Blog

Weekend Recap

Posted on by Fr. Peter
This was an unusually busy weekend here in the village. I have blogged before, I am the chaplain to the Dudley Fire Dept. Tow of the fire fighters lost their mother last week and Saturday was the funeral. Off to the cemetery after that then back to the rectory for a little office work and church cleaning. Yes, the priest cleans there church here. For the past few weeks I have had some much appreciated help, but I like to putter around in the church and get some things done. Still had some clean up from the bishops visit last weekend.
Sunday was the usual Liturgy, but this wired thing happened. A few months ago I started to preach without notes. I used to script my sermons out and then basically read them, I know no Billy Graham here but it worked for me. Then I decided to try no notes. It is much harder to preach that way I can tell you that. Anyway, as I finished the Gospel I got a whammy from the Holy Spirit and completely changed what I was going to say. I will post some thoughts on that latter on before I forget. After Liturgy I learned of the death of a longtime parish member. Michael was his name and he was just here last week. He did on the street near his house. The funeral will be latter this week. This will only be my third funeral since I have been here. Very sad news. Please remember Michael in your prayers as well as his family. Memory Eternal!
Last night brought Fr. Greg and Pres here for dinner. It was nice to have guests for dinner here at the rectory. I don’t entertain that much and it’s nice to be able to share a meal and conversation with others. Fr. Greg and Pres are great and I look forward to our next encounter.
Off on retreat for a couple of days this week for some much needed spiritual rest, and some other rest. I am off to the Maronite Monastery in Petersham, Massachusetts. I have been before but only for the day so this will be a nice change. Remember me this week please while I am on retreat as well as I prepare for the funeral.

St. Devenick

Posted on by Fr. Peter
According to The Book of Saint Devenick (1961), St Devenick was one of the last missionaries to be sent out from St Ninian’s monastery at Whithorn to minister to the Picts. He penetrated as far north as Caithness where he worked among the wild Catti tribes. It is thought that for many years St Devenick laboured in the North East of Scotland and founded two churches, at Methlick and at Lower Banchory or Banchory-Devenick. St Devenick is comrnemorated at Methlick by a well situated at the north end of the Den of Ardo on the opposite bank of the river Ythan from the village. The well was said to have great powers of healing and annually on St Devenick’s Day (13November) it was the scene of pilgrimage.`St Devenick’s Fair’ took place annually on the second Tuesday of November for generations, and it was an important and well attended event in the life of the community. St Devenick died in the year 877 and is said to have expressed the wish to be buried in his church at Banchory-Devenick.

St. Brice

Posted on by Fr. Peter
There is hope for me yet.

St. Brice was raised by St. Martin of Tours at Marmoutier and also known as Britius. He became a vain, overly ambitious cleric, holding Martin in great contempt. Despite Brice’s attitude, Martin was most patient with him, and in time, in great remorse, he asked Martin’s forgiveness for his attitude toward him. He succeeded Martin as Bishop of Tours in 397 but reverted to his old ways, neglected his duties, was several times accused of lackness and immorality. Though cleared of the latter charge, he was exiled from his See. He went to Rome and in the seven years of his exile there, repented and completely changed his life style. When the administrator of his See, in his absence died, he returned and ruled with such humility, holiness, and ability, he was venerated as a saint by the time of his death. His feast day is November 13th.

25th Sunday After Pentecost

Posted on by Fr. Peter

Ephesians 4:1-7
Luke 10:25-37

I thought I would blog a little before I head up to the Church for Liturgy. This week on the Eastern Calendar, we begin the fast for St. Philip. This is Advent in the East. We prepare for the Birth of Christ with a fast period. As when we prepare for Easter, this is often called Christmas Lent. However, this fast is often not as severe as the Lent fast is.
So what is this fast all about? Why do we do this? We need to prepare for the Birth of Christ in the same way we would would prepare for anything. How much time do we spend getting ready for a date, or a vacation or some other thing that we might have to prepare for. Last weekend we had a visit from one of our bishops. We prepared for that visit for about 2 weeks. So why not spend some time in spiritual preparation for the coming of the King?
This is a difficult time of year for many people because of all of the celebrations that we will attend during this time of year. Stop and take a moment to prepare yourselves spiritually for the event.
Here are some suggestions:
Pray – Many of you pray I am sure, but set aside a specific time each day to pray for others less fortunate then yourself. There are many needs out there and we do not need to know all of them just pray for those in need.
Scripture reading – there are many sites on the web that list the readings for the week from Scripture. If you look at the website of my parish www.stmichaelorth.org there is a link to the weekly bulletin. Listed in the bulletin each week are the readings for the coming week. I will try and put more resources up this week on the website. Spend a 1/2 hour or maybe even 15 minutes each day with the Word of God.
Alms for the Poor – What a radical concept this is for many of us. There are a variety of ways that you can give to the poor. The Marine Corps League has the Toys for Tots campaign in many communities. Give a toy, or perhaps give some money to the local food bank, or maybe donate some food. Do something that you would not usually do.
Do all things quietly – Don’t make a lot of noise about what you are doing. Just do it and know that you did it and that’s all that is necessary. No need to let other know what you are doing, that’s not while we are doing these things.
Just some random thoughts to prepare for the Great Feast.
Happy Sunday!

