tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66813961575516347382024-03-13T06:45:50.904-04:00Fr. Gene's BlogPastor of the Church of St. Anselm in the Wayside section of Tinton Falls, New Jersey, Fr. Gene offers thoughts on the Church's liturgy, news, and recent happenings.Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.comBlogger425125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-74709296747314880262011-10-31T21:03:00.002-04:002011-10-31T21:04:08.853-04:00Welcome RBC faculty!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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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......<br />
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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!Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-66123077065573693432011-10-26T21:18:00.000-04:002011-10-26T21:18:06.278-04:00A great time at EPCOT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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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.</div>
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Tomorrow I fly home to Jersey. It will be good to be home.</div>Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-81639029891673923892011-10-25T23:53:00.000-04:002011-10-25T23:53:25.611-04:00International Catholic Stewardship Conference<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEGHVVwedJJhQVHQjx0FZmrei014PCm581vGnME4FoO1C2LtVHsCx_qGejNSgJWu1pCdkIKtwQRJOw3mSrzLjzOQ9GH2uktKfrM9eov701sVqhSNvnQD1NslS8lSX0_NnIzPT7KNjKj0/s1600/icsc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEGHVVwedJJhQVHQjx0FZmrei014PCm581vGnME4FoO1C2LtVHsCx_qGejNSgJWu1pCdkIKtwQRJOw3mSrzLjzOQ9GH2uktKfrM9eov701sVqhSNvnQD1NslS8lSX0_NnIzPT7KNjKj0/s1600/icsc.jpg" /></a></div>
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. <br />
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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!Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-17604917705318358582011-10-24T23:57:00.002-04:002011-10-24T23:57:24.854-04:00A 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!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVRp29f3aQNIye9DJ88f1p1L9sjOEsU0XQpAo2VMF0mAykjYiqAmXq_GFhge-qyqHJwUQui__7JwS-cAV0Nd3CiDJUAZYmRxUaNCYNJFICLlXyrkh1sfKhiN3pGVfdKFxSj1WEthXESw/s1600/nuncio+vigano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVRp29f3aQNIye9DJ88f1p1L9sjOEsU0XQpAo2VMF0mAykjYiqAmXq_GFhge-qyqHJwUQui__7JwS-cAV0Nd3CiDJUAZYmRxUaNCYNJFICLlXyrkh1sfKhiN3pGVfdKFxSj1WEthXESw/s1600/nuncio+vigano.jpg" /></a></div>Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-48310450467832911522011-07-27T22:45:00.004-04:002011-07-27T23:01:11.329-04:00Rest In Peace, Fra Pietro<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvzY5IWeKTcF8IIN_kNr5amAGaDxhA7DDGfPMywOwjeJviZGQXMcQE15moKMMxNIBvWR_bLl6meUz2-xsSApJdM_GeGyYUCtX756xmSyDupmvTmLjfJ3omLbFCMEFBPtVKzrLiEtMNd0/s1600/Sambi.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 120px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634229422188988082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvzY5IWeKTcF8IIN_kNr5amAGaDxhA7DDGfPMywOwjeJviZGQXMcQE15moKMMxNIBvWR_bLl6meUz2-xsSApJdM_GeGyYUCtX756xmSyDupmvTmLjfJ3omLbFCMEFBPtVKzrLiEtMNd0/s400/Sambi.png" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>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.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>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.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I will remember this very friendly priest, Archbishop, ambassador, and man at Mass tomorrow. Let us pray for each other!</div>Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-3993406523962431492011-07-19T00:50:00.003-04:002011-07-19T00:59:21.784-04:00A new Archbishop for Philadelphia<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6-g7Bi2f2zpE46j1RROA6qIs8WQ4eH9op8yKvPl0R4MrknpDXMOAP2Sz5xp_IVmwRaWuPRvunhYQZnWHT_XiuzkgQRrlGfLumjmlT-9nY8pjWha5pWJA9vLnrqzU7V8uANREOY54dyM/s1600/Chaput.png"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 272px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 186px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630922055746548658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6-g7Bi2f2zpE46j1RROA6qIs8WQ4eH9op8yKvPl0R4MrknpDXMOAP2Sz5xp_IVmwRaWuPRvunhYQZnWHT_XiuzkgQRrlGfLumjmlT-9nY8pjWha5pWJA9vLnrqzU7V8uANREOY54dyM/s400/Chaput.png" /></a> 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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br /><div></div>Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-50726270007489327162011-05-17T00:48:00.001-04:002011-05-17T00:50:12.624-04:00The New Missal????<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw3mG5WN4wJevz9Mjz7SlgEEe9hiUdfci1OlKZG8ZjW7HgJhueJpPynYOm2LEz4lyhTn6UdO0dmm_FqdDB8sh2e1SjebCxQ-sbTMVtSimlvKowlzsR1zpqh3VZi-Z2j8srgRpWThwMec/s1600/TheNewMissal.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607542537712811666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw3mG5WN4wJevz9Mjz7SlgEEe9hiUdfci1OlKZG8ZjW7HgJhueJpPynYOm2LEz4lyhTn6UdO0dmm_FqdDB8sh2e1SjebCxQ-sbTMVtSimlvKowlzsR1zpqh3VZi-Z2j8srgRpWThwMec/s400/TheNewMissal.jpg" /></a> I just saw this image on another blog, and couldn't resist posting this. I welcome all humorous comments!<br /><br /><div></div>Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-20211265853591550892011-04-06T23:27:00.003-04:002011-04-06T23:43:02.046-04:00Holy Thursday preparations<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxc-xWj8179fTmNViJST0GKopRpz_5LVwgN3PWyTLYW920tVycS7_Dv3deUFYVRUf2sNnrw2toqWGWFmZuPgHOAClxcb21u6ts20WTjU8Mf0L-8ovSvJtwo5VImRKj4Eum23R-BLtLeXk/s1600/Holy+Thursday+018.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 365px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592678954168865810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxc-xWj8179fTmNViJST0GKopRpz_5LVwgN3PWyTLYW920tVycS7_Dv3deUFYVRUf2sNnrw2toqWGWFmZuPgHOAClxcb21u6ts20WTjU8Mf0L-8ovSvJtwo5VImRKj4Eum23R-BLtLeXk/s400/Holy+Thursday+018.jpg" /></a> Just got word that Bishop John M. Smith, the retired Bishop of Trenton, will be coming to St. Anselm parish for Holy Thursday, for the celebration of the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper. He knows how we have the practice of washing everyone's feet. And he's looking forward to a parish celebration of the Lord's Supper that truly lives out the vision of "Full, conscious, and active participation of all of the faithful" in the Holy Thursday liturgy. Yes, we will wash lots of feet, yes, we will sing the Liturgy as much as possible, yes, we will process in song and movement, with the Blessed Sacrament, to the Altar of Repose. We will sing in modern and ancient languages, and we will proclaim by our celebration of this liturgy, that we are all partakers of the Priesthood of Christ because of His gift of the Eucharist. Let us continue to pray for one another! FYI: The Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper begins at 8:00 p.m. on Holy Thursday evening. After Mass, we will watch in prayer in our chapel until 10:00 p.m., with the singing of Night Prayer, and the closing of the church for the night. Please note, children are welcome to attend, and to participate in the Mass of the Lord's Supper! All are welcome.Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-11813716072979622462011-03-17T23:00:00.006-04:002011-03-17T23:26:35.921-04:00A great night at the Waldorf-Asotria in NYC<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmnYfPshVFbe9CKiOIxokxt1NYFpaGBZ5yV4A_yKuczaCccopihPz1WOzE9QXGV9qMP7aQsjjcddj518s51oHDWMAv5TVtihKeuYoFc8g6d_PjhZfX_tBf4wsr4_Cs1JcTrfRNoHCgGs/s1600/Brian+and+paqui+kelly.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 305px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585255612800930498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmnYfPshVFbe9CKiOIxokxt1NYFpaGBZ5yV4A_yKuczaCccopihPz1WOzE9QXGV9qMP7aQsjjcddj518s51oHDWMAv5TVtihKeuYoFc8g6d_PjhZfX_tBf4wsr4_Cs1JcTrfRNoHCgGs/s400/Brian+and+paqui+kelly.jpg" /></a> Coach Brian Kelly, and his wife, Paqui Kelly,<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNqnvWqrTHLnV53dMRbzlEJvohA1LwUIRVngAnoAwsxIBcGSpN8FHazl-0Hu7u7B1SoiyUvbVW5qvVLhXYocN6t5GvGCUFhHGaAzkCcEg5WVBWvT8C82apx2jZIKOCZeDHz6L6ToIWaA/s1600/ara-parseghian.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 160px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 220px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585252146790195842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNqnvWqrTHLnV53dMRbzlEJvohA1LwUIRVngAnoAwsxIBcGSpN8FHazl-0Hu7u7B1SoiyUvbVW5qvVLhXYocN6t5GvGCUFhHGaAzkCcEg5WVBWvT8C82apx2jZIKOCZeDHz6L6ToIWaA/s400/ara-parseghian.jpg" /></a> Coach Ara Paraseghian<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hyfJPAwHlWmrhls1VSNjrKZHKAgBcPp8cjAOqIR6u86TiBAz1AyhqW2zewN6m8s_k1C54z4tjHsQVqE3vKSxUhM_XqBJ_eR6_uTeLZDMcG7GadFIipCw9kNZjTeDdLs-9MIY1EHyE1k/s1600/Tim+Brown.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 317px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585251864936512658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hyfJPAwHlWmrhls1VSNjrKZHKAgBcPp8cjAOqIR6u86TiBAz1AyhqW2zewN6m8s_k1C54z4tjHsQVqE3vKSxUhM_XqBJ_eR6_uTeLZDMcG7GadFIipCw9kNZjTeDdLs-9MIY1EHyE1k/s400/Tim+Brown.jpg" /></a> Heisman Trophy winner, and Presenter, Tim Brown, ND 1988<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Wj0qlqbtC5OLI4syyzZvf5GDR6kDGyMgzC6zEwsuHsqZpLGeVjH74aWcXRBDwOl1XmJLT_Gx-GnrV2RXmOPaXJXw17TiWBSjSMdVUmeuuCjq_emTGv4weLpAgO2zwiCz_eKQUV2e9u0/s1600/Lou+Holtz.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 220px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 306px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585251748948382466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Wj0qlqbtC5OLI4syyzZvf5GDR6kDGyMgzC6zEwsuHsqZpLGeVjH74aWcXRBDwOl1XmJLT_Gx-GnrV2RXmOPaXJXw17TiWBSjSMdVUmeuuCjq_emTGv4weLpAgO2zwiCz_eKQUV2e9u0/s400/Lou+Holtz.jpg" /></a> Coach Lou Holtz</div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXStwwWbvRrHv5aw3zY-sBwKOcUN1xl3ZmvA-W2WIin1kQ1ynmgjAWjRm3ifcB_SsSPa6NN2g7PvhIKgAT83LSLlJSmqevM3_OmLQXM42SkKrg7DOxwEna2xetMfGSE3W4QDKL_w3nluQ/s1600/Regis+Philbin.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 287px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585251624253211266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXStwwWbvRrHv5aw3zY-sBwKOcUN1xl3ZmvA-W2WIin1kQ1ynmgjAWjRm3ifcB_SsSPa6NN2g7PvhIKgAT83LSLlJSmqevM3_OmLQXM42SkKrg7DOxwEna2xetMfGSE3W4QDKL_w3nluQ/s400/Regis+Philbin.jpg" /></a> Regis Philbin, ND class of '51</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br />Last night, I was privileged to attend a great dinner in New York City, at the Grand ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. It was the inaugural celebration for "Irish Eyes Dinner to Remember" to benefit the Kelly Cares Foundation. A great night, hosted by ND's class of '51, Regis Philbin. </div><br /><div>The entire Waldorf environment was spectacular, and very welcoming.</div><br /><div>It was a wonderful night for old friends, classmates, and new members of the Notre Dame Family to gather and rekindle old relationships.</div><br /><div>The dinner itself was superb, and featured not only great speeches, but wonderful music from Hayley Griffiths, lead singer from "riverdance" and "lord of the dance." </div><div></div><br /><div>Overall, a great way to raise awareness for Breast Cancer awareness, and to start a proper celebration of St. Patrick's Day! </div><div> </div><div>Go Irish!<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-22641045132840992622011-02-22T00:52:00.005-05:002011-08-14T21:55:46.052-04:00A Great Liturgy Committee Meeting tonight<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHA82tyjMSEQyqhDTrI-w2BhkWR2Z6Rk_NrUstpZ_yi3YsIH4Z_aNafxdI8XJgwe3x9gTWu-U055sE1yvwIKYbnpZiQ39W7bpAlQZwuDXQyuy7RXSWs14Ejc5FC3dOGDdrpfKRW9WNcY/s1600/Palm_Sunday_2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 297px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576388405237898402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHA82tyjMSEQyqhDTrI-w2BhkWR2Z6Rk_NrUstpZ_yi3YsIH4Z_aNafxdI8XJgwe3x9gTWu-U055sE1yvwIKYbnpZiQ39W7bpAlQZwuDXQyuy7RXSWs14Ejc5FC3dOGDdrpfKRW9WNcY/s400/Palm_Sunday_2.jpg" /></a> Tonight we had a great Liturgy Committee meeting. We decided how to handle several issues, and I informed the Committee of our plan to implement our Diocesan plan for the implementation of the Roman Missal. I shared the many resources for the implemenation of the new Roman Missal, especially some very good webistes and bulletin inserts to use in our catechizing for this implementation. I'm very happy to be working with this very talented group of Liturgy Committee members, who are so very talented and resourceful, and loyal to the teachings of the Church. We all seek to put into place a loyal, faithful, and a pastoral celebration of the Church's liturgy.
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<br />Our Parish Liturgy Committee has already received some very awful, and almost violent comments from some of our parishioners.....saying things like: "I'm not going to accept any of these changes..." Well, I encouraged the Liturgy Committee to pass on any negative comments to me, and I'll be glad to handle them.
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<br />I truly believe that this time is a chance to educate our Catholic Faithful about the real, deep, and true meanings of our Liturgy, and its meanings. We didn't do this after Vatican II, and now, with this new translation, we have a golden opportunity.
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<br />Yet, we will have to face our members who will stupidly ask: "Why do we have to change?"
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<br />It's up to us to lead the rest to more deeply understant the beauty of the Liturgy and how it shapes, forms, informs, and leads us into the Christ-Life.
