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v v v v v It's Lent, a time of quiet, reflective peace, an opportunity to withdraw, regroup, recollect. Right. I hope your personal life is like that, but organizationally speaking for the Community of St. Malachi, the joint is jumpin'. For one there is the Vatican II series, which I hope many of you can attend. In truth, my first reaction to this plan was something along the lines of, who needs a six-part history lesson? But I quickly realized that Vatican II is at the heart of everything we do here at Malachi's, its spirit, its reforms, its teachings. For some of us, it will be an invaluable opportunity to reflect on where we have come from and where we should be going. For others, it will be a chance to learn more of what we are about. The program is very ambitious and includes some first-rate speakers, including Fr. Paul Hritz, the founding pastor of the Community. He speaks tonight giving a historical overview of Vatican II. It will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Center. The schedule has already been heavily promoted, so I won't repeat it here. Just block out tonight and the following five Sunday evenings on your schedule, same time and place. Note that we could use someone to report on this series for Communio. See my contact information at the end. Lots of work went into planning this event. It is a joint effort of the 25th Anniversary Committee, the Spiritual Development Committee, as well as the Social Action Committee. Thanks to Pat Forkas, Dick Gibbons, Jennifer Hofford, Kathy and Bill Jacob, and Frank Schiros for all their time. Please come and support their efforts and enrich yourselves. An ad hoc committee of Community and Parish members met recently to launch an "Appreciative Inquiry" process that will result in some long-range goals or plans for St. Malachi's. It is being facilitated by Rick Krivanka of the Diocesan Office of Pastoral Planning. By focusing on the positive things that go on here, rather than starting with a problem-based approach, the idea is to ask "what is the core factor that gives vitality and life to this organization?" And then attempt to envision, develop or transform the organization. At the meeting, Rick urged skeptics to "trust the process," which I intend to do. Meanwhile, we ask the Community to pray for us. Know that when we speak of this commitment of "time, talent and treasure" to the Community, we put more of an emphasis on the "time" and "talent." Remember to submit your reservation form for the Community anniversary celebration April 30 at Brennan's Party Center, 13000 Triskett, at 5 p.m. Also remember to pick up anniversary pins - they are being sold during Coffee Hour for $3 each pin. Way down my list this month is something of vital importance to the Community: recommitment and the Council nominating process, culminating in the Annual Meeting. This process is unique to the Community as every year we reconsider and restate our commitment to this personal parish. We ask that you pick an area of service you wish to be involved in, that you submit basic personal information needed to be registered with this parish, fill in an anonymous form estimating how much money you will donate over the course of the year (this is for budgeting purposes), and that you come and vote at the Annual Meeting. You have to turn this paperwork in to participate in the meeting and elections. This year, we hope to have the forms posted on line at our web site - www.stmalachi.org - although you will probably have to print them out and submit the paper version. Maybe next year we'll advance to online recommitment and save a few trees, or at least a few branches. Note 1: Please consider whether you are being called to serve on Council for the year that starts in the summer. Because of my work on the Communications Committee, I have spent many years on Council and always found the immersion into the inner workings of the Community a very rewarding experience. Note 2: Know that when we speak of this commitment of "time, talent and treasure" to the Community, we put more of an emphasis on the "time" and "talent." We always figured that if we did that, the money would follow, and thus far over 25 years, it has. This is a parish that works - literally. Speaking of recommitment and the web site, it is growing rapidly and Mike May needs some experienced help. While we can't train people from scratch about designing and maintaining a web site, minimal experience is acceptable. Ideally, we'd like to see some folks step forward with some knowledge of streaming audio and video, as we'd like to take the web site in that direction. Our choir has been sounding better and better these days, and we'd like to start by incorporating some of their songs online. Speaking personally, I can envision the day when we could even put a streaming audio and video presentation of the 11 a.m. liturgy online. But we'll need help to do that. If interested, I suggest you check off the web site box on the recommitment form, but also contact Mike, Peter Toomey or myself directly about your interest. That goes for other Communications volunteers, as well. It takes awhile for the list of volunteers to make it to us and we don't always get to call everyone. Take the initiative and it will be appreciated. If you have a busy schedule, working on this Committee is one way of fulfilling your commitment at your own pace. See my Online Primer this issue for a review of the reasons why the internet and E-mail is important to us as a community of faith, as well two new and valuable free services. But as anyone knows who has used the internet for awhile, no system is perfect. Last week my AT&T service, for which I pay $22 a month, had E-mail problems and some of you received messages back that you sent to me. I understand now that the problem is fixed, so please re-send anything you may be concerned about. Thanks to Mike Graham, Frank Schiros, Jene' Schiros-Wilson, Hal Place, Linda Rae Savage, Peter Toomey, and Susan Shipley for submitting material for this issue. Have a fruitful, if not peaceful Lent. -Dan Alaimo (Dan co-chairs the Communications Committee with Peter Toomey.) v v v v v Trust (Given the Community's heritage as action-oriented, the following quote is appropriate for our time of recommitment. - D.A.) Trust only movement. Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement. - Alfred Adler (The above was from the Inspire E-mail quotation service: www.infoadvn.com/inspire)v v v v v Letters to the Editor Hi Dan. Thank you for sending the CSM and Communio by e-mail to my family and I. We have in the past missed getting a copy at church because of being out of down, attending another church or following our family agreed upon church schedule that has made church more livable with children. I commend all of you who put this paper together; it is a lot of work. I know, I ran a newsletter in my past church community for five years. It is fun but it does take a lot of time. I loved Frank's sharing on the Universe Bulletin. I too agree it is in some ways a waste of paper. I still read it to see who died in my old parish and to read letters to the editor and see which priest has gone where or quit. They just seem to put out a lukewarm paper. It's sad to think with the size of Cuyahoga County and all the Catholics in it that they can't put out a better newspaper. Sad too that I can't turn on the radio and hear a Catholic radio station yet I have four Protestant ones to choose from. You would think with that type of media available to reach us and challenge us to grow and stretch in our faith there would be two or three radio stations and one solid newspaper out there. Blessings. -Mike Graham (Mike asked that we mention that he gets Universe Bulletin from his mom, otherwise he would never read it.) v v v v v Correction Last month in a piece entitled "A Different Kind Of Recycling," J. D. Salinger was misquoted. The quote, from Salinger's book Seymour - An , should have read as follows: "Used with moderation, a first-class verse is an excellent and usually fast-working form of heat therapy. Once...when I had what might be termed ambulatory pleurisy for something over three months, my first real relief came only when I had placed a perfectly innocent-looking Blake lyric in my shirt pocket and worn it like a poultice for a day or so." The editor responsible for the mistake, Luis Gutierrez, apologizes for the error. v v v v v A Bull Market for Deadly Sins "The market is my shepherd, and I shall want and want and want..." Fueled by a consumerist culture, who's afraid of the seven deadly sins anymore? In fact, television, movies, music, and the internet actually promote or even glorify many of these sins. The Seven Deadly Sins of pride, greed, lust, wrath, gluttony, envy and sloth have been clearly converted into virtues.
Lewis Lapham, editor of Harper's and one of the most elegant writers of our times, once commented that since "corporatization" has bought democracy in America that we may as well replace "religious mystique" with a "corporate mystique." Following are excerpts of a cynical, tongue-in-cheek essay on the practicality of replacing virtues with vices. - Frank Schiros Pride goeth before destruction, but destruction sells cosmetics, aircraft carriers, and newspapers. For quite a few years now the business media have been touting the wisdom of what they call "trimming out the fat,." I never know precisely what the phrase means - why the incompetent chairman retires with an honorarium of $50 million while 20,000 of his former employees receive notices of dismissal. The corporate spokespersons announcing the merger of companies extol the wonders of benign subtraction - "streamlining" the distribution systems, "downsizing" the workforce, "eliminating redundancy." Because the heaviest weights of paper and the largest collections of art owe their existence to the inspiration of the Christian Church, the new management team might wish to make a beginning with the concepts of Heaven and Hell. Quite clearly we no longer need both establishments, each with its own procedures and tables of organization, its own letterhead, advertising budget, and mission statement. At the behest of President Ronald Reagan, Heaven relocated its headquarters to America in the winter of 1983. Its destination is now within easy reach of the commercial airlines, and the doorkeepers are glad to accept all the major credit cards. Eliminating the redundancy of Heaven forces the question about whether to retain the seven cardinal virtues or the seven deadly sins. Which isn't to say that the virtues won't be missed. Always admirable and unfailingly welcome in commencement speeches, they add an atmosphere of old world charm to any boardroom or Senate office in which their framed portraits hang quietly on the walls. But they don't meet the requirements of the global market. Impossible to sell in large volume and serving no purpose at White House dinners, the virtues remain hard to practice either in their classical forms (wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice) or under their Christian names (faith, hope, and charity). The sins speak more directly to the emotions and the whims of the moment, and it is on the sins, singly or in synergetic combination, that a consumer society depends for its amusement and 95% of its gross domestic product. They aren't as much fun as the virtues, but they are very good for business. The sins in all their denominations (venal as well as mortal) sustain the volume in the stock market, employ the otherwise unemployable, excite the fevers of speculation, stimulate the passions for sexual and political novelty. Trim out the fat of the seven virtues, and nothing bad happens to the price of real estate or the Dow Jones Industrial Average; take away the seven deadly sins, and the country goes promptly broke. And yet, despite their many valuable contributions to society over the last 1,500 years, the sins continue to attract a good deal of adverse criticism, some of it warranted but much of it intemperate and ungrateful. The medieval schoolmen didn't live in a consumer society, and they didn't understand that temptation is the blessed state of being that generates sales. They fail to see that the sins when properly appreciated as the mainsprings of social progress incorporate the functions of the virtues. Pride Leave vanity out of the equation and who would run the government or the Walt Disney Company? What politician would stand for public office? Who would paint another toenail or sing another song? Left to its own devices and unencumbered by sermons, pride accomplishes the tasks of charity. University presidents offer "naming opportunities" to wealthy patrons who bestow the gifts of libraries and football stadiums. Pride goeth before destruction, but destruction sells cosmetics, aircraft carriers, and newspapers. Covetousness Poorly informed critics, most of them foreigners or leftists, fail to notice that among American consumers, the acts of getting and spending serve a spiritual, not a material purpose. The faithful regard the rights of purchase as the proofs of grace, and they go shopping in much the same way that medieval pilgrims stopped to pray at wayside shrines. The transaction brings with it a presentiment of everlasting bliss, also the comfort of having acknowledged the perfection of the supernatural design. Similar to the rite of communion, the rituals of consumption partake of the body and blood of divinity, and the more costly the substance consumed, the more perfectly the communicant enters into a union with the invisible band of God. The consumption of cheap toys and low-end pornography becomes an act of piety as devout as the buying of a Gulfstream IV. The supreme law of the consumer society holds that nobody ever has enough. Anger and Lust The twin glories of the news and entertainment business. Suppress either one of them in