Politics

I have not really commented on politics during this election cycle. I do not feel that as a priest I should be making such comments. However, yesterday was a big day in politics with the departure of Rudy Guliani and John Edwards it looks like the race is down to two on each side. I know that there are still some others in there but the field will soon be a little smaller.

Super Tuesday is upon us and I think we will see more departures from the field and then I will start paying attention. It is very difficult when all these people are running to select a candidate that I like. I will make one comment. Don't listen to the talking heads. Read for yourself what the candidates say, this is too important to leave it to the likes of Wolf Blitzer and Bill O'Riley. Far and Balenced are words that should never be used for the news because it is anything but fair and balenced. Read and study what the candidates say, watch the debates, read their websites. Don't take someone elses word for it. Do your homework you have to do atleast that much before you pull the lever, poke the hole, draw the line, check the box, fill in the bubble or whatever else we do on election day. Take an hour, turn off American Idol, and pay attention!

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Detroit Becomes Foothold for Orthodox Resurgence

DETROIT (AP) January 23, 2008 — Detroit is emerging as a national center for the rebirth of Orthodox Christian churches, which have deep ethnic roots in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

Social scholars say the churches are growing in the United States through immigration and conversion. Next week, many of Detroit's Orthodox leaders will host the first in a series of conferences planned nationwide for non-Orthodox clergy who want to explore conversion.

The Rev. John Fenton is betting his life on the growing popularity of Orthodox Christianity. He and his wife have packed up their six children from the rectory of a Detroit church where he was a Lutheran pastor until late October. They've moved into a small home in Allen Park, leaving behind Fenton's clergy salary and, soon, his health insurance.

"My wife and I have spent a lot of time in prayer about this whole move, and it is difficult, but we do believe that God is leading us," Fenton told the Detroit Free Press.

On Feb. 10 and Feb. 11 in Troy Fenton plans to join a small number of clergy nationwide choosing ordination as Orthodox priests. Fenton has lined up 16 former Lutherans as charter members of a new Orthodox parish he plans to open.

Why the fresh interest? Fenton said many Christians feel battered by theological controversies in their own churches. In contrast, he said, Orthodoxy represents an oasis of Christian tradition with its centuries-old style of worship and timeless celebration of the mysterious power of saints.

"So many people feel that the world is constantly changing all around them, and they want to find something that's so deeply rooted that it won't change on them," Fenton said. "I think that's the biggest thing that Orthodoxy brings to the American table."

Since the mid-1990s, about 850,000 Americans have been drawn to more than a dozen different divisions of Orthodoxy that have congregations in the U.S.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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Pope Prays for Greek Orthodox Church

Expresses Condolences for Death of Archbishop Christodoulos

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 29, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is assuring the Greek Orthodox Church of his prayers after the death of Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece.

The Orthodox archbishop died of cancer Monday at age 69.

The Holy Father sent a telegram to Metropolitan Seraphim of Karystia and Skyros.

He gave assurance of his spiritual closeness to those mourning the death "of this distinguished pastor of the Church of Greece.

"The telegram continued: "The fraternal welcome which His Beatitude gave my predecessor Pope John Paul II on the occasion of his visit to Athens in May 2001, and the return visit of Archbishop Christodoulos to Rome in December 2006, opened a new era of cordial cooperation between us, leading to increased contacts and improved friendship in the search for closer communion in the context of the growing unity of Europe.

"I and Catholics around the world pray that the Orthodox Church of Greece will be sustained by the grace of God in continuing to build on the pastoral achievements of the late archbishop, and that in commending the noble soul of His Beatitude to our heavenly Father's loving mercy you will be comforted by the Lord's promise to reward his faithful servants.

"The ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, will preside at the funeral this Thursday at the Cathedral of Athens.

Cardinal Paul Poupard, retired president of the Pontifical Council of Culture, and Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, will represent the Holy See at the funeral.

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Fr. Dan Kennedy Update

Rev. Daniel J. Kennedy
January 16, 1974 - January 27, 2008

Rev. Daniel J. Kennedy, 34, of Needham and Winthrop, died of a heart attack Sunday, January 27, 2008 at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut.

