Kindred Spirits in a Time of Pandemic

Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m a millennial.  I grew up in the time of almost nobody having a computer at home, and now, almost everyone has one.  I still marvel at the fact that schools now are working toward a one-to-one student-to-device ratio, because that’s just how education works right now (especially with online learning and home-based instruction).  When I was in elementary school, first at Cosgriff and then at the Madeleine Choir School shortly after it opened, “computer class” was Oregon Trail, and typing games, and that was pretty much it.  When I got to high school at Judge, the library had two rows of big chunky iMac computers.  I didn’t have e-mail until college, and I didn’t have social media until my second year of undergrad.  Now, technology has taken over almost everyone’s lives, right down to toddlers who can navigate an iPhone.  Life moves pretty fast sometimes.

When I was growing up, “screen time” wasn’t a thing.  If someone referred to screen time it meant how long a certain actor was actually on-screen during a movie or television show.  Now, that phrase is used to refer to the amount of time people spend on the computer or looking at their mobile device.  I’ll admit, I spend way too much of my time engaged in “screen time.”  I can justify some of it as necessary to do my job, but a lot of it, I could probably do without.

But even with its definite downsides, technology can serve to connect us during times of social isolation, like the last several months have been.  It can serve to create a virtual community.  It can connect us to our “brick and mortar” communities when we aren’t able to visit them in the physical world.  One can also find groups of like-minded people to connect with.  An example of this is Fr. Gray’s morning coffees with his St. Mary’s parishioners in Park City over Facebook Live.  Using technology to build community rather than to escape from it is a wonderful thing.

At St. Ambrose, we on staff have been working hard since the pandemic restrictions really began to impact our city and state to keep people connected to the parish through social media and YouTube Masses.  We are learning and evolving together.  Let us hope and pray that technology will help us to remain kindred spirits in community even during isolation.

New Neighbors

Several people in our neighborhood moved in the spring and the summer.  New neighbors are moving in slowly, and the For Sale signs are coming down.  It can be hard for my family to get to know new neighbors, especially as we don’t share the predominant faith of our neighborhood, and thus do not see them as regularly.  We have to be cognizant of that fact and make an extra effort if we want to really get to know people on our street.

The same goes for new coworkers, though typically one spends more time with them.  Still, we may need to be more aware of habits we have developed which might put others ill at ease.  In both cases, we need to make an effort to be friendly and welcoming.  It is usually an adjustment when new people come into our lives, but if we make a conscious decision to be open to new things, it is beneficial for everyone.

As Catholics, we have a special call to welcome the stranger.  How can you welcome the “strangers” you encounter in your life?

Church Hopping

During the summer, our church buildings may not be as full as during the school year.  Many people travel during these months because the kids are out of school, and it’s easier to get away as a family.  Hopefully, you make attending Mass a priority even when traveling.  I was lucky to be able to attend Mass at St. Teresa of Avila parish in Carson City, Nevada during my recent vacation.  It was an early Mass – about 7:45 AM – but the large church was mostly full.  I was particularly impressed when their Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion went up to the altar.  There were at least eight additional ministers!  It was inspiring to see such a thriving community in a place I didn’t expect to find a large Catholic presence.

Some people may “church hop” during the summer, especially in an urban community such as ours, trying out different parishes and hearing different priests give homilies, for a different perspective.  Though I almost always attend Sunday Mass at St. Ambrose, I also do a bit of church hopping during the week.  During the month of July alone, I will have attended Mass at five churches in the Diocese, not counting St. Ambrose.  Mostly, this is because I have been asked to sing for certain special Masses.  And this isn’t something that only happens during the summer.  In fact, during the rest of the year, I can be just as busy, if not busier!  I sometimes feel as if I am a traveling minstrel.  I think it’s fun to go different places and sing in a variety of styles (everything from plainchant to traditional to contemporary music), but what is even more interesting is the people I meet along the way.

Do you do any church hopping during the summer or at other times of the year?  What has your experience been like?

Are You a Priest?

I consider myself blessed to have witnessed 19 adult baptisms and 120 Catholics being confirmed in April of 2015. And these awe inspiring and meaningful events made me nostalgic as I remembered the kind of priesthood we all share in Jesus Christ.

There is a certain passage on priesthood that says: “One is Priest, Some are Priest, and All are Priests”. At a first glance this passage makes no sense, but if you are going to analyze it, in the light of our faith as Catholics, this grammatically incorrect statement makes sense.

One is Priest. This means that there can only be one priest, a high priest according to the Letter to the Hebrews 7:2627:

“For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all.”

Jesus is the One Priest, the only priest who offers permanently a sacrifice pleasing to the Father, and that is Jesus offering himself to the Father for the salvation of us all.

