 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Archive: October 9, 2005 |
|
October 9, 2005 Dear friends in life and in ministry, Well the weather has certainly changed over the past week as rain and cooler temperatures remind us that Fall really is upon us. I'm writing this on Sunday afternoon. So far its been a different kind of Sunday afternoon as the heretofore struggling Buffalo Bills are ahead 10 to 0 in their game against Miami. As usual, I'm double tasking - watching the game between keystrokes as I write this... It was another very full weekend so I'm ready to celebrate the Columbus day holiday by sleeping in and doing my imitation of a slug the rest of the day. Friday night, following the wedding rehearsal and dinner with Jennifer Rossi and Jim Henniger, I drove to Chemung to spend the night with George and Jana Howell. The overnight gave me time to complete the presentation I was to give on Saturday morning at St. Pius X in Van Etten. About 25 men from Blessed Trinity Parish (which includes St. Pius) for a Breakfast Retreat. My presentation was entitled "Things My Father Never Told Me" - about being a man and father. I used cartoons of Homer Simpson - America's favorite dysfunctional male to illustrate my power-point presentation. A lot of work went into this presentation but I hope to take it on the road in the future. Following my presentation I returned to Corning for Jennifer and Jim's 1 p.m. wedding ceremony at St. Mary's, then to Bath and Hammondsport to preach at the 4 p.m. and 5:30 Masses. I also preached at St. Mary's and St. Gabriel's this morning so my SLUG plans are justified. My Sent to Serve column this week isn't original. My friend and -pastoral administration Charlotte Bruney used it in her column last week at St. Vincent dePaul in Churchville, NY. The quality of the writing and the great insight into the Fall season would have given me away to many of you - so I thought I'd fess up before you asked. My fantasy is to someday write something good enough that Charlotte will want to steal it for her column. Blessings to all . . .
FALL REFLECTIONS It is now officially fall. Soon our trees will burst into a myriad of reds and golden hues in their final celebration of life, getting ready for their winter repose. It is beautiful time of year. In fact, autumn used to be my favorite season. It is only as I’ve gotten older that I’ve realized it is the prelude to winter. It is a season of dying. The changes are subtle. Not only are the days growing noticeably shorter, but the way in which light enters our spaces is changing as well. The red glow at dusk, so much earlier at this time of year, speaks to us of the long, dark winter approaching far more quickly than perhaps we’d like to see. Our liturgical year recognizes this as well. In our lectionary, you will notice the readings of the season take a subtle shift in tone. Gone are the exuberant summer parables of sowing seeds and finding hidden treasure. Instead we are hearing stories of the vineyard owner’s son being killed when he goes to supervise the harvest, the wedding feasts whose invited guests refuse to come, and sobering predictions about the end of time. We are urged to do some serious reflection on our readiness to meet our Maker. The season reaches a climax in early November with the liturgical celebrations of All Saints and All Souls Days. These feasts reveal to us the deeper significance of all the fading and dying we see in our forests, fields and flower gardens. We are reminded that the final harvesting will not be of crops, but of souls. We reflect on the “communion of saints”, understanding ourselves as part of a relationship that has infinite dimensions. As someone who only recently lost a parent, I have been comforted by our belief in this sacred, grave-spanning communion. Our theology declares that loved ones never really leave us because their spirit and presence continue to influence our daily lives. Even though our relationship to them has radically changed, we still feel connection. We pray for them and ask them to pray for us. And Love will always be the fabric that connects us. On All Souls Day, November 2 we will hold our annual Bereavement Mass during which we’ll ring a bell and light a candle in memory of parishioners and loved ones who have passed to new life. I hope that all who have lost loved ones during the past year will join us at this special Mass. Have a good week. Serve one another well. |
Over the years, God has blessed me with many wonderful opportunites to minister. As a Roman Catholic permanent deacon of the Diocese of Rochester, New York, (ordained 1982), I have served in a wide variety of ministries. Whether I am ministering to my parish, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, travel or retreat groups (e.g. Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus, Koiniania, Pre Cana, Youth) - music has played an important role in opening doors and hearts.
 |
This website is an extension of that ministry. Here you'll find the lyrics to many of my prayer-songs and, if you like, purchase from a collection of CDs I've recorded. There's also information about tours and pilgrimages that my wife Pat and I occasionally host and links to web sites I've found interesting. |
|
I pray that you will enjoy this visit,
and if you like, . |
|
