Back in Honduras

Looking out to Trujillo Bay from Hotel (2013)

 For the fourth year in a row I am participating in the mission trip sponsored by Christ the King Parish in Little Rock, Arkansas.  The journey here began yesterday morning in Tampa with flights to Houston and then to San Pedro Sula, Honduras, followed by a six hour bus ride to Trujillo.

 As I traveled I was aware that I was coming to familiar territory.  I know many of the missionaries and I know many of the Honduran people.It is much different than the first time I came here.  This experience is now something that I am committed to for as long as I am able to do so.
 The missionaries are a wonderful group--doctors,nurses, dentists, eye-doctors, construction team and teenage volunteers, as well me and the other members of the evangelization team. We have no illusions about changing everything in this very poor country, but we do know that we are making  a difference.
 
   One half of the team arrived last night and the rest will come tonight and be welcomed with a Mass and a fine dinner here at the Christopher Columbus Hotel.

   Today's a day for setting up and getting ready to go full steam ahead tomorrow.  Below are some pictures from this first day:

The Long Bus Ride

A hungry crowd after a long journey

This donkey left us a "gift."

 

Los Leones team preparing to set up clinic

    

Some Thoughts on 44 Years of Priestly Ministry, Weakness Has Made Me Stronger and a Better Priest.

Ordination Day with Bishop Nicholas D'Antonio, OFM

Mass for my 40th Anniversary At St. Peter's, Eagle river, WI

   I was ordained a priest 44 years ago today.  It is a bit after noontime and I have already celebrated Mass, blessed a home, heard a private confession and anointed a dying woman who was surrounded by her husband and two sons. What beautiful things to happen on this anniversary.

  At Mass today the Gospel was John 21:15-19, the famous dialogue where Jesus 3 times asks Peter, "Do you love me?" 

   The context of this dialogue is that the last time Jesus heard Peter speak Peter was denying him 3 times.  Now, after appearing to the apostles as a group Jesus approaches Peter one and one and asks this question.

We can imagine Peter's inner reaction--shame, fear, guilt. How surprised he must have been to be asked, "Do you love me?"  Jesus response to Peter's declaration of love is to invite him to feed His lambs and His sheep.

   For me there is a real lesson in this dialogue as to what the priesthood, or for that matter, any Christian ministry is about.  We live in a world where leaders are chosen because of their strength.  Any skeletons in the closet and they are disqualified.  In this dialogue Jesus is essentially absolving Peter and then recommissioning him to feed the sheep.

   During the past 44 years I have discovered that when I face my weakness and bring them before the Lord my capacity to minister and serve is not lessened, but is rather made stronger.  There have  been a couple of times over the years when have felt that I failed or that I just wasn't up to the task, but that is when I learned that it was not all up to me, that I needed to rely more on the Lord, that effective ministry, while utilizing my strengths, also meant that my strengths alone were not enough.

  Like Peter and like any other Christian I have had to wrestle with my own sinfulness and weakness. This has made me a better confessor because I know that I cannot stand above a penitent, that though I have the privilege of offering absolution, I too am a fellow sinner.

 Though my health has been basically good I have had my setbacks.  in 1989 I slipped on the ice outside of a friary in New Jersey and tore my quadriceps.   I had surgery, had to use a walker, then a cane for a while.  I recovered, of course, and walk fine, but when I encounter someone permanently limited in their ability to walk I can be there with them.  I am nine years out from recovering from prostate cancer, something that led my to face my own mortality in a deeper way. I am also a type II diabetic.

  I have known grief through the loss of my parents, my sister Anne and several close friends.  This has taught me that presence, even more than words, are a great comfort to the grieving.  I was so aware of this this morning when I anointed that dying wife and mother.

   I do have many strengths.  I am well educated, have a pleasant personality, a good singing voice, good writing kills and have become a good preacher, something I was not in earlier years.  I state these things not to boast, but to thank the Lord for giving these gifts to me, but my ministry as a priest has become more than I could ever imagine because of what I gained, what the Lord gave me, when I was down, when my strengths were not enough.

Leading Prayer in Honduras

On to the Summer, or Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Double Rainbow over St. Peter's Eagle River, WI (2013)

   Occasionally I like to use this blog to give a glimpse into my life.  The summertime is always a change of pace for me.Parishes don't book missions during the summer so those of us in the Ministry of the Word seek out other opportunities for ministry, most often by helping out in parishes  For many years that meant heading to St. Peter the Fisherman Parish in Eagle River, WI.  That was a wonderful experience and I miss the people there.  I'm glad to be in contact with some of them on Facebook.

   This year there are a variety of stops on my summertime journey.  In June I will be traveling to Trujillo, Honduras to participate in a mission trip with the folks from Christ the King Parish in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Dedication of a new church in Maranones, Honduras 2012

 This will be my fourth time to make this trip and I look forward to being with the other missionaries and with the wonderful people of Honduras as well.  Naturally I will get there on a plane and fly from there to New Jersey to participate in the 50th Anniversary Mass of my friends Joe and Pat Eitner.  I have known them for 40 of those 50 years and it will truly be a joyful celebration with them and a wonderful group of family and friends.

