Home

  • Mr. Gary Chooses Baptism and says “Now I am Full”

    Image

    Mr. Harry Lee Peter Gary with Hank Tessandori (left) and Judy Alves,Mr. Gary’s Sponsors, with Pastors Judy Lee and Judy Beaumont

    When Mr. Harry Lee Gary who is 63 years old asked me to baptize him I was stopped in my tracks. My first feeling was what John the Baptist said to Jesus “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”(Matt 3: 14). I did say that to him and he shared the story of his baptism about eight years ago by a young person who reached out while he was initially  homeless. He did not feel that he was “truly” baptized nor was he welcomed into a church or faith community.  He is a man of great faith who has been worshiping with us in our Good Shepherd Inclusive Catholic Community since we had Church in the Park in 2007.  At that time he was homeless. He asked me if we would have a ministry in which people could participate as readers and if I would teach about Jesus. He became our regular Lector and he did prompt me to preach and teach about the God of Love that I know well, and the Christ who knew what it means to be homeless and poor,who chose the outcast instead of the religious leaders to hear and spread the Good News.

    As we talked together he responded to my counsel to forgive and reconcile with his family. He moved in with his son and was happy to be reconciled with his whole family. In time he was fully eligible for Social Security Disability due to his severe and chronic spinal stenosis and he also got his own little townhouse through Goodwill housing, a wonderful and rare resource for the physically disabled.  He became an Elder in our church,not by age but by faith commitment and faithfulness to the Gospel.We have been in our church in a house since 2009.  He is our regular Psalm leader and he also preaches after I do when I invite “the word upon the word” of the day-in interactive homily. People who suffered as he did and overcame as he did, or those who hoped to do so, found his testimonies lights to Christ. He is my right hand in reaching out in the homeless community and mentoring our youth. The little children love him as a Grandpa.  Yes, if I needed to be baptized he is one who could baptize me!

    But he convinced me that there was an emptiness within him still to be filled by Baptism and later by Confirmation with our church members. It was our church preparing for Confirmation that had prompted his opening up about his baptism. He identified with Peter “who made a lot of mistakes but loved Jesus” and chose that as his new name.  I humbly agreed to baptize this strong man of God.

    .Image

    Mr. Gary and I are praying before his baptism

    Image

    Blessing the Water

    Baptized                                                                                     AnointedIMG_0081               IMG_0077

    IMG_0088

    IMG_0114

    Given the Light

    Filled With Peace and Joy

    Baptized with

    Water 

     

                                                                                       

    Filled with the Spirit and ready to serve!

                                                                                                                    AMEN!

    , , ,

  • Sr. Megan Gets 35 months…what Justice is this? More of the Story

    If this is mercy,spare us…Let us continue in prayer and support of these saints.

    KNOXVILLE (WATE) – An 84-year-old nun and two other activists who broke into the Y-12 nuclear weapons complex in 2012 were sentenced Tuesday afternoon.
    Sister Megan Rice was sentenced to 35 months in prison minus time served. Michael Walli and Greg Boertje-Obed were each sentenced to 62 months and three years supervised release.
    Their attorneys had argued they should be sentenced to time served, or about nine months, because of their record of goodwill.
    The hearing began on January 28 but had to be postponed due to winter weather.
    The three cut through fences in July 2012, reaching a storage bunker that contains the nation’s primary supply of uranium.
    While officials claimed there was never any danger, questions about security were raised.
    MORE of the Story and WHY….
    by tnplowshares

    Judge Amul R. Thapar passed sentence on Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice

    and Michael Walli on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 in federal court in

    Knoxville, Tennessee. The three were convicted in May 2013 for their

    nonviolent action called Transform Now Plowshares at the Y12 Nuclear

    Weapons Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, on charges of depredation of

    property and sabotage—the convictions carried possible maximum

    sentences of 30 years in prison. Sentencing guidelines, based on

    factors including history,  recommended sentences ranging from 6-10

    years.

     

    Sentencing began at 1:30pm; the three were permitted to be in the

    courtroom together by Judge Thapar.

     

    Michael Walli received a sentence of 62 months on each count, to be

    served concurrently, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

     

    Greg Boertje-Obed received a sentence of 62 months on each count, to

    be served concurrently, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

     

    Megan Rice received a sentence of 35 months on each count, to be

    served concurrently, followed by 3 years of supervised probation.

