Citizen / Taxpayer / Consumer or Child of God?

With the elections this week - I have read some interesting reflections that I would like to share with you. A word of warning - I do not intend any of this to be partisan - and only hope it sparks thought on who we are and whose we are!


Language is very powerful. Ever think about how we have been transformed in almost all public discourse from CITIZENS "people who live in and contribute to their community positively with a sense of pride and belonging" to TAXPAYERS "people who are wary of government because it takes, takes, takes and who look always at how much they are getting for their money"?
We may pay taxes but I think in these matters we are citizens, NOT simply taxpayers. And I think we should remember our first allegiance is to our Father in Heaven - and we are first and foremost Citizens of the Kingdom of God.



Our society is driven more and more by economics and less and less by values all the time. Canadians, who were once “CITIZENS” first and foremost, are now “TAXPAYERS” or worse, “CONSUMERS” in the eyes of corporations, the corporate media and, increasingly, government. This is a troubling linguistic evolution. Why? Well, because language shapes attitudes. And it does so very subtly and insidiously. “CITIZENS” react to worthwhile but costly government initiatives with communal spirit and generosity. “CITIZENS” band together in tough times and make sacrifices for each other and for the common good. “TAXPAYERS”, on the other hand, selfishly tally the “value” they receive from government for their hard-earned money and seek out evidence of government inefficiency and waste at all costs. “TAXPAYERS” turn on each other when the going gets tough. “TAXPAYERS” look out for number one. Similarly, “CONSUMERS” just want more and more without the slightest regard for their fellow man. While I certainly pay taxes and, like everyone else in our society, consume goods and services, I prefer to self-identify as a "Citizen", First as a child of God, and then proudly as a Canadian, for I am not merely a taxpayer or consumer.
Peace.

National Evangelization Teams

It seems that the term "Evangelization" has been at the top of my calendar this week.  First the trip to Prince Albert, now a group of Evangelizers has invaded Bolton! To make us evangelizers! Today we started out first of 4 National Evangelization Team Encounter Days for our grade 8 students.
NET stands for National Evangelization Teams. They are Catholic Missionaries who share Jesus' gospel message with young people in a team format. NET Ministries of Canada challenges young Catholics to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church. NET Canada recruits and trains teams to evangelize to over 28,000 youth every year in churches, and schools. Here is a Video about NET.

NET's mission, to challenge young Catholics to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church, is accomplished by:

• Proclaiming the Gospel of Christ through a personal witness of faith;
• Inviting young people to live for Christ;
• Forming young people in Christian character through the study and practice of our faith;
• Equipping young adults and youth workers with the ministry skills needed for evangelization;

Back Row- Matt Jarrett-Petrocco, DJ Rousseau, John O'Hara, Daniel Hudec, Tyler Wilson.

Front Row - Sarah DeCoste, Mary Whalen, Alex Sibiga, Silken Neutelings, Sydney Merrill.

This is the Encounter team that arrived last night and will be here until Thursday afternoon. Please pray for these young people and for our Grade 8 Students who are on retreat 1 day this week!
Peace.

Sunday Flying

Returning home today from my work in Prince Albert.  The Evangelizing Parish institute was well received and the participants had a real awakening that evangelization is the way we live as disciples - and not so much the words we say. The Bishop of Prince Albert - Most Rev. Albert THÉVENOT - is a wonderfully pastoral man.  He is down to earth, and speaks the truth in plain words.  He has taken seriously the call for input next year's Ordinary Synod of Bishops on the topic of "The New Evangelization."  The Diocese has not only had this Institute, they have also gathered the diocesan pastoral council to consider the questions that the Holy See (Rome) has circulated for input before the beginning of November.  The Institute starts with reflection on 2 portions of the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles (2:42-47 and 2:1-11) as the source of our passion as disciples.  Then we look at the Beatitudes in Matthew's Gospel as the foundation for Catholic Social Teaching.  If we live Catholic Social Teaching - then we will be evangelizers, drawing others to Christ...
One of the lighter moments in the short 2 day - barely 24 hour institute - is when we invite people to share with one other person something that we would not know about you by looking at you.  I share that I am an Aeroplan Points junkie!  That I would rather fly from Toronto to Saskatoon via Edmonton or Calgary so that I get more points - and in this case it was cheaper... Maybe what I could also share is that I faithfully check out the documentaries inflight.
Flying out I watched a neat pair of lectures on the subject of Moral decision making from a Harvard University professor. Interesting theories on utility and public policy.  If you are flying AC in the near future - check out the documentary channel on the inflight entertainment system!

I write this in the Calgary Airport - waiting for my connecting flight to depart for Toronto. I can see the plane pulling up to the gate now!

Peace.