favor of their virtuous antonyms, i.e., with the peace that passeth all understanding, and the chastity of Snow White and the great American television audience would rise in open rebellion. The National Football League would depart into bankruptcy, taking with it the fashion industry, large sectors of the legal profession, the manufacturers of soap and automobiles who package their products with the pornographic images that sell the services and move the goods. The few journalists still at large might learn to content themselves with making lists of yesterday's temperature readings, but in the houses of Congress the politicians would have nothing to say to one another; neither would the actors in the World Wrestling Federation. Gluttony The supreme law of the consumer society holds that nobody ever has enough, and America's sustained prosperity follows from a general sense of unassuaged emptiness and perpetual discontent, and whenever the economy runs into sufficiently serious trouble, the authorities in New York and Washington prescribe the same remedy: place enough cash in the hands of the American consumers, and they will stampede through the world's markets like a herd of famished buffalo, setting in motion the happy sequence of events that leads to more spending, more investment, more confidence, more traffic deaths, more missiles, more amphetamines. The voraciousness of the American appetite guarantees the safety of the free world; were it not for our steadfast buying of European luxury goods and cheap Chinese labor (the annual trade deficit currently estimated at $300 billion), the armies of Slobodan Milosevic and Saddam Hussein would be standing at the gates of Paris. Envy The market trades in the currencies of envy, which increase the rates of expenditure in the showrooms of self-esteem for people who fix their self-worth by the degrees of their association with private schools, exclusive clubs, precious brand names. Understood not as a sin but as a system of measurement or a means of education, envy sharpens the powers of observation, exercises the memory, teaches arithmetic. Celebrity biographies take the place of the lives of the saints. Sloth Although preserved as a sin in the Christian scheme of things, sloth in a consumer society expresses the virtues of temperance and humility. Seated placidly on a couch in front of the television set, the ideal American citizen can muster just enough energy to change the channel and push the buttons that bring the diamond from the shopping network, order the pizza and the Playboy movie, and answer yes or no to the questions on an opinion poll. This habit of mind promotes political stability and nurtures the body of ideal citizens who are not likely to incite a riot or quarrel with the police. Space doesn't permit detailed analysis of all the advantages sure to follow from the merging of the virtues with the sins. The bottom line is that keeping track of answered or unanswered prayers can be outsourced to the Bahamas and the angels, all of them remarkably good looking people, should have no trouble finding work as headwaiters in New York restaurants, or lap dancers in Las Vegas, or personal trainers in Beverly Hills.
v v v v v The Cricket A Native American and his friend were in downtown New York City, walking near Times Square in Manhattan. It was during the noon lunch hour and the streets were filled with people. Cars were honking their horns, taxicabs were squealing around corners, sirens were wailing, and the sounds of the city were almost deafening. Suddenly, the Native American said, "I hear a cricket." His friend said, "What? You must be crazy. You couldn't possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!" "No, I'm sure of it," the Native American said, "I heard a cricket." "That's crazy," said the friend. The Native American listened carefully for a moment, and then walked across the street to a big cement planter where some shrubs were growing. He looked into the bushes, beneath the branches, and sure enough, he located a small cricket. His friend was utterly amazed. "That's incredible," said his friend. "You must have superhuman ears!" "No," said the Native American. "My ears are no different from yours. It all depends on what you're listening for." "But that can't be!" said the friend. "I could never hear a cricket in this noise." "Yes, it's true," came the reply. "It depends on what is really important to you. Here, let me show you. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and discreetly dropped them on the sidewalk. And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears, they noticed every head within 20 feet turn and look to see if the money that tinkled on the pavement was theirs. "See what I mean?" asked the Native American. "It all depends on what's important to you." What's important to you? What do you listen for? Some people say that there is no God, and that He never speaks to us anymore. But perhaps they can't hear Him because they aren't listening for Him. They are living for themselves, not for God. If you are in tune with God, you will be able to notice Him at work in your life and in the world. And you'll be able to hear Him when He speaks. -Author Unknown (The above was sent to us by Frank Schiros who got it by E-mail from his daughter, Jene' Schiros-Wilson.) v v v v v Catholicism Near And Far (Frank began sending in these short items as a new feature for this month's issue. We hope you enjoy them.) U.S. Catholic Magazine reports that in an attempt to minimize discomfort during the uncomfortable act of confession, the Venice-based firm, Genuflex, recently unveiled a spacious, new, top-of-the-line confessional. At a price of $6,250, the walnut-finished confessional offers air-conditioning and heating, black leather seats, soft lighting, microphones, green and red lights to indicate vacancy, and optional hygienic filters for the confessional screen. Some believe that poverty is created by the behavior and morality of the poor. The Denver Catholic Register recently featured a discussion on whether Church authority should make a ruling that holding hands during the "Our Father" is inappropriate because it "may interfere with the proper focus of that moment in the mass." A. Lower comments in Leaven magazine, "I have a slightly devious suggestion: let's touch toes or at least shoes. No one will be able to see, so we could get away with it. What a great conspiracy! Take that you, big controllers of the spirit! And just think of summertime -- with open-toed shoes -- the delicious possibilities of a secret scandal. My, my, my..." The Chicago Sun-Times reports: The proper closing when writing to the Pope is: "I prostrate myself at the feet of your holiness and, imploring the favor of your apostolic benediction, I have the honor to be, Very Holy Father, in the deepest veneration of your holiness, your most humble and most obedient servant and son/daughter." A columnist noted that this is why he gets so few postcards.
