for the opportunity.  Tim Marx, CEO of Catholic Charities who operates the Center, calls it our “canary in the coal mine”, an early warning of pending disaster in our community.

But thanks to the volunteer efforts of men from St John Neumann Catholic Church in Eagan, the Knights of Malta and friends from through out the Twin Cities, there will be room for 50 more homeless men seeking shelter ever night through March.  Each night 2 volunteers and a staff member from the Dorothy Day Center, open up the old Catholic Charities offices on Old 6th Street and admit those who otherwise would have been forced to spend the night in the cold.  By 7:00am the next morning, everyone is up and on their way and the old building is once again quiet till it opens its doors to welcome those less fortunate in our midst once again the following evening.

Each evening nearly 7000 of those whom Christ loved the most, seek a warm safe place to sleep in our 7 county metro area.  50 beds hardly seems like a drop in the bucket, unless you’re one of those 50 guys.  And maybe if more men like those from SJN and Malta and friends throughout the area join together, we can find more opportunities to help in the current crisis and to advocate for a real, long term solution soon.  In the mean time,

• Consider investing 1 night with us.  You may not sleep well but you will enable 50 other men, who have no bed of their own, to do so.
• Contact your State legislator and make certain that during any Special Session or during the upcoming 2012 regular session, the issue of hunger and homelessness in MN gets as much attention as a billion dollar stadium or a $750,000,000 bridge to Wisconsin.
• Pray.  Pray that we as a society come together to meet everyone’s needs.  Its not only what Christ told us to do, it is what we must do if our society is to survive.

Sleep well.

Steve Hawkins, KM
steve@hawkins-associates.com

Steve Hawkins is a member of St John Neumann Catholic Church in Eagan, MN and a member of the Order of Malta, a lay religious order of the Catholic Church which for more than 900 years has lived out its call to “Serve the poor and defend the faith”. He and his wife Judi reside in Burnsville, MN. 

By Justin Stroh

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the crowd from his popemobile as he arrives for a welcoming celebration as part of the World Youth Day festivities in central Madrid Aug. 18. (CNS photo/Susana Vera, Reuters)

Recently, I made a pilgrimage to Madrid, Spain for World Youth Day with Pope Benedict XVI.

WYD is one of those intense experiences that requires every fiber of a person’s existence. There are amazing joys and unmet expectations, 110-degree heat and subway sing-alongs, 100 acquaintances in a day and intimate sharing about the meaning of life.

This was my seventh WYD, and I knew what I was getting myself into; yet, I did not know what God was going to surprise me with. This, I now realize, is the path of a Catholic pilgrim — having a plan, setting out and being surprised by God. Here, I recount some of my favorite divine surprises:

• I have had the honor of journeying with youth who where struggling with their faith and others who were firm.

• I have seen teens that did not believe in God transformed by the witness of the saints buried for centuries.

• I have encountered tour guides who thought they were guiding tourists and later realized that God had sent these youth to witness to them.

• I have sat next to priests who have gained deeper insights from an aging pontiff into how to relate with teens.

• I have watched multitudes singing in joy and cheering in the rain.

• I have cried with millions enjoying the greatest fireworks display, a gift from a blessed pope.

• I have venerated a cross carried by hundreds of thousands of youth throughout the world.

• I have stood in a mob for 30 minutes just to fill my bottle with water.

• I have chatted with cardinals who happened to be strolling among the thousands.

• I have exhaled as much as I can to make room for one more pilgrim in a subway car.

• I have recommitted my life to Christ because of the faith of thousands and strong words from the pope.

• I have laughed with a hundred people who do not speak my language.

• I have sung to the One Father in heaven in one language with millions.

• I have seen the flags of the nations of the world waving for the vicar of Christ.

• I have been entrusted with the task to make the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ known to the world by the successor of Peter.

Here is what the pope told me and the other million pilgrims:

“He [Jesus] wants you to be the apostles of the 21st century and the messengers of his joy. . . . He sends you out to be his witnesses, courageous and without anxiety, authentic and credible! Do not be afraid to be Catholic, and to be witnesses to those around you in simplicity and sincerity! . . . You have met Jesus Christ! You will be swimming against the tide in a society with a relativistic culture, which wishes neither to seek nor hold on to the truth. But it was for this moment in history, with its great challenges and opportunities, that the Lord sent you, so that, through your faith, the Good News of Jesus might continue to resound throughout the earth.”

I have now passed it on to you. What will you do to seek God and become more firm in your Catholic faith?

Justin Stroh is an evangelizer, speaker and musician from Divine Mercy in Faribault. Find out more at http://justinstroh.webs.com.

Goodbye Fr. Donald
and Welcome Fr. Ronald

Goodbye

Every year Catholic Dioceses around the world face the challenging time of priest transfers from one parish to another and also for priests who are in institutional ministries. In some dioceses the bishop and his council establish a term of years for a priest to serve in a parish. In our Saint. Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocese the maximum is 12 years and in my home Diocese of Mangalore it is 7 years. Bishops however have the canonical provision in case a priest’s service is needed elsewhere to transfer the priest before his term ends.

It is not easy for the priest or his faithful parishioners to accept this very challenging time of transfers. As he serves his people in the parish with love and dedication they become bonded as a family. Even though in the back of his mind and also in the minds of parishioners they know there will be day to say goodbye, it is still hard when that day arrives. There are many emotional feelings, sadness and tears knowing their priest will leave them to serve elsewhere.

I myself experienced that 2 years ago when I was transferred from St. Thomas the Apostle Church to the Church of St. Pascal Baylon. The transfer came before my 12 year term ended. I had served only 9 years when I was asked by my Archbishop to accept a new assignment. After praying over this I obliged his request and accepted the transfer. Now, when I look back over those wonderful 9 years of my first pastorate it seems like only 9 months! I am sure many other priests have had the same experience.

Welcome

Each priest has a period of grieving over the parish he served with love and enthusiasm. For many it may take only a few months and for others it may take much longer. During that time parishioners and parish staff who welcomed their new priest need to allow him to adjust mentally, emotionally and physically to his new environment. There is plenty of time to get busy and active in the new assignment as parish priest.

Often when it is time to say goodbye or celebrate the retirement of the parish priest, parishioners get all excited and wants to have a big celebration. That is good because it demonstrates to the priest just how much he has meant to the parish. We need to keep in mind that the “goodbyes and welcomings” should be an enjoyable time for all. It is a time to show our whole hearted appreciation to priests who have dedicated their entire lives to serve God and His people. Remember to pray for your priests always that they remain committed to the priestly vocation they have freely chosen when they responded to God’s Divine Call.

With a joyful spirit we say; “Goodbye Fr. Donald and Welcome Fr. Ronald!’

Submitted by Fr. Tony Andrade