In the midst of this swine flu crisis, you may want to check out this very helpful website:
http://www.doihavepigflu.com/
04 May 2009
Don't try this at home...
I got this in a forward today, and I just about peed my pants. Two possible headings:
"Critical Swine Flu Prevention Tip -- Don't Do THIS!"
or
"Look at what this brat started!!" (my censored version of the real one I heard today...)
01 May 2009
Joy: Not just for almonds
I wrote an article for my parish's newsletter about my experience during the Triduum at the parish and joy. I thought you might en-joy it (or it en-joy you, actually):
During the Easter Triduum I saw and experienced much joy.
The Holy Thursday’s foot washing brought tears to my eyes. The musical backdrop of “The Servant Song” (“will you let me be your servant?”) and other similar songs provided a perfect atmosphere to witness the foot washing of twelve parishioners: young, old, male, female, those I know, those I hope to know. The incredible joy of a child, smile from ear to ear, witnessed to what we as Christians believe and know: our call to service extends to those we don’t always think about; our need to be served and the humility to allow ourselves to be served; that the love of Christ knows no bounds.
On Good Friday we venerated the cross. I was moved as I saw how differently we expressed our relationship with Christ. Some kissed the cross, others bowed, rubbed different parts of the cross, kneeled, or did a combination of all the above. Still others might have been uncomfortable with the veneration and chose stayed in their seats. But all desired an intimacy with God, all wanted to reflect on the mystery of the death of Jesus Christ.
And of course, the climax of the Triduum and the entire Liturgical year, the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. There was such a joy and electricity present in the congregation, especially during the singing of the Glory to God and the Alleluia. Hungry with forty days of fasting and preparing for this moment, we were ready to rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord. Finally, let’s not forget the joyous reception of our brothers and sisters into the Church, faces glowing with holy oil and Holy Spirit. So much joy and excitement!
The Gospel of John says that “the disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord” (John 20:20, NJB). It’s no wonder the joy I found throughout the Triduum. The same joy that filled the disciples fills us as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. It is for this reason that we are Christians, because we believe that Jesus is the Christ; we believe that his resurrection saves us. His resurrection provides us with hope in the midst of our own “Good Fridays”. After all, we follow in a Savior who knows his way out of the tomb.
We are people of the resurrection; we are people of joy. As muffled as the joy may be at times, amounting to the tiniest trickle of water, joy drives us to seek more joy. The joy of Easter leads us out of the desert (of Lent and of our lives) as we follow the dribble of water, upstream towards the source, towards Jesus, the source of joy and new life.
As we continue in the Season of Easter and roll on into the summer months, I invite you to be on the lookout for joy. Joy found at home in your family, joy found in the lives of others, joy found at St. James, joy found in creation, and joy found in yourself. Rejoice in that moment of joy and thank God. Where we find joy, we may find the Lord.
May we be the loving presence of the risen Christ to our family, friends, and neighbors. May they be filled with joy. May we take to heart the invitation present in the hymn “We Are Called”: “Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!”
Happy enjoying! See you in August!
Blessings,
Isaac Garcia, Echo Catechetical Apprentice
During the Easter Triduum I saw and experienced much joy.
The Holy Thursday’s foot washing brought tears to my eyes. The musical backdrop of “The Servant Song” (“will you let me be your servant?”) and other similar songs provided a perfect atmosphere to witness the foot washing of twelve parishioners: young, old, male, female, those I know, those I hope to know. The incredible joy of a child, smile from ear to ear, witnessed to what we as Christians believe and know: our call to service extends to those we don’t always think about; our need to be served and the humility to allow ourselves to be served; that the love of Christ knows no bounds.
On Good Friday we venerated the cross. I was moved as I saw how differently we expressed our relationship with Christ. Some kissed the cross, others bowed, rubbed different parts of the cross, kneeled, or did a combination of all the above. Still others might have been uncomfortable with the veneration and chose stayed in their seats. But all desired an intimacy with God, all wanted to reflect on the mystery of the death of Jesus Christ.
And of course, the climax of the Triduum and the entire Liturgical year, the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. There was such a joy and electricity present in the congregation, especially during the singing of the Glory to God and the Alleluia. Hungry with forty days of fasting and preparing for this moment, we were ready to rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord. Finally, let’s not forget the joyous reception of our brothers and sisters into the Church, faces glowing with holy oil and Holy Spirit. So much joy and excitement!