Father Kennedy was a graduate of Catholic Memorial School, Providence College and Saint John’s Seminary and a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Chaplin Corps. He was ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Boston on May 26, 2007 and was the Parochial Vicar at Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Winthrop. Father Kennedy was an accomplished runner who completed nine marathons, including the Boston, Philadelphia and Marine Corps marathons, and was also an avid golfer. He shared a love for God, a love for his family and friends, and a passion for the Boston Red Sox and the Catholic Memorial Knights.

He was the beloved son of Daniel J. Kennedy and Alice M. (Haggerty) Kennedy of Needham; loving brother of Kathleen M. Kennedy, Patricia A. Kennedy, Anne Marie Kennedy all of Needham, and John F. Kennedy and his wife Elizabeth of Simsbury, Connecticut, loving uncle of Ashley T. Kennedy of Needham, and loving nephew of Judith E. Kennedy of Chicopee, Eleanor Masi and Elizabeth Harlow both of Maine; he is also survived by several cousins. He was the grandson of the late Patrick J. and Eileen M. Kennedy of Springfield and Charles J. and Alice H. Haggerty of West Springfield.

Funeral Information

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by his Eminence, Sean Cardinal O’Malley, on Friday, February 1st in Saint Joseph Church, 1382 Highland Avenue, Needham at 11:00 am. Interment will take place on Saturday, February 2nd, in Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Westfield at 11:00 am.
Father Kennedy will lie in state in Saint Joseph Church, 1382 Highland Avenue, Needham on Thursday, January 31st from 3:00-8:00 pm.

Donations Information

In lieu of flowers, the Kennedy family requests that donations be made in memory of Father Daniel J. Kennedy to Catholic Memorial School, 235 Baker Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132 or to Saint Joseph School Endowment Fund, 90 Pickering Street, Needham, MA 02492.

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RIP Fr. Dan Kennedy

News has reached the Village about the passing of one of my seminary classmates Fr. Dan Kennedy. Fr. Dan was only 33 yrs old and from what I hear he died of a heart attack at the home of his brother on Sunday night. Fr. Dan was a priest in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston and will be missed. He was ordained last May to the priesthood and was serving a parish in Winthrop, Massachusetts.

Memory Eternal! Sphere: Related Content

Head of Greece's Orthodox Church Dies

Leader of Greece's Orthodox Church, Archbishop Christodoulos, Dies
The Associated Press
ATHENS, Greece
Greece's Orthodox Church leader, Archbishop Christodoulos, who eased centuries of tension with the Vatican but angered liberal critics who viewed him as an attention-seeking reactionary, died Monday at his home of cancer, church officials said. He was 69.

Christodoulos, who headed the church for a decade, was first hospitalized in Athens in June before being diagnosed with cancer of the liver and large intestine.

He spent 10 weeks in a hospital in Miami but an October liver transplant operation was canceled when doctors discovered the cancer had spread. He refused hospital treatment in the final weeks of his life.

Christodoulos was elected church leader in 1998 and is credited with reinvigorating the vast institution that represents 97 percent of Greece's native born population.

He helped create church Web sites and radio stations, and frequently issued detailed checklists on how black-clad Orthodox priests should conduct themselves in public.

In 2001, Christodoulos received the late John Paul II the first pope to visit Greece in nearly 1,300 years. They held the landmark meeting in Athens despite vigorous protests from Orthodox zealots.

The archbishop followed up in 2006 with an historic visit to the Vatican, where he and Pope Benedict XVI signed a joint declaration calling for inter-religious dialogue and stating opposition to abortion and euthanasia.

Memory Eternal!

From ABC News

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Fire Update

I spent a few hours yesterday getting my truck back in service after the fire the other night. I also noticed that my comments on the fire brought in the most hits on this blog and the most comments on a single posting since I began this blog. I want to thank all of you for your comments and those who did not comment thanks for reading my words.

My good friend and department photographer Alan Bracket has a website of photos of various fires in the area. Alan is a retired fire fighter from Sturbridge, Massachusetts and he takes photo's for our department and others. Here is a link to his photos of the fire the other night. If you look close you can even see pics of me. I am the one with the cross on his helmet standing around with nothing to do! Anyway thanks to Alan for taking the pics and sharing them.

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Shepherd of Souls Podcast Episode #14

After four takes I was able to get this podcast online I hope you enjoy.

