Scene: 1st Reconciliation Prep meeting, run by my mentor, Kathie. In the Church.
Kathie: "Then, right before you go to Reconciliation, we'll ask you to renew your Baptismal promises all together. [Explanation.] Would someone like to come up here and read the first part out loud for everyone to hear?
Precocious 2nd grader: Raises hand.
Kathie: Come on up.
Precocious 2nd grader: Looks at the paper; the first line is "Do you reject Satan?" Begins to read, and very confidently asks, "Do you respect Santa?"
Curtain.
23 October 2009
13 October 2009
A Most Fortuitous Plane Delay(s)
So this weekend, I went to go visit the grand metropolis of Peoria. Why? Because I am applying for a job with Caterpillar. Actually because I wanted to see the lovely lady(ies) of P-Town.
My flight from Philadelphia was originally scheduled to leave at 2, but then I got an email saying that it was delayed until 3:40. When I got to the airport, it became 4:45. Then when I got to counter, it became 5:45. Things were not looking so good. The agent started looking for some other flights and there was a flight to Detroit where I could spend the night in Detroit and then leave in the morning. OR I could go to Memphis then Chicago and get a rental car.
The guy behind me in line said that he was going to Peoria too and that we should get the flight to Chicago where upon arriving his company would pay for a rental car. Obviously two thoughts flew into my mind. 1) I want to go see Anna ASAP and will do whatever it takes to get there. 2) I have no idea who you are and I don't want to end up dead in the backfields of Illinois. I chose the former.
We introduced ourselves and then he asked if I wanted to grab a beer. I couldn't turn that down and when he said I could use his money vouchers; I thought "this might not be so bad after all". We talked at the bar about sports, jobs, family, etc. when he asked me what I do. I told him a bit about Echo, which prompted the question, "So you're Catholic then?" I affirmed and he responded, "Well it looks like we're going to have a good conversation in the car then. I have a lot of questions for you". (cue ominous music)
So we get in the car and start driving when we begin our convo. It turns out that he didn't grow up Christian at all, but joined a non-denominational church for his one-year old son. I told him that he should be commended for the effort and desire. He thought Catholics were just a big club that no one could get into. I told him about how Catholics are universal despite race, age, background, country, etc and how you could go to a Mass anywhere in the world pretty much. We talked about Islam and salvation. He talked about not wanting to be baptized because he's afraid of failing. I quoted Merton and recommended C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity. He never read the Bible. I told him to give it a shot by getting a beginner's version or a commentary. We talked life.
At the end, he said, "You know- I really think that God put us here to talk." I agreed. Had our flights never been canceled, we would have never gotten the chance to talk about our lives and faiths. He might have gone his whole life thinking that Catholics were just snobs and I would have never learned where I should take Anna to dinner, stand up for our faith, and get free chicken tenders at the bar in the Philadelphia airport. We exchanged emails and the belief that God is good.
I got in at the house at midnight...and well that's a story for another time.
My flight from Philadelphia was originally scheduled to leave at 2, but then I got an email saying that it was delayed until 3:40. When I got to the airport, it became 4:45. Then when I got to counter, it became 5:45. Things were not looking so good. The agent started looking for some other flights and there was a flight to Detroit where I could spend the night in Detroit and then leave in the morning. OR I could go to Memphis then Chicago and get a rental car.
The guy behind me in line said that he was going to Peoria too and that we should get the flight to Chicago where upon arriving his company would pay for a rental car. Obviously two thoughts flew into my mind. 1) I want to go see Anna ASAP and will do whatever it takes to get there. 2) I have no idea who you are and I don't want to end up dead in the backfields of Illinois. I chose the former.
We introduced ourselves and then he asked if I wanted to grab a beer. I couldn't turn that down and when he said I could use his money vouchers; I thought "this might not be so bad after all". We talked at the bar about sports, jobs, family, etc. when he asked me what I do. I told him a bit about Echo, which prompted the question, "So you're Catholic then?" I affirmed and he responded, "Well it looks like we're going to have a good conversation in the car then. I have a lot of questions for you". (cue ominous music)
So we get in the car and start driving when we begin our convo. It turns out that he didn't grow up Christian at all, but joined a non-denominational church for his one-year old son. I told him that he should be commended for the effort and desire. He thought Catholics were just a big club that no one could get into. I told him about how Catholics are universal despite race, age, background, country, etc and how you could go to a Mass anywhere in the world pretty much. We talked about Islam and salvation. He talked about not wanting to be baptized because he's afraid of failing. I quoted Merton and recommended C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity. He never read the Bible. I told him to give it a shot by getting a beginner's version or a commentary. We talked life.