     

    “Judge Thapar has tried to strike a compromise that reflects the

    nature of this nonviolent action but satisfies the government’s

    demand that Megan, Michael and Greg’s sentence send a deterrent

    message to the wider community. For now, their bodies remain in

    prison. But their voices are free, reminding us that the central

    issue of this action and trial have not been resolved—as long as the

    government continues to produce thermonuclear weapons of mass

    destruction in Oak Ridge or anywhere, people are required to resist,”

    said Ralph Hutchison, coordinator of the Oak Ridge Environmental

    Peace Alliance.

     

    At the hearing, each of the Plowshares resisters spoke, reminding the

    court of the central purpose of their action—to call the court’s

    attention to the ongoing violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation

    Treaty at the Y12 plant in Oak Ridge. In testimony at hearings

    leading up to the trial, former Attorney General of the United States

    Ramsey Clark called the production of nuclear weapons components at

    Y12 “unlawful,” and the work there “a criminal enterprise.”

     

    Megan, Michael and Greg entered Y12 in the wee hours of the morning

    on July 28, 2012, cutting four fences and traversing a lethal-force-

    authorized zone, arriving at the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials

    Facility, the nation’s warehouse of weapons grade highly enriched

    uranium. They poured blood on the walls of the HEUMF and spray

    painted “Plowshares Please Isaiah,” and “The Fruit of Justice is

    Peace.” They also chipped a corner of the concrete wall with a small

    hammer, a symbolic act reflecting the Old Testament prophecy of

    Isaiah who said, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares.”

     

    The statement issued at the time declared the United States in

    violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and said Y12 was

    chosen for the action because of plans for a multi-billion dollar

    bomb plant to be built there—the Uranium Processing Facility. The

    sole purpose of the UPF (pricetag now $19 billion) is to produce

    thermonuclear cores for warheads and bombs. Y12 is an active weapons

    production facility—workers today are performing Life Extension

    Upgrades on the W76 warhead at Y12.

     

    Supporters outside the courtroom said, “The United States is breaking

    its own law when it builds bombs in Oak Ridge. Any goverment that

    would lock up Megan, Michael and Greg is desperate to hide the truth.

    By their actions, they have broken the silence; their sacrifice

    challenges each of us to speak up for a safer world. In prison or

    out, Michael, Greg and Megan will continue to pray and work to save

    the life of the planet.”

     

    tnplowshares | February 18, 2014 at 11:44 pm | Categories: Updates | URL:http://wp.me/p2DeLo-d3
    Comment    See all comments    Like

  • Asking Prayers and Justice For Sister Megan and The Transform Now Plowshares -Sentencing Today Feb 18th

    Today,2/18/14 is the sentencing of the Plowshares Now group. This valiant trio including Sister Megan Rice, 83, will be sentenced separately beginning at 12 PM. Sister Megan will be sentenced at 4PM.  Judge Thapar has received good council from Berman and the defense that could allow leniency in sentencing. Let us pray for justice and mercy for these three peace and antinuclear activists who are following the leads of conscience and are in no way terrorists. theirs is the way of Christ.

    Here is the blog by tnplowshares:

    Judge Amul Thapar received a sentencing brief from sentencing law expert Douglas Berman on the eve of the Transform Now Sentencing hearings. Berman’s brief dealt with several questions raised in court at the first session of the sentencing which was disrupted by snow on January 28.

    One argument put forward by the defense at the initial hearing was the use of the sabotage law against nonviolent protesters was outside the “heartland” of the law—meaning the law was intended for use against real saboteurs, not in cases like this. The prosecution argued, and the judge appeared to agree, that since the sabotage law was upgraded, it was rarely used against civilians, in fact, it had been used only three times, and all of them were in nuclear weapons protest cases. The logic was “if this is what it is being used for, it must be what it was meant for.” The judge, ignoring the fact that in two of those three cases judges had ruled for the defendants that the case was “outside the heartland,” concurred with the prosecution. Professor Berman disagrees.

    The defense attorneys labored into the evening Monday, February 17, and filed their response to Bermans’ brief, noting Judge Thapar now not only has the discretion to provide some relief in sentencing, but has the opinion of an expert who suggests the Transform Now Plowshares defendants need not and should not be treated as though they were terrorists bent on actual sabotage.

    You can read the Berman brief here:

    Berman Friend Brief for Judge Thapar

    And you can read the superb response by the defense team here:

    Defendant’s Reponse to Court’s Request for Guidance 2-17-14

    Sentencing on February 18 is expected to begin at noon with Michael Walli, followed by Greg Boertje-Obed at 2:00 and Megan Rice at 4:00pm.

