Parish Blog of St Edward the Confessor

Where in the world is... the blog? Adjust your feeds and more, read on.

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:32:00 +0000

Greetings to the parish community of St. Edward the Confessor and all others who grace these pages! We thank you for stopping by. If you still have a reader pointed here, this blog no longer publishes in this location. Please subscribe to the new feed, get the new blog via email or read us by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter!

The Parish Blog of St. Edward the Confessor, founded and edited and with many reflections by yours truly. You will also find the fine work of other parish writers including Donald Harmande and Peter Avvento, among others, can now be found at this new location.

We welcome all submissions for consideration, so please consider a brief reflection. We will soon be soliciting Advent and Christmas reflections and would love to have you join our online prayer as a reader, writer or both!

If you wish, please stop by my personal blog, There Will Be Bread. That is where I offer my thoughts and reflections on faith and life.

All are also welcome to visit Pastoral Postings. This blog is my pastoral formation project as I work towards my MA in Pastoral Studies at St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry. It is the parish blog of my workplace, Immaculate Conception in Glenville.

Thank you for your support!

We've Moved!

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:14:00 +0000

Greetings! We have moved, please come find us at this new link!

Poetry Wednesday - September Flower by Donald G. Harmande

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:03:00 +0000

September Flower

Lovely golden beauty...

It took all Summer to bloom

As if it were to say

I'll flourish

Before the chill and gloom.

Why so late I pondered and then

I knew quite well

Life like us is vibrant, not willing

To give up, crush or quell.

September 11 by Colin Allyn

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:31:00 +0000

Sept.11th...For those who have gone on, and more so for those who remain

Photo credit: Dan Sloan, 9/10/11

There have been so many instances in our lives that stay with us long after they’ve happened. How many people have said to you “I know exactly where I was when President Kennedy was shot”. Or when the Space Shuttle exploded killing the crew (including America's 1st teacher in space). But more recently, September 11th is a day that will always hold a special meaning to all of us.

At that time I was working as a conductor for Amtrak. On That day I was returning to Albany on a train from Niagara Falls, New York. When we arrived in Syracuse a woman boarded the train saying that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. We pretty much laughed it off and continued on toward Albany. Our train was stopped just before Rome, NY where State Police boarded and ordered the other conductor and me to search the train and look for anything suspicious.

People on the train of Arab decent were terrified of arriving in New York City. I will never forget the next few days. City streets normally jammed with traffic were empty. Penn Station was still busy, but not like it usually was. It became clear that our country and way of life had been viciously attacked. It was a hard thing to make sense of, that our country was that vulnerable.

I have always been an admirer of Abraham Lincoln. His speeches always fascinated me because in many ways they were faith based. This particular speech was given as a State of the Union Address. It was not very long after the Civil war had begun. The Union was dissolving and brother was literally fighting against brother. As you read these words I ask you to think about the times we live in now. Like many of the stories in the Bible this is a life lesson. I hope find as much enjoyment from it as I do.

“ This Government must endure in spite of the acts of any man...or set of men. Nowhere in the world is the government of so much liberty and equality. To the humblest and poorest among us are held the highest privileges and positions. At what point then should we expect the approach of danger, and by what means should we fortify against it. Should we expect some Trans-Atlantic Giant to step the ocean and crush us with a single blow. No...All the armies of Europe, Asia, and Africa combined could not by force take a drink from the Ohio River, or make a track on the Blue Ridge Mountains. If destruction be our lot we ourselves must be its author and its finisher. As a nation of free men we must live through all time or die by suicide. Surely God would not have created such a being as man with the ability to grasp the infinite to exist only for a day. No, No.Man was made for immortality"

My friends, if we take anything from these words it should be that we are still here, standing tall and facing a flag that we have pledged allegiance to for generations. We are that one nation, under God indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. May God continue to bless America and us all.

Rerum Novarum and Centesimus Annus - Of Popes, Work and Human Dignity, A Labor Day Reflection

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 11:39:00 +0000

In May of 1891 a papal encyclical was published by Pope Leo XIII as the Industrial Revolution continued to change the world for both good and ill. This encyclical was called Rerum Novarum, meaning Of New Things. One hundred years later, Blessed Pope John Paul II issued, Centisumus Annus, or 100 Years, to speak to the same matters of work and human dignity, one hundred years later.

In 1891 there were oppressed workers everywhere. All the mechanization of work had created a need for workers. This was a good thing, right? Maybe not so much... Work is good, oppressive work is not good. At the heart of our Catholic Christian faith is the essential dignity of the human person. Oppressive work that exists to create capital alone dismisses the dignity of the human person. This is exactly what Pope Leo XIII wanted to be clear about. Pope John Paul II expressed the same thing.

We would be wise to read, reflect and pray with each of these documents and to consider our current culture in the U.S. and in the world. It seems to me that in some ways very little progress has been made.

As I reread each of the encyclicals, I was particularly struck by these words from Centisimus Annus:

A workman's wages should be sufficient to enable him to support himself, his wife and his children. "If through necessity or fear of a worse evil the workman accepts harder conditions because an employer or contractor will afford no better, he is made the victim of force and injustice".

