Show Joy as Catholics

 ”We Do Indeed Need to Show Joy as Catholics.”

My motto — “Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.”

Michael J. Sheehan, Archbishop of Santa   Fe

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News Flashes

-        Swanson Christian Products of Tennessee is selling golf balls with this saying “I once was lost but now I’m found.”

-        Columnist Mollie Wilson O’Reilly blasted Archbishop Charles Chaput in Philadelphia for inserting politics into his statement following the Sandy disaster. “Caput went far out of his way to make a political point, turning what ought to have been an expression for compassion and prayer into an endorsement of Republican ideals and budget priorities.” (Comment: If true, shame on you, Chuck.)

-        Right Reverend Justin Welby, Bishop of Durham, has been selected to succeed Dr. Rowan Williams as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury. This should be good news for Anglican-Roman Catholic relations as he builds on the strong commitment and ecumenical legacy of Archbishop Williams.

-        Kiril Maritchkov, who was appointed by his government at the Vatican’s ambassador from Bulgaria, has been declared a persona non grata by the Vatican. His sin was having written a novel containing a gay sex scene. It has become a standoff because the Bulgaria will not submit another person to this important role. (Comment: Hey fellows in Rome, get with it!)

 Poem

(Zellie M. Quinn)

Twisting, strangling itself

To see

The flower is mad

Ever seeking the most beautiful

Of seven different suns

Moved by every wind

Indulging every mad whim, sapped of strength

Now weak and flattened to the grasses

The flower must choose

One Sun or die.

 Today’s Martyrs

(Lest we forget)

 Let us purify ourselves through the martyrs, or rather, through him through whom they too were purified in blood and truth.

                           St. Gregory Nazianzen (died 390)

Christians renewed an appeal to the Sri Lankan government to defend religious freedom after the nation’s minority Christian community was shocked by an attack on a Protestant church. On December 9 a crowd of 1,000 people, including many Buddhist monks, stormed and destroyed the church building and injured the pastor. In 2012 there were over 50 attacks by the Buddhist Power Force (Bodu Bala Sena) who want to defend the country against “Muslims and Christians.”

 

My favorite priest, layperson, breathing saint or organization 

(Now, tell me about your favorite Catholic priest, layperson or organization that is making a difference aljagoe@comcast.net)

 

Interesting sayings

You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality….

Ayn Rand 

Our call as Christians is to stir up again and enkindle in the midst of their daily life and concrete situation a new awareness and familiarity with Jesus, to re-propose his Gospel in all its depth, its intensity and its transformative power…                                        Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl 

Today Christianity finds itself in a situation where pursuing historical truth freely is difficult because it has been neglected again and again in the past…Albert Schweitzer

Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be… Abraham Lincoln

The Jesus jokes reveal how tangled our religious, racial, economic and political positions have become. Laughing may be one way to talk about the problems without killing one another…Historian, Edward J. Blum and Paul Harvey

People magazine has yet to call to explain why I wasn’t named “Sexiest Man Alive.” I’m all about forgiveness… James Martin, S. J.

What threatens modern Western states as it once threatened Rome is not simply an idea that the state poses a danger to religion, but equally the opposite idea that religion poses a threat to the state because it reveals the insubsantiality of the concerns of the state and the limits of the state’s power over the individual… Paul Kahn

A woman drove me to drink, and I didn’t have the decency to thank her…W. C. Fields

 

It is the duty of every man to render to the Creator each homage and such only as he believes to be acceptable to him. This duty is precedent, both in order and time and in degree of obligation, to the claims of Civil Society. Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society he must be considered as a subject of the Governour of the Universe. And if a member of Civil Society, do it with a saving of his allegiance to the Universal Sovereign… James Madison, in year 1825

 

Communiqués

In the January 27^th New York Times, Frank Bruni’s article, “Catholicism’s Curse” hits on the time-worn controversy of the child abusive scandal, single priests and the limited role of women. This subject is news worthy; but why not writes about “The Blessings of Catholicism”?

We joyful Catholics have the obligation both to appreciate and spread the word about how splendid is our 2,000-year-old religion. Like the song from the past – “You got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative; don’t mess with mister in-between.”

So, let’s get going!

Slowe Lombago

 

You have been awarded a Grant sum of $1 Million USD from the United Nations with Qualification numbers (UNF/FBF-826-1619 G-924-94). For Claims Procedure Forward this email to the Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon on E-mail: bankimoon543@yahoo.co.uk.

Anna Young

(Reply, Anna, you are too kind, but I can’t find the time to take advantage of your generosity)

I think your bumper sticker is a lousy idea. I would feel like a religious asshole if I put one on my car. What I believe in is my own business and I want to keep it private. What are you – some kind of a holy freak?

Jeffery Townsend

                                       

I have known your friend, Brother Ed Adams, since 2009 when I met him at the Wildwood Library in New Jersey. He is a pure and joyful and humble great guy, as well as being a great friend.

Matt Clark

 

You are so right. Unless you full come to terms and admit sin (we all are sinners) unless and until that happens you can not hope to be forgiven .As Archbishop Sheen once said, “”If we have never sinned, we cannot call Jesus –Savior.” Our Lord gave us Himself in the Eucharist. He gave us His bride—the Church, and He gave us His Mother to be our Mother.                       R. C. Thomas

 

I must prefer a reception after Mass in order to greet others. There is a huge difference between an Evangelical, Presbyterian, or Episcopalian church and a Catholic on—our churches contain the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Our actions while in church are focused on Him.             Michel

 

Hi, I want to subscribe to this great blog to obtain more up-to-dates. Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic!      Amie 

 

Chuckle Time

The old priest had scolded his housekeeper for referring to furniture and things in the rectory as being “his” possessions. He kept telling her, “I own nothing. Everything here is ‘our’ possessions because it belongs to the parish.”

A week later when the priest was meeting with the ladies’ guild in the rectory living room, he heard a scream from upstairs. The housekeeper cried, “There is a mouse under our bed.”

 

We do indeed need to show joy as Catholics.   My motto — “Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.”

Michael J. Sheehan

Archbishop of Santa   Fe

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It Takes Guts

When I grew up before WWII in Gulfport, MS, which claimed a population of 12,000 including a few dogs and cats, everyone knew the religion of everyone else. Today, especially in metropolitan areas, one’s religion is kept as a guarded secret.  I read this statement by St. Timothy and agree that we Joyful Catholics have these three roles, I was appointed preacher and apostle and teacher. I am not ashamed, for I know him in whom I have believed. I was also impressed by this saying and decided to act –

Are you willing to be committed to the splendor of truth that is found in Jesus regardless of what others might think of you?

I ordered a supply of car stickers with the statement I AM A JOYFUL CATHOLIC. For the first test, I put one on my car. Instead of sticking it on the bumper, I put it on the bottom of my rear-view window where it can be seen clearly.

Each week, I get to Mass early and park in a prominent space where everyone will see the sticker. No parishioner seems to have noticed it. In our large condo parking garage where the car sticker will be observed by my many fellow residents, no one has mentioned it. The only person who has commented is my splendid priest who said quietly, “I like it.” It is the same as if a friend had seen me having lunch with a bimbo and discretely acted as if he hasn’t seen me. I wonder if others would ignore my sticker if it said,  THE HELL WITH YOU, BUSTER or GO STICK IT UP YOUR ASS.

My only hit was when I was parked in a shopping center and a grouchy looking woman said to me, “I’m not joyful but would like to be. Why would being Catholic make me happy?” This caught me off guard, and I said, “That’s a good question. I’m joyful because I am assured by Christ of having a joyful existence if I follow his two advices – to love others and love God.” The woman thought of this and suddenly smiled. She nodded and then drove off.

When my granddaughters, who have never been in a Catholic Church, were here for the holidays and borrowed my car, I told them while driving to keep smiling and not to cut anyone off. I chuckled the morning when I was driving my friend, retired Rabbi Jon, to breakfast, and he was sitting by me wearing his red yarmulke. Several drivers passing by gave us a second look.

