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Monthly Archives: May 2019
Christus Vivit 38: Listening To Young People, Making Room For It
Some last bits on that Church open to renewal: 38. Those of us who are no longer young need to find ways of keeping close to the voices and concerns of young people. “Drawing together creates the conditions for the … Continue reading
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Exile #3
For the third time in thirty-plus years, I find myself serving a parish with a long departure from the main worship space. Earlier this month the “old” church, planned as a gymnasium for a school was stripped down. Most of … Continue reading
Posted in Parish Life
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Christus Vivit 37: Young People Keeping Us Faithful
As I read through this paragraph, it reminds me of the best of the post-conciliar years of the last century. We lost much of whatever ability we had to take risks. And taking those risks is essential not just for … Continue reading
Posted in Christus Vivit
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Christus Vivit 36: Standing With Others, Yet Daring To Differ
Renewal is an important way of being a community of faith. We need not shy away from the word or concept. Pope Francis points to rootedness in Christ and his mission: 36. Certainly, as members of the Church, we should … Continue reading
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Ascension, Still?
I was a bit surprised that my boss mentioned some continuing confusion on the day of Ascension. Hence, a post-Communion announcement this past weekend that we would be celebrating the feast this coming weekend, not Thursday. This, from one of … Continue reading
Christus Vivit 35: A Church Open To Renewal
Pope Francis takes a stab at the theme, A Church open to renewal. I think it’s safe to say for the most part, we’re not really. But here and there, there’s hope. 35. Let us ask the Lord to free … Continue reading
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Top British Funeral Songs
Joe McMahon sent me this link to a UK op-ed on funeral songs. From the Daily Mail, Tom Utley reports and comments: A survey this week by Co-op Funeralcare highlights one of the most profound social changes of my lifetime. In … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, Music, Order of Christian Funerals
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Christus Vivit 34: His Youth Teaches Us
One paragraph on “The youth of the Church.” We’re not just talking about teens and young adults. We might also be talking about the institution and its outlook. 34. Youth is more than simply a period of time; it is … Continue reading
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Reconciliation At The Heart Of Community
More from that short book of two Harvard Divinity School lectures, From Brokenness to Community, Jean Vanier has a thought on reconciliation. The jumping off part is where he discusses Jesus urging us to love our enemies. He identifies our … Continue reading
Christus Vivit 33: Stars
Finishing up the theme, “His youth teaches us,” Pope Francis is talking stars, but not the celebrity type. Think of astronomy as your starting point, as the Easter Vigil’s deuterocanonical reading tells it: 33. The Lord is calling us to … Continue reading
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Abolish, Dismantle, React, Whatever
I see James Carroll’s headline has made the rounds in Catholic social media. The actual article appears online here, but with a curious schizophrenia. The headline suggests “abolish.” The link includes the word “dismantle.” The former gets attention, of the … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary
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Christus Vivit 32: The Risen Lord Leads
Continuing with the theme, “His youth teaches us.” 32. On the other hand, Jesus is risen, and he wants to make us sharers in the new life of the resurrection. He is the true youthfulness of a world grown old, … Continue reading
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Christus Vivit 31: Jesus, The Mirror For Young People
We continue with the theme, “His youth teaches us.” A very Ignatian piece of advice in this paragraph, to contemplate the “young Jesus.” I guess we oldsters will have to find someone else’s shoes to fit into in our mind’s … Continue reading
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Giving Space vs Competition
In the short book of two Harvard Divinity School lectures, From Brokenness to Community, Jean Vanier explores community as a space of conflict. He gives four moments of conflict. I’ve experienced, seen, and alas, perpetrated, these over the years. He … Continue reading
Catholic Sensibility 
Child of Viganò
A facebook friend alerted me to this Crux piece on a report published by Anthony Figueiredo, a Newark diocesan priest, Rome resident, and occasional travel aide for ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick. The source confirms some sort of restriction in place–the former … Continue reading →