This reminds me of many things. One the near-constant drumbeat of messages that we hear which speak to the need to support business in the current challenging economic climate, so that business might support people. There are equivalent conversations about the opposite. As a result, hese words from Pope Leo XIII strike me in a particular way.

"Therefore, venerable brethren, as on former occasions when it seemed opportune to refute false teaching, We have addressed you in the interests of the Church and of the common weal, and have issued letters. . . .The discussion is not easy, nor is it void of danger. It is no easy matter to define the relative rights and mutual duties of the rich and of the poor, of capital and of labor. And the danger lies in this, that crafty agitators are intent on making use of these differences of opinion to pervert men's judgments and to stir up the people to revolt."

When he speaks of craft agitators intent on making use of differences I think of our current political climate in this country!

I know that not-so-long-ago when I was a senior corporate executive, we were faced with mounting pressure on how to cut, cut, cut costs. Now I can't speak for all companies, but my former employer was not in economic straits, not in the least. The cut, cut, cut refrain was about how to increase profits and "shareholder value."

And I might add - and this is my experience - certainly not necessarily universal, that the one way a manager could really cut costs and increase productivity, was to cut staff. Another way was to hire people who might not be quite as competent, but who required lower salaries.

I'm pretty sure that everyone who worked for my former employer, in most business functions, did make enough money to support a family; at least for the most part. There may have been exceptions. This is not the case everywhere and may not be the case there now; I do not know.

I do know that I look back and wonder about just how and where human dignity entered into the equation. And I wonder about Pope John Paul's words, "If through necessity or fear of a worse evil the workman accepts harder conditions because an employer or contractor will afford no better, he is made the victim of force and injustice".

While I left the corporate world four long years ago, I do know of many of my friends who are employed but who live with a sword of Damocles over their heads. When other positions are cut, it is like they are the lucky ones in the cakewalk who end up with a seat. However, the pressure to do more work is ever-present along with the threat, generally silent and implied, that they could be next... So while people might be earning a good enough living, whatever that is, where is the dignity when the work is forced out of a place of fear?

This situation may seem enviable to the under-employed, the unemployed and the really long-term unemployed. However, this is another reminder that human dignity continues to be commoditized and that the value of it has dropped even lower.

We have much to pray and reflect about this Labor Day. Ultimately I think that what we might want to consider is this - where is God in this for all of us? If work , if money, if unions, if union-busters all become false gods, we are lost.

Let us all reflect and pray on what we think God is saying to us in our time. What do you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Changing Things Up Around The Blog

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Greetings all! On July 28, 2011 we celebrated an anniversary around here, with no fanfare at all; the blog turned 4 years old. Have a look at our first post from that day by clicking here.

I knew so little about blogging then - other than I had a real passion for this medium. Looking back at my rudimentary posts and at what I imagined this place might be, I have to smile... Smile in the manner that a parent smiles at a child trying to do something new, but not quite getting it right, but still trying.

In the years that have followed we have published 746 posts. We have had many people send in contributions to the blog, which is a real gift. We have our poet, Donald G. Harmande, who has been published most Tuesdays and will now move to Wednesdays. Dolores Martin was another regular contributor, who grew into having her own blog, Grace Moments. Dolores has not published much lately, but I know that she is always on the go; she will probably be back.

Colin Allyn has been submitting pieces and this has been a gift. Colin, a faithful member of our community came into the church via RCIA at Easter 2009. He has blossomed into a catechist, eucharistic minister and now blogger during this time.

During the liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter we publish scriptural reflections for the daily readings, written by parishioners and others. This started off as a separate enterprise from the blog, but has merged with us.

And now Peter Avvento, who is not only a parishioner but heads up Adult Faith Enrichment here at St. Edward's and is the Director of Amazing God, our diocesan evangelization program, is also writing for us. Peter brings a wealth of insight and experience and we look forward to his regular contributions.

So what's missing?

You!

We want to get more people interested in our blog and blog Facebook page, so if this is your first visit, we hope it will not be your last. We hope that you read, comment and/or share things on your Facebook pages, Twitter feeds and Google+ plus ones!

For those who have been along for the ride, thanks for your faithful presence; we hope you will find the new elements a way to enrich our online experience. Pope Benedict said:

I would encourage all people of good will who are active in the emerging environment of digital communication to commit themselves to promoting a culture of respect, dialogue and friendship.

That is what we hope you find here as we refocus our mission and ministry and change things up around the blog. Please send us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions for future topics in the comments or via email to stedwardsblog@gmail.com.

Catholics Coming Home, A Personal Story - By Colin Allyn

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:24:00 +0000

Today while reading the Sunday paper, I came across an ad for a crystal cross with the Lord's Prayer inscribed in the center. The ad said that if you wore this cross, all your problems would go away. I laughed and thought about the kind of world we live in.

Not so long ago I attended a Sunday service with friends at another church. The pastor spoke out saying that if you had cancer pray and you would be healed. If you had no money pray and your financial woes would disappear. And finally - if you needed a new car, pray and the Lord would take care of that too.