In the Pope’s General Intention for this month, he said, “That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ, and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.”

Test yourself and see if any of you have the guts to put my I AM A JOYFUL CATHOLIC sticker on your car. If so, send me your name and address and I’ll send you, as a gift, one (or more) of them. aljagoe@gmail.com

 

Recommended Radings

-      “ Truth & Consequence” by Scott Alessi in MarchU. S. Catholic

-       “Orthodoxy & Dissent” by Jerry Ryan in February Commonweal.

-        “Responsible Conservatism” by R. R. Reno is February First Things

-        “An Engaging Proposal” by Ryan Messmore in January-February Touchstone

-        “True Beauty”in winter issue of Spiritual Life.

-        “Still Presente” in January 21 America

-        “Witness Unto Death” In January First Things 

 

Roster of Joyful Catholic Priests

The media loves to publicize bad priests, and we should give recognition to our Joyful Catholic Priests. Send me your recommendation for ones you think merit membership in this splendid group. (aljagoe@comcast.net)

Please click on the video below to see a list of our joyful priests

We do indeed need to show joy as Catholics.  

My motto — “Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.”

Michael J. Sheehan, Archbishop of Santa Fe

__________________________________________________

News Flashes

- In “Predictions for 2013”, The Economist presented this for us Catholics:

All over Europe and North America the number of priests and parishioners will continue to their remorseless decline. Expect more calls for flexibility from hard-pressed grassroots Catholics: women priests are off the agenda, but call for the ordination of married men, viri probati in church-speak, will grow. If you attend a Catholic funeral in 2013, you may find it taken by a layman (or laywoman); there are simply not enough priest to go round.

But some things will improve. Visit a Catholic service in 2013 and you will have a slightly better chance of finding beauty and holiness, rather than guitar-strumming dirges and multicoloured polyester vestments.

-In Belfast, Northern Ireland, Protestant protesters rioted in a Catholic area, and police had to use water cannon against them as they pushed the officers with metal fencing and ripped up paving stones to hurl at them. The Catholic Irish nationalists are seeking union with Ireland, and Protestant loyalists are determined that Belfast remain part of the United   Kingdom.

 

 Poem

And should by chance you do not know

Where to find Me,

Do not go here and there;

But if you wish to find Me

In yourself seek Me…. St. Teresa of Avila (died 1582)

 

 Today’s Martyrs

(Lest we forget)

 Let us purify ourselves through the martyrs, or rather, through him through whom they too were purified in blood and truth….St. Gregory Nazianzen (died 390)

(Religious persecutions are not limited against us Christians)

-        In Pauktaw Myanmar, Buddhist mobs attacked Muslims, burning entire villages and 30,000 Muslims fled, joining the ranks of 75,000 others who have been driven from their homes.

-       In Manama, Bahrain, the Sunni monarchy has banned all demonstrations by Shiite descendants who are being discriminated against. Many demonstrators and police have been injured and several killed. Doctors are jailed for treating injured protesters. 

My Favorite Priest, Layperson, Breathing Saint or Organization

My favorite priest is Fr. Noel Sanvicente,in San Jose, CA. He is an awesome nice preacher who brings to great joy to the listeners. He has served God and people with love caring, faithfulness ad diligence. I see Jesus through him. I wish I could attend my Masses often and I pray for him in my daily prayers  It thank God for sending him to us. May our Jesus Christ and his Virgin Mother bless him and protect him always.

                                                  Kathy Dewine

 My favorite priest is Fr. Kevin Nelson in Lantana, FL. He’s got a great sense of humor/ always makes me laugh/ is ultra smart/ a true alpha male priest.

Deborah Trombetta

(Comment) Congratulations, Fr. Kevin. This is your second recommendation. I look forward to meeting you when I am in Lantana in March.

(Now, tell me about your favorite Catholic priest, layperson or organization that is making a difference. aljagoe@gmail.com)

Interesting Sayings

We are human and mortal. We will suffer and die. But how we are with one another in that suffering and dying makes all the difference as to whether God’s presence is felt or not and whether we are comforted or not….Fr. Kevin J. O’Neil, a Redemptorist priest at the Washington Theological Union.

 

Divine action, being limitless in its plenitude, can take possession of a soul only to the extent to which that soul is emptied of all trust in its own action, for such self confidence is a spurious fullness that excludes divine action. Without it every thing is as nothing and with it nothing becomes everything…..Father Jean-Pierre de Caussade, S.J. (died 1751)

 

Faith is a way of seeing things, and what we see depends on where our focus is placed. The more I dwell on what is wrong, the further I feel from the Creator of all beauty.

Terri Mifek

 

Never fight with a bullfighter… Carmen

 

The brothers of the patriarch Joseph could never have done him so much good with their love and favor as they did him with their malice and hatred….   St. Thomas More

I am ready to meet my Maker, but if He is prepared to meet me is another matter…Winston Churchill 

I rejoice and share my joy with all of you. In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me….St. Paul 

You just can’t beat the person who won’t give up….Babe Ruth 

Communiqués

Although our Church moves at a pace that would make the speed of a snail be that of a roadrunner, it would be wise for the aged bachelors who are in charge to look twice at the role they are expecting women to play in our religious affairs. I would bribe them to start having female deacons….Slowe Lombago 

I like your post and thought it was petty awesome….Zellie M. Quinn, poetry editor of Catholiclane.com 

The international opprobrium of Islamic extremists should be a matter of greater importance to the Muslim world….Reginald Wheelwright

I am Mr. Alika Zakary, Foreign Operations Manager for a bank in Burkina Faso. There is an unclaimed sum of $3,500,000 in my bank with no beneficiaries. I need a foreigner to claim this amount. So, I will send you half of this amount if you will give me your following information (S/S, credit card number, etc.)

(Comment: letter dumped into my circular file cabinet)

Chuckle Time

 In California, a resident in a Catholic retirement community was asked if she preferred to get Parkinsons or Alzheimers.

She quickly answered, “Definitely Parkinsons, because it would be better for me to spill half my wine than to forget where I keep the bottle.”

We do indeed need to show joy as Catholics.  

My motto — “Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.”

Michael J. Sheehan

Archbishop of Santa   Fe

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A List of the Most Blessed 

Would this news announcement grab your attention?

In Geneva, Switzerland, the International Organization of Joy has announced a worldwide program to identify the most blessed persons on the planet. Those who consider themselves qualified to receive this recognition can submit their names. On December 31, 2013, an international committee of judges will selected the first ten winners and a list of also-rans.

I tested this with several friends asking if they would enter the survey, and here are their replies:

• Author (male) I’m skeptical, but what do I have to loose? Yes, submit my name.
• Bulgarian food server (male)  No, because I am not blessed.
• Fitness trainer (female) Yes, but it is all relative.
• Mercedes garage owner (male) Let me give it more thought.
• Christian Brother (male) Count me in.
• Retired accountant (female) No, because I think this is a another gimmick to get my e-mail address.
• Professional Fund Raiser (male) Wow! That’s a great idea.
• Housewife and mother (female) I bet all the winners will be husbands with good wives.
• Banker (male) Before I send in my name, I want to be sure there is no hidden cost involved.

 

Me  Editor (male) Yes, and if I don’t get first place, I’ll demand a recount.

You               (        ) ……………………………………………………….

