You can’t win’em all

In June, a women’s Catholic Book Club in Hawaii ordered copies of Light Reading for Good and Wayward Catholic for discussion at their next meet. They were to send me their comments. Since then, there has been such resounding silence I feared a tidal wave had swept these Grande Dames of the Islands into the sea.
However, via the grapevine, I learned they survived the rigors of reading the book. However, I hear that two are being treated for shock and another has joined Jehovah’s Witness.

News flashes

-So far this year, in Indonesia there have been 17 attacks on churches by the Islamists.
- In Nigeria, Muslim extremists have caused 300 deaths, destroyed 300 homes and driven 14,000 people from their homes.
- Zhen, a 17-year-old Catholic in Shenzhen, China, sold one of his kidneys for $4,000 so he could buy an Apple iPad 2.

- In less than two weeks, car bomb attacks have hit three churches in the northern Iraq city of Kirkuk. Also, there were coordinated bombing in 17 other cities, killing 63 people and injuring 250.
(Comment: We Americans can take little pride in having devastated this country with a cost that could have modernized our rail system, built new bridges, improved our educational system, etc.)

Today’s Martyrs

 After Muslim militants in Nigeria had killed two of their children, Pastor Jams Musa Rike held the hand of his dying wife who had been shot and slashed with a machete. Before attacking her, the extremists told her, “We are going to kill you – now see how your Jesus will save you.”
Pastor Rike’s comforting words to his wife were, “Hold on to your faith in Jesus, and we shall meet and never part again.”

My favorite priest, layperson, breathing saint or organization

Joseph M. Sullivan, Retired Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn, has made (and continues to make) a great contribution to our Church. He is a renowned and much respected national leader in Catholic social services. For the 62 parishes of the Brooklyn West Vicariate he was Vicar for Human Services.

Early this summer, in the Buffalo News he wrote, “For most Catholics there can be no sacrament that better summarizes an attitude of welcoming our LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) brothers and sisters than those of Jesus, ‘Love one another as I have loved you’”  What a gutsy statement! As stated in America magazine, “There is nothing wrong with telling people that they are loved and lovable. And that all are, indeed, welcome.”
If Saint Basil were around today, he would enjoy Bishop Sullivan. Back in the year 360, the saint wrote, “The Christian directs every action, small and great, according to the will of God, performing the action at the same time with care and exactitude, and keeping his thoughts fixed upon the One who gave him the work to do.”
(Now, tell me about your favorite Catholic priest, layperson or organization that is making a difference  aljagoe@comcast.net)

Interesting sayings

Believe me, don’t wait until tomorrow to begin becoming a saint.
Saint Theresa of Lisieux (1897)

Come, let us rejoice in the Lord. The one, who by word, action or deed rejoices not in himself but in his Creator, rejoices in the Lord. Come, let us rejoice in the Lord. The one for whom God is always his only and complete happiness rejoices in the Lord.
Saint Peter Chrysologus (died 450)

People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing.
Will Rogers

All things dull and ugly
All creatures short and squat
All things rude and nasty
The Lord God made the lot.

Each nasty little hornet
Each beasty little squid
Who made the spiky urchin
Who made the sharks? He did!
Monty Python

Communiqués

- To be a Joyful Catholic, one cannot believe in solipsism.
Reginald Smithson, Berkeley, CA

- Thanks you for reminding us of the suffering Christians. This is the case of any Christian in Muslim, Marxist, Communist countries – when will people pay attention?
Latino GOPVOTER

- The New York Times (10/9) The Pew Research Center Poll showed that one-half of the Catholics don’t understand Communion.
NYTtweets

- Thank you for the gift of joy in our hearts, even in not so good times.
RKNIGHT RT

Chuckle time

A priest parked his car in a no-parking zone because he was short of time and couldn’t find a space with a meter. He put this note under the windshield: “I have circled this block 10 times. If I don’t park here, I’ll miss my appointment. Forgive us our trespasses.”
When he returned, he found a citation from the police officer with this note: “I’ve circled this block for 10 years. If I don’t give you a ticket, I’ll lose my job. Lead us not into temptation.”

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

 

Quiz

 

Last week, the winner of the autographed copy of Light Reading for Good and Wayward Catholic is Kathleen Riley in Bangor, ME. Here are the answers:

 

1.     Including Sundays, there are 46 days in Lent.

2.     The two people who appeared to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration were Moses and Elijah.

3.     The biblical saint who died and was buried twice was Lazarus.

 

 

News flashes

 

Pat Archbold in National Catholic Register wrote: Of the many things that have been lost during the last forty years in the name of the council, I miss one the most.  Silence. 

