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* * * * * The Malachi File As the number of Community members with internet access grows, we are fast approaching the point where most of those without are those who are adamantly resistant. For some, economics may be an issue, but with used computers and free access available, that excuse is going away for a lot of people. Now I'm seeing more ads for so–called "internet appliances," inexpensive machines that enable limited online access – if you are thinking of buying one, pay attention to the monthly service agreement. Eventually the cable companies in this area will start offering internet service, and Ameritech is promoting its high–speed DSL service, which costs more, but people who have high–speed access say they'll never switch back. There's been a lot of change among the free internet service providers, and quite a few of them have gone out of business in the last few months. But enough remain – like Juno, Bluelight and NetZero – that I don't think free service will disappear entirely anytime soon. Personally, I like Bluelight's chances of survival. It's mainly a component of Kmart's online marketing strategy and when you are using it to access certain parts of Yahoo, you don't have to look at the advertising screens. MyPoints.com recently launched a free service where you get points while connected, but I've gotten a lot of busy signals with that one. Meanwhile, we are fortunate here in Cleveland to have a number of $10–a–month services available to us, which is a pretty good deal and you don't have to put up with the advertising. With Corecomm, which bought Stratos awhile ago, you get free, ad–less internet access if sign up for their local telephone service. I am writing about all that here rather than in the "Online Primer" for two reasons: one, I've got nothing else to write about this month, and two, because of a conversation I had with Dick Gibbons, our Spiritual Development chair, last week. Dick and I talked about how to get news about deaths and illness out to Community members on a timely basis. E–mail is an obvious solution, although we need wider coverage before it will be truly effective. Because of growing use of the internet, we hope this will become more viable in the future. But we are resigned to the fact that some folks will continue to aggressively resist the internet. One way to address the need – a '‘work–around' in computer jargon – is a modification of the old phone wheel idea. People who have e–mail will get the messages, and then agree to call a certain number of people who don't. For this we need two things: a complete and accurate e–mail list of Community members and, more importantly, a volunteer coordinator. If you are interested, please make yourself known to me (see my contact information at the end of Communio) or Dick at (440) 716–9624 or e–mail him at rgibbons7@aol.com. On that subject, I need to point out that my e–mail address in the current roster is wrong again. Apparently, the same error from last year was repeated. The correct address is alaimo@bigfoot.com. Please note it, or keep in mind that the roster address is incorrect and you need to look elsewhere – like a recent issue of Communio – for the correct address. We got an e–mail from Malachi Mart this week, and Mary Englert is covering it in greater detail in the Newsletter, but here are some highlights: The Mart and various volunteers are selling the Entertainment coupon and discount book for $30. This is always a good deal. Our family buys it every year and always uses it enough to at least cover the cost, and often much more. This year, they are offering a West Side version of the book. You can pick it up at Coffee Hour. The Mart is seeking donations of any leftover Y2K provisions, such as canned goods. Contact Bonnie or Jacqui at 216–621–1988. Check out the Mart's web site, www.stmalachimart.org, for weekly specials and other information. And, of course, remember to visit the web sites of the Community and the Parish, both found at www.stmalachi.org. Thanks to Bishop Pilla and Eileen Von Alt, Ron Perger, John Lucic, Hal Place, Bill Herceg, Frank Schiros, the CSM Liturgy Committee, Michael Petit and Peter Toomey for contributing material for this month's issue. The next issue is Dec. 17 with a Dec. 3 deadline. — Dan Alaimo (Dan co–chairs the Communications Committee with Peter Toomey.) * * * * * Compassion: A Homily By Bishop Anthony M. Pilla (The following is the homily delivered by Bishop Anthony M. Pilla at the St. Malachi Community 25th Anniversary Mass on Sunday, October 1, 2000. Our thanks to Eileen Von Alt from the Bishop's office for getting this to us and, of course, thanks to Bishop Pilla for his moving words.) Among Our Lord's recorded words, there is one particular touching phrase. As He looks out over the hungry thousands – men and women who have been with Him three days and have nothing to eat – He says to His disciples: "I have compassion on the crowd" (Mt 15:32). "I have compassion." That expression runs like a golden thread through the Gospel, through the life of Christ. He sees the crowds "bewildered and dejected like sheep without a shepherd," and St. Matthew tells us, "He was moved with compassion for them" (Mt 9:36). He sees another large crowd and "out of compassion for them" (Mt 14:14) He heals their sick. Two blind men cry, "Have mercy on us!" and "moved with compassion for them" (Mt 20:30,34) He opens their eyes. A leper pleads, "If you want to, you can make me clean," and "having compassion on him" (Mk 1:40–41) Jesus stretches forth His hand. Because a father begs, "Have compassion on us and help us" (Mk 9:21), He drives a devil out of a lad. Because a mother weeps, the Lord has "compassion on her" (Lk 7:13) and gives life to her only son. Three of His best–loved stories are tales of compassion. The master who forgives his servant a tremendous debt because he is "moved with compassion" (Mt 18:27). The Good Samaritan who binds up the wounds of a Jew fallen among robbers because he is "moved with compassion" (Lk 10:33). And the father who kisses his prodigal son in total forgiveness because he is "moved with compassion" (Lk 15:20). Briefly, the Gospels portray God–in–flesh "moved with compassion" for all manner of suffering: for the sick, the hungry, and the debtor; for the blind and the bewildered; for the sinner and the bedeviled; for the leper touched by God and the Jew struck by men; for a mother. And the reason for it all is quite obvious – St. Paul has chiseled it in deathless language: "(Heb 4:15). It's a startling thought, isn't it? The Son of God took human flesh of Mary; He took for himself our nature. But, not more my nature than yours; not more your nature than the nature of the Roman called Herod or the Jew whose name was Judas. In fact, the Son of God took human flesh "to save what was lost" (Mt 18:11). The farther the sheep had strayed, the lower the prodigal had sunk, the greater was the challenge to His love. The more repulsive the body to human liking, the deeper was His yearning to make lovely the soul within His indwelling. No, the problem is not with God; the problem lies with us. God is rich in compassion – compassion not merely for material