     ________________________________________________

(I double-dog dare you to send me your response) aljagoe@comcast.net)

 

Recommended Readings

- “Ready to be Martyrs” in December 17  America

- “It’s Time, The Case for Women Deacons” in December 21 Commonweal

- “In Their Footsteps” in January USCatholic

-  “Inter-Religious Ed – Muslim students on Catholic campuses”

in February U.S.Catholic

 

Roster of Joyful Catholic Priests

The media loves to publicize bad priests, and we should give recognition to our Joyful Catholic Priests. Send me your recommendation for ones you think merit membership in this splendid group. (aljagoe@comcast.net)

Fr. Kevin J. O’Neil, Washington, DC NEW!
Fr. Robert Aufieri, New York,NY)
Fr. John M. Bauer (Minneapolis, MN)
Fr. Edmund Connors, Katonah, NY
Fr. Paul D.Counce (Baton Rouge, LA
Fr. John Dowling,  St. Francis of Assisi parish,  Fairfield Glade, TN
Fr. Paul Duchschere (Fargo, ND)
Fr. Anthony O’Gorman (London, UK)
Fr. Edward Gorman, O.P. (Providence, RI)
Msgr. Edward Filardi (Bethesda, MD)
Fr. Charles E. Jacobs, Hartford CT
Bishop James Vann Johnston, Springfield/Cape Girardeau, MO)
Fr. Raymond Kemp (Washington, DC)
Bishop Joseph N. Latino (Jackson, MS
Archbishop Jerome Listecki (Milwaukee, MN)
Fr. Richard Lopez (Atlanta Archdiocese, GA)
Bishop Dennis Madden (Baltimore, MD)
Fr. Joseph Marini (San Mateo, CA)
Msgr. Joseph Mayo (Salt Lake City, UT)    
Fr. John Mericantante (Pahokee, FL)
Msgr. Thomas Modugno (New York,NY)
Fr. Kevin Nelson, (Lantana, FL)                                                                                       Fr. John O’Donoghue (San Antonio,TX)
Fr. Antony Pulikal (Lntana, FL)
Fr. James R. Purfield (Denver,CO)
Fr. Paul S. Quinter (Pittsburg, Pa)
Fr. Michael Radermache, (Vancouver, WA)
Msg. David Robichcaux, V.F. (New Orleans, LA)
Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi (Mobile, AL)
Fr. Alberto Rodriguez, (Miami)                                                                                       Msg. Paul L. Rohling (Birmingham, AL)
Fr. David Ross (Lima. OH)
Fr. Matthew Ruhl, S.J. (Kansas City, KS)
Fr. Michael Scanlon (Steubenville, OH)
Fr. Walter J. Szezesny (Buffalo, NY)
Fr. Richard Trout (Sanford, FL)
Fr. Hayden Vaverek (New York, NY)
Fr. Alex Waraksa St. Patrick’s parish, (Morristown, TN)   
Fr. Malcolm Sylvester Willoughby, O.P. (Washington, DC)
Canon Stuart Wilson (London, UK)           

We do indeed need to show joy as Catholics. My motto — “Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.”
Michael J. Sheehan,  Archbishop of Santa Fe

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News Flashes
- The Archdiocese of Atlanta received a substantial gift from the estate of Margaret Mitchell’s nephew, Joseph, including a 50 percent share of the trademark and literary rights to “Gone with the Wind.” The estate of Joseph Mitchell included a multi-million dollar bequest to the archdiocese and the donation of his home on Habersham Road in Atlanta. One of two sons of Margaret Mitchell’s brother, Stephen, Joseph Mitchell died in October, 2011. He was a member of the Cathedral of Christ the King and asked that, if possible, his donation assist the Cathedral in a particular way.

…

- Bishop Tawadros has been chosen as the new pope of Egypt’s Coptic
Christians, becoming leader of the largest Christian minority in theMiddle East. His name was selected from a glass bowl by a blindfolded boy at a ceremony in Cairo’s St Mark’s Cathedral. (Comment: not such a bad idea)

…
- During an interview, Sen. Joe Lieberman told of a conversation with a friend, Susan Collins, who was raised in a traditional Catholic family in Caribou, Maine. She said of his religion, “Your people invented gilt, but my people perfected it.”

Today’s Martyrs (Lest we forget)

Let us purify ourselves through the martyrs, or rather, through him through whom they too were purified in blood and truth.
St. Gregory Nazianzen (died 390)

 -Three Assumptionist priests were taken at gunpoint from their home at Our Lady of the Poor Parish in the village of Mbau in the North Kivu province of Congo on October 19. They have not been heard from since.

- All Christians in the northern part of Mali have been forced to leave after Islamic militias seized most of the territory. This was reported by Laurent Balas, a missionary priest of the White Fathers

Interesting Sayings

We may know with certainty that nothing belongs to us except our vices and sins. We must rejoice instead, when we fall into various trials and, in this world, suffer every kind of anguish of distress of soul and body for the sake of eternal life. Saint Francis of Assisi

 

Kneel down in your little room and pray to God with real humility and earnestness, that he through his dear Son may give you his Holy Spirit, who will enlighten you, lead you, and give you understanding.
Martin Luther

Three things keep men from giving themselves over to sin. There is the fear either of hell or of earthly laws. There is the hope and the desire for the kingdom of heaven. Or there is the attraction of good itself and the love of virtue. All three seem to tend toward the one end. They summon us to abstain from everything unlawful. But they differ from one another in their degree of excellence. The first two are appropriate to men who seek perfection but who are not yet moved by zeal for the virtues. The third is particularly characteristic of God and of those who have really taken the image of and likeness of God unto themselves. For only God does good, not out of fear nor in hopes of a reward but simply out of a love of goodness.
Father John Cassian (died 433 AD)

Today, too, we carry joy in our hearts, but I would say a joy that is more sober, a humble joy: in these fifty years we have learned and experienced that original sin exists, and that it translates itself into personal sins, which can become structures of sin, given that even in the Lord’s field there are also weeds, that even in Peter’s net there are bad fish, that human weakness is present even in the Church, that the ship of the Church is sailing with a contrary wind, with opposing threats, and sometimes we have thought that “the Lord is sleeping and has forgotten us.” Pope Benedict, on the anniversary of the beginning of the Second Council

Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was SHUT UP!
Joe Namath

Chuckle Time
In a cemetery in England, there is a tombstone which reads:
Remember man, as you walk by,
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so shall you be.
Remember this and follow me.
And someone replies by writing on the bottom of the stone:
To follow you I’ll not consent.
Until I know which way you went.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Replies and comments to “Just Who Are We?”

The Church seeks to deny family planning methods to those in its employ, with whom it has a contractual relationship and not a religious one. Women occupy a second class status. As the mother of a daughter, I struggle with compelling her to attend Sunday mass where the message, delivered always by a man who understands so little of the challenges in her life, gives women short shrift. My suspicion that mass may in fact be detrimental to her development as a fully functional woman in the 21st century grows stronger daily.
It seems to me that the nuns, as exemplified by the Network Lobby, do a much better job of living the gospel as preached by Christ. The Vatican now sees fit to investigate their activities and object that they do not condemn abortion and gay marriage sufficiently. If Sisters Simone Campbell and Pat Farrell of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious could stage a coup, I would follow them to the barricades.

