Sunday April 10, 2010 7:00 pm
Not surprisingly my thoughts have been on the present situation in the Roman Catholic Church over the past days.
Archbishop Mancini of Halifax NS (my last blog) called it “a storm”.
My image is that of a “forest fire”.
Forest fires are destructive and bring about tragic results in the short term
Those familiar with forest patterns remind us that there is a good side to forest fires.
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.
The present “forest fire” in the Roman Catholic Church is certainly causing harm and destruction.
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.
I am speaking of the aftermath and how it is affecting the Roman Catholic Church at the present time.
I am referring to the way in which the Roman Catholic Church is called to examine itself in the present crisis.
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.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
WHO IS REALLY SUPPORTING POPE BENEDICT AND THE CHURCH?
WHO IS REALLY SUPPORTING POPE BENEDICT AND THE CHURCH?
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.
That does not deny in any way the presence of the Risen Jesus in the community of the church. The church is unique.
The church does however share the realities of human life and society.
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”.
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.
Under the guise of support they actually undermine the person(s) and the family. They do not offer true support.
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.
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”.
Speaking the truth in love is the way to truly support Pope Benedict and the church.
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.
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”.
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.
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.”
There is hope.
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.
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.
That does not deny in any way the presence of the Risen Jesus in the community of the church. The church is unique.
The church does however share the realities of human life and society.
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”.
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.
Under the guise of support they actually undermine the person(s) and the family. They do not offer true support.
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.
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”.
Speaking the truth in love is the way to truly support Pope Benedict and the church.
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.
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”.
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.
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.”
There is hope.
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.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Holy Week Schedule at St. Paul The Apostle Church
Thought 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
7:30 am; 9:00 am; 10:30 am; 12:00 noon and 7:30 pm
Call 613-389-8222 for information - the Holy Week schedule is at 613-384-5420
Holy Week Schedule
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
7:30 PM Mass of Chrism at St. Mary’s Cathedral NOTICE THIS MASS ONLY DURING THE WEEEK IS AT ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
11:00 AM St. Marguerite Bourgeoys School Mass AT THE SCHOOL
HOLY THURSDAY, April 01, 2010
7:30 PM MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER for David “Johnny” Roy by Tom and Frankie Reader.
Private Adoration following Mass until 11:00 PM
Confessions 8:30 – 9:30 PM
GOOD FRIDAY, April 02, 2010
10:00 AM Stations of the Cross
10:00 AM – 12 Noon Confessions in the Church
1:00 PM Good Friday Liturgy of the Passion of our Lord.
3:00 PM Good Friday Liturgy of the Passion of our Lord.
4:00 – 5:00 PM Confessions in the Church
HOLY SATURDAY, April 03, 2010
******The Church will be closed until 2:00 PM******
THERE IS NO 5:00pm MASS ON HOLY SATURDAY
8:00 PM Celebration of the Vigil Mass of Easter with the Rites of Christian Initiation.
EASTER SUNDAY - April 04, 2010
7:30 AM Easter Sunday Mass for the deceased members of the Vair Family by Carolanne Vair.
9:00 AM Easter Sunday Mass for Marleen Bover by her Family.
10:30 AM Easter Sunday Mass for Alison Farrell by Shaun and Virginia Tymchuk.
12:00 NOON Easter Sunday Mass for the Special Intentions of Father Gerry Byrne by Connie and Tony Vella.
7:30 PM Easter Sunday Mass for the Parishioners of St. Paul the Apostle Church.
7:30 am; 9:00 am; 10:30 am; 12:00 noon and 7:30 pm
Call 613-389-8222 for information - the Holy Week schedule is at 613-384-5420
Holy Week Schedule
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
7:30 PM Mass of Chrism at St. Mary’s Cathedral NOTICE THIS MASS ONLY DURING THE WEEEK IS AT ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
11:00 AM St. Marguerite Bourgeoys School Mass AT THE SCHOOL
HOLY THURSDAY, April 01, 2010
7:30 PM MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER for David “Johnny” Roy by Tom and Frankie Reader.
