Canceled: Confirmation, Done: Skating

So we have canceled confirmation sessions for tonight the 25th due to the snow... we also canceled the trip to the John Paul II Center. But we did get to the Skate Rink in Frederick last night as these digimages show. Friends, ice, soda, candy, and good times were had.
Time out for the "hip" one and her two friends... Morgan was not hurt too badly and having the mochas and friends Sarah and MsSuzy only helped make it better.













Icees for the ice... that is way too cool, as are the looks from these two...




Hold on tight!


I put a quarter in there, really! Mr Bob shows us how it is done.


Dave and Matt brothers' keepers are they.

Doctor, Doctor

For those of you who will be traveling with us to the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center on Sunday the 25th, this portrait is an important object to experience. This painting is a portrait of St Therese of Lisieux... She is a great example for us all. The painting was done by her sister Celine after Therese died in 1897. This portrait has much that symbolizes Therese's devotion and enthusiasm for her relationship with Jesus and those with whom she lived. It was given to the JP II CC by the Carmelite House in Philadelphia... and it is a tremendous gift. We will learn about why this young lady is actually one of three women who attained the title Doctor of the Church. Devotion to God, discipline in our faith and persistence in developing our gifts are all part of our response to the love of God poured out for us through Jesus ... Don't let your humanity get in the way of the divine plan for you and each of us... When we allow God to work in our lives, trust that the communion of Saints will not forget the love you have for the Lord of All, the King of Kings and the man who began his own ministry by spending 40 days preparing in the desert... praying and fasting and spurning the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil. If you can't join us on this trip, don't worry we will be taking a pilgrimage at the end of March on the 31st... look for info soon!

Shadow casts

So that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. Acts 5:15

What matters in life does not usually take the form of a shadow. Yet we see in the scriptures that a shadow, however transient and elusive can mean much more than we think. In Christian life, we seek the light of Christ. We look for ways to reflect the light of the Lord. Our lives are meant to be a facet of the great shininess of God. So we look for the bright light and the giftedness in others to shine the light on our reality. We long to be led by the strong beams of light that expose the path which is filled with voids of darkness.

Recently I came across a light of this sort in the form of a man of God in the Society of Jesus… the Jesuits. He lived at the turn of the 20^th century and died in December 1921. In his short life of 51 years, this man was devoted to the illumination of the scriptures, to the communication of the Word through the study of the ancient texts in their original languages, and to sharing his faith journey with his family, friends and with his brothers in the society… so much so that a fellow brother priest was inspired to accumulate the words of this man and place them in a book aptly called the Life and Letters of Walter Drum. By a stroke of divine intervention, I was able to procure the only book available online. I have enjoyed reading it and experiencing the earnest devotion of the man. His was a brilliant light reflecting the goodness of the Lord… His story was of such inspiration to us, that upon discovering that he was buried nearby in the Woodstock College Cemetery among his fellow Jesuits, Teddy and I made a journey to find his gravesite… we took a bunch of pictures… but the most engaging aspect of the visit was the play of light on the place. It was at sunset and our shadows were quite evident. It strikes me as important to note that even our shadows can be of some consolation to others. When the sun is too bright, when the truth is too hard… we often times step in place and allow our shadows to provide for others. Sometimes even the blind are able to see when a person‘s shadow crosses their face… Yet in this hallowed cemetery, it seemed appropriate that our shadows would be captured in some way…
The lives of these men were offered in service to the Lord and in the shadow of their gravestones let us remember their gifts to us. Let us cast a shadow that reflects their zeal. It is a good thing to remember. To celebrate… and it stands well in the light over in Woodstock.

As the sun sets on the monument, the grave markers surround it in simplicity and order. None greater than the other.
A


Fr Walter Drum is remembered here for his love of life, the Lord, and words. He was a man of drama and devotion. A man who was well traveled and who loved to learn. He created inspiration in others. We would do well to be his companions on this journey.

Choose to remember, one human family

Experiencing the U.S. Holocaust Memorial on a Sunday morning is not a typical day of church. How does it fit in to travel with 48 youth and adults to a place that remembers in such vivid details, the horror of the inhumanity of individuals and groups acting upon other human beings?

We live in a world of choice and action. We each are faced with choices every day. Upon entering the memorial the choice became to experience it or to wander through without reflection… Our group though young seemed to understand the gravity of the place… the bone chilling seriousness of the brick and mortar, cold steel and glass. Because the architecture and design was crafted so thoughtfully, one had to experience moments if not hours of sorrow and grief over the exhibits.

As part of the experience, our young people were asked to reflect on the visit and respond to a few questions. Many provided thoughtful responses… and some jotted a few quick answers. The choice even today is to go back in our minds and remember the visit and reflect on the questions. Allow the memorial to engender in each of us the passion to never forget and to always embrace a viewpoint of defending the lives of all... especially those who are defenseless. Do not be afraid to stand up for the weak, the small and the poor. Do not be afraid to be ready to take a stand for the rights of others. Count yourself as one who belongs to all of humanity and to engage all in the process of celebrating life. In misery we are called to bless each other with our giftedness. In suffering even, we are called to inspire each other with our courage, love and honor for each other. In the end all that matters is how we treated even the least of these… in spite of that which we suffer. And do it all for the greater glory of God….AMDG: Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam… We must connect with the past and allow it to make us more effective today…

A visit to the Holocaust Memorial one Sunday morning after mass will catch you in the gut, and then you have a choice. Be that voice of love and change and courageous strength. Write me a note if you have taken time to think again of the experience. I look forward to your choices.