Big Day in Massachusetts Follow Up

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.

Big Day in Massachusetts

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.

Election Recap

Well it seems people are still counting ballots in different parts of the country, and the spin masters on both sides of the isle are doing their thing. All that’s left now is for the country to come together and maybe get some things done for the people that put them there all we can do now is wait and see what happens.
I think the most impressive thing is that people came out in large numbers and voted. This is a victory for the people who took the time and voted, whoever they voted for. I heard reports of runnig out of ballots in parts of Boston, how crazy is that? So congrats to America today for letting the process work, we had our voice and now we cannot loose it.

Mom’s Birthday

Today is the big day for my mother. My mother has always been there for me and has been my inspiration in many ways that she will never know. Let’s say a short prayer for all mother’s today they all mean so much to us.

Election Day

Today is Election Day here in the United States. As Christians we have an obligation to vote and vote for candidates that best support our beliefs as Christians. My prayer today is that we all exercise our precious right and responsibility to vote.

RSS

Okay, I have been a little hesitant about asking this question as it will show my ignorance, but with is an RSS feed and how does one get it? Be gentle…

Bishop’s Visit Part II

Well the weekend is over and all is back to normal, whatever that is. His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian arrived on Saturday for a Great Vespers service that was well attended by many parishioners from the village but also from Worcester and other parishes. Sunday morning saw the Divine Liturgy celebrated an hour latter that usual, boy was that nice, and the church was full. Our friends from St. Nicholas Parish here in Southbridge came to the liturgy with Fr. John and it is nice to serve together. The singing was wonderful and the bishop is so gentle with his directions to us priests that don’t usually serve with a bishop.
Many folks we do not usually see come out for this liturgy and it is always nice to have all of our friends attend the Liturgy. Nice banquet after in the hall and the food was great. His Grace left around 4pm to drive to Montreal to attend more meetings and liturgies this week.
One thing I learned this weekend. We need to keep our bishops in our prayers as the cross the country and Canada visiting parishes and the faithful. They log many miles in the air and on the highways. I know the two bishops in our diocese travel alone so the trips can be long. We need to keep them in our prayers.
Good rest yesterday afternoon and now the clean up begins. What a blessing yesterday was. Thanks to all…

St. Leonard of Limousin

Nothing absolutely certain is known of his history, as his earliest “Life”, written in the eleventh century, has no historical value whatever. According to this extraordinary legend, Leonard belonged to a noble Frankish family of the time of King Clovis, and St. Remy of Reims was his godfather. After having secured from the king the release of a great number of prisoners, and refused episcopal honours which Clovis offered him, he entered a monastery at Micy near Orleans. Later he went to Aquitaine and there preached the Gospel. Having obtained, through prayer, a safe delivery for the Queen of the Franks in her confinement, he received as a gift from the king a domain at Noblac, near Limoges, where he founded a monastery. The veneration of this saint is as widely known as his history is obscure and uncertain. It is true that there is no trace of it before the eleventh century, but from that time it spread everywhere, and little by little churches were dedicated to him, not only in France, but in all Western Europe, especially in England, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, more particularly in Bavaria, and also in Bohemia, Poland, and other countries. Pilgrims, among them kings, princes, and high dignitaries of the Church, flocked to Noblac (now St. Leonard). Numerous miracles are attributed to him, and in one small town alone, Inchenhofen, Bavaria, from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century, there are records of about 4000 favours granted through his intercession. The saint wrought the delivery of captives, women in confinement, those possessed of an evil spirit, people and beasts afflicted with diseases. At the end of the eleventh century his name had already become renowned among the Crusaders captured by the Mussulmans. He is generally represented holding chains in his hands. His feast day is celebrated on 6 November.

Bishop’s Visit

Our little parish is honored to be hosting our Vicar Bishop this weekend. His Grace Bishop Ioan Cassian, Vicar Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese will be here for visit. Our parish is celebrating it’s feast day this week (St. Michael) and as is our tradition, the bishop comes for a visit.
This will be the first visit of his Grace to our little village and we have been cleaning and getting ready all week. Here is the Schedule if you are in the area.
Saturday, November 4th
6pm Great Vespers followed by a small reception in the parish hall
Sunday, November 5th
10am Orthros
11am Divine Liturgy followed by a banquet in the parish hall
If you are local and would like to drop by please do. And, please pray for me this weekend…

Out Visiting

Yesterday I took a little road trip to Leominster, Massachusetts about an hour north of my little village here. Leominster is in a part of Worcester County known as North County. I went to visit a seminary classmate of mine who is at St. Cecilia’s Church. What a wonderful visit. I have not seen Fr. Michael since I graduated and was ordained. He had one more year of study and we lost touch with each other. I feel that it is very important to remain in contact with those who we have known in the past and to hang on to those precious friendships. How many people have come and gone in our lives and we do not stay in contact with?
Fr. Michael is indeed a friend and support and we have re-established our friendship. We were together during those difficult times in seminary and I hope to remain close with him.
Maybe it is time for all of us to renew an old friendship. Give and old friend a call and go have coffee or go see a movie. Just do it! Life is to short to go it alone.
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