New priest

This week we get a new associate pastor, Fr. M. I wonder what people would like to see in an associate pastor. I know I would like someone who can give a decent homily. I would also like to see someone who is open to hearing all people in the parish. I don’t want someone who buys in to the country club atmosphere of our parish. I want someone to stand up when the parish needs help (help in the time and talent sense), and say we need the help of everyone, not just the 40 or so people that the staff feels comfortable asking for help. I want the priest to go out of his way to meet the quieter people, not those who are in your face. I know I am asking for a lot, but there is always some kind of hope when someone new arrives. Of course, I have learned not to expect much.

After Eve

We saw Evan Almighty last week. In it, Evan mentions that Noah, his wife and sons built an ark. I don’t remember Noah’s wife building the ark. Genesis just seems to indicate that Noah’s wife and the wives of his son got on and off the ark. I tend to think that the ark doesn’t get built if left to Noah and his sons alone. There are households like men where the men aren’t particularly handy. Also, the men I know don’t tend to finish projects on a real timely basis. The ark would be about ¾ of the way done and they would come up with the next project. Another of my favorite circumstances during projects is the long discussion about how to do the project. So, I think that Noah’s wives and daughter in laws probably had the task of keeping the boys focused on the project.

Between Eve and Noah’s wife, a couple other women are mentioned. We find out Cain has a wife and she bears Enoch. Later, we learn Lemech has two wives, Adah and Zillah. Adah gives birth to Jabal and Jubal. One is the ancestor of all who dwell in tents and the other of all who play the lyre and the pipe. Zillah gives birth to Tubalcain, the ancestor of all who forge instruments of bronze and iron. Tubalcain has a sister named Naamah. The Bible does not indicate if Naamah is Zillah’s daughter.

Before Noah’s wife makes her appearance, Eve has another son. We also learn that men and women like each other and bear children.

St. Aquilina

What were you doing when you were 12? I was in 6th and 7th grade, going to school, reading books and probably thinking about high school. In 7th grade, I made my confirmation, so there may have been some thoughts about becoming a “soldier of Christ”. When St. Aquilina was 12 in 293, she was condemned for being a Christian.

Aquilina was raised a Christian in the Phoenician city of Byblos (in the modern day country of Lebanon). She persuaded either one or several young pagans to convert to Christianity. Unfortunately, this was during the time of the Emperor Diocletian. The Emperor Diocletian was Emperor during the tenth and final persecution of early Christians. She was brought before the Magistrate Volusian (a great villainous sounding name). When Aquilina refused to deny her Christian faith, Volusian ordered her flogged. She was brought back to the Magistrate. Again, Aquilina passionately refused to deny her Christianity. Volusian ordered her ears pierced by hot rods. Aquilina fainted and was considered dead. Her body was thrown outside the city walls. That night an angel appeared to the still living Aquilina. After gaining consciousness, Aquilina came before the Magistrate again. This time he ordered her beheaded. Aquilina was found dead the morning she was to be beheaded. It is believed her head was chopped off even though she was dead because the executioner feared the governor.

Her body was buried outside the city’s wall. Her relics were transported to Constantinople. Aquilina’s feast day is June 13.

Some sources for St. Aquilina:

• Aquilina the Martyr Saint of Byblos, Lebanon
• Catholic Online
• The Holy Virgin-Martyr Akylina of Syria
• Cederland: Lebanese Saints

I Want Summer Vacation

This is the first week that the kids are off of school for the summer. I spent the prior week whining that I want 3 months of vacation each summer. I even investigated earning a masters degree in teaching. I can’t figure out how to earn one without being unemployed for a period of time (so that’s not going to happen).

When I was a kid, summer meant hanging around with friends, riding bikes, two weeks at a Girl Scout sponsored art program, and reading books. I can handle that for 3 months or so. When I was a kid it drove me nuts, because I loved school. Even now, if I was a student, I could see passing on vacation. But I’m not a student (haven’t been for a long time), I’m just a drone in the office world who wants three months vacation during the summer.

