Confirmation - By the Numbers?

Confirmation by the numbers 

at Holy Family Parish:

• 276 - The number of Candidates for Confirmation this year;
• 322 - Cue cards used by the candidates to write their names upon (at least 46 ruined/crumpled)
• 8 - The number of celebrations of Confirmation with between 28 and 34 candidates at each celebration;
• 418 - The number of times the phrases "Are there any candidates for confirmation here?" or "Are you a sponsor?" were asked as people were entering the church.
• 1 - Power failures before the opening procession!;
• 2 - Candidates on Crutches (1 each week - 1 girl, 1 boy);
• 112 - the number of times "Alleluia" was  sung;
• 16.2 - The volume in litres of holy water used in the Sprinkling Rite at the beginning of Mass;
• 321 - "Peace be with you" said in the 8 celebrations;
• 80 - Holding arms our and saying "This way" to the candidates as they lined up at the front of the Church to be Confirmed;
• 1.2 - litres of Chrism Oil used to anoint the candidates;
• 1 - Candidate slapped instead of embraced for the "Peace of Christ" (Marco had a separated collar bone!);
• 21 - Lemons used to clean the hands of the deacon and myself;
• 51 - Collection Baskets passed around for the collection;
• 8962 - The number of knees supported by our kneelers during the Confirmation Celebrations;
• 4,260 - The number of times a priest or minister of communion said "The Body of Christ"
• 36 - The verses & Refrains of the Communion Song:              One Bread One Body;
• 16 - Retreat leaders (high School and university age) who helped prepare these young men and women for the sacrament of Confirmation;
• 1291 - Flashes of Cameras for photos (hello CNN!);
• 54 - Loads of laundry done in the 8 nights (using 6.1 litres of detergent and 2.1 litres of bleach!);
• 1 - Dinner of gratitude after the Confirmation on June 9:
• 16 Batches of Wings (3 boneless!)
• 5 batches of Onion Rings
• 4 Fries (1 regular - 3 Sweet Potato)
• 1 Nachos Grande
• 13 Pepsi / 7-up / Root beer / Ice Tea

And as Mastercard would say... 

 Celebrating the gifts 

of the Holy Spirit - Priceless!!! 

 

We might talk about the numbers - but really Confirmation is about the amazing action of God - the power of God's Spirit present and active in our midst.  Confirmation is about the joy on the candidate's face - the excitement of a grandmother who has been nurturing and handing on faith - the gratitude in a parent's heart for the gift of their child, the witness of parish lectors and ministers of Communion who gather to celebrate God present in our midst.

Confirmation is a time for each of us to remember that we are baptised and Confirmed for mission and that we cannot fulfill nor live out our mission unless we gather with our family, God's family at the Sunday Eucharistic table.  
Confirmation like all sacraments, is an encounter with our God, who cannot be out done in generosity and who loves us beyond measure and wants us to live in freedom - united with his Son.  

Peace

Moms and Tots

Each Wednesday morning between 9:30 and 12 noon our parish hosts a Moms and Tots program in the parish hall.  This has been happening for over a year now, and it all started from a dream that Deacon Robert and his wife Gabrielle had almost 3 years ago.  The spark was a Baptism interview that Robert had one evening with a young couple.  The baby was fussing in his car seat, and the first time mother seemed to be looking around - not sure what to do.  Deacon Robert - an experienced father and grandfather - picked the child up and held him, and the baby was comforted.  After talking about it at our staff meetings, and doing some investigation, and a few attempts at recruiting some volunteers - Moms and Tots started in the spring of 2010.  Going strong for over a year now - it has been a home for new and experienced mothers, grandmothers, and even some fathers on occasion. While the parents have time to gather with others who are going through some similar situations,  the  children get a chance to play and enjoy some socialization.  There is always coffee, juice, and snacks including fruits, veggies, and cookies.  Special mention goes to Fiorella Sunseri who along with Deacon Robert and Gabrielle Suthers are the backbone of this newest parish Organization. 


I am changing the background today in anticipation of the impending feast of Pentecost.  Red - the fire of the Holy Spirit - is the colour the church wears on Pentecost.  I encourage you to wear red this Saturday or Sunday when you come to church!

Share Life

Parishioners across the GTA still have a chance to exercise charity through a truly meaningful way by contributing to the 2011 ShareLife campaign - June 5 marked the 3rd ShareLife Sunday collection for all parishes in the Archdiocese.  Our own parish total is down somewhat from last year.  I am not sure if this is because I have not mentioned it as often - or if other parish activities have impacted our collection.

The tradition of Catholic charity runs deep in the Archdiocese of Toronto. Catholic agencies have been serving the poor and the needy among us for over 150 years. In 1927, the first organized diocese-wide charitable appeal was conducted to support the Catholic Charities family of agencies in Toronto. On March 19, 1976, Archbishop Philip Pocock officially established ShareLife, the Archdiocesan response to assuming the responsibility of sustaining social services to the Catholic charities' community.