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<br />Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-39716082612926690262011-01-30T00:38:00.003-05:002011-01-30T01:05:35.280-05:00Blessed Sacrament Choir tonight!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzcY8n8c5vguQddEqXagYNbA01c2i-_u6cYeL32ipXYUAgaXkChyphenhyphenVt4DSw4p9suNFczkUOLepaI2oZbs3IDMwMw2dY91004cz6S3BhBtA2HdlyCnlMaO3uicRz_YKpuTz0yjPeHy3yZ8/s1600/choir_mix.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567851526169292466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzcY8n8c5vguQddEqXagYNbA01c2i-_u6cYeL32ipXYUAgaXkChyphenhyphenVt4DSw4p9suNFczkUOLepaI2oZbs3IDMwMw2dY91004cz6S3BhBtA2HdlyCnlMaO3uicRz_YKpuTz0yjPeHy3yZ8/s400/choir_mix.jpg" /></a> Tonight we hosted the choir from Blessed Sacrament/St. Charles Borromeo parish in Newark, NJ at our 5:30 PM Liturgy. They all sang beautifully, and we really rocked the church.<br /><br />Afterward, our Parish Life Committee hosted a covered-dish supper for the choir. More than 200 people showed up, to fill our Learning Center. It was very, very tight.<br /><br />I'm overall very pleased with our Parish Life Committee, and how they hosted our guests. However, in assisting the committee members who were doing all of the work, I heard of several stories of parishioners who were downright rude, too demanding, who were disrespectful of our guests, and now I'm writing this with knots in my stomach considering whether we should ever do this event again, if it's going to cause such divisions and dissension.<br /><br />Our Parish Life committee hosted a great event, and donated hundreds of hours trying to provide a great event. Yet the complaints that I heard from parishioners who give absolutely nothing to our parish who were demanding service at this event.....It was really disheartening. I have to tell you....I'm thinking of cancelling this event for next year. <br /><br />While I really love having the choir from Blessed Sacrament parish here to sing our Liturgy in Gospel style, I am very, VERY, disappointed with the nasty parishioners that abused our Parish Life Committee this evening. Once again, I'm very dissapointed....let the word go forth!Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-3098122152977824902011-01-26T23:27:00.002-05:002011-01-26T23:30:36.060-05:00The view from my window these days<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJXm4E2CjmV5t27VHKhoxse02G5J9KsqmWhkgjs6uuvywhFq8TWeXA6qJ48WyEHwexjn7ThjhW4lmUs-DNjT6LVVUj5fPTrIMvvbukZ4xYwF_C6IcCff6IqtvHeH8nE_oRy0BWE9MEsA/s1600/Jersey+Shore+January+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 243px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566717771790384034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJXm4E2CjmV5t27VHKhoxse02G5J9KsqmWhkgjs6uuvywhFq8TWeXA6qJ48WyEHwexjn7ThjhW4lmUs-DNjT6LVVUj5fPTrIMvvbukZ4xYwF_C6IcCff6IqtvHeH8nE_oRy0BWE9MEsA/s400/Jersey+Shore+January+2011.jpg" /></a> Thanks to Mike McElroy for this great image of life at the Jersey Shore these days. I, for one, have had enough of the white stuff. <br /><br />Let's pray that this is the last of the winter storms. January is NOT supposed to look like this in New Jersey. <br /><div></div>Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-58585652411445749372011-01-15T22:47:00.004-05:002011-01-15T23:04:01.038-05:00An evening at Carnegie Hall<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 350px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562627044278465650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_225M5sBoN9SbthJmW7G8qi6Fbmr6pL4vVVxK3FakOtNUVR5uFWWQRPgDW9UsbfAO2DV9IKS0-kEhMhfx9lE-GM5g__l4v9q46M9yGkXA9VkCrvNc-1OfwWubXG6ZotCgn7A94VnBlg0/s400/Angotti.jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitugUHfSWAPE7I1nF4bED3S5ODTyrEv-n4QraY1BMUgk9OhyDadoTBSIoqnbpQW48gnRWmC33oYLLSfP3Q_oG4I29pwLahG-Orz7lGW2wHq0SCFZ6ehq7rDHK1HQzK7oSHZ0OiXHIOM9E/s1600/CarnegieHall.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562625438973119490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitugUHfSWAPE7I1nF4bED3S5ODTyrEv-n4QraY1BMUgk9OhyDadoTBSIoqnbpQW48gnRWmC33oYLLSfP3Q_oG4I29pwLahG-Orz7lGW2wHq0SCFZ6ehq7rDHK1HQzK7oSHZ0OiXHIOM9E/s400/CarnegieHall.jpg" /></a> Last evening, I went to a great concert in New York, at the world-famous Carnegie Hall. For me, it was my first time there. And what a night it was!<br /><br />The featured artist was John Angotti, who was backed up by a Catholic Choir of 330 people! Singing in the choir were our own parishioners Cindy Buck and Mike Zorner. They were joined by many other choir members from all over the Diocese of Trenton. We had a Party Bus for 30 from Saint Anselm, and we had a great time. I'm sure that this won't be the last bus trip to NYC for an event like this. <br /><br />Thanks to Dr. Jerry Galipeau and other friends at World LIbrary Publications in Chicago, I think artists like John Angotti will continue to come to great venues like Carnegie Hall, and gather with many other Catholic musicians to bring the message of God's love to the world.Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-85059323748959239612011-01-06T23:10:00.003-05:002011-01-06T23:27:59.928-05:00Celebrating Theophany<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjke5dSxwrREAWQ_BmVgvfB7dvFlxOK5XO4S_taE5YE2rF_rfEQsduPjKI3EFts6tP_bQcbtAQw3x6Zo6g-DfErMceB3CIQcgBtFPlH_enlCmNh3pcrGs91vREuQnGqnszYGQSrjAVN_O0/s1600/iconostasis+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 360px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 270px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559294047124074786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjke5dSxwrREAWQ_BmVgvfB7dvFlxOK5XO4S_taE5YE2rF_rfEQsduPjKI3EFts6tP_bQcbtAQw3x6Zo6g-DfErMceB3CIQcgBtFPlH_enlCmNh3pcrGs91vREuQnGqnszYGQSrjAVN_O0/s400/iconostasis+2.jpg" /></a> Last night, I joined my good friend, Fr. Michael Mondik of St. Thomas Byzantine Catholic Church in Rahway for the vigil celebration of Vespers and the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Theophany. This was my first time concelebrating as the sole concelebrant for a Byzantine Liturgy. Fr. Michael was very gracious, and very patient with me, as I tried to sing the parts of the Liturgy that he gave to me. I was especially honored when he asked me to take the Blessing of Water at the end of the Liturgy. (It takes almost 20 minutes to bless the water in this Liturgy.) It was a great, and very moving evening for me. I think that I may ask my bishop for permission to begin studying the Byzantine Liturgy with the hope of gaining bi-ritual faculties.<br /><div></div>Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-53102387758908215342010-10-29T23:43:00.004-04:002010-10-30T19:10:57.614-04:00A campus mourns<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnfcEcfHnKZnku7vB9jR5MbEYKrZYUAd7Na0Ws4crEqRyNwLrli3fu_rdHPE5Hoo7U0dgplHgdK9t1y4tkl9YjwzC1ibkLM3gQItbdTOXpduoQBAL3TmMcYAf1GkydUyYdvno91HHXtE/s1600/Admin+building.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533679848721422034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnfcEcfHnKZnku7vB9jR5MbEYKrZYUAd7Na0Ws4crEqRyNwLrli3fu_rdHPE5Hoo7U0dgplHgdK9t1y4tkl9YjwzC1ibkLM3gQItbdTOXpduoQBAL3TmMcYAf1GkydUyYdvno91HHXtE/s400/Admin+building.jpg" /></a><strong> By now, you may have heard of the terrible accident that claimed the life of Notre Dame student Declan Sullivan on Wednesday of this week. A friend came across a beautiful description of the Mass celebrated last night (Thursday) in memory of Declan from a student's vantage point. She, like most of us, didn't know Declan personally, but she was drawn to participate in this beautiful display of the Notre Dame family. I want to share the student's blog entry with all of you.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>The student's name is Amy.</strong><br /><br />Here's the text of her blog entry:<br /><br /><br /><br />I did not know Declan Sullivan.<br /><br />On Wednesday, Declan was killed on campus in an accident involving a hydraulic lift. He was filming football practice for his job as a student manager, and high winds caused the scissor lift he was filming from to topple over.<br /><br />He was 20 years old. He was a junior majoring in FTT (film, television and theater) and marketing. He lived in Fisher Hall.<br /><br />Tonight, Father John Jenkins, University President, presided over a Mass in Declan's memory in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.