  • Turning point Week Ahead For Pope Francis

    Let us pray that Pope Francis and his advisors have the courage of their convictions to transform the church into an inclusive community of equals. This will also mean revisiting the man made church rules about who can be ordained to the priesthood. Indeed, God can call whom God wants and the Church ought to therefore be able to ordain women and married men and those who are brave enough to be openly gay  who are called by God to serve as priests.

    Rev. Dr. Judy Lee,ARCWP

    With reforms unclear, Francis starts possible bellwether week

    Joshua J. McElwee  |  Feb. 17, 2014
    VATICAN CITY

    Pope Francis began meeting Monday for the third time with a select group of eight cardinals advising him on reforming the global Catholic church, but it remains unclear just what reforms are in the offing.

    The meeting of the group, known formally as the Council of Cardinals, opens a week at the Vatican that could be a bellwether for the effect of the pope’s intended reforms of the central command structure for the church.

    In the space of eight days, the pontiff is to:

    • hear reports from three groups studying reform of the Vatican’s finances;
    • welcome cardinals from around the world for a special ceremony adding new members to their ranks; and
    • kick off more formal preparations for an October meeting of the world’s bishops that could lead to changes in the church’s pastoral practices focused on family life.

    Responding to questions at a press briefing Monday afternoon, Vatican spokesman Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi said the Council of Cardinals had not told him whether they made any decisions Monday morning or whether they expected to do so before their meetings wrapped up Wednesday.

    Hinting at the importance of coming days, Lombardi said Monday the Council of Cardinals met with another papal commission meant to study the Vatican’s economic and administrative structures, the Commission for Reference on the Organization of the Economic-Administrative Structure of the Holy See.

    Our latest eBook is now available! Best Catholic Spirituality Writing 2013

    The spokesman said the Council of Cardinals are also expected to meet with a separate group studying reform of the Institute for the Works of Religion, known commonly as the Vatican bank.

    With those meetings, the eight cardinals, at Francis’ direction, could be starting to dip their hands more deeply into the Vatican’s troubled financial past.

    While the Vatican announced in December that the economic-administrative committee had hired the Dutch auditing firm KPMG to advise the Vatican on updating its accounting procedures, ongoing in Italy is the trial of Msgr. Nunzio Scarano, an accountant in the Vatican’s finance ministry who is accused of using his Vatican bank accounts to launder money.

    The cardinals’ group, which includes prelates from six continents, previously met in October and December. Pope Francis announced the formation of the consultative body in April, saying it was meant to “study a project of revision” of the Vatican’s bureaucracy.

    The lone American in the group is Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley. Honduran Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga serves as its coordinator.

    Following the meeting of the Council of Cardinals, Francis is to open Thursday a meeting of some 100 cardinals from around the world, who are converging on Rome this week for a formal ceremony, known as a consistory, to add 19 new members to their ranks.

    Francis announced the new cardinals in January, picking prelates for the honor who mainly hail from the global South, including places like Haiti, Burkina Faso and the Philippines.

    Lombardi said Monday the full cardinals’ meeting would open Thursday morning with a reflection on the issue of family life by Cardinal Walter Kasper, a German theologian and former head of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

    Kasper’s address to the full cardinals’ group comes only a few weeks after the German bishops’ conference released a blunt report showing a clear divergence between what the church teaches on marriage, sexuality and family life and what German Catholics believe.

    That report, which compiled official responses from all of Germany’s 27 dioceses and about 20 German Catholic organizations and institutions, was undertaken in preparation for the October meeting of the world’s bishops.

    That meeting, known as a synod, was announced by Francis last year to focus on issues of family life. In preparation for the event, Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary general of the Vatican’s Synod of Bishops, asked bishops’ conferences around the world to distribute a questionnaire on Catholics’ opinions on issues like same-sex marriage, sexuality, and divorce “as widely as possible.”

    The Vatican office for the synod, headed by Baldisseri, is to expected to meet this week and next to sift through answers from the questionnaire from around the world and to begin specific planning for the October event.

    While Lombardi said Monday that questions regarding whether the choice of Kasper was an indication that the subject of divorce and remarriage would be talked about among the cardinals were “legitimate,” he also said he did not have an answer.

    “There’s not a secret” regarding the German bishops’ survey results, the spokesman said.

    Lombardi also said Cardinal-designate Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, joined the Council of Cardinals on Monday for their discussions, but he did not know what formal role Parolin plays with the group.

    It is a “communication of fact” that Parolin was present with the group, but there is no “formal communication” of how the secretary takes part in the meetings, the spokesman said.

