A Catechetical Valentine

February 5th, 2010

Michael Molinaro, coordinator of religious education at St. Mary’s in Poughkeepsie for the past 19 years, gets my catechetical Valentine this year. Here’s why.

If you were to survey the religious education programs in the parish of the Archdiocese of New York, the chances are very good that the most successful are also the friendliest.

So many times, hospitality on the part of the parish and the director or coordinator of religious education can make the difference between a program where children are just dropped off and picked with little parent involvement AND a vibrant program where everyone is participating enthusiastically – children, parents, siblings, grandparents and all.

At St. Mary’s, the wonderful pastor, Msgr. John Brinn, and Michael Molinaro always have the “Welcome” mat out. As a result, this old city parish has been able to develop and nurture a multi-cultural catechetical program that begins with hospitality and goes on to share the faith. The family catechesis experiences Michael offers twice a year are not just multicultural, but multi-generational, too. Read about Michael’s methods here.

By the way, there are more parish directors and coordinators of religious education like Michael Molinaro. Each brings a special reverence for the ministry of catechesis, along with graciousness, knowledge, and many leadership gifts to the parish catechetical program. I’ll tell you about more of these people as the year progresses.

Another Valentine’s note: this Tuesday, Feb. 9, Sr. Marie Pappas, CR, host of the Catholic Channel’s “Pathways of Learning” will be talking about this feast and its origins with the Girl Guides to Catholicism (better known as Anne Malloy, director of the New York Catholic Bible School, and yours truly). Tune at 1:00 pm to Sirius XM satellite radio: Channel 159 on Sirius, 117 on XM.

Called by Name

January 26th, 2010

On Sunday, Jan. 10, families from around Staten Island gathered at St. Clare’s Parish in Great Kills for a day of discovery: the discovery of God’s plan for them. This plan just might include the priesthood or consecrated life. For many of the youngest visitors, this was the first conversational time they spent in the company of priests, religious brothers, and religious sisters.  For their parents and older siblings, it was a chance to meet and talk with priests, sister and brothers about how those people experienced and responded to the call God sent them.

Sr. Deanna Sabetta, CND, director of the Office of Vocations to the Religious Life for the Archdiocese of New York, organized this “Family Vocation Day” with the assistance of vocation directors of religious communities and congregations. Pastors, as well as directors and coordinators of religious education from many of the parishes, invited families from catechetical programs and schools to take part. Helping it all to happen was a great team from St. Clare’s: Msgr. Richard Guastella, pastor; John Gillen, parish manager; and Seton Harney, coordinator of religious education. Principal Jo Rossicone, the faculty and staff of St. Clare’s School generously shared the classrooms and cafeteria.

As Sr. Deanna pointed out, God calls each person by name to his or her vocation in life. However, priestly and religious calls need to be nurtured in the family. Today, with so many career options available and with parents’ natural desire for their children to be successful, the idea of living a life of service, a life that doesn’t bring much in the way of material gain, may not seem so attractive. However, if a child, teen or young adult does feel an inner voice calling, a supportive family can make all the difference.

Different talks for different ages

Deacon Eugene Hamilton and his wife Margaret spoke to the adults. They are the parents of the late Rev. Eugene Hamilton, Jr., who was diagnosed with cancer while he was in the seminary and who was ordained on his deathbed in 1997. This couple touched the parents with their bravery and ongoing commitment to fostering priestly and religious vocations.

Sr. Loretta Ruvo, RSHM, and Sr. Jean Tavin, SA, led the littlest children in activities that underscored how important they were to God. The strains of “The Little Heart of Mine” sounded from their workshop. As other participants later discovered, this was a rehearsal for Mass.

The middle school children visited with Fr. Rocco Danzi, SJ; Father Giancarlo Ghezzi, PIME (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions): and Sr. Liceria Sayon, CSJB. Sr. Nancy Richter, OP (Sparkill), and Sheila Finucane, SC, spoke to teenagers about their own personal call and response to religious life. Fr. Danzi dropped in on that conversation as well.

