We Do Indeed Need to Show Joy as Catholics.

  “Be happily and uncomplicatedly
Catholic.”

Michael J. Sheehan, Archbishop of Santa Fe

News flashes

Alex Salmond, 1^st Minister of Scotland, has protested to Parliament about a law on the books since 1701 stating that no member of the royal family can marry a Catholic. He pointed out that they can yet marry a Jew, Muslim, Voodoo priest or Atheist. (Comment: Martians accepted, but no Catholics)
The Mayor of  Moscow has approved plans to build 200 Russian Orthodox churches in the Russian capital.                                  

My favorite priest, layperson, breathing saint or organization 

CNEWA (Catholic Near East Welfare Association) was established in 1926 by Pope Pius XI to assist Eastern churches, to work for church unity and to raise consciousness in the West about the churches and people of the East. The current annual report shows over $5 million spent for carrying for needy children, $3 million for constructing and maintaining religious institutions, $2 million for developing Church leadership, $2 million for heightening public awareness, over a million for urgent human needs, and $600,000 for fostering interfaith communications.

          Today is a time of greatest need for us to support this splendid Catholic organization in its valiant effort to protect and expand our church in the Middle East. Your contribution can be sent to:

CNEWA

1011 First  Avenue

New York, NY 10022-4195

And if you want more information, contact Father Hayden Vavarek at (212) 826-1480,
ext.105  frhayden@CNEWA.org

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

aljagoe@comcast.net

 

Interesting Sayings

By baptism we acquire a new title to the paternal providence of God the Father. The important point to remember is that our confidence in the continual paternal protection and solicitude is based not on our own merits, but on our membership of his Son’s Mystical Body, an his own goodness and mercy.  By baptism, God is
in us, and we are in God, and are made Godlike.

Father E. Eugene Boyland, (1964), was a monk of the Cistercian Abbey in Roscrea,Ireland.

For this is truly perfection: never to stop growing towards what is better and never placing any limit on perfection.

 Saint Gregory of Nyssa (395)
It isn’t what we don’t know that gives us trouble, it’s what we know that ain’t do.

Will Rogers

Our faith is not blind, nor is it a childish and irrational belief in something that cannot be seen.  Our faith is alive and as real as a shepherd sitting on an ancient hillside, his hand on the napes of our necks and his eyes never resting as he scans the flock in search of danger. Our faith is about this kind and ever-loving shepherd who has claimed us for his own, knows us by name and has, in fact, already sacrificed his life for our own.- Steve Givens

Communiqués 

I admire your Light Reading for Good and Wayward Catholicsfor the subtle
way you remind us that Christ is the theophany.

Madeline Crossman,Ann Arbor,MI

It is dangerous for you to want us to dive into deep theological waters to try to imagine what went on between Jesus and Mary, other than what is written in the Bible.  

Marie Stetson, Toledo, OH

 Israel was one of the first countries that sent assistance to Haiti, as well as numerous other disasters around the world.
Stephen Diaz Gavin,Washington,DC

Many thanks to the fellow who prompted you to urge us to think about the personal relationship between Jesus and his mother, the Virgin Mary. It opened a new range of thinking for me.

Elllis, Craftsman,Seattle,WA

You flippancy annoys the shit out of me. (I bet you won’t print this.)

                                      Joe Wright, New York, NY

                    (Comment: Joe, now you owe me one.) 

Chuckle Time

An Irishman goes into the confessional box after years of being away from the Church.  He is amazed to find a fully equipped bar with Guinness on tap.  On the other wall is a
dazzling array of the finest cigars and chocolates in the world.

Then the priest comes in.
Excitedly, the Irishman begins…”Father, forgive me, for it’s been a very long time since I’ve been to confession, but I must first admit that the confessional box is much more inviting than it used to be.”         The priest replies “Get out.  You’re on my side.”

 

 

        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.

Juanita Caldwell, Isola Todd, Jill 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, Camilus  Musselman,   Ed Cole, Bishop Thomas Olmsted, Jay Parker, William  Stephenson, Roger Stoven, Bob Abbott, Denny Kline, Lois Pinkin, Larry Mannino,  Cheryl DeSantis, Lenore Sommers, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Laura Marsh, Marie Lyons, John Vaughen, Andy Samworth, Carrol Otto. Bill Daniels. Wynne Ambrose 

Christian martyrs in the Middle East, those in refugee camps throughout the world, the Japanese victims of their recent calamity. 

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

 

News Flashes

-             In his 11/21 New York Times column, Nicholas Kristof blasts charities who have staggering administrative costs, and he praises Catholic Charities as one of our most efficient and effective charities.

-         Under the category of  “nothing is new”, St. Luke wrote in the first century, As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes.”

-         There have been massive demonstrations in Brussels, Paris and London about the Iraqi abuse of Christians following the slaughter of those at a Mass in Baghdad. Outside of Cardinal George urging President Obama to come to the aid of Iraqi Christians, we American seem oblivious to this situation. Could it be because of our sense of guilt in unilaterally being the nation that devastated this country?

-         In line with my blog about Sing-along Masses, Zenit listed the Pope’s ideas how to improve participation at Mass.  Here are a few of his suggestions (Hey, you priests, are you listening?) The word can only be heard in silence, outward and inward. The people must be educated in the value of silence. When called for, silence should be considered a part of the celebration.

 

My favorite priest, layperson, breathing saint or organization

As my favorite laypersons, I endorse Violet and Allen Large in Nova Scotia, who won $11 million in lottery.  They spent it all, and not a cent for themselves. They donated everything to charities. 75-year-old Allen said, “That money that we won was nothing. We have each other.” (I wonder if I would do the same. What about you?)

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

aljagoe@comcast.net

 

Interesting Sayings 

It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes.   A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.   
Thomas Jefferson 

 

I call everyone ‘Darling’ because I can’t remember their names.  Zsa Zsa Gabor

 

If a man wishes to know the deepest ocean of divine understanding, let him first scan the sea, and the less he find himself to understand of those creatures which lurk beneath the waves, the more let him realize that he knows less of the depths of its Creator.

Saint Columban (died 615)

 

The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

A self-justifying procrastinator

 

Communiqués

As the lucky winner of Light Reading for Good and Wayward Catholics, I want you to know I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  It is a fresh breeze for our Church.

Dorothy Wilson

 It is through the fissiparousness of us Joyful Catholics that the Church will continue to expand.

                                                Dr. Roger Duckworth 

I agree with your three reasons to respect the Muslims. But for me, that’s all.

                                                Mildred Richard

 Chuckle Time

In a grade school production of the Christmas Story, the youngster playing the role of the stern innkeeper was unhappy with his assignment. The night of the play when Joseph knocked on the door, the kid followed the script and said, “Go away. The inn if filled and there is no room for you and Mary.”

          Then he added, “But come in and have a drink.”

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. 

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, Gertrude Goldstein,

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, Grace Toomey, 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

The cholera victims in Haiti.