    In response to another reporter’s question as to whether members of the press might expect a member of the group to brief them later in the week, Lombardi responded: “The press office is at the service of the cardinals.”

    During the October Council of Cardinals meeting, O’Malley met reporters during a briefing to announce the formation of a new commission in the church’s central bureaucracy tasked with advising the pontiff on safeguarding children from sex abuse and working pastorally with abuse victims.

    Lombardi was clear to say Monday that the separate councils advising the pope do not make decisions. The councils, he said, can make a decision only if the pope agrees.

    “If not,” Lombardi said, “there is not a decision.”

    In other words, as Francis begins a possible bellwether week, all reforms remain his prerogative.

    [Joshua J. McElwee is NCR national correspondent. His email address is jmcelwee@ncronline.org. Follow him on Twitter: @joshjmac.]

  • Rev. Chava’s Reflections on Love

    And to this beautiful reflection I can only say  “AMEN!”

    Oscar Romero Inclusive Catholic Church
    Bulletin for Sunday, February 16, 2014
    6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Dear friends,

    There is a meme going around on facebook, with an icon of St. Valentine
    that purports to be him describing his gruesome martyrdom and saying, “and
    you remember this by giving each other chocolate??!”

    My thoughts in recent days have run in more or less the opposite direction.
    I’ve been thinking that on Valentine’s Day we celebrate relationships; and
    since we who are Trinitarian believe in a God whose very nature is
    relationship, it might be a holiday to make more of in the church, rather
    than less. (Not necessarily with chocolate). (Although I’m open to that!).

    As a hospital and nursing home chaplain, one of the surprises I’ve had
    these past five years or so is seeing so, so many happy marriages. I have
    been privileged to witness couples saying goodbye to each other after 50 or
    60 years. In the nursing home there are men and women who come in every day
    to visit their spouse, sometimes even though that spouse no longer knows
    who they are. Others with dementia will be like a different person when
    their spouse is present; that relationship is still real and still
    life-giving, when nearly everything else is gone. So many people are living
    their vows every day, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health. It
    truly is sacramental. God is present in these beautiful relationships.

    I see God’s love in Santiago all the time. After more than two years
    together our relationship has changed and grown, gotten deeper and more
    sure, more like the ground I walk on, certain and true. Recently as we were
    driving in the snow I realized how quiet he was, and thought of how things
    have changed. Our first winter together, I could do no wrong. By the second
    winter, he felt free to let me know when I was making driving decisions he
    wouldn’t make! But now, in our third winter together, he only comments if I
    really need to be warned about something. He’s learned what’s useful, and
    what just makes me nervous. “Love is patient, love is kind,” as St Paul
    said.

    On Valentine’s Day we had planned to have dinner at our favorite Mexican
    restaurant, where we had our first date. But when we got there, the parking
    lot was full, which did not bode well for finding a table, and we were
    hungry. So we ended up having our Valentine’s dinner at Denny’s in Batavia.
    But as we sat down, I realized I’d rather have dinner at Denny’s with him
    than at the poshest restaurant in the world with anyone else!

    That’s how God loves every one of us. God just wants to be with us, right
    where we are, just the way we are right now. God meets us at our level, and
    calls us ever higher. Know that you are utterly, utterly loveable, whether
    there is a person in your life proving that to you right now, or not. May
    the knowledge that you are God’s own beloved fill you up and give you
    peace.

    Blessings and love to all,
    Chava

    Next Saturday night, February 22, there will be a Pete Seeger Sing-a-Long
    at St Joe’s at 7 pm. Come and honor the member of this friend of the
    Catholic Worker by singing his songs! It should be lots of fun. Hope to see
    you there.

    Oscar Romero Church
    An Inclusive Community of Liberation, Justice and Joy

  • Rev. Bev’s Homily for 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time with Rev. Judy’s Commentary

    It is my pleasure to present Rev. Bev Bingle’s Homily for this Sunday. I will simply echo Rev. Bev in saying that Jesus is capturing the spirit of the law which is the spirit of love and justice.

    Concerning divorce the Eastern Aramaic text is enlightening:  “It has been said that whoever divorces his wife must give her divorce papers. But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife,except for fornication, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is separated but not divorced commits adultery.” (Lamsa Translation of The Peshitta). Errico in Let There Be Light makes the point that Jesus was actually a champion for women in this text-women could be divorced for no good reason so Jesus is giving a good reason for divorce. Moreover he is saying that just leaving a wife in a state of limbo without a divorce is even worse as it causes a man to commit adultery. He is not buying into the culture that uses women as property to be discarded. He is teaching men to be more responsible in their relations with women, especially those to whom they are married. Divorce only for a good reason and don’t just put her out and leave her in limbo. I am heartened by this understanding and sad that the Church,historically did not understand it for what it was-an assertion of the human rights of women. This is a saying conveying God’s love for women as well as men, thanks be to God, and to Jesus the Christ for showing us a new way of being and relating to one another-beyond the understanding of his times.