His sermon did not sit well with me, but I remained silent. When I was leaving with my wife, the pastor approached me and shook my hand. He said I looked bothered by his sermon and he wanted to know what my opinion was. I politely said I was a guest and my opinions were not important. He would not let go of my hand and again asked me for my opinion. I relented and told that I was always taught that prayer was for guidance, strength, comfort, and forgiveness. And quite frankly getting a new car was never brought up in my lessons! What he was doing was giving people false hope... I don't know what bothered me more; what he said to me, or the fact that there were people that actually bought into this.

It wasn’t that long ago that the Jim Bakkers and Jerry Falwells were on television. For some who were homebound, due to illness or injury, this was the only way they thought they could worship. For only $29.95 a month you could join their prayer chain get an autographed picture, and all of your problems would go away.

Taking advantage of someone's faith is so wrong, yet for those who are homebound sometimes can be an easy prey. Many of you likely saw the sign outside of our church about “Catholic’s Coming Home”. Being new to our faith there is something that always stayed fresh in my mind and it is this... Father Pat always closes the Mass the same way. He tells us that God has blessed us in many ways, and to go forth and be a blessing to those that we meet. My friends, don’t we owe our brothers and sisters who have taken this path to tell them not so much what they should do but, what you do. Tell them that you worship as a community. The we all have feelings of friendship and belonging that we sense every week here at St. Edward's. You can’t shake the television's hand and say "Peace be with you”.

As Catholics, we are given so many gifts and have so much to be proud of. By sharing your gifts, you may have been, or will be, a blessing to someone. A very smart person told me once not to pay it back ...pay it forward. We are Catholic Christians. For many of us we take great pride in our faith and where we worship. Share that sense of belonging with a neighbor or friend and who knows. Maybe sometime soon you may be standing in the gathering space at St. Edward’s extending your hand and telling that person, “Welcome home”.

Poetry Tuesday - When Grandma Was a Child by Donald G. Harmande

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 01:29:00 +0000

(Today is the last day of Poetry Tuesday. Not to worry however, next week, Poetry Wednesday will be our new day for work from Donald G. Harmande. Stay tuned for some other blog changes and thank you for being part of our blogging community!)

1884

A TRUE HAPPENING

WHEN GRANDMA WAS A CHILD

A shining light arose from a house

one certain eve,

a child outdoors in awe perceived.

As the darkness surrounded

the domain of the little one,

trembling, she wondered from where

this glow had come.

The child's mother beckoned

she should be with her,

for news of great sadness

and misfortune occurred.

She sadly announced,

"Your dear father has died,

be by my side to pray and bide."

Candles were lit

to invoke God's love,

a litany of prayer

lifted up above.

Tears of past memories

were bitter for daughter

who could not conceive

what destiny brought her.

Such a heavy load

for this child of seven,

who had witnessed her Father's soul

on his way to Heaven.

Donald G. Harmande

Saturday Song - Ave Maris Stella by Guillaume Dufay

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 09:41:00 +0000

Poetry Tuesday - Kinds of Kisses by Donald G. Harmande

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:33:00 +0000

Kinds of Kisses

Kisses for family, kisses for friends,

what do they really mean?

Are they just tokens to say,

"see my affection is seen?"

Or do they portray expressions by rote

with no real thought

worthy of note?

Kisses that come from the heart

with genuine warmth and love

are ones that give joy from the start.

So think next time you part with a kiss

and ask if it's real

and if it is a picture of how

truly you feel.

“Firmum est cor meum”

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 09:37:00 +0000

“Firmum est cor meum” - By Peter Avvento

It was a typical NYC summer day - hot and humid. But it would be for me a day like no other - Monday, August 23, 1971. It was a day when a frightened yound man from Brooklyn boarded the SS Leondardo daVinci, the pride of the Italian line, and met forty other frightened young men who would come to be the Class of 1975 of the Pontifical North AmericanCollege, the so-called West Point of the Catholic Church. We were the hope of the American Church, a church that was reeling with dissent and rebellion. It was the post Vatican II era, the aftermath of Humane Vitae, the encyclical that shook the Church and rocked the papacy of Paul VI. It was a time when the war in Vietnam was still raging, the drug culture was having a blast and the silent majority was not so silent any more. The Church in America needed hope and we were a big part of that dream. We hailed from Brooklyn, Boston, Buffalo and Baltimore; from Memphis, Dallas, New Orleans and Sioux City; from Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Providence and places in between. We went by names like Jack, Jay, Billy and Danny. We were tall and short, stocky and slender, wealthy, middle class or somewhere in between.

The unknown lie before us. We would not see the American shore for two years and would be away for a total of four years. We would not hear The Star Spangled Banner or hear the words “Play Ball!” but rather would be serenaded by the lilting anthem of our adopted country, “Italia” and doze off on Sunday afternoons watching soccer matches.

It seems like only yesterday that we arrived in Rome and saw the Basilica of St. Peter for the first time just as the sun was setting. Rome - that eternal city of God, grace and beauty. That city of sin, corruption and infamy. Rome - that eternal city of our culture and our faith. I will never forget the crest of the College on the cool marble floor of the foyer of the North American College - “Firmum est cor meum” (“Steadfast is my heart”).

