St. Michael's Grade 9's: Called to be Saints

This past Wednesday we had a full day retreat for the incoming Grade 9's at St. Michael Catholic Secondary School.  The retreat day ended with a Mass for the Students and their Parents / Families

In the Homily I asked the Students Questions like:

Do you like to wear Jeans?

Wear Tennis/Running Shoes?

Do you like to eat Pizza Hot Dogs or

drink Coke or other Pop?  

Listen to your iPod? Go to the Movies?

Do you like to Dance?  Like playing sports?

Then I used a quote that has been attributed to Pope Francis 

from World Youth Day - but in fact it seems to have been circulating around the Internet for a few years. Some think it might even have originated with Pope John Paul II.

We need saints without cassocks, without veils.
We need saints with jeans and tennis shoes. 
We need saints that go to the movies 
   that listen to music, 

     that hang out with their friends. 
We need saints that place God in first place 
   ahead of succeeding in any career. 
We need saints that look for time to pray every day 
   and who know how to be in love 
      with purity, chastity and all good things. 
We need saints - saints for the 21st century 
   with a spirituality appropriate to our new time. 
We need saints that have a commitment 
   to helping the poor and to make the needed social change.
We need saints to live in the world, 
   to sanctify the world and to not be afraid 
      of living in the world by their presence in it. 
We need saints that drink Coca-Cola, that eat hot dogs, 
   that surf the internet and that listen to their iPods. 
We need saints that love the Eucharist, 
   that are not afraid or embarrassed to eat a pizza 
   or [have a pop] with their friends. 
We need saints who love the movies, dance, sports, theater. 
We need saints that are open sociable normal happy companions. 
We need saints who are in this world 
   and who know how to enjoy the best in this world 
      without being callous or mundane. 

Regardless of who said it, we do indeed need saints for the 21st century – and we can be those saints!
Peace

Edge Camp 2013

Greetings - From an Exhausted Priest!

I know I have not Blogged in a while.  I have had many things going on - and it seemed I was not often in the office.
In this past 4 weeks we concluded Holidays for 2013, I spent some time with my Brother, Sister in law, and nephew before they went to China to teach, and I went to the Edge Adventure camp 2013.

Our Holydays was another success with over 650 Camper slots over the 6 weeks of Camp!  Congrats to the team of Counsellors, CIT's and Admin Staff who made this our most successful year ever!

My Brother Chris is a teacher in the Kingston area, and 6 years ago he and his wife Maria went to a school in Suzhou (near Shanghai) to teach.  This year they are going to do the same (For possibly 2 years) this time with a 4 1/2 year old son - Michael! They will be in a different and smaller school, closer to Shanghai. They were supposed to leave from Toronto on August 15 but the Visas could not be arranged in time because the letter of invitation for this new school did not arrive on time... Plus they had to get a whole battery of Physicals and Doctor's Notes and Lab tests.  There were some crazy few hours when it looked like we were going to pull an Amazing Race type of journey and try to get Visa's all in 1 day... but then I found out that their flights had already been re-booked to this past Sunday - August 25.  After more letters and Visa office visits - All was settled and they did indeed fly off to China!  (And they arrived safe and sound and have a McDonald's next to the School they are teaching in!)

Edge Summer Camp!  WOW!  I thought all these years I was doing the sacrifice by staying back and looking after the parish while the Associate went up to camp!  Was I wrong!  Being at camp is the hard part!  Leaders typically do not get to bed until after 12 Midnight and I was up at 5:55 to attend the Morning team meeting at 6:30 am... So Sleep deprivation - here we come! On top of that there are 6 activity periods each day with Activities like Swimming, Mountain Biking, Zip Line, Kayak & Canoe, Hiking, just to name a few...  Each afternoon there was Praise and Worship, and Mass.  On Sunday Afternoon we had Bishop Boissonneau up to celebrate the Eucharist!  On Friday we celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and in the Evening had a big Carnival! Each of the other evenings was like an Edge Session with a Gathering Activity, a teaching, some reflection time on the teaching, and a conclusion.  The theme this year was Radiant Joy and we probed the Joy of being a Child of God, the Joy of being Forgiven, the Joy in seeing God, the Joy in sharing God, and the Joy in choosing God.  It is neat when many of the Edgers say that Adoration was a high point for them in the week!
This week - well only 6 days - was AWESOME!!!  God is Good - ALL the time!  All the Time - God is Good!

