Fr. Bob's Corner

You have nothing to fear, but fear itself! Really?

On Nov. 21st front page headlines across Quebec reacted to an open letter of apology by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of the Catholic Church in Canada. The Cardinal wrote the letter after soul searching reflection which resulted from a presentation he made to the Bouchard-Taylor Commission and the support and criticism that followed. (The Bouchard-Taylor commission is a public enquiry criss-crossing Quebec to get the public’s ideas and concerns on “reasonable accommodations” by Quebec society for religious and ethnic minorities.)

Since the advent of what is called, ‘the cultural revolution’ in the 60′s, Quebec society has become secularized and the church has seen itself sidelined and much criticized. Although the vast majority of Quebec’s people are Catholic, there is an ‘anti-church’ and anti-clerical’ undercurrent that flavors Quebec society. From historians, politicians, and institutions, to the ordinary person on the street there is a litany of grievances and accusations that constantly undermine the faith, and foster fear and dis-trust of the church and its endeavors. Personally, I think it was time for the church to face the past head on, and to name and seek forgivenss for its past errors and sins. This is exactly what the Cardinal did, and let us pray that in the ensuing response and dialogue a new and better day for the church will be born. LINK: Full Text of the Cardinal’s Letter

 Gospel: Luke 21:5-19

At first gance the readings this week do seem rather gloomy and depressing. In the first reading the prophet Malachi speaks of a burning oven and of arrogant evil-doers becoming stubble. St. Paul forbids giving food to those not working because they believe Jesus’ return to be imminent. And St. Luke speaks of days ahead when nations will destroy each other, and of famines, earthquakes, plagues before Christ come again. Doesn’t sound like good news, does it? But if one listens and ponders carefully to the words of Jesus, he provides words of hope for all those experiencing the pain, fear, and sorrow of real life in this world. Ultimately, the Gospel encourages us not to despair even if the worst is happening. Keep on going and living in hope for God knows and cares, and is with us. Don’t look for easy answers, or listen to fake prophets that say something different, but live in hope and by the Gospel of love. Don’t give up, but endure. Trust in God’s word, and in God’s love while facing life’s problems. As disciples we are to carry our cross of suffering, always confident of finding eternal comfort and peace. “By your endurance” he says, “you will gain your souls.” ( Luke 21:19)

Jesus was a realist and he knew that life could be tough. He never promised us a life of comfort in this world, but gave us the the Spirit and the tools of faith, hope, and love to deal with suffering and to give us joy even in suffering. He promised us that God would never give up on us, and asked us to do the same with God.

At times the Bible confronts us with the harsh realities of life, but always with a spirit of hope, unlike our nightly news broadcasts. Scientists tell us that those that watch the news on a regular basis are sometimes prone to depression and anxiety, and that a new disorder called, ‘compassion fatigue’, now exists because of the desensitizing nature of watching others suffer. The TV News portrays the terrible suffering of so many of our brothers and sisters, and reminds us of our own. But unlike the bible, the News offers no hope. The News reports one disaster after another with no view of hope on the horizon. Jesus, however says, “Be not afraid”, for the light will overcome the darkness, and, “I am with you all days, unto the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

(more…)

The National Catholic Register did a story on video as a means of evangelization:

“The latest innovation on the Internet is the rise of Catholic video podcasts, otherwise known as vodcasts. Through YouTube and other media, Catholics have been able to spread the faith, provide historical footage and draw attention to liturgical abuses.”

Here is an example on ‘You Tube’ of a video on why we sit, stand, and kneel at Mass. Do you know why? If you don’t, this little video will solve the problem.[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/8NFuu6W392k" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

Last Weekend ‘Our Lady’s Missionaries’ made a visit to both our Parishes. Sr. Christine Gebel gave us an update on their work since her last visit with us about two years ago. As she spoke at all our Masses, she reflected on the Gospel passage of the lady who had seven deceased husbands and the Sadducees question: “In the Resurrection whose wife will the woman be?” (Lk. 20:27-39) Now in Jesus’ time a wife was more or less the property of a husband, and therefore the question not only enquired about the marriage bond in eternity, but had a connotation of ownership. As she pointed out, no one owns anybody in eternity, and in God’s kingdom in the here and now. As Christians we are called to love our neighbor as our selves, and to live in freedom, as children of God. Her insights came from the Sisters work with oppressed people around the world who are often owned by another. An example being prostitutes one of the Sisters works with in one of their missions. And, from a personal point of view and her involvement in Muslim Christian dialogue in the Philippines, she offered the insight that no one even owns God.

As I reflected on this statement, I thought of the many ways, as humans, we tend to take ownership of another, rather than living in mutual respect, trust, and love. And, even in religion, as we profess and cling to our faith, we assume a certain ownership of God. As we come to the end of our Liturgical year and the feast of Christ the King, it behooves all of us to reflect on our relationships with God and neighbor, and to remind ourselves of this very important insight from a woman who has given her life to Christ, and the building of God’s Kingdom. After all, wasn’t that one of the biggest problems many had with Jesus when he reached out to the sinners and tax collectors. We still hear their shock and complaint week after week in the Gospel: “He eats with sinners and tax collector.”

I am always looking for good resources to help people appreciate and understand Christian Marriage. The U.S. conference of Catholic Bishops has been developing a website for just this purpose for a few years, and now has some excellent articles and resources. Whether you are dating, engaged, newlywed, a mature couple, a student, or member of a marriage preparation team, this website probably has something for you. Link: For Your Marriage

[Fr. Edward L. Cleary is a professor of political science and the director of Latin American studies at Providence College.]

Fr. Edward Cleary has just published a new book on faith, religion, and the Latin American people. It is a must read for all those interested in our brothers and sisters in this part of America. In the last forty years much has happened to undermine the faith of these staunchly catholic people. But, there are seeds of hope, and wonderful things happening that offer promise for the future of Christianity and the the Catholic Church in this part of the world. Although the Pentecostal Church has spear headed a major religious revival and recruited thousands of new members, Catholicism has become more dynamic and fostered a more committed faith response. Just listen to these statistics that Fr. Cleary reports:

(more…)

Most of the leaves have fallen, halloween is over, and once again many Canadians begin dreading the long cold days and nights of the frozen north, and I am definitely one of them. As I took this picture a week ago, I just couldn’t keep my mind focused on the glorious fall display, but kept drifting imaginatively into the numbing days ahead of snow, freezing rain, ice, and howling winds. How hard it is to keep focused on one’s blessings and enjoy the present moment.

Catholicism in Quebec

I grew up in Quebec and still have strong family roots in this magnificent province. This is where I learned about God, Jesus, and the Catholic church. Almost everyone was Catholic, and it seemed as if nuns and priests were everywhere.

Today, however, is another story. Although most of the churches still stand, they (though often empty)seem to be the only real visible sign of Quebec’s Catholic Heritage. Except this Halloween, something I hadn’t really noticed before, startled and surprised me. Many store clerks were in Halloween costumes, and the costume of choice seemed to be clerical dress. I was served by nuns, priests, and even a bishop. What does this mean? The answer to this question I am still pondering. Maybe it is nostalgia for a faith that lies dormant! The remarks of Cardinal Marc Ouelett of Quebec City at a public commission on October 30th (the day before Halloween) will help me find an answer: (This excerpt is from an article on CWN)

Speaking at hearings on the challenges that immigration has posed to Quebec French-speaking culture, Cardinal Ouellet said that the problem of cultural identity can be traced back to “the malaise of the Catholic majority, which needs to find a religious reference point.”

(more…)