Private Adoration following Mass until 11:00 PM
Confessions 8:30 – 9:30 PM
GOOD FRIDAY, April 02, 2010
10:00 AM Stations of the Cross
10:00 AM – 12 Noon Confessions in the Church
1:00 PM Good Friday Liturgy of the Passion of our Lord.
3:00 PM Good Friday Liturgy of the Passion of our Lord.
4:00 – 5:00 PM Confessions in the Church
HOLY SATURDAY, April 03, 2010
******The Church will be closed until 2:00 PM******
THERE IS NO 5:00pm MASS ON HOLY SATURDAY
8:00 PM Celebration of the Vigil Mass of Easter with the Rites of Christian Initiation.
EASTER SUNDAY - April 04, 2010
7:30 AM Easter Sunday Mass for the deceased members of the Vair Family by Carolanne Vair.
9:00 AM Easter Sunday Mass for Marleen Bover by her Family.
10:30 AM Easter Sunday Mass for Alison Farrell by Shaun and Virginia Tymchuk.
12:00 NOON Easter Sunday Mass for the Special Intentions of Father Gerry Byrne by Connie and Tony Vella.
7:30 PM Easter Sunday Mass for the Parishioners of St. Paul the Apostle Church.
Holy Week - Liminal Space
Holy Week – Liminal Space
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.
We must not underestimate the importance of this greatest week of the Christian church year – the week we call “Holy Week”
In the jargon of anthropologists this is called “Liminal space” or “Liminal time”.
"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
It is a time of uprooting from ruts in or lives, a time to reassess and put down new roots and deepen our commitment.
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.
It can be a time not of our own choosing as when we fall ill, experience death, job lose or moving.
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.
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.
Such is Holy Week, but as with a retreat or marriage counseling we have to enter into this time with real earnest.
Goggle Liminal space Richard Rohr for some interesting articles by Father Richard Rohr.
Father Leo
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.
We must not underestimate the importance of this greatest week of the Christian church year – the week we call “Holy Week”
In the jargon of anthropologists this is called “Liminal space” or “Liminal time”.
"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
It is a time of uprooting from ruts in or lives, a time to reassess and put down new roots and deepen our commitment.
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.
It can be a time not of our own choosing as when we fall ill, experience death, job lose or moving.
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.
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.
Such is Holy Week, but as with a retreat or marriage counseling we have to enter into this time with real earnest.
Goggle Liminal space Richard Rohr for some interesting articles by Father Richard Rohr.
Father Leo
Friday, March 26, 2010
Support of my parishioners
March 26, 2010
During the past month I have been with more than the usual number of people who have been dying.
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.
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.
Know how much you are valued and that you are such an important part of my ministry.
Father Leo Byrne
During the past month I have been with more than the usual number of people who have been dying.
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.
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.
Know how much you are valued and that you are such an important part of my ministry.
Father Leo Byrne
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Christian Unity In Evidence
Christian Unity
Jesus prayed for unity among His followers. I know He was with us on January 31, 2010
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.
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.
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.
Jesus prayed for unity among His followers. I know He was with us on January 31, 2010
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.
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.
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.
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Challenge of Facing “Otherness”.
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.
Despite a lot of glib rhetoric to the contrary - most of us claim to accept otherness and difference – the deeper reality is different.
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.
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)!!
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.
In this challenge to communicate with “the other”, Father Ron Rolheiser reminds us that God is “The Other”.
Father Leo Byrne
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.
Despite a lot of glib rhetoric to the contrary - most of us claim to accept otherness and difference – the deeper reality is different.
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.
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)!!
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.
In this challenge to communicate with “the other”, Father Ron Rolheiser reminds us that God is “The Other”.
Father Leo Byrne
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