April 20, 2008

Dear friends in life and in ministry . . .

Tomorrow morning at 5:30 a.m. I'll board a bus with several parishioners and Catholics from the Diocese of Rochester who will attend the Papal Mass at Yankee Stadium. The people that I'll travel with are very excited about this opportunity.

While I am proud of my Catholic Faith and heritage, I'm not one who feels especially comfortable "Star-Gazing" - whether the celebrity is a movie star, politician or even the head of my church. Years ago, I enjoyed the experience of attending a Papal Mass and a general audience with John Paul II in Rome. But the enthusiasm of the crowd and especially my fellow pilgrims was more personally exciting to me than being in the presence of the man himself. On this trip, just being with 70,000 people who are excited about their faith and the opportunity to be in the presence of the Holy Father will be the memorable experience. If in some way my personal faith is also enriched by the experience, thanks be to God. I'm open and ready for whatever God has planned for me.

This week, I ask your prayers for John Hurley, the brother of my friend Deacon Dan Hurley. John, who just turned 50 had gastric by-pass surgery a week ago Wednesday. There were major complications as a result of the surgery and he is currently in a coma. Doctors say that he is critically ill with about a 50-50 chance of survival. I plan on praying for John especially during the Papal Mass and ask that you say a prayer for him whenever you watch a papal event on TV this weekend.

Also heard from a long ago friend Mike Steenberge who has requested prayers for his brother-in-law Frank Zematis who is currently being treated for a very aggressive form of cancer.

God Bless,

Deacon Ray

This week's Column: April 20, 2008

Jesus promised, "Whoever believes in Me will do the works I do and will do even greater than these."

Since Vatican II, the Holy Spirit has been resurrecting ministries and restoring theologies that had disappeared from our Catholic faith for many centuries. During the last 45 years the Spirit has revived the RCIA; restored the married, permanent Diaconate; redesigned professional, lay Church leadership; revealed countless liturgical reforms; and reawakened us to the truth of our Baptism which unites us in the “one priesthood of Christ”.

The definition of "priest" is "One who offers sacrifice." We are Christ’s "royal priesthood" meaning we are spiritually united with Christ and able to offer our daily sacrifices of prayer, action, time, talent, treasure and our very lives directly to our Heavenly Father for the spiritual benefit of others.

St. Peter tells what the Holy Spirit won't let us forget, "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God's own…who announce God's praises…called from darkness to light." The vocation of every Christian is being Christ's disciple. God calls each believer to the heights of holiness whether one is single, married or religious.

St. Peter further declares that we are all living stones in a spiritual house, the Church, with the cornerstone being Christ. We are God’s holy and priestly people; intercessors, mediators and partners with Christ so to disperse His blessings everywhere. As millions of living stones united within the Body of Christ we can do even greater things than Jesus did because of the Holy Spirit's activity working in and through us.

In recent years, through the horrors and shame of Church’s sexual abuse crisis, the Holy Spirit has shown us that mature spiritual leadership (both ordained and lay) must be based on clear evidence of moral, emotional and psychological health. The crisis also revealed the need for greater mutual accountability between clergy and laity and absolute transparency on the part of Church leaders at the parish and diocesan levels and throughout the entire Magisterial structure. Without accountability and transparency a dysfunctional system is created as private sins become galvanized into one corporate system of sin that is highly resistant to intervention or introspection.

As our Holy Father Benedict XVI visits the US for the first time as pope, he will no doubt speak of this crisis and urge us all to faithfully adhere to the Gospel and remain diligent in promoting the dignity of all human life.

During this historic visit, the American Church remains at a crossroads. If we chose, as has much of Europe, to relegate faith and religion to irrelevant sidelines of life, our legacy will be the generation which squandered the gifts and promise of 2000 years of discipleship. If we chose to live as people anointed as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God's own" God will do more than heal and restore us. God will perform even greater works through us than we have yet seen or imagined.

"Whoever believes in Me will do the works I do and will do greater ones than these."! Come Holy Spirit!

Thanks to former colleague Barbara Heseneus whose preaching inspired this reflection.

Papal Mass

This weekend, I’ll be among 500 diocesan pilgrims including about ten St. Mary’s parishioners at the Papal Mass at Yankee Stadium. In recent weeks I’ve dreaded having to be at St. Mary Our Mother’s parking lot at 5:30 a.m., enduring a grueling six-hour bus ride, waiting in long security lines at Yankee Stadium and then, staying put in an assigned seat, (no doubt in the nose-bleed section), for perhaps three hours before the 2:30 p.m. Mass.

Now I’ve learned that the waiting time will include a “Concert of Hope” featuring Harry Connick, Jr, Marcello Giordano, Ronan Tynan, Jose Feliciano, and Dana. American Idol Kelly Carkson will sing Ave Maria before Mass. I’ve decided that the wait won’t be so bad after all. The Vatican team really knows how to warm up a crowd.

These concerts, the Papal Mass and all of the Pope’s appearances will be televised on EWTN. I suspect that viewers will have a much better view than I will.

Perhaps you’ve seen this billboard on the outskirts of Bath and have wondered what’s it all about.

In Advent, Bishop Clark invited us join with him on a three year journey of spiritual growth which would kick off in the Spring of 2008. I am pleased to announce that the Spirit Alive journey in Catholic Churches throughout the Southern Tier will commence with special Services of Reconciliation and Hope during April and May. On Pentecost Sunday, May 11, we will formally invite you to commit to this journey of faith.

These services will include a heartfelt invitation to people who for one reason or another have drifted away or feel estranged from the Catholic Church. At each service, there will be an opportunity to speak confidentially with parish Leaders and, if you wish, receive sacramental reconciliation. Within the next few weeks I hope to publish the date and time of our Service of Reconciliation and Hope as well as similar services in Campbell, Corning, Dansville and Hornell.

Fr. Peter’s Farewell Party

Father Peter will be leaving us on May 26 to spend time with his family in Ghana before assuming his new assignment as pastor of Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Hornell. We are planning a dish to pass dinner in Fr. Peter’s honor on Sunday, May 25th in O’Malley Hall. If you would like to be part of the planning group for this event, please call the parish office.

Our new sacramental minister, Fr. Jim Jaeger will arrive during the last week of June and preside at his first weekend Mass with us on June 28 and 29.

In the interim between Fr. Peter’s departure and Fr. Jim’s arrival, Father Dan Condon will preside and preach at our Sunday Eucharists. Fr. Condon, is the chancellor of the Diocese of Rochester. Fr. John Wydeven has graciously agreed to preside at our weekday Masses.

Have a good week. Serve one another well.

Deacon Ray

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Bulletin: April 20th, 2008