PODCAST

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Fire

Yesterday started out like any other day would have and things were right on schedule as I had planned them. Fr. Greg and I met for breakfast and a podcast session and then I set about to take care of office work. About 5pm the fire radio went off about a house fire not far from the church. I have blogged before about being a fire chaplain and this is part of the job. The radio is on 24/7 and you actually get used to it. So I went to the front door of my house and yep there is was two streets away, and big house fire.

This is what I saw when I arrived. This photo comes courtesy of the Telegram and Gazette newspaper in Worcester.

Now the point of telling this story is simply this. Fire fighters risk their lives everyday. Human beings had to go in that house and put that fire out. These brave men and women do things that normal, and I use that term in a good way, people would not do. As people are running out, they are running in not knowing if they will come back out or not. They have to trust their training and trust each other. Fire fighters in this area have taken a hit in the last few weeks with the stories coming out of Boston and some other places about drugs and alcohol on the job. It is very easy for us to look at fire fighters and think all they do is sit around the fire house and sleep. Well look at that picture again and think about it. That is a three family house. If you look close on the porch of the second floor you see people, those are the men and women we think just sit around and do nothing. They train for this stuff everyday. Just like the police officer who rides around in his/her car during a shift, these are highly trained, and under paid, professionals.

Now I like sports. I like to watch sports. But when I see what these people get paid it makes me sick to think of them versus they guys in that picture. In this area fire fighters start at around $35,000 a year. Okay not a bad salary, but in my department we only have six full time the rest like me are call fire fighters who make maybe $2,500 a year doing this. They do hold jobs or go to school but you get the idea. One of the departments that responded yesterday is a volunteer department. That's right, they run into that building for FREE!

Don't get me wrong I think people should be able to make as much money as they can but, when we pay a pitcher $40 million a year and fire fighter $35,000 a year something is wrong. We pay all of our public servants, police, fire, teachers, emts's, snow plow drivers, etc. way to little and we need to look at how we structure our budgets. No one wants to pay more tax but come on people!

Next time you drive by your local fire house remember that photo and say a prayer for the men and women who happen to be on shift that day. Remember their families who pray every time the bell rings until they hear from their loved ones that they are okay. Next time your making cookies or something make an extra batch and take it by the fire house they love it and will even let you sit in one of the fire trucks, by the way that is cool! Thank the men and women of the fire service for all that they do and for risking their loves to save your 42" flat screen LCD TV that they can't afford themselves.

Okay, rant over.

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Facing East Podcast #13

Fr. Greg and I recorded Episode #13 today take a listen.

PODCAST

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Quick Note

Just a quick note as I ready myself for a Fire Chaplain meeting today. This is our quarterly meeting and training session and today's topic will be very serious and somber. Line of Duty Death notification. This is training that I hope I will never have to use. So I am off in a half hour with another chaplain from the area for this meeting that will last most of the day.

Tomorrow the plan is to podcast with Fr. Greg and to try and get on some schedule again. We have been trying to keep to a set schedule but it becomes harder as each of us get busier with our respective parish duties and other such things.

Yesterday I was at the local radio station recording promos for the new radio ministry I mentioned in the previous post. Very weird recording in front of another person. Podcasting is one thing but doing radio spots is very different. But it is done. I still need to get the press release done and I will post that when it is released.

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General Assembly Follow-up

Well the events of the day went very well. We were able to make some plans for the next year and I hope and pray that we acted in the way that God is calling us to act. It is always difficult to make plans when one is not sure of what the future holds. So much of what we do as church depends on many factors that are out of our control. We have an older parish here and most are on a fixed income so it is difficult to plan finances. After the assembly we had a discussion at coffee hour about raising funds. It always turns to the easy things like raffles and other forms of gambling. We have several of those events here each year and I am not keen to add more. So what is the answer? We have begun a discussion about Stewardship. You will be hearing more about that this year as we move in that direction.

So I announced a new ministry yesterday. We have become an affiliate of Come Receive the Light National Radio Program. We will be syndicating the national weekly talk show on our local AM radio station. The show will air from 8:30-9:00 on Sunday morning and will end with an invitation from me to come to church. This is a very large undertaking for us from a financial position but we have made the commitment to reach out. The cost for this new ministry represents about 5% of our total budget for the year but we have to do it. We will be the only religious programing of any kind on the station. This could be good. So that is the news from the Village. Sphere: Related Content

Liturgy Stream

Live stream of Liturgy today at 10am.