Boarding the Auto Train last year.

   In mid-July I will board the Amtrak Auto-Train in Sanford, FL and travel up to Lorton, VA.  Once in the northern part of our country I will drive (automobile) to Erie, PA to preach a retreat to the Sisters of St. Joseph there.   From Erie I will drive to New Jersey and Boston for some vacation time and take the train back at the end of the month.

  Besides the driving up north the car will get a good workout here in Florida as I assist in two different parishes, St. Anne's in Ruskin, FL and San Pedro in Key Largo, FL

   The high point of the coming months will be traveling back to Boston to celebrate the marriage of my niece Laurie to her wonderful fiance' Louis Strazzulo.  That will take place at Sacred Heart Church in  Boston's North End.

Louis and Laurie

   After that it's back to Florida and a return to my not so ordinary ordinary routine of traveling around preaching missions and retreats.

   Finally one great feature of all this moving around is that there will still be several weeks where I am back in St. Petersburg with my friar community. As much as I enjoy the travel I need to be with my brothers, to pray with them and enjoy time with them, especially over an adult beverage.



  

A Special Privilege

Fr. John with Daniel

 It is difficult not to become depressed when reading the headlines of the day, headlines ranging from violence in our cities to terrorism all over the world.  Certainly these things demand our attention, and I have delved into them in my recent blog posts, but it is good to occasionally wander into an oasis of love and hope. I experienced that hope and love over the past weekend when I participated in the First Communion Mass at St. Thomas the apostle church in Smyrna, GA.

Fr. John giving Communion to Danny

   The reason for my participation was my long time friendship with the family of Danny (pictured to the left).  I first met his mother and grandmother when they were parishioners at SS. Rita and Patrick in Buffalo, NY where I served from 1979-1982.  It was a joy to look into Danny's eyes as I said, "Danny, the Body of Christ," and he received the Eucharist for the first time.  Beside me was Fr. Brian Sheridan, the pastor at St. Thomas, who then stepped aside and let me give First Communion to the entire group of youngsters and their parents. Not being a parish priest at the present time I generally don't have the opportunity to participate in First Communion Masses.  To have experienced the youthful innocence of these children as they received the Lord truly touched my heart.  It also gave me hope.  Each child was accompanied to the altar by a parent, a parent who has chosen to pass the faith on to the next generation

   Now I have no naive illusion that all of these kids will turn out to be saints. That has never been the case. On the other hand perhaps some of them will be saints, or at least faithful Catholic Christians who love others and make a difference in the world.  They will become good spouses and parents and, who knows, some may become priests or religious.  Most importantly they carry the hope that the world can be a different place because they not only received the Body of Christ, but are indeed part of the Body of Christ in the world.

After Mass with Fr. John

Compassionate and Merciful Listening

  This blog post is meant to build upon the last two entries  on this site, the ones on mercy and on anger and forgiveness.
  
   Two seemingly unrelated incidents caught my attention this past week.  One is the terrible violence that is happening in Baltimore, the latest in a string of incidents involving African Americans and the police.  The other is the declaration by former Olympic gold medalist, Bruce Jenner, that he is now a woman.

   What the two situations have in common is that too many people are jumping to blame and judgement.  In the case of the urban rioting there is no doubt  in the end, somebody(ies) to blame. Bruce Jenner's situation is different, but people are still "blaming" him.

   What both situations most have in common is suffering.  In Baltimore and other cities the police have suffered and the African American community has suffered.  Both sides have suffered not only the violent incidents that exploded forth, but have suffered misunderstanding and mistrust. As for the other situation Mr. Jenner has suffered throughout his life. (By the way his choice is to keep using masculine pronouns for the time being, so I will as well.) 

   Without getting into moral arguments about things like gender altering surgery I want to share with my readers that I have over the years listened to the stories of several  people who have spent a lifetime struggling with the belief that their real sexual identity was other than what their physical sex was.   Years ago in New York while serving at my Franciscan province's church on West 31st St. A woman came in and asked to speak with a priest.  I was the one "on duty" that day.  She came in and prefaced our meeting by saying, "Father, I'm not seeking moral guidance right now.  I am far from any decisions.  I just need someone to listen to my story.   She spoke for over an hour about how she felt like a man in a woman's body and how she had suffered with that feeling since childhood.  I did not say a word during that time except for briefly encouraging her to continue.  When we were done she gave me a hug and told me that I was the first one who had every really listened to her story. She told me as well that she couldn't express how much that meant.  This was, for me, a beautiful and humbling moment. I do not consider myself to be a naturally good listener, but she had set the agenda and that made it possible for me to do.  I don't know what decisions she may have made about how to dress or possibly to have surgery.  What I do know is that God granted her a deep level of healing through our meeting.   That meeting has guided me in 2 other similar situations as well as others where listening was the first order of business.

   I would suggest that across the land both police officers and African Americans need to have someone simply listen to their stories and understand that hurt, fear, mistrust, etc. that all have experienced.  I know listening is only a first  step.  Decisions have to be made. Nonetheless without really listening to one another's stories we are doomed to keep spinning the same wheels.