At the end, he said, "You know- I really think that God put us here to talk." I agreed. Had our flights never been canceled, we would have never gotten the chance to talk about our lives and faiths. He might have gone his whole life thinking that Catholics were just snobs and I would have never learned where I should take Anna to dinner, stand up for our faith, and get free chicken tenders at the bar in the Philadelphia airport. We exchanged emails and the belief that God is good.
I got in at the house at midnight...and well that's a story for another time.
12 October 2009
06 October 2009
Anyone have 10,000 hours to spare?
I recently finished reading a book called Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (The Tipping Point, Blink) and its about what makes people successful. It's a fascinating read. Gladwell argues against the belief that individuals by their own sheer force of will or genius make it by themselves. Rather, people are successful because of cultural legacies, how their parents seized opportunities, or even what month they were born in. He writes on what makes Asians good at math, why it was good to be Jewish in the latter part of the 20th century, and how a man with a 200 IQ has done nothing notable besides be on the game show 1 v.s. 100.
One of the points that Gladwell makes is that people who are successful in life are those who put in a lot of time in their field so that when opportunity arose; their abilities and events culminated into something phenomenal. For example, Mozart started composing when he was 6 years old. His first compositions weren't all that great (what great things did you do when you were 6?) but he kept working at it so that when he was 21 years old-he was composing the masterpieces that we still hear today. Or the Beatles were playing in concerts in Hamburg non-stop until they hit it big. Or Bill Gates spent all his free time on a computer in the library purchased by a mom's club. So how much time does it take to be successful? 10,000 hours.
The question, therefore that I ask you, is what are you willing to put in 10,000 hours in to become an expert in? Have you already put in those 10,000 hours? Are you on your way?
One of the points that Gladwell makes is that people who are successful in life are those who put in a lot of time in their field so that when opportunity arose; their abilities and events culminated into something phenomenal. For example, Mozart started composing when he was 6 years old. His first compositions weren't all that great (what great things did you do when you were 6?) but he kept working at it so that when he was 21 years old-he was composing the masterpieces that we still hear today. Or the Beatles were playing in concerts in Hamburg non-stop until they hit it big. Or Bill Gates spent all his free time on a computer in the library purchased by a mom's club. So how much time does it take to be successful? 10,000 hours.
The question, therefore that I ask you, is what are you willing to put in 10,000 hours in to become an expert in? Have you already put in those 10,000 hours? Are you on your way?
30 September 2009
What a bother
The cheerful smile for those who bother you; that silence when you're unjustly accused; your kind conversation with people you find boring and tactless; the daily effort to overlook one irritating detail or another in those who live with you... this, with perseverance, is indeed solid interior mortification.
Don't say, "that person bothers me." Think: "That person sanctifies me."
-- St. Josemaria Escriva, The Way, nn. 173-174
(Via Paths of Love blog)
Don't say, "that person bothers me." Think: "That person sanctifies me."
-- St. Josemaria Escriva, The Way, nn. 173-174
(Via Paths of Love blog)
24 September 2009
Women and Ecclesial Decision Making
Historic step by the Bishops Conference of India.
How can we move toward this in our parish ministry and in our national structure?!
Something to think about!
How can we move toward this in our parish ministry and in our national structure?!
Something to think about!
21 September 2009
Who Are We?
I apologize for the length of this post. This afternoon I received some upsetting e-mails and this is my response and reflection to them:
As young American Catholics we need to ask ourselves “who are we?” in the broader context of the Church. What do we truly believe and how are we carrying out the gospel message? Today we are faced with many inculturation questions: in our personal lives, our work, and our parishes, and this is not just in Texas.
