tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22323788486037830112024-03-13T13:22:16.234-07:00Father Leo's BlogFather Leo Byrnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796632387374884360noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2232378848603783011.post-28791213628088880072011-03-01T09:38:00.000-08:002011-03-01T09:38:39.859-08:00We create worry and anxiety for the worldOne section of the Sermon On The Mount Jesus says, "Don't worry, don't be anxious - even about what to wear, what to eat.<br />
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Does this make sense when we know that there are millions who have every right - it seems - to worry about such daily needs. <br />
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The key is in the line that comes before this section where Jesus warns us not to make wealth a God.<br />
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When we in the first world make wealth a God we creat\e a world where millions have every right to worry about such basics.<br />
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This reading is not addressed to those who are destitute and oppressed but rather to those who were well to do in Jerusalem and Galilee at the time of Jesus.<br />
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Thus the first sentence is important once again. It warns against making wealth one’s God.<br />
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Then the reassurance of the passage to those with money and means not to hoard because God will look after you as God looks after the flowers and the birds.<br />
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The question of course is “God may well look after the birds and the flowers better than the millions of people who are destitute and oppressed and who have every right to worry and be anxious about the next meal for themselves and their families, to be terribly worried about where to live and what to wear.<br />
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As with the first reading these two sections need to be put together. There is a direct correlation between the way in which we make wealth our God and the worries and anxieties of much of humanity.<br />
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We have within our power the ability to remove the cause of worry and anxiety for so much of humanity. <br />
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We are able to eradicate hunger but it will not be accomplished so long as we consume the lion’s share of the resources of this world.<br />
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People in Africa and other places rightly worry about AIDS and other terrible diseases. We have the potential to deal with this source of anxiety and worry but the medication is expensive and to cover the cost we would need to give up our smartphones and expensive holidays.<br />
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People as we speak rightly worry about safety for themselves and their families in Libya because we have propped up dictators to insure a steady supply of oil to support our lifestyle.<br />
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The first sentence has everything to do with the cause of worry and anxiety for millions in the world.<br />
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The church gives us these passages form the Bible as the textbook for those preparing for adult baptism and for all of us in our continued growth as Christians.<br />
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It is crucial that we take this responsibility seriously and weekly reflect on the passages of scripture as we prepare ourselves to celebrate Eucharist and then to go out to live Christian lives in the world.<br />
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The prayer at the beginning of mass says, “send us as messengers of Gospel joy into a world of fragile peace and broken promises”.Father Leo Byrnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796632387374884360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2232378848603783011.post-75318527952070321332011-02-18T12:26:00.000-08:002011-02-18T12:26:39.218-08:00At this time in my life God is calling me to...February 18, 2011<br />
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The reflection question I would suggest is,<br />
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“Is there anything I feel God is calling me at this time? OR “Is there anything “more” and beyond where I am in life now that I sense God is calling me to at this time?<br />
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Some thoughts that might help our Faith Sharing Reflection when we gather in groups if we engage in reflection on the Bible passages on a regular basis.<br />
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Over these Sundays we are hearing the Gospel passages form what is called “The Sermon On The Mount” in Matthew’s Gospel.<br />
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Right now it is the part<br />
“You have heard it said but I say to you…”<br />
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Some starters<br />
As a priest) I am expected to “say Mass” on Sunday morning at 9:00 10:30 and 12:00 noon but I say to you…<br />
(Thought I would start with one for myself)<br />
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In my job I am expected to fulfill my job description but I say to you….<br />
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I have an obligation to give my children food and shelter but I say to you…<br />
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How about coming up with some examples of your own!!!<br />
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And so…<br />
“Is there anything I feel God is calling me at this time? OR “Is there anything “more” and beyond where I am in life now that God is calling me to at this time?Father Leo Byrnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796632387374884360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2232378848603783011.post-16388609099436441612010-06-19T08:16:00.000-07:002010-06-21T10:14:42.161-07:00“When you don’t know what to do keep going to meetings…” Peter MaurinWe should be praying fervently for the leaders of the world who will be meeting for the G8 and G 20 meetings in Canada. I am not one of those Nay Sayers who are condemning the upcoming G8 and G 20 meetings as a billion dollar photo op.<br />