The Gospel of John says that “the disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord” (John 20:20, NJB). It’s no wonder the joy I found throughout the Triduum. The same joy that filled the disciples fills us as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. It is for this reason that we are Christians, because we believe that Jesus is the Christ; we believe that his resurrection saves us. His resurrection provides us with hope in the midst of our own “Good Fridays”. After all, we follow in a Savior who knows his way out of the tomb.
We are people of the resurrection; we are people of joy. As muffled as the joy may be at times, amounting to the tiniest trickle of water, joy drives us to seek more joy. The joy of Easter leads us out of the desert (of Lent and of our lives) as we follow the dribble of water, upstream towards the source, towards Jesus, the source of joy and new life.
As we continue in the Season of Easter and roll on into the summer months, I invite you to be on the lookout for joy. Joy found at home in your family, joy found in the lives of others, joy found at St. James, joy found in creation, and joy found in yourself. Rejoice in that moment of joy and thank God. Where we find joy, we may find the Lord.
May we be the loving presence of the risen Christ to our family, friends, and neighbors. May they be filled with joy. May we take to heart the invitation present in the hymn “We Are Called”: “Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!”
Happy enjoying! See you in August!
Blessings,
Isaac Garcia, Echo Catechetical Apprentice
25 April 2009
NCCL
To those of you who attending NCCL, see you in Detroit.
To those of you staying at your parish and actually having responsibilities for the next week, we'll miss you!
To those you who broke their leg, bummer, dude.
Certain of us more single Echo 5 men may or may not be on the lookout for CILFs or even the elusive DREILF while at NCCL. Pray for us.
19 April 2009
A Quick, Enlightening, Entertaining Read
Friends,
I have just finished reading The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University by Kevin Roose and I recommend it quite highly. Roose, who grew up a not-so-religious Quaker family and went to Brown University, spends a semester abroad...at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. For those not familiar with Liberty, it was founded by Jerry Falwell the founder of the "Moral Majority" and prominent evangelical pastor who well...yeah...the book tells more about him.
Anyway, it is quite an interesting read as Roose enters into a culture that is completely unfamiliar to him, learns to get rid of the stereotypes that he had for the university and conservatives-at-large, and engages in every opportunity possible including joining the choir, going on a mission trip to Daytona Beach during Spring Break, and falls in love. To go from the liberal, hippie Brown to the fundamentalist, Sean Hannity loving Liberty was a huge stepping-out-of-comfort-zone and I admire that about him and his experience. Oddly enough, Roose had an interview with Jerry Falwell and that was the last printed interview of Falwell's life.
I think that's a lesson we can all take- The ability to step out of what is comfortable and easy for us and engage openly and genuinely with people. He sees the human behind the stereotype and realizes that they have the same struggles with faith, the other sex, life goals as he or any other secular college student has. Yes, he does meet the intolerant (in fact he rooms with one) but he meets people who wished for more academic freedom and watch R-rated movies (not allowed) in the dorms. Overall, it is a very compelling and honest read.
Borders Price: $24.99 hardcover
Look for my X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Star Trek reviews in May!
I have just finished reading The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University by Kevin Roose and I recommend it quite highly. Roose, who grew up a not-so-religious Quaker family and went to Brown University, spends a semester abroad...at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. For those not familiar with Liberty, it was founded by Jerry Falwell the founder of the "Moral Majority" and prominent evangelical pastor who well...yeah...the book tells more about him.
Anyway, it is quite an interesting read as Roose enters into a culture that is completely unfamiliar to him, learns to get rid of the stereotypes that he had for the university and conservatives-at-large, and engages in every opportunity possible including joining the choir, going on a mission trip to Daytona Beach during Spring Break, and falls in love. To go from the liberal, hippie Brown to the fundamentalist, Sean Hannity loving Liberty was a huge stepping-out-of-comfort-zone and I admire that about him and his experience. Oddly enough, Roose had an interview with Jerry Falwell and that was the last printed interview of Falwell's life.
I think that's a lesson we can all take- The ability to step out of what is comfortable and easy for us and engage openly and genuinely with people. He sees the human behind the stereotype and realizes that they have the same struggles with faith, the other sex, life goals as he or any other secular college student has. Yes, he does meet the intolerant (in fact he rooms with one) but he meets people who wished for more academic freedom and watch R-rated movies (not allowed) in the dorms. Overall, it is a very compelling and honest read.
Borders Price: $24.99 hardcover
Look for my X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Star Trek reviews in May!
17 April 2009
14 April 2009
I TEACH Sunday school...
Once again, Stephen Colbert advertises for us catechists:
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Philip Zimbardo | ||||
| ||||
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