suffering, but compassion in every age for the Judas who sells Him for silver and the Peter who denies Him with an oath; for the Herod who mocks him for a fool and the Pilate who washes his hands of Him; for the servant who slaps His cheek and the soldier who digs deep holes in His hands and feet. The problem of compassion lies with us. So much of the world's sickness stems from this, that human beings are without compassion. All we have to do is look about us. You have all the petty hatred, all the petty bigotry, all the petty meanness that shrinks our hearts, poisons our minds and defiles our tongues. If we love God, we will have compassion on His image; and the image of God is the human person – every person. It is the image of God that is somehow defaced by war and sin and hunger and hatred and even bewilderment. Each of you is as much a missionary as Paul or Francis Xavier, a missionary to the world you enter each day, a little world with more colors, more costumes, more smells than Paul or Xavier ever dreamed of. You may not be called to reap the harvest, but you are asked to plant the seed: a gracious word to this cripple, a kindness to this beggar, a quiet prayer that this human being, so ruthless, so faithless, so pitiless, may soon be one with the rest of us. Compassion, it seems, is the foundation stone of this community's existence and has been for 25 years. Your lives of faith, your inspiration, your leadership through the ministry of compassion has extended blessings into the lives of so many you have touched – it has exposed you, it has helped you to become better persons. That compassion is the wisdom of Christ alive in your hearts. For 25 years, saints and sinners have passed through the door of St. Malachi compassion and found rest, consolation, a sandwich, a shirt. For 25 years the impoverished have passed through the door of compassion and found a mission, a ministry, a place to be converted, a community to accompany them on the journey of faith. For 25 years, the addicted have found the doorway to recovery, the "dying poor" a path to consoling death, the young and the old an education and engaging formation in their faith. For 25 years you have fulfilled an important need for the entire Church of Cleveland. At St. Malachi many have found an opening into the ministry of justice through which they might maintain an essential connection with the heart of the Gospel; other parishes, seminarians, young religious, high school students, social justice committees – anyone who desired to make the connection between death and the resurrection of Jesus and the love of the least of our brothers and sisters was welcomed to come here and join in the journey. For 25 years the St. Malachi Community has turned the key of compassion on the doors of their own hearts. And by faith, another important connection has been maintained. Inside the human heart we see that each of us is truly poor without the love of God and neighbor; each of us is truly addicted unless we acknowledge our powerlessness without God; each of us is truly condemned to die alone poor without the friendship of Jesus and the love of others; each of us is hungry and homeless without a commitment to allow Christ to live and die within us through service to others. This is a Jubilee year! And we can all stay connected to its promises; we can all pass through the doors of Christ into the Kingdom of His justice – if we but turn the key of compassion. My sisters and brothers, you have shown so many the way, and in sharing with others, loving others, and leading others you have found your own way, your own connection to Jubilee – your own way to the Kingdom. Congratulations to you on this important milestone. God bless you as you continue the journey of Jubilee Justice for the years to come. Thank you for all that you are and have done for the Church, for God's people, and for Christ dwelling among us. — Bishop Anthony M. Pilla * * * * *We're Number One! After reading the article in the Plain Dealer, on Wednesday, September 6th, regarding the Vatican's newly released document "Dominus Iesus," I couldn't help but remember an episode from my childhood. In third grade, I was told that if you weren't Catholic you were going to Hell. Having a mother who was not, and is not, Catholic, I proceeded to tell my teacher that, "I want to go to hell too." Of course, I was promptly sent to the principal's office and my father (the Catholic) was called and told about my indiscretion. To his credit he pointed out "that most children want to be with their parents, no matter what, so I guess he's right," which stunned the principal. Since that time I have encountered numerous incidents regarding my mother's faith. From having a door slammed in her face in fifth grade by Sister Martin Joseph, C.S.J., because "she didn't know anything because she was a Protestant," to the way my paternal grandmother would hound her relentlessly about becoming Catholic. Which she never did. Gee, I wonder why? You see, my mother was baptized Catholic. However, growing up in a coal mining community in Pennsylvania, without a Catholic church and the closest one being over 50 miles away, it was more important to my grandparents that their children went to church and learned the word of God – and a way of life. Every Sunday, my maternal grandmother would dress her children up and walk them the few miles to the Presbyterian church located in town. When they moved to Lakewood, grandma went to St. Cyril's while her children, already in their mid–teens, went to the Presbyterian church because that's what they knew. It would have been easier for my mother to convert than to have to put up with being ridiculed by her children's teachers and hounded by her mother–in–law; after all she was already baptized. However, my mother has a strong faith, not just in the church, but in God. At 86, she still goes to her church nearly every Sunday. Her church even sends a cab for her because she doesn't drive and her service is the same time as ours. And my mother would never deny her children the chance to practice their faith. Are you really going to tell me, because she isn't Catholic she has no chance of salvation? I don't think that Christ would look at the path chosen by my mother and call it "gravely deficient." I thought that Christ said, "whosoever believes in me will have eternal life." He didn't say whoever is Catholic. After years of building ecumenism with both Christian based and non–Christian based denominations, I thought the Catholic Church was past their presumption of superiority. Maybe the reason for this turn–a–round is the number of Catholics leaving the church for other denominations because of its archaic reservations about married and woman priests? I'm afraid that this knee–jerk reaction to the exodus is only going to alienate more from the church. I can't help but be reminded about the joke about the people who died and as Saint Peter shows them around heaven he points out the Lutherans, and the Baptists, and the Buddhists, and the Jews. Then they come to a big wall. The people ask why there is a wall in heaven and Saint Peter quickly says, "Shh, those are the Catholics. They think they're the only ones here." That's