<br /><br />Mass began at 10 p.m. I was in a lecture and movie screening for class until 9:45 pm, and I wasn't sure if I was going to make it to the Basilica in time to get a seat. I also wasn't sure if I even wanted to go to the Mass. I didn't know Declan, so a part of me thought, "Why should I take a seat from somebody who knew him, loved him, cared about him? Who am I to do that?" But another part of me desperately wanted to go to the Mass to show my support for Declans family during this horrible, difficult time. That part of me wanted to show the Sullivans that Notre Dame is a place where everybody matters, a place where the spirit of the community links everybody together. I was already running late and I knew that my baseball-cap-and-Ugg-bots attire wouldn't fly at the Basilica, so I decided to go over to LaFortune Student Center, where I had heard there would be auxiliary seating and a live feed from the Mass.<br /><br />As I walked across the God Quad in the dark, I watched people walking towards the Basilica, two by two. The doors were wide open, emanating a warm golden glow. I was able to hear the prelude for Declan's Mass all the way at the flagpole on South Quad, and the sound of the organ became clearer as I crossed through the pine trees and made my way to LaFortune.<br /><br />Up the winding staircase, I burst into LaFortune and brushed past the representatives from the Student Activities Office who tried to usher me upstairs to the ballroom. "We have some seats left up there," a girl with a nametag whispered. By the time I heard her, I had already set down my backpack near my usual spot in the main lounge. LaFortune was different. Normally, the building serves as a study/food/coffee/socializing/meeting space, and it's one of the busiest places on campus. But tonight, it was quiet. Dimmer, somehow.<br /><br />All of the comfy armchairs were occupied, so after lingering against a wall, cornered by a trashcan, for a few minutes, I plopped down on the floor like a kindergartner. Mass was beginning. The broadcast was coming through the two large telivisions in the main lounge. (It was available online as well.) during the opening song, the SAO folks brought out a number of chairs from another room, and I snapped up a seat just as Fr. Jenkins was greeting the Sullivan family.<br /><br />Then, the oddest thing began to happen. Everyone in the room began to respond to the TV, just like Mass.<br /><br /><em>The Lord be with you.</em><br />"And also with you."<br /><br /><br />I don't know if it was reflex, a genuine desire to participate in the Mass, or some combination of both. All of a sudden, I found myself in the midst of the celebration of the Eucharist in the same room where I drink coffee, read the paper, watch ESPN, and play Sporcie.<br /><br />Notre Dame is very good at a lot of things, and onne of those things is church. Notre Dame knows how to put on a great Mass, and the higher-ups pulled out all the stops for Declan. The Liturgical Choir provided beautiful music for the service. I was particularly impressed with the selection of the readings. The first reading was Romans 8:31-39 ("If God is for us, who can be against us?") The gospel reading was John 14:1-14 ("I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.").<br /><br />Father Tom Doyle, Vice President for Student Affairs, gave the homily. He spoke eloquently and simply about storytelling--about Declan's love of telling stories through film and about the feeling that we have been "written out of the book of life" that accompanies loss and grief. Doyle said, "Most days, we live in this place that is like Eden before the fall." Normally, bad things don't happen here. Students joke about the "Notre Dame bubble" for a reason. When terrible things hit Notre Dame, it seems that much worse.<br /><br />As I watched the Mass on TV from my chair in LaFortune, I noticed the camera kept panning out to the people sitting in the pews at the Basilica. The Sullivan family sat in the front row. Gwynn, Declan's sister, wore a Notre Dame football jersey and Mac, Declan's 15-year-old brother, wore a Notre Dame sweatshirt. Across the aisle, the men of Fisher Hall sat in the other front section, all with their trademark neon green sunglasses pushed back into messy brown waves and perched on blonde crewcuts. Fisherman wear these distinguishing sunglasses around campus all the time, so it seemed appropriate that they wore their shades to Mass in memory of their hallmate. The Notre Dame football team sate behind the contingent from Fisher Hall.<br /><br />During the Eucharistic Prayer, LaFortune was filled with the mutterings of hundreds of students:<br /><br /><em>Lift up your hearts.</em><br />"We lift them up to the Lord."<br /><br />When it came time for the Our Father, the Liturgical Choir sang the beautiful Notre Dame Our Father. LaFortune joined hands and joined in Then, everyone got out of their seats for the sign of peace. Hugs and handshakes all around.<br /><br />The SAO employees notified us that the Eucharist was being distributed outside the Basilica and that we could leave and come back. After a moment of hesitation, about 75% of the room stood up, grabbed coats, and quietly filed out of the room. I was near the door, so I made it out quickly. Down the stairs, across the quad, towards the music and light. There were hundreds of people already standing outside the Basilica--overflow. Outside, there were musicians performing acoustic versions of the songs playing inside. As I huddled around the front of the Basilica, I turned around. A massive block of students stretched all the way from the foot of the Basilica to the stairs of LaFortune, and people continued to stream out of the building from the ballroom on the second floor.<br /><br />We stood patiently, quietly in the cold. Occasionally, a priest would emerge from the Basilica doors. People gathered around eagerly as the priest distributed Communion. Nobody jostled, nobody complained. We just waited. Slowly, more priests came out. After I received Communion, I walked back to LaFortune. I counted six priests standing outside, each man completely surrounded by students waiting for the Eucharist.<br /><br />I made it back to LaFortune just in time for the final blessing.<br /><br /><em>The Mass is ended, go in peace to love and serve the Lord.</em><br />"Thanks be to God."<br /><br />And then, as always, we sang the alma mater, arms around each other, swaying:<br /><br /><em>Notre Dame, Our Mother</em><br /><em>Tender, strong and true</em><br /><em>Proudly in the heavens</em><br /><em>Gleams thy gold and blue</em><br /><em>Glory's mantly cloaks thee</em><br /><em>Golden is thy fame</em><br /><em>And our hearts forever</em><br /><em>Praise thee Notre Dame</em><br /><em>And our hearts forever</em><br /><em>Love thee, Notre Dame.</em><br /><em></em><br />The fervent prayers of the Notre Dame community are with Declan Sullivan and his family.<br /><br />A night like this should never have to happen again.Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-63659501871900136412010-10-18T00:11:00.002-04:002010-10-18T00:12:19.103-04:00The Miracle Man of Montreal<object style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/L_6AYehGNJs/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/L_6AYehGNJs?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/L_6AYehGNJs?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-38982845202617035492010-10-14T00:06:00.004-04:002010-10-14T00:15:24.380-04:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkwBCDcxrEyfdiLIkBab_yVVW20q7Pup7BSzhVPCdycMzeBVLPCQQ8WPa7dNScoHJ7j_XOoyzzg_QnJeugyTm9GI9LCu-TzA2CY4gKnBF3byq1SFEli1pdMtq24S9cMY6CDJQMoUxP5Y/s1600/brother-Andre-2-711025.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 223px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527749023202766738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkwBCDcxrEyfdiLIkBab_yVVW20q7Pup7BSzhVPCdycMzeBVLPCQQ8WPa7dNScoHJ7j_XOoyzzg_QnJeugyTm9GI9LCu-TzA2CY4gKnBF3byq1SFEli1pdMtq24S9cMY6CDJQMoUxP5Y/s400/brother-Andre-2-711025.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br /><strong>The Service of a New Saint</strong><br />In his homily for the beatification of John Henry Newman, a month before the scheduled canonization of Blessed Brother André Bessette, C.S.C., Pope Benedict XVI praised the scholarly Victorian Englishman for exemplifying how “our divine Master has assigned a specific task to each one of us, a ‘definite service,’ committed uniquely to every single person.” The sanctity of Blessed Cardinal Newman, remembered not solely, but primarily, for the veritable library of elegant books, essays, poems, letters, and sermons he has left behind, provides an ironic counterpart to that of Blessed Brother André, an uneducated Quebecois who would have been incapable of reading almost anything Cardinal Newman wrote.