v v v v v Probing the Issue: Living Wage (The following is excerpted from a booklet put out by the Cleveland Diocese titled, "Proclaim Jubilee, Proclaim Justice: A Reflection and Action Guide on the Jubilee Pledge for Charity, Justice and Peace." We will be running these throughout the Jubilee year.) "Furthermore -- and this must be especially emphasized -- there is the worker's right to a wage determined according to criteria of justice. This means, therefore, one sufficient in proportion to the available resources, to give the worker and his family a standard of living with human dignity." -- Pacem in Terris, Pope John XXIIIWhat is a living wage? A living wage provides the basic salary necessary to cover a family's food, clothing, shelter, day care, transportation and medical needs. Current minimum wage of $5.15 per hour @ 40 hours per week equals an annual salary of $10,712. Poverty level for a family of four is $16,450. This family would have to make $7.91 per hour to reach this level. Facts:
Stereotypes: The opportunity for economic stability and self-sufficiency for all families cannot be addressed without looking at some of the stereotypes that have developed. Some believe that poverty is created by the behavior and morality of the poor and not by economic and structural causes, or that poverty can be eliminated solely by reforming welfare. Others believe that poverty is only present in minority communities. Still others believe that the economy does not have the capacity to provide full employment and to support other efforts to eliminate poverty, and, if you work then you cannot be poor. Work has a special place in Catholic Social Thought: Work is more than just a job. It is a reflection of human dignity and a way to contribute to the common good. Most importantly it is the ordinary way people meet their material needs and community obligations. In Catholic Social Teaching the principle of a living wage is integral to our understanding of human work. Hard work should be rewarded. It is fundamentally unfair for human beings to do an honest day's work and be poor at the end of it. Even more unfair is for the family's children to grow up in poverty. To reduce poverty there is no more effective strategy than providing access to jobs that pay a living wage. Is it just to exclude some Americans from the benefits of our affluent society? It is fundamentally unfair for human beings to do an honest day’s work and be poor at the end of it. Reflection: In their pastoral Economic Justice for All, the U.S. Bishops stated that the economy exists for the people and not the people for the economy. What do you think of this statement? Based on our tradition of Catholic Social Thought, how does preferential option of the poor and human dignity connect to the understanding of work? What are the challenges of addressing the issue of poverty systemically? Whose responsibility is it to reduce poverty: government, business, charitable organizations, community organizations? Action: Write your congressperson and senators to urge their support for legislation that would significantly raise the minimum wage for all workers. Join the Jobs for Justice/Living Wage Campaign, (440) 333-6363. Determine if your parish is paying a "livable wage" to all workers. Analyze the wage picture in your community - how many jobs are at minimum wage? What is the median rate of pay? Median yearly salary? Wage base for city contracts? v v v v v
On Being Poor (Dan's cousin in Atlanta, Hal Place, sent us this web catch.) One day a very wealthy father took his son on a trip to the country for the sole purpose of showing his son how it was to be poor. They spent a few days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. After their return from the trip, the father asked his son how he liked the trip. "It was great, Dad," the son replied. "Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked. "Oh yeah," said the son. "So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father. The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them." The boy's father was speechless. Then his son added, "It showed me how poor we are." Too many times we forget what we have and concentrate on what we don't have. What is one person's worthless object is another's prize possession. It is all based on one's perspective. Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks to God for the bounty we have been provided by Him, instead of worrying about getting more. Take joy in all He has given each and every one of us. Especially rejoice in our friends. v v v v v A Thorn Bouquet Sandra felt as low as the heels of her Birkenstocks as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like a spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole her ease. During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come. The ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped, no flowers. What's worse, Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. "Had she lost a child? No - she has no idea what I'm feeling," Sandra shuddered. Thanksgiving? "Thankful for what?" she wondered. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child? "Good afternoon, can I help you?" The flower shop clerk's approach startled her. "Sorry," said Jenny, "I just didn't want you to think I was ignoring you." "I...I need an arrangement." "For Thanksgiving?" Sandra nodded. "Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the Thanksgiving Special." Jenny saw Sandra's curiosity and continued. "I'm convinced that flowers tell stories, that each arrangement insinuates a particular feeling. Are you looking for something that conveys gratitude this Thanksgiving?" "Not exactly!" Sandra blurted. "Sorry, but in the last five months, everything that could go wrong has." Sandra regretted her outburst but was surprised when Jenny said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you." The door's small bell suddenly rang. "Barbara! Hi," Jenny said. She politely excused herself from Sandra and walked toward a small workroom. She quickly reappeared carrying a massive arrangement of greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses. Only, the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped, no flowers. "Want this in a box?" Jenny asked. Sandra watched for Barbara's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems and no flowers! She waited for laughter, for someone to notice the absence of