Back to School

Posted on by Fr. Peter
About a year ago I applied for doctoral study at Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj, Romania. They have a very unique program. The doctoral study is done by research. You select a mentor from the faculty that has an interest in the area in which you wish to concentrate, you have to sit for two exams over a two year period and then a defense of your dissertation. This makes this kind of education very accessible to someone who has to work but want to complete an advanced degree. So I selected a mentor, one who also mentors in English, and an area of concentration, Church History. Specifically I will concentrate on American Church History and the Orthodox Churches position in that history. This has been an area of some interest since my seminary days.
I find this whole thing very interesting. I hated school when I was in High School, and if you got a look at my transcripts you would see how that is true. Now I am a doctoral student. It is funny how things work out. I was also a school teacher before going to seminary and have taught college courses and this Spring will teach again at Nichols College. Very strange how God uses us. I am sure I will blog more on this topic as I get into my research. Anyone have any ideas of what I could research?

31 October ~ St. Bega

Posted on by Fr. Peter
A princess of Ireland and hermitess-foundress, also listed as Bee. Bega fled the royal court rather than marry a prince from Norway. Tradition states that she was miraculously transported to Cumberland, in England.There St. Oswald counseled her in a hermitage, and St. Aidan received her vows as a nun. Bega founded St. Bee’s Monastery. She served as abbess there until her death. She is also remembered in the village of Kilbees, in Scotland.

Busy Days

Posted on by Fr. Peter
It has been a few days since my last post so I thought I would just throw some thoughts up here to fill space. It all began last Sunday with the final Red Sox LA game. I like to watch baseball but very rarely watch an entire game. This one was one for the books. I watched the entire game and stayed up way too late.
We had a few days off before they began the series with Colorado. So now we are two games up and I am two days down on sleep. Last night was a night off from baseball but we had a fundraiser here at the church. Large crowd and much fun was had by all. We began with a Spaghetti feed followed by, what we call, the turkey party. Basically you buy a ticket for .50 and we spin a wheel and you win a turkey. This brings people in from all over the town and surrounding towns. It is nice to see people and it is also a social event. We also had some information about the church so maybe people will come to church.
Now Saturday. Bulletin, get the church ready, finish the homily, print tickets for next weeks banquet, edit one podcast and record another one, finish this post… So the fun keeps on going.
Tomorrow after Liturgy I get some rest. The Patriots are playing the late game then the Sox play game four. Maybe, just maybe the last game of the season.

California Fires

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I continue to be concerned with the fires in California. I pray for the people there who have been evacuated as well as those that will care for them. We also should remember those on the front lines. I heard on the news last night that the firefighters on the line have been working for 36 hours without sleep. Try staying awake that long and see how well you function.
I have never been a fan of this concept of Global Warming but I cannot help but wonder if this is the earth saying she has had enough of all the torment we have put her through and she is saying I have had enough? Perhaps there is more to this Global Warming thing than I care to admit. We orthodox have always had strong feelings and opinions on the environment. In 1999 the Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement on the Environment and I think it still holds true today. We need to care for this earth it is the only one we have, and God gave it to us to care for.
Something to think about anyway.

21 October ~ St. Fintan (Munnu) of Taghmon

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Son of Tulchan, an Ulster saint, d. at Taghmon, 636. He founded his celebrated abbey at Taghmon (Teach Munnu) in what is now County Wexford, in 599. He is principally known as the defender of the Irish method of keeping Easter, and, in 630, he attended the Synod of Magh Lene, at which he dissented from the decision to adopt the Roman paschal method. Another synod was held somewhat later at Magh Ailbe, when St. Fintan again upheld his views in opposition to St. Laserian (Mo Laisre). But the views of the University Church prevailed. His feast is observed on 21 October. The beautiful stone cross of “St. Munn” still stands in the churchyard of the village.

Little Tired

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I am a little tired this morning after staying up until after 12am watching the Red Sox make it to the World Series again. Man it was a little nerve racking there for a little bit but then it opened up and I was able to breath again.
Tonight I will be serving the Liturgy of St. James here in the Village. Fr. Greg will be coming over to help out. If you find yourself in this area stop in Liturgy is at 6pm.

Sunday

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Who ever said Sunday is a day of rest obviously was not a priest… Anyway the usual round of Liturgical Services today. We have a three year memorial for a lady that I buried just after coming here. It is hard to believe it has been three years. After Liturgy we have coffee hour and then a quick trip to the cemetery for a grave blessing.
Then I get in my little green truck and head to the east cost, Quincy where I hail from, for a board meeting of the Saint Andrew’s Society of Massachusetts of which I am serving as president. Then back out here. Keep in mind that will about 130 miles round trip. For those of us that live in the North East that’s a lot of driving. I know in other places that is a trip to the Super Market but not here folks. Patriots football at 1pm and GAME 7 at 8pm.
Tomorrow is going to be equally busy. I have a fellow priest coming for a few days so the spare rooms needs a good going over and then we have the Divine Liturgy of St. James at 6pm tomorrow night. This is the oldest liturgy dating from the 4th century and is only served on his feast day which is Tuesday. It has been a year since I last served it so I have a little reading to do. All those red words.
Oh yes, on Tuesday morning we have our first local orthodox clergy bible study. I am so looking forward to this time of study and fellowship with my brothers. We had it scheduled for last week but alas a meeting bumped it. We hope to do this every month.
Happy Sunday All and remember GO SOX!

Here I Go Again!

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I need to stop reading the bogs this early in the morning. Here it is not even 8am and my blood is boiling. First passing out the “pill” to middle schoolers in Maine and now thanks to Huw I hear about a so called Christian prison group that is not allowing a church a participate in a program for kids because, wait for it, they allow gays to come to church. I am so over the top sick and tired of these so called Christian do gooders that only want people they like to participate in their programs. I am sure if my church wanted to participate we would be allowed because we don’t meet their narrow doctrinal views. I am so glad Jesus was not so narrow in who he ministered to or Matthew the tax collector, or the woman caught in adultery might not have been ministered too. We are all sinners and fall short of the mark but you know what we all deserve God’s grace.
We are so concerned with the outward signs in the church and so concerned that people are dressed the right way and that the priest says things the right way or that we should use Greek, Russian, Romanian, Latin or whatever language and we keep hurting people like this. I am so sick of all this crap in the church. We all need to get on our knees and ask no beg forgiveness from God for our narrow minds and cold hearts! I mean it! We have priests molesting kids, bishops covering it up, priests using church funds as if they were their own, and bishops covering it up. And if you one of the righteous Orthodox out there who think I am talking about our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters, pull your head out of the sand, or any other place it might be, and look around. It happens here as well.
Although I do not support the homosexual life style I believe in an open church that welcomes all. Let me say that again. A CHURCH THAT WELCOMES ALL! Again we are all sinners! We all need to feel the love of Jesus and seek his mercy. If you are reading this and disagree with me I would rather you just kept surfing by. I guess I am becoming more of an activist in my old age. Maybe I should have more coffee before I post.
Thanks Huw for the story. you can read it here.
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