LIVE STREAM

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General Assembly

Today my parish has it's Annual General Assembly. For those of you not familiar with how an Orthodox Parish works, the General Assembly is the governing body of the local church. At the level of the Archdiocese we have what is called the Congress made up of two lay delegates and the clergy of each parish. At the local level the General Assembly is the body that would decide, as an example, if we are to buy and sell property. The main focus of today's meeting is the budget for the coming year. I will also give an address on the future of the parish and I will be introducing some new initiatives for the parish for the coming year. I have spent considerable time working on the document that I will ready after Divine Liturgy today and many sleepless hours thinking about the assembly. Last years did not go so well.

In any event this is a big day in the life of our parish and I hope it proceeds without incident. Our Archdiocese instituted some new rules two years ago and this will be the first year that we really put them into practice. The major change is that I will lead the General Assembly.

We have a parish council elected by the General Assembly and they serve for two years. We presently have 12 on the council plus me. The council meets and elects a president etc. for the coming two years. In the past the General Assembly has done this. Well theologically speaking this is not correct. The president of the parish is the one who presides, namely at liturgical functions, that being the bishop. In his place there is a priest, me, who presides in his place making me, I guess, the president. I represent the parish before God. The council elects the president from it's number because the president represents the council. I guess I would have to equate it with the US government. Consider this. We the people elect the president of the United States. Okay before you fill the comment box with the electoral college elects the president, I know this just work with me here okay? The president represents all of the people. The House of Representatives is made up of 435 people elected by their localities. From their number they elect the Speaker of the House, who by the way becomes third in line to the presidency. The same happens in the Senate with the President Pro Tem... Okay civics lesson has ended. So I guess it is the same idea, but with some theology thrown in for good measure.

Please pray for us as we enter this time of discussion about God's Church. As the economy changes and the congregation gets older money becomes more and more an issue. Although part of the job of being a priest is running the parish, it is not the part that I like. First off we are not really prepared for this in seminary. However, I do have a business degree so I am a bit more prepared than some of my brother priests. So say a little prayer for us today that we seek and do God's will. I will blog after the announcements of what the new initiatives will be I think they are great!

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Nairobi – Upon his return to Kenya from Egypt, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Kenya was greeted by scenes of widespread destruction and great suffering. His homecoming tour took him to some of the places hardest hit by the violence that flared over contested presidential elections.

In Nakuru, the Orthodox Church of the Holy Virgin has been completely destroyed. Many people, still afraid to travel, are staying in their homes. The thousands who have lost their homes are staying anywhere they can, including churches and parks.

The transportation system has largely stopped. As a result, many people are without food and medicine. The Red Cross is responding but the need is still great. The “Kenya Crisis Collection” that is being taken by the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) is now being expanded to help His Eminence offer these basic provisions as he reaches out to the people of Kenya regardless of their tribal or religious affiliation on behalf of the Orthodox Church.

So far, ten-thousand dollars from this collection has been sent to buy food and medicine for the needy and suffering in Kenya, but much more is needed. According to His Eminence, it will take the country years to rebuild.

All donations for this special collection should be made payable to the Orthodox Christian Mission Center with “Kenya Crisis Collection” clearly marked in the check’s memo line. Gifts may be submitted to:

The Orthodox Christian Mission Center
Re: Kenya Crisis Collection
P.O. Box 4319
St. Augustine, FL 32085-4319

OCMC is a non-profit organization that has been commissioned by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) to proclaim the fullness of the Christian Faith by establishing and nurturing vibrant, Eucharistic communities, which evangelize those around them and minister to the poor.