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Peter Maurin - a co founder with Dorothy Day of the Catholic Worker Movement – “When you don’t know what to do keep going to meetings. That’s where the Holy Spirit came – at a meeting”, Maurin stated<br />
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When the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church began their meeting in Rome in October 1962 many people yawned. We now know of that meeting as the Second Vatican Council. The church - and the world because of a new relationship between church and world - has not been the same since.<br />
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I heard the same things before Vatican II that I hear now with the upcoming G8 and G 20 meetings. This is a waste of money and a photo op, bishops coming together to rubber stamp what the Vatican Officials have already determined would be the results of the General Council. <br />
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When the final session of Vatican II ended in 1966 no one was yawning.<br />
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When the bishops gathered - against all odds since the Vatican committees had spent years insuring that the agenda would be pre determined and risk free - something amazing happened.<br />
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The bishops threw out the safe and predictable script prepared by the Vatican officials. They refused to rubber stamp what was laid in front of them. The Holy Spirit took over and a renewed Roman Catholic Church was the result.<br />
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All this to say I am not one of those nay Sayers who are condemning the upcoming G8 and G 20 meetings as a billion dollar photo op.<br />
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That is also to say that we should be praying fervently to God to send the Holy Spirit upon this meeting.<br />
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The Spirit of God has promised to “renew the face of the earth”.<br />
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God does not bypass the human channels in order the accomplish God’s vision. God uses human beings to bring about the reign of God.<br />
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Sure, it may not create a new world order by August 2010. I do believe it can be a vehicle God chooses to “Renew the face of the earth.”<br />
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A final note I read today - June 21, 2010 Benjamin Disraeli, the British Prime Minister once said, "History is made by those who show up".Father Leo Byrnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796632387374884360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2232378848603783011.post-34618837143247200552010-06-02T12:11:00.001-07:002010-06-02T12:11:53.126-07:00Courageous Church LeadersFOLLOW UP TO ISSUES OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND MISHANDLING BY LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH<br />
In the past month I have not dealt directly with issues of child sexual abuse by clergy and the mishandling of this issue by bishops within the church. <br />
That does not mean the issue is “off my radar”. <br />
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On a blog I posted on the parish website April 10, 2010 I suggested that some leadership in the church were acting as “enablers”. <br />
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There are examples of other church hierarchy who are refusing to act as “enablers” and are challenging leadership within the church to face issues of child sexual abuse and mishandling by those in authority within the Catholic church. Below are two such examples of an Archbishop and a Cardinal who have acted courageously.<br />
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1.<br />
Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn<br />
Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn said a top Vatican official had blocked an investigation of sexual abuse and offended victims by calling their complaints “petty gossip”, according to news reports from Austria. Cardinal Schonborn made his remarks about Cardinal Angelo Sodano, long time secretary of state under Pope John Paul II and now the dean of the College of Cardinals, in a private conversation with Austrian news editors at the end of April, the news outlets reported. According to the reports, Cardinal Schonborn said Cardinal Sodano had hindered the investigation into allegations of sexual abuse of minors by the late Austrian Cardinal Hans Hermann Groer, who was forced to step down as archbishop of Vienna in 1995. Cardinal Schonborn said Pope Benedict XVI, then head of the Vatican office in charge of investigating accusations of clerical sex abuse, had been thwarted by Cardinal Sodano in his efforts to take more direct action on the accusations against Cardinal Groer, the reports said. (Source: Origins, May 20, 2010; Volume 40: Number 2)<br />
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2. <br />
ARCHBISHOP MARTIN DISHEARTENED AND DISCOURAGED BY LACK OF CHURCH RENEWAL<br />
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The lack of willingness in the Catholic Church to begin “a painful process of renewal” in the wake of the clerical abuse scandals has left Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin “disheartened and discouraged”.<br />
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“There are still strong forces which would prefer that the truth did not emerge” he said. “The truth will make us free, even when that truth is uncomfortable. There are signs of subconscious denial on the part of many about the extent of the abuse which occurred within the church and how it was covered up. There are other signs of rejection of a sense of responsibility for what had happened. There are worrying signs that despite solid regulations and norms these are not being followed with the rigour required.”<br />
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Archbishop Martin also said the Irish church (he is the archbishop of Dublin, Ireland) needed to carefully look at priestly formation.<br />
