An Easter Season like no other - of absence – of Presence (by Colleen Lenord)

An Easter Season like no other - of absence – of Presence

One of our regular songs has been dinging in my head for the past few weeks:

‘Where are you God? Where can we find you?’

In one of the verses, the composer/author Ian Callanan writes:

Is it you who are the face of Christ in everyone we see?

More than ever before, I’m beginning to understand this more deeply, not only from recalling the well-known dilemma of the disciples headed to Emmaus, but also from the daily non-verbal homilies of so many people – in so many places, many of whom are going way beyond the ‘extra mile’.

When the ‘shelter-in-place’ (“SIP-time”) was first mandated, I was somewhat frustrated to not be able to do more, until someone reminded me of my ‘wacky’ immune system, and said: ‘your gift right now is to keep the heck out of the way, so as not to take up needed space in hospitals!’ I have learned that there are many ways ...

Another friend encouraged me to experience an ‘empty mind, a surrendered heart, time to rest and BE, - and God.’ In ways that I could never have imagined, the absence of celebrating known rituals with the gathered community each week, has been like an extended retreat time, a re-set button, a time to really listen to ‘the God within’. And - this absence has also helped me appreciate more than ever the dynamic gift of celebrating in person with the community each week.

As Marty Haugen encourages us in our oft-sung hymn based on Corinthians 12 and 13:

We are many parts, we are all one body,
and the gifts we have we are given to share.
May the Spirit of love make us one indeed;
one, the love that we share, one, our hope in despair,
one, the cross that we bear.

I am fortunate to share this time with Jim, and to share a flexible and beautiful daily routine including meditation and prayer time, reading (of all kinds), “walks in beauty” – both in neighborhoods and the hills nearby, and the omni-present Scrabble challenge! It was a privilege and joy to create together our simple “Music Meditation for Holy Week”.

At the same time, I very much feel for those who are struggling – physically, financially, psychologically, and don’t have the luxury of this opportunity we have.

Another of our well-known songs by Richard Gillard that Jim & I used as part of our wedding vows, is most apt at this time:

Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;
... we are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.

Franciscan sister and scientist Ilia Delio writes:

“Christianity can help us realize that death and resurrection are part of
the evolutionary path toward wholeness; ... Something dies but something new is born—which is why the chaos of our times is, in a strange way, a sign of hope; something new is being born within. Out of chaos, a star is born. Breakdown can be break through if we recognize a new pattern of life struggling to emerge ...

We ourselves are not the source of that hope; we do not manufacture it. But the source dwells deeply within us and flows to us with an unstinting abundance, so much so that in fact it might be more accurate to say we dwell within it.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if this whole experience became a "re-set button" for taking better care of each other - and our planet?

Where are you, God?
Are you the breath within creation and in me?

Con·fine·ment - by Jim Silva

Con·fine·ment

1. the action of confining or state of being confined

similar:
imprisonment Internment incarceration   custody  captivity detention restraint
arrest house arrest thralldom thrall duress durance penning caging
locking up walling in/up enclosure encirclement
surrounding encompassment quarantine corralling immurement

opposite:
liberty

2. the condition of being in childbirth

similar:
labor (expected) delivery giving birth birthing birth childbirth nativity
parturition lying-in accouchement childbed travail

[source: Google Dictionary]

Which is it?
One, the other, or both?

Jim Silva
April 18, 2020

Jim Silva attends the 10am Sunday Mass. You have seen him in the choir, lectoring, and cantoring. He is often seen with Colleen, who happens to be his wife. He is also a life coach. Look for his ad on the back of our bulletin.

Chaplet of Divine Mercy in Song

CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY IN SONG

Click on image go to the Chaplet of Divine Mercy in Song

The Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed with Rosary beads.  Like the Rosary, it is a repetitive prayer that helps us meditate deeply on God’s mercy.  As revealed to Saint Sister Faustina by Jesus, God’s infinite love and mercy is offered to all of us, and, we are also asked to extend God’s mercy to others.  In the words of Pope Francis on Divine Mercy Sunday, “let us show mercy to those who are most vulnerable; for only in this way will we build a new world."  We invite you to meditate on the Chaplet of Divine Mercy in Song. -   Blessings,  Estela & Brett (10am Parishioners)

Response to Parish Council Meeting on Zoom by Walt Lindquist

I’ve been attending Newman since 1988 … 7:30 am mass … and will turn 80 this summer. I’m a member of the Parish Council and a liaison member to the Finance Council. 