<br /><br />The “definite service” which Blessed Brother André was assigned, and which the Church, by canonizing him, insists is every bit as indispensable as Cardinal Newman’s scholarship, could not have been simpler: His service was to open the door.<br /><br />Blessed Brother André is the first member of Notre Dame’s founding religious order, the Congregation of Holy Cross, to be proclaimed a saint, and his brother in Holy Cross, Notre Dame’s president, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., will lead a delegation from the University to Rome for canonization ceremonies to be held on Sunday, October 17. Other members of the delegation will include Notre Dame provost Thomas G. Burish, Rev. James E. McDonald, C.S.C., associate vice president and counselor to the president, and Matthew Ashley, chair of Notre Dame’s theology department.<br /><br />To honor Blessed Brother André Bessette and his service to the sick and needy, Notre Dame students will take up a special collection during the Oct. 16 Notre Dame-Western Michigan football game. The collection will support ongoing efforts of the University and the Congregation to help rebuild Haiti following the devastating earthquake there in January.<br /><br />Not only among the priests, sisters and brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross, but also throughout the Notre Dame community, the new saint is affectionately regarded, conspicuously honored and continually invoked. He is routinely mentioned in campus liturgies, and his statue, carved by Rev. Anthony J. Lauck, C.S.C., is in the northeast apsidal chapel of Notre Dame’s Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Another statue of Brother André, this one carved by Notre Dame art professor Rev. James F. Flanigan, C.S.C., is above the south entrance of the University’s Eck Visitors Center.<br /><br />“Blessed Brother André was famous first as a ferociously hard worker at the high school where he worked his whole life,” said Rev. David Tyson, C.S.C., Provincial Superior of the Indiana Province of Holy Cross. “He simply did everything and anything that was needed, from answering the door to cleaning the floors; from fixing shoes and doing students’ laundry to cutting hair. It seems wonderfully apt and instructive that the first Holy Cross saint was a man who insisted, sometimes testily, that ‘to serve is sweeter than to be served.’”<br /><br />Born Alfred Bessette on Aug. 9, 1845, in Saint-Grégoire d’Iberville, Québec, Brother André was one of 12 children. By the time he was 12 years old, his father, a lumberman, had been killed in a work accident and his mother had died of tuberculosis. Physically diminutive, chronically ill, uneducated and clumsy with his hands, the young Bessette nevertheless worked as a farmhand, shoemaker, baker, and blacksmith in Québec for six years before leaving for New England, where he spent four years working in textile factories and farms in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><br />From his earliest childhood, he was quietly but conspicuously prayerful, an inclination which seemed only to intensify during his hardscrabble years as an itinerant laborer, and when he returned to Canada in 1867, he confessed an interest in formal religious life to his local parish priest, who sent him to a nearby community of Holy Cross brothers with a letter assuring its superior that “I am sending you a saint.”<br /><br />The largely illiterate 25-year old novice was put to work as a porter, or doorman, at Montréal’s Collège of Notre Dame, an assignment in which he continued for the next 40 years.<br /><br />In addition to welcoming visitors, he served as janitor, launderer, and sacristan, ran errands and provided the students with cheap haircuts. Throughout these years his reputation for humility and kindness grew, as did the numbers of visitors he received. Most of these were poor and sick people, to whom he offered not only his compassion and what material assistance he could provide, but also moral and spiritual advice. Many of his visitors attributed miraculous cures to him, but he would insist, sometimes with annoyance, that any such cures were attributable to the prayers of Saint Joseph.<br /><br />Brother André’s particular affection for St. Joseph, in addition to the need to accommodate the throngs of people seeking his help, advice and prayers, led to the foundation of Saint Joseph’s Oratory, at first a small structure constructed on Mount Royal with funds from small donations and Brother André’s barbershop income and now a massive basilica which attracts some 2 million pilgrims each year. </div><div> </div><div> </div>Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-76348874628621676792010-09-24T00:45:00.000-04:002010-09-24T00:47:07.322-04:00A great short clip about the Church in the Modern World<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/roum4zbJ8ZQ?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/roum4zbJ8ZQ?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-20910148362225141282010-08-28T11:09:00.002-04:002010-08-28T11:11:45.638-04:00You gotta love this!<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BVMY-VX7NyA?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BVMY-VX7NyA?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />I came upon this as I was preparing my talk for our Pre-Cana session today...Providential????<br /><br />Anyway, since Monmouth Park is just 5 minutes away, I thought y'all would enjoy this.<br /><br />Come to the Parish Campout and the Bonfire Mass tonight! A great night to gather for some end of summer fun!Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-8296339066140813272010-08-24T00:05:00.001-04:002010-08-24T00:07:34.630-04:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdQoTZ3b5dF4oBCI15tMYjUjxdCnVRZriTIJ76i-MJiyK9wgOrVn4U2hoFG-qL_hm9o6cG_kEgA-9vut_FEXJ4jdDySoZ1FiUP988bviNsnwt5luFL7_CkxpvZfFbsLJJSuRmyIPphGA/s1600/usccb300px.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdQoTZ3b5dF4oBCI15tMYjUjxdCnVRZriTIJ76i-MJiyK9wgOrVn4U2hoFG-qL_hm9o6cG_kEgA-9vut_FEXJ4jdDySoZ1FiUP988bviNsnwt5luFL7_CkxpvZfFbsLJJSuRmyIPphGA/s400/usccb300px.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508823145064833362" /></a><br /><br /><br />WASHINGTON—Cardinal Francis George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has announced that the full text of the English-language translation of the Roman Missal, Third Edition, has been issued for the dioceses of the United States of America.<br /><br />The text was approved by the Vatican, and the approval was accompanied by a June 23 letter from Cardinal Llovera Antonio Cañizares, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The Congregation also provided guidelines for publication. <br /><br />In addition, on July 24, the Vatican gave approval for several adaptations, including additional prayers for the Penitential Act at Mass and the Renewal of Baptismal Promises on Easter Sunday. Also approved are texts of prayers for feasts specific to the United States such as Thanksgiving, Independence Day and the observances of feasts for saints such as Damien of Molokai, Katharine Drexel, and Elizabeth Ann Seton. The Vatican also approved the Mass for Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life, which can be celebrated on January 22.<br /><br />Cardinal George announced receipt of the documents in an August 20 letter to the U.S. Bishops and issued a decree of proclamation that states that “The use of the third edition of the Roman Missal enters into use in the dioceses of the United States of America as of the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011. From that date forward, no other edition of the Roman Missal may be used in the dioceses of the United States of America.”Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-35927380724680092702010-08-22T17:42:00.003-04:002010-08-24T00:00:58.259-04:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYgWknn_fVYnUvvmFJEs14mGrSCN-RCKjj4R2pJJW93-xgELtODE3Zk1l_6Gfv9tDUjtj5ej6AiJglg-Z5PPhJDy4clxg0hvWtBYnqQwHAaxTj-SigcVSPmeRfCmdX5BQeN_YHLY-kj4/s1600/Moreau%2520Chapel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYgWknn_fVYnUvvmFJEs14mGrSCN-RCKjj4R2pJJW93-xgELtODE3Zk1l_6Gfv9tDUjtj5ej6AiJglg-Z5PPhJDy4clxg0hvWtBYnqQwHAaxTj-SigcVSPmeRfCmdX5BQeN_YHLY-kj4/s400/Moreau%2520Chapel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508353307144340786" /></a><br />We've received word from Rome that the new English translation of the Roman Missal has been completed and we can begin the process of catechizing American Catholics to prepare to receive this new translation of the Mass in English. Pictured above is a photo of a Mass being celebrated in the chapel of Moreau Seminary on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. I have been thinking a lot about scenes like this, and how they reflect the values of full, conscious, and active participation in the Liturgy. Back in July at the NPM convention (National Association of Pastoral Musicians), Sr. Kathleen Hughes, RSCJ gave a wonderful keynote address, reflecting on some of the current fears and hopes people have about the upcoming new translation. Check it out at: http://www.rscj.org/node/1212<br /><br /><br />I think Sr. Kathleen, (the first woman to receive a Doctorate in Liturgical Studies from the University of Notre Dame, and the first religious sister) is a voice of reason...at a time when lots of greatly religious people, are being drawn into the "liturgy wars" and polemics between, and among religions.Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-22416215304454843192010-08-15T17:22:00.001-04:002010-08-15T17:24:14.850-04:00A treat for Assumption Day<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/M5McNz75lK8?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/M5McNz75lK8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Thanks to Fr. Austin Fleming over at <em>A Concord Pastor Comments</em>, I found this video from Busted Halo. Enjoy!Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-85345975808072747952010-08-13T21:39:00.002-04:002010-08-13T22:00:00.069-04:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTbQwVZw0KH9c2sYFCbOKqMVAAgdWTgf1xUEISGUwMjrmNlxbXUd6uh1arlKSrGyBV-1Zez89YB60CNrA2g8hsbSAxcHYduny40C8EQx1d05luCXS3NkEKWvJ7jTo52GOA4ZfR99CHNo/s1600/missale-romanum-white-bg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTbQwVZw0KH9c2sYFCbOKqMVAAgdWTgf1xUEISGUwMjrmNlxbXUd6uh1arlKSrGyBV-1Zez89YB60CNrA2g8hsbSAxcHYduny40C8EQx1d05luCXS3NkEKWvJ7jTo52GOA4ZfR99CHNo/s400/missale-romanum-white-bg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505074273623806354" /></a><br />This past Tuesday and Wednesday, I attended a workshop for priests and diocesan leaders on "Receiving the Roman Missal" held nearby at Monmouth University. As you can imagine, lots of old friends from around the region showed up for the workshop, and I was very impressed by the great numbers of Trenton priests who showed up for the workshop.<br /><br />The workshop was sponsored by the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions (FDLC) and the Bishops' Committee on Divine Worship (BCDW) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). This workshop is part of the national effort by the Cattholic Bishops to prepare the priests, laity, and others for a smooth reception of the new translation of the Roman Missal. As of this writing, we still do not have an official date for the Offical Implementation of the new Missal translation. The presenters at this workshop, being very good cheer-leaders, were giving us the message that we'll begin using the new book on the First Sunday of Advent, 2011. My friends from FDLC and I are not so optimistic....we think it may take another year to actually get a new book.<br /><br />I have heard from friends in Rome and elsewhere that there are, even now, changes being made to the text of the translation that will be coming to us very soon. In point of fact, even the Bishops of the U.S. don't know what these changes will be. NOBODY knows what the text looks like at this point:....not the Bishops, not the publishers, and certainly not the liturgical advisors to the bishops. <br /><br />This is certainly an interesting time for the American Church....keep singing, keep praying!Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-31293154081788545442010-07-24T23:30:00.004-04:002010-07-24T23:49:16.164-04:00A great wedding!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2Mk-THdUu6J7ekFqn-9eQOznxhYBRM5Pb2PCbC5diC3pyHGzNs2uFE4zEm6QhLtIgVn1mRcs4gvqS4UhpcRrn7nfGU-5yGqxQyhzzBjpVe2g5-ccaeKaZNHM-PjTvxVW-1kOzf1LhT4/s1600/Wedding+Rings.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 148px; height: 93px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2Mk-THdUu6J7ekFqn-9eQOznxhYBRM5Pb2PCbC5diC3pyHGzNs2uFE4zEm6QhLtIgVn1mRcs4gvqS4UhpcRrn7nfGU-5yGqxQyhzzBjpVe2g5-ccaeKaZNHM-PjTvxVW-1kOzf1LhT4/s400/Wedding+Rings.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497681934417109170" /></a><br />On this past Friday night, we had a great and joyful celebration at Saint Anselm. We celebrated the wedding of our parish musician, Mike Zorner, and another of our musicians, Claire Bove. Both are longtime parishioners, and have been serving the parish community for many years. It was a great honor and joy to preside at the celebration. I was very happy to welcome back our former pastor, Fr. Bob Kaeding, and also my friend, Msgr. Sam Sirianni, to help preside at the wedding.<br /><br />We were honored with the presence of almost 200 people for the wedding, most of whom were long-time parishioners, who have known Claire and Michael for many years, and who helped form them in the faith. Also, many pastoral musicians from many parts of the diocese were present in the congregation for Mass, and I heard some wonderful harmonies coming from the congregation throughout the Mass. We had a beautiful celebration of Mass, and a wonderful reception with champagne and desserts! Yes, there were even chocolate-covered strawberries! Yum!<br /><br />So many people commented to me that they've never been to a Catholic wedding like this. I kept responding, "We just went by the book....this is how it should be all of the time!" I confess to using the prayers from the 1995 revision of the Marriage Rite (that never officially got translated into English), but people seemed pleased with the rites, the prayers, and especially the music.<br /><br />Many blessings upon Claire and Michael. I look forward to many years of ministering with them!Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6681396157551634738.post-39161065732049579812010-07-09T23:41:00.001-04:002010-07-09T23:42:46.693-04:00Very interesting article in National Catholic Reporter....by a Bishop!<strong>Catholic social teaching finds church leadership lacking<br />'Leadership does not have all the answers all the time'</strong><br />Jul. 08, 2010 <br />By Bishop Kevin Dowling<br />Vatican <br /> Bishop Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg, South Africa (CNS file photo) Printer-friendly version<br />Send to friend<br />PDF versionFollowing is a talk by Bishop Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg, South Africa. Dowling told NCR in a telephone interview today that he gave the talk June 1 to a group of "influential lay Catholics" who meet periodically for lunch in Cape Town. The group, Dowling said, had asked him to speak "on how I view the current state of the church."<br /><br />"In subsequent conversations, it became clear to me that the group of well-informed Catholic lay leaders wanted an analysis that would be open and very honest," Dowling said July 8. "Given the fact that it would be a select group with no media present, I decided I would be open and honest in my views to initiate debate and discussion."<br /><br />A reporter, however, was present and what Dowling meant as an "off the record" conversation with lay leaders became local news. Dowling subsequently sent copies of his talk to his fellow South African bishops. NCR received a copy of the document and contacted Dowling to verify its authenticity. <br /><br />Dowling sent NCR an original copy of the talk and gave us permission to post it online. Following is the text of Dowling's June 1 talk to lay Catholic leaders in South Africa.