about how silly this new document "Dominus Iesus" sounds. For me, I'm still like that 8 year–old boy: I want to be with my mom, wherever God decides we should be. Actually, I guess we're lucky that as a young girl my mom wasn't kidnapped by the Papal guards and raised by the Pope. — Ron Perger (Ron is a former member and President of Community Council and currently co–teaches Junior High Christian Formation) * * * * * Dominus Iesus: An Opinion I groaned in early September when the Plain Dealer announced in a headline regarding the Catholic Church, that "We're Number One." When I read that the article was reporting on a Church document penned by Cardinal Ratzinger, I groaned again. Fancying myself as a "liberal" Catholic, I knew enough to be suspicious of Ratzinger. Though I'd never read a word he wrote, I had decided I didn't like his opinions much. After all, advertising that the Catholic Church contained more truth than other churches was snobby. It wasn't nice. It wasn't "Christian." Sheesh! Who does this guy think he is anyway? Soon afterward we had some Community of St. Malachi members to our house. They were all bothered by the article too. We agreed that it was no big surprise that the Catholic Church teaches that it has more truth than other churches. We just thought it was in poor taste to bring this idea to the forefront. These days many in our society find that it's more humble, more likable, and more attractive to be self–effacing with our styles of verbal and written communication. Ratzinger's article certainly didn't follow this style. When I re–read the initial article in the Plain Dealer, I caught that Ratzinger's document was mostly written to theologians. That made it a little better in my mind. After all, theologians ought to have a reminder of where the Catholic Church officially stands. I mean I'm getting old enough now to appreciate how much the pendulum swings over time when it comes to philosophical continuums. Whenever the pendulum swings too far to the "liberal" end, it's obvious that "conservatives" are going to start making more noise, and vice versa. Yet I do believe (and this is important now) that the axis holding the pendulum is moving too…but slowly –- painfully slowly –- toward more truth. Thankfully Father Tony addressed the Plain Dealer's reporting of Ratzinger's document the very next Sunday. I thought it was a good pastoral move. I felt better already. Then the Bishop wrote a very nice response (copies of which were recently still available at the church entrance). I felt even better. The Plain Dealer too, had a lot of responses. Some slamming Ratzinger's document and some explaining it in less offensive terms (and in essence supporting it). Wanting to be as open–minded as possible, I tried to agree with all of them. Talk about "spewing lukewarm water out of one's mouth!" Then I had an idea: I decided to actually read Ratzinger's document myself! I found it on the Vatican's web site, downloaded it and began to slog through it. It's actually not that hard to read and understand. It's just slow going. As a person who got more out of "Cliff's Notes" and "Classic Comics" versions of important–books–I–was–supposed–to–read–in–college, I propose to offer my little summary on what I saw as the highlights of Ratzinger's document. Keep in mind of course, I gleaned from the article what I thought was important. If you want to know how Ratzinger said it, go read it yourself. Keep in mind the quotes aren't all Ratzinger's words. The document includes a list of 102 references from very early to very modern Church documents. Ratzinger writes in Dominus Iesus, quoting the Second Vatican Council, "the deepest truth about God and the salvation of man shines forth in Christ, who is at the same time the mediator and the fullness of all revelation," and further, "The Christian dispensation, therefore, as the new and definitive covenant, will never pass away, and we now await no further new public revelation before the glorious manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ." Then later, " This group of quotes was no surprise to me. It's what I learned all my life. Though they have a fundamentalist flavor, the following quotes (happily in my opinion) do not: "Faith is a gift of grace: '‘in order to have faith, the grace of God must come first and give assistance; there must also be the interior helps of the Holy Spirit.'" Then Ratzinger nicely addresses other religions and "all men of good will": "God, who desires to call all peoples to himself in Christ and to communicate to them the fullness of his revelation and love, '‘does not fail to make himself present in many ways, not only to individuals, but also to entire peoples through their spiritual riches, of which their religions are the main and essential expression even when they contain "gaps, insufficiencies and errors".' Therefore, the sacred books of other religions, which in actual fact direct and nourish the existence of their followers, receive from the mystery of Christ the elements of goodness and grace which they contain...Furthermore, the salvific action of Jesus Christ, with and through his Spirit, extends beyond the visible boundaries of the Church to all humanity. Speaking of the paschal mystery, in which Christ even now associates the believer to himself in a living manner in the Spirit and gives him the hope of resurrection, the Council states: '‘All this holds true not only for Christians but also for all men of good will in whose hearts grace is active invisibly. For since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery.'" Even though these quotes do reflect a bit of the "We're Number One" mentality (the "insufficiencies and errors" part), I was still giddy with excitement (I'm actually serious) to see Ratzinger and the quoted Church documents attempting to acknowledge legitimacy and perhaps even authenticity in other religions, and in "all men of good will." In this next quote Ratzinger apparently encourages theologians to explore the legitimacy and authenticity of other religions, but with provisions: "The Second Vatican Council, in fact, has stated that: '‘the unique mediation of the Redeemer does not exclude, but rather gives rise to a manifold cooperation which is but a participation in this one source.' The content of this participated mediation should be explored more deeply, but must remain always consistent with the principle of Christ's unique mediation: '‘Although participated forms of mediation of different kinds and degrees are not excluded, they acquire meaning and value only from Christ's own mediation, and they cannot be understood as parallel or complementary to his.'" Regarding the Catholic Church and other Christian Churches, Ratzinger, in my opinion, seems to give a good, better, best rating. He starts with the best: "The Catholic faithful are required to profess that there is an historical continuity – rooted in the apostolic succession – between the Church founded by Christ and the Catholic Church." He moves on to the better: "Churches which, while not existing in perfect communion with the Catholic Church, remain united to her by means of the closest bonds, that is, by apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist, are