Fr. Edward Beck, C.P. in his latest “Moment of Faith” on ABC talks about the crisis of faith sometimes faced by clergy.
As many of you are aware, the Thirtieth Anniversary of the deaths of the Maura Clarke, Ita Ford, Dorothy Kazel and Jean Donavan is this December 2. When many of us first heard the news of their deaths, we realized that that event was somehow going to change things for us. And it did. It mobilized us in ways that we did not expect. Many of us did not know the women personally but that didn’t seem to matter. When women who were working with the poor were murdered, we needed to say, “No more!” For many of us an attitude, a decision or change in our lives happened.
This past week Chris Morrison, Mary Dowd, OSU, and I met with Elizabeth Swados to talk about possibilities for an anniversary celebration. Mary and I had worked with Liz to spread the good news about “Missionaries,” a musical piece written by Liz about the events in El Salvador. When the Maura Clarke – Ita Ford Center, in Bushwick, was celebrating its tenth anniversary, Liz wrote a second piece called “Ten Years of Hope”.
At the meeting, Elizabeth reminded us that at the end of Missionaries, there is a song that says, “And flowers will grow and flowers will grow….” In reflecting on that, I thought that it could be the starting point for us. What have been the “flowers” that have resulted from what we have learned and experienced over these years? How have their deaths affected us? Have we made any choices that have made a difference in our lives? How can this be reflected in music so that a sense of new life can be revealed?
Liz would love to hear these stories while she is writing the piece so that the music reflects a message of hope, joy and determination. I was thinking that we might create a garden or a field filled with these stories, these flowers. Who knows what might come out of what is written.
I have established a new e-mail address for this project – Thefourwomen@gmail.com. I invite you to contribute your ideas or stories, so that Liz can, in a sense, bring the full story up to date.
Thank you very much. Hope to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Mary Burns, SC
Founder of the Maura Clarke – Ita Ford Center
In this “Moment of Faith” Fr. Edward Beck, CP tackles the rising problem of adultery. He quotes a study that suggests that as many as 50% of spouse have cheated at some time.
“Marriage is in trouble, commitment is is trouble,” says Fr. Beck. “That’s why religious traditions believe that you must invite God into the union. Marriage is really a menage á trois. Divine love is needed to sustain human love.”
The remains of Father Theodore Foley, CP (1913-1974), former Superior General of the Passionist Congregation, were received at St. Paul of the Cross Monastery Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on April 28, 2010.
Father Theodore’s cause for beatification and canonization was opened in Rome on May 8,2008. He was once rector at St. Paul’s Monastery, Pittsburgh.
Most Reverend William J. Winter, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, presided at the reception. Very Reverend Joseph Jones, CP, provincial of St. Paul of the Cross represented the Passionist community, along with Very Reverend Gerald Laba, CP, the rector of St. Paul’s Monastery. A number of guests attended.
Father Theodore’s remains rest under a Crucifixion scene in the rear of the monastery church.
At the service a litany of prayers honored the Passionist Saints:
St. Paul of the Cross, St. Gabriel, St. Gemma, Holy Servant of God, Fr. Theodore. Intercede for us.
You lived the Passion of Jesus and the Sorrows of Mary. Teach us to do the same.
St. Paul, by your example of prayer, penance and preaching the Passion and Resurrection, teach us how to keep the sufferings, death and glory of Jesus alive in our hearts and in the hearts of others.
St. Gabriel, by the way you did ordinary things with extraordinary fidelity to God, and by imitating the life and sentiments of our Blessed Lady, the Mother of Sorrows, teach us the way to respond to the crucified of today who are all around us.
St. Gemma, marked by the wounds of Christ in your own body, lead us to accept our personal and family sufferings, and so fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of his Body, the Church.
Holy Servant of God, Fr.Theodore, by your benevolence, steadfast faith, prayerful heart, personal discipline and spirit of zeal, help us to be like you, an instrument of peace.
All Holy Saints of the Passion, we thank you and ask you to continue to encourage us, and to willingly inspire us to follow Christ prayerfully and willingly. Amen.
Statues to Holy Name from Passionists on Vimeo.
Last month the statues that once adorned the facade of St. Michael’ s Monastery Church in Union City, NJ were transferred to Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City and were placed in front of the new mausoleum there. The statues, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Paul of the Cross and St. Gabriel are the work of renowned 19th century ecclesiastical sculptor, Joseph Sibbel. Sibbel is best known for his heroic St. Patrick in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC.
This video documents the transfer and also includes the dedication of the new mausoleum.
