From Pennsylvania to Indiana

A week in Pittsburgh PA and now a week in Indianapolis IN have almost got me into a rhythm of a normal system. You get up in the morning and have your morning spiritual exercises and celebrate the mass and if you are a regular priest here then attend the office or sick calls or whatever and the day is done. But even as I get into the rhythm it’s time to move to the next weekend ministry.

From Indianapolis to St. Thomas More, Mooresville IN is less than an hour drive. I reached here at St. Thomas More Church on 7th August. I was almost sad that for the second time I was to manage the weekend without the pastor (also here without a cross anywhere on the external of the Church- that was a surprise discovery though). But it turned out to be a wonderful experience. First, the liturgical celebrations were so well organized from down order - the celebrant (me), to the top order-coordinator of the celebration. I particularly appreciate and admire Maureen Shea who saw to the entire liturgical celebrations in the absence of Fr. Mark Gottemoller, the pastor. The community participation was excellent, be it singing in the mass or the warm interactions outside the mass. Maureen also saw to my stay and food arrangements. It was at the Mexican restaurant with Maureen, Rose and Anita for the dinner, at an Irish pup with Steve & Eileen Egenolf for luncheon and Fr. Mark himself to an American Catfish for the dinner before he drove me back to St. Michael’s Indianapolis. I was happy I met him.

I feel sorry I couldn’t get a picture/video clip of St. Thomas More parish.

A tour of Pittsburgh

I wish to keep in record a week’s stay at St. Alphonsus Church, Pittsburgh as rich in experience. Nothing really is glamorous here except the practice of faith. I was wondering how it was possible to celebrate two masses on week days in an ordinary parish Church. But to my surprise, you not only have people participating at the mass but you always have young boys or girls serving at the mass. That was something amazing. As mention in my earlier entry, the Church is open from 6.00am to 9.00pm and it’s very encouraging to see people walking in at any part of the day to spend time in prayer.

I also mentioned how young is Fr. Murphy not in age but in deed. I just admire his zeal for life. He is always full of questions to be learned. He would not pass by a day without a day out somewhere even if it is just to downtown Pittsburgh or he would drive me to Pittsburgh University - the tallest educational building in the world, to St. Paul’s Cathedral, to North Park or to Mt. Washington view, just anywhere but something new every day. I just kept admiring his dynamism coupled with his genuine care and concern for me.

A video clip to keep the memory alive.

It’s now at Pittsburgh

Continuing my journey of sharing the stories of the Archdiocese of Imphal, I left Indianapolis for Pittsburgh PA on 24th July. Fr. Peter Murphy, the pastor was promptly at the Airport to pick me up and left for St. Alphonsus Church, Wexford – Pittsburgh. I saw for the first time after I arrived the United States some hilly curves somewhat similar to some of our places in Northeast India. In fact, St. Alphonsus’ Church itself is placed beautifully in an elevated little hillock.

Speaking of the parish here I must say, I was rather surprised for the first time to find a Church not air conditioned and it was rather a hot day but people were there for the mass. They don’t seem to mind to bear the inconveniences as long as they were in the Church. This was very edifying and as for me I felt quite at home with the hot fresh air in. As in other places, people were very cordial and happy to participate in our mission effort. In fact, we had 5 masses celebrated: one at 5.00 pm on Saturday and 6.00 am, 8.00 am, 10.00 am and 12.15 pm on Sunday. Two of these masses I celebrated by myself. I must only continue to wonder why people should be so kind to us. May be just because we belong to the same big family and they care about us. I shall continue to enjoy the hospitality of Fr. Murphy and Fr. Rob through the week until I move out to St. Maximilian Kolbe Church for the weekend. Fr. Rob is the associate pastor who has just moved in after he was ordained in June. You won’t believe that Fr. Peter Murphy is in his 42nd year of priesthood but is as dynamic as a year old priest. He is the first to get up in the morning for 6.00 am mass on Sunday and 7.00 am masses on weekdays and the last to leave the Church before he closes the doors at 9.00 pm every day. That says it more than I and you need to guess.

The Mission Continues

My mission keep growing and going. The 17th and 18th July at St. Timothy Church, Trenton in the diocese of Detroit (Michigan) was an experience by all means. I must say I am much edified by the associate pastor Fr. Edward Vella who is in effect the pastor, as the pastor is on sick leave. Fr. Edward was himself an experienced missionary as he worked in Brazil for 14 years. His simplicity and ability to educate the faithful on the missionary life and activities made my job far easier. I found the same simplicity at the rectory. I must say it was rarity to find an austere rectory anywhere around. And I found one at St. Timothy’s.

I had my weekend anticipated and extended. You don’t find such occasions lying down. I must say it was one of the loveliest time out. Thanks to Dr. Benjamin and Elizabeth (family). We, Fr. Varghese Maliakal, the four sisters and me practically rented out their cute palatial house overlooking to the blue waters of Port Huron and Canada on the other side. We really had fun and enjoyed every bit of our stay. The sisters learning to hit their legs on the water added more fun. The water was really blue and clean. You could stay on in the waters for hours, even have some drinks on the lawns or meals all served at the mention of it. It was a luxury. I am afraid they were too good to us. But at the same time I do not think it a sin to have a nice time for a day or two in a villa like this at the blue waters only if you can find some good people like the family of Dr. Benjamin.