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“I am working on plans to ensure that for the future of Dublin, our seminarians, our prospective deacons and our trainee lay pastoral workers…will share some sections of their studies together, in order to create a better culture of collaborative ministry. The narrow culture of clericalism has to be eliminated” he said. (Source: Prairie Messenger May 19, 2010; Volume 87: Number 45)Father Leo Byrnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796632387374884360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2232378848603783011.post-40961195739440654992010-04-11T16:01:00.000-07:002010-04-11T16:01:14.720-07:00A "Forest Fire" in the Roman Catholic ChurchSunday April 10, 2010 7:00 pm <br />
Not surprisingly my thoughts have been on the present situation in the Roman Catholic Church over the past days.<br />
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Archbishop Mancini of Halifax NS (my last blog) called it “a storm”.<br />
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My image is that of a “forest fire”.<br />
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Forest fires are destructive and bring about tragic results in the short term<br />
Those familiar with forest patterns remind us that there is a good side to forest fires. <br />
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A forest fire burns away all the dead wood, fallen trees and rotting undergrowth. This allows a new stand of trees to grow in the succeeding 50 and 100 years.<br />
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The present “forest fire” in the Roman Catholic Church is certainly causing harm and destruction. <br />
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I am not using the analogy of a forest fire in speaking of child sexual abuse itself. Child sexual abuse does not have a silver lining. There is no redeeming aspect to it.<br />
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I am speaking of the aftermath and how it is affecting the Roman Catholic Church at the present time.<br />
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I am referring to the way in which the Roman Catholic Church is called to examine itself in the present crisis.<br />
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This “forest fire” in the church will burn away dead and rotting wood and in it’s place will stand a new and vibrant “forest” 50 and 100 years from now.Father Leo Byrnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796632387374884360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2232378848603783011.post-60029490166950876142010-04-06T08:20:00.000-07:002010-04-06T08:20:00.488-07:00WHO IS REALLY SUPPORTING POPE BENEDICT AND THE CHURCH?WHO IS REALLY SUPPORTING POPE BENEDICT AND THE CHURCH?<br />
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Easter Sunday evening just after the end of the 7:30 pm Mass all the lights went out in our area of Kingston. Not surprisingly St. Paul The Apostle church was not miraculously spared!! Music, as I have said, can be off key whether it is in a bar or a church.<br />
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That does not deny in any way the presence of the Risen Jesus in the community of the church. The church is unique.<br />
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The church does however share the realities of human life and society.<br />
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It is not surprising then that under pressure the humanity of the Catholic Church family responds like a dysfunctional family. A “normal” family under pressure, will frequently cover up and deny. Those who support a person or persons in such denial are termed “enablers”. <br />
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Well intentioned as it is they actually allow the person or person and the family to continue in a destructive pattern. The "enabler" is the spouse who covers up for the alcoholic or the well meaning friends who turn a blind eye to abuse.<br />
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Under the guise of support they actually undermine the person(s) and the family. They do not offer true support.<br />
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The comments of Cardinal Angelo Sodano before the Easter Mass in Rome on Easter Sunday I suggest are in the category of “enabler”. So too the comments of the papal preacher, Father Raniero Cantalamessa on Good Friday. Not surprisingly the Vatican had to quickly distance itself from those remarks and Father Cantalamessa had to later apologize. All that does not help Pope Benedict or the Catholic Church.<br />
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The true supporters of Pope Benedict and the Catholic Church are rather leaders such as Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard of Belgium who stated “With guilty silence it often gave preference to the reputation of certain men of the church over the honour of abused children”. Archbishop Leonard goes on to say, “For decades the church, like other institutions, has badly managed the problem of pedophilia in its ranks while it had an evangelical obligation to protect the dignity of these children”. <br />
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Speaking the truth in love is the way to truly support Pope Benedict and the church.<br />
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Yes, it is appropriate for Cardinal Sodano to offer the support of the church family to Pope Benedict during this difficult time. That support needs include a call and encouragement to face the difficult “family” truth with absolute transparency and accountability. Referring to the present situation as “petty gossip” is enabling and not truly supportive.<br />
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Archbishop Mancini of Halifax (Homily Mass of Chrism March 31, 2010) has stated, “There is no doubt that our Church is in the middle of a huge storm. From the Pope down to our local parishes, we are being hit by a violent wind of protest and criticism, and not without cause”.<br />
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This storm as Archbishop Mancini states is "not without cause”. Referring to it as “petty gossip” as did Cardinal Sodano in Rome on Easter Sunday is not supportive of Pope Benedict and the Catholic Church. Nor is it helpful to the rank and file in the Catholic Church, clergy and laity, who must face this family crisis in our daily lives – at work and among our families and friends.<br />