true particular Churches." Then moves on to the good: "On the other hand, the ecclesial communities which have not preserved the valid Episcopate and the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic mystery, are not Churches in the proper sense; however, those who are baptized in these communities are, by Baptism, incorporated in Christ and thus are in a certain communion, albeit imperfect, with the Church." Oh, brother! Does the Church have to put the flavor of this last quote in print? How can parts of this document make me feel so happy while other parts make me feel so embarrassed? These are not quotes I'm going to include in my Christmas card to my Protestant friends. Then the little summary: "Therefore, these separated Churches and communities as such, though we believe they suffer from defects, have by no means been deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Catholic Church." Well, Ratzinger and Church teaching has apparently not counted out other religions. This is significant. As crummy a taste as some of this document leaves in my mouth, I must ask how many other of the Christian Churches have at least this amount of language that is inclusive of other religions (apparently even non–Christian)? Parts of this document had me (seriously) trembling with excitement and moved to happy tears, whereas other parts left me shaking my head in embarrassment. Ratzinger's job is not one I'd like. I suppose such work is necessary. For me there would be better things to do (so why am I bothering to write this opinion?). Now that I've read the document I have a lot more respect for Ratzinger, though some of the ways he emphasizes certain Church teachings makes me cringe. Though the Plain Dealer's headline, "We're Number One," originally bothered me, I am ultimately not going to let this document upset me. I'll choose instead to end on a light note and tell you a joke that a St. Malachi Community member told me. It goes like this: The pope dies. Jesus takes him into a room. Forty–five minutes later the pope comes out with a pale face and sweaty palms. Then a local bishop dies. Jesus takes him into a room. Thirty minutes later the bishop comes out with a pale face and sweaty palms. Then Cardinal Ratzinger dies, Jesus takes him into a room…and an hour–and–a–half later Jesus comes out with a pale face and sweaty palms. — John Lucic * * * * * Some Things You Keep (Hal Place, Dan's cousin, netted this and passed it on to us. Thanks Hal!) Some things you keep. Like good teeth. Warm coats. Bald husbands. They're good for you, reliable and practical and so sublime that to throw them away would make the garbage man a thief. So you hang on, because something old is sometimes better than something new, and someone you know often better than a stranger. These are my thoughts, they make me sound old, old and tame and dull at a time when everybody else is risky and racy and flashing all that's new and improved in their lives. New spouses, new careers, new thighs, new lips. The world is dizzy with trade–ins. I could keep track, but I don't think I want to. I grew up in the fifties with practical parents – a mother, God bless her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then re–used it. A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones. They weren't poor, my parents, they were just satisfied. Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Fifties couples in Bermuda shorts and Banlon sweaters, lawnmower in one hand, tools in the other. The tools were for fixing things – a curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things you keep. It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re–fixing, re–heating, re–newing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant there'd always be more. But then my father died, and on that clear autumn night, in the chill of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. Sometimes what you care about most gets all used up and goes away, never to return. So, while you have it, it's best to love it and care for it and fix it when it's broken and heal it when it's sick. That's true for marriage and old cars and children with bad report cards and dogs with bad hips. You keep them because they're worth it, because you're worth it. Some things you keep. — Author Unknown * * * * * A Recent Divorcee's Retreat Reaction (This is a reprint of an article submitted by Community member Bill Herceg to the NACSDC for publication in its quarterly newsletter.) God works in many mysterious ways. One of those was the way in which I found out about the North American Conference of Separated and Divorced Catholics Healing Weekend in Lima, Ohio, last October. Oddly enough, I found the notice in the parish bulletin of the church in which I was married twenty–nine years ago. I was attending a 50th wedding anniversary mass for a couple who lived down the street while I was growing up. I knew when I read the notice that I was supposed to attend. I didn't know why or what to expect. I only knew that I wanted to attend. I think the fact that the weekend was billed as a healing event attracted me the most. I knew I needed a lot of healing. I wanted the healing process to begin. I had been separated for a year and divorced for ten months. The timing seemed right for me. I felt His nudge, and I responded to His invitation. I am very glad that I did. Not only did I feel the healing begin in me, as I had hoped and prayed. But I also met so many wonderful people who are on the same journey. Some people were there as guides, either because they had been there before or because guiding was their mission. Others were there as fellow travelers, existing somewhere in the continuum of divorce between the beginning stages of denial or depression, the middle stage of anger, or the end stages of healing and forgiveness. I wasn't sure where I was when I started the weekend. But I found out where I was by the end. For me, though, what made the whole weekend fall together was the opening presentation on Friday by Rev. David Blake, Pastor of Fellowship Lutheran Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan. He had been through all of the stages himself and, I'm sure, is still on the journey. But he put everything into perspective with his personal stories, uncanny humor, honest emotion, and gift of song. All throughout the weekend we would all refer to stories or phrases Dave used during his talk. Who of us will forget Dave's description of divorce as "like being fired as a husband and as a lover, and still showing up for work."