A Memorable Weekend

A terrific weekend. I spent an evening in Worcester with a Jesuit who often visited Portland, Maine when I lived there. It was good to reconnect with him again and to catch up on his story. We had a lively discussion at the Sole Proprietor on Highland Avenue and we were both pleased with our meals. I ordered a rare seared tuna steak that was stuffed with feta cheese, sundried tomatoes, and capers. Very tasty. Mostly, I was glad just to hang out with my Jesuit brother for the evening.

On Saturday, I validated the marriage of two friends who were civilly married last April. This couple very much wanted the church to bless their marriage because faith means so much to them. I hope the ceremony was lovely for them, but at least I enjoyed it. It was also good to connect with a Jesuit with whom I worked in Portland years ago. I was able to see two friends from Cheverus High School at the end of mass. Quite a lovely evening.

The bride was lovely; the groom handsome; both were very excited. They seemed to like the watercolor painting of a small bird that I created this week. Dinner at the Treehouse restaurant on Stevens Avenue was terrific. I had the saffron sautee, which was another very satisfying seafood meal. Such a good night.

O, and to top it off, her daughter announced her engagement to be married in 2017.

This morning I said mass in Spanish once again. I hadn't presided since October when there was a change in leadership in the Roxbury parish. I was just becoming comfortable with the language. This morning I was fearful that I would stumble over words and phrases again. I did, but at least people said they could understand every word I said, even though it was with a Bostonian accent. I'm pleased I got through it fine. I just loved that they were from El Salvador because they articulated words clearly.

The church was one hundred percent packed. There were probably over 600 people in this small church. After mass, we did the blessing of throats because Saint Blase day is on February 3rd - Candlemas. I laughed because I had not spoken the language in three months and then I had the opportunity to repeat it by rote by the end of the day.

Afterwards, I brought two Jesuit novices that live with us this semester for a tour of Boston. They are good men and I know that the Society's future is bright with  men like this being called into our order. Lastly, I said mass in English in Woburn and it was quite a fine celebration. I inserted two prayers during the intercessions: one, for the people of Flint, Michigan and their water purity crisis, and two, that civility in the Presidential Election cycle reigns and that the common good be advanced.

Now to watch Downton Abbey.

Celebrating What's Right With the World

I recently was introduced to a terrific video called, "Celebrating What's Right With the World." It is a film by National Geographic photographer Dewitt Jones as it captures his philosophy of telling a story through his lenses. His work captures the extraordinary as it breaks into our ordinary world.

I resonate with his photographic philosophy because it is similar to the way I view of the world. As David Fleming, S.J. would put it, "The world is a vision of Love loving." I try to have my homilies capture the same joy expressed in this video. It is always what I try to do in my painting as well. It is as if Mr. Jones has made the Ignatian Exercises as now can see the world as God sees the world.

I send you to this link where you can watch the 25 minute video. My viewing it was time well spent. I simply want you to enjoy it as well.

http://celebratewhatsright.com/


"Celebrating What's Right with the World" on Youtube.

A Retreat for Sisters

I have learned quite a bit from the Sisters of St. Joseph's religious order of women this past week as we are on retreat together. They are a religious order for the diocese of Boston. They are unlike the Jesuits whose provinces span multiple dioceses. The CSJs are bound to this particular diocese of Boston.

Some of the sisters have asked, "Do you know Dan Harrington, S.J.? He was a student in my first class." It is amazing that they have trained so many diocesan and religious order priests. 

Their Framingham facility is much like the Jesuits' Campion Center, but with a feminine touch. Over 90 sisters are here in the health and retirement center and they are a community of love. Incredibly gracious, hospitable, and generous, these sisters live the rule of faith authentically. Their love for the church is firm. The lives they have influenced positively is enormous.

Charity pervades these institutions. They seek spiritual aids and pastoral kindness and they naturally provide their goodness to others. No matter their accomplishments, they only exhibit their humility and are content to be a part of the larger community that shares the same gifts. 

Anyways, it is a delight to be with them. They are eager and open for God's personal love for them and they are delighting in being with each other after a full life of ministry well-served.  

The Legend of La Befana - The Christmas Witch

Getting in touch with my Italian roots. I just heard of this Christmas witch story from a 93 year old retreatant.



Like children everywhere, Italian kids look forward to the arrival of the red-suited

Babbo Natale on Christmas Eve. However, this relatively modern tradition pales in comparison to the anticipation generated by the arrival of an old witch in early January. On Epiphany Eve, the old, tattered and soot-covered Befana flies around the world on a broomstick and comes down chimneys to deliver candy and presents to children who have been good during the year. For those who have fallen a bit short of model behavior, la Befana will leave lumps of coal. (Realizing that no one can be perfect for a whole year, these days la Befana often leaves a sweet “lump of coal” made from black sugar.)

La Befana has been an Italian tradition since the XIII century and comes from Christian legend rather than popular culture. The story is that la Befana was approached by the Three Wise Men who asked her to lead them to the stable where the baby Jesus lay in a manger. La Befana was too busy cleaning her house at the time, so she declined the offer to go with them. Very soon she realized that she had made a huge mistake, so she gathered up a bag full of gifts and set off alone in search of the baby Jesus. Though she followed the same star as the Magi, she was unable to find the stable. Undaunted, la Befana continues to travel the world over to this day searching every house for the Christ child. On January 6, the first day of Epiphany, Italian children hold their breaths as they search their stockings for a sign that they have been good that year.

The arrival of la Befana is celebrated with traditional Italian foods such as panettone (a Christmas cake) and marks the end of the long and festive holiday season in Italy.