flowers atop the thorny stems, but neither woman did. "Yes, please. It's exquisite," said Barbara. "You'd think after three years of getting the special, I'd not be so moved by its significance, but it's happening again. My family will love this one. Thanks." Sandra stared. "Why so normal a conversation about so strange an arrangement? she wondered. "Ah," said Sandra, pointing. "That lady just left with, ah..." "Yes?" "Well, she had no flowers!" "Right, I cut off the flowers." "Off?" "Off. Yep. That's the Special. I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet." "But, why do people pay for that?" asked Sandra. In spite of herself Jenny chuckled. "Do you really want to know?" "I couldn't leave this shop without knowing. I'd think about nothing else!" "That might be good," said Jenny. "Well," she continued, "Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling very much like you feel today. She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she faced major surgery." "Ouch!" said Sandra. "That same year, I lost my husband. I assumed complete responsibility for the shop and for the first time, spent the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel." The Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted and from His consolation we learn to comfort others. "What did you do?" "I learned to be thankful for thorns." Sandra's eyebrows lifted. "Thorns?" "I'm a Christian, Sandra. I've always thanked God for good things in life and I never thought to ask Him why good things happened to me. But, when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask! It took time to learn that dark times are important. I always enjoyed the 'flowers' of life but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted and from His consolation we learn to comfort others." Sandra gasped. "A friend read that passage to me and I was furious! I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God." She started to ask Jenny to "go on" when the door's bell diverted their attention. "Hey, Phil!" shouted Jenny as a balding, rotund man entered the shop. She softly touched Sandra's arm and moved to welcome him. He tucked her under his side for a warm hug. "I'm here for twelve thorny long-stemmed stems!" Phil laughed, heartily. "I figured as much," said Jenny. "I've got them ready." She lifted a tissue-wrapped arrangement from the refrigerated cabinet. "Beautiful," said Phil. "My wife will love them." Sandra could not resist asking. "These are for your wife?" Phil saw that Sandra's curiosity matched his when he first heard of a Thorn Bouquet. "Do you mind me asking why thorns?" "In fact, I'm glad you asked," he said. "Four years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but we slogged through problem by rotten problem. We rescued our marriage - our love, really. Last year at Thanksgiving I stopped in here for flowers. I must have mentioned surviving a tough process because Jenny told me that for a long time she kept a vase of rose stems - stems! - as a reminder of what she learned from "thorny" times. That was good enough for me. I took home stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific thorny situation and give thanks for what the problem taught us. I'm pretty sure this stem review is becoming a tradition." Phil paid Jenny, thanked her again and as he left, said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!" "I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life." Sandra said to Jenny. "Well, my experience says that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember, Sandra, Jesus wore a crown of thorns so that we might know His love. Do not resent thorns." Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident she loosened her grip on resentment. "I'll take twelve long-stemmed thorns, please." "I hoped you would," Jenny said. "I'll have them ready in a minute. Then, every time you see them, remember to appreciate both good and hard times. We grow through both." "Thank you. What do I owe you?" "Nothing. Nothing but a pledge to work toward healing your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me." Jenny handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach a card like this to your arrangement but maybe you'd like to read it first. Go ahead, read it." It said: My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorns! I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear, teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbow. Jenny said, "Happy Thanksgiving, Sandra," handing her the Special. "I look forward to our knowing each other better." Sandra smiled. She turned, opened the door and walked toward hope. v v v v v Jokey Hokey Pokey (This snag in the net came to us from several different people.) I don't usually like to pass on news like this, but sometimes we just need to pause and remember what life is about. There was a great loss recently in the entertainment world. Larry La Prise, the Detroit native who wrote the song "Hokey Pokey," died recently at 83. It was especially difficult for the family to keep him in the casket. They'd put his left leg in and . . .well, you know the rest. v v v v v The Bell Campaign (Vivian and John Drean sent this to Frank Schiros and Frank then forwarded it to us.) I don't know if you know about The Bell Campaign. To let you know just a little about it, it is grassroots organization committed to preventing gun death and injury, and to supporting victims of gun trauma. The Bell Campaign wants 3 major changes in our national gun policy:
There are 32 communities in 15 states that have applied to become chapters of The Bell Campaign. The Bell Campaign is sponsoring a Million Moms to March Across America on Mother's Day 2000 (May 14,2000). Would you like to be a part of this organization? It is easy to join. Here's how to contact them: E-mail - bell@bellcampaign.org Web Address - http://www.bellcampaign.org Write them at:
Or call:
v v v v v
