St. Joseph

This week we received word from the Chancellor of Spiritual affairs of the Archdiocese that the name of St. Joseph is to be inserted in Eucharistic Prayers 2,3, and 4 (His name is already in Eucharistic Prayer 1) There is a blog that I regularly follow: www.praytellblog.com which covers this kind of thing, and I found an interesting article about the History of St. Joseph's name in the Eucharistic Prayer:

November 10, 1962, during the first session of the Second Vatican Council:

The aged Bishop Petar Cule (Mostar, Yugoslavia) put in a long plea for the inclusion of the name of St. Joseph in the canon of the mass, but as he talked on, nervously repeating himself, murmurs began to be heard and Cardinal Ruffini was prompted to interject:“Complete your holy and eloquent speech. We all love St. Joseph and we hope there are many saints in Yugoslavia.” The next speaker launched into a long and tedious sermon on the Virgin Mary, which also brought forth murmurs. He too had to be cut off by Ruffini, who remarked: “One does not preach to preachers” (Praedicatoribus non praedicatur). Winding up the day’s proceedings at 12:45 with the customary Angelus and Gloria Patri, the Cardinal President brought down the house with a loud invocation of the name of St. Joseph.

It was this cutting off of Bishop Cule that prompted Pope John to order the insertion of the name of St. Joseph in the canon of the mass on his own authority (decree announced November 13th, effective Dec. 8, 1962), without waiting for any conciliar recommendation in the matter. This caused great astonishment, but few were aware that the pope, following the debates on closed circuit television in his apartments, knew Bishop Cule personally and also knew that his nervous manner of speaking had a tragic source: he had suffered through one of those long trials made famous by the Communists and was sentenced to four years in a concentration camp in Yugoslavia. He and other prisoners were then put on a train which was deliberately wrecked in an attempt to kill all aboard. The bishop survived, but both his hips were broken. In poor health, he had nevertheless made great effort to attend the Council and speak up for St. Joseph. Thus his wish was fulfilled.

From: Xavier Rynne, Vatican Council II (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1999) Pages 75-76.

The "Test" Sacramentary that I helped to Pilot in the year 2000 - before the current one we received in 2011 - had Joesph's name in every Eucharistic prayer.  I heard that this was because St. Joseph is the Patron Saint of Canada!

Hence forth we will be including "blessed Joseph, her spouse" after we invoke the memory of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God...
Peace!

Life Teen Tear End 2013

This is what a finale night for LifeTeen looks like! 

Our LifeTeen Finale really began at the end of the 5:00 Mass when we invited up our Grade 12's to the front of the church, and gave them a special blessing.  After Mass we went into dinner which was a LifeTeen cooks Pot Luck.  After dinner we went into the Church and the Grade 12's were able to share a highpoint in their years at Life Teen and some words of advice to the other lifeteeners!

Then it was outside for a 2 stage social: 
1st - Paint wars!  5 different colours and 5 minutes to get as much paint spead on as many people from other colour teams!
2nd - A Giagantic water fight - with spray guns, water ballons and water buckets!  (Some think I should use one of these guns for the sprinkling Rite during the Easter Season!)  We were very, very, verrrrry wet!  It was a great night!!!

Sleeping Patterns

The last week or 2 I have had weird and crazy sleeping patterns - Waking early - and then not being able to get back to sleep - then dragging myself around 4pm each afternoon... I think that is why this quote from Max Lucato struck me.

Millions of  people in North America have trouble sleeping!  You may be one of them. Only one other living creature has as much trouble resting as we do.  They are woolly, simpleminded, and slow…sheep. Sheep can’t sleep!  For sheep to sleep, everything must be just right. No predators. No tension in the flock.  Sheep need help.  They need a shepherd to “lead them” and help them “lie down in green pastures.” Without a shepherd, they can’t rest.

Without a shepherd, neither can we!  Psalm 23:2 says, “He, (the Shepherd) makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.”  Who’s the active one?  Who’s in charge? The Shepherd!  With our eyes on the Shepherd, we’ll get some sleep. Isaiah 26:3 reminds us of the promise,  “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You.”

Max Lucato is the Pastor of a "Community Church" and is the authour of some children's books, and a daily Email - "Up Words" that I read on occasion (usually because a friend forwards it to me!) I visited the Church that Max is the Pastor of one Sunday Morning when I visited San Antonio years ago (I went to the Catholic Cathedral Sunday Evening!)  He is a marvelous preacher - with a gift for making the scriptures come alive in his homilies. 
Peace

Pasta Dinner 2013

The past week at Holy Family has been very full!  Last Friday we celebrated our year end mass at St. Michael's Secondary School and had the entire school in the Gymnasium for the celebration.  It has become a tradition to have representatives from all of the different clubs, sports, and activities in the opening procession! It is really quite neat when there are almost 100 people in the Gathering Procession! 

Saturday night our Pasta Dinner was a terrific success once again. This fundraiser allows us to offer retreats for our youth ministry programs at a fee that is 1/2 of the actual cost of providing the retreat.  I did receive an OK from the parents of a little guy to share a photo from the Pasta Dinner ... This is JAMES. His Mom wants to remain anonymous - because she forgot to bring a Bib! 

Saturday also saw the arrival of our Seminarian in Residence - Aldrin Fernandes.  He was hard at work at the Pasta Dinner washing plates and helping with the cleaning. I am really looking forward to Aldrin experiencing the life of the parish in June - and also working with our Holydays Counsellors in July and August.  I can sense his humility and his palpable holiness - maybe that can rub off on me!

Thursday this week the Pastoral Team spent a few intense hours working on our Calender for next year - this is always quite the juggling act - finding dates and space to do everything from Baptism Preparation to Marriage Preparation - and all of the initiatory catechises around Confirmation and Eucharist.  Making sure that the dates we choose fit all of the meetings we need can be quite a balancing act.

Thursday Evening the property committee came forward with carpet samples and materials and made some decisions - we will use carpet tiles and there are 2 styles we are looking at - and we will have samples to show the parish next Sunday - (Father's Day Weekend) and people can vote for their favourite!!! who says there is no such thing as democracy in the church!

All in all - a Busy week!  This Sunday is our final set of children sharing in the Eucharist for the first time!
Peace