I attended a Parish Council meeting the other evening via Zoom! Good to listen, talk and connect. We went around the ‘virtual table’ and responded to Amanda’s (our chair) question … ’How are you doing?’ Most answered by talking about ‘what they are doing’. I shared that I was baking bread and sharing a loaf with neighbors. And … being older … doing my part by sheltering in place so as to not get the virus and be a burden on the medical system. 

Fr. Ivan shared on the state of the parish … with more questions posed than usual. The consensus was, as expressed by Jimmy O, et al … that we (representing the parish) appreciate the priests efforts, masses on-line, the email blasts, and any and all communication … the more the better. 

The meeting was fulfilling and productive. There was a surprise ending … thanks to Jimmy C … who suggested for the closing prayer … we go around the virtual table … and each share our intention. I had not experienced the like of such group prayer before … i.e. folks sharing their personal conversation with God in a group … during a pandemic! Amazing grace! 

Thinking since … a pandemic deserves that each of us share with as many as will listen our state and plea. Our response to the question ‘how are you doing?’ in prayer form. I don’t know about you … I’m not asking God to eliminate the pandemic and it’s effects … rather … I want God to hear my condition … which is … overwhelmed, confused, empty, wanting to know how this will end? My plea for Help! 

For the first time ever … I’m experiencing a life situation … without precedent … that is mind blowing! I can’t help wonder (not logical) if this is an act of God? I was raised a catholic (pre-Vatican II) and attended parochial schools. I’ve done spiritual work since … including the 40 day silent retreat ‘The Saint Ignatius Spiritual Exercises’. I believe in … ‘God is/in All Things’ and have not felt alone since.

 Currently I’m having feelings I do not have words for … sad, angry, fearful … do not express where I’m at! I’m feeling like I imagine what ‘the deer in the headlights feels’ … ‘what’s coming at me?’. Am I going to die? Am I going to cause pain? How’s this going to end? It’s being in the moment before the moment. Without breath … alert, awake, wide eyed, anticipating … what next? Prayer is difficult because my typical prayers seem so lame and inadequate? 

This is a first time experience! Logically (I’m an engineer) there’s enough data to understand trends and predict outcomes? Not really! We are still in an exponential phase … the exponent is greater than one … and there’s no end in sight … for the global population! A few days ago 1,000,000 folks have/had the virus, now 2,000,000 have/had the virus … the curve is flattening for some … while the curve is just starting for others. The economy is tanked which may have an effect worse than the virus … mind blowing! We are in a situation where we (the majority) can’t roll up our sleeves to help. 

What we can do? … Share our feelings and connect with others … share our personal intentions! 

Peace, Love and Courage, Walt

---

Walt is a parishioner who typically attends the 7:30am Mass with his wife, Maggie. If there was something broken at Newman - a door, cabinet, or light switch - that is suddenly fixed, there’s a good chance it was Walt’s handiwork. Walt and his friend, John, normally set up our large baptismal font for the Easter Vigil and fill it with warm water, so as not to shock our Elect celebrating baptisms. Walt is also on our Parish Council, Parish Finance Council, and Parish Building & Grounds Committee.

This Was the Time by Jim Silva

This Was the Time

Circling high above
on drafts of thin air
eagles floating

are looking back
ten years from now
at this time like no other
when Gaia could breathe
once again
through all her creatures.

This was the time
their shelter in place
lifted
birds in flight
could breathe again
and streaming fish
found water fresh
and polar caps
iced firm.

This was the time
the two-legged ones
came to their senses
smelled
flowers at their feet
saw
endless sky above
heard
birds alive with song
tasted
water sweet again
touched
Gaia
with footprint
ever so light.