We were being sent to learn from the giants of theology - Lonergan, Rahner, Latourelle, Fuchs, Haring, Alfaro and Galot. These were the men who shaped the theology of the Church and we would be their pupils and possibly their heirs. But first we had to learn Italian since all of the lectures were being converted from Latin to Italian although some professors would still insist on the “mother tongue”.

Now forty years have passed since that August day and as I reflect I note how this group, the hope of the Church can be looked at as the pride of the American church producing a cardinal (RaymondBurke); eight bishops (Blair, Cote, Cupich, Hoeppner, Harvey,Mulvey,Provost, Zurek; numerous pastors, teachers, chaplains and missionaries. In addition, some of us became lawyers, teachers, businessmen, husbands and parents.

So I would like to toast those pilgrims, those frightened men of the Class of 1975 who matured into great lions of God. You were the brothers of my youth and you are the “fratelli” of my faith. I lift a glass of Spumante and wish you in ministry of whatever sort, “Ad multos annos” (“T o many years”). Because of you I can still say with the Psalmist, “Firmum est cor meum”.

Theology Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:53:00 +0000

A post with three important links... There has been a lot of theological sabre rattling of late; sabres of the bishops it would seem. That makes me very sad and I continue to pray for the Body of Christ.

That said, I think that these three posts are very important in presenting some thoughts on recent issues. Sometimes it is time to consider new wineskins, perhaps now being such a time? I pray for the wisdom to know.

As theology is "Fides quarens intellectum," or "faith seeking undertanding," I think that questions, probing, study and journey (we are a pilgrim people after all!) are essential to theology. And as a student of theology, I do not think I am making this up! However, there has been no shortage of conversation about recent skirmishes between bishops and theologians.

Three posts to consider...

From Catholic Moral Theology we find "Father Thomas Weinandy and the Theological Generation Gap". The author, PhD in Theology makes some interesting points about what makes today's theology very different from that of the past.

From WIT: Women In Theology, we come upon "A Curse and Affliction Upon the Church? On Vitriol and Theologians." This author is a PhD candidate in theology at Notre Dame and she unpacks some of the similarities between Fr. Weinandy's remarks in an talk given in May and recently summarized in a column by John Allen at NCR, about commentary on Dr. Elizabeth A. Johnson, CSJ and recent issues with her book, The Quest for the Living God. (In full disclosure, I have read and enjoyed this thought provoking book and it has been used in two of my classes.)

From Brother Dan Horan, OFM at his blog, Dating God, we read about "Fides Quaerens Nihilum, Weinandy's Vision of Theology." Dan, who has been teaching at Siena College is a theologian himself.(In more full disclosure, Br. Dan is coming to interview me today for a future episode of his Dating God podcast.)

Read on, think, consider, ponder, pray - and repeat. We worship a Living God, we are a pilgrim people and we must literally re-member the Body of Christ. How we do that is vast undertaking.

Poetry Tuesday - In My Time by Donald G. Harmande

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 01:12:00 +0000

(Due to an error on my part, this poem comes late! My apologies to Don and our readers!)

In My Time

When an elder entered a room

children stood up and when company came

they were told to observe with mouth shut.

When teacher said be quiet and learn

we did as was expected of us

without concern.

We honored the teacher who

was smarter than us and to whom we gave

all our attention and trust.

We never questioned authority

for we accepted what was to be

knowing rewards would come

and increase steadily.

We were aware of

bad seeds giving trouble

but the good ones rendered

faith and hope out of the rubble.

Oftentimes life is not fair but

the Golden Rule will always be there.

Observe it we must, it will pay in the end

as love conquers all

and peace will it send.

Yes or No? Yes and No! The Assumption and the Canannite Woman - A Reflection by Fran Rossi Szpylczyn

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:26:00 +0000

Dormition Abbey, Jerusalem, November 2004. Taken by me.

I was not going to post today but as I prayed earlier and as I got ready for work, the need to write about the Feast of the Assumption and/or yesterday's Gospel about Jesus and the Canannite woman was persistent. It was even more pressing after finding these three thought provoking posts, one from Ginny Kubitz Moyer, one from Philomena Ewing (ok two from Phil, see this one also,) and one from Claire Bangasser.

Which brings me to a question I would simply like to pose for today... Yes or No? As usual, I go for the both/and approach and come up with Yes and No!

The Canaanite woman will not take no for an answer. She went to Jesus in good faith for healing for her daughter and was not going to go away quietly. Once again we meet a woman, not even a Jew, persistently going to Jesus for help. He is even pretty clear that she is not who he came to save!

She says - no, you must help me. Even the dogs get scraps!

Today we have another Marian feast to ponder, the Dormition of the Theotokos or what we Catholics call the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Mary has not said no - in fact, she has said "yes." It is Mary's yes that changed the world!

What is it for you in life - the Yes or the No?

We must exercise both? How does this work in your life? I hope you comment here; I'd love to know what you think.