But I must keep my focus and keep going and do what I must do. Every little love you share, you make a clean drop on your sketch.

See a little recap in the video clip.

At St. Aloysius, Nashua (NH)

Many things have happened during a weeklong stay at St. Aloysius, Nashua (4th to 11th July 2010). It was a week full of movements and new experiences. A day out with my new found friend Andrew Nelson and his parents to Portsmouth National Park, to the York Beach in the Atlantic, and to a grand Luncheon are all fun. A visit to Boston city was wonderful when it brings you fresh memories of your history classes on American History and the revolution and the Boston Tea Party, etc.

Fr. Daniel, the pastor is such a wonderful man. His care and concern were remarkable. When I arrived at the rectory the first thing he told me was that on the first day I would be treated as a guest, then on I will be treated as a member of the family. I felt so much at home hearing it and I actually experienced that in him and all his collaborators at the parish office. For instance, he makes sure that I try out different dishes to lunch or dinner – to a typical American restaurant or a Mexican or a Colombian. He makes sure that I was comfortable and at ease and I was. During the week I also participated in two funerals which were really impressive and moving. The weekend Eucharistic celebrations were beautiful and I was able to share some of our mission experiences. I was even surprised to realise that they were so interested in knowing our mission efforts and share our stories.

I am going to miss them all but I am also going to remember them for a long time to come. Yet the missionary must keep going and he goes.

The First Days in the States

I landed at Philadelphia International Airport on 1st July at about 5.00pm and Fr. Josekutty was waiting to receive me. He will be my host for the coming days and weeks during my stay in the States. The first two nights I spent with him at St. Simon Stock’s parish, Pine Hills in New Jersey. On 3rd July I flew to Manchester to go to St. Kathryn’s parish, Hudson in the state of New Hampshire. Here I will begin my ministry of sharing our mission experience.

St. Kathryn’s Church in Hudson is definitely one of the Churches I will love to remember. I like everything about it and around it. The entire surrounding gives you a sense of serenity and quietness. The stations of the cross beautifully synchronized in the quiet natural setting, our lady of Lourdes placed on the side of the front Church in a perfect natural environment with a running stream, the cute little Emmaus Chapel attached to the parish office, and the awesome presence of silence in the interior of the Church all adds to the spiritual atmosphere of the place.

I won’t gone in to details but I loved the liturgy at St. Kathyrn’s which were celebrated so orderly. And of course, I should be particularly grateful to Deacon Ray and his wife Gayle who in the absence of the Pastor, Fr. Gary took best care of me. With all the best of feelings I left for St. Louis, Nashua for the next week end ministry.

15000 Priests with the Holy Father

I went not to be out there but to be in there. It’s an incredible feeling even if you have to fight the heat, you know you are not alone but more than 15000 brother priests concelebrating with the Holy Father, the biggest concelebrated Mass ever. The details below are quoted as reported by Catholic Culture.

At a Mass in St. Peter's Square concluding the Year for Priests, Pope Benedict XVI said that it was no coincidence that the sex-abuse scandal struck during a year set aside for celebration of the priesthood.

The Year for Priests was dedicated to a spiritual revival of the clergy, the Pope said in his homily. "It was to be expected," he said, "that this new radiance of the priesthood would not be pleasing to the Enemy."

Thus it was not surprising, the Pope reasoned, that during the year "the sins of priests came to light-- particularly the abuse of little ones."

The Pope said that the Church must "insistently beg forgiveness from God and from the persons involved, while promising to do everything possible to ensure that such abuse will never occur again." He called for vigilance in the training and supervision of future priests, and emphasized the importance of discipline within the Church:

The Church too must use the shepherd’s rod, the rod with which he protects the faith against those who falsify it, against currents which lead the flock astray. The use of the rod can actually be a service of love. Today we can see that it has nothing to do with love when conduct unworthy of the priestly life is tolerated. Nor does it have to do with love if heresy is allowed to spread and the faith twisted and chipped away, as if it were something that we ourselves had invented.

At the same time, while acknowledging the sins of some priests, the Pope said that the scandal should give the faithful a new perspective on the great gift of the priesthood. "Had the Year for Priests been a glorification of our individual human performance, it would have been ruined by these events," he said. But in fact the revelations of priests' weaknesses is a reminder that God serves the Church, and makes Himself available to the world, through the ministry of weak and fallen human persons.

The priesthood, Pope Benedict said, is a demonstration of the "audacity of God who entrusts Himelf to human beings," fully realizing their weakness." God's astonishing confidence in man comprises "the true grandeur concealed in the word 'priesthood,'" the Pontiff said. "The world’s religions, as far as we can see, have always known that in the end there is only one God. But this God was distant," the Pope continued. Through the priestly ministry, God becomes immediately present to his creatures. Therefore a Catholic priest is "no mere office-holder" but a direct participant in Christ's saving action.

Pope Benedict delivered his long and beautiful homily on the priesthood at a Mass that closed the observances of the Year for Priests. This year coincided with the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars, who was frequently cited by the Pope this year as a model of priestly dedication. As he celebrated the Mass the Pope used the chalice that once belonged to the French saint.

More than 15,000 priests-- who had come to Rome at the Pope's invitation for the final celebrations of the year-- joined in concelebrating the Eucharistic liturgy.