    Rev. Judy Lee

    Here is Rev. Beverly Bingle’s fine Homily:

    Matthew’s gospel was written down between 80 and 90 A.D.–more than 50
    years after Jesus’ life and ministry. The disciples are gone–Peter
    and Paul have been gone 20 years. Jerusalem has been leveled for 15
    years Jewish historian Josephus is writing the “Antiquities.” The
    Jewish community is in diaspora, scattered. Imagine this fledgling
    community gathered in 85 A.D. They are Jewish. And they follow the
    Way of Jesus of Nazareth. This community is recalling Matthew’s
    teachings about Jesus of Nazareth and reflecting on how they can best
    live the Way he taught. They are remembering the message. They are
    gathering for Eucharist.

    The community looks at what has happened since Jesus–they try to read
    the signs of the times. So they ask themselves how the teachings of
    Jesus of Nazareth fit the reality of their lives. As Jews, they know
    that Jesus was Jewish, never anything but Jewish. As Jews, they know
    also that Jesus was a reformer. As Jews, they know that Rabbi ben
    Zaccai is pulling together the canon of Hebrew scriptures. As
    Christians, they recall Jesus’ preaching the spirit of the law–to go
    beyond legalistic adherence to the Torah’s 613 rules, to live in the
    kin-dom of God, the freedom and joy of the spirit, the here-and-now
    Divine Presence.

    So the author of today’s gospel constructs the Sermon on the Mount to
    record how the community is trying to follow the Mosaic law in
    diaspora. Just as Jesus read the signs of the times and taught in
    ethical continuity with Judaism, so does the community of Matthew.
    And so must we.

    We hear this passage today and face the same situation as our
    ancestors in faith did back in 85 A.D. We ask: what’s going on in
    our world? What is the message that Matthew’s community was applying
    to that ancient time? How are we to apply that message to our times?
    How are we to remain true to the vision and mission of Jesus?

    The passage about divorce challenges us. Matthew has Jesus saying
    that “everyone who divorces–except because of adultery–forces the
    spouse to commit adultery. Those who marry the divorced also commit
    adultery.” Scripture scholars agree that the earliest surviving
    documents–the Q document, Mark, and first Corinthians–show that Jesus
    said something about divorce. The scholars also agree that these are
    not Jesus’ words, that the early Christians were in conflict about
    what it was that he said.

    We understand that our times are different from Matthew’s: marriages
    are not arranged by families for economic gain; dowries and bride
    prices no longer change hands. As we discern the meaning of today’s
    Gospel for our times, it’s significant that the passage that follows
    today’s reading contains Jesus’ command to “love your enemies,” which
    scholars agree was definitely spoken by Jesus. They agree that the
    pattern of today’s gospel passage reflects Jesus’ message in that he
    consistently called the disciples to a higher standard than simply
    following the letter of the law; they were to work at living the
    spirit of the law. And the spirit of the law, definitively, is love.

    Jesus has got to like the German bishops, who have made public their
    responses to Pope Francis’ call for input into the upcoming Synod on
    the family. The German people, these bishops say, do not condemn
    divorced people. They do not believe they should be barred from the
    sacraments. They believe they were really married, and that the
    divorce does not make the marriage null. They see it as a marriage
    that failed, not as a marriage that never was.

    Jesus has got to like our new Pope Francis,
    with his emphasis on pastoral concern, his attention to people instead
    of rules. We can hope and pray that Jesus’ message about the spirit
    of the law–the spirit of love–comes through loud and clear when the
    bishops gather this fall, and that our institutional Church will begin
    to heal the damage done to divorced couples in the name of Church.

    As for us here at Holy Spirit, we are called to continue to welcome
    everyone to the table, no exceptions. We are called to embrace
    everyone we meet–whether it’s the homeless at the soup kitchen or the
    Gothic teen or the close-minded racist. We are called to befriend the
    remarried divorced couple, the worker who lost his job, and the
    student who doesn’t make it into college. In our times we see that it
    is not a sin to divorce when the marriage does not work out. We see
    that it is not a sin to follow a vocation to marry once again. We are
    called to understanding and compassion. We are called to be generous
    in our love for every one of God’s people.