An lively exchange took place in the cafeteria between some young adults and two Benedictine vocation directors, Sr. Mariette Bernier and 28 year-old Brother Patrick Winbush, who proved that young people are choosing religious life. Fr. Christopher Argano joined them. He is a Staten Island native who was ordained in 2009 and drove down from Sacred Heart Parish in Monroe, his first assignment.

After the workshops, the families gathered and drew an image that summed up their reactions to what they had seen and heard. These images went home as a souvenir of the day along with literature from the various religious congregations and communities. Father Giancarlo gave a gift, too: personalized, laminated luggage tat with the motto of the day, “I have called you by name.”

Msgr. Guastella concelebrated Mass with Msgr. James Dorney, co-vicar of Staten Island; Msgr. Thomas Bergin, pastor of St. Charles; Father Michael Martine, pastor of St. Joseph; Father James Essuon, parochial vicar of St. Clare; and Fr. Argano.

The day ended with pizza (courtesy of the local Knights of Columbus) and desserts.

Sr. Deanna hopes that individual parishes or clusters of parishes might adapt an event like this to present the idea of vocations to the religious life to families. Parish leaders who would like further information – or anyone who just wants to inquire about religious life – may reach her at sr.deanna.sabetta@archny.org

Now, if you are wondering why vocations to priesthood and religious life are a topic for this catechetical blog, there is a strong connection.  Priesthood and religious life are ways of living our relationship and discipleship with Christ. That is the mission of catechesis. It is not enough to memorize teachings or treat the faith solely as an academic discipline. The purpose of learning the faith is to live it.

For the Staten Islanders of all ages, it was a perfect way to see how priests and religious live out the calling God gave them. Visit the St. Clare Parish website, www.stclaresi.com for some photos.

Why, God?

January 14th, 2010

Whenever we witness mass human suffering such as our brothers and sisters in Haiti are experiencing right now, we find ourselves – even the most faith-filled of us – asking, “Why, God? Why did you permit this terrible thing to happen to your children?”

The comments made by Pat Robertson do not, in my view, deserve the dignity of a response. Let me offer instead an apostolic letter written by Pope John Paul II in 1984, just a few years after he was nearly killed by an assassin. This man understood suffering. He saw and lived with it most of his life.

Addressed to “the bishops, to the priests, to the religious families and to the faithful of the Catholic Church,” Pope John Paul writes about the Christian meaning of human suffering.

The letter’s Latin name is Salvifici doloris. It is a lengthy letter, not surprising since it is impossible to write about suffering in just a few pithy words. It does not attempt to provide a neat explanation for disasters such as earthquakes or floods or acts of terrorism, but points instead to the deeper meaning to found in suffering. It places each member of the human family in solidarity with Christ the innocent victim. Take the time to read it. It may help you to comfort others.

You will find Pope John Paul’s letter here.

A Christmas Message from St. Augustine

December 25th, 2009

The birthday of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, when Truth sprang from the earth and Day from Day was born into our day, has dawned once more. The anniversary has returned for us to celebrate today: Let us rejoice and be glad in it. The faith of Christians knows what the humility of such greatness has given us, while it remains far from the hearts of the godless, because God has hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and revealed them to the little ones. So let the humble hold fast to the humility of God, so that, assisted by this means – as a vehicle for their weakness – they may arrive at the heights of God.
– St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 184, 1

An Empty Place

December 21st, 2009

For many families this Christmas, a space in the pew at Church and a chair at the family feast will be empty this year. A family member has gone home to God during the past year. Of course, it is sad when this is a elderly person, but when it is someone in the prime of life – a child, a teen, a young spouse or parent or someone serving overseas in the military – it is especially tragic. We feel the loss not only of that person, but also of a future we thought we would have with them.