They won’t, of course, they will work within the patriarchal structure in which they find themselves. They have more faith, and more patience, than I.
I notice your website gives more attention to men. That’s a shame – it’s women who are doing the best work now. If the Catholic Church is to survive, it must find its way, quickly, to empower women (REAL women, not the Virgin Mary nor Mary Magdalene, who never was a prostitute, by the way) in all forms of leadership, make the priesthood welcome to healthy, law-abiding, mentally stable men and women, widen its advocacy on behalf of the disenfranchised and suffering, truly respect all life, operate in the light of day, and surrender it’s medieval myopia.
Your reader and friend.
Valerie Young

It is a sad thing that some or many Catholics of America wish to go against the Church teachings on Abortion and sexual morality. Failures or sinning may be there always as humans are weak, but arguing that sin is not sin is something strange. This shows a trend for not believing in organized religion. The Catholic Church is eternal Truth in spite of its leaders’ failures and sins.
K. C. Thomas

People who worry about same-sex unions and contraception seem to sleep easily with the thought of torture and the imprisonment of millions. This really is straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel, and it is easy to see why so many people find I hard to take what passes for religion seriously.
John Garvey (Commonweal)

I’m concerned about the aging of the Catholics I see. When I attending Mass in Florida, I expect to observe a sea of white hair in the congregation, and now I am beginning to experience the same in my parish up north. Thank God for the Latinos. I often attend one of their Masses and am delighted to see young families with happy kids, and they are indeed joyful Catholics. I pray they will be a rejuvenating force within our Church.
Slowe Lombago

Recommended Readings

- “Bad Influence” in October 23 Commonweal
– “Mary Makes the Church more human” in fall Spiritual Life
- “On Their Way” in October 22 America
– “Matthew’s Genius” in Nov/Dec Touchstone

Other recommended Catholic blogs
http://mikerivageseul.wordpress.com

_______________________________________________________________________________

Roster of Joyful Catholic Priests

The media loves to publicize bad priests, and we should give recognition to our Joyful Catholic Priests. Send me your recommendation for ones you think merit membership in this splendid group. (aljagoe@comcast.net)

Fr. John Dowling, St. Francis of Assisi parish, Fairfield Glade, TN NEW!
Bishop James Vann Johnston, (Springfield/Cape Girardeau, MO) NEW!
Fr. Richard Lopez (Atlanta Archdiocese, GA) NEW!
Fr. Noel Sanvicente, (Diocese of San Jose, CA) NEW!
Fr. Alex Waraksa St. Patrick’s parish, (Morristown, TN) NEW
Fr. Robert Aufieri (New York, NY)
Fr. John M. Bauer (Minneapolis, MN)
Fr. Edmund Connors, Katonah, NY
Fr. Paul D.Counce (Baton Rouge, LA
Fr. Paul Duchschere (Fargo, ND)
Fr. Anthony O’Gorman (London, UK)
Fr. Edward Gorman, O.P. (Providence, RI)
Msgr. Edward Filardi (Bethesda, MD)
Fr. Charles E. Jacobs, Hartford CT
Fr. Raymond Kemp (Washington, DC)
Bishop Joseph N. Latino (Jackson, MS)
Archbishop Jerome Listecki (Milwaukee, MN)
Bishop Dennis Madden (Baltimore, MD)
Fr. Joseph Marini (San Mateo, CA)
Msgr. Joseph Mayo (Salt Lake City, UT)
Fr. John Mericantante (Pahokee, FL)
Msgr. Thomas Modugno (New York,NY)
Fr. Kevin Nelson, (Lantana, FL)
Fr. John O’Donoghue (San Antonio,TX)
Fr. Antony Pulikal (Lntana, FL)
Fr. James R. Purfield (Denver,CO)
Fr. Paul S. Quinter (Pittsburg, Pa)
Fr. Michael Radermache, (Vancouver, WA)
Msg. David Robichcaux, V.F. (New Orleans, LA)
Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi (Mobile, AL)
Fr. Alberto Rodriguez, (Miami)
Msg. Paul L. Rohling (Birmingham, AL)
Fr. David Ross (Lima. OH)
Fr. Matthew Ruhl, S.J. (Kansas City, KS)
Fr. Michael Scanlon (Steubenville, OH)
Fr. Walter J. Szezesny (Buffalo, NY)
Fr. Richard Trout (Sanford, FL)
Fr. Hayden Vaverek (New York, NY)
Fr. Malcolm Sylvester Willoughby, O.P. (Washington, DC)
Canon Stuart Wilson (London, UK)

We do indeed need to show joy as Catholics.   My motto — “Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.”

Michael J. Sheehan, Archbishop of Santa Fe

______________________________________________________________

News Flashes

-        A Muslim terrorist in northern Nigeria was the suicide bomber who attacked a Catholic Church in Bauchi at 9 AM, killing two and wounding 46. Because of the severity of the injured, the number of deaths is expected to increase. 

 

 Today’s Martyrs

(Lest we forget)

 Let us purify ourselves through the martyrs, or rather, through him through whom they too were purified in blood and truth.           St. Gregory Nazianzen (died 390)

 Remember that during the Spanish Civil War in the last century, 10,000 Catholics were martyred by fellow Spaniards; two-thirds were priests and religious.

                               

My Favorite Priest, Layperson, Breathing Saint or Organization

Tell me about your favorite Catholic priest, layperson or organization that is making a difference aljagoe@comcast.net) 

 

Interesting Sayings

-        Love nourishes, industry develops, and ingenuity embellishes everything which nature generates or produces…..  St. Peter Chrysologus (died 450 AD)

 

-        Ultimately, only the true love of God, one’s self, and others, liberates the human being…..Thomas Joseph White, O.P.

 -  God is there in the greater, more profound challenges we face on our spiritual journey; the cultivation of patience, the nurturing of a joyful heart, the development of a more loving relationship with the world……Melanie Rigney 

 -  Lord, help me hear the voice of my heart, and your voice in my heart.

         Mary Marrocco

-        I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury….Groucho Marx

 

Communiqués

-        I am concerned during our Masses about the laconic lacuna of the value of Communion. This is the guts of it all.

                                 Richard Steinhart, Cambridge, MA

 

-        In your blog about a review of our religion, I thank God that there is no such thing as a “Catholic vote”. This would indicate a mandated conscious for all of us believers.    

 Louise Vogel, Baton Rouge, LA                                                                                

Chuckle Time

Old Tombstones

(Silver City, Nevada)

Here lays The Kid.

We planted him raw.

He was quick on the trigger,

But slow on the draw.

(Thurmont, Maryland)

Here lies Amos Thomson, an Atheist,

All dressed up, and

No place to go.

(London, UK)

Sir John Strange

Here lies an honest lawyer

And that is Strange.

(Nantucket, Massachusetts)

Under the sod and under the trees

Lies the body of Jonathan Pease.

He is not here, there’s only the pod.

Pease shelled out and went to God.

 

 

 

We do indeed need to show joy as Catholics.

We do indeed need to show joy as Catholics.   My motto “Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.”

Michael J. Sheehan, Archbishop of Santa  Fe

_______________________________________________________________________

In light of the Muslim outbreaks throughout the Middle East, I thought you might enjoy this chapter of my book Light Reading for Good and Wayward Catholics.

Conversation, Pre-Man

Devil: Are you sure you know what you’re doing?

God:  I am.

Devil: From what my fallen angel spies tell me, you’re putting a big stake on this new thing that you’re creating.

God:  I guess there are leaks everywhere.

Devil: From what I hear, this new creature is going to be superior to the thousands of other species you’ve made.

God:  You are right on target.

Devil: What’s the matter with the monkey?  You seemed to have been pretty well satisfied with him.

God:  I am, as a matter of fact.  But I think I can do even better.

Devil:  Don’t be too sure of yourself.

God:  Well, as long as word has already gotten out, let me give you a few facts.  This new animal will have a fantastic brain that will enable it to reason, to master all the other animals and even to create.

Devil:  Wow!  Sounds like you’ve done a bit of self-cloning.

God:  To a certain extent, you are right.  But during this creative process, I accidentally pressed the wrong button.

Devil: (with chuckle) You mean you goofed?

God:  Even perfection has its problems.

Devil:  Agreed.

God:  As a result of a mishap, this superior animal which I intend to call “Man”, will be the only creature on earth that can hold malice.

Devil:  The hell you say!  Doesn’t that mean that these man-animals will  eventually destroy themselves?

God:  I was concerned about that.  So I compensated for this flaw by adding a positive ingredient I call “free will”. Thus, Man will be able to make the right decisions.

Devil:  Verily, verily, I know you’re right in all things, but don’t you think this free will might be a two-edged sword?  If Man makes bad decisions, the history of Man will be a one of random slaughter.

God:   I see your point.

Devil:  Acknowledging that you are the Supreme Power and the Perfect

One, I’ll tell you what I’ll do.  For this new superior animal, I’ll give it a special gift.

God:  I have good reason to be skeptical of anything you have to offer.

