Rain, Rain, a blessing from God (really?)

We have had rain a few times since arriving in Israel. March is the end of the "Winter" and the begining the dryer season, yet today we had what our driver said was the wetest day of the year!  The rains were so bad and so strong today - that we postponed our boat ride on the sea of Galilee.  We started with Mass at Mount Tabor - the site which celebrates the Transfiguration of our Lord. The base of mount Tabor is perhaps the place where there has been the greatesat change in the time from when I first came to Israel, and now. In days gone by, there was once a simple flat dirt parking area - where Pilgrims transferred from their large bus to a series of Taxis - which would usher you up the twisting switch back road to the top of the Mountain.  Now there is a paved area, with a Kiosk, a shop and a fruit stand, and a large paved are for the pilgrim buses to wait.
We were early for mass, and they were able to allow us to start early. (This is very unusual in the Holy Land!)  After Mass we made our way back to the shore of the sea of Galilee, and stopped for Lunch at a restaraunt that offers St. Peter's Fish (aka Talapia). After Lunch we visited Nof Kinosar which houses the Jesus Boat, a boat found in the mud of the shoreline of the sea of Galilee in 1986.  The boat is on display here with a short video showing the history how they were able to save the fragile wooden structure.  Then we visited a diamond jewelry factory.  (It seemed that the women lead the way into the factory!)
We have pushed our Boat Ride to Saturday, which is already quite full. Each day is tiring - dealing with issues that surface, keeping people happy, and providing snacks for the time on the Bus.  The rain has stopped tonight, and the weather is to be be much better in the next few days...
Shalom!

Pilgrimage in Israel

Sunday Evening myself and Fr. Scott Young and 32 pilgrims from Bolton, Mississauga and beyond embarked upon a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  We arrived Monday morning and transferred to our Hotel in Tel Aviv.  After a short nap, people went off to explore and walk around the hotel area.  Some went to the Carmel Market, others went to the Beach and dipped their toes into the Mediterranean Sea.  All of these activities allowed us to clear the cobwebs that an 11 hour flight leaves in our minds.  Tuesday Moning, after attending to a few health concerns, we made our way to Jaffa, the Ancient port city of Israel, where St. Peter had a vision, that declared all foods clean (Acts 9).
We made our way up the Mediterranean coastline to Ceasarea Maritima, where the first Gentile was Baptized: Cornelius - a member of the Roman Cohoart. 
We realized that we were here today because of what had happened here 2 centuries ago. We ended our day celebrating mass at Stella Maris in Haifa.
Today (Wednesday) we started with Mass in Nazareth in the Basilica of the Annunciation, then we walked to St. Gabriel's Greek Orthodox Church. We then boarded the bus for the short drive to Cana - where the first miracle of Jesus ocurred - changing water into wine at a wedding feast.  We went down to the grotto and the couples who are on the pilgrimage renewed their wedding vows, and Fr. Scott and I renewed our Priestly promises.  We went for Lunch and a first century experience at Kefar Kedeem.  We got dressed in ancient garb, and learned about sowing wheat in a land where you had to trust in God to send rain to make the wheat grow. After baking our own Pita bread, we had a meal of Hummis, salad, chicken breast strips, and lamb Sausage Kebobs. Then people had a chance to ride a donkey!  I did not ride one - cruel and unusual punnishment comes to mind.
Then as we traveled to our hotel in Tiberias - where we will stay for 4 nights - we learned of the explosion in Jerusalem.  We are all very safe - some 200 Kilometres north of Jerusalem.  We can expect more security when we do make our way down the Jordan valley and eventually working our way up to Jerusalem.  We pray for those injured, and for the people who mourn the 1 death that we know of at this time.  We also will keep praying for peace in this Land that is holy.  Peace

St. Joseph's Feast day

St. Joseph is the first Patron Saint for Canada.  With the canonization of the North American Martyrs in the 20th Century they were added as co-patrons of our country.  A friend of mine (an immigrant to Canada) used to say "It is a national day of celebration in my country" when ever he wanted to have an excuse to celebrate.  Well today is OUR national day of Celebration!  The recent canonization of St. Andre of Montreal (last fall) precipitated a wonderful documentary of his life produced and aired by Salt and Light TV.  This 1 hour video showed Brother Andre's keen devotion to St. Joseph - which resulted in the construction of St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal.  The Oratory (another name for a chapel) sits high above Montreal - almost looking over the city - as St. Joseph looked over the Holy Family.

St. Joseph the Betrothed

Today I pray in a special way for the men of Holy Family parish - that (we) may pray to God for a share in the courage and character of St. Joseph in our task of living the gospel today. It has been over 2000 years since Joseph himself accepted the call of God, and kept Mary as his wife, and thereby became the "foster father" of Jesus.
Saint Joseph - Pray for us!