 

 A few years ago my Bishop, Bishop Murphy of Rockville Centre, visited my parish for a confirmation and was appalled at the noise level and the total irreverence he witnessed.  He wrote a letter to my former pastor and said this: “I am very concerned about the comportment of the faithful in your parish church prior to the celebration of the Eucharist. This component interferes with the ability of the people to enter into the liturgy. Conscious awareness of’ the presence of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is lacking to those who enter the main body of your parish church.

 

 This is further hampered by the fact that the music ministry is set up in front of the doors into that chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. That means that anyone who wishes to go and pray needs to go through the paraphernalia of those who provide music.” 

          

 Real active participation can be fostered by silence, glorious and heavenly silence. So to those who still think that cacophony equals community, I say one thing.  For the love of God, shut up. (Comment: I say Amen! as expressed in “The New Mass, a-la-Show Biz” in my Light Reading for Good and Wayward Catholics)

 

 

Bad news! The Vatican stated that you can’t get forgiveness of sins by using the new iPhone device that is supposed to prepare one for going to confession.  (Comment: Damn!)

 

In 2009 the worldwide the number of baptized Catholic increased to 1.18 billion, with over 49% in the Americas and 24% in Europe. (Comment: That gives us half of the total, so what about the next Pope being an American?)

 

Today’s Martyrs



 In the Indian city of , 13 Catholic bishops and 500 Church leaders staged a protest about the local court whitewashing the 57 incidents of attacks on Christian churches and 150 cases lodged against injured Christians.

 

  

The Chaldean Catholic archbishop in Mosul stated that Christians in Iraq’s second-largest city live in a state of constant fear. “Most families that fled the city last august following anti-Christian violence have used up their saving and had to return. There is always fear and they know they are targets.”

 

My favorite priest, layperson, breathing saint or organization

I want to honor posthumously retirees Scott and Jean Adam, who were wonderful workers in their California St. Monica Catholic parish. In 2004, deciding to make a difference in the world by bringing Bibles to the far-flung corners of the earth, they began sailing expeditions in their 58-foot sloop, the Quest.  This year their visits included Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.

         

 Last month, they were en route to Salalah, Oman, when they were captured by bastard Somali pirates who killed them.

         

 Their pastor, Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson, said, “They were great people of our community. Jean, who was a retired dentist and mother of two, sang in the church choir. Regarding St. Paul’s reference about receiving a crown of glory, I believe with all my heart they are with God today. Catholics can take inspiration from the Adams.”

         

 As St. Clement of Alexandria wrote in the third century, “Martyrdom means bearing witness to God. Every soul that seeks in pureness of heart to know God and obey his commandments is a martyr, bearing witness by life or by words.”

         

 I agree with Monsignor Torgerson’s comment.

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

aljagoe@comcast.net)

 

 

Interesting sayings



 

A Jewish wife will forgive and forget, but she’ll never forget what she forgave.

                                      Old Jewish proverb

 

As to the church, where else shall we go, except to the Bride of Christ, one flesh with Christ?  Though she is a harlot at times, she is our Mother.

Dorothy Day

 

Happy the people who walk, O Lord, in the light of you face, who find their joy every day in your name, who make your justice the source of their bliss.

Psalm 89



 

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

 

In your self-assigned role as a Catholic doyen, what business it is yours if Christ wanted to be baptized by John?

Oliver Whifield

 

I could not agree with you more with regard to your having selected Msgr. Filardi as a favorite priest. He is a very special, joyful Catholic and a marvelous example for young people who may be considering a vocation.

                                                Dennis Harper

 

You’ve got your nerve suggesting targets (like St. Patrick’s Cathedral) to those Muslin terrorists.  Shame on you!

                                                Julia Ellis

 

(Regarding Salman Taseer, governor of Punjab providence, who was assassinated for opposing the Islamic blasphemy law.) Tarseer simply did what he believed would be offensive and unjust not only to Christians, but to all other beliefs in that country.
      

A Christian nation with 5% Muslim population even counts the very rights of this small percentage seeing to it that their human freedom is well respected. They do not mixed Politics with religion. I only see such unfair establishment of Governments when Islam plays a role to dictate over it.
Definitely, Islam sets unfair standards that deplete the rights of any other just because they think there religion is the “truth”. In general, there really is no peace in the “Religion of Peace.”
           

God bless Tarseer, and may his acts to protect Christ’s body hurry Him unto the gates of heaven.