Poetry Tuesday - The Beach, A Short Story by Donald G. Harmande

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 09:03:00 +0000

The Beach

The month was May but the air was chilly and the moisture was penetrating as I strolled the beach to a spot where I had longed to be for a very long time. Months? Years? Did it matter how long? I couldn't recall and didn't care to remember. I hadn't had the experience of feeling so small next to the vast sea in so long a time. I became overwhelmed. At the same time the exhilaration I felt encompassed me as I slowly removed my shoes and smoothed the soothing sand between my toes. I then knew that my dream had come true and I was once again in the place my heart had left behind such a long time ago. Yes, when I was child I had moved with my family to different locations. But then as I grew older I made all the decisions in my life and relocated far away. It was my choice, my inclination and preference and I was happy with it.

As the gusts brushed my cheeks and flattened my hair, I not only knew that I was free but that I was the master of my fate. My future was meant to be by my input and the results would have been determined by my plans and actions. And wandering on the tip of the breaking waves, I collected only the shells that were perfect in dimension with no uneven edges or cracks and placed them in my jacket pocket. They rattled loudly and I wondered if they would break but then I recalled how strong shells could be, having collected so many of them in the past and how they continued to remain intact. I treasured each and every one of them. I felt strong like the shells, powerful and invincible. The driftwood was evident and I speculated if some were perhaps the same I had passed when a child. This thought enticed my imagaination and remembrance of an old movie where wood was depicted aging by the sea. It was the same piece of wood but only withered and warped with time. Are we the same as the wood, shrunken but full of enriching experiences and giving us an impenetrable shell? In a strong sense I felt connected to all natural things of the earth. I knew I had grown to a person of my own, and through good and bad encounters had developed with open-mindeness, looking forward to an adventurous future. The destiny of each one of us I begain to realize, was not so much where one is at present but where one is going based on the dreams and blueprints now, at this very moment. Any outside forces really do not matter as long as our focus and attention strive for peace and contentment, no matter the conditions or place.

As I turned my head to the far end of the beach my hair swept into my eyes momentarily blinding me. I was not concerned for in spite of the wind and the mist and the chill, I had come back to where I used to exist and would be ready to leave it whenever I wished. I knew the beach would be there waiting for me, greeting me and expecting me whenever I returned. For in the final summary, home is wherever I wanted it to be.

On the way back from the water's edge, I turned once more to witness the moon peeking out from the horizon which was clearing at the final moments of the day. My blessing was complete.

Donald G. Harmande

"Teach Your Children" - A Theme Song for "Baby Boomerangs" by Peter Avvento

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:11:00 +0000

“Teach your children” - A theme song for “Baby Boomerangs”

In the last few years I have been reading stories about how “Baby Boomers” (those of us born between 1946-1964) are returning to church. So I am starting to wonder, Is there a spiritual revival taking place? And then I wonder, What caused people of my generation to leave and what is possibly bringing them back? Since sociologists have to give tag names for every movement of people they have dubbed this group of returnees as “baby boomerangs”. In other words people who grew up having had some religious instruction but then got rid of their religious beliefs when they became adults because spirituality seemed so irrelevant within the new pluralistic society. And now like a good boomerang many people are returning to their point of departure.

Well, what made the” boomers” leave in the first place? It seems likely that the fall of religious ideas and institutions from their position of dominance had something to do with this. There was just no more power, oomph, fear, control. The Catholic Church, thanks to the saintly and gentle Pope John XXIII, opened the windows to the wind of the Holy Spirit and made us a free people, a people “come of age”. But also the process of pluralization was rapidly multiplying faiths, ideologies and world views. The menu was sooooooo big. Why limit myself to one meal selection? So the “boomers” developed“salad-bar” spirituality. We tried meditation, scientology, New Age stuff (either under or not under the influence of mind altering drugs). I guess the attraction was that these techniques were only vaguely religious and made no demands on my life.

But time marches on and now as most of my generation of “boomers” are approaching or passing through mid-life we are starting to ask those timeless questions – “Who am I?”, “Where am I going?” and most importantly, in the words of Peggy Lee ,”Is that all there is?” After all these years it seems that my generation has given up on what technology can do for our souls and is starting to return. But I would not exactly call it a spiritual revival. Rather, we continue to be true to our label – we are “seekers of experience”. We sought pleasure, freedom, wealth and everything in between and now we are seeking a religious center, a bearing point, and a port in the storm. Why?

I think there are two major reasons: children and spiritual restlessness. Believe it or not, we members of the “tune in, turn on, drop out” generation are really concerned about the moral and spiritual fiber of our children. Maybe, the words of Crosby, Still and Nash sung in 1969 now have a deeper meaning for us now and could serve as our theme:

“You, who are on the road

Must have a code that you can live by

And so, become yourself

Because the past is just a goodbye”

“Teach your children well

Their father’s hell did slowly go by

And feed them on your dreams

The one they pick. The one you’ll know by”

The “boomers” used to say that they did not believe in absolute values but now they do not want their children growing up without any sense of moral direction. Why? Because the years of searching, tasting, feeling and enjoying left them empty and restless and they do not want this for their children. They want to prevent their children from spending endless years wandering in a desert. They want to “teach their children well…”

When all is said and done, maybe the restlessness and search for spirituality is something that must occur with each generation, each person. Perhaps it truly was St. Augustine who said it best, “We were made for thee, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in thee”. Until we can come to that revelation perhaps we just have to be guided by our “boomerang” theme song and teach our children well.