? We were also struck by his statement that "Denial is a gift," until he explained that denial acted as a filter that let us deal with our situation at our own pace. We laughed at his advice to "Be the best depressed person you can be." And we will never listen to "Margaueritaville" the same way after we sang it with Dave following his pronouncement that "Sorrow knows how to swim." Many of us trying to deal with the anger stage of divorce are still trying to find a copy of the bumper sticker Dave saw: "I Still Miss My Ex… But My Aim Is Getting Better." Those of us with children and grandchildren will never listen to "Skip to my Lou," or "Itsy–Bitsy Spider" the same way again. What wonderful images of coping skills and perseverance these songs presented. As Dave pointed out, everything we needed to get through our divorce we learned in kindergarten. I particularly liked Dave's "Do And Don't" advice on dating, and have been focusing on these: Accept invitations. Do fun things. Have an attitude of gratitude. Make married people jealous. As for the last one, it is working for me. Not only are some of my married friends jealous, but my adult children too. Over the Thanksgiving holidays when I had lunch with my daughter and two sons, I was recounting the activities of my past week and my week coming up. My daughter exclaimed, with a clear note of jealousy, "Dad, you have a better social life than I do!" One of the highlights of the weekend for me was the heart–felt and inspirational talk and gift of song that was done by Shelley Jacobs. I was touched by her gift and how she shared it with us. Part of it is my appreciation for such a gift. But more of it was the message and the delivery of that message. I even bought her tape and ordered her CD so I could keep the message alive in my heart. Many of the workshop sessions were helpful. In talking with others afterwards, most of us agreed that the workshops were well presented and relevant to our situations. I must admit, though, that the toughest workshop for me was the one on annulment. I found I have some rather strong feelings on the subject and a lot of questions and doubts that I need to work though. All in good time, I pray. At least I now know that I have to work through these issues. I believe, for me, my healing began to take its deepest effect right after the Healing Service and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. That made the Saturday evening dinner and dance all the more enjoyable, and the Sunday Eucharistic Liturgy all the more meaningful. It was with a mixture of joy and sadness that we parted Sunday. We all hoped we could keep the weekend going and the friendships alive. At the end of the conference there was a deep sense of gratitude and joy for having attended. The sadness, I believe, came from the realization that there was no planned follow–up to this weekend. Many of us expressed to the conference team that the lack of planned follow–up is a matter that should be taken up by the regional board of the NACSDC and recommendations should be made to the national board. Now, for those of you who were there Saturday night at dinner and received your wrapped present, please pick it up, but don't open it. Just reread the little note that was attached to the present. It keeps me going. I hope it does the same for you. I am very grateful for that weekend in Lima and ask God for his blessings upon those who attended the weekend and those who helped to make it happen. I also hope to see as many of those who were there in October at the next regional weekend, whenever that may be. — Bill Herceg (If you'd like to contact Bill you can write him at 22604 Lenox Dr. Fairview Park, OH 44126 or call him at (440) 777 – 7011.) * * * * * Is Justice In the House? Where is this state administration's heart? Their proposed approach to juvenile justice isn't much different than Hiltler's "Final Solution." The Republican legislature seems to feel that as long as you incarcerate offenders it doesn't matter how young a child or for how long you incarcerate. In their new legislation they propose to allow courts to try children as young as 10 years oldH as adults or Serious Youthful Offenders (SYO's). These children would receive a youth sentence and an adult sentence. Now as bad as it sounds to try babies for crimes, this isn't the worst part of the bill. The worst aspect of this legislation is that the Republicans are changing the thrust of juvenile justice. Rather than rehabilitating children, making sure they receive education, counseling and training, Taft and his cronies have changed the purpose of juvenile justice to "protect the public interest and safety, hold the offender accountable for the offender's actions, restore the victim and [if there's money] rehabilitate the offender." Hold the offender accountable? As young as ten? While 10–year–olds are smarter than before, they are still babies. Besides, we've all witnessed the immense success of the adult program that does nothing but warehouse offenders. These children's' failings have roots, either in their parents, the current education and justice systems, drugs, a lack of programs, and, in today's society, a lack of technology. Granted, there is no perfect solution, but maybe it's time to change the system. Let's stress a justice system for children and adults that starts with compassion. Imagine what it might be like if the state spent as much money on education as it does to build prisons and house prisoners? Maybe we could expand Head Start to every child in the state, and make it mandatory. This would allow trained professionals to observe children in social situations and intervene with parents before problems arise. Social services could increase outreach and in–home visits, and parents could be required to take counseling and training classes. Schools could have before- and after- school programs, tutoring and study programs so children aren't out on the streets. And each school would have a psychologist and a social worker assigned to it. Children wouldn't be taught by society that the cure for everything is a pill, including rambunctious children. You cannot expect a 10–year–old to understand right from wrong, when a 54 year–old, Presidential candidate doesn't understand the seriousness of a DUI at the age of 30. I hope that you're as outraged as I am regarding this bill. Please call, write or E–mail your state legislators and tell them to vote NO! We need common sense justice. Just imagine what a 10–year–old under this new "justice" system will be like when they turn 25, are untrained, uneducated and fresh out of prison, after spending the last 12 years in an adult facility. Is that justice? — Ron Perger * * * * * Padre Franco The Bell Ringer (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.)
The Contender "The Contender" is an appropriate portrayal of the political milieu of the last decade. The dark inner workings of the movie's strategy politics may be a strong reason why people don't seriously make a commitment to go to the polls. The President of the United States, Jackson Evans (Jeff Bridges), must choose a new vice president to replace the one who died. His list has narrowed to two people. One is the popular governor of Virginia, Jack Hathaway, and the other is Ohio Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen). Privately, the President believes he can secure a legacy in history by putting a woman in the position of vice president. Contrary to his advisors, he chooses the senator, who has recently defected from the Republican ranks because she is pro–choice. Her selection must come up for congressional confirmation and she is exposed to the wrath of the Republican committee chairman, Sheldon Ryan (Gary Oldman), who pollutes the process with muckraking into her past. The devious political maneuvering between the President and the congressman is what tends