For children, Christmas sadness can be confusing and maybe a little frightening. Here it is Jesus’ birthday, everyone is singing “Joy to the World” and yet all the grown-ups are crying. So, it is important to be able to commemorate our departed loved ones without putting a pall on the celebration of the birth of Christ and on the children’s happiness. Here are a couple of ideas. You might have more. Feel free to share.

Don’t pretend nothing has happened.
Do talk about your loved one, especially to the children, Remind everyone that the person is with Jesus and, at the same time, very near to us. We all hope to be reunited one day, never to be separated again.

Don’t try to avoid tears. They’re going to fall. Let them.
Do have a happy memory ready to share in order to dry those tears. One great family story will trigger more great stories and help lift the mood.

Don’t forget to mention your departed loved ones’ names aloud in your family prayers.
Do call out their names when you say grace at Christmas dinner.

Don’t consign the deceased family member to the past.
Do begin an annual tradition of performing a Christmas good deed as a family in memory of that person. Helping the living in need is one of the finest tributes you can pay. As a family you might donate food, clothing and toys or give money (it doesn’t have to be a lot) to a charity in his or her memory. Perhaps you could choose your good deed by talking together about your loved one and discerning what he or she would have liked you to do.

In our own catechetical ministry here in the New York archdiocese, we have said a temporary good-bye to husbands, wives, children, sisters, brothers and many wonderful people who have given so much of themselves to handing on the faith to Catholics of all ages. It would be nice if you remember them in your prayers as we in the Catechetical Office will remember your family.

A Blessed Christmas.

Keeping Advent with just minutes to spare

November 30th, 2009

It seems to me that Advent doesn’t always get its just due. Many of us spend the entire 26-day season trying to get out the Christmas cards, get in the right gifts, buy a tree that actually fits the stand (I myself have an impressive collection of Christmas tree stands), clean the house, and more and more…all this while managing our jobs. Some of us actually wind up putting the lights on the shrubbery in front of the house in the middle of the night and driving to the 24-hour pharmacy for batteries and extension cords.

Mind you, no one actually sets out to let Advent get away. But somehow, sometimes it happens.

How can we give Advent (from the Latin word adventus or coming) its due when we are so rushed in getting ready for Christmas? Well, it’s the quality of time spent in watchful waiting for the Nativity that counts, not the quantity, so here are some ways of keeping Advent that take just a few – and I mean just a few – minutes a day. I hope you find them helpful and that you will share them.

Jim Connell, the webmaster of the Archdiocesan Catechetical Office website www.nyfaithformation.org has created a space where you may come to renew your own longing for our Savior and call upon him as you prepare for Christmas. Each day you can meditate upon a title for Jesus based on the prophetic readings. In addition being inspired by the words of the prophets, you can share in reflections and prayers of the men and women who direct or coordinate parish catechetical programs all over the archdiocese. Just click in the little Advent wreath at the top of the Catechetical Office homepage.

Another idea: some years ago, Bishop Ken Untener of the Diocese of Saginaw created Little Books for Advent and Lent. These contain readings from Scripture and meditations that will take about six minutes from your day. Think of each as a mini-Lectio Divina, a very old tradition of prayer that helps us to take a Scripture passage and lets God speak through it. You can order the Little Books from the Diocese of Saginaw at www.littlebooks.org Each Advent and Lent, Sr. Joan Curtin, CND, director of the Archdiocesan Catechetical Office, gives Little Books to us on the staff. We treasure them and look forward to receiving them.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has a beautiful Advent and Christmas site this year at www.usccb.org/advent It combines Scripture and prayer with catechesis, explaining the meaning of Advent and helping us to observe it more prayerfully. The bishops are asking us to make Scripture a more integral part of our daily lives and they provide the readings of each day. What a wonderful use of modern technology this is, putting all these wonderful resources literally at our fingertips.

Of course, the greatest prayer of all is the Eucharist. If you can find a way to begin or end your day at Mass, that would be a wonderful way to make the most of this season.

