Sample of New Liturgical Music

As the text to the Roman Catholic liturgy is changing in November, new musical settings have to be arranged. The Oregon Catholic Press is posting some samples on their webpage to help congregations become familiar with the musical changes. Please click on the link below to get to OCP's website:

Sample of new liturgical music

Lilacs

With the recent days of sunshine, the lilacs are in full bloom. Their fragrance is strong enough for our noses to catch their smell from inside the houses. Bees are busy, but they present no harm. We have bunches of violet and white lilacs that we bring into the house to accent our liturgies. It is great to see the retreatants hanging around these bushes to get a noseful of sweet fragrance.

The mornings are precious. It is warm enough to keep the windows open. The waves rhythmically crash onto the rocky shore and it is mesmerizing. Though the sun beckons me to arise, the cool morning air and the waves soothe me back to sleep. I just want to rest for another half hour or so and then I think of the retreatants and realize I am to rise so I can pray for them.

Video: The Bridge

A friend of mine works for the Boston Health Care for the Homeless. They just put together a new video about their work using their residents to recite a Longfellow poem. It is moving and I want to share it with you.

To see the video, please click on the link below:

  The video of "The Bridge" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The thankless work of Religous Education Directors

Eastern Point offered a day-long retreat to the Religious Education Directors of the Archdiocese of Boston and of other dioceses. Father Jack Rathschmidt, a Franciscan Capuchin from Jamaica Plain, Boston, was one of the presenters. The retreatants were certainly refreshed. They were inspired to confirm another date next year for their retreat.

These directors are to be commended for their perseverance in a changing church in New England. Much of the faith formation of children is dependent upon their efforts as a vibrant Catholic culture is diminishing. Many school children are no longer able to attend parochial schools and parents are not equipped themselves to provide a Catholic education at home. Many times, parents have not received catechesis on their faith since they were confirmed as a teenager. With minimal resources, DRE's take on a great responsibility to form the minds and hearts of our youth amid great challenges in society.

Groups of children receive first communion and confirmation during this Easter season.

Also, many directors are responsible for developing parish programs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. This is a more difficult process as adults present themselves with a whole range of complexities. A neat part of the program is the weekly catechetical sessions that are run by competent lay catechists. It is a revolutionary model of church where the faithful are taking care of their own formation.

I have great respect for the work of the DRE's. Thank you for teaching so many of the new members of our church.

Hello, old friend

Welcome back, Brother Sun. It is good to see you again. Sister Moon, it is so lovely that you greet us again. We have missed you both. Spring will blossom under your tutelage. The lilacs are ready to open its fraqrance on the fields again. Bees seem aimless because no flower can open up to your rich goodness. The fields here at Eastern Point can breathe once again as the weeds have been thrashed about and await the consuming fire. Come, Brother Sun, stay away. Sister Moon, cast your mystical glow on the nocturnes.

Rain, rain go away

Steady rain and overcast skies have blanketed New England for the past week and it shows no sign of letting up. Rain is expected for the next four days too. It is bleak. While directing a retreat, no one has been able to go outside and get exercise. I lament that I cannot get my yardwork done. I'm so used to spending at least an hour outside and getting physical exercise. Besides, I want to finish off the drain pipe.

I urged the retreatants not to give up on their retreat tonight. It is the last night and the stormy bleakness has worked on people to have them lessen their prayer. I want them to continue because they don't often get a chance to spend time alone with God. I want them to see it as precious. If a person unilaterally decides one's retreat is over, he or she may be disrespectful to what God is communicating. Courage and energy are what is needed. Ignatius was a fan of those attributes. Persevere in prayer.

I will be sad to see this group of guest retreat directors leave. They will come back some day.

My saving grace this week was to go out on three consecutive nights for dinner with friends. It added a needed break to my week. Tomorrow, I will see additional friends for dinner. Anyways, Chorus North Shore is a nice diversion as well. I am impressed with the goodness of the people in the group. They are all very good singers and it is fun to try my best with them. The concert is in two and a half weeks and we are just about ready. Carmina Burana is an aggressive program to sing, but our director/conductor has everything under tight control.

I think of all the people who have asked prayers. I remember them at Mass. The list is long though. I lift them up to the Lord. I wish all goes well for those who need the nearness of God to comfort them and to take away their fears. Life is very hard. We have to make the best of each day because it is precious.

Photo: Firstfruits of my Lenten Labors

During Lent, I began clearing out the once-neglected lawns at Eastern Point. Vines had overtaken trees and wild weeds took their place alongside mighty conifers and beech trees. I began a reclamation project (that will go on for years), but I began it as a Lenten devotion.

To see photos of the fruits of my Lenten efforts, please click on the link below:

  Pics of Eastern Point's restored lawns