Now in its 35th year of helping the whole community, the number of agencies funded by ShareLife’s annual appeal has increased significantly. The services of ShareLife agencies are critical to those who rely on them – they are lifesaving and life-restoring. Sometimes the results are obvious and sometimes they’re invisible but, always, they’re tangible. 


When I give to share life - I give on line - at www.sharelife.org and use the donate now box.  You are still able to "credit" our Holy Family Parish campaign, and in my own case I get the points from my credit card... Please help support the work our agencies do for the most vulnerable in our communities. Please give generously.


Peace

NBC News at the Vatican

I am not sure why - but from my teenage years whenever I would watch a morning show on TV - I would watch NBC’s national morning program, “The Today Show”.  While I am not a frequenter of morning TV usually, "Today" is still the show I will watch when I am in a hotel room and wake up in the morning. This past week NBC spent several days at the Vatican, with Thursday's edition including a number of profiles about the life and activity of the "home base" of the global Catholic Church. They’ve been privileged to have clearance not normally provided to media outlets. No doubt the openness can also be attributed to New York Archbishop, Timothy Dolan, accompanying the crew as they explore the epicentre of our faith community.

You can find numerous clips on the Today Show website including a profile of the Swiss Guards, Archbishop Dolan discussing the sex abuse crisis an inside look at St. Peter’s Basilica and a most interesting Day in the Life of Pope Benedict XVI. Here are a few links to the clips (note you may have to sit through a short 30 second ad before hand...) It's well worth it to see the great coverage that's been provided. Most run anywhere from 3-5 minutes so they're bite sized morsels for you to enjoy.

Here are the links if you're interested in catching these vignettes:

Church seeks new followers through social media: here

A Day in the Life of Pope Benedict XVI: http://t.co/xcIRtEu

Matt Lauer meets the Pope, tours the Vatican: http://t.co/h5ReXLS

Meet the Swiss Guards of the Vatican: http://t.co/vPQkFg4

Peace

Gum, Gum, Cell Phones and More Gum!

Whats a priest to do?
The code of Canon Law is clear:

Can. 919 §1 "Whoever is to receive the blessed Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before holy communion from all food and drink, with the sole exception of water and medicine."

So what is one to do when people come to Mass with gum in their mouth? What to do when at the beginning of Mass you say:  "We do not allow gum during Mass" or "please remove gum from your mouth" and people keep on looking at you and chewing away???  

That is the situation I faced last week a few times at our Confirmation celebrations.  Now let me say - it was not the Confirmation candidates or their sponsors who were chewing gum.  No, it was their guests, their aunts and uncles, and even some appeared to be old enough to be their grandparents. Let me ask you - would any of those Nona's have allowed someone to come to their Easter dinner table with gum in their mouth? I don't think so!  I know I am not a gum chewer - but my Dad is - and he tells me he is always conscious of where he is when he is chewing gum...

Then there is the issue of Cell Phones.  In the past year or so - we have had very few instances of cell phones going off in the church.  a couple of years ago - I was distraught with a cell phone situation.  It was not when the cell phone rang, that I became distressed, rather it was when the older woman answered - and talked to the caller - DURING MASS!


I was stronger on the Gum issue on Wednesday evening before Confirmation - and someone emailed me Thursday morning.  

Yesterday, June 1st, 2011, I was at Holy  Family attending the Confirmation of one of my relatives. I was appalled at the way you spoke to the congregation. At first, I thought you wanted to be humorous while sending a message to the children. As your “long” address continued, it became clear that you were, perhaps unwittingly,  patronizing and at one point almost insulting.  I am referring to your remark that “I can only say it in one language, no gum.” ...
You can disregard my comments or, maybe you can consider a more humble and respectful way to address parishioners and visiting worshipers.

In my reply I asked if she had heard the cell phone go off during the Eucharistic Prayer? (no reply yet)  I have to say that one of the most embarrassing moments was when a cell phone went off in the confessional. When I asked the penitent if she wanted to answer the phone, she looked at me and said "Father, I don't own a cell phone!"

Ever since then I live with my phone on vibrate.  It never has the ringer on... It means I miss some calls, and I do not always "feel" the buzzer, but it never rings in Mass, or at appointments, or in the confessional!

So I ask those of you who read this Blog to make comments - what would be a more humble and respectful way to deal with these issues? Am I off base here?  How do we get people to realize that they need to turn off their cell phones during Mass, and not come to church with gum in their mouth???


P.S. - It Seems I cannot get the comments section to work correctly so I will put my email address here - fr.larry@holyfamilybolton.ca
Send me an email with your comments / suggestions!