Two weekends ago my parish began to introduce a new Mass setting, “Misa Luna.” The bishop wants all parishes in the diocese to incorporate this into Sunday worship because this is the setting that will be used at diocesan-wide events. There is an option for doing it bilingual, and my parish has decided to use it. Most of the parts we sing are in English and only a couple we have sung in Spanish. They continue to introduce new parts week by week.
Today I, and many other staff members, received an e-mail from a young married woman. She said she is very sad today because her family is leaving the parish I work at. They have been here for 8+ years and it is where she went through RCIA. Her reason for leaving is the switch to singing bilingual Mass parts. She said she was sad, but her responses are what sadden my heart: “If you don't speak English, I think you should go to a Spanish-Speaking or Vietnamese-Speaking parish. We will drive farther and go out of our way to attend an entirely English-Speaking church because that's the language we speak.” And in a response to my e-mail she said:
“Why is it okay to have completely Spanish-Speaking Parishes, completely Vietnamese-Speaking Parishes but no completely English-Speaking parishes? Why do my children have to learn a language that is different from that of our Constitution, that which is printed on our Dollar Bill, that which our President delivers his national addresses in?”
I do not know why this woman has such strong feelings and perhaps she had a negative experience in the past. But isn’t this the American attitude that we need to fight against? Who are our neighbors? And if we cannot accept and welcome our neighbors into our lives and into our places of worship, then who are we as Christians? Paul fought against similar attitudes: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28).
We cater our world to what we want. We fit things into our own boxes and make decisions and actions that are selfish and uncaring of others. Sure, communication would be easier if we all spoke English, but what about the beauty of inculturation. If we simply pass on the opportunity to learn about other cultures, the rich traditions they carry, and even their language, then we are rejecting our neighbor, our brother, our sister.
If we answer the question that Jesus asks us, “Who do you say that I am?” and proclaim him to be our Messiah, the Christ, and we profess to be followers of him, then we need to answer the question “Who am I?” in light of those responses.
As young American Catholics we need to ask ourselves “who are we?” in the broader context of the Church. What do we truly believe and how are we carrying out the gospel message? Today we are faced with many inculturation questions: in our personal lives, our work, and our parishes, and this is not just in Texas.
Two weekends ago my parish began to introduce a new Mass setting, “Misa Luna.” The bishop wants all parishes in the diocese to incorporate this into Sunday worship because this is the setting that will be used at diocesan-wide events. There is an option for doing it bilingual, and my parish has decided to use it. Most of the parts we sing are in English and only a couple we have sung in Spanish. They continue to introduce new parts week by week.
Today I, and many other staff members, received an e-mail from a young married woman. She said she is very sad today because her family is leaving the parish I work at. They have been here for 8+ years and it is where she went through RCIA. Her reason for leaving is the switch to singing bilingual Mass parts. She said she was sad, but her responses are what sadden my heart: “If you don't speak English, I think you should go to a Spanish-Speaking or Vietnamese-Speaking parish. We will drive farther and go out of our way to attend an entirely English-Speaking church because that's the language we speak.” And in a response to my e-mail she said:
“Why is it okay to have completely Spanish-Speaking Parishes, completely Vietnamese-Speaking Parishes but no completely English-Speaking parishes? Why do my children have to learn a language that is different from that of our Constitution, that which is printed on our Dollar Bill, that which our President delivers his national addresses in?”
I do not know why this woman has such strong feelings and perhaps she had a negative experience in the past. But isn’t this the American attitude that we need to fight against? Who are our neighbors? And if we cannot accept and welcome our neighbors into our lives and into our places of worship, then who are we as Christians? Paul fought against similar attitudes: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28).
We cater our world to what we want. We fit things into our own boxes and make decisions and actions that are selfish and uncaring of others. Sure, communication would be easier if we all spoke English, but what about the beauty of inculturation. If we simply pass on the opportunity to learn about other cultures, the rich traditions they carry, and even their language, then we are rejecting our neighbor, our brother, our sister.
If we answer the question that Jesus asks us, “Who do you say that I am?” and proclaim him to be our Messiah, the Christ, and we profess to be followers of him, then we need to answer the question “Who am I?” in light of those responses.
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