Pope Francis speaks to Reporters

On the plane ride back from Rio de Janeiro to Rome This past Sunday, Pope Francis spent over 80 minutes taking questions from reporters.  This may be common for politicians campaigning, it is not common for the Pope! The following are highlights of that Q&A with the pope; a full transcript has been promised soon. 
(This is from John Allen, a correspondent for the US publication: National Catholic Reporter).

The Vatican bank

"I don't know yet how to fix the IOR [Institute for the Works of Religion, better known as the Vatican bank] ... some say it should be a sort of ethical bank, others that it should be an assistance fund, others want to close it altogether. I've heard all these voices, but I don't know. I will trust the work of the persons working on it, of the commission. [Note: Francis has established a five-member commission to investigate the Vatican bank.] ... What's important is transparency and honesty. It must be like this."

Security

"The climate [in Rio de Janeiro] was spontaneous ... I could be close to the people, greet them, embrace them, without armored cars. During the entire time, there wasn't a single incident. I realize there's always a risk of a crazy person, but having a bishop behind bulletproof glass is crazy, too. Between the two, I prefer the first kind of craziness."

Cardinals and austerity

"Everyone has to live in their own way. The cardinals in the Curia, at least the ones I know, don't live like wealthy people. They have fairly modest apartments. But in a general sense, austerity is necessarily for all those who work in the service of the church."

"There are saints in the Roman Curia, among the cardinals, priests, religious, sisters and laity. They work hard, and also do things that are often hidden. I know some who concern themselves with feeding the poor or who give up their free time to work in a parish. As always, the ones who aren't saints make the most noise ... a single tree falling makes a sound, but a whole forest growing doesn't."

Resistance to reform

"If there's resistance [in the Vatican], I haven't seen it. It's true that I haven't done a lot yet, but so far I've found helpful, loyal people. I like it when someone says, 'I don't agree with you,' and I have found that. People will say, 'I'll say what I think, but you do what you want.' I've found that attitude in the Curia. That's better than those who say, 'That's great, that's great,' but then say the opposite later ... maybe people like that are there, but I haven't run into significant resistance."

Travels

"I can tell you that I'm going to Cagliari on Sept. 22, and to Assisi on Oct. 4. I'd like to be able to join Patriarch Bartholomew I [of Constantinople] in Jerusalem, who has invited me for the 50th anniversary of Paul VI [referring to a historic meeting between Pope Paul and the Patriarch of Constantinople in 1964].' The Israeli government has also invited me, and I believe the Palestinian Authorities has done the same. We're thinking about it, but I'm not sure yet. I think a trip to Asia can be done, especially because it's a continent Benedict XVI did not get to, though he wanted to ... maybe Sri Lanka, maybe the Philippines, I'm not sure."

"I wanted to go to Constantinople for the feast of St. Andrew, but it wasn't possible."

The Charismatic Movement

"We talked about the statistics regarding Pentecostals with the bishops on Brazil in a meeting yesterday. I'll tell you something about the Charismatic Movement ... at the end of the '70s and in the '80s, I wasn't a big fan. I used to say they confused the holy liturgy with a school of samba. I was converted when I got to know them better and saw the good they do. In this moment of the life of the church, the movements are necessary. They're a grace of the Spirit, and in general, they do much good for the church. The charismatic renewal movement isn't just about winning back a few Pentecostals, but it serves the church and its renewal."

Women in the church

"A church without women would be like the apostolic college without Mary. The Madonna is more important than the apostles, and the church herself is feminine, the spouse of Christ and a mother."