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To quote Archbishop Mancini of Halifax again, “Perhaps too many of us have forgotten that true transformation comes about only by the power of love, and not by the love of power. When we forget this, when love is no longer what drives us, then the Church is no longer an assembly of Disciples of Christ. It becomes an organization obsessed with self-perpetuation; and motivated by its own goals and objectives.”<br />
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There is hope.<br />
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As I stated in my Easter homily, “This may well be the most authentic Easter we have celebrated in the church for decades if not centuries. We are more in tune this Easter with the confused, doubting, angry, disillusioned disciples of the post resurrection scripture passages than we have been in a long time.Father Leo Byrnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796632387374884360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2232378848603783011.post-55680294660542178522010-03-27T17:18:00.000-07:002010-03-27T17:18:48.158-07:00Holy Week Schedule at St. Paul The Apostle ChurchThought you might be interested in the Holy Week Schedule for St. Paul The Apostle on Taylor Kidd Blvd. in Kingston. Maybe you want to join me - and others - for the first Mass of Easter Sunday morning - 7:30 am. If you miss that Mass there are four more during the day<br />
7:30 am; 9:00 am; 10:30 am; 12:00 noon and 7:30 pm<br />
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Call 613-389-8222 for information - the Holy Week schedule is at 613-384-5420<br />
Holy Week Schedule <br />
Tuesday, March 30, 2010<br />
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7:30 PM Mass of Chrism at St. Mary’s Cathedral NOTICE THIS MASS ONLY DURING THE WEEEK IS AT ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL<br />
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Wednesday, March 31, 2010<br />
11:00 AM St. Marguerite Bourgeoys School Mass AT THE SCHOOL <br />
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HOLY THURSDAY, April 01, 2010<br />
7:30 PM MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER for David “Johnny” Roy by Tom and Frankie Reader.<br />
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Private Adoration following Mass until 11:00 PM<br />
Confessions 8:30 – 9:30 PM<br />
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GOOD FRIDAY, April 02, 2010<br />
10:00 AM Stations of the Cross<br />
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10:00 AM – 12 Noon Confessions in the Church<br />
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1:00 PM Good Friday Liturgy of the Passion of our Lord.<br />
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3:00 PM Good Friday Liturgy of the Passion of our Lord.<br />
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4:00 – 5:00 PM Confessions in the Church<br />
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HOLY SATURDAY, April 03, 2010<br />
******The Church will be closed until 2:00 PM******<br />
THERE IS NO 5:00pm MASS ON HOLY SATURDAY<br />
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8:00 PM Celebration of the Vigil Mass of Easter with the Rites of Christian Initiation. <br />
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EASTER SUNDAY - April 04, 2010<br />
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7:30 AM Easter Sunday Mass for the deceased members of the Vair Family by Carolanne Vair.<br />
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9:00 AM Easter Sunday Mass for Marleen Bover by her Family.<br />
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10:30 AM Easter Sunday Mass for Alison Farrell by Shaun and Virginia Tymchuk.<br />
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12:00 NOON Easter Sunday Mass for the Special Intentions of Father Gerry Byrne by Connie and Tony Vella.<br />
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7:30 PM Easter Sunday Mass for the Parishioners of St. Paul the Apostle Church.Father Leo Byrnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796632387374884360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2232378848603783011.post-34274836447521514022010-03-27T17:08:00.000-07:002010-03-27T17:08:07.050-07:00Holy Week - Liminal SpaceHoly Week – Liminal Space <br />
This weekend I spoke of the notion of Liminal space as it applies to Holy Week. Holy Week is the most important week of the Christian year. This year it runs from Palm Sunday March 28 to EASTER Sandy April 4.<br />
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We must not underestimate the importance of this greatest week of the Christian church year – the week we call “Holy Week”<br />
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In the jargon of anthropologists this is called “Liminal space” or “Liminal time”.<br />
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"Limina" is the Latin word for threshold, the space betwixt and between. Liminal space, therefore, is a unique spiritual position where human beings hate to be but where the biblical God is always leading us”. Father Richard Rohr<br />
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It is a time of uprooting from ruts in or lives, a time to reassess and put down new roots and deepen our commitment. <br />
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This can happen through choice as when we go on a retreat – a time of silence away – or of marriage counseling or some other kind of course ling.<br />
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It can be a time not of our own choosing as when we fall ill, experience death, job lose or moving.<br />
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Even when it happens by choice we need to know that once we have entered into the “Liminal space” we give over control to the spirit moving in our lives.<br />
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On a retreat we may go to deepen our faith and half way through have the sense we have lost our faith before we emerge to new faith. In course ling you may – not necessarily wonder at some point if you will ever had or will have a mature relationship with anyone. Orientation, disorientation, new orientation.<br />
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Such is Holy Week, but as with a retreat or marriage counseling we have to enter into this time with real earnest.<br />
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Goggle Liminal space Richard Rohr for some interesting articles by Father Richard Rohr.<br />