Devil:  Be at ease, my friend of infinite wisdom.  My contribution to

Man will be the gift of a behavioral ability that will make him aware of you.  This will guide him in believing in the unbelievable.  Also it will encourage Man to be better than he is.

God:  So far I see no objection.  What is your gift?

Devil:  I call it “religion”.  It will be the means through which Man can worship you.  And religion should enable Man to fulfill his role in the universe.

God:  On that basis, I see no reason why I should not accept your offer.

So be it. Devil:  Deal accepted!

God:  But why are you smirking?

Devil:  Even though you are All-Knowing, you’re going to witness something that will shake you to the core. Now, with his religion and free will, each Man will try to possess you.

God:  I do not understand.

Devil:  For example, Man will have the expression, “Oh, My God” – not  “Oh, Our God”.

God:  Well, that implies intimacy.  But I do not like the gleeful tone of your  voice.

Devil:  Rather than trying to reach up to you, Man will attempt to pull you

down to his level and put you in a straitjacket.  Thousands of religious turf battles will be a constant war until Man no longer exists.

God:  Why should that be?

Devil:  These man-animals will give you dozens of names, and each will

interpret his personal relationship with you.  Throughout the multitude of religions, malice will be the hostile link between one man and another who believes differently.

God:  Are you telling me that rather than religion being a unifying force, it

would be divisive?

Devil:  Divisive?  Hell, it’s going to be explosive!  The more religious, the

more fractious the world will become.  Religion will assure that there will never be peace on earth.  Man’s worst enemy will be his fellowman.  And there will be more fighting over religion than over land and gold.

God: That does not make sense.

Devil: During a battle, both armies will be convinced you’re on their side.

Believing he’s right, Man will murder fellow-Man with impunity.  And transformed by religion, Man will become his own greatest predator.

God:  I have changed my mind.  You can take back your gift of religion.

Devil:  No way – a deal’s a deal.

God:  Damn!  You have sure played the devil.

Devil:  So?

Recommended Readings

 -        “A Jewish take on Jesus” in October U.S. Catholic

-        “The Road Ahead” in September 24 America

     -    “Endless War” in October 12 Commonweal

      -     “Saint Thomas Aquinas, ‘The Dumb Ox’” G. K. Chesterton (a must!) 

Roster of Joyful Catholic Priests

The media loves to publicize bad priests, and we should give recognition to our Joyful Catholic Priests. Send me your recommendation for ones you think merit membership in this group.   (aljagoe@comcast.net) 

Fr. Robert Aufieri (New York, NY)
Fr. John M. Bauer (Minneapolis, MN)
Fr. Edmund Connors, (Katonah, NY)
Fr. Paul D.Counce (BatonRouge, LA)
Fr. Paul Duchschere (Fargo, ND)
Fr. Edward Gorman, O.P. (Providence, RI)
Fr. Andrew Gries (Washington, DC)
Msgr. Edward Filardi (Bethesda, MD)
Fr. Charles E. Jacobs, (Hartford CT)
Fr. Raymond Kemp (Washington,DC)
Bishop Joseph N. Latino (Jackson, MS)                                                         Archbishop Jerome Listecki (Milwaukee, MN)
Bishop Dennis Madden (Baltimore, MD)
Fr. Joseph Marini (San Mateo, CA)
Msgr. Joseph Mayo (Salt Lake City, UT)
Fr. John Mericantante (Pahokee, FL)
Msgr. Thomas Modugno (New York,NY)
Fr. Kevin Nelson, (Lantana, FL)
Fr. John O’Donoghue (San Antonio,TX)
Fr. Antony Pulikal (Lntana, FL)
Fr. James R. Purfield (Denver,CO)
Fr. Paul S. Quinter (Pittsburg, Pa)
Fr. Michael Radermache, (Vancouver, WA)
Msg. David Robichcaux, V.F. (New Orleans, LA)
Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi (Mobile, AL)
Msg. Paul L. Rohling (Birmingham, AL)
Fr. David Ross (Lima. OH)
Fr. Matthew Ruhl, S.J. (Kansas City, KS)
Fr. Michael Scanlon (Steubenville,OH)
Fr. Walter J. Szezesny (Buffalo, NY)
Fr. Richard Trout (Sanford, FL)
Fr. Hayden Vaverek (New York, NY)
Fr. Malcolm Sylvester Willoughby, O.P. (Washington, DC)
Fr. Anthony O’Gorman (London, UK)
Fr. Alberto Rodriguez, (Miami)                                                                                Canon Stuart Wilson (London, UK)

                                              

News flashes

-       In Carthage, MO, 60,000 Vietnams gathered in triple-digit temperatures to celebrate their annual Marian event at the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix Campus. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, a group of Vietnam priests fled Vietnam and founded the monastery in Carthage where this event takes place every year.

-   The Economist reports that Islam in America has flourished with the number of mosques doubling in the past decade from 1209 to 2106. We have become more tolerant. (comment: How many Christian churches are there in Saudi Arabia?  Answer: none.)

-    American Atheists is trying to block the display of a cross-shaped    steel beam at the September 11^th museum in New York. The beam, found in the wreckage of the World Trade Centre, was a totem for rescuers.  The atheists see its inclusion as an unconstitutional mingling of church and state.

 

Limerick

by Ronald Knox

There once was a man who said, “God

Must think it exceedingly odd

If he finds that this tree

Continues to be

When there is no one about in the Quad?”

(reply)

     Dear Sir: Your astonishment’s odd;

     I am always in the Quad,

     And that’s why the tree

     Will continue to be

     Since observed by, Yours faithfully,

     God.

 
 Today’s Martyrs

(Lest we forget)

 Let us purify ourselves through the martyrs, or rather, through him through whom they too were purified in blood and truth.

                           St. Gregory Nazianzen (died 390)

In Pakistan a band of Muslims severely beat a pregnant Christian woman, causing her to miscarriage her female twins.

A suicide bomber crashed the gate of a Christian church in Bauchi, Nigeria, killing himself and ten parishioners and injuring more than 30 others. He was a member of the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram.

                                 

My favorite priest, layperson, breathing saint or organization

 Please, tell me about your favorite Catholic priest, layperson or organization that is making a difference.

aljagoe@comcast.net 

 

Interesting sayings

Knell down in your little room and pray to God with real humility and earnestness, that through his dear Son may give you his Holy Spirit, who will enlighten you, lead you, and give you understanding….Martin Luther

 These are my principles, and if you don’t like them… well, I have others..Groucho Marx

The wisdom of God, since it is infinite and incomprehensible, brings about in an incomprehensible and unsearchable way the dispensations of grace toward the human race in various ways for the testing of man’s free will…..Pseudo-Macarius, an Egyptian monk an hermit, died 390 A.D.

 

There is no reciprocity. Men love women. Women love children. Children loved hamsters. Hamsters don’t love anyone….Alice Thomas Ellis, English novelist

So let us be exultantly happy, experiencing through charity in this life what we shall see face to face in the next…    Saint Catherine of Siena

 

That lowdown scoundrel opponent of mine deserves to be kicked to death by a jackass, and I’m just the one to do it….   A Texas Congressional Candidate

 

Communiqués

The thing that puzzles me about all the poll findings is who the hell are the folks being polled?  Other than my barber, no one has ever asked me what I think about what is going on.  Furthermore, I don’t know anyone who has ever been questioned. Are the pollsters getting their info from Martians?                           Archibald Kiddson, Des Moines, IA

 

Chuckle time

At a faith healing, the minister asked everyone who had a deep concern to come forward for a healing. When a man came up, the minister asked, “And my son, what is your concern?”

He answered, “It’s my hearing.”

With that the minister put his hands over the man’s ears and prayed for a healing. The congregation gave out a loud “Amen!”

The minister then removed his hands and asked the man is he was cured.

“No,” the man replied. “My hearing is still set for next Wednesday.”