Reggie Crimshaw

 

Chuckle time



Recently, at a First Communion practice at Blessed Sacrament Church in Washington, DC, Msgr. Jon Enzler asked who wrote the four books of the New Testament. A young girl said, “Matthew, Mark, Luke…..” – then she drew a blank.

The boy sitting next to her shouted out, “Kindle.”

 

 

Special Intentions List



As you pray with a broad brush, please include these loved ones, who have been submitted by our readers. You, too, are invited to send me names of your special persons who are in need of prayer.  My address is aljagoe@comcast.net. They will be on the list for 60 days. At the end of that time, if prayers are still needed, you merely have to renew the name.

And several of those on the list who recently have received miraculous healings; they thank you.

Juanita Caldwell, Isola Todd, David Abbey, Linwood “Skip” Williams, Roseanne Somlock, Nicholas Gallagher, Tom Lewis, Donald Whitcomb, Violeta Zepeda, John Aylor, Rev. Joseph Marini, Enrique Portillo,  Sharon McPike, Tom Ryan, Joseph Normile, Jim Quimby, Russell Edwards,  

Rev. Stephen Huffstetter, Hugh Cannon, Eric Moore, Joan Barrett,  8-year-old Michael Fotta and his parents, Lolita Alvarez, Camilus Musselman, Ed Block, Isobel Milligan, Peter Bartkiewiez and his family, Joe Toles, Bob Earll, Camilus Musselman,   Ed Cole, Bishop Thomas Olmsted, Jay Parker, William Stephenson, Roger Stoven, Bob Abbott, Denny Kline, Lois Pinkin, Larry Mannino, Cheryl DeSantis, Lenore SommerRep. Gabrielle Giffords, Laura Marsh,

the cholera victims in Haiti, Christian martyrs in the Middle East, those in refugee camps throughout the world.

 

 

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 

 

 

Quiz

1. In what three countries is there the greatest difference between  the rich and the poor?

2.  Who was the first native American to be declared “Blessed”?

 3.  When people wanted to obtain favorable weather, including rain to end a drought, whom did they pray to?

 News Flashes

Holy Jocks!

 Sister James Dolores, 73, of Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, posed on a surfboard, to promote the 15^th annual Nun’s Beach Surf International on 9/11, The proceeds will go to maintain their Villa Maria by the Sea in Stone Harbor, N.J.

 Bishop Thomas Paprocki will run in the October 17 Denver marathon, raising money for the recent restoration of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, IL.

 Auxiliary Bishop of Denver James Conley, Fr. Jim Crisman and two St. John Vianney seminarians will also participate in the Denver event to increase support and awareness of vocations.

Misc.

The August 28th  Economist reports that Florida State University has conducted a study on infidelity. They are puzzled why they found that couples who attend religious services are more likely to be satisfied with their marriages than those who do not. (comment: These fellows in academia sometimes don’t have much to do.)

Real estate developer Shariff El-Gama, backer of the Islamic center near Ground Zero, is a true religious cur.  He is a New-York-City-born Muslim with an Egyptian father, a Catholic mother, married to a Christian and  now is converting to the Jewish faith.

         An article in The Catholic Standard points out the problem that many young people have who want to dedicate their lives to the Church are hindered by debt. Elise Maloney wants to become a Little Sister of the Poor but must first pay back $75,000 in student loans.  This splendid Order is trying to help her by conducting bake sales. (comment: any of you joyful Catholic who want to contribute, get in touch with me.)

 Facit Short Story 

Reality       

God, the Father, is;

God, the Son, is;

God, the Holy Spirit, is.

That is why

I am.

 

My favorite priest, layperson, breathing saint or organization

 Fr. F.  Richard Spencer has served for six years as a military chaplain in Iraq.  After one of the many occasions when he had to minister to the injured and dying, he wrote, “In the moment, you do your prayers; then move to the next situation, because it’s continuous chaos. You just offer prayers that they would see the face of God that very day and you trust and hope. We had both Iraqis and Americans die. I didn’t know who was Muslim or who was Christian – but they all got a prayer.”

          On September 8 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., Fr. Spencer was installed as the next auxiliary bishop of Archdiocese for U. S. Military Services.  He now is the first man in this position who will be able to enter war zones and have unprecedented access to military personnel serving in most difficult circumstances.

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

joyfulcatholic@comcast.net 

Interesting sayings

No one created the first cause, precisely because it is the first. And  there is no real reason why we should establish limits to it, for it has no limits, no borders.  Since it was not made, it has no beginning: that is, it has always been and there is no reaon why it should cease to exist at any given time. And this means it is eternal. This cause is God.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe, the Polish Conventual Franciscan who was martyred in Auschwitz. 