St. Michael the Archangel Feast Day

Friday greetings from Saskatoon.  I write this Blog entry while stopped on the way to Prince Albert, SK where I will be presenting on The Evangelizing Parish - Vision, Passion and Practice. This is part of my work with the North American Forum on the Catechumenate.  I flew to Saskatoon Thursday afternoon after a great morning at St. Michael Catholic Secondary School.  It was a year ago that Bishop Boissonneau came to Bolton to Bless this new Catholic Secondary School.  September 29th is the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel and our High School faculty have made a commitment to celebrate our faith as a Catholic Secondary School by keeping the Feast Day as a Fun Day for the students in Bolton. 
Our Feast Day celebrations began with Mass first thing in the morning during which we blessed:

• Those participating in extra curricular activities;
• A Chalice presented by the Knights of Columbus in memory of 4th degree member Felice Marignani, and
• The Students who are participating in the 2 Mission trips this semester to Manitoulin Island in Ontario, and the Dominican Republic, in the Caribbean.

Then Father Sherwin and I travelled around the Football Field on a Golf Cart (pictures to follow) and blessed the field and the Senior and Junior Football teams. After a BBQ lunch we were back out to the field to see the THUNDER  Seniors take on the Cardinal Ambrozic River Hawks.  Both schools have only grade 9-11 students.  I had to leave at 12:35 for the Airport, but learned that the Thunder won the first Game.  The Juniors took on the River Hawks at 2:00 and I am not sure how they fared.
It was a great feast day!  Keep the St. Michael School community in your prayers:

St. Michael School Prayer

Saint Michael the Archangel,

Defend us in our daily struggle to make wise decisions.

Protect us from the temptation

to hurt others, neglect ourselves, and deny our God.

Stand by each member of this community

as we grow in faith, discover our identity,

and develop our God given gifts.

Grant us the courage to face our challenges,

 learn from our mistakes,  celebrate our successes,

and to reach our fullest potential.

Guide us in our journey “to be with God”.  Amen.

Peace.

Live Sunday

I am not sure if it was us - or what - but the CCCB Publications website has exceeded its bandwidth because of all the people accessing the Music Downloads! Wow - this is a sign of how many parishes across this country are preparing for the implementation of the New Roman Missal and using "Celebrate in Song" from the Canadian Bishops.
This Sunday we went "LIVE" with our new translation sung parts of the Mass (Setting A).  Fr. Sherwin expressed his excitement - and I echo it! We have made a great beginning!  It was so great to hear the refrain in the Gloria sung so well at each Mass.  It will only get stronger!  I know it is a long Gloria - yet as you begin to feel comfortable - you are welcome to sing along with the part noted as being for the cantor/choir!


Thank you to our Musicians for all their hard work in preparing and rehearsing - and to you for "making a joyful noise unto the Lord!"
I think it will be a short time before we are used to the acclamations during the Eucharistic Prayer (Holy Holy, Memorial Acclamation, & Great Amen).  In short order these will be second nature to us...


Peace
P.S. Geoffrey is Assistant Captain for the entire year!

Retreats & A Return to Ontario

This week we began a series of retreats with the Grade 9 students of St. Michael Secondary School. Urzsula, Stephanie, and a parishioner who was a student Teacher last year - Peter - are running these retreats focused on the Theme of "Belonging".  
Take a moment and a piece of paper and write down different groups / communities / organizations you belong to.  OK you have 60 seconds.       Really - do it!

OK - how many groups did you name?  Now put them in order - number them or re-write them - so that #1 is the group that is the most important to you in your life right now.  

Why is that group the most important for you now in your life? 

Now you have an idea of the beginning of the retreat:  Belonging to Family, Friends and Faith.

The treat of these retreats is that we have one class at a time - so 25 to 30 students. That is a great number to work with...

On another note - The Owen Sound Attack began their Season last night with a 6-2 win over the Plymouth Whalers.  Don't worry - I won't be giving daily updates on the team - its just that Geoffrey came home to Ontario Tuesday and was named an Assistant Captain in yesterday's line up.  I am not sure if that is a permanent thing or only temporary.  Note to self ... text G.

Peace

Elections and Voting

The Bishops of Ontario have published documents over the years to help Catholics in their civil responsibility to be informed voters in provincial elections. "As far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life," says the most recent document Your Right to be Heard, which will be included in this Sunday's Bulletin.
In the document the Bishops speak of 5 Principles by which we should be guided:


1.   Governments must support life. The human dignity of every person, from conception to natural death, must be respected.


2.   Governments must balance the rights, obligations and opportunities of various segments of society by supporting:

• Publicly-funded education, including Catholic education
• The right of workers to organize
• The right to own property, but at the same time recognizing that such a right is not absolute

3.   Governments must demonstrate a commitment to the creation of a more just society by adopting tangible measures that address and include, among other initiatives:

• A poverty reduction strategy, inclusive of child poverty
• Homelessness
• Unemployment and under-employment
• Ensuring a basic income that is sufficient for food and housing
• A health system that supports and accompanies all individuals and especially those with disabilities, the elderly, and the sick

4.   Governments must demonstrate stewardship toward the environment through policies which:

• Develop natural resources with consideration of the impact on communities and on the natural environment
• Promote efficient production of renewable energy
• Control urban pollution

5.   Governments must encourage and facilitate the involvement of its citizens (especially those directly affected), other governments and non-governmental bodies, in the process of political 
decision-making.


These are some good principles to keep in mind as we listen to candidates who come knocking on our doors...


Peace