 

How They See Us

(From the July 7 The Economist) 

Pope Benedict XVI may favour a smaller, more obedient church, but American Catholics remain a large and politically heterodox group.  Official church doctrine opposes birth control, yet American Catholic women use it at similar rates to non-Catholic women. Despite the church’s opposition to homosexuality, a 2010 Pew Foundation poll found that more American Catholic favour than oppose gay marriages. Both the Catholic priests who served in Congress were Democrats, as were all three Catholic big-party presidential nominees (Al Smith, John Kennedy and John Kerry); yet five of the six Catholic on the Supreme Court were nominated by Republican presidents.  American Catholics mostly supported Barach Obama in 2008, George Bush in 2004 and Al Gore in 2000.

Around one in four American is Catholic. That proportion has held steady for decades, largely because of immigration, but there has been a shift in American Catholicism’s centre of gravity from traditional bastions in the urban north-east both southward and westward.

That shift also has political consequences. Between 2008 and 2011 the number of American Catholics who identified themselves as, or leaning towards, the Democrats fell by five points, while those who were, or leaned, Republican rose by six; Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee enjoys a commanding lead among “very” or “moderately” religious white Catholics. Among white Catholics, the rightward drift has been more pronounced, while the opposite is true for Hispanic Catholics, 71% of whom identify or lean Democratic, as opposed to 68% in 2008.

All this suggests two things about American Catholics. First, there is no coherent “Catholic vote” that coalesces around distinct issues and cuts across ethnic lines. White Catholics largely display the political preferences of white Americans, and Hispanic Catholics of Hispanics. Catholicism contains teachings that find a natural home on America’s left (opposition to capital punishment) and on the right (opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage). Catholics of either party can find doctrines to justify their position.

Second, religious Catholics are increasingly finding common cause with other religious Christians. Several of the plaintiffs suing the HHS are represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a non-partisan law firm that defends all forms of religious expression. The plaintiffs have also found strong support among evangelical Protestants. Conservative Catholics and conservative Protestants may disagree on papal infallibility and transubstantiation, but they share a common enemy. He is in the White House.

(And what are your thought after having read this? aljagoe@comcast.net) 

Recommended readings

-  “Social Justice” in July U.S. Catholic.

-  “Love’s Greater Freedom” by Thomas Joseph White, O.P., in June/July First Things  

-  “Faith by Heart” in September 10-17 America

Roster of Joyful Catholic Priests

The media loves to publicize bad priests, and we should give recognition to our Joyful Catholic Priests. Send me your recommendation for ones you think merit membership in this splendid group. (aljagoe@comcast.net)

Fr. Anthony O’Gorman (London, UK)  NEW!
Fr. Alberto Rodriguez, (Miami)        
Fr. Robert Aufieri (New York, NY)
Fr. John M. Bauer (Minneapolis, MN)
Fr. Edmund Connors, (Katonah, NY)
Fr. Paul D.Counce (BatonRouge, LA)
Fr. Paul Duchschere (Fargo, ND)
Fr. Edward Gorman, O.P. (Providence, RI)
Fr. Andrew Gries (Washington, DC)
Msgr. Edward Filardi (Bethesda, MD)
Fr. Charles E. Jacobs, (Hartford CT)
Fr. Raymond Kemp (Washington,DC)
Bishop Joseph N. Latino (Jackson, MS)                                                         Archbishop Jerome Listecki (Milwaukee, MN)
Bishop Dennis Madden (Baltimore, MD)
Fr. Joseph Marini (San Mateo, CA)
Msgr. Joseph Mayo (Salt Lake City, UT)
Fr. John Mericantante (Pahokee, FL)
Msgr. Thomas Modugno (New York,NY)
Fr. Kevin Nelson, (Lantana, FL)
Fr. John O’Donoghue (San Antonio,TX)
Fr. Antony Pulikal (Lntana, FL)
Fr. James R. Purfield (Denver,CO)
Fr. Paul S. Quinter (Pittsburg, Pa)
Fr. Michael Radermache, (Vancouver, WA)
Msg. David Robichcaux, V.F. (New Orleans, LA)
Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi (Mobile, AL)
Msg. Paul L. Rohling (Birmingham, AL)
Fr. David Ross (Lima. OH)
Fr. Matthew Ruhl, S.J. (Kansas City, KS)
Fr. Michael Scanlon (Steubenville,OH)
Fr. Walter J. Szezesny (Buffalo, NY)
Fr. Richard Trout (Sanford, FL)
Fr. Hayden Vaverek (New York, NY)
Fr. Malcolm Sylvester Willoughby, O.P. (Washington, DC)
Canon Stuart Wilson (London, UK)

We do indeed need to show joy as Catholics.

 My motto — “Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.” 

Michael J. Sheehan  Archbishop of Santa Fe

________________________________________________________________________________________

Just Who Are We?

How would you define a Joyful Catholic?  For example, during the 2^nd Century, Mathetes, a Christian writer, gave this description of a Christian to Diognetus, who was top advisor to Emperor Marcus Aurelius:

       Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity. The course of conduct which they follow has not been devised by any speculation or deliberation of inquisitive men; nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of any merely human doctrines.

But, inhabiting Greek as well as barbarian cities, according as the lot of each of them has determined, and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking method of life. They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners.

Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all others; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring. They have a common table, but not a common bed. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all.

They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life.  They are poor, yet make many rich; they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonoured, and yet in their very dishonour are glorified. They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless; they are insulted, and repay the insult with honour; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred.

Now, give me your thoughts about how you would describe a Joyful Catholic. I’ll publish what you send me in a future blog. (aljagoe@comcast.net)

      Recommended readings

“There is one thing I want to say” by Joel Giallanzo, C.S.C., in summer Spiritual Life.

“Dumb Kids’ Class” in June  The Atlantic.

“Not a Muslim Issue?” and “The Church Downstairs” in July 13,  Commonweal.

“Femi-Nuns in the Echo Chamber” in

June New Oxford Review. 

Roster of Joyful Catholic Priests

The media loves to publicize bad priests, and we should give recognition to our Joyful Catholic Priests. Send me your recommendation for ones you think merit membership in this splendid group. (aljagoe@comcast.net)

Fr. Alberto Rodriguez, (Miami)        NEW!
Fr. Robert Aufieri (New York, NY)
Fr. John M. Bauer (Minneapolis, MN)
Fr. Edmund Connors, (Katonah, NY)
Fr. Paul D.Counce (BatonRouge, LA)
Fr. Paul Duchschere (Fargo, ND)
Fr. Edward Gorman, O.P. (Providence, RI)
Fr. Andrew Gries (Washington, DC)
Msgr. Edward Filardi (Bethesda, MD)
Fr. Charles E. Jacobs, (Hartford CT)
Fr. Raymond Kemp (Washington,DC)
Bishop Joseph N. Latino (Jackson, MS)                                                         Archbishop Jerome Listecki (Milwaukee, MN)
Bishop Dennis Madden (Baltimore, MD)
Fr. Joseph Marini (San Mateo, CA)
Msgr. Joseph Mayo (Salt Lake City, UT)
Fr. John Mericantante (Pahokee, FL)
Msgr. Thomas Modugno (New York,NY)
Fr. Kevin Nelson, (Lantana, FL)
Fr. John O’Donoghue (San Antonio,TX)
Fr. Antony Pulikal (Lntana, FL)
Fr. James R. Purfield (Denver,CO)
Fr. Paul S. Quinter (Pittsburg, Pa)
Fr. Michael Radermache, (Vancouver, WA)
Msg. David Robichcaux, V.F. (New Orleans, LA)
Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi (Mobile, AL)
Msg. Paul L. Rohling (Birmingham, AL)
Fr. David Ross (Lima. OH)
Fr. Matthew Ruhl, S.J. (Kansas City, KS)
Fr. Michael Scanlon (Steubenville,OH)
Fr. Walter J. Szezesny (Buffalo, NY)
Fr. Richard Trout (Sanford, FL)
Fr. Hayden Vaverek (New York, NY)
Fr. Malcolm Sylvester Willoughby, O.P. (Washington, DC)
Canon Stuart Wilson (London, UK)

We do indeed need to show joy as Catholics.   My motto — “Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.”