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Father LeoFather Leo Byrnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796632387374884360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2232378848603783011.post-16483416954543878162010-03-26T09:39:00.001-07:002010-03-26T09:39:07.572-07:00Support of my parishionersMarch 26, 2010 <br />
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During the past month I have been with more than the usual number of people who have been dying.<br />
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What made this past month unique was not the number of persons I was with but the fact that most of these people were conscious, coherent and able to communicate. This was a great gift for me and I hope for the dying and their families.<br />
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On one occasion when I was walking back to the parking garage to pick up my car at Kingston General Hospital after spending precious time and conversation with a person who was dying, I thought, “I hope the parishioners back at St. Paul The Apostle know how important they are” – it is because of them that I am able to be here in these important moments. It is because of your support - financial support, moral support and the spiritual support of your prayers that I am able to be present in these important moments of life.<br />
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Know how much you are valued and that you are such an important part of my ministry.<br />
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Father Leo ByrneFather Leo Byrnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796632387374884360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2232378848603783011.post-91471958335677876532010-02-02T17:35:00.001-08:002010-02-02T17:35:49.060-08:00Christian Unity In Evidence<b>Christian Unity</b><br />
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Jesus prayed for unity among His followers. I know He was with us on January 31, 2010<br />
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On Sunday evening, the last day of January approximately 200 Christians of various denominations came to a gathering with hope that the prayer of Jesus would be answered – at least in a small way.<br />
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Members of many Christian churches gathered to pray, sing and enjoy each other’s company at the new Salvation Army Citadel on Centennial Drive and Taylor-Kidd Blvd in a service of Christian Unity. I was privileged to preach on that occasion.<br />
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For pictures of the service – thanks to Mr. Fred Happy - go the web site of the Archdiocese of Kingston and click on photo gallery. You will find the pictures under service on Unity on the left at the top.Father Leo Byrnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796632387374884360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2232378848603783011.post-66611383258950384702010-01-29T07:12:00.001-08:002010-01-29T07:12:24.550-08:00The Challenge of Facing “Otherness”.<br />
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As I prepare to be part of the ecumenical service at the Salvation Army Citadel this Sunday January 31, 2010 I have reflected on the challenge that continues to face us – Christian Unity. <br />
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Despite a lot of glib rhetoric to the contrary - most of us claim to accept otherness and difference – the deeper reality is different.<br />
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The Catholic Church itself – never mind the other Christian churches – is hampered in the work of the Gospel because of the polarization between what we refer to as “right” and “left’ in the church. It cuts across every parish. That can bring healthy tension but unless handled in a mature manner can be destructive and impede the work of building up the Body Of Christ.<br />
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Father Timothy Radcliffe in his book “What’s The Point of Being Christian” dedicates two chapters to this polarization and offers thoughtful solutions. He maintains that we Christians stopped talking to each other at the time of the Thirty Years War (1618-1648)!!<br />
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David Tracy, the eminent intellectual, submits that perhaps the biggest challenge confronting us today is that of facing our differences, of accepting, truly accepting, otherness. This challenge confronts us at every level: social, political, cultural, moral, religious.<br />
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In this challenge to communicate with “the other”, Father Ron Rolheiser reminds us that God is “The Other”. <br />
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Father Leo ByrneFather Leo Byrnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796632387374884360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2232378848603783011.post-81841496630240095172010-01-24T15:49:00.000-08:002010-01-24T15:54:44.312-08:00What Message and/or Challenge do we "hear" in "Collaboration??January 24, 2010<br />
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Two things motivated me to post a Blog today…<br />
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First I announced this weekend that Deacon Carney and I had a Blog so check the web site.<br />
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Second the Toronto Star carried an article this morning announcing that Pope Benedict had encouraged clergy - bishops, priests and deacons - to get into blogging and Facebook.<br />
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Now as I stated at the Masses I have heard all sorts of directives from Popes over the decades of my life and priesthood but I never thought I would live to hear a directive like this from a Pope – get busy you clergy start blogging and get your mug on facebook. I will consider a little more before I launch the facebook thing.<br />
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I want to tell you about a very positive and encouraging experience of this past week at St. Paul The Apostle. I assure you there are always lots of positive and encouraging experiences in the course of a week at St. Paul’s.<br />
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Last Thursday I facilitated a gathering of the leadership team in the parish. The heads of all the groups and ministries at St. Paul The Apostle parish meet three times a year to celebrate our achievements and plan strategy as we work together in the future months.<br />
