Monthly Archives: September 2016

One Thing At A Time

Posted on 30 September 2016 by

As I’ve gotten back into flapping my arms in front of a group of singers the past fourteen months, I’ve been scouring the net as well as a library of music publications here in my office. I look for any … Continue reading →

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Amoris Laetitia 179: Adoption

Posted on 30 September 2016 by

Pope Francis on adoption: 179. Adoption is a very generous way to become parents. I encourage those who cannot have children to expand their marital love to embrace those who lack a proper family situation. They will never regret having … Continue reading →

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First Serve

Posted on 29 September 2016 by

Are you familiar with the principle? Other authors and parish ministers have used it; it’s not original to me. “First serve” involves the invitation to volunteering or parish ministry. A new parishioner or a prospective old-timer commits for only one time. In liturgy, it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Ministry, Parish Life | 3 Comments

Amoris Laetitia 178: An Expanding Fruitfulness

Posted on 29 September 2016 by

We open a section (178-186) titled, “An Expanding Fruitfulness,” with an acknowledgement of childlessness. Also a note that the sole purpose of marriage is not the breeding of offspring. 178. Some couples are unable to have children. We know that … Continue reading →

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Intercessory Prayer for Liturgical Ministers

Posted on 28 September 2016 by

I’ve had two recent encounters with this notion of liturgical ministers praying for another person. In my last community, someone associated with our sister parish suggested the Communion ministers in each location, in Iowa and in Honduras, be matched up … Continue reading →

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When Cozy Trumps Courage

Posted on 28 September 2016 by

At the risk of entering into a Wonderland of vocabulary twisting, a few thoughts on what I find constitutes conservatives, liberals, and progressives. Liam described his current pastor in this comment. My observation was, “Hmm. Your pastor actually sounds very … Continue reading →

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Amoris Laetitia 177: A Father’s Presence

Posted on 28 September 2016 by

Pope Francis echoes one of my observations from yesterday’s post: the vital role of consultation with the mother of one’s children. My main takeaway from AL 177 is the importance of a father just being present to his children. Nothing … Continue reading →

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New Looks At Old Moons

Posted on 27 September 2016 by

I reading where they’ve finally detected evidence of water plumes on Europa, an ice-crusted moon of Jupiter. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, and W. Sparks (STScI)) Video here. Very cool, and not just because of a surface temp of minus-260 F. … Continue reading →

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Amoris Laetitia 176: Absent Fathers

Posted on 27 September 2016 by

Pope turns our attention to dad: 176. We often hear that ours is “a society without fathers”. We hear it. But is it really true? Among Americans, fathers as a whole spend more time with children than their dads spent with … Continue reading →

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Hands Off Hands Together

Posted on 26 September 2016 by

My facebook feed included a link to Deacon Greg’s mild takedown on holding hands at Mass. Another link was cited, with some limp-wristed reasoning: The practice of holding hands while praying the Our Father comes from the Protestant world. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Liturgy | 11 Comments

2 Capos

Posted on 26 September 2016 by

Lots of guitar players have more capos than instruments. Unlike most rock gods, I have only one guitar. So I don’t have multiple instruments in alternate tunings ready to go from the roadie’s hand. Here’s my solution for drop-G tuning … Continue reading →

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Amoris Laetitia 175: Parents Support a Child’s Growth

Posted on 26 September 2016 by

Good parenting equips a child for a life of self-esteem: 175. A mother who watches over her child with tenderness and compassion helps him or her to grow in confidence and to experience that the world is a good and … Continue reading →

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A Typical Sunday

Posted on 25 September 2016 by

Without a full-time pastor, nobody’s really present for all five weekend Masses in my parish. But me. Three sacristans share duties, and two of them switch off every other weekend at the four English-language liturgies. So they come close twice … Continue reading →

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Amoris Laetitia 174: More On Motherhood

Posted on 25 September 2016 by

Pope Francis asserts that mothers work against the spread of individualism. More on the topic of motherhood: 174. “Mothers are the strongest antidote to the spread of self-centered individualism… It is they who testify to the beauty of life”.(Catechesis (7 … Continue reading →

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Amoris Laetitia 173: A Sense of Being Orphaned

Posted on 24 September 2016 by

Today, continuing with the topic of parental love. The sense of being orphaned is not limited to those whose parents have die, but also those who have separated themselves from their children’s lives: 173. The sense of being orphaned that … Continue reading →

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