St. Martin of Tours

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Today is the feast day of St. Martin of Tours. St. Martin was born in Pannonia of pagan parents around the year 316. He gave up military life and was baptized. Soon after, he founded a monastery at Liguge in France where he led a monastic life under the direction of St. Hillary. He was ordained a priest and chosen bishop of Tours. He provided an example of the ideal good pastor, founding other monasteries, educating the clergy, and preaching the Gospel to the poor. He died in 397.
Blog

Veteran’s Day

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Although celebrated yesterday today is Veteran’s Day. Take some time today to remember those who served in the armed forces of our country and those who are presently serving. Thank a Vet today for keeping us free.
Blog

Wal-Mart Wishes All Merry Christmas

Posted on by Fr. Peter
US retail giant Wal-Mart pledged to wish its shoppers “Merry Christmas” this year, after provoking ire from Christian activists a year ago for dropping festive greetings.
Wal-Mart said it would downplay the more generic US greeting of “Happy Holidays” this Yuletide and use “Christmas” promiscuously in a barrage of end-of-year publicity. “Whether in the aisles or on the air, online or on TV, Wal-Mart today announced that ‘Christmas’ and ‘value’ will dominate its US marketing and in-store initiatives throughout this year’s holiday season,” the world’s biggest store chain said in a statement.
US groups from the powerful religious right last year launched a boycott of Wal-Mart outlets after accusing the retailer of discriminating against the festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The Catholic League said last November that it had found 200 references to the Jewish festival of Hanukkah on Wal-Mart’s website, but that a search for “Christmas” redirected readers to the site’s “Holiday page”.
The League led the boycott after a woman who had e-mailed Wal-Mart to complain about the use of “Happy Holidays” was told that Christmas, among other things, “has its roots in Siberian shamanism”. Catholic League spokeswoman Kiera McCaffrey welcomed the change of heart for this Christmas season.
“It shows that Wal-Mart is listening to the public, listening to their shoppers,” she told AFP.
“America is an overwhelmingly Christian nation, and the vast majority of people who aren’t Christian have absolutely no problem with seeing people celebrating their holiday.” Wal-Mart spokeswoman Linda Blakley said the company had seen the error of its ways. “We, quite frankly, have learned a lesson from last year. We’re not afraid to use the term ‘Merry Christmas’. We’ll use it early, and we’ll use it often,” she told the USA Today newspaper.
Wal-Mart may have bowed to commercial imperatives in refusing to play the Grinch.
Its sales have slowed sharply in recent months due in part to a slowing US economy but also to a strategy of shifting to more chic retail lines in a bid to woo richer customers. The retail titan said a week ago its same-store sales across the United States rose by just 0.5 percent in October compared to the same month of 2005.
This year, it will rename the area of its stores reserved for Yuletide decorations from “The Holiday Shop” to “The Christmas Shop”. Santa Claus and “Merry Christmas” gift cards will be on prominent display. And Wal-Mart said its staff are encouraged “to greet customers utilizing various glad tidings inclusive of, but not limited to, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah and Feliz Navidad, to name a few”.
Blog

Big Day in Massachusetts Follow Up

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Yesterday the Great and General Court meet in Constitutional Convention to debate many issues one of which was the same sex marriage question. I thought that this time the process would work, but alas the cowards shirked their responsibility and adjourned before taking a stand on the question.
Like I said yesterday it’s not the question, it’s the process. More than 127,000 people did not have their voice heard yesterday and that is what bothers me. I think the issue deserves to be heard and voted on, but it would seem that our elected officials do not trust us to do the right thing as they see it. Today, Veterans day, I feel cheated by my elected officials. Yes Comrade that’s what I said, Cheated.
Blog

Big Day in Massachusetts

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Since my ordination I have tried not to publicly stray into the political arena. Privately I will tell you where I stand on issues but publicly I would not use the pulpit to push people to vote one way or another. Well I guess I do as I preach about what the church teaches. My feeling has always been that if we teach what our respective churches teach then the people will know how to vote. We need to trust our faithful that they will vote how they have been taught. If we don’t teach them then they will not know. So I guess in a sense I do preach politics from the pulpit.

Okay, long introduction to the topic os same sex marriage. Today the Great and General Court of Massachusetts will meet in Constitutional Convention and one of the items on the agenda is allowing the people of Massachusetts to vote on this issue. I don’t think I need to write about all that has gone in Massachusetts regarding this issue, and not coming down on either side, this is more about the process than the issue itself.

The folks that want the definition of marriage to be between one man and one woman have done all that is required of them. They have collected all the signatures that are needed, and now it is up to the politicians to vote, in two legislative sessions, to allow the question to be placed on the ballot in 2008 so all the residents of Massachusetts can decide. With me so far? All this seems simple. This is how it works here and has worked here for generations. However, it seems the President of the Senate plans to call for a recess so the cowards on Beacon Hill will not have to take stand, that we pay them to do by the way, and let the people vote. If you are so confident that the people will up hold the decision and allow same sex marriage to continue, then let us have our voice. What is the problem. The problem is this, the majority of people in Massachusetts oppose this and want the traditional definition of marriage.

So all we poor peons can do is sit back and wait to see what happens. They were supposed to vote on this before the election, but so it would not be an issue in the election, the postponed the vote until today. LET THE PEOPLE VOTE. I believe the fought a revolution for this right. I believe almost 3,000 American Soldiers have lost their lives in the Middle East to secure this right for others while that right is being taken away from us. LET THE PEOPLE VOTE.

If you live here in the Commonwealth you should be outraged that one man is deciding for all of us what the Constitution of this state will say. It might be too late but start calling.

Okay climbing off my soap box now.

error: Content is protected !!