to give democracy a bad name. The congressman manages to dig up some damaging sexual evidence on the senator and in committee sessions insists on an admission of fault. The cold–blooded political behavior, and the corresponding TV drama, comes close to the unfortunate reality that titillates the sexual interests of the public today. Although the senator's credibility, her reputation and her political future are at stake, she declines to reply to the sexual rumors and asserts that discussing her sexual history is beneath her dignity; that it is a private issue and irrelevant to the political role she has been nominated to play. Through devious arrangements, the President manages to save the day and the senator is nominated as vice president. The eating habits of President Evans hints at President Clinton's food choices and the congressman's preference for steak makes for interesting character definition. However, the overblown address by the President to Congress, the Virginia governor's plan to gain greater political acceptance and an inquiry by an FBI agent seems a bit much. Although Sister Ginny and I found the movie absorbing, it did emphasize our political differences. One critic wrote, "In a year when studios seem compelled to produce films that appeal to audiences with the brains of a bivalve and the attention span of a fruit fly, '‘The Contender' is a welcome contrast." I agree. Meet The Parents %%This movie could almost be a sequel to Ben Stiller's "There's Something About Mary" –– only worse. If he chooses roles that place him in situations for constant "sight gags," he's in danger of being typecast. Of course, I suppose that's okay when you make a lot of money at it. In "Meet the Parents," Greg Focker (Ben Stiller), a Jewish male nurse has fallen in love with Pam Byrnes (Teri Polo), a WASPy schoolteacher. He decides to ask her to marry him, but she implies that her father's consent would be appropriate to the marriage. Both Pam and Greg fly from Chicago to Long Island to meet her parents. Greg loses his baggage in flight and that's where a never–ending succession of improbable sight gags begins. Greg meets her parents who are the stereotype of affluent, white bread, insensitive, suburban, critical outer–city inhabitants. Pam's father, Jack (Robert DeNiro) and Greg immediately are at odds and they complement each other perfectly because Greg is masochistic and Jack is sadistic. The interplay between the two characters is the basis for the plot. Greg is committed to marrying Pam, no matter what stands in his way, and Jack is committed to seeing that daddy's little girl – his "Pammy cake" – will not marry a guy named "Focker." Greg does his best to please Pam's father and even consents to a lie detector test on a machine that Jack keeps in the basement. Jack is a retired CIA agent. However nothing Greg does will satisfy Pam's father and in some incomprehensible fashion, neither Pam nor her mother do anything to mediate the situation, and the klutzy things (played for laughs) Greg does only make matters worse. Greg finally admits defeat and prepares to leave. While he's at the airport making flight arrangements, Jack has a not very believable change of heart and decides he wants Greg as his son–in–law. By the way, the scene with Greg and the airline employee attendant was the most humorous exchange in the movie. This movie is okay if you're into Jerry Lewis sit–com movies where every difficulty is predictable and where the hero is a punching–bag–straight–man, but I prefer a movie with a little subtle humor and a little more substance. — Padre Franco Meet The Parents Brother Daniel responds: I've never much liked Jerry Lewis movies, and have a limited tolerance for Ben Stiller's schtick, but "Meet the Parents" is easily the best movie I've seen all year and I'd even put it on my top 10 list for one of funniest of all time. ("Young Frankenstein" is my long–time number one, and "Austin Powers 2" is the most recent movie to make the cut, if anybody's interested.) The humor is at once broad and subtle – sorry Padre, you're wrong. And the big sight gags are exquisitely timed, much better than "There's Something About Mary" (which didn't make my list). But the best thing about the movie is Robert DeNiro's part as the compulsively diabolic ex–CIA agent father. DeNiro has been getting better and better recently in comedy roles that parody his serious characters of the past. There's a reason this movie has been number one for weeks: it's funny and it's good. — Brother Daniel Meet The Parents Brother Lou adds his two cents: I have to say that I am completely on the side of Brother Daniel here. I can't believe the good Padre was watching the same movie I did. "Meet the Parents" was one of the funniest movies I've seen in the last 5 years and I mean laugh–out–loud, split-your-sides funny. With all due respect to the much older and wiser Padre Franco, he's just dead wrong. Forgive me Padre, but I can only hope you were having a bad day. — Brother Lou * * * * * Online Primer: Backing Up Is Hard To Do I recently received this joke by e–mail from Peter Toomey and a number of other folks: Jesus and Satan were having an ongoing argument about who was better on his computer. They had been going at it for days and God was tired of hearing all of the bickering. Finally God said, "Cool it. I am going to set up a test that will run two hours. And I will judge who does the better job." So Satan and Jesus sat down at the keyboards and typed away. They moused. They did spreadsheets. They wrote reports. They sent faxes. They sent e–mail. They sent out e–mail with attachments. They downloaded. They did some genealogy reports. They made cards. They did every known job. But 10 minutes before their time was up, lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, thunder rolled, rain poured. And of course, the electricity went off. Satan stared at his blank screen and screamed every curse word known in the underworld. Jesus just sighed. The electricity finally flickered back on and each of them restarted their computers. Satan started searching frantically, screaming, "It's gone! It's all gone! I lost everything when the power went out!" Meanwhile, Jesus quietly started printing out all of his files. Satan observed this and went demented. "Wait! He cheated, how did he do it?" God shrugged and said, "Jesus saves." Besides the theological point, there's a kernel of truth behind that one. You've got to protect your data against a possible catastrophic failure of your computer. I'm not talking about the disasters predicted by the e–mail hoaxes making the rounds. They're all nonsense – every single one of them. But the type of trouble they talk about exists, and it is usually caused by wear–and–tear, faulty parts, corrupted files, bad power (be sure to use power surge protectors), and occasionally a computer virus. One morning, you go to fire up old Betsy and … nothing. The machine is dead as dead can be. That's happened to me more times than I like to think about, and despite those experiences, I've struggled with backing up my computer. As hard drives have gotten bigger, so has the complexity of a doing a complete back up of computer systems. And whoever sold you the