Monday, October 31, 2011

Welcome RBC faculty!

Tomorrow, November 1, we welcome the faculty and staff of Red Bank Catholic High School to Saint Anselm.  The faculty will be having their annual spirituality day with us.  After breakfast, there will be a presentation on humor in the spritual life, followed by a presentation by Msgr. Sam Sirianni and myself on the implementation of the new Roman Missal.  I'll reserve comment on the juxtaposition of these topics until after the presentation......

Basically, we'll be presenting to the faculty the same information we shared at our parish meeting on the new Roman Missal.  Just a reminder, you can view that powerpoint presentation by visiting the Saint Anselm website...www.stanselm.com...so check it out!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

A great time at EPCOT


After the Stewardship Conference ended with the final concelebrated Mass, I joined some of my colleagues in an afternoon and evening at EPCOT.  I have never been there before, so I was very excited about the trip.  All I have to say about the trip was WOW!  I had no idea it would be so fun and so cool!  I think I had as good a time as did all of the little kids and families that were roaming the park.  I think that I will return to this magical place again.

Tomorrow I fly home to Jersey.  It will be good to be home.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

International Catholic Stewardship Conference

I'm currently enjoying a great conference on Catholic Stewardship.  The conference is being held in Orlando, Florida, at the Lake Buena Vista Palace hotel....just across the street from Disney World!  It's a beautiful place for a conference, the weather is great (79 degrees F) and I'm learning and re-learning lots of great stuff.  The exhibitors are top-notch, and I've even re-connected with some long-time friends from around the country. 

Look out St. Anselm!  I'm coming home with lots of good ideas, and exciting thoughts about rejuvenating our parish practices regarding stewardship!  It's going to be moved to the front-burner!

Monday, October 24, 2011

A new Nuncio for USA!

Just heard that Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano has been named by the Pope to be the new Nuncio (ambassador) to the USA.  Let's pray for him, and for his ministry!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Rest In Peace, Fra Pietro




Late this evening came word of the death of Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Vatican Nuncio (Ambassador) to the United States for the past 6 years. The Archbishop had been suffering from a lung condition and was being treated at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Earlier in the week, his family had been called to his bedside, and dioceses throughout the U.S. had asked the faithful for prayers for him.


Archbishop Sambi was a good priest, an eminent diplomat, and very interested in the vibrant pastoral life of parishes in the United States. I had the wonderful occasion to meet him at the "Enthronement" of Bishop Gerald Dino of the Eparchy of Van Nuys a few years ago. Bishop Dino is a longtime friend, and so I was thrilled to be invited to his Enthronement. Archbishop Sambi who "recommended" Bishop Gerald to Pope Benedict XVI to be made bishop, was very much present at the ceremonies, and the wonderful eparchial reception afterward. I was very impressed at how, as I said at the time, "He worked the room like a Jersey City politician!" He went to every table of lay people, priests, deacons, et. al. I'm not sure that he actually ate any food, he was so busy greeting everybody! Even after the reception, he came down to the lounge in the hotel where most of us were staying, and continued visiting with all of Bishop Gerry's friends and family members.


I will remember this very friendly priest, Archbishop, ambassador, and man at Mass tomorrow. Let us pray for each other!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

A new Archbishop for Philadelphia

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will announce tomorrow that Pope Benedict has appointed Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM as the new archbishop of Philadelphia. He succeeds Cardinal Justin Rigali, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 last year.

Archbishop Chaput is coming to the East Coast from Denver, Colorado. He has a very big job ahead of him, especially in the area of healing hurts from the massive mishandling of the clerical sex abuse crisis. Hopefully, the Lord will aid the new archbishop with Grace to heal the massive wounds that the people of Philly are suffering. Let us pray for the people of Philadelphia.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

The New Missal????

I just saw this image on another blog, and couldn't resist posting this. I welcome all humorous comments!