Jim Silva
April 17, 2020

Jim Silva attends the 10am Sunday Mass. You have seen him in the choir, lectoring, and cantoring. He is often seen with Colleen, who happens to be his wife. He is also a life coach. Look for his ad on the back of our bulletin.

Called to participate in the GREATER GOOD that GOD is ...

Called to participate in the GREATER GOOD that GOD is and is intending to bring out of this crisis

by Greta Rosenberger

WE REJOICE IN THE EASTER SEASON- “This is the day the Lord has made” (the day of resurrection— the conquering of sin ,evil and death)—“Let us rejoice and be glad in it!!” Psalm 118

      The Risen Jesus is always equipping us with what we need to face every trial. “ Greater is HE Who is in us... than He that is in the world”(1 Jn 4:4.18) "Perfect Love casts out all fear"

       Yes. God knows that we as human beings are fragile and prone to fear. That is why the most frequent command in the Bible is  "Do not be Afraid", appearing over 200 times. 

       In tumultuous times, I like to reflect on the story of Jesus walking on the water towards the disciples who are in the boat which is being threatened by the stormy wind and waves. In both the accounts of Mark 6:50 and in Matthew 14:27, Jesus says "Take Courage....it is I...Do not be afraid."

      In that simple phrase we can see God's solution for dispelling fear.

        1) "Take Courage"--- We are called to allow ourselves to be filled with the Courage that the Holy Spirit has given us in Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist (and all Sacraments we have received).....When we invite the Holy Spirit to FILL us to the brim once again with HIS 7-fold gifts- there is less and less room for fear. “Perfect Love casts out all fear” (1 John 4:18)- When we fill ourselves with God's perfect Love for us (Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22) human fear gets marginalized.  When we are filled with the Gift of  Awe and Reverential Fear of the Lord given by the Holy Spirit in our Confirmation (Isaiah Chp 11), there is basically no room left for human fears related to temporal circumstances.

        2) "It is I"--Reminding ourselves with WHOM we are walking..... When we are close to Jesus, we have nothing to fear..... We are walking WITH the ONE Who has the power to calm the storm at any moment with three simple words (Peace- Be Still). He is BIGGER than any "storm" we may face in our lives. Jesus created nature and knows how to command the forces of nature in the world. When we honor Jesus for Who He is in our midst and are filled with an AWE of Him , and His Power and His Love for us, we cannot help but but be transfixed and transformed by His radiant CALM. The power of the PEACE that comes forth from the PRINCE of PEACE ....makes the difficulties of our temporal circumstances pale in comparison. The same Peace, Joy and Hope that filled the Apostles in prison so they could sing and pray together is available to us today.

        3) "Do Not be Afraid"- Jesus has to command us not to be afraid, because He is familiar with our frail humanity and knows our propensity to focus on the problem rather than the solution. Jesus has to command us not to fear because He is asking us to go above and beyond our human nature. In this command He is demanding that we shift our focus from the storm......onto HIM, the solution to the storm. It requires mental and emotional discipline and help from the Holy Spirit to shift our focus away from the "storm" and onto Him. If we just stay focussed on Him with faith, we can and will walk on water too. (e.g. STEP ON the temporal reality that once made us afraid).

          The Chinese word for Crisis is a combination of two symbols; 1) Risk....the other 2) Opportunity. God gives us the grace to take the risk so that we can, with Him, reap the opportunity hidden in the crisis. Peter risked stepping out of the boat in the storm, and he reaped the reward of personally experiencing the power of Faith and the Power of Christ.

     Christianity has always told us that God, being Sovereign, only allows evil events that He already intends to bring a Greater Good out of. He has equipped His people in special ways, through His Grace and Presence among us to participate in that Greater Good. First, we are called to ask God in prayer what are some of the Greater Goods that He is intending to bring out of this crisis. Then we ask Him for the Grace we need to participate in that Greater Good in the ways that He has planned for us (as individuals and as a body of believers).

Some "Greater Goods" that God is bringing out of this crisis

1) Reminding us of our vulnerability, humanity, need for each other- that we are all part of one human family. No one is greater than any other person. We are all equally valuable and precious in the sight of God (and hopefully in the sight of one another).