 I’ve learned that everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

Andy Rooney

I do not know what God wants to do with me. I am always more content. Everyone is suffering, and I ,who should do rigorous penances, experience such continual profound joys that I have trouble keeping them under control.

Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (1691)

 

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.

Daniel Patrick Moynihan

 

There are two things I like about politicians.  They never are bothered with facts and they are the best people on earth that money can buy.

A cab driver in Washington, D..C.

 

Chuckle time

The scene when God let St. Francis, St. Benedict and St. Ignatius of Loyola be present at the birth ot Christ:

St. Francis and St. Benedict dropped to their knees and prayed quietly. St. Ignatius took Joseph aside and said, “Have you thought about the boy’s education?”

 

Juanita Caldwell, Isola Todd, David Abbey, Amie Ellis,

Linwood “Skip” Williams, Tom Medved, Eileen Grotsky, Roseanne Somlock, Nicholas Gallagher, Tom Lewis, Donald Whitcomb, Violeta Zepeda, John Aylor, Rev. Joseph Marini, Enrique Portillo, Sharon McPike, Tom Ryan, Joseph Normile, Jim Quimby, Russell Edwards, Gertrude Goldstein,

Rev. Stephen Huffstetter, Hugh Cannon, Eric Moore, Joan Barrett, 8-year-old Michael Fotta and his parents, Lolita Alvarez, Camilus Musselman, Jack Conner, Ed Block, Isobel Milligan, Peter Bartkiewiez and his family,

 Joe Toles, Grace Toomey, Bob Earll, Camilus Musselman, Bob Kehlhofer, Ed Cole, Bishop Thomas Olmsted, Jay Parker, the flood victims in Pakistan, the trapped miners in Chile.

 

Lightning Bug Catholics

 

We do indeed need to show joy as Catholics.

My motto… “Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.”
Michael J. Sheehan
Archbishop of Santa Fe

Lightning Bug Catholics

Recently, my wife and I enjoyed an evening cookout in the park. At dusk as we sat looking over a grassy area towards the woods, we had a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Suddenly the area became alive with hundreds of lightning bugs. They put on a show like quiet fireworks on the 4th of July. One of the little fellows landed on the top of my hand and stayed long enough for me to observe his orange head. Then he lighted up his lower abdomen and took off.
Return home, still tingling from the awe of having witnessed this phenomena of nature, I did some research. I learned that “the bug’s light production (bioluminescence) is caused by enzyme luciferase acting on luciferin in the presence of magnesium ions, ATP, and oxygen to produce light with wavelengths from 510 to 70 nanometers.” Wow!
During the week I realized that we Joyful Catholics are the lightning bugs in the Church. Those other staid, conservative and me-only Catholics are the non-lightning bugs who go about doing their own thing, unnoticed and unnoticing. By contrast, we Joyful Catholics brighten the world around us by demonstrating our concern and love for others—perhaps with a warm smile for a stranger, a call to the lonely, an act of kindness or a note of thanks and appreciation.
As I have said before, a complacent Catholic is third rate. What great joy there is in being a Joyful Catholic!

Recommended readings

- “No Third Reading” in Homiletic & Pastoral Review
- “Saint Teresa of Avila: Prayer-Centered Reformer” in Spiritual Life
- “A Reckoning- the Price Tag for America’s Wars” in Commonweal 7/16
- “The Jesus Controversy” in America 8/2-9 (Comment: I get annoyed at us Catholics who enjoy debating “the historical Jesus”. Why can’t we just accept that he was God-Made-Man, and ponder that forever.)

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

Michael J. SheehanArchbishop of Santa Fe

My favorite priest, layperson, breathing saint or organization

As the Executive Director of the Religious Formation Conference, Sister Violet Grennan of the Missionary Franciscan Sisters is a dynamo of energy and enthusiasm.  The purpose of the Conference is to enrich Catholic religious women and men by helping them to gain new knowledge and skills in their pastoral ministries. She is benefiting us Joyful Catholic by endowing our spiritual guides with fresh and effective tools. Sister Violet, we love you!  

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

joyfulcatholic@comcast.net 

Quiz

Last week, the winner of the autographed copy of Light Reading for Good and Wayward Catholic is Susan Fox in New Orleans. Here are the answers:

1. The sons of Jebedee whom Jesus nicknamed “Sons of Thunder” were James and John.
2. 130 is the maximum number of Cardinals permitted to elect a

(Comment, I wish the maximum age were 50.)

