Robert Orben bought a baby turkey early in January. He fed it organic food to enable it to grow and become the plump, juicy main course of their Thanksgiving dinner.
His three children quickly made the turkey their pet. Like Mary’s little lamb, it followed them wherever they went.
When you read the title of this column, you probably thought I was several weeks ahead of myself or that a little dementia had set in.
Well, I know what date it is, and I am not losing my mind, yet! The new liturgical year will begin on December 1 and, just like many people make resolutions to improve their lives at the start of the calendar year, the Season of Advent presents us with an opportunity to reflect on the spiritual aspect of our lives.
Abortion proponents raised a public outcry after passage of the House health care bill earlier this month.
They criticized action taken by 240 members of the House of Representatives to approve an amendment offered by Representative Bart Stupak (D-Michigan). The Stupak amendment maintains a “status quo” approach to the federal funding of abortion.
The inclusion of the Stupak amendment in the House bill shocked those who would like taxpayers to pay for abortion coverage. Their reaction has been to misrepresent the amendment’s impact by suggesting that it will reach beyond current law.
They are wrong.
On November 7, Congress gave many observers a big surprise. On a vote of 240 to 194, the House of Representatives approved an amendment to maintain longstanding policies against federal abortion funding in proposed health care reform legislation.
It’s a privilege to get old; not everyone has the chance to experience life in their 80s. It’s a time when we can no longer hide our age with cosmetics and high style when there are other obvious signs of deterioration.
Whereas we once walked tall, carrying ourselves with grace, we are now shrunken and our backs are bent. The sure-footed stride has evolved into cautious baby steps. And the head held high now is bent to watch for possible ice or bumps on our path.
Thankfulness for many blessings over this past year already fills the minds and hearts of my family and, I imagine, yours, as well. In particular, thanking God for my cousins’ now one-year-old quadruplets. Yes, that’s right. We are all still amazed at this spontaneous gift from God to Michael, Angela, and little Delaney. Now they are seven. Like some other great stories it happened once upon a night.
As the Council reminds us: “The People of God believes that it is led by the Spirit of the Lord, who fills the whole world. Moved by this faith it tries to discern authentic signs of God’s presence and purpose in the events, the needs, and the longings which it shares with other people of our time. For faith throws a new light on all things and makes known the full ideal to which God has called each individual, and thus guides the mind towards solutions which are fully human” — Christifideles Laici, 3. Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul II (December 1988)
I’ve talked about the purpose of pastoral planning, that is, to answer the questions, “Who are we as a faith community? What are we called to do? How are we best to do it?” be it for a parish, or a cluster of parishes, or even a diocese.
I’ve also mentioned how these questions are answered by the Holy Spirit through the bishop of the diocese, the pastor of the parish, and his pastoral council. The bishop gives each parish and cluster of parishes a focus through his goals and directives. These in turn are taken by the pastors and pastoral councils and are prayerfully reflected upon to create a plan of action.
This article will discuss how this plan of action is made real and active in a parish and in a cluster of parishes.
At the end of nearly every legislative floor period, one or two issues galvanize citizen interest. For the floor period that ended on November 5, a debate over how to best instruct schoolchildren about sexuality was one such issue.
In early November, the Assembly debated and narrowly passed Assembly Bill 428. This bill, described by supporters as the “Healthy Youth Act,” would change the rules for providing sex education in important ways.
You haven’t changed a bit. That was the tongue in cheek line at a recent reunion I attended. As home towns go, mine is the best, of course. Small but still drawing all of us wayfarers back from time to time to catch up on things.
Reunions make that possible thanks to those who give their energy and time to draw a community together. Our oneness of experience growing up made for good conversations and the rekindling of memories from years gone by.
November invites us to appreciate the beautiful teaching of the Communion of Saints.
The Communion of Saints (in Latin communio sanctorum) is the spiritual union of all members of the Church, living and dead, those on earth, in Heaven, and in Purgatory.
They are united in Christ by a love that is stronger than death. The Communion of Saints is mentioned in the Apostles Creed and is based upon First Corinthians 12. Members share a single “mystical body” with Christ as the head. Each member contributes to the good of all and shares in their welfare.
On All Saints Day we honor members of the Communion of Saints who are canonized and uncanonized saints. Canonization does not place a person in Heaven. It acknowledges that the person is already there. On All Saints Day, we also honor the countless uncanonized saints who are in Heaven. They inspire us to imitate them and live Christ-like lives.