machine probably wasn't much help – eliminating a back–up device is a good way to keep the cost down. Once upon a time, I was able to back up to a small stack of floppy disks, and then came the tape drive that is now sitting long–unused on my computer table. For awhile, a Zip drive did the job for me backing up my office machine, but it failed the last time I used it after four hours of swapping disks, and I still don't know what I'm going to do there. At home, the fastest back–up I've ever done was to a second hard drive installed in my computer – they are very inexpensive these days. But the most effective for me so far has been a writeable CD–ROM drive – about $200 now. It took about six very inexpensive disks to back up six gigabytes of data, and it did so quickly. (How inexpensive? I just picked up a package of 50 on sale at Best Buy for $15 – 30 cents each.) I wish for a back–up program that would allow me to select what I want to back–up to a CD from the files on my computer, but this is the best experience I've had. What recommendation do I have for you? I don't, because I don't know what kind of machine you have and how much data is in it. And besides, I'm just figuring this stuff out myself. If you don't have a disaster recovery plan, consider this the start of your quest for the perfect back–up. But one thing I can say with total confidence, you must back–up your files. If you have all the original installation disks for your computer and you haven't made many changes in the original set–ups of the programs, you could get away with just saving individual files to floppy disks, or their equivalent. As you create something and save it for the last time on your hard drive, copy it to the floppy. Make it a habit at the end of the day or the computer session. Oh, and I'm assuming here that you are hitting the save button on your program after every five minutes of work or so, regardless of the auto–save feature – remember how Jesus "saved." If you have a computer disaster, you can restore the original programs and then add back your files from the floppies. And it's a good idea to do this as a supplement to your main back–up. But with the internet and e–mail, computer life is a little more complicated. Now we have address books, lists of favorites or bookmarks, and folders full of old e–mail that may or may not be valuable. You will also want to find a way to save all this. And, if you are backing up, you should probably save the address books and favorites more frequently than your main back–up. I hope that isn't too frustrating, and that it doesn't discourage anybody from going online. But backing up your data is an important part of survival in this computerized world, and it is too often overlooked.
E–Mail Virus Hoaxes As mentioned above, I've been receiving more of these things lately. In response, I've come up with four points to consider when you receive a virus warning and you wonder whether to forward it to everyone you know: Trustworthy companies do not circulate news about viruses by e–mail forwards like these. You can request to be put on a mailing list, visit a web site, or just watch for the news reports. When there is a destructive new virus, it generally makes the news these days. E–mail virus hoaxes use inflated language, warning of total destruction to your computer, often using all capital letters. There are all kinds of real viruses, but most cause specific, and often minor, forms of mischief. Such messages always tell you to forward them to other people: all your friends, everyone you know, everyone in your address book. By doing so, they clog e–mail servers, crash systems and annoy friends. Never forward such messages. Frequently these messages will include a reference to an outside authority, like IBM, Microsoft or AOL. Sometimes they even include the name of a person. It's all part of the ruse. Ignore it. Feel free to send these points on to people who send you e–mail virus hoaxes. They might even appreciate it and it will end up cutting down on the clutter. — Dan Alaimo * * * * * The Smile (We thank Frank Schiros for pointing this one out to us.) Many Americans are familiar with "The Little Prince," a wonderful book by Antoine de Saint–Exupery. This is a whimsical and fabulous book and works as a children's story as well as a thought–provoking adult fable. Far fewer are aware of Saint–Exupery's other writings, novels and short stories. Saint–Exupery was a fighter pilot who fought against the Nazis and was killed in action. Before World War II, he fought in the Spanish Civil War against the fascists. He wrote a fascinating story based on that experience entitled "The Smile (Le Sourire)."" It is this story which I'd like to share with you now. It isn't clear whether or not he meant this to be autobiographical or fiction. I choose to believe it to be the former. He said that he was captured by the enemy and thrown into a jail cell. He was sure that from the contemptuous looks and rough treatment he received from his jailers he would be executed the next day. From here, I'll paraphrase the story as I remember: "I was sure that I was to be killed. I became terribly nervous and distraught. I fumbled in my pockets to see if there were any cigarettes that had escaped their search. I found one and because of my shaking hands, I could barely get it to my lips. But I had no matches, they had taken those. "I looked through the bars at my jailer. He did not make eye contact with me. After all, one does not make eye contact with a thing, a corpse. I called out to him '‘Have you got a light, por favor?' He looked at me, shrugged and came over to light my cigarette. "As he came close and lit the match, his eyes inadvertently locked with mine. At that moment, I smiled. I don't know why I did that. Perhaps it was nervousness, perhaps it was because, when you get very close, one to another, it is very hard not to smile. In any case, I smiled. In that instant, it was as though a spark jumped across the gap between our two hearts, our two human souls. I know he didn't want to, but my smile leaped through the bars and generated a smile on his lips, too. He lit my cigarette but stayed near, looking at me directly in the eyes and continuing to smile. "I kept smiling at him, now aware of him as a person and not just a jailer. And his looking at me seemed to have a new dimension, too. '‘Do you have kids?' he asked. " '‘Yes, here, here.' I took out my wallet and nervously fumbled for the pictures of my family. He, too, took out the pictures of his ninos and began to talk about his plans and hopes for them. My eyes filled with tears. I said that I feared that I'd never see my family again, never have the chance to see them grow up. Tears came to his eyes, too. "Suddenly, without another word, he unlocked my cell and silently led me out. Out of the jail, quietly and by back routes, out of the town. There, at the edge of town, he released me. And without another word, he turned back toward the town. "My life was saved by a smile." Yes, the smile – the unaffected, unplanned natural connection between people. I tell this story in my work because I'd like people to consider that underneath all the layers we construct to protect ourselves, our dignity, our titles, our degrees, our status and our need to be seen in certain ways – underneath all that, remains the authentic, essential self. I'm not afraid to call it the soul. I really believe that if that part of you and that part of me could recognize each other, we wouldn't be enemies. We couldn't have hate or envy or fear. I sadly conclude that all those other layers, which we so carefully construct through our lives, distance and insulate us from truly contacting others. Saint–Exupery's story speaks of that magic moment when two souls recognize each other. I've had just a few moments like that. Falling in love is one example. And looking at a baby. Why do we smile when we see a baby? Perhaps it's because we see someone without all the defensive layers, someone whose smile for us we know to be fully genuine and without guile. And that baby–soul inside us smiles wistfully in recognition. — Copyright 1992, 1993, 2001, Hanoch McCarty, all rights reserved. Reprinted by