1. The patron saints of farmers is Isidore. 

News flashes

-         Bishop Felipe Arizmendi in Mexico lit a blaze when he blamed child abuse by priests on eroticism on television.

-         Commenting on the U.S, Conference of Catholic Bishops publication of “Setting the Record Straight,” Commonweal magazine said, “If the authors of this publication wish to seize a ‘new opportunity for the Catholic community to come together in defense of human life,’ they can start by not questioning the motives of those Catholics who disagree with them about how best to interpret the provisions of the new health-insurance law.  On questions such as this, disagreement should not be understood as a threat to unity, but as a sign of the church’s intellectual vitality.

       “American bishops too often seem to fear that any acknowledgement of the complexity of the issue of the church’s teaching on abortion would weaken their own position.”

(Comment – AMEN!)

-         Even though half of Catholic schools have closed since 1965, with a 20% drop in enrollment in the past ten years, Timothy Dolan, New York’s archbishop is working on a strategic initiative to save the Catholic schools in his archdiocese by co-operating closely with Catholic universities. This is in opposition to converting the schools into charter status (as in Washington, DC) and they no longer operate as religious establishments.

(Comment – Congratulations, Bishop Dolan, may other Catholic educators follow your lead.)

 

-   A sign outside the Church of God in Phoenix: HONK IF YOU LOVE  JESUS; TEXT WHILE DRIVING IF YOU WANT TO MEET HIM.

 Interesting sayings

Once I was at vespers and was gazing at the cross. And while I was thus gazing at the cross with the eyes of the body, suddenly my soul was set ablaze with love; and every member of my body felt it with the greatest joy. The joy which seized my soul in this moment can in no way be spoken of. And in no way whatever can I be sad concerning the passion; on the contrary, my joy is in seeing this man, and to come to him. All my joy now is in this suffering God-man.

Blessed Angela of Foligno, who died in 1309, was a wife and mother, and later a Franciscan tertiary and mystical writer.

 When you are going through hell, keep going.

   A waitress in Atlantis, FL

It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.

James Thurber 

Communiqués

The avalanche of messages from “The Pope is Pregnant” blog deserves a whole blog of its own.  They were both favorable and unfavorable, including a few threats.  So, be patient until I put it together.

 Chuckle time

In the book. How to Become a Bishop Without Being Religious, the author said there were two major requirements to be a bishop:

(a)  grey hair

(b)  hemorrhoids to give you a sorrowful look.

 

Special Intentions List

  As you pray with a broad brush, please include these loved ones, who have been submitted by our readers. You, too, are invited to send me names of your special persons who are in need of prayer.  My address is joyfulcatholic@comcast.net. They will be on the list for 60 days. At the end of that time, if prayers are still needed, you merely have to renew the name.

Juanita Caldwell, Isola Todd, David Abbey, Amie Ellis,

Linwood “Skip” Williams, Gerry Paradiso, Tom Medved, Eileen Grotsky, Roseanne Somlock, Nicholas Gallagher, Tom Lewis, Donald Whitcomb, Violeta Zepeda, John Aylor, Rev. Joseph Marini, Enrique Portillo,

 Sharon McPike, Tom Ryan, Joseph Normile, Jim Quimby, Russell Edwards,

Gertrude Goldstein, Rev. Stephen Huffstetter, Hugh Cannon, Eric Moore, Joan Barrett, 8-year-old Michael Fotta and his parents, Lolita Alvarez, Camilus Musselman, Jack Conner, Ed Block, Isobel Milligan,

Peter Bartkiewiez and his family, Joe Toles, Grace Toomey,

Camilus Musselman, Bob Kehlhofer, Ed Cole,Bishop Thomas Olmsted,

Rev. David Granfield, Mort Barron, Jay Parker

As you note, because of miraculous healings, several names have been deleted and added to our Deo Gratias list.

“Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.”

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

Michael J Sheehan

Archbishop of Santa Fe

 

Quiz

The first to send the right answers to joyfulcatholic@comcast.net will receive a gift copy of Light Reading for Good and Wayward Catholics.

1.     Who was the Church official Henry VIII sent to Rome to try and get Papal approval of annulment so he could marry the already pregnant Anne Boleyn?    

2.     In what year did Pope Pius IX define the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception?    

3.     What was the name of the tax collector who left his customs post to follow Jesus and later gave a great banquet for him?   

 News flashes

        As I predicted in my “Cheap Shooting” column, The Washington Post, a true master in the art of cheap shooting, confirmed it is going to milk the pedophilia subject to the fullest. In the April 21 paper, they put it on the front page.