Preparations for Israel

On Sunday I will be leaving for a 12 day pilgrimage to Israel. We are a group of 34 in total including Fr. Scott Young and myself as the tour leaders. This will be my 7th time in Israel. It is always a privilege to journey with fellow pilgrims to these places where our faith truly comes alive. Perhaps one of the best perks of traveling with a group Fr. Scott and I organize is the pilgrims prayer book we offer. This booklet (76 pages) includes prayers, reflections, and songs we sing during the different moments of prayer as we visit the sites in the Holy Land. Last night I finished the technical task of printing and collating the pilgrim books for this year's trip and delivered them to Staples for binding. I also finished the main presider's book and "lectionary" we will use for the daily masses which we celebrate. I have to say - it was a relief to get that done - even if it meant I did not get out to a pub on St. Paddy's day! Peace!

St. Patrick

My Mom used to say today there's only 2 types of people: "Thems that is Irish and thems that wish they were!"  My Dad is French Canadian - but each year on this day he would wear his knitted green sweater very proudly! (It didn't hurt that his favourite colour is green!)
We have 2 funerals today at Holy Family - so no chance to really celebrate St. Patrick, so I thought I would post my thoughts here.  
On Saturday I posted part of the prayer attributed to St. Patrick. I wanted to reflect on 1 line: Christ to win me.
I don't know about you - but when I am asked to make two columns on a sheet of paper, and write my good qualities on one side and my faults on the other... I seem to fill the "faults" side before I can get 3 entries in the "good" column!  Sunday we will hear in the Gospel how Jesus was Transfigured before Peter, James and John on the mountain top.  We will hear that God speaks of Jesus "This is my beloved,"  and I think we will be challenged to realize that we are Beloved of God.  As I reflect on this line of the Breast-Plate of St. Patrick I am reminded that I might be such a prize - that Christ wins me. That I might be some sort of prize - more valuable than the Lotto Max Jackpot! That Christ might win me - a beloved child of God! Praise to you Lord - King of eternal glory!
Peace

Patrick would have been 50 this week

In 1998 I was assigned as Pastor of Holy Martyrs of Japan Parish in Bradford, ON.  Holy Trinity is the Catholic Secondary School in Bradford , and shortly into my first year there a new chaplain was appointed: Patrick Wren. Patrick was a man of deep faith, and came from a "very catholic" family, with deep roots in the Archdiocese of Toronto.  Patrick loved boats - classic / vintage boats - and had a hobby business on the side restoring these old boats.  It was through his boating connections that he met and later married Sally Ann MacGillivray (affectionately known as Sam) in the spring of 1999.  I not only worked well with Patrick in Bradford, I was also privileged to visit he and Sam at their cottage in Muskoka over the years.  In 2007 Sam was diagnosed with a rare form of abdominal cancer, and she died in January 2008. It was a devastating time for Patrick.  I was able to anoint Sam in early January before I went to China to visit my brother who was teaching for 1 year there, but I was unable to be at Sam's Funeral.  Patrick and I had spent some time together after the funeral, and I was shocked when in January 2009 I found out the Patrick had a brain Tumor.  Surgery provided temporary relief, but it was inoperable, and in June of 2009 Patrick went home to God.  I was able to celebrate that Funeral and pray with the Wren family.
This week Patrick would have turned 50 - and on Sunday afternoon I gathered with the Wren family for Mass, to celebrate life and love and new life. Sunday was the First Sunday of Lent, the first Sunday of the March Break, and it was - Ted Wren's 84th Birthday (Patrick's Father)!  The irony I noted at the mass was that Patrick would never have been in Toronto on March Break! He booked flights to Florida for March break for Sam and himself each year in May - almost as soon as they were able to do so on line!  The Mass on Sunday was a powerful time of prayer and fellowship with a family of faith.  Almost 2 years later - Patrick is still dearly missed.  The consolation we have is from the Gospel of Matthew: "Blessed are those who Mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Chapter 5)  Mourning is the price we pay for having loved. Having Loved and having been loved - we are truly blessed.
I believe that Patrick was a great role model for the Students he served as chaplain at Holy Trinity in Bradford, and as a religion teacher in Sacred Heart in Newmarket. He lived as Christ lived - an unselfish life of service.


Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine on him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.
May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, 
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

First Sunday of Lent

So this is what a Homily looks like on my crib notes:
Embark upon Lent – Thru Desert / w or wo dessert!

Admitting How & Where   we have underestimated our influence letting our words or silences     hurt

          Abusing trust / betraying confidence

Admitting H & W we have made a show of relig.

          attracting attn more to us than to our God

Admitting H & W in our lives vague interest

     has become dangerous passion

          and we are not sure what to do / ? in control

For God’s ways are not our ways /

          nor our thoughts God’s thoughts

For God looks at the ugliest soul

          & sees unstirred the wings of angel

we scan our finest neighbours anxious find flaw

God views time in the context of eternity and so finds a place for waiting/yearning/suffering/ dying

          We demand instant results

          looking for tomorrow before savoring today

God knows the one who suffers can ultimately save

          this why Christ walks the way of the cross

& we fear that vulnerability which defies our power

          & so we cry for crucifixion

Facing our Temptations / food or drink

          habit or addiction / Power or prestige

facing the burden of our Cross

          we make our way thru the desert

We are here not to have our worst confirmed

          but to have our best liberated

And if we looked for or longed for an easier Gospel

          a lighter cross / a less demanding savior –

    – then  here at this table we beg the Lord

          to turn our eyes and Avert our longing

          from what we want to choose

                   to the one who has chosen us