Some are Priests. There are those among us through the grace of God who was ordained to the MINISTERIAL PRIESTHOOD. They were ordained not for themselves but for the sake of service and ministry for the people of God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church number 1547 beautifully said:

“The ministerial priesthood is at the service of the common priesthood. It is directed at the unfolding of the baptismal grace of all Christians. The ministerial priesthood is a means by which Christ unceasingly builds up and leads his Church. For this reason it is transmitted by its own sacrament, the sacrament of Holy Orders.”

All are Priests. By virtue of our baptism when the priest anoints the child with chrism he receives the kingly, prophetic and priestly function of Jesus, thus making us sharers of Jesus’ COMMON PRIESTHOOD. That is why in when danger of death you can baptize; you can give communion if you are delegated by the priest.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church number 1547 also states:

“The common priesthood of the faithful is exercised by the unfolding of baptismal grace a life of faith, hope, and charity, a life according to the Spirit”

Having reminded that all of us share the priesthood of Jesus, we therefore should fulfill our priestly role as baptized Catholics. We should preach the Gospel not only by preaching through talking, but by preaching through a life of holiness. Let us be agents of peace, unity, forgiveness, love and mercy to the entire world, so that the Kingdom of God will truly be spread far and wide.

Easter Joy

My reflection on this Easter Day is about my conversation with a man who happened to be a war veteran in Vietnam.

One day, I received an email from one of our parishioners, who requested spiritual guidance.  He asked me if I could help him in his war trauma.  He has been struggling with his life and with his faith for a long time now; he hasn’t shared his dark past with anyone and it has been eating him up.  He felt that our regular weekly hours of confessions would not allow him to confess all his sins, because he had sinned greatly and seeks desperately for guidance.  It has been over 50 years since his last confession.  After he enumerated all his sins, we both took a deep breath and I told him:  If only God had a voice right now, He would wish to tell you; “Finally you are here, welcome back home.”  When he heard that, he wept bitterly and I could not talk anymore.  I had to wait for him to calm down so that I could continue.  After our long and meaningful conversation, I asked him:  “Why did you weep?”  He told me:  “Father, I just couldn’t imagine how God can still forgive me with all the sins I committed.  I just felt I am loved deeply, a very special way that I could not understand.”  He hugged me tight, eyes filled with tears.  He thanked me and left with a great smile on his face.  Since then, he started going to church every Sunday and prays together with his family.

Every war veteran carries with them the scars of trauma.  Men who are emotionally wounded are not good at expressing their vulnerability because of shame or fear of being branded as weak or effeminate.  This parishioner took over 50 long years before having the courage to confront and speak about his past.

The story also reminds me of Jesus’ parable or the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).  This story is quite familiar to us all, but having a conversation with this parishioner, created in me a new and profound experience.  This parable does not focus on the immensity of sin but on God’s boundless mercy for us.  Seeing his joyful eyes reminded me how happy heaven is for his return.  “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10).  It is the boundless mercy of God that heals this broken and troubled man!

Every Easter is a celebration of life.  Life cannot be fully celebrated without God.  The man in my story experienced new life and new light after over 50 years of darkness.  I’m sure wherever he may be at this point in his life, he is now enjoying a peaceful and love-filled life with God and his family.

May you and your loved ones experience that genuine kind of Easter Joy!

More than Just a Building

This week the media has been filled with the shocking news of the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.  Many have remarked on the timing – the beginning of Holy Week – and how tragic it is that such a disaster should happen now of all times.  Social media, too, has been flooded with people telling their Notre Dame stories, sharing their sadness, and for some, sharing their confusion over why this is a big deal.

It is a big deal.  And it isn’t.  It is a big deal because Notre Dame is a secular cultural landmark as well as a spiritual one in Paris.  It is a big deal because the building has stood for centuries, and for it to be damaged by a mere accident is shocking.  It is a big deal because of how long it will take to rebuild and restore to its former glory.

But this reality of a long period of restoration should give us consolation as well.  In this 21^st-century world, we are so used to getting things done quickly and instant gratification that we forget that our ancestors spent decades, even centuries, erecting the great cathedrals of Europe.  This tragedy gives us a chance to experience what they did:  the fascination and awe of the process of (re)construction of such a building, to the glory of God.

And especially during this Holy Week and coming Easter Season, it gives us a chance to reflect on the fact that the Church of God, with a capital C, is comprised not of a building, but of the people who worship within that building and others.  French Catholics have demonstrated this amazingly this week, gathering to sing, pray, and yes, mourn, together.

I was very lucky to have a chance to go to Notre Dame in 2001, while on a concert tour with the Madeleine Choir School.  In the wake of Monday’s events, I shared this picture on my personal Facebook page:

It has since gathered over 50 likes and has been shared widely, including by the Cathedral of the Madeleine.  This is about as close to “viral” as I get on social media, but it shows the depth of so many people’s emotions regarding this event.

Stay strong, Paris and Notre Dame.  The prayers of an entire Church are with you.