2) Reminding us of our need for GOD.....where we may stand with God.....is there mortal sin on our soul?

3) Reminding us as we have all this time on our hands that our BEING is more important than our DOING...our vocations (to be a spouse, father, mother, priest, nun, consecrated single person) ....to live our vocation well requires that we know how to BE...with each other and with GOD....

4) this crisis has reminded us that the secular world celebrates DOING-- e.g. what kind of producer we are.....what kind of consumer we are----but GOD celebrates BEING---what kind of LOVER we are....

5) God is reminding us that any "job" we hold to make money is at the service of our vocation and not the other way around. 

6) God is reminding us of what is truly precious: People, Souls, Himself, Time together...LOVE..kindness...gentleness..Charity that gives the other the benefit of the doubt

7) We praise Jesus for all that He is doing for people’s souls during this time of trial. — He is helping people to realize that the real virus to be feared is mortal sin.(that can kill the body and the soul).

8) God is reminding wealthy and powerful people (and governments) just how limited/relatively insignificant their wealth and power is in relation to the Four Last Things....

9) God is Giving us the precious gift of TIME----a RESET button on our lives....to reassess our priorities, our relationships, who and how we are in relation to Him and to others...

10) God is helping us to recognize the value in certain jobs that we often overlook-- grocery clerks, people in charge of garbage disposal ...all those medical professionals who are on the front lines of this war placing themselves in harms way.

11) God is helping us ask vital questions...like what (or who) are we willing to fight for? what  (or who) are we willing to die for?

12) God is giving us a small taste of what the poor experience every day--- marginalization....limited access to resources....people looking at us with suspicion....wondering if a basic need will be met tomorrow....

13) God is using this time to challenge our idols and what we place our trust in....is it money? is it status? is it power?

14) God is challenging some sick multi-billion dollar (non-essential) industries that fuel our economy-- alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, pornography, sex-trafficking----all of these industries that make money on other people's addictions (some of those industries, as they nurture people's addictions, are helping lead others' souls to hell). I have a feeling that God would say that those industries can remain "shut down" as far as He is concerned.

15) While many hunger to participate in and be physically present at the mass--- the Domestic Church has been strengthened during this time.

16) We have a renewed sense of reverential fear of the Lord which has been lacking as so many of us had begun to take His True Presence with us for granted.

      There are so many gifts to us as human beings during this time. Let us pray for the grace not to miss the gifts that are being offered to us and to others and to our souls during this time of crisis.

     We Praise Jesus in advance for the greater Good that He is bringing and will bring out of this pandemic. May Jesus calm the fears of those who, at this time, find that the foundations of their faith is being challenged—- May He give us every grace we need to focus on HIM (Who is BIGGER THAN THE STORM)— while we are still in the midst of the storm.

     May the Risen Jesus bring you and those you love every Grace and Blessing that you need at this time.

         Keeping you in prayer. Thank you for all you do and are!

            God bless you.

             In the Peace and Love of the Risen Christ,

                   Greta Rosenberger, MDiv, MA, MS

Greta is a frequent daily Mass and 10pm Sunday Mass parishioner. We share her with another Catholic church where she also cantors.

When to Re-Open? by Jim Silva

When to Re-Open ?

Now.
The best possible time
is
Now.

Tipping points

are now or never.
They come but once.
Now.

Business as usual
re-opens.
Finally!

Meanwhile
COVID conducts a master class
for those who still can breathe.
I am global; so are you.
I am planetary; so are you.
Remember
this bright blue marbled mystery
the home your astronauts saw.

COVID declares:
Business as usual
means
Apocalypse Now.

COVID prescribes
large doses of hope.
Hope not in the future
but Now.
Re-open.
Re-open the heart of the world.
No more business as usual.
Now.

Jim Silva
April 16, 2020

Jim Silva attends the 10am Sunday Mass. You have seen him in the choir, lectoring, and cantoring. He is often seen with Colleen, who happens to be his wife. He is also a life coach. Look for his ad on the back of our bulletin.