Poetry Tuesday - His Call To Duty by Donald G. Harmande

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:11:00 +0000

His Call to Duty

He thinks of others first not self

And in so doing shares great wealth.

He feels things in life greatly matter

And supports dreams before they shatter.

He holds on in still of night

When sometimes demons gives one fright.

Nevertheless he knows how to soothe

Uplifting others and their mood.

When down and out it seems to be

With his smile he melts adversity.

Who is this one who beats a path

And stoically crushes enduring wrath?

He's the one to seek as a friend

Whose love at all times never ends.

Poetry Tuesday - My Prayer by Donald G. Harmande

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:03:00 +0000

MY PRAYER

THANK YOU GOD FOR YESTERDAY

THANK YOU FOR TODAY

TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY

WHICH MAY NOT COME MY WAY.

IF THAT DAY EVADES ME

AND TODAY IS MY SUNDOWN

PLEASE LORD TAKE ME WITH YOU

TO WHERE MY NEW DAY WILL

BE FOUND

AMEN

"Be"-Attitudes, How to Live the Good News - By Peter Avvento

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 10:30:00 +0000

“Be” Attitudes - How to Live the Good News

For the past few weeks we have been listening to parables about sowers and seed, about good ground and not so good ground and this coming week we will hear about various descriptions of the kingdom of heaven. All of these stories, drawn from an agrarian mindset, are used by Matthew in his 13^th chapter to illustrate what Jesus was talking about in his Sermon on the Mount in chapter 5. But I am struck not so much by the examples as I am about the point of it all. After all, I am neither a farmer nor a fisherman although I do love vegetables, grain and fish! I am more interested in the audience – the soil, the water, the land, the heart. What must I do to ensure that the soil of my heart is ready, that my land is properly fertilized, that the sea of my soul is open to receive the net? In other words, how am I to continue to grow spiritually so that the Word of God takes root in my heart and bears fruit?

In looking for a practical application I look to a familiar and wise old source, one of my former professors, the Canadian Jesuit philosopher Bernard J. Lonergan, S.J. Father Lonergan’s major work was a book called Insight: A Study of Human Understanding (1957). In this book he developed a theory of knowledge. He wanted to get people to raise their own self-awareness in life. According to Lonergan we can do this by following some basic precepts: Be attentive, Be intelligent, Be reasonable and Be responsible! Be loving! Let’s look at this in greater depth and see how we might apply them in our daily lives.

“Be attentive”! – Are we attentive to the signs of the times? Do we bring the Gospel message into our daily lives? Is the Gospel “real” for us? Are we more interested in getting our daily dose of medicine from CNN or the Word of God? This is a tough one, I must confess. As Christians we are called to be “in” the world but not “of” the world. We are called upon to transform the world not to be consumed by the world. This is a very sticky situation and a very narrow road to navigate. We are called upon to be “dual citizens” – citizens of this world and of the next world.

“Be intelligent”! – I do not mean book smart although it does have its place. Am I striving to learn more about my faith, trying to understand the Scriptures and their rich meaning? Do I stop to do any spiritual reading? What about prayer? On the surface this seemingly “waste of time” with the One who knows me and loves me more than anyone in the world is the perfect way to grow wise in the things of God. What about enjoying my experiences? Do I see all things as part of God’s plan for me? Only when I experience this can I grow into the person that the Lord intended me to be.

“Be reasonable”! – This is a tough one and I do not like it. Do I recognize my limitations? Oh I know the limitations of others but what about myself? Between responsibilities at work and at home there just does not seem to be enough time in the day to accomplish what I need to accomplish. Do I realize that God is God and I am not and am I thankful for that? Can I let go of the steering wheel and let God lead me? After all, it’s His world, not mine.

“Be responsible!” – Am I a responsible steward of the gifts that I have been given? Do I take care of my health, my home, the earth and its creatures? Do I strive to be a co-creator with God and make this a better place to live? Do I try to impart values to my family and friends and co-workers without putting them off? Do I own up to my shortcomings or do I conveniently say “the devil made me do it”?

“Be loving!” – Do I reflect the love that I have received from God in my daily life? Am I in love with God or do I merely acknowledge Him? Does my heart pour out or close up? Am I inclusive or exclusive in my dealings with people? Do I brand, label and categorize people giving them no hope of redemption?

I truly believe that if we can begin to be attentive, intelligent, reasonable, responsible and loving we will finally get the point of the message of the Gospel and we can start living out the challenge of what it means to follow Jesus. We will experience “conversion”, a radical

re-positioning of our very selves in order to be open to the touch of God in our hearts. It is then that we will truly know “inner peace” and an answer to our restlessness. Amen.

******************************************************************************

Peter Avvento is the Coordinator of both, Adult Faith Enrichment at St. Edward's as well as for the diocesan Amazing God initiative. To learn more about Peter, please click here. We thank him for this contribution to the parish blog and hope to see his work here more regularly in the future.