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13 January ~ St. Kentigern

Bishop, founder of the See of Glasgow, b. about 518; d. at Glasgow, 13 January, 603. His mother Thenaw was daughter of a British prince, Lothus (from whom the province of Lothian was called); his father's name is unknown. According to Jocelyn's life of Kentigern, the saint was born at Culross in Fife, and brought up until manhood by St. Serf (or Servanus) at his monastery there; but Skene shows that this connection between the two saints involves an anachronism, as St. Serf really belongs to the following century. At the age of twenty-five we find Kentigern (the name means "head chief", but he was popularly known as Mungo — in Cymric, Mwyn-gu, or "dear one"), beginning his missionary labours at Cathures, on the Clyde, the site of modern Glasgow. The Christian King of Strathclyde, Roderick Hael, welcomed the saint, and procured his consecration as bishop, which took place about 540. For some thirteen years he laboured in the district, living a most austere life in a cell at the confluence of the Clyde and the Molendinar, and making many converts by his holy example and his preaching. A large community grew up around him, became known as "Clasgu" (meaning the "dear family") and ultimately grew into the town and city of Glasgow.

About 553 a strong anti-Christian movement in Strathclyde compelled Kentigern to leave the district, and he retired to Wales, staying for a time with St. David at Menevia, and afterwards founding a large monastery at Llanelwy, now St. Asaph's, of which he appointed the holy monk Asaph superior in succession to himself. In 573 the battle of Arthuret secured the triumph of the Christian cause in Cumbria, and Kentigern, at the earnest appeal of King Roderick, returned thither, accompanied by many of his Welsh disciples. For eight years he fixed his see at Hoddam in Dumfriesshire, evangelizing thence the districts of Galloway and Cumberland. About 581 he finally returned to Glasgow, and here, a year or two later, he was visited by St. Columba, who was at that time labouring in Strathtay. The two saints embraced, held long converse, and exchanged their pastoral staves.

Kentigern was buried on the spot where now stands the beautiful cathedral dedicated in his honour. His remains are said still to rest in the crypt. His festival is kept throughout Scotland on 13 January. The Bollandists have printed a special mass for this feast, dating from the thirteenth century.

From Catholic Encyclopedia

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Weekend Wrap Up

This was a busy weekend here in the village. Saturday was spent getting things ready for the Liturgical celebrations of the weekend. Things needed to be cared for in the church and I spent sometime with one of the ladies that cleans the church. It is always nice to chat with people in an informal setting. Saturday night of course brought the Patriots game. I am suffering from a cold so I did not stay up and watch the entire game. I went to be secure in the knowledge that they would win and they did. Now it is on to the next game. Before the game we celebrated Great Vespers. When I first came here we did this service every Saturday and then we stopped when people stopped coming. Now we have decided that we need to start again and pray that people come. One more person this week so we are off to a good start. Unless there is a feast day it is a short service of about 30 minutes. Nice way to end the day and prepare for Liturgy. We end the service with an anointing of the sick and time for confession.

Sunday morning the usual services. Orthros at 9am followed by Liturgy at 10. We had a nice group for Liturgy. The count was 41! Our usual is 35 so this was good. You can listen to my homily here. Before Christmas we began streaming our Liturgies using uStream. Although not many tune in to watch during the live broadcast many watch the recorded version. Not many Orthodox Churches in the US currently stream their Liturgies and I felt that this is something that we could do without much cost to the parish. It took some fancy wiring to get the wireless signal to the church but we did it. The camera is not in the best place it could be so we are working on that. It is a work in progress. There is a link on the blog for the liturgy or you can view Sunday's recorded Liturgy here.

After Church we have a coffee hour, another thing we began when I arrived here. This is a great time and almost everyone comes down to the hall for coffee and a little snack. It gives me a chance to talk with people and welcome new folks to the church. People hang around for about an hour or so and then go on their way. The rest of the day was spent cleaning up and resting to try and fight off this cold. I made a nice beef stew and enjoyed that before hunkering down for the night. Maybe I will post the secret recipe.

The week ahead is busy. Right now it is snowing out so I am not sure what today will bring. I am supposed to do a house blessing tonight but we left it open due to the weather. I have another blessing tomorrow afternoon, an appointment with one of my directees for spiritual direction and Friday night is movie night here at church. On top of all this the Parish will have its General Assembly on Sunday so things need to be readied for that. So not real busy but busy enough.

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Going Green

Much is being made of going green and the need to protect the environment. Orthodox theology would agree with this mandate to go green. We all need to do what we can to help conserve energy and our precious natural resources. In the village a few months back they started what is called "single stream recycling" we all got a 90 gallon recycle bin on wheels and we put all recyclables in this bin and it is picked up every two weeks. In the first month of the program we went from 32 tons to 59 tons of trash that did not go into the landfill that is big.