The British House of Lords voted down the requirement that churches had to hire non-believers and those “whose private conduct is inconsistent with their teachings”.  (comment: Hurrah!)

The Pope is encouraging priests to use the Internet which can help “create deeper forms of relationship across great distances, opening up enormous new possibilities of evangelization.”

My new blog friend 

George Torres is a poet and the editor of Sofrito for Your Soul, a splendid website for the Latino-Hispanic communities worldwide.  He has succeeded in establishing an invigorating center for cultural information. Welcome, George, to the pack!

 

What a Priest!

 

 

We do indeed need to show joy as Catholics.  

My motto — “Be happily and uncomplicatedly Catholic.”

Michael J Sheehan

Archbishop of Santa Fe

 

What a Priest!

I noticed the difference as soon as I went in the church.  For many decades, when in London I have attended Mass at St. Mary’s Cadogan Street Church, just a few blocks from Sloane Square.  Instead of it being the dark and foreboding place I remembered (built in 1879), I found the church was bright and inviting.  I was greeted at the door and made to feel welcome. The priest’s homily was brief and of value. He made a special point of inviting everyone to the annual picnic to be held after the service.

          At the end of the Mass, he asked everyone to remain and get to know the persons sitting beside them.  Five minutes later, my wife, the young woman next to us and I were strangers no longer. She was from Australia studying to be a nurse, and as she had relatives living in the States, she asked many questions about America.

          Leaving the church, I congratulated the priest, who was Canon Stuart Wilson. Even though we could not stay, he insisted that he lead us to the picnic in the large courtyard behind the church.  There I was shocked to see a happy event taking place, like a 4^th of July celebration.  Everyone was having a splendid time, laughing, talking and clapping hands to the music of the four-piece Dixieland band.

          Having been awed by what I had seen, I called the next day to have an interview with Canon Wilson. He graciously agreed, and I met him Tuesday for morning coffee at the rectory.

          He proudly showed me how he had converted the former dismal rectory into a bright and happy residence. “This,” he said, “is not just the residence of the priest—it should be the home of everyone in the parish.”

Later he showed me an attractive meeting hall which had been storage space for unwanted items.

          In quizzing him about his involvement with St, Mary’s, he told me had been assigned to the church in 2006, when the church, rectory and community were in shambles. His first task was to get church members to join him in physically cleaning up the buildings. Then he began to renovate the buildings and developing a joyful sense of community.  An indication of his success is the fact that contributions to the church increased from 1,500 pounds a week to 3,700. 

          When we realized we both were converts, I told him about my conversion and asked about his. I was surprised when he told me he had been an Episcopal minister with a large church in London.  After years of prayerful concern, when he announced to his parishioners that he was to join the Roman Catholic Church, the entire congregation came with him.  “Wow!” I said.  “Don’t you need a bodyguard when you walk around the streets of London?”  He laughed and shook his head.

(And what are your thoughts? 

joyfulcatholic@comcast.net)

 

Other recommended Catholic Blogs

The American Catholic

Deacon’s Bench

Hermeneutic of Continuity

Recommended reading

 In the April 18 Sunday Opinion section of the New York Times, Nicholas Kristof has an excellent column “A Church Mary Can Love.” He ends with: “It’s high time for the Vatican to take inspiration from that sublime—even divine—side of the Catholic Church, from those church workers whose magnificence lies not in their vestments, but in their selflessness.  They’re enough to make the Virgin Mary smile.” (comment: Amen!)

The Catholic Martyrs of the Twentieth Century, by Robert Royal

 

 

Never too Late, a Conversion Story

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

Michael J Sheehan, Archbishop of Santa Fe

Never too Late, a Conversion Story

 By George Thatcher

George Thatcher is a remarkable man.  After a successful career in publishing and banking, he has continued his active involvement in helping others. Three times he was recognized as the outstanding citizen of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. As an author, his fourth book, A Decade of Beach Walks, is a compilation of his daily newspaper columns in which he demonstrates his delightful Thoreau-style appreciation of nature.

          As a fifth generation Episcopalian, he has been an international church leader, serving as Honorary Lay Canon of St. Peter’s Cathedral in the Anglican Diocese of Northern Malawi, Africa,  and heading for ten years the Bishop’s Fund for World Relief.  Then he recently converted to our Roman Catholic Church.  Here is his story:

           For me, traveling the road to Rome has been a long spiritual journey, beginning many years ago when an Anglo-Catholic rector, brimming with liturgical riches, came to the parish. Then there was the reading of Newman and Chesterton and Merton, of Muggeridge and Graham Green, of Teilhard and Dulles, and many more.  These were the days of the old American Church Union (does anyone remember?) of which I was a member. There we share a dream of the reunion of the Episcopal and the Roman Churches.