A Blog Post About... Blogging, Blah-Blah Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:03:00 +0000

This post was written for my personal blog, but I am also posting it here. Please note that it is written from that perspective. Thanks and happy reading!

It was not long ago when an interviewer called to talk to me about being a Roman Catholic blogger in the Albany diocese. For someone who always has a lot to say, I must admit to being a bit dumbstruck. The article appears here and includes my real-life friends Mary DeTurris Poust, Deacon Neil Hook and Fr. Richard Vosko. (For the record, with respect to the author of the article, I have corresponded with and interviewed the wonderful James Martin, SJ - but, befriend is a strong word. Deacon Greg Kandra on the other hand is a met-in-person, in regular touch with, beloved and trusted friend of mine. That's us over there!

I thought that my interview my come out all "errr.... ummm... well, you know..." I think it came out sounding like "blah-blah blogging!" At least that is my fear.

It was not the first time I have been interviewed on the topic and who knows if it will be the last.

Yesterday I was driving to my job at Immaculate Conception and was listening to the Parliamentary hearings from the UK around the phone hacking scandal. One of the members of parliament was talking about how media in general, including social media, needed better standards. (massive understatement!) He then referred to the "blags." It was his accent and I am not mocking, but it caught my attention. He then went on for a few moments about the "blags" and "blaggers." Blah-blah blogging!

The third thing on this circuitous path to a post is this. Earlier in the week I was at my home parish of St. Edward the Confessor, at a meeting with someone from a website design firm and the topic of the parish blog came up. This gentleman implied that blogging was on life support, a soon-to-be thing of the past. It did not make me happy to hear that, but there is some truth to it.

If you are a marketer. If you are a marketer or a news organization or anyone trying only to get quick attention, forget blogging. A 300 word post on your new product or service will be lost in the ad clutter. I did not spend 29 years in the media business for nothing; I get that. If I had a business it would be Twitter and Facebook, all the way.

So what is my long-winded point? (I told you I always have a lot to say!)

My point is this - I do not think blogging is going away any time soon. At least I hope not.

Blogging, which I have been doing in one form or another since 2007, has helped me to better see and understand the world around me and my own place in it - personally, spiritually and politically.

In the midst of hard core (who remain beloved to me) lefty bloggers, I found my political center. In the midst of a group of passionate Episcopalian bloggers, (who I continue to be in prayerful blogging/Facebook and real-life friendship community with) I discovered the depth of my Catholic faith. In addition I have had great discussions and learned much from Buddhists, Jews, atheists, Lutherans, Evangelicals, Pentacostalists, agnostics, Muslims, Hindus, humanists and of course, the SBNR people.(Spiritual but not religious.) Without a doubt, I am a better Catholic because of all of this, of that I am certain.

As for my Catholic blogging friends- we are engaged in discussions, theological and otherwise that are transformational for all of us. And I can promise you, we have many, many disagreements, but what binds us is our common love for the Church and how the Church is in the world!

If you are not familiar with blogging, which is quite different than reading a newspaper or some other static thing, blogging offers the chance for conversation via the comments. I also think that that is a big plus of using blogging and Facebook together, the opportunity to have a discussion.

That is how we are transformed. That is how community is discovered and built. Both this blog and the parish blog are about gathering community more than anything else.

In the past year this blog and my parish blog have both floundered a bit. Last summer I was very ill and the summer was lost to me. The fall proved to be too busy for a variety of over-committed reasons. Then came January and a new year presented our family with a major challenge when my husband's sister became ill and subsequently died, blogging fell to the bottom of the list. I had no time, I also had so little to say.

As I mentioned the other day, I am trying to find my footing again, but without you - well there is no footing! It is community and conversation that we are trying to build here, not a one-way-ideological-my-way-or-the-highway-zone.

If you are new, I welcome you and I sincerely hope that you will say something. If you don't want to comment, then please drop me an email and let me know that you are here.

Now, to think of things to write about. If you have ideas, you can put them in the comments to, or if you have questions.

I have to go now... I have a lot of blogs to read! (This will be cross-posted on The Parish Blog of St. Edward the Confessor)

Poetry Tuesday - Words by Donald G. Harmande

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:37:00 +0000

Words

Whether truth or lies,
words can do so much
imprinting our lives
with their touch.
Tending to believe
what we read and see
they can lead
to hurt or disharmony.
Next time you see
what seems written in granite
should not be taken for granted.
Then truth will assuredly unfold
while untruth belies
what we've been told.

Donald G. Harmande

Poetry Tuesday - Peace and Love by Donald G. Harmande

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:23:00 +0000

Peace and Love

Peace and love can remain inside

whenever we want them to stay.

perpetuating good in everyday life

keeping negativity at bay.

Good will performed

in even smallest of tasks

is what turns bad into good

and all that anyone asks.

Fulfilling our goal

seeking the positive

renders this peace and love to our soul.

Donald G. Harmande

Poetry Tuesday - The Wind Speaks by Donald G. Harmande

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 09:03:00 +0000

The Wind Speaks

I love to ride the waves and push the clouds up high,

energy unending, flying freely in the sky.