Michael J. Sheehan, Archbishop of Santa Fe

__________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Today’s Martyrs

(Lest we forget)

 Let us purify ourselves through the martyrs, or rather, through him through whom they too were purified in blood and truth….St. Gregory Nazianzen (died 390)

In Boko HaramKaduna, Nigeria, the Islamist group  blew up three churches, killing over 20 people. The Christian Association of Nigeria stated, “The pattern of bombings and gun attacks suggests to us a systematic religious cleansing which reminds Christians of the genesis of a jihad.”

It’s been going on a long time…

On June 24, 843 AD, Vikings raided Nantes, France, and stormed the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. They then massacred Bishop St. Gohard, a large number of priests and laity, piling their bodies on the altar.

 Interesting Sayings

 He who serves God truly has a paradise within himself…  Saint Philip Neri (died 1595)

The distinguished Catholic peer, Lord Alton of Liverpool, has calculated that during Elizabeth’s reign, there have been six Popes, and her Catholic subjects have increased from 4.4 to 6.6 million in Britain, and from 25 million to 140 million throughout the Commonwealth. One-third of the primary schools in England are Catholic, and they comprise two-thirds of the most highly rated ones. During the Queen’s reign, the number of Catholic charities in the United Kingdom has grown to 1000. In the Commonwealth countries, the Catholic Church runs 5,246 hospitals, 17,530 dispensaries, 577 leprosy clinics, and 15,208 homes for the elderly Fr. George W. Rutler, The Church of our Savior NYC.

Let mystery have its place in you; do not be always turning up your whole soil with ploughshare of self-examination, but leave a little fallow corner in your heart ready for any seed the winds may bring….Henri Frederic Amiel, Swiss writer who dies in 1881

 

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.                                      Albert Einstein 

 Teacher: When George Washington admitted chopping down the cherry tree, why didn’t his father punish him?

Student: Because George still had the ax in his hand.

Communiqués

 I have carefully read the concerns of the so called Catholics who wanted to leave the Church. All are about others. No one is about the self, whether obedient to Jesus and Church teachings, leave alone Bishops and priests. It is easy to find excuses and justifications. One who wants bigamy can raise the doubt why at all Church insists on monogamy, one who wants free sex, can argue that there is no ban on premarital sex anywhere. Yes, the Church is not meant for such mundane successes and satisfaction, but for the sanctification and salvation of people.

(unfortunately, I lost the name of the sender)

I am Miss.Adel Gassama Ali, tall, slim, fair and a very good looking girl that loves traveling and dancing, a student that loves to be loved, kindly I am compelled to contact you via this medium for obvious reasons which you will understand when we discuss details of my proposition. Pls I will like you to reply to me through my mail so that we will know each other very well.

(My wife will confirm that I didn’t reply)

Tid-Bits

          In Shingo, Japan, there is a tomb which local legend claims was the burial site of Jesus who escaped crucifixion because his brother Isukiri took his place on the cross. When Jesus moved to Japan, he married a local woman and lived to be age 106.

Chuckle Time

Woman parishioner: Oh, Father Sullivan, I am so distressed to learn you are beingtransferred. You are the best priest we have ever had, and I will be broken hearted to see you go.

Father Sullivan:  Now don’t worry. I bet you will find my successor to be a splendid priest, and one you will appreciate even more than me.

Woman parishioner: No, that’s not so. That’s exactly what your predecessor told me when he left.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

 

 It Ain’t Necessarily So 

My good friend and critic, Fr. Joseph Marini, in San Mateo, CA, gave me a rough time about my including in a recent blog columnist Nicholas Kristof’s article “We Are All Nuns”, in which he blasts the bishops regarding our female religious.  Father Joe reminded me that we should consider the source of news and expect negative slants from those who are not Catholic friendly.

 Fr. Gerald Coleman, vice president for corporate ethics for the Daughters of Charity Health System, points out that the Vatican’s eight-page statement acknowledges “with gratitude the great contribution of women Religious to the Church in the United States a seen particularly in the many schools, hospitals and institutions of support for the poor which have been founded and staffed by Religious of the years.”

It further states, the assessment “does not intend to offer judgment on the faith and life of Women Religious in the member congregations which belong to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.”  The assessment then does express concern that the group is silent on key issues like the dignity of human life, marriage and the family, homosexual activity and women’s ordination. This is a matter of concern, but not a criticism of the nuns and their splendid work. So, when we read the news, we should consider the source.  Not-Catholic-friendly writers will write not-Catholic accounts of news.

Regarding the impression the press gives about our current administration being anti-Catholic, Nicholas Cafardi, Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law at Duquesne University of Law, wrote, “Would an administration that was waging a ‘war on religion’ fund Catholic Charities to the tune of $322 million in 2009 and $361 million in 2010?”

We also should be aware of accepting as true all that we see. Years ago, in a conversation I had with Don Hewitt, of the 60 Minutes TV series, he agreed that, in cutting a 20-minute interview into a 3-minute presentation, a film editor can make the subject appear as a saint or a devil.

 (And what are your thoughts about this? (aljagoe@comcast.net)

                                   Recommended Readings

“The ‘Vatileaks’ Case is not closed” in the June-July Inside The Vatican  (Comment: Gotti Tedeschi, the disgraced Opus Dei head of the Vatican bank, has been fired and says his life is in jeopardy)

“Theology Behind Bars” in July 2-9 America

Roster of Joyful Catholic Priests

The media loves to publicize bad priests, and we should give recognition to our Joyful Catholic Priests. Send me your recommendation for ones you think merit membership in this splendid group. (aljagoe@comcast.net) 

Fr. Robert Aufieri (New York, NY)

Fr. John M. Bauer (Minneapolis, MN)

Fr. Edmund Connors, Katonah, NY

Fr. Paul Duchsch(Fargo,ND)

Fr. Edward Gorman, O.P. (Providence, RI)

Fr. Andrew Gries (Washington, DC)

Msgr. Edward Filardi (Bethesda, MD)

Fr. Raymond Kemp (Washington, DC)

Bishop Joseph N. Latino (Jackson, MS)

Archbishop Jerome Listecki (Milwaukee, MN)

Bishop Dennis Madden (Baltimore, MD)

Fr. Joseph Marini (San Mateo, CA)

Msgr. Joseph Mayo (Salt Lake City, UT)

Fr. John Mericantante (Pahokee, FL)

Msgr. Thomas Modugno (New York,NY)

Fr. Kevin Nelson, (Lantana, FL)

Fr. John O’Donoghue (San Antonio,TX)

Fr. Antony Pulikal (Lntana, FL)

Fr. James R. Purfield (Denver,CO)

Fr. Paul S. Quinter (Pittsburg, Pa)

Msg. David Robichcaux, V.F. (New Orleans, LA)

Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi (Mobile, AL)

Msg. Paul L. Rohling (Birmingham, AL)

Fr. David Ross (Lima. OH)

Fr. Matthew Ruhl, S.J. (Kansas City, KS)

Fr. Michael Scanlon (Steubenville, OH)

Fr. Walter J. Szezesny (Buffalo, NY)

Fr. Richard Trout (Sanford, FL)

Fr. Hayden Vaverek (New York, NY)

Fr. Malcolm Sylvester Willoughby, O.P. (Washington, DC)

Canon Stuart Wilson (London, UK)                        

Fr. Michael Radermache, (Vancouver, WA)

Fr. Paul D.Counce (BatonRouge, LA

Share this with friends:

                         

______________________________________________________________________________

News flashes

         On May 8, vandals committed hate-crime acts against the Holy Cross Church in Monterey, CA damaging the baptismal font brought to Californiaby Bl. Junipeo Serra in 1791 and causing damage to the church and Mission Santa Cruz.

Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of Network, a Catholic social justice lobby founded by sisters, said, “I am stunned” after being criticized by the Vatican for focusing their work too much on poverty and economic injustice while keeping “silent” on abortion and same-sex marriage. (comment: those fellows in the Vatican don’t have much to do.)

-         While attending a funeral at a Methodist Church, I picked up a brochure in the pew “Looking for a Church Home? Please Join Us! Our Hearts ,our Minds and our Doors are Always Open.”

(comment: have you ever seen such a welcome mat in a Catholic church?)

 

 Today’s Martyrs

(Lest we forget)

 Let us purify ourselves through the martyrs, or rather, through him through whom they too were purified in blood and truth.

St. Gregory Nazianzen (died 390)

My favorite priest, layperson, breathing saint or organization

Bishop Andrew Francis of Multanis calling upon the Church to declare to declare Shahbaz Bhatti a martyr. He was the only Catholic in the Pakistan cabinet and was assassinated for his opposition to the nation’s blasphemy law. In his last conversation, he said, “I know I will die assassinated, but I lay down my life for Christ and for inter-religious dialogue.” 

(Now, tell me about your favorite Catholic priest, layperson or organization that is making a difference aljagoe@comcast.net )

 

Interesting sayings

(Regarding the Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith’s recent censuring of our women religious) Their action is certain to be a pastoral disaster, another instance of the hierarchy acting in an imprudent and counterproductive fashion. All Catholic should support the effort of the bishops to preserve and pass on the fundamentals of the faith, and correcting doctrinal error is part of that process. But wouldn’t the bishops be more effective in that task if they did not confuse disagreement about public policy with doctrinal dissent—and if the experience and judgment of women were given an honored place and a decisive role in the church’s governance?

                        Editors in the May 18 issue of Commonweal

 

 My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would quit dying.

Rodney Dangerfield

 

If the Lord had been born to high rank and amidst luxury, unbelievers would have said the world has been transferred by wealth. If he had chosen as his birthplace the great city of Rome, they would have thought the transformation had been brought about by civil power. Suppose he had been the son of an emperor. They would have said: “How useful it is to be powerful.” Imagine him the son of a senator. It would have been: “Look what can be accomplished by legislation!”

          But in fact, what did he do? He chose surroundings that were poor and simple, so ordinary as to be almost unnoticed, so that people would know it was the Godhead alone that had changed the world. This was his reason for choosing his Mother from among the poor of a very poor country, and for becoming poor himself.

Theodotus of Ancyra, (died 446 AD)

 

 Communiqués

(Regarding Catherine Grant’s submission, “Thank You”, and her replies)

-   I want to thank you for making this available to me. I have pasted it on   my refrigerator door to remind me every morning how blessed I am.

Gertrude Owens (Boston,MA)

Dear Gertrude, It is a wonderful reminder. I, too, keep my copy within eyesight for daily viewing. I would like to suggest another reading that you will enjoy called “Desiderata”, which is available at your bookstore. 

-         It might help some people, but I’ve got enough problem of my own   without having to worry about those millions of poor souls who might be worse off than me.

Jonathan Willsby (Liverpool,UK)

Dear Jonathan, Thanks for you response. We all have problems in our lives, but there is always room for a small prayer for the less fortunate. If it is possible, try to get a copy of “Desiderata” from your bookstore; it will give you a new outlook on life. 

-         In addition to reminding me how fortunate I am, this encourages me to pray each day for the millions who are in need of my prayers.

Wiley Kincaid (San Diego,CA)

Dear Wiley, Thanks for your prayers, and may you continue to be blessed.

-         Having gone through two divorces, I want to add to your list those lucky women who are happily married, and to warn single women that over half of the marriages in America end up in the pond.

Maggie O’Brien (New York,NY)

Dear Maggie, Sorry for your misfortune. Your suggestion to add the happily married to the list is appreciate. Now we must pray for those who are contemplating marriage and hope that they will take a hard look at the vows they will be taking. Marriage is not always easy. It is a job that requires love, trust, honesty and understanding between two individuals.

Chuckle Time

Seated beside a priest on the subway, there was a very drunk and unkempt man with lipstick smeared on his cheek. He was annoying the other passengers as heread aloud his newspaper. Turning to the priest, he said, “Tell me, Father, what causes arthritis?” The priest said, “Too much alcohol, bad living conditions, and too much freedom with women.”

The man listened intently and nodded.  A few minutes later, the priest felt a pang of pity and asked the drunk how long he had had arthritis.

“I never had arthritis,” he said, “but I read that the Pope has it.”

IT’S ABOUT TIME!

We do indeed need to show joy as Catholics.   My motto — “Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.”

Michael J. Sheehan Archbishop of Santa   Fe

____________________________________________________________________________

IT’S ABOUT TIME

Three cheers for Bishop David O’Connell, C.M. of Trenton, NJ.  If Proctor and Gamble, whose purpose is to sell soap, discovered that they had lost 40% of the sales of Ivory Soap, they would conduct a massive market search using experts, surveys and study groups to correct this problem. Their management team would go to no end to understand and solve this problem.

The Catholic Church inAmerica, whose purpose is to bring people to Christ, has lost 40% of its adult members and shows damned little concern. The Church is pleased with an overall increase in numbers, which is credited to the influx of Catholics from Central andSouth America, and pays little heed to the massive drop-off of members. Last year, Georgetown University report estimated only 22% of Catholics attend Mass.

The Church’s governing body is comprised of aged bachelors who, with rare exception, believe there is no today and tomorrow. One of the exceptions is Bishop O’Connell who asked Charles Zech and Father William Byron (a man I have long admired) to conduct a study about the empty pews. They interviewed 300 fallen-away Catholics from age 16 to 90. One response was, “I had the right religion with the wrong people running it.”

Here are some of the many concerns of those who have left the Church:

- A lack of community (none of the drop-offs had been contacted by their priestsor fellow parishioners; “The pastor crowns himself a king and look down on all”)

- A dislike of the Church’s handling of the clergy sex abuse scandal and the fact that gays, divorced and remarried Catholics were unwelcome atMass.

- Too much emphasis on abortion and contraception, and not enough attention to the underprivileged, war and health.

- Lousy homilies that are pointless and can’t be remembered by the time a parishioner walks out the church door.

- A lack of respect and equality for women.

- A need of immediate attention for a fresh explanation of the nature of the Eucharist (note: check out “Communion, ho-hum” in Light Reading for Good and Wayward Catholics)

In a recent column, E.J. Dionne wrote, “Too many bishops seem in the grip of dark suspicions that our culture is moving at breakneck speed toward a demonic end. Pope John XXIII, by contrast, was more optimistic about the signs of the times. ‘Distrustful souls are only darkness burdening the face of the earth,’ he once said. ‘We prefer instead to reaffirm all our confidence in our Savior who has not abandoned the world which he redeemed.’ The church best answers its critics when it remembers that its mission is to preach hope, not fear.”

Now it’s about time that other Church leaders will wake up and follow Bishop O’Connell’s example in acknowledging and attempting to correct a major concern for Catholic America.

(And let me have your thoughts about this: aljagoe@comcast.net)

Recommended readings

- “If They Perish” by James M. Kushiner in May/June Touchstone.

- “The Death of Honesty” by William Damon, a senior fellow at the Hoover  Institute at Stanford University in the May-June issue of UTN.

- “The Forgotten Jesus” in April 9 Newsweek.

- “A Troubling Case” by Robert Moynihan in May Inside the Vatican. (comment, I don’t agree with him!)

- “Interfaith Ignorance” by Patrick Gray in May/June Touchstone.

- “Renewing Dogmatic Theology” by Bruce Marshall, in May First Things.

 

Roster of Joyful Catholic Priests

The media loves to publicize bad priests, and we should give recognition to our Joyful Catholic Priests. Send me your recommendation for ones you think merit membership in this splendid group. (aljagoe@comcast.net)