My kids have a different summer than I did. They have things to go to like drama and creative writing camp at a local high school, sports programs at the grade school, one will go to Fencing camp, and the other is venturing off to an overnight camp for a week. Not only that, they are subjected to homework. We have worksheets to do (some from the school, but most from a mom who is trying to improve the grades of a child entering Jr. High). Even if I had to do worksheets, I still would like a summer vacation.

I would love to go to drama camps and sports programs. Even if I had to work ½ a day, just like I was doing worksheets, I’d be happy to pursue other interests in that free time while the sun shines brightly and the wind feels warm upon my skin. I never appreciated summer when I was a kid. I guess it is just another example of something being wasted upon youth.
So, I guess my summer vacation has to be crammed into my weekends. Last Saturday, we went to the Printers Row Book Fair, the Blues Fest and Millennium Park. My kids are finally old enough that we can enjoy these types of outings. Saturday was such a “Chicago summer day”. The only problem is that when you try to cram three months of summer into weekends only, is that it is tiring. I don’t remember being tired as a child. No matter how tiring it is, I appreciate my summer weekends. Now, only if I can somehow be employed in a field that I got three months vacation during the summer.

Coming to be fed

On Sunday, the Gospel reading was about Jesus feeding his followers with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. Our priest tied it nicely into his homily by talking about how we come to the table to feed on the body of Christ. Fr. K mentioned that Jesus knew he would have to feed these 5,000 men (and Fr. K also mentioned that woman and children just didn’t count at the time). This fit in nicely with the Feast of Corpus Christi.

Fr. K is leaving our parish soon to become a pastor at a nearby parish. He talked a bit about how he was at his new parish a few weeks ago, and one mass was sparsely attended. Suddenly, he was waking up at night with fears about how he was going to get people in the pews. I don’t think Fr. K will have any problems feeding his parishioners. I realized on Sunday I was seeing a priest who had really matured and grown into his own priest.

Fr. K is from Kenya. He’s been our associate for the past 6 years since he was ordained. I’m sure coming to our parish was quite a big of culture shock and perhaps intimidating. It wasn’t long until Fr. K was a vital part of the parish. Fr. K taught us about Kenya and has helped make our parish more aware of social justice, international and immigration issues. I’m sure we have taught him a thing or two, such as the Italian custom of the St. Joseph’s Altar.

Recently, our parish has gone through some turmoil. It was just my observation that Fr. K wasn’t as happy, as he once had been. I think it also showed in his homilies. He was giving homilies from the alb instead of walking around the center aisle. He was not as animated. Last week, there was a party in Fr. K’s honor. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, but I heard stories of all those that came to say good-bye to Fr. K. This Sunday, I sat at mass and heard the best homily that Fr. K ever gave. He was back in the center aisle, being personable, and talking to the people instead of at the people. After mass, a number of people waited for a blessing from Fr. K. I skipped the line because I know I will see Fr. K again after he leaves our parish. But this Sunday, I really felt I had seen a man truly grow into a priest. A man may be designated a priest through ordination, but our parish has been fortunate to witness an individual truly embrace the priesthood.

1st woman mentioned in the Bible: Eve Part 1

I haven’t sat down and read the bible since high school (which was many years ago). At that time, I remember reading it in English class as literature (this was in a Catholic school). So, I’ve decided to read the Bible and focus on the stories of the women in the Bible. Lately, I’ve read several historical novel that use biblical women as their main characters. I am not a person who believes the Bible word for word. I tend to see it as literature that may be a written oral history, but much of it is stories to impart a lesson or to support a belief.

So, I started at the beginning. Suddenly there was Eve. Things were nice and good in the Garden of Eden when she let her self be persuaded by a snake. (I imagine a number of women can say that.). I finish reading about how Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of life and realized they were naked. Eve sewed together some leaves to cover themselves. My first thought: Eve not only invented sewing, but she invented clothing. What has Adam been doing until then?