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Specifically we have been studying a book by Loughlan Sofield ST entitled “Collaboration, Uniting Our Gifts in Ministry”.<br />
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It was a very productive and postive session. The participation was 100%. The creative juices were flowing throughout the room.<br />
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What at difference from the previous session in September 2009.<br />
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The last meeting in September 2009 was one of the most difficult sessions I have ever facilitated. There was strong resistance in the room for wahtever reason. If you are familiar with the process you know I am not accusing or blaming here just stating an observation. It can be a way of a group telling the facilitator they are heading in the wrong direction or going too quickly.<br />
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I spoke of this difficult experience at the beginning of the session last Thursday January 21, 2010. These were basically the same leadership people.<br />
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I also mentioned a conversation I had earlier in the day with Margie Ann McKinnon at the Diocesan Centre. Margie Ann sponsored a workshop in 2009 with Loughlan Sofield on “Collaborative Ministry”. Her advice to me –“Avoid the word Collaboration”. In the advertising for a workshop we are planning here at St. Paul The Apostle November 6, 2010 with Loughlan Sofield her advice was stress discovering our gifts, something like that but not “Collaborative Ministry”. <br />
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The sense is there is resistance to “Collaboration” and “Collaborative Ministry”.<br />
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Those more trained in these areas might be able to give more insight into this but it appears these words set off alarm bells in our psyche – we are going to lose some of our independence or I am going to be challenged to change. Is that what we are hearing in the unconscious?<br />
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Understanding what was happening is not my area of expertise – I only know what I experienced at the September session and something very different this last meeting after I spoke of the resistance I perceived at the earlier session <br />
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I know the Collaboration language is very current today in many organizations in our society.<br />
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I would like to hear from folks who work in non-church/secular organizations. Is this resistancee a common experience or is this just a church phenomenon? My guess is it is a human phenomenon. Intriguing!!<br />
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Other events coming up include an ecumenical service next Sunday January 31st sponsored by the Kingston Ministerial Association. It takes place at the new Salvation Army Citadel corner of Taylor-Kidd Blvd and Centennial Drive. The service begins at 6:30 pm.<br />
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I am honoured to have been asked the preach at that service<br />
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Have a good last week of January – especially if you find January not your favourite month.<br />
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…and if you have any thoughts on the “Collaboration” thing my email is fatherlbyrne@cogeco.ca<br />
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Father LeoFather Leo Byrnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796632387374884360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2232378848603783011.post-47933648146203978142010-01-04T18:26:00.000-08:002010-01-24T14:36:04.269-08:00Thoughts for the New YearJanuary 4, 2010<br />
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Just getting started on this "Blog Business" but thought since I am priviledged to be part of such a vibrant community of St. Paul |The Apostle and was ordained before the Secondd Vatican Council - Mass in Latin with my back to the people and all that (April 29, 1962) - I have an interesting perspective on church and society gathered from all those great people I have met over the years.<br />
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Truth is I was encouraged - more like pushed - by Deacon Carney to get going on this blog.<br />
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Just started preparing my homily for next Sunday January 10. <br />
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Found myself hoping you could all hear that first reading tonight before you go to bed. "Comfort, O comfort my people." "She has served her term, her penalty is paid...she has recieved from the Lord's hand double for all her sins"<br />
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OK that means all of us who drag things around for years and God is saying "Let it go" I have bigger and better things for you than carrying false guilt. That isn't a healthy way to live and blocks all kinds of positive growth. <br />
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This weekend - Saturday and Monday I will be leading parent for first Reconciliation - talking about sin guilt and all that stuff. I think I will read that passage to set the tone. <br />
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These are my favourite parent meeetings because we can get into all that real gutsy stuff. <br />
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Give yourself a gift and tonight before you go to bed read that passage from Isaiah if you have a Bible Isaiah 40:1-5 and 9-11 and sleep a lot easier knowing tht you don't have to carry the world on your shoulders <br />
and you know what there is a God who is so anxious to forgive you.<br />
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Father LeoFather Leo Byrnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796632387374884360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2232378848603783011.post-19983195731718996202010-01-04T14:36:00.000-08:002010-01-04T14:36:19.794-08:00Welcome To My BlogIn the next weeks I want to share my thoughts with you.Father Leo Byrnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796632387374884360noreply@blogger.com