"The role of women doesn't end just with being a mother and with housework ... we don't yet have a truly deep theology of women in the church. We talk about whether they can do this or that, can they be altar boys, can they be lectors, about a woman as president of Caritas, but we don't have a deep theology of women in the church."

"On the ordination of women, the church has spoken and said no. John Paul II, in a definitive formulation, said that door is closed."

Benedict XVI

"I love Benedict XVI. He's a humble man of God and a man of prayer. When he resigned, it was a great example ... some say to me, how is it possible to have two popes in the Vatican? I heard a beautiful phrase that it's like having your grandpa at home, someone who's wise, venerated, loved and listened to. If I have a problem, something I don't understand, I can ask. On the Vatican leaks scandal, for example, he explained everything with simplicity and a spirit of service."

Divorced and remarried Catholics

"This theme always comes up ... I believe this is a time of mercy, a change of epoch. It's a kairos moment for mercy ... In terms of Communion for those who have divorced and remarried, it has to be seen within the larger pastoral context of marriage. When the council of eight cardinals meets Oct. 1-3, one of the things they'll consider is how to move forward with the pastoral care of marriage. Also, just 15 days ago or so, I met the secretary of the Synod of Bishops, and maybe it will also focus on the pastoral care of marriage. It's complicated."

The Jesuits

"The Jesuits have a vow to obey the pope, but if the pope is a Jesuit, maybe he should have a vow to obey the superior general ... I feel like I'm still a Jesuit in terms of my spirituality, what I have in my heart. In three days, I'll go to celebrate the feast of St. Ignatius. Also, I think like a Jesuit."

John Paul II/John XXIII

"John XXIII was the figure of a county priest who loves all of his faithful and knows how to take care of them. He was a great bishop, and also a great nuncio. When he was in Turkey, he was responsible for so many false baptisms in order to save Jews ... he was courageous. He had a great sense of humor and a great holiness. Some in the Vatican didn't like him, and when he would come in they would make him wait, but he would always pray his rosary or read his breviary. He truly cared about the poor ... once when Casaroli [the cardinal Secretary of State] returned from a mission in Eastern Europe, he reported to the pope, who asked him if he was still working with school kids. When he said yes, John XXIII told him never to abandon them. He called the council, and was extremely docile to the call of God."

"John Paul II was a great missionary of the church. He carried the Gospel everywhere. ... How many trips did he make? He felt the need to carry the words of the Lord, like St. Paul. He was great. Putting both together is a message to the church, that both were extremely good. Causes for both Paul VI and for Papa Luciani [John Paul I] are also underway."

The date for Canonizations

"Dec. 8 had been talked about as the date [for the canonizations], but the problem is all the people who will want to come from Poland, not all of whom can fly. Many will take buses, and by December the roads are iced. We have to rethink the date. I've talked about it to Cardinal [Stanislaw] Dziwisz [of Krakow, Poland], who gave me a couple of possibilities. One is the feast of Christ the King this year [late November], and the other is the feast of Divine Mercy next year [shortly after Easter]. I have to talk to Cardinal [Angelo] Amato [prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints] about it."

The Ricca case

"I did what canon law requires, which is to conduct a preliminary investigation. We didn't find anything to confirm the things he was accused of, there was nothing. ... I'd like to add that many times we seem to seek out the sins of somebody's youth and publish them. We're not talking about crimes, which are something else. The abuse of minors, for instance, is a crime. But one can sin and then convert, and the Lord both forgives and forgets. We don't have the right to refuse to forget ... it's dangerous. The theology of sin is important. St. Peter committed one of the greatest sins, denying Christ, and yet they made him pope. Think about that."

Gay lobby

"There's a lot of talk about the gay lobby, but I've never seen it on the Vatican ID card."

"When I meet a gay person, I have to distinguish between their being gay and being part of a lobby. If they accept the Lord and have goodwill, who am I to judge them? They shouldn't be marginalized. The tendency [to homosexuality] is not the problem ... they're our brothers."

While the last few entries gained alot of press in the main stream media, there are many instances in this exchange of how Pastoral the Pope is, and how he cares for God's People.