A New Chaplain in Congress I have been accused by some members of the community as being too prejudicial toward that segment of the Republican Party that panders to the right-wing, fundamentalists. That is true for good reason. Recently, the House of Representatives chose the Rev. Charles Parker Wright, a Presbyterian minister, as its new chaplain. Rev. Wright was last on the list of three candidates selected by a bi-partisan committee to fill the vacancy. The first candidate and overwhelming choice was the Rev. Timothy O'Brien, a Roman Catholic priest. It's important to note that no Catholic has ever served in that position. In the nineteenth century, Protestants were wary of the fast growing Catholic minority and Protestant congressman often maintained office by expressing anti-Catholic demagoguery. It's important to note that no Catholic has ever served in that position. One would think that in this day and age when preaching tolerance is supposedly at its' peak that prejudice of this sort would have disappeared somewhere in the hills of Missouri. But along come Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois and Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, (where else!) who claim that a Protestant minister would jell the best with members of the House and their families. Both of the congressmen's constituencies are comprised of conservative evangelicals and fundamentalists of the religious right-wing republican factions. The deceptive aspects of their blatant charade is that they can suck in Catholics with their anti-abortion rhetoric and at the same time maintain their not so covert activities against Catholicism and get away with it and Catholics let them get away with it. There has been much to gain for the coalition of right-wing Republicans and religious fundamentalists lately but Catholics must learn to hold their own at the voting booth. I note that there is no right-wing fundamentalist faction in the Democratic Party. It's also important to keep in mind that where a particular denomination becomes the state religion through party politics then that party gains both power and undue influence and our country could end up being led by both a religious as well as a civil head. State religion has always imposed a heavy price on those not in the religious framework, i.e. they would want to make all Americans into their image of what a good Christian should be. My admonition to voters is to think of the possible consequences of voting for a party that aligns itself with a denominational slant for the sake of winning votes. In the words of Diana Bass, professor of religious studies, "God help that party. They really needed a Catholic priest. A Rabbi, an Imam or a Buddhist monk probably wouldn't hurt them either." -Frank Schiros v v v v v Padre Franco The Bellringer (Editor's Note: Frank Schiros derives the title for this column from the movie, "Cinema Paradiso," where the village priest was the local censor. Whenever he found objectionable parts in a film, he would ring the bell and the projectionist would cut the scene out. While Frank is a little like the priest in the movie, ringing a bell with his words, he takes some license with the concept in rating the films, using a scale of one to five bells - the more bells, the better he liked the picture. - D.A.) Cider House Rules %%%% The title takes its theme from a set of illogical rules posted for migrant apple pickers who never pay attention to them because in the words of the foreman, "we don't follow the rules, because we didn't make them." It's a metaphor that weaves its way through the movie from apple picking to abortion. Homer (Tobey Maguire) is a young man left as a baby at St Cloud's Orphanage and has lived his entire life there. He is raised as a surrogate son by Dr Wilbur Larch (Michael Caine) who has shepherded him through all the gynecological/obstetrical processes of women and babies. His private agenda is that Homer will one day take his place. One has to appreciate the cultural tenor of the '40s to understand the doctor's stance on abortion. To become pregnant in that era was tantamount to being eternally ostracized, demeaned and damned. I can remember from my own experience as a teacher that when a principle heard about a student pregnancy, that student was out the next day. Fortunately it's not like the contemporary position of parents and schools that allow young people to finish school while their children are in Day Care. It also raises the still unresolved issue of abortion vs. contraception vs. whether a women's body is her own. Therefore, in a more subtle way, the theme, "we don't follow the rules, because we didn't make them," is something for the Church to reflect on. Neither Dr. Larch's position on abortion nor his addiction are ever explained, so it's difficult to know where he's coming from. However he is portrayed as a kindly, loving, compassionate person who, every night after story time, bids his children, "Good night, you princes of Maine -- you kings of New England," as a sign of his love for them. The orphans are portrayed as loveable ragamuffins and one would hope that all orphanages exude the kind of affection they received. Michael Caine fits this part better than he has in recent previous roles. A young unmarried couple, Candy and Wally, (Charlize Theron and Paul Rudd) come to St Cloud's because Candy is pregnant and has arranged an abortion. Homer decides to see the rest of the world outside of St Cloud and in spite of objections by Dr. Larch, gets a job as an apple picker in Wally's mother's orchard. During this new experience he lives with a black migrant crew and learns apple picking from Mr. Rose the foreman. During this time, he also learns of an incestuous relationship between father and daughter. He sets aside his scruples and takes up his learned skills to perform an abortion on the daughter. In the end, the daughter kills the father and disappears. The last episode portrays Homer's involvement with Candy and, when he realizes that the relationship is not to be, he returns to St Cloud and picks up where he left off. Tobey Maguire's dead-pan acting is right for this role but he'll have to change his characterizations so as not to be typecast for other roles. The Whole Nine Yards % (with reservations)I never liked the macho, high-tech, violent roles that Bruce Willis played in previous movies, but I thought he had turned over a new leaf with his work in the movie "The Sixth Sense." I was wrong - in this movie, he's the same old smirky Bruce Willis. I guess he'll do anything for money. It never ceases to amaze me that the public can laugh about violence and accept it in movies and TV. Yet the media or the public still see no connection between violence on film and, for example, the cold-blooded murder of a young girl in West Geauga by an unfeeling murderer. Whatever the case, the film is poorly edited and the plot is not believable. Anyway, why