<br /><br />Dowling began the talk by reading an account by NCR Washington correspondent Jerry Filteau about a Latin Mass celebrated in April at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. Tulsa Bishop Edward Slattery celebrated the Mass, which featured, in Filteau's words, "the cappa magna, the 20-yard-long brilliant red train behind a bishop or cardinal that has come to be one of the symbols of the revival of the Tridentine Mass. "<br /><br />* * * * * * * * * *<br /><br />The Southern Cross [South Africa's weekly Catholic newspaper] about 3 or 4 weeks ago published a picture of Bishop Slattery with his "cappa magna". For me, such a display of what amounts to triumphalism in a church torn apart by the sexual abuse scandal, is most unfortunate. What happened there bore the marks of a medieval royal court, not the humble, servant leadership modeled by Jesus. But it seems to me that this is also a symbol of what has been happening in the church especially since pope John Paul II became the Bishop of Rome and up till today -- and that is "restorationism," the carefully planned dismantling of the theology, ecclesiology, pastoral vision, indeed the "opening of the windows" of Vatican II -- in order to "restore" a previous, or more controllable model of church through an increasingly centralized power structure; a structure which now controls everything in the life of the church through a network of Vatican congregations led by cardinals who ensure strict compliance with what is deemed by them to be "orthodox." Those who do not comply face censure and punishment, e.g. theologians who are forbidden to teach in Catholic faculties.<br /><br />Lest we do not highlight sufficiently this important fact. Vatican II was an ecumenical council, i.e., a solemn exercise of the magisterium of the church, i.e. the college of bishops gathered together with the bishop of Rome and exercising a teaching function for the whole church. In other words, its vision, its principles and the direction it gave are to be followed and implemented by all, from the pope to the peasant farmer in the fields of Honduras. <br /><br />Since Vatican II there has been no such similar exercise of teaching authority by the magisterium. Instead, a series of decrees, pronouncements and decisions which have been given various "labels" stating, for example, that they must be firmly held to with "internal assent" by the Catholic faithful, but in reality are simply the theological or pastoral interpretations or opinions of those who have power at the centre of the church. They have not been solemnly defined as belonging to the "deposit of the faith" to be believed and followed, therefore, by all Catholics, as with other solemnly proclaimed dogmas. For example, the issues of celibacy for the priesthood and the ordination of women, withdrawn even from the realm of discussion. Therefore, such pronouncements are open to scrutiny -- to discern whether they are in accord, for example, with the fundamental theological vision of Vatican II, or whether there is indeed a case to be made for a different interpretation or opinion.<br /><br />When I worked internationally from my religious congregation's base in Rome from 1985 to 1990 [Dowling is a Redemptorist] before I came back here as bishop of Rustenburg, one of my responsibilities was the building up of young adult ministry with our communities in the countries of Europe where so many of the young people were alienated from the church. I developed relationships with many hundreds of sincere, searching Catholic young adults, very open to issues of injustice, poverty and misery in the world, aware of structural injustice in the political and economic systems which dominated the world, but who increasingly felt that the "official" church was not only out of touch with reality, but a counter-witness to the aspirations of thinking and aware Catholics who sought a different experience of church. In other words, an experience which enabled them to believe that the church they belonged to had something relevant to say and to witness to in the very challenging world in which they lived. Many, many of these young adults have since left the church entirely.<br /><br />On the other hand, it has to be recognized that for a significant number of young Catholics, adult Catholics, priests and religious around the world, the "restorationist" model of church which has been implemented over the past 30-40 years is sought after and valued; it meets a need in them; it gives them a feeling of belonging to something with very clear parameters and guidelines for living, thus giving them a sense of security and clarity about what is truth and what is morally right or wrong, because there is a clear and strong authority structure which decides definitively on all such questions, and which they trust absolutely as being of divine origin. <br /><br />The rise of conservative groups and organizations in the church over the past 40 years and more, which attract significant numbers of adherents, has led to a phenomenon which I find difficult to deal with, viz. an inward looking church, fearful of if not antagonistic towards a secularist world with its concomitant danger of relativism especially in terms of truth and morality -- frequently referred to by pope Benedict XVI; a church which gives an impression of "retreating behind the wagons," and relying on a strong central authority to ensure unity through uniformity in belief and praxis in the face of such dangers. The fear is that without such supervision and control, and that if any freedom in decision-making is allowed, even in less important matters, this will open the door to division and a breakdown in the unity of the church.<br /><br />This is all about a fundamentally different "vision" in the church and "vision" of the church. Where today can we find the great theological leaders and thinkers of the past, like Cardinal [Joseph] Frings of Cologne, Germany] and [Bernard Jan ] Alfrink [Utrecht, Netherlands] in Europe, and the great prophetic bishops whose voice and witness was a clarion call to justice, human rights and a global community of equitable sharing -- the witness of Archbishop [Oscar] Romero of El Salvador, the voices of Cardinals [Paulo Evaristo] Arns and [Aloísio Leo Arlindo ] Lorscheider, and Bishops [Dom] Helder Camara and [Pedro] Casadaliga of Brazil? Again, who in today's world "out there" even listens to, much less appreciates and allows themselves to be challenged by the leadership of the church at the present time? I think the moral authority of the church's leadership today has never been weaker. It is, therefore, important in my view that church leadership, instead of giving an impression of its power, privilege and prestige, should rather be experienced as a humble, searching ministry together with its people in order to discern the most appropriate or viable responses which can be made to complex ethical and moral questions -- a leadership, therefore, which does not presume to have all the answers all the time.<br /><br />But to change focus a bit. One of the truly significant contributions of the church to the building up of a world in which people and communities can live in peace and dignity, with a quality of life which befits those made in God's image, has been the body of what has been called "Catholic Social Teaching", a compendium of which has been released during the past few years. These social teaching principles are: The Common Good, Solidarity, The Option for the Poor, Subsidiarity, The Common Destiny of Goods, The Integrity of Creation, and People-Centerdness -- all based on and flowing out of the values of the Gospel. Here we have very relevant principles and guidelines to engage with complex social, economic, cultural and political realities, especially as these affect the poorest and most vulnerable members of societies everywhere. These principles should enable us, as church, to critique constructively all socio-political-economic systems and policies - and especially from that viewpoint, viz. their effect on the poorest and most vulnerable in society. <br /><br />However, if church leadership anywhere presumes to criticize or critique socio-political-economic policies and policy makers, or governments, it must also allow itself to be critiqued in the same way in terms of its policies, its internal life, and especially its modus operandi. A democratic culture and praxis, with its focus on the participation of citizens and holding accountable those who are elected to govern, is increasingly appreciated in spite of inevitable human shortcomings. When thinking people of all persuasions look at church leadership, they raise questions about, for example, real participation of the membership in its governance and how in fact church leadership is to be held accountable, and to whom. If the church, and its leadership, professes to follow the values of the Gospel and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, then its internal life, its methods of governing and