Recently in Missions and Retreats Category

I will be away for awhile, preaching a retreat for some Carmelite Hermits. I must say that this is probably the most unique invitation I have ever received. They have asked that the focus be on the Eucharist. They will probably get a heavy dose of a saint they have never heard of before, St. Gaspar del Bufalo, but I also made a point to include a pit of John of the Cross in the reflections.

The topics for the week will be as follows:

1.John and Cana
2.Paul and Precious Blood
3.Luke, Prodigal Sons and Fatted Calves
4.Matthew, Multiplication of the Loaves
5.Emmaus and the Liturgy
6.Intimacy an the Eucharist, John of the Cross, Song of Songs, Book of Revelation
7.Holy Thursday
8.Good Friday
9.Holy Saturday
10.The Easter Mystery

...for all the couples who are on the Retrouvaille weekends this weekend.

How I spent this weekend.

"everything in the liturgy on Friday has been reviewed and blessed by the Bishop's office."

It's official. I was sent the plans for the opening and closing liturgies for the ICM. The opening hymn for the Opening Liturgy is a Haugen Classic that is all about us. It might be about the effect that God has on the Almighty US, but it is not about God or addressed to God.

The Closing Liturgy begins with some outright heresy. I am not trying to judge Hanh or Buddhists. They have a certain dignity and right to their beliefs. This, however has no place in the Liturgy.


From the writings of Thick Nhat Hanh:
“Our true home is in the present moment,
To live in the present moment is a miracle.
The miracle is not to walk on water.
The miracle is to walk on the green earth in the present moment,
To appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now.
Peace is all around us-
In the world and in nature-
And within us-
In our bodies and our spirits.
Once we learn to touch this peace,
We will be healed and transformed.”

Just for beginners, our true home is in heaven. And the walking on water was a significant moment revealing that Jesus is God. In this liturgy, however, we are invited to find truth within, and so are invited to deny or ignore the revealed living Word that is Jesus the Christ, the living Son of God.

Oh, that's right, it is is Sunday liturgy. I will have to go look and see if they included the Creed.

[UPDATE] The Creed is part of the liturgy plan, and the Hanh quote has just been added to my homily.

I will be a way for a few days at the Incernational Council Meeting for Retrouvaille.

I may get an opportunity to blog from the Hotel, but it will be very busy. Pray for me as I have to endure (must be time for penance) a modern liturgy prepared by some expert liturgists. These have been pretty delightful conventions but I have always found the liturgy dreadful, especially the ones where I am the presider.

...to St. Louis. I will be back on Thursday night. Computer is staying home, so no email. It is a PBLC-HRI meeting.

It seems that preaching a mission in Ohio means an introduction to the Sports culture of the Midwest. Everytime I have preached a mission in Ohio, the local team has won a state championship.

Last year it was the Girls basketball team.

This year it seems that the boys team is on their way. Last Night they won the regional championship game and now are on their way to the State semi-finals.

The first time I preached a mission in Ohio was back in '93 in Girard, OH. The mission started on the night that the Girard Boys Basketball team won the State Championship.

I leave in the morning for Minster, OH, with stops along the way in Chicago and Columbus. There I will be preaching a Lenten Parish Mission. Last year I preached a mission about Precious Blood Spirituality and Reconciliation

This year it is a Mission called "Faith and Covenant" and each night will address and proclaim the following topics:

Jesus, The Lord
We return to our roots as Followers of Jesus, the Son of God who has united himself with every human being, raising our human nature to an incomparable dignity, and drawing the body of Christ, the Church into intimate communion with God.

Mary, Model of Faith and Charity
It was from Mary and from the Church that Christ came; and from Mary and from the Church Christ has still to come for those who have never known him.

Peter, Faltering Faith and Faithful Companion
Whether in times of Transfiguration or moments of Agony, Peter is there speaking for us. He is a model both for daring proclamation and for faltering faith. But Jesus has prayed for him that when Peter turns back, he would strengthen his brothers and sisters.

Eucharist and Covenant
“I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I gather my myrrh and my spices, I eat my honey and my sweetmeats, I drink my wine and my milk. Eat, friends; drink! Drink freely of love!” (Song of Songs 5:1)

On the last night each person will recieve a small pocket Mission cross as a memento of the mission. (pictured above)

The parish mission will be at St. Augustine Church, Minster, OH.

I obtained the little pocket crosses from here.

The parish Mission here at St. Edward preached by Fr. Bill Nordenbrock, CPPS was a great success. The people were quite pleased and happy at tonight's reception.

I will be at The Retrouvaille weekend in Oakland, CA. We have 32 couples coming. I am sure they would appreciate your prayers.

Can This War-Weary Marriage be Saved?

The New York Times had an article on the work necessary to save marriages among the soldiers. They could have saved a whole bunch of money if they had heard about Retrouvaille.