          In recent years the Lord’s call to me became frequent and more insistent. After much prayer, numerous retreats, consultations with family and friends, now an old man, I made the well-considered decision to spend the last years of my life as a Roman Catholic. I could have remained in my parish protected for a time from the drama that is unfolding elsewhere in the Episcopal Church. But I fear the wave of change sweeping the church endangers all of us who hold firmly to traditional beliefs.

          Why is it that modern churchmen devise new ideas, rejecting the teaching of the early Church fathers?  Does one of the modern revisionists have a mind or faith comparable to those of Athanasius or Augustine or Aquinas?  Yet they are eager to discard centuries of orthodox Christianity for contemporary materialistic philosophies.

          With wide open eyes, I see that the Roman Church in the U.S. is beset with problems, too, but it affords me an orthodox haven. This pope and the next assure continuation of church stability, rooted in Biblical verity and traditional values. In my new church I will simple be one of more than 50 million members in the U. S, and one of the nearly 2 billion worldwide. The catholicity appeals to me, and the spiritual leadership offered by the pope. the diocesan bishop, the pastor and luminaries like Cardinal Avery Dulles, Fr. Richard John Newman and others is something I need and want. In my 81st year, I embark on a new religious journey!

         (What is your story you would like to share?)

joyfulcatholic@comcast.net)

 

Interesting sayings 

More blessed is the person who greets his neighbor than the one who waits to be greeted by a neighbor or stranger. Don’t tell a person what it is to be a Catholic. Show by your joy and enthusiasm for the faith and your love for all of God’s people. Christianity is caught more than taught.

                                                Brother Ed Adams, F.S.C.

 

The Savior becomes all things to all, according to the need of each. To those who ask for joy, he becomes the vine; to those who wish to enter, he becomes the door; to those who are under the weight of sin, he becomes a lamb, a lamb slain for them. He becomes all things to all, but he remains nonetheless what he is.  

                                                Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (386)

I am ready to meet my Maker — but whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.

                                                Winston Churchill (1965)

Oh most merciful One, teach me to throw a party for the unworthy, knowing that I may be the guest of honor.

 Sister Macrina Weiderkehr, O.S.B.

 

 

Mother Teresa’s seven steps to spiritual achievement:

1.     Slow down

2.     Make some room.

3.     Open your eyes

4.     Put great love into the small things

5.     Do not tire

6.     Remember — it’s faithfulness, not success

7.     Leave the rest to Jesus.

 

My new blog friend

Thomas Peters, who lives in Washington, DC, is a splendid young lay Catholic with graduate degrees in theology. He edits the excellent American Papist blog, which I strongly endorse.  For your enjoyment, check it out. 

 

News flashes

-  Irish bookmaker Paddy Power is placing 3 to 1 odds that the Pope will resign because of the allegations of child abuse in Germany. (Comment: Paddy, you ought to stick to horse-racing.)

 

- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of  Washington has close its 80-year-old foster care and public adoption program to avoid the risk of having to accept same-sex couples as foster or adoptive parents. (Comment: This is like a kennel keeper who decides no longer to care for his hundred pedigreed dogs because he might have to accept a cur.)

-   In New Zealand the Atheist Bus Campaign is fuming because of the rejection of its ad, “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”  And here in USA, Annie Laurie Gaylor, of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, is protesting the issuance of a Mother Teresa stamp. (Comment: Annie Laurie, don’t you have something better to do, perhaps like empting the dishwasher?)

                                      A Shocker

Regardless of my thoughts about pro-life and pro-choice, this account sickened me, because I recognized it as a sign of today’s materialistic me-me-me society. I learned of a woman, desperate to have a child, who finally conceived with medical assistance.  Three months later, when she found she was carrying twins, she didn’t want the trouble and expense of caring for two children, so she had one of the babies aborted.

At the Vigil Mass for my much beloved friend, Msgr. W. Louis Quinn, even though the coffin was closed, I could picture this saintly man shaking his head in protest when a member of his family (who evidently had read my column “Communion-Juicy Fruit Flavor”) chewed gum throughout the service, even while receiving the Sacred Host.

 

Recommended reading

 -   In the March 3 issue of America, John J. DiIulio, Jr. author of Godly Republic, informs us about our prison problem.

-    On page 56 in The Economist (March 13) there is an excellent article about the problems of the Church in Germany.