Ascension - Pentecost - Novena to the Holy Spirit

The Ascension of Jesus is recounted in the Acts of the Apostles as occurring 40 days after the Resurrection : 

"After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God."(Acts 1:3)

Yesterday (Ascension Thursday) was 40 days after Easter Sunday . In Canada the feast of the Ascension is transfered to Sunday - so we can celebrate with a full community.  One of the traditions of the Church is to pray in these 9 days (hence the term "novena") between Ascension and Pentecost for a out pouring of the Holy Spirit in our own lives, and in the life of our Community. It is particularly appropriate for our parish as we continue to celebrate Confirmation next week. I invite you to pray with me these days leading up to Pentecost this prayer seeking the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit:

O Lord Jesus Christ, before ascending into heaven you promised to send the Holy Spirit to finish your work in the souls of your Apostles and Disciples. Grant that I may be open to the work of that same Spirit within me.

- Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom  
that I may not be attached to the perishable things of this world but seek the things that are eternal.

- Grant me the Spirit of Understanding  
to enlighten my mind with the light of your divine truth.

- Grant me the Spirit of Right Judgment  
that I may choose the surest way of pleasing God.

- Grant me the Spirit of Courage  
that I may bear my cross with you and that I may overcome all the obstacles that oppose my salvation.

- Grant me the Spirit of Knowledge  
that I may know God and know myself.

- Grant me the Spirit of Reverence  
that I may find the service of God sweet and attractive.

- Grant me the Spirit of Wonder and Awe  
that I may be filled with loving reverence towards God and may avoid anything that would displease him.

Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of your true disciples  and animate me in all things with your Spirit. Amen

Come Holy Ghost, Creator Blest,
And in our Hearts take up your rest,

Come with your grace and Heavenly Aid,

To fill the hearts which you have made.

O Comforter, to You we cry,

The Heavenly gift of God most high,

The fount of life and fire of love

And sweet anointing from above

Peace

Long time between posts!

It has been a long time between posts - a few hours short of a week.
Stephanie Benedetti - our parish Youth Minister - was commenting on Tuesday that I was overdue for a Blog post!  Stephanie is the one who did all the hard work of investigating and designing and training the rest of the team on the updating of the parish web site. All of this is in addition to organizing our youth ministries (Edge and LifeTeen), visiting schools, and attending sports games and activities within the parish.   Yeahhhh Stephanie!

Last Thursday I went to the Tie-Breaker hockey game in the Memorial Cup round robin - between the Owen Sound Attack and the Kootenay Ice.  The Attack went up in the first period 2-0, and the Ice battled back and the second period ended 3-2 for the Ice.  In the third period the Ice score 3 goals in less than 5 minutes.  The Attack got another goal but then Kootenay added an empty net goal in the final minutes and the final score was 7-3.  Owen Sound was eliminated, and Kootenay went on to fight St. Mike's Majors in the semi final. I met one of our parishioners at the game - Jordan is being confirmed this year - and he had heard me talking about the Attack at Mass on Sunday morning!  (We wont hold it against him that he is a St. Mike's Majors fan!)  So while the Attack were not in the Memorial Cup finals - they are still OHL Champions!!!
Looking forward to next year - Go Attack Go!

Friday I drove to Sarnia - usually I drive through Sarnia on my way to the States for shopping trips to the Detroit area (one of those 2 day breaks is coming up after masses on Fathers' Day - when I will head to the US with my Dad!) This trip to Sarnia was part of a series of Talks that Catherine Ecker and I have been giving over the years to the RCIA team members in the Diocese of London.
We spent a day with the teams from across that Diocese looking at the Period of Purification and Enlightenment - which usually corresponds with the season of Lent. It was hard to do these talks - and preach - in the context of Lent, when we are in the great 50 days of the Easter Season !!!

Monday we began our Confirmation Marathon! I call it that because we are celebrating Confirmation each evening - Monday to Thursday for 2 weeks!  When you do the math: 8 celebrations - with 30-34 candidates at each celebration - you realize we celebrate the sacrament with almost 285 young people.  Each of those young people receive's a certificate signed by yours truly! That means lots of ink on certificates!  These are joyful days - yet also full - since I still have to see couples for marriage appointments, for Baptism appointments when they have an infant to Baptize, and there are people who just need to talk about things that are going on in their life.

This morning we celebrated Mass at St. Michael - our Catholic High School in Bolton. The entrance procession included representatives of each of the clubs, teams and activities in the school this inaugural year.  It was impressive to see how many different activities have been started in this first year of St. Michael's being open!  The chaplain - Urszula Cybulko - spoke at the end of Mass of how these activities represented the love of the teachers.  That the teachers had loved the students and had committed to being with the students and helping them realize how they are gifted and talented in so many ways.  God bless the work our teachers do in each of our schools!  Go Thunder!