As puffy white clouds turn dark

and moisture is imminently due

I force my way toward the horizon

thrusting all my strength through.

But when the storm is over

and my energy is benign

I take a break with a cooling breeze

declaring all on earth is divine.

I sometimes sleep but not for long

'cause I am perpetual you see

and I must produce what nature intends

over all the land and the sea.

Poetry Tuesday - Go My Poem by Donald G. Harmande

noreply@blogger.com (St Edwards Blog) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:13:00 +0000

Go My Poem

I send this poem to you who'll hear me out;

firm truth is sent with joy throughout.

Go little poem, seek each one who'll listen,

reach out and purge hate from within.

Soothing understanding is my mission,

harmony from the heart will win.

When we give another our true best,

kindness grows from good will expressed.

I do not seek glory, nor accolades;

my hope is love which never fades.

My poem states who I am, from where I came;

within God's unity acclaimed.

The Body and Blood of Christ - June 26, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 12:26:00 +0000

The Last Supper - Before and After Restoration

What is good Eucharistic theology?

When I made my First Holy Communion, as we said back in the day, in May of 1965 at Assumption Church in White Plains, NY, I knew all about kneeling, reverence and holiness. When I was not in the first or second pew fidgeting with my classmates, I did try hard to adopt all sorts of postures of holiness.

One thing I liked to do was to hold my the palms of my hands together so that all my fingers lined up and pointed to the sky. I thought that God liked the perfection of that. I also liked to have good posture when on the kneeler in the pew. Another important thing was how I knelt at the altar rail when I went to communion. I liked that it was red and smooth and just slightly plush, which cushioned my knees. I liked the feel of the cool marble of the altar rail if I were to even lean against or touch it accidentally. I also liked staring at my potential new boyfriend (who at the time I was sure that I would marry) Tommy Criscione. Tommy had that plum job as altar boy, wearing his red cassock and white surplice. I was so jealous but my crush on him overrode my feelings of envy.

Then there was the way that I felt - when the host melted I thought that Jesus was gone, not to return for another week! Panic would set in. Talk about panic - it would really set in when the white host would get stuck to the roof of my mouth. Uh-oh! While I liked the idea of Jesus hanging around a bit longer, I would get very upset. What if He got stuck there, like permanently? I would take my tongue and try to move Him around - gently and reverently of course - but what if I hurt him? I mean, did I not already hurt him enough with my 7 year old sinning? (And remember - I had a pleasant Catholic upbringing, this was from the not-hellfire-damnantion crowd!)

So much for reverence and holiness, the score so far:

Fran's self-focus - 10, Jesus the Lord - 0.

Oh it makes my head spin to consider it all!

Here we are today and on this great feast, one in which we celebrate the very centrality of our Catholic Christian faith, and one in which I pray we can find one thing to agree on... We truly believe that Christ is presence in the bread and wine that we consume.

Can we please start there and maybe stay there?

OK, good... let's see where that leads us. We agree that Christ is present to us in the bread and wine, Christ's Body, Christ's Blood.

We do not come to the table to have a linear experience of "Jesus 'n me." It is not about getting another bite that will allow us, if we are really good boys and girls, to stay out of hell for the next few days. Oh my gosh - what bad theology is that?

We do not come to the table to get a fix! We come to the table to be One in Christ.

We come to the table to not simply receive, but to give. It is Christ's sacrifice for us but also our sacrifice for him. No, I'm not talking about some hand-wringing-I-suffer-for-Jesus personal piety, but rather the sacrifice of self-gift. Self-gift meaning, here I am Lord, I am broken for you and your people as you were broken for us. I am poured out for you and your people Jesus, as you poured yourself out for us.

And in this act of giving, rather than just receiving, to use the Doxology, "through Him, with Him, in Him," we become One! One. One. One. Catholic. Universal. Unity. Communion. Common union. One. One. One.

If we could but start there and stay there, just rest awhile in that spot... No more fighting, just for a minute, OK?

Then we might remember that we are there to be transformed... not unlike the painting of the Last Supper. Renewed, revived. And when that happens we are given something and we can then give more to the world. Be transformed, transform the world! It is the dynamism of the Eucharist and what could be more exciting and more uniting than that?

I hope that we don't continue to argue about whether to kneel or stand, whether to take communion in the hand or on the tongue, whether one is "worthy" to come to the altar or not. Aren't we all unworthy, don't we say that in one voice, "Lord,I am not worthy..." None of us are worthy, yet we are invited to the table, over and over again.

We are given the chance anew to be one each and every day. Let us look to this day in which we commemorate the Body of Christ by actually being the Body of Christ. Let us re-member Christ today and not dismember Christ today. Let us do that each day, every day and for always and forever, in the name of Christ who is our Lord.

Amen and amen and amen.

A homily from Pope Benedict the XVI on this feast in 2008 is here.
Deacon Greg Kandra's fine homily from today is here.
It is not on the internet but Fr. Pat offered a fine homily which he refers to the restoration of the Michaelangelo's Last Supper. What a fine metaphor for us all.... as the painting got cleaned and restored, it became clearer. Just like the Eucharist does for us, as we grow to be one in Christ.