does the black guy (Michael Clarke Duncan) always get killed in movies like this? It never ceases to amaze me that the public can laugh about violence and accept it in movies and TV. Nicholas Oseransky is a belabored dentist practicing in Montreal and (if you can believe it) recognizes his next door neighbor as Jimmy "the Tulip," a hit man from Chicago hiding out in Montreal. His witchy wife wants him to go to Chicago and tell on him for a reward. He agrees to do this (if you can believe it) and tells the local gang where he is. He's sent back with another hit man to finish the Tulip off. In the meantime, the dental assistant (Amanda Peet) meets the Tulip next door and becomes his apprentice "hit man" (if you can believe it). Throw in a little nudity and the story goes downhill from there. The astonishing fact is that, with some reservations, the professional critics called the movie funny and gave generally gave it the equivalent of three out of five stars, which tells me that corporate public relations departments have got the critics in their back pocket. -Frank Schiros (Note: "The Whole Nine Yards" has been the number one movie in the country for three consecutive weekends. - D.A.) v v v v v Online Primer: A Review, And More Free Stuff Every so often it is helpful to step back and consider why I am writing this feature. After all, this is a publication of the Community of St. Malachi, a Christian faith-based group, a parish of the Cleveland Diocese, and computer technology is a decidedly secular affair. I am personally convinced that everything we do, apart from our inner spiritual lives, will have some connection to what we now know as the internet in the future. I describe it as "what we now know as the internet," because it is likely to evolve into something much broader and easier to use. The future world of connectivity may look nothing like what we see today in the internet and even what the futurists predict. But it will be based on today's internet and we need to start getting ready. It's been said that those who are not ready, who are not connected, will be left behind, and I happen to agree. I am personally convinced that everything we do…will have some connection to what we now know as the internet in the future. Some are frightened by the media reports of online addictions, misuse by children, exploitation of children, invasion of privacy, mysterious viruses and much more. My answer to these concerns is simple: you take appropriate precautions and you deal with the problems as they occur. Overall, the positives outweigh the negatives. I also said this will happen "apart from our inner spiritual lives," and to the extent that our spirituality depends on books and communications with others, that also will have an internet component. But the world of connectivity I describe is well in the future and we at Malachi's are practical folks. We want to know how this will work for us now. There are two primary areas of benefits:
With the Community web site, we are setting up a foundation for our future connectedness, which is central to us as a community. It is especially important given that this is a non-territorial parish where many people only come to the church place once a week. As we go on, hopefully we will discover more ways to enhance our journey of faith together through the internet. But one of the first steps has to be encouraging members to get connected and providing what we can of the tools for them to do so. And that's why I write this series of articles. More Free Stuff: One of the themes I keep coming back to is the availability of free programs and services. Some may be skeptical. "There's no such thing as a free lunch" was true in the world before the internet and it's still true today. Many of these companies have underlying motives for making their offerings free: they might show you advertising while you are using it, or might they compile demographic information used for other purposes, or they might hope that that you will pay later for upgraded versions. In some cases, it is a competitive ploy that may or may not be something you would like to support. But the trend is here, and it will likely stay for some period of time, and it is something we can use to become connected. I have written often about free internet services, and this is one trend that appears to be here for the long haul. Since the last issue, I discovered one that is far superior to the others: Freewwweb, available at www.freewwweb.net. This one connects quickly, offers a separate E-mail account that can be used with an E-mail program on your computer, and it does not display any advertising. How do they make money? I don't have a clue. But it's there and I encourage you to use it. One caution: As part of the installation process, it will install the Netscape browser and E-mail program, which is fine, as long as you have room on your hard drive for them. After you are signed up and connected, you can use other browsers, if you prefer. I have written often about free internet services, and this is one trend that appears to be here for the long haul. Unless you like spending $10 or $20 or more a month on an internet service you use occasionally, these free services are the way to go. There is now a free alternative to the very expensive office suites of programs, such as Microsoft Office. It is called Star Office from Sun Microsystems, a prominent computer software company that hopes this program might be competitive with Microsoft's. I've only used it a little (I'm testing it now to write this article), but it certainly seems worth the investment. Download it at www.sun.com/staroffice. But note, it's a big program and will be a very long download. A CD is available for $40 plus shipping, which is quite a lot. The company promises that all future upgrades will be free. Virus Warning: There is a real computer virus out there that has infected a number of Community members systems. It is not serious and won't crash your computer, but apparently sends some of your personal information, like your name and address, to a web site somewhere. It only infects Microsoft Word 97 documents and is called W97M.Marker, or some such variation. We have found that only Norton Anti-Virus with the latest updated files catches this one and gets rid of it. Also note: you did not hear about this by E-mail. Continue to ignore all E-mail warnings urging you to forward them