On Holy Thursday, Pope To Prison

Our new Pope continues to call us to love and serve one another.

Whispers in the Loggia

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

On Holy Thursday, Pope To Prison

In a sudden announcement this morning from the Holy See, Pope Francis has yet again turned Vatican protocol on its head – shredding the earlier plan of beginning the Easter Triduum in St Peter's Basilica, the new pontiff has instead opted to go to a juvenile prison in Rome to celebrate Holy Thursday's Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, at which he'll wash the feet of 12 inmates.

Pope Francis as humble servant leader. I am so moved by the past few days in our church. I am re-inspired as a Catholic man. God is Love and to love is of God. 

Lord, grant that I might not so much seek to be loved as to love.

Francis of Assisi

Here is my (our) new humble servant leader in action today showing me how to love:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UQ7N9lM1OMA

‘Viva Papa Francesco!’

Great Series with Fr. Hock! Please read and attend.

Year of faith – What do we believe?  A Profession of Faith

This year, on the 50^th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has declared a year of faith.  All the faithful have a great opportunity to grow in faith and understanding of the teachings of the Catholic Church.  In this first teaching, Fr. Hock will lead a 7 week series on the Nicene Creed:  1) I believe in God the Father, 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, 3) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 4) I believe in the Holy Catholic Church, 5) I believe in the forgiveness of sins, 6) I believe in the resurrection of the body, and 7) I believe in life everlasting.  The study will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30pm to 8:00pm, repeated on Thursday lunch hours from 12:05pm to 12:55pm.  The series begins on Tuesday October 30^th (repeated on Thursday November 1^st).  Handouts will be provided and placed at the main entrances of the church on the Sunday prior.  No registration or commitment to attend all sessions is required.  Just come with an open heart, lots of questions and a smile!  For clarifications, call Fr. Hock at the church office:  532-0942 or e-mail: frhock@st-pats-online.org.

As we remember 9/11 tomorrow I offer this reflection from The Aeneid:

We first meet Aeneas in a shipwreck, when he is very much the personal man, wishing himself dead.

O terque quaterque beati,
quis ante ora patrum Troiae sub moenibus altis 
contigit oppetere!“

“O three and four times blessed, those who happened to meet death beore the altars of their fathers under the high walls of Troy!”

Everyone is fessus–tired.   The Trojans are tired.  The ships are described as tired.

But when Aeneas  and only seven of his 20 ships reach the shores of Libya, he must be strong and says (Fagles translation)”  “My comrades, hardly strangers to pain before now, we have all weathered worse.”

And he delivers one of the most famous lines of The Aeneid:

forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit. 

“Perhaps one day it will be a joy even to remember these things.”

He has lost his wife, friends, and many relatives in the war.  Does he believe what he says?  He knows how to say it.

And doesn’t this remind us all of sadness and disasters we have overcome?

How families deal with mental illness . . .

Mental illness has touched nearly everyone in some way. Often we don't know what to do or who to turn to. This link is to a documentary run on our local public television station. It was produced by a young woman who grew up with a dad suffering from mental illness. Please take twenty minutes and watch it. It really helped me get a look in to a world that many people deal with every day, including some of my students.

Peace,
Kevin

My Dad's Mental Illness

8th Grade Students Answering, "If I were Pope for a day I would . . ."

I asked all my classes to answer the question, "If I were Pope for a day I would . . ." Here are some of the responses from the eighth grade students.

• I would reveal the location of the Ark of the Covenant and the Aliens because we all know that the Pope is the only one who knows about those tow things.
• I would go to a baseball game. It would be a night game and I would throw out the first pitch.
• I would move to Australia and ride kangaroos in a race and then go to the beach in which I would learn to surf in my vestments.
• I would go to the poorest parts of the world and do what I could do to help.
• I would throw a big carnival with a bunch of roller coasters and ferris wheels and a lot of fun games and stuff. They would all be free to play, everything but the food and drinks.
• I would try to end hunger and make sure everyone has a home with food and water and after I get done with that I will celebrate with a big party and invite everyone.
• I would  go mess around with the Popemobile and play hide and seek at St. Peter's Basilica with the priests because I would know all of the secret hiding spots.

More to come from the eighth grade soon. Thanks for reading!

I asked all my students to take five minutes to answer this question: If I were Pope for a day I would  ...

Here are some responses. I will do other grades in the days to come.  Have fun!

Seventh Grade Students:

“Have a ceremony with all people. I would have junk food and ride horses and decorate the churches in bright colors to celebrate new members.”

“I would go around town in that Pope-mobile. I would use the pole thing with holy water in it and sprinkle it over everyone. I would do lots of masses and for the people that go I would give presents and gifts for coming to my mass.”

“I would go to Rome and walk around and make sure I had my body guards ‘cause people would go crazy. But I would see people and take pictures with them.”

“I wouldn’t do much. I would probably do normal Pope things. I would bless people, talk about God, help people, things like that.”

“I would probably fly to Rome. Then I would bless crippled people on the streets. Then I would go and eat some pasta, then drink some grape juice. I would go to Africa, bless some people. Go to Bahamas, bless people and build some houses.”

“I would take a limousine to go to a nursing home and visit the sick. Then to a hospital and heal the sick, after that I would buy them lunch. After that I would stop at a daycare center and visit the children and play a game with them or read them a story. After that I would play a beach volleyball game with the other priests and nuns, of course my team would win!”

“I would go to the Bahamas and get away form everyone, just relax. Take in the fresh air. Swim with the dolphins. Pretty much just have a great time.”

“Catholic schools would get steak every single day.”

“I would like to get a waterbed." Even a moose gets a waterbed.