May Advent 2009 be a prayerful, blessed and, hopefully, not too hectic season of watchful waiting for you. You deserve it.

Planting Season

November 19th, 2009

This week’s Catholic New York reports on more than 600 seventh and eighth graders who, with their chaperones, attended their own special Catholic Youth Ministry Congress on Nov. 7 at Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie. The Archdiocesan Catechetical Office sponsored the event and Archbishop Dolan celebrated Mass to cap a very exciting day. Kudos to Kathleen Alonzo, director of Catholic Youth Ministry in the Catechetical Office, to the Catechetical Office staff, and to a superb committee of youth leaders. You can check out CNY for the whole story.

One of the three workshops the students attended addressed vocations to the priesthood and religious life. I sat in on this, wondering how young adolescents in this very secular environment would take to the presentation by Father Luke Sweeney, director of vocations for the diocesan priesthood, and Sr. Deanna Sabetta, CND, director of vocations to religious life.
 
Would the students feel trapped? Would they be bored? Would they giggle? Would they be tuning out? Quite the opposite, I am happy to report. They were very attentive to the two presenters, who emphasized the congress’s theme of the uniqueness of each person and his or her gifts to raise the possibility of using those gifts in the ordained or consecrated life.
 
I think I saw eyes of the some of the boys in the auditorium flash recognition when Father Sweeney described his efforts, when he was their age, to slip into the school chapel so that his classmates wouldn’t see him and possibly suspect he was entertaining thoughts of priesthood. One youngster came up to Sr. Deanna very quietly after the workshop, hugged her and thanked her.
 
It occurred to me that seventh and eighth grade is an ideal time to plant the possibility of priesthood and religious life. However, parents and siblings need to hear the message, too, because a loving, faith-centered family is the nursery in which God’s call is nurtured. This cultivation might take years while a young man or woman discerns how to use his or her gifts, but with the right conditions the religious vocations will flower.
 
Maybe you are reading this right now and recalling a seed that was planted in your heart a long or short time ago. If so, do visit Sr. Deanna’s website at www.archny.org/education/vocation-office-religious-life or Father Sweeney’s: www.nypriest.com.
 
Somewhere in that crowd of kids I saw on Nov. 7 are priests, deacons, brothers and sisters. You wait and see.

Heaven and those other destinations

November 6th, 2009

In November, with the just-past feasts of All Saints and All Souls, our thoughts might turn to heaven, hell and purgatory. Today’s terrible news about the massacre at Fort Hood army base in Texas forces us all to confront the reality of sudden death.

Of course, none of us really is capable of picturing the reality of heaven, most of us don’t like to dwell too long on the subject of hell and, sometimes, we don’t just “get” purgatory at all. Perhaps it’s because we don’t care to think about the fact that death is the prelude to all three. Or maybe we really haven’t given them much serious consideration since our childhood religion classes.

Earlier in the week, I came across an article on heaven, hell and purgatory. It was written by Jesuit theologian Joseph Giménez and posted on Thinking Faith, the online journal of the British Jesuits. You might find it very interesting. Or nervous-making. Actually, after you read what Father Giménez has to say about hell, you may never again tell anyone to go there. As for purgatory, you may want more than ever to pray, especially this month, for those souls who are still journeying toward full possession of salvation.

www.thinkingfaith.org

Civility and Celebration

October 30th, 2009

Being Christian in Catholic communications

Catholic News Service reports that this week, Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, chaired a meeting of cardinals, bishops and Catholic media professionals to talk about possible new pastoral guidelines for communications. Not surprisingly, the issue of civility in the blogosphere among those who identify themselves as Catholics came up. Check it out here.

Personally, I like getting responses. Just keep them clean and keep them civil.

Each of us really is unique. The Bible – and Gallop – tell us so.