    —
    Holy Spirit Catholic Community
    Mass at 2086 Brookdale (Interfaith Chapel):
    Saturdays at 4:30 p.m.
    Sundays at 9 a.m.
    Mass at 3535 Executive Parkway (Unity of Toledo)
    Sundays at 5:30 p.m.
    www.holyspirittoledo.org

    Rev. Bev Bingle, Pastor

  • A St. Valentine’s Day Reflection-The Hunger for the I Love You with Rvdas. Olga Lucia and Judy

    A St. Valentine’s Day Reflection-The Hunger for the I Love You with Rvdas. Olga Lucia and Judy.

    ,

  • A St. Valentine’s Day Reflection-The Hunger for the I Love You with Rvdas. Olga Lucia and Judy

    45b45-dscf0715This insightful blog is from our sister priest, Olga Lucia Alvarez Benjumea of Colombia,South America.  She wrote it in March of 2010 and shares it with us now. I have edited the English sometimes loosely but the thoughts are all hers.She is saying that all of us prodigal daughters, sons, parents, spouses, partners and friends are longing for love and affirmation from our loving God and one another. Thank you, Rvda. Olga Lucia!

    As I read Olga Lucia’s beautiful words I thought about a young person who is part of my church. She rarely attends as she is fearful in crowds and was agoraphobic, remaining in her room for many years, until fairly recently when caring,love,began to thaw the iceberg that became her heart. She was abused physically and emotionally by an angry father until he finally left the home. She left school after the ninth grade. She began hearing voices in later adolescence. She hardly ever left the house. Her family attends our church and I had intermittent pastoral contact with her over the last few years. But something happened to bring us closer together. My surgery for the GIST(slow growing low level malignant tumor in my stomach) a year ago caused me to stop and reflect on many things. I reviewed my ministry and I identified that this one young adult was neglected by me in the midst of those clanging cymbals that made a lot more noise. I wanted to try harder to reach her-God laid her on my heart and I could listen to my heart because I was not very active nor running around with the ministry or life.  I also realized that I could no longer take care of my large aviary adequately.

    I guess that I had reached her enough for her to come out of her room to greet me and express her pleasure that I was getting better when I visited her family. That was a big step for her. I spent some time with her and asked if she liked birds and if she thought she could get to my house and help with the birds. We were both amazed as she thought she could, and she did come to learn how to do this. She was gentle and happy with the birds and she enjoyed this job. We talked a little each time she came. She was able to accept a referral to the Mental Health Center and also to begin seeing her general practitioner. She opened herself to the possibility of other friendships very slowly but surely. We saw the iceberg melt. We saw the fear recede. We saw a whole person developing with courage and in response to caring. Recently there was a setback when a physical problem required serious medical intervention. She tried to retreat and move back into the iceberg again.  But soon she started coping with it “because you and my doctors and my friend are so persistent”. It is such a blessing to witness her growth into life. For Valentines Day we gave her a card with pictures of the kittys and birds in it. Today she brought me and Pastor Judy Beaumont a beautiful card that said “People as kind and as loving as you are God’s Valentines to the world. Happy Valentine’s Day”.  And in her own hand she wrote:” thanks for all the help and support. You both are wonderful. Happy Valentine’s to both of you and the birds and cats are great, I love them.”  Wow-unfrozen by love! How wonderful to experience it. Rvda. Olga Lucia is right!

    love and blessings,

    Pastor Judy Lee,ARCWP

    The Good Shepherd Inclusive Catholic Community, Fort Myers, Florida

    The Hunger of the I Love You in The Parable of The Prodigal Son                                            by Rvda. Olga Lucia Alvarez

    This text ,Luke 15:11-38 would call it the hunger of the “I love you”. When you have never had the warmth of a hug, a kiss, a loving detail, we become sullen, hard, frozen as icebergs.  But if you meet this friend / or that support, this companions kind hand, that solidarity , that fraternity, you realize what you’re worth when someone cares.  If you were a block of cement you’d melt like the opening of a  a dam. See it fall lovingly, soft or hard, crystalline buds cascade of love and “I love you” spontaneous, fearless, free as the wind.

    Some have had the experience of being concrete blocks, others perhaps never were, but one day the love they lost or never had, for whatever reason, unfounded fears,  frozen by fears, by blockages in training, block out the experience of love. But like the prodigal son,  and others somehow recognize and realize that in the house of my Father/Mother there is affection, a party, gestures of love hugs and kisses, and large or small details in pretty paper the bonds of love are wrapped. After thinking a while, we push and we run, with an open heart willing to melt in the loving embrace that receives and welcomes us because we are their daughters and sons and to God we are alike.