In todays edition of the Scotsman there are some suggesitons of what you can do to make your life a little greener:

1. Recycle household waste using facilities provided locally
2. Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth
3. Switch to using energy-saving light bulbs
4. Leave the car at home at least once a week and cycle, walk, share a car or use public transport more often
5. Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones
6. Reuse carrier bags when you shop
7. Buy more seasonal and unpackaged food
8. Hang your washing up to dry rather than using a tumbler dryer
9. Organise or volunteer in an environmental project in your local community
10. Pay back the environmental impact of any flights you take and choose not to fly when there's a suitable alternative.

These are just some suggesitons but we all can do some of them. Last month I switched all of my lamps to the energy bulbs and they are actually brighter than what I had before and they will last longer. I have also decided that I will only have the lights on in the rooms I am in, and I have turned the heat down a little and put a sweater on. There are many other things we can do if we just think about it. I also bought some bags from the grocery store to reuse when I shop, now I just need to remember to bring them with me when I go. Okay so not a perfect program but we are getting there. How many of us leave our computers on all the time? When you go to bed do you shut it off or let it run? Try turning it off at night for a month and then check your electric bill, you will see a difference. Just think going green also includes more green in your pocket.

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Alexy II's Overtures Raise Hopes

Russian Orthodox Invites Catholic Prelate to Study Joint Pastoral Work

MOSCOW, JAN. 9, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow sent Benedict XVI New Year greetings by way of the representative of the Catholic Church in Russia -- a gesture the Holy See official said points to a tendency toward collaboration.

At the end of the celebration of the Jan. 7 vigil of Orthodox Christmas in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, the patriarch talked with the apostolic nuncio to the Russian Federation, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, and with recently appointed Archbishop Paolo Pezzi of the Mother of God Archdiocese.

Archbishop Mennini told Vatican Radio that Alexy II offered his congratulations to Benedict XVI, expressing as well his closeness and fraternity.

"The patriarch beckoned the new archbishop of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God and me to approach. Together, we kissed the cross with which the faithful had been blessed," Archbishop Mennini said. "After I'd introduced the new archbishop, the patriarch told him he was open to meeting with him soon, not only to get to know him better, but also to study together common pastoral projects benefiting the faithful of the region of Moscow.

"He said that the faithful who live in the region of Moscow are entrusted as much to my pastoral care as to yours and because of this we have to work and collaborate together."

Alexy II then asked them again to offer the Pope his fervent best wishes for the New Year just begun. The patriarch added that "his sentiments and those of the Russian Orthodox Church are inspired by motives of great respect and great fraternity," Archbishop Mennini continued.

The papal representative in Russia said he thinks this gesture "confirms a tendency toward collaboration that can be seen not only on a theoretical level, but also on a practical level."

He mentioned a Dec. 28 meeting of a Catholic-Orthodox commission, planned some time ago, as proof of the common desire for collaboration.

Archbishop Mennini added, "It seems to me that there are no longer problems that the two sides cannot address openly and freely, without running the risk of breaking off relations, above all without running the risk of destroying the climate of trust and dialogue, based on reciprocal respect."

ZE08010904 - 2008-01-09Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-21445?l=english

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Bartholomew I to Visit Pontiff

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 8, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI will receive in audience Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, who will visit Rome to mark the 90th anniversary of the Pontifical Oriental Institute.

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity confirmed the audience is scheduled for Thursday, March 6.

The patriarch will visit Rome for the celebrations of the anniversary of the foundation of the Pontifical Oriental Institute, entrusted to the Society of Jesus, and established by Pope Benedict XV in 1917.

Bartholomew I himself received a doctorate from the institute.

Benedict XVI visited the patriarch in Turkey in 2006, on the occasion of the feast of St. Andrew.

On Dec. 6, the Pope received a delegation from the Pontifical Oriental Institute and recognized that the role the institute provides has "an effective ecumenical value, because drawing from the heritage of wisdom of the Christian East enriches everyone.”

ZE08010807 - 2008-01-08Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-21436?l=english Sphere: Related Content

New Hampshire

So New Hampshire votes today! I am listening to NPR and it seems there are very long lines of people turning out to vote! I guess the weather is helping to get the vote out. If you are reading this and live in the Granite State go vote if you have not already done so.