 -   You will enjoy Father Mark Plaushin’s article, “St. Francis de Sales’ Introduction to the Devout Life, 1609-2009” in the March issue of Homiletic & Pastoral Review.

Contributions

  (Let me and others know about a special non-profit organization you support)

     joyfulcatholic@comcast.net 

 

Other recommended Catholic Blogs

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (UK)

Catholic and enjoying it.

Connell Society for a Good Time

Deeps of time

Insight Scoop

Intentional Disciples

More than enough

 

Communiqués received 

Our mother has few weeks left and we are planning her final Mass, one that is joyful, uplifting and soothing. Mom always had an unwavering affection for the Blessed Virgin; therefore we are trying to find readings and music that would reflect Mom’s embracement of her Catholic faith and joy of life, her service to others and her strength..   

                                      wetseas@aol.com

Thank you for your note, letting me know of your kind mention of our work in your blog.

                   Steve Mosher, President of Population Research Institute

As Quintanilla says there are cultural differences. However, we Catholics can be happy that the Mass in whatever language is seen and experienced permitting different Rites because it believes in cultural approach and in the enrichment of Catholic faith in different forms of worship. I belong to Syro Malabar Rite which is confined to the State of Kerala in India. When we grow in the universal faith of Catholicism giving utmost value to family and its sacredness, there will be joy and satisfaction.

                   Kalapurra Thomas

Just found your blog. Nice place you got here! By the way, last I saw, the presidential dollar coin had “In God we trust” inscribed on the edge of the coin rather than either side.

                   S. Murphy

I found young Hugo’s article about the English and Spanish Masses to be thought provoking. Let’s hope our priests conducting the English services can learn from this.

                   Adam Wentworth

Your blog is one of my favorites on BlogSpot.

                   Jim Woods “56, male, last seen 1 day ago”

Young Hugo’s article confirmed the virtues of immigration. For example, 37 of the 40 of the finalists in the 2010 Intel Science Talent Search were children of recent arrivals from China, Japan and India. What does that tell you?

Roger Bertram

My favorite religious priest, layperson or organization

Special recognition is deserved for Mark Neilson, editor of Living Faith, Daily Catholic Devotions, published by Creative Communications for the Parish.  For many years, I have started my day by reading Living Faith, which never fails to inspire me. It is like benefiting from a brief visit with some of the best of today’s theologians.  I recommend that you subscribe to Living Faith (www.livingfaith.com.).

Thank you, Mark, for your outstanding contribution to our Catholic community!

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

joyfulcatholic@comcast.net

Quiz

 The first to send the right answers to joyfulcatholic@comcast.net will receive a gift copy of Light Reading for Good and Wayward Catholics.

1.     Which three disciples did Jesus take with him when he went up to the mountain where the Transfiguration took place?

 

2.   Who was the pope who commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?

           

3.     Who is the patron saint of brewers?

 

Chuckle time

In a remote Irish parish on the final day of Lent, the parish caretaker felt obligated to go to confession.  His sin was having stolen the priest’s watch. Inside the booth, in a disguised voice, he confessed he had stolen something, and the priest said to be absolved, he had to return it.

          The caretaker said, “Instead, I’ll give it to you.”

          “But I don’t want it,” replied the priest.

          After a moment of silence, the man said, “I have offered it to the man I stole it from, and he doesn’t want it.”

          “In that case,” the priest said, “I absolve you of your sins and you can keep whatever it is.”

Special Intentions List

As you pray with a broad brush, please include these loved ones, who have been submitted by our readers. You, too, are invited to send me names of your special persons who are in need of prayer. My address is joyfulcatholic@comcast.net. They will be on the list for 60 days. At the end of that time, if prayers are still needed, you merely have to renew the name.

Juanita Caldwell, Isola Todd, David Abbey, Amie Ellis, Linwood “Skip” Williams, Gerry Paradiso, Tom Medved, Eileen Grotsky,

Roseanne Somlock, Nicholas Gallagher, Tom Lewis, Donald Whitcomb, Violeta Zepeda, John Aylor, Rev. Joseph Marini, Enrique Portillo,

Sharon McPike, Tom Ryan, Joseph Normile, Jim Quimby,Russell Edwards, Rev. Lawrence Boedt, Gertrude Goldstein,

Rev. Stephen Huffstetter, Hugh Cannon, Eric Moore, Joan Barrett,

8-year-old Michael Fotta and his parents, Lolita Alvarez\,

Camilus Musselman

As you note, because of miraculous healings, several names have been deleted and added to our Deo Gratias list.