    There are so many heartbreaks, causes of many diseases, and family violence.  There are so many broken homes that create icebergs. Yet God’s great love is without fear and without reserve. You are melted by it and you feel violence, hatred and revenge that has brought us so many dead giving way and relenting.

    It is the responsibility of all of us, of you and I of all who were born to ask for forgiveness, because this world, this life, and being distracted in our internal conflicts, we have not been able to  sweep, shake and make ourselves as new. If you are sensitive to what I am saying here, I say it is because you have encountered the love of God, sometimes in another person.

    Women and men need affection,it  is the love of God that moves us to love. But, just as we know it, we are afraid.  We may need a messenger to show us the face of God.

    You have to be hungry for the “I love you”, you have to give them to receive them, you have to break the ice.

    Leticia, I care about you, Get well; William;! I love you, Teresa, you’re great! Laura, God gave you that smile, so beautiful!. David! I hug and kiss you, Maru, thanks for the “I love you” I love you too, Camilin, Maria; my teachers, I love them! Diego! You’re the most beautiful thing God has given me in life, your presence, your friendship! Machelina, sister and my friend, how nice to have you in this life. Camilo, Inés, Benton, were thankful for that company. Blanca, Catalina, Charo, although they are far they are closer.

    My life wants to be a hymn to life, I ask forgiveness for the times I have not loved, and I’ve offended, for the times I made you suffer and grieve someone this close or this far. To my family, my ancestors, my mother Earth, Air, Water, Fire, because I have abused them  by not loving them and taking care of them as I should. I love you, I love you and I thank you.  My greatest expression of love, commitment and responsibility towards all , is to show the face of God, that you recognize and find. May we, as we are, big, small, old or young, see the face of God.  Run eagerly seeking your love and experience “I love you” like the prodigal son.

    Thank God my spirit, because as they say, that when someone writes  the soul walks. Mine escaped and went to recess and enjoy this day. .

    Olga Lucia Alvarez B                                                                                                                                                        Rvdas. Olga Lucia and Judy

    IMG_0169

    Bogotá, March 9/10

    Share this:

    , , , , ,

  • ARCWP Woman Priest Maureen McGill Interviewed by NPR

    DSCF0892IMG_0117

    Rev. Maureen Mc Gill, ARCWP Ordained January 18,2014 Sarasota, Florida with Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan and Marina Teresa Sanchez Mejia, Maureen is on the left in Ordination Picture

    On the left Maureen is at the hospital bed of  Gloria Laracuente in Tampa with Rev. Judy Beaumont and Gloria’s Family members

    Women Priests Ordained in Sarasota, Florida

    by Yoselis Ramos, WGCU, NPR

    News polls show a majority of American Roman Catholics believe women should be allowed to become priests. A group of women in Sarasota who are doing just that—with or without permission from the Roman Catholic Church.

    The sun shone like a beacon through the windows of the St. Andrew United Church of Christ in Sarasota. It started off like a regular Catholic mass but instead of men wearing the deacon slashes as they walked down the aisle it was women.

    This isn’t a regular mass. It is a ceremony for ordaining women priests and deacons. Two women were joining the more than 145 women priests around the world. They’re a part of the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests. It’s a part of a movement that started in 2002 with the ordination of seven women at the Danube River in Germany. They were ordained by an episcopal male bishop whose own ordination was not considered valid by the Roman Catholic Church.

    Actually, the Vatican punishes women who seek ordination with excommunication. It’s a crime against the church as severe as priests who sexually abuse children. But excommunication doesn’t intimidate this group of women. Maureen McGill of Pensacola is one of them. She was ordained a priest in Sarasota.

    McGill found the association through the internet after leaving the Catholic Church for a few years.

    “At that point, nobody in the family was going to church”, McGill said. “We were just done with church. We had a bad experience at my mother’s funeral and we kinda just left.”

    To McGill, this community felt right.

    “I was home but there was none of the rigidity, there was openness to women, openness to birth control, openness to divorced Catholics, openness to gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual people”, McGill said. “It was a totally open experience and I think that’s what I had been looking for for 67 years.”

    But this group is not recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. Frank Murphy is a spokesman for the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

    “The diocese of Venice does not recognize them at all”, Murphy said. “It’s just a group of people making a claim that’s just not valid within our church.”