far and wide. And by the way, there is a petition going around among well-meaning members of the Community that should also be ignored. It concerns budget cuts for the National Endowment for the Arts. This thing has been floating around the internet for years now and, while funding for the NEA may be in question, this petition is not the answer. Like virus hoaxes, it is only taking up space on servers and wasting your time. -Dan Alaimo (Dan co-chairs the Communications Committee with Peter Toomey.) v v v v v How Dogs and Cats Were Created (Our thanks to Luis Gutierrez's friend out in California, Linda Rae Savage, who caught this piece on the net.) A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has provided the answer to the question: "Where do pets come from?" Adam said, "Lord, when I was in the garden, you walked with me every day. Now I do not see you anymore. I am lonesome here and it is difficult to remember how much you love me." And God said, "No problem! I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourself." And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam. And it was a good animal. And God was pleased. And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and he wagged his tail. And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal." And God said, "No problem! Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him Dog." And Dog lived with Adam and was a companion to him and loved him. And Adam was comforted. And God was pleased. And Dog was content and wagged his tail. After awhile, it came to pass that Adam's guardian angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam has become filled with pride. He struts and preens like a peacock and he believes he is worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught him that he is loved, but perhaps too well." And the Lord said, "No problem! I will create for him a companion who will be with him forever and who will see him as he is. The companion will be called Cat." And Cat would not obey Adam. And when Adam gazed into Cat's eyes, he was reminded that he was not the Supreme Being. And Adam learned humility. And Cat would not obey Adam .And God was pleased. And Adam was greatly improved. And Dog was happy. And the Cat didn't care one way or the other. v v v v v Community News Council Meeting Highlights The Community Council met on Sunday, Feb. 13 at St. Malachi Center. Minutes from Jan. 23 approved with amendments. The next meeting is March 19, but to allow time to attend Vatican II educational series, the usual 7 p.m. start will be moved to 5:30 p.m. The Annual Meeting is April 9, reports, nominations and elections and volunteer opportunities. Plus the Community of St. Malachi's (CSM) Annual Report. PRESIDENT'S REPORT: Rebecca Rocco noted that 25th Anniversary pins are on sale. Appreciative Inquiry process has begun. Council members to facilitate planning, all others are welcome. New members responding to the opportunity to talk at Coffee Hour with Councilors at the recently established Council Corner. 25th Anniversary History Book Editor Paul Kunkel is compiling committee reflections on importance, historical perspective, how work has evolved, impact on CSM's character and culture, perspectives, future goals. PASTOR'S REPORT: Fr. Tony discussed article "How to Reach Inactive Catholics." CHRISTIAN FORMATION: High school retreat was very successful. High school students are planning junior high retreat. First communion preparation is underway. COMMUNICATIONS: Creating a "CSM Brochure" to describe CSM to any audience. Similar to a "corporate capabilities brochure." Web page: Meeting was scheduled to discuss style, improvements, ways to increase use. URL is www.stmalachi.org. Committee reports, schedules, employment needs and opportunities, etc., will appear. HOSPITALITY: Committee will find volunteers to help with heavyweight clean-up, trash cans emptied, etc., at the end of Coffee Hour. LITURGY: Lenten and Easter planning underway, to be followed by 25th Anniversary events. MEMBERSHIP: Annual Recommitment forms coming out earlier, for return before Annual Meeting, Apr. 9. Will also be available on the web. Next Welcome Series is May 2, 7, 9. NOMINATING: Members are invited to consider their call to serve on Council as at-large members or committee chairs. Treasurer, Hospitality and Liturgy need new chairs. SOCIAL ACTION: Committee continues to meet after Mass in the Rectory on the second Sunday of every month. On West Side Catholic Center, attended two meetings. Talked about early history. Purchased neighboring building, rehabbing, will do fundraising for increased operations. CSM and Parish decided to solicit support with flyer, pledge card, envelope. During Lenten season, Aggie Hoskin will deliver communion reflection. PERSONAL NEEDS FUND: Formed special fund "to meet personal financial needs for individuals who are members of the CSM or affiliated with the Community. The fund will be ongoing, funded by gifts and special fundraisers, and administered by the pastor." Any member in need can approach any councilor or Fr. Tony. SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT: On Vatican II series, there's a generation that knows little about Vatican II. Vigorous attendance could revitalize the Community. Starts March 12. Encouraging all to invite five people (within and outside CSM) to attend these extremely important educational events. TREASURER: Recruited volunteers to oversee counting the collection for next four Sundays. Looking for nominations for 2000-2001 treasurer. VICE PRESIDENT: As CSM representative attended Feb. 2 Parish Council meeting to facilitate communication. - Peter E. Toomey (Peter co-chairs the Communications Committee with Dan Alaimo.) (Peter co-chairs the Communications Committee with Dan Alaimo.) (Peter co-chairs the Communications Committee with Dan Alaimo.)
Social Action Committee Meeting Report (Here are the minutes of a meeting that took place on February 13th. Thank you Susan!) Present: Mary Becker, Sharon Banyo, Lois Dingman, Pat Forkas, Tess Korkowski, Fred Leonard, Allen (new member), Carol Young, and Susan Shipley
A list of 5 areas to address in a holistic approach were given:
Identify eligible person or family using open-ended and structured questions (re-addiction, rehab, etc.). The SAC group will put forward a plan at council's next meeting. -Susan Shipley
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