its use of authority will be scrutinized on the basis of what we profess. Let us take one social teaching principle, vitally important for ensuring participative democracy in the socio-political domain, viz. subsidiarity. <br /><br />I worked with the [South African] bishops' conference Justice and Peace Department for 17 years. After our political liberation in 1994, we discerned that political liberation in itself would have little relevance to the reality of the poor and marginalized unless it resulted in their economic emancipation. We therefore decided that a fundamental issue for post-1994 South Africa was economic justice. After a great deal of discussion at all levels we issued a Pastoral Statement in 1999, which we entitled "Economic Justice in South Africa". Its primary focus was necessarily on the economy. Among other things, it dealt with each of the Catholic Social Teaching principles, and I give a quotation now from part of its treatment of subsidiarity:<br /><br />"The principle of subsidiarity protects the rights of individuals and groups in the face of the powerful, especially the state. It holds that those things which can be done or decided at a lower level of society should not be taken over by a higher level. As such, it reaffirms our right and our capacity to decide for ourselves how to organise our relationships and how to enter into agreements with others. … We can and should take steps to encourage decision-making at lower levels of the economy, and to empower the greatest number of people to participate as fully as possible in economic life." (Economic Justice in South Africa, page 14).<br /><br />Applied to the church, the principle of subsidiarity requires of its leadership to actively promote and encourage participation, personal responsibility and effective engagement by everyone in terms of their particular calling and ministry in the church and world according to their opportunities and gifts.<br /><br />However, I think that today we have a leadership in the church which actually undermines the very notion of subsidiarity; where the minutiae of church life and praxis "at the lower level" are subject to examination and authentication being given by the "higher level," in fact the highest level, e.g., the approval of liturgical language and texts; where one of the key Vatican II principles, collegiality in decision-making, is virtually non-existent. The eminent emeritus Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Franz König, wrote the following in 1999 -- almost 35 years after Vatican II: "In fact, however, de facto and not de jure, intentionally or unintentionally, the curial authorities working in conjunction with the pope have appropriated the tasks of the episcopal college. It is they who now carry out almost all of them" ("My Vision of the church of the Future", The Tablet, March 27, 1999, p. 434).<br /><br />What compounds this, for me, is the mystique which has in increasing measure surrounded the person of the pope in the last 30 years, such that any hint of critique or questioning of his policies, his way of thinking, his exercise of authority etc. is equated with disloyalty. There is more than a perception, because of this mystique, that unquestioning obedience by the faithful to the pope is required and is a sign of the ethos and fidelity of a true Catholic. When the pope's authority is then intentionally extended to the Vatican curia, there exists a real possibility that unquestioning obedience to very human decisions about a whole range of issues by the curial departments and cardinals also becomes a mark of one's fidelity as a Catholic, and anything less is interpreted as being disloyal to the pope who is charged with steering the bark of Peter.<br /><br />It has become more and more difficult over the past years, therefore, for the College of Bishops as a whole, or in a particular territory, to exercise their theologically-based servant leadership to discern appropriate responses to their particular socio-economic, cultural, liturgical, spiritual and other pastoral realities and needs; much less to disagree with or seek alternatives to policies and decisions taken in Rome. And what appears to be more and more the policy of appointing "safe", unquestionably orthodox and even very conservative bishops to fill vacant dioceses over the past 30 years, only makes it less and less likely that the College of Bishops -- even in powerful conferences like the United States -- will question what comes out of Rome, and certainly not publicly. Instead, there will be every effort to try and find an accommodation with those in power, which means that the Roman position will prevail in the end. And, taking this further, when an individual bishop takes issue with something, especially in public, the impression or judgment will be that he is "breaking ranks" with the other bishops and will only cause confusion to the lay faithful -- so it is said - because it will appear that the bishops are not united in their teaching and leadership role. The pressure, therefore, to conform.<br /><br />What we should have, in my view, is a church where the leadership recognizes and empowers decision-making at the appropriate levels in the local church; where local leadership listens to and discerns with the people of God of that area what "the Spirit is saying to the church" and then articulates that as a consensus of the believing, praying, serving community. It needs faith in God and trust in the people of God to take what may seem to some or many as a risk. The church could be enriched as a result through a diversity which truly integrates socio-cultural values and insights into a living and developing faith, together with a discernment of how such diversity can promote unity in the church -- and not, therefore, require uniformity to be truly authentic.<br /><br />Diversity in living and praxis, as an expression of the principle of subsidiarity, has been taken away from the local churches everywhere by the centralization of decision-making at the level of the Vatican. In addition, orthodoxy is more and more identified with conservative opinions and outlook, with the corresponding judgment that what is perceived to be "liberal" is both suspect and not orthodox, and therefore to be rejected as a danger to the faith of the people.<br /><br />Is there a way forward? I have grappled with this question especially in the light of the apparent division of aspiration and vision in the church. How do you reconcile such very different visions of church, or models of church? I do not have the answer, except that somewhere we must find an attitude of respect and reverence for difference and diversity as we search for a living unity in the church; that people be allowed, indeed enabled, to find or create the type of community which is expressive of their faith and aspirations concerning their Christian and Catholic lives and engagement in church and world, and which strives to hold in legitimate and constructive tension the uncertainties and ambiguities that all this will bring, trusting in the presence of the Holy Spirit. <br /><br />At the heart of this is the question of conscience. As Catholics, we need to be trusted enough to make informed decisions about our life, our witness, our expressions of faith, spirituality, prayer, and involvement in the world -- on the basis of a developed conscience. And, as an invitation to an appreciation of conscience and conscientious decisions about life and participation in what is a very human church, I close with the formulation or understanding given by none other than the theologian, Fr. Josef Ratzinger, now pope, when he was a peritus, or expert, at Vatican II:<br /><br />"Over the pope as expression of the binding claim of ecclesiastical authority, there stands one's own conscience which must be obeyed before all else, even if necessary against the requirement of ecclesiastical authority. This emphasis on the individual, whose conscience confronts him with a supreme and ultimate tribunal, and one which in the last resort is beyond the claim of external social groups, even the official church, also establishes a principle in opposition to increasing totalitarianism". <br />(Joseph Ratzinger in: Commentary on the Documents of Vatican II ,Vol. V., pg. 134 (Ed) H. Vorgrimler, New York, Herder and Herder, 1967). <br /><br />Bishop Kevin Dowling C.Ss.R.<br />Cape Town, June 1, 2010Fr. Gene Vavrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17083002845638941172noreply@blogger.com0