Fr. Greg and I were going to be in New Hampshire today to podcast and cover the election for OCN but we both have funerals today so the election will take a back seat. I am sure we will cover the vote here in Massachusetts when that time comes next month.

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Follow up from yesterday

So it would seem I had 35 hits yesterday because I included Brittany Spears and Dr. Phil in my post. I wonder if I will get another 35 today because I did it again. No comments were left so I do not know if anyone read my ramblings. I also did not hear if Dr. Phil was able to get Brittany (another 35 hits) on the show. More to come...

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Dr. Phil & Britany

I usually have a lot of respect for Dr. Phil. I like to watch his show and he seems to really help people. Now I know that much of what he takes on is driven by ratings but I think he has stooped to a new level with this Brittany Spears business.

Rod Dreher has a posting about it on his Crunchy Con Blog.

I feel bad for any person that has to go through what that family is going through. With that said I believe that much of it is brought on by themselves. Brittany Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and that ilk all need help. I also find it amazing that we eat this stuff up! The other day I was watching the local news and it was breaking news about Brit going to the hospital. What about our men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan? What about gas prices going up while the oil companies post record earnings? What about the presidential election? No we get breaking news about another famous person acting stupid. Sorry if this sounds harsh but like the stars that fall we bring this all on ourselves. We live to see news about the so called beautiful people. Tom Cruise and whats-her-name have a child before they are married, BAM breaking news. Tom Brady, and his this week girl friend, have a child before marriage, BAM, braking news. Three fire fighters get hurt last night fighting a fire and where is it? Buried in a little box on page whatever in the paper.

Where are our priorities? What do we believe? Go for it Dr. Phil, make all the money you can. When your show airs latter on this week I bet it will have the best ratings of any show you have done all season, but I don't think I will be watching.

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Iowa

Well the first shots of the Presidential election season have been fired. The Iowa Caucus. Now I am not sure what happens at this event but it is traditionally the first test for candidates and as usually none of the front runners got the nod, who knows. Now the talking heads say the big test is New Hampshire.

It seems the election season get earlier and earlier each time round. I remember an episode from the West Wing. The President has just been re-elected (is that a hyphenated word?) and people started working on the next election. That seems strange. Anyway we are off and running. Actually we have been off and running for what seems like four years already.

We need to start paying attention to the candidates. I have not done much research as I usually wait till only the serious ones are left, well the ones who can get elected anyway. We need to pay attention to what they say. I told someone the other day that we need to read for ourselves what the candidates have to say and not listen to what other people said they said. We need to make up our own minds and let someone "spin" or if you believe Bill O'Riley "no spin" Read the candidates website and their official statements. Match their words with what we believe as Orthodox Christians or whatever we maybe. (I mean that in a nice way) I guess the bottom line is make up your own mind.

I try to stay on the fray of the political discussion and I do have some pretty hard and fast thoughts on things that I don't always share. However, I feel this election will be one of the most important ones since reconstruction. Pay attention and make an informed decision. Don't vote for the guy, or girl, that looks the best!

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Shepherd of Souls Episode #13

Episode 13 is now online. In this episode I share my homily from Sunday, December 30th with the title of Go a Different Way.

Please remember Share the Light Sunday! More information can be found at www.myocn.net

PODCAST

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New Year Blessing

I have noticed that several people have found the blog by searching for the New Year Blessing so I thought I would recycle this post. I also want to wish all of my readers a very Happy, Blessed, and Healthy New Year! Thank you for reading my words over the last year and also listening to my new podcast that was started this year.

I am off in a few minutes to a celebration of Hogmany and then back here latter on. Be safe today.

God, bless to me the new day,
never vouchsafed to me before;
it is to bless your own presence
you have given me this time, O God.

Bless to my eye,
may my eye bless all it sees;
I will bless my neighbor,
may my neighbor bless me.

God, give me a clean heart,
let me not from sight of your eye;
bless to me my family,
and bless to me my means.

Ancient Celtic Prayers collected by Alexander Carmichael (1832-1912), published in Carmina Gadelica (Edinburgh: Floris Books, 1992). These are prayers, hymns, and incantations collected in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in the 18th century. Sphere: Related Content