So, God is not happy (understandably). Women are subjected to pain in childbirth and to consider their husbands as their masters. Men are subjected to toil in labor and get food from the earth. I live in a city. My husband has never toiled to get food from the earth. He doesn’t even pick tomatoes off the plants in the garden. Of course, I don’t consider my husband, my master either. Now, why are men no longer subjected to toiling, yet women are subjected to the pains of childbirth?

Have you ever known women who seem to thrive despite obstacles set before them? We all seem to know women who say “Go ahead, throw whatever you can at me, and I will overcome it.” Some people think it is being stubborn, I prefer thinking of it as persistence. Eve is a great example of that. God has told her she will suffer severe pain in childbirth, yet she goes on to give birth. I just picture Eve standing there and saying, “Go ahead God, bring on the pain, yet I will do as you ask and give birth to people.” I’m sure she was much nicer than that, but the whole image makes me chuckle.
I know some will think my view of the readings is irreverent. It’s not meant to be, it really is just the result of a mind that sometimes goes off on a tangent.

New Beginnings

I’ve really let this blog fall off, and that was just after it was begun. My only excuse is that life was busy.

As of May 15, I am done with my term as President of the women’s group in my parish. I served as President for 2 years and Vice-President for 2 years. I never planned to be an officer when I first got involved in the group. I figured I would just help out here and there; attend an event or two. I was just going to be a somewhat active member, but not a leader. I think this is the case of circumstances change or God works in mysterious ways.

I blame my involvement in the women’s group on my children. (Believe me, they are reaching the age when they will blame me for every perceived wrong in their lives, so I can shift some blame to them). Raising girls, and perhaps having been a girl, I am very aware of showing girls that women can do anything. Also, I’m big on the girls taking opportunities that they think they won’t like in order to develop or find some hidden talent. When our women’s group was in need of leadership, I thought the best way to teach my children was to show them. See, it is their fault.

Presently, my feelings on having spent the last several years entrenched as “somewhat” of a parish leader are ambivalent. I’m hoping that I’m not far away enough from my experience to really understand how I’ve grown or to access the skills I have developed. Right now, all I seem to see is how much is wrong. The women’s group is the most active group in a parish with more than 60 ministries. We are more prominent and available than the Parish Pastoral Council. Yet, you get the impression that we aren’t considered parish leaders by the powers that be. I think often we were considered the parish troublemakers. I’ve seen too much politics. I’ve seen a community where men and the little actual work they do is valued much more than women and the work they do. I have seen the odd way volunteers are treated and respected. I’ve seen too many people say they are going to commit to something, exist things are done their way, not follow through and then I had to be prepared to make the event happen. So, honestly I’m frustrated with the politics and the work ethic that exist, and I feel to initiate any change until the hierarchy of the parish changes.

On the other hand, I have met women with whom I would not have a chance to associate. I’ve met older ladies that have caused me to blush with the stories. I’ve met women who own businesses. I’ve met women who have changed careers in their lifetime. I’ve met women who have chosen to stay home with children. I’ve met a lot of women who feel the parish, the Church and religion are a big part of their lives. I have met a lot of interesting people, all with stories to tell. Many of these people have shared their wisdom and experiences with me. I am honored to consider many of these women my friends.

Often, someone ask me what I plan on doing now. I tell them I’m going to just observe from the pew. Many people laugh and insist that there is no way I can do that. I’m about two weeks into the observing period. It’s driving me nuts. I think I have to stop observing and put on blinders. Maybe then I won’t see issues or feel the need to jump up and do something to assist in a situation. Then what scares me even more is thinking about all the people who are sitting there wearing blinders. But, I can now understand why it happens. Now, I guess, the real issue is if I a going to allow myself to wear blinders or to battle the issues.