    Pope Francis has said the door of allowing women in the priesthood is closed. McGill says she understands that doors close.

    “But they open, they do open”, Murphy said. “And if you knock loud enough and hard enough and keep going at it, that door might open.”

    Some folks like Murphy, don’t see that door opening anytime soon.

    “I think that the ordination of a woman to priesthood, I think it involves a teaching of the church which is for men only at this point in time and I think it will continue to be that way”, said Murphy.

    Even so, McGill holds out hope as she jokes often with her husband.

    “He said the other day, ‘you’ll never live to see women completely accepted in the church’ and then he looked at me and he says, ‘given your genes, you probably will live to see it’”, laughed McGill. “And I will crawl to the Vatican with my walker if I have to on that day if they do accept us.”

    But history may be on her side.

    A recent poll conducted by Bendixen & Amandi for the Spanish-language network Univision, showed Catholics internationally are split on a variety of issues including gay marriage, divorce, and abortion. Specifically, 59% of the Catholics surveyed in the United States believed women should be ordained into priesthood.

    , , ,

  • Fan Into Flame the Gift of God Which Is In You

    The young people of our Good Shepherd Inclusive Catholic Community are setting the church afire with their examples of faithfulness and excitement in learning and living the Gospel. When asked how they witness to their faith they are initially stumped and then they can identify helping others, bearing other’s problems, being peacemakers and studying to do well at school. This is not easy in a neighborhood where violence is ever present and others may drop out of school and family life. Sometimes there are problems and bumps in the road large and small. One family was struck with tragic illness of one member and these youngsters did more than children are expected to do in being there for that member and the stressed adult caretakers. Economic realities are hard yet these young people do not ask for much. They are clear that most important is love and they are grateful for their parents and grandparents. Most significant for the youth who have remained with us over the years is that adult family members come to church with them. They are not just sent, they are led by parents, grandparents, aunts and Godparents. Instead of withdrawing from church as so many do, they come to church faithfully and to our Sunday classes where they share their lives, share God’s love with all present, and work at learning how to follow Christ.

    They are not fully aware of how much joy they bring into the lives of their church family members with their smiles, and participation in the liturgy and in the life of the church. We are happy to support them as they work hard at success in school and having fun as kids should have. Most recently we were amazed as all of our young people elected to move forward to Confirmation at the end of April, the week after Easter. (On Easter our three youngest children, the triplets who are 5 and a half, will be baptized).The enthusiasm of our youth led about ten of our adults to elect Confirmation as well. Yesterday we held a joint Confirmation class with the young people and the adults. As Timothy was told by Paul to fan the flame of the gift of God in him by the laying on of hands by Paul and the community, our young people are leading their elders into the laying on of hands and receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit not only in Confirmation but in every day life. We are blessed with wonderful families and young people!

      Image 

    Nia, Kia and Ria Preparing for Baptism

    Image

     

    LInda and Lili, Two of the Moms look on as the Youngsters prepare for Confirmation

    Image

     

    Keion doing a good job!

    Image

     

    Using our gifts

    Image

     

    Joy in our Junior class

    Image

    Efe Jane Cudjoe,Our Youth Leader and Pearl Cudjoe, Our Junior Class Teacher

    This picture was taken at The Good Shepherd in mid-January before Efe Jane who is a Junior at Brown University left for Washington DC to prepare for a semester abroad. Efe,who is pre-med was chosen to go to Viet Nam, South Africa and Brazil to study community support for local medical centers.  She will live with host families and we are sure that her joy and light will brighten their lives even as our lives are brightened by her. We are already looking forward to Efe’s return this summer to share her experiences with our youngsters.

    Image

     

    Going to see Frozen and Play Miniature Glow Golf

    Image

     

    Trying Something New Our Golfers with Pastor Judy B.

     

    JOY !

    Image

     

    We thank God for our Good Shepherd youth! We also thank the Sophia Inclusive Catholic Community of New Jersey with Pastors Mary Ann Schoettly,RCWP and Mike Corso for their generous support of our youth activities. Seven of our youngsters also led the procession with drums and liturgical dancing and carried the gifts in the recent Ordination of two women priests and two deacons in Sarasota on January 18,2014. Efe Jane Cudjoe was the Lector for the First Reading. 

    “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young,but set an example for the believers in speech, in life,in love, in faith….”  Tim 4:12 

    Let us pray for young people everywhere to enliven the church!

    Rev. Dr. Judy Lee,ARCWP

    Pastor Good Shepherd Inclusive Catholic Community

    Fort Myers, Florida