permission. Community News Prayer Posture During The Eucharistic Prayer: A Night of Prayerful Discernment – Sunday, November 19th, 7:00 PM Dear Community Members: Thank you for your feedback regarding our celebration of liturgy at the 11:00 AM Community Mass. As we reviewed the many responses we received regarding our posture during the Eucharistic prayer, it was clear that there was no clear consensus from the Community. The responses reflected a diversity of experiences and liturgical piety among Community members. We hope you had an opportunity to read the feedback and continue to reflect on it. (Copies were distributed at Masses on September 22nd and September 31st. Additional copies are available at the doors of the Church.) In our reflection and discussion, the Liturgy Committee determined that this was not a matter of voting for what we would prefer. Rather, we came to realize that this called for prayerfully discerning which posture would most promote the "full, conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations called for by the very nature of the liturgy." (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 14) We would like to invite you to an evening of prayer and discernment so that we may further explore the issue of prayer posture during the Eucharistic Prayer. Fr. Dennis Dillon, S.J., will be presiding. Fr. Dillon has taught on both the secondary and university levels, served in social ministry and as a pastor of two Detroit parishes. He brings to spiritual direction a background in poetry, film and fine arts. Please make every effort to join us at 7:00 PM on Sunday, November 19th in the Church. We are yours in Christ. — The CSM Liturgy Committee * * * * * New Sunday Night Series: World Religions (Michael Petit sent us this announcement and says, " For the past 8 years I have been teaching n introduction to the world religions at Tri–C and have read extensively in this area.") A Sunday night series on world religions, sponsored by the Spiritual Development Committee, is being planned for January and February at St. Malachi. Handouts giving brief summaries of the religions and selections of the scriptures will be provided as well as suggestions for further reading and study. We will focus on a specific spirituality embedded in each tradition: yoga, Zen, Taoist philosophy, Sufi mysticism, etc. Come and ask questions. If you have any initial questions, call me at 440.884.9309. If you wish to help in the organization of the series let me know. As we begin a new millenium, globalization is a reality. The cultures of India, the Far East, and Islam are no longer faraway and remote. Ecumenism can no longer be only about other Christian churches. Christian–Hindu, Christian–Buddhist dialogue has been ongoing for twenty years. The fact that the Vatican proclaims we are #1 indicates that a great amount of attention is now being given to the importance of other religions. Our "catholic" faith and Christian spirituality calls us to openness and dialogue with all people of faith. In the past there has been much misunderstanding about other traditions because of ignorance. A British scholar recently stated that based on media coverage she thought Americans were all fundamentalists and revivalists. We now live among Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Taoists. Shouldn't we at least know a little about their beliefs and practice? A great wisdom treasure is centered in the religions and spirituality of those cultures. In the past two to three thousand years, many people of faith and seekers of truth have pondered the mystery of the Ultimate. Shouldn't we know more about the world's greatest religious geniuses: Jesus, the Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, and Zoroaster. Writers, such as the Vietnamese Buddhist, Thich Nhat Hanh, have shown the close resemblance of Jesus' teachings and the teachings of the Buddha. Do we appreciate the other scriptures, the words of the Koran, the Bhagavad Gita, the Tao Te Ching, the Buddhist sutras? My personal belief is that encountering the other religious traditions validates the truth of my own and can enable me to use my imagination to enrich it. The Christian tradition is centered on Jesus and his teachings about the Kingdom of God. It has been the challenge of every person and historical period to energize and adapt that tradition in the changing world. The Church has always needed to undergo renewal and adaptation. When one looks under the surface of these traditions that are very different from each other, one discovers a basically similar spiritual path that people are invited to travel. Do the traditional creation myths of the Hindus help us to imagine our origins? Can the notions of Karma & Samsara (reincarnation) help us understand the Christian notion of salvation? Can the different yoga help us to pray? Can we gain a better respect for nature through the mindfulness and concentration of Zen practice? Can the Tao Te Ching help us bring balance into our culture that is overly masculine and self–centered? Can the poetry and arts of the Sufi mystics help us see Islam as a religion of peace and submission to God? — Michael Petit The Community's 25th Anniversary Steering Committee planned the Year's events to spread the celebration across the entire year with different types of events for Members with different interests, for adults and families, inside and outside, more and less expensive, and free. For their year–end report, they'd like to hear from Community Members about their experiences, so that future planning could be even better. What did you most enjoy? Least enjoy? How could the schedule have been better for people like you? What would you have liked to see more of? Less of? Were the events appropriate – and if not, why not? Any other suggestions? Suggestions are needed today for their Nov. 14 meeting. You may identify yourself, or not, and return your thoughts in the collection basket marked, "Anniversary Committee," or by e–mail to PToomey@compuserve.com. — Peter Toomey (Peter helped out the Steering Committee with communications, and as emcee of the April Anniversary Dinner. He also co–chairs the Communications Committee.)
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