A journal dedicated to the life and mission of St. Gaspar del Bufalo, and to a life lived in response to the call and the cry of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our on-going mission is to share good news of hope and communion.
From August, 1971 to March 1976 I was a student and a novice for another religious community. I lived in their House of Formation in Houston, TX for four years and received a BA in Philosophy from the University of St. Thomas in 1975. I worked for a summer at one of their parishes in Lake Charles, LA and entered their novitiate in Glenwood Springs, CO. From there, I fled in March of 1976. It was to be almost two years before I was to see the inside of a Catholic Church. I can only describe it as a particularly dark time in the history of the church and my own life. My own sense of hope in God and expectations of Church were never to be met. As a young man I recognize that I had some pretty lofty ideals, but the experience of this group was the direct opposite. I returned to church and seminary in time, studying for the Diocese of Oakland from August of 1978 to August of 1980. St. Patrick Seminary wasn't much better. The highlights of that time was a negative evaluation in my second year because I identified priesthood too closely to sacraments, and rebuffing the propositions of one of the priest professors. It was also a time for exploring my musical gifts and talents. They said they did not want a musical priest and that I would need to make a choice between music and ministry. I left the seminary, got a job as a full time music minister, and began studying music at the St. Joseph College in Rennselaer, IN at their Graduate School of Music and Liturgy. That first semester all my profs were priests, Precious Blood Priests. The rest is history. I joined the Precious Blood Community in 1988. There is more history in there, but that will wait until another time. This post is about God's sense of humor.
I was convinced that God had a wicked sense of humor when I was appointed Director of Formation for this community, and soon after the Church would be made to pay for the most egregious sins of that dark period in the Church's history.
Now I am convinced that God has a warped sense of humor. I have just been invited back to Houston, TX. I am to preach the community retreat for that other religious community of priests and brothers next October.
There may be more historical twists and turns reported on next week after the announcement is made of my assignment as Pastor of ________.
Very interesting section from Gaspar today. Makes one curious. Maybe you should think about adding a short footnote for the reader, so that we might know what he is referring too, but regardless, certainly it seems like it may speak to us today.
I am not sure what to put in this footnote, so if there is a particular selection that you find curious, let me know.
Today I chose several different letters from different times and to different people. They were chosen for their witness value to today's readings. I preached on "industrious" charity this morning. I am still not quite sure what Gaspar meant by it, but can contemplate what it would look like today.
I am wondering if I have too many Gaspar quotes for this morning.
Fr. Hamilton jumps on the ASHES bandwagon. I am pleased that there is another like-minded priest out there. He also reminds me of another pet peeve: The replacement of the psalm. Last week I called the parish where I was to do the mission and asked if they were using the proper psalm or a seasonal one. They assured me it was the proper psalm. Well, come to find out that the parish musician used the proper psalm refrain, but that the text of the verses were not from the psalms or even from the scriptures. It was some Tom Booth rendition, and it was a pretty snappy tune.
So I preached on a psalm even though it had not been used. When are musicians going to learn that the psalm is part of the the liturgy of the Word, that it is scripture and it should not be toyed with.
St. Anne Parish in Gilbert, AZ is quite active in the Catechesis, and I spent a good deal of time with the children and was really impressed. I am VERY impressed. To hear 3 and 4 year olds talking about the gestures of the Mass was inspirational. The catechists were so devoted to them and to the program. Mary and Dee were a delight to watch as they worked with the children.
This is an exceptional parish. The last two mornings I heard confessions for an hour and a half after the morning Mass. There was also another priest from the parish hearing confessions. It was incredible to see that long line forming after the morning Mass. They are doing some wonderful things here.
The parish is huge, nearly 8000 families. It was daunting to preach on Sundays with 1300 in attendance. There was nearly 700 the first night of the mission. The response was truly heartening, and the children's response was incredible.
I am having lunch with a young man tomorrow. I am of the opinion that there is a definite vocation happening here.
Just got off the phone with my provincial and vice-provincial. An announcement about my new assignment may be made on the third weekend in Lent. Pray that I may imitate the good shepherd.
Happy Foundation Day to the ASC sisters. March Forth.
I am sticking to my belief on this one. As a Pastor I could never sanction the use of that song for liturgy. And it is infinitely more than a matter of personal taste.