Next Saturday, Nov. 7, the Archdiocesan Catechetical Office will host its first-ever congress for seventh and eighth graders. Its theme is “Fingerprint of God – there’s no one like me” and it will take place at Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie. Archbishop Dolan will celebrate Mass.

The neat thing about this congress is that every student and chaperone who registers gets to take a on-line strength assessment. This assessment is the work of Dr. Donald Clifton of the Gallup Organization, and is based on the giftedness of each individual. By completing this assessment, each youth will discover his or her three major strengths (out of nine possible strengths). The adult version yields that individual’s top five strengths out of a total of 34. The chances of any two people having the exact same strengths in the same order are just about infinitesimal, hence the theme of the congress. The activities at the congress will be structured so that the students can learn how to make the most of their gifts and strengths, then put them to God’s use.

It does make you stop and think again about the uniqueness of every individual. And, at the same time, every one of us is made in God’s image and likeness.

For more about this congress, visit www.nyfaithformation.org

Go Yankees!

Anniversaries and Odysseys

October 13th, 2009

This past Sunday in the church where I attended Mass, the Prayer of the Faithful made reference to the fact that 47 years ago on October 11, 1962, Blessed John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council in Rome.

However, the opening of Vatican II wasn’t only the historic event happening that week. On October 14, a U2 reconnaissance plane photographed incontrovertible evidence of Soviet missile installations in Cuba, just 90 miles off the Florida Keys. Those missiles were capable of delivering nuclear warheads anywhere in the U.S. within minutes.

As the first session of the council proceeded, President John F. Kennedy was meeting with the Joint Chiefs and his cabinet. He heard advice that included, among other things, a recommendation for an air strike on Cuba. He opted for a blockade of Cuba instead and informed the American people in an Oct. 22 television address. We were as close as we have ever come to nuclear war during that October of 1962. If you have ever wondered why we baby boomers are little crazy, that’s your answer.

Most of us probably did not grasp the cosmic significance of Vatican, only that Pope John, whom we all loved, was calling on our Church to open its windows to the world. At the same time, however, our parents and older siblings looked very frightened and the air raid drills at school became more urgent. Somehow, hiding under our desks or following those “Fallout Shelter” signs to the basement was not so funny anymore. All those science fiction movies about atomic war that we had seen on Saturday afternoons were starting to look not so fictitious after all. We were scared to death.

In all the excitement, Pope John’s inaugural address at Vatican II got a bit lost. Perhaps his opening words especially seemed inappropriate to what was going on outside the Vatican. “Mother Church rejoices,” he said. But they were prophetic, as you might agree if you read Pope John’s entire address these 47 years later, especially his gentle chiding of pessimists. I couldn’t find an English translation on the Vatican website. Try this link instead.

Happy Anniversary, Vatican II, as you continue to unfold. And a thousand thanks to the wise heads in the White House, who prevailed during those frightening days of October 1962. We’re still here!

Father Damien’s posthumous encounter with Alcatraz

Also on Sunday, Pope Benedict canonized Father Damien of Molokai, whose life many of us discovered in the 1960s. The Sept. 28 issue of America Magazine has a fascinating article by Daniel J. Demers on how the great saint got “held up” by some of the most notorious criminals in the United States.

King Leopold of the Belgians, having been informed by Pope Pius XII that Belgian-born Father Damien was being considered for sainthood, asked for the assistance of President Franklin Roosevelt in removing the priest’s remains from his grave in Molokai in the U.S. Territory of Hawaii and returning them to his native country. (Imagine the outcry of secularists if such a request were made of President Obama today.)

Anyway, Roosevelt complied, had Father Damien’s coffin disinterred, and placed it in the hold of a troop ship headed for San Francisco. There, the ship and Father Damien’s remains got tangled up with a prison riot at Alcatraz, which was hosting such criminals as Machine Gun Kelly and Al Capone.

Unfortunately, this amazing story is on the “subscribers only” section of American’s website, but it’s worth a trip to the library to read this fascinating footnote to the story of St. Damien of Molokai.