Rage: On the Road and in Cyberspace. A Call for Healing

  In the past few days two people connected to my home city of Boston have been convicted of murder.  One is Dzhokar Tsarnaev, perpetrator of the terrible bombing at the Boston Marathon 2 years ago. The other is Aaron Hernandez, a former star for the New England Patriots who was convicted of one murder and awaits trial on 2 others.  Let me say right from the start that I have no sympathy for either of these characters, but I am troubled by some of the reactions I am seeing on social media, though those reactions do not surprise me.

   What troubles me is the level of vitriol expressed.  Certainly any American, and especially the citizens of greater Boston have every right to be angry about the bombing.  What troubles me is people spewing not just anger, but vitriol over it using curse words and suggesting what kinds of torture these people deserve.  I see similar responses when people are displeased with politicians and athletes.  The phrase, "Get a Life!" applies here.  Have people nothing better to do. Anger is a normal human emotion.  It's purpose is to help us to seek justice. whether in big court cases such as the ones mentioned here, or in our own personal affairs.  Once the conflict is resolved the anger is no longer useful to us and it becomes resentment and bitterness.  It has been said that resentment is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.  Both of these criminals will spend life behind bars. One may be given the death penalty.  I am opposed to that, but that is for another blog post.  Wishing all kinds of evil upon them will do nothing to hurt them.  It will make the person who does this even more unhappy even if it brings temporary relief.  As people in 12 step programs rightly observe resentment is a sure way back to the bottle.  That is because resentment is a drug that gives temporary relief.

   There is also here a sense of moral superiority.  Getting on one's high horse over the evil and wickedness in others is a way of saying, "I might be bad, but at least I'm not like that."  When it comes to attacking politicians and other public figures angry ranting takes the place of reasoned argumentation.  I look forward to items on line that point out disagreement with a position and that state why.  Just calling someone an idiot is useless. I would ad that everything I said here applies to road rage as well.

    What to do about this.  Remember that forgiveness is not necessarily about compassion for the wrongdoer.  It is about compassion for oneself.  Please don't give Tsarnaev or Hernandez any rent free space in your head.  Commend them to God and get on with your life.  If you don't like a politician don't vote for him/her the next time.  Perhaps write a letter or send an e-mail expressing your disagreement.   Also, realize that almost all of us carry a lifetime of grievances with us.I call these our "anger bag."  When useless anger about the past arises I ask God to take it from me. I still have a few more things to let go of but I am a much happier man today because of practicing this discipline.

   Finally,  I will be praying for the above mentioned criminals as I do for all prisoners.  I pray that whatever evil entered their souls will be cleansed and healed during their days in prison.  After all that is why the Church provides chaplains there.

   




  

Pour Oil on it, A Reflection on Mercy

       This Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter, has come to be known as Divine Mercy Sunday.  The focus of this Sunday has generally been to encourage people to go to confession and celebrate the Lord's wonderful gift of merciful forgiveness.

     I would like to use the occasion of this day to focus on some of the broader aspects of mercy, for though forgiveness of sin is truly a manifestation of God's great mercy it is only one aspect of it, though indeed an important one.

     You will notice that the image I have chosen for this article has the Greek words Kyrie Eleison which means Lord, have mercy.  Recently I discovered that the imperative verb eleison is derived from the word elios which means oil, especially olive oil.  To have mercy then is to pour oil on troubled situations to smooth our the friction.  To ask the Lord top have mercy on us is not only to ask forgiveness of our sins but to smooth over the pain and hurt in our life and in society.

      Cardinal Walter Kasper who is very close to Pope Francis has written a book on mercy.  In it he says that mercy is part of God's very nature.  He points out that over the years we have treated mercy as an attribute of God rather than as an aspect of God's very essence.  I think that an observation of nature manifest this very quality of the Creator.  Have you ever noticed the forest turning green rather quickly after a forest fire, or land ravaged by a storm or a flood naturally restoring itself.  To me this reflects God's way of acting.  Things will break and get destroyed, but they will always renew. We humans, when things break down, tend to get caught in fear that it will always be that way.  The Paschal Mystery of the Lord's Death and Resurrection teaches us that God's way is bringing new life from old even when we don't see it coming.

       Like many of you I have been quite distressed by the recent spate of incidents between African Americans and the police.  Depending on the incident I have seen fault on both sides.  How can mercy be applied to these situations. First of all instead of immediately looking for someone to blame we should ask, "What's the deeper problem?"   Also, "What is the truth?"  It seems to me that many on both sides really didn't want the truth.  They just wanted what put them in a better light. It is obvious that there is a lack of trust on both sides--not necessarily with everyone, but widespread nonetheless.  Might we pray for guidance ask ask God in His mercy  to show us the way through this impasse, to pour His healing oil over the situation.  This doesn't mean that some people might need to go to jail, but it moves beyond simply finding out who to punish and seeks to avoid the problem in the future.

     This same approach might apply to any number of conflict situations in our own lives,m in our families  and in society.   Pray for wisdom, pray to face the truth even if it is unpleasant. Ask for mercy to find the way from darkness to light.  Kyrie Eleison.  Lord have mercy.