Adventus.org in English Adventus.org en françaisPost for August 29, 2009
I spent a good part of this evening calling my married couples to invite them to my annual reunion. I enjoy this reunion, and even the process of organizing it, even if it takes time. It gives me a chance to catch up with people. I’ve been blessed to preside or preach at 40 weddings now. Given the babies that have since come, if only half show up I’ll have a good 50-60 people present.
» Filed Under Marriage ministry | 1 Comment
Post for August 28, 2009
I had to help deal with a bit of a media emergency today: a foreign journalist, whose first language wasn’t French and whose second language was English, called the diocese looking for some info for a story she was doing. Our diocesan press secretary asked me to help out, so I wound up being temporary spokeman for about an hour. This sort of thing is always makes me a bit nervous, but I do believe in engaging the media in as professional a way as possible, as they have a very important role in a free society. We’ll see how it turns out.
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Post for August 27, 2009
I had my first meeting of the Executive of the local branch of the Order of Saint Lazarus. The meeting was long but productive, with an interesting fundraiser event coming on the horizon. As for myself, I’m the secretary, so I took notes and recorded the meeting for the purpose of producing the minutes. It’s not a glamorous job, but I don’t mind it, as I believe in the importance of having a decent record of decisions. And I’m having fun meeting new people who are serious about doing good work in the areas of palliative care and ecumenism, as I definitely believe in both.
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Post for August 26, 2009
I had a meeting of our priest pension fund today. It was fairly routine: looking over the performance of our investments, checking on our conversion rate, and so on. We still have a large actuarial deficit, but things are looking up for our fund nevertheless.
What is an actuarial deficit, you ask? In order to protect the members of the pension fund, the Quebec government requires that a fund have a minimum amount of value based on the number of members in that fund, their age, and so on. After a complex series of calculations using actuarial tables, this target amount can then be compared to the actual amount in a fund to see if the fund has too much or too little money/value.
The thing is, the actuarial tables are prepared by external professionals based on population data. As the demographics of the population change, so do the tables. The tables had a major adjustment a few years ago, and suddenly pension funds all across the province found themselves in a deficit situation. Note that these funds were not losing money! They had, for the main, actually been very well managed. The deficit is an actuarial one, i.e. a difference between the actual and target amounts based on the demographic data.
Still, paper deficit or not, the government obliges the funds to make up the difference — again, to protect the members, and in a sense they are right, as that actuarial deficit would become a real deficit over time as priests retired. Here is the diocese the bishop made an appeal to all the parishes to contribute an annual amount so as to protect the priests pensions, and people were very generous. The deficit has not been completely erased, but things seem on track.
Of course, there are other things out of our control as well. The current economic turbulence throughout the world does not help, although our portfolio is wisely divided between growth and income investments and so should weather the storm well.
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Post for August 25, 2009
I had a meeting today to look a building a fundraising project for the diocesan “Oeuvre des vocations”. This is the foundation that supports our seminarians, as well as seeks to promote vocations (especially to the priesthood). For some reason I am part of the team trying to develop a “look” for our fundraising program. The thing is, anyone who knows me knows that I am not the guy to go to for a winning “look”. I’m the kind of priest who, upon ordination, was thrilled to be able to put on a black clerical shirt each day because I could stop having to be my usual fashion disaster. When it comes to websites, for example, I know exactly what I want technology-wise — just don’t ask me to make my website “pretty”, ’cause I just don’t know. When it comes to publicity, I know what I don’t want to see; I know what story I want to tell; but as for being creative in the visual department, it’s just not me.
So, somehow, I got the job of helping to put together the visuals for a fundraising project. Ah, the strange ways of Mother Church.
But maybe there are times that the geeky programmer side comes in. After all, the basics of cooking are pretty much all the same across the board — the secret is in the spices, not the main ingredients. I think maybe the same of true for visuals. Ideas do not drop from the sky — I suspect most are incremental refurbishings of other ideas. So my partner and I took a look around the net at stock photography websites, to see what visual ideas are already out there.
It turned out to be really useful for priming the creative pump. In particular, the goreous visuals found at WP Whittman were really useful. Bill, the owner, explained that while this is the way he makes his living, he also sees it as a ministry and does his work as an offering to God. And it shows. Check it out!
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Post for August 24, 2009
I was in Ottawa today for a very special occasion: my father’s 88th birthday! It was nice to be with the whole family, gathered around the supper table. I also got a chance to go for a couple of walk with a couple of nieces, which was nice (gave us a chance to catch up).
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Post for August 23, 2009
The above title is a quote from Saint Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Kinda jumps out at you, doesn’t it? And yet, this was a key line from today’s second reading.
I was preaching today, and I decided to tackle this reading head on. Click to listen.
Post for August 22, 2009
I mentioned in a previous “summary” post that I’ve taken the 10,000 step challenge, i.e. the idea that you walk at least 10,000 steps per day, as measured by a pedometer. I have to say, it is awesome. I find that 10,000 steps is just far enough that you have to make an effort, but not so far that it is a burden. Having the pedometer helps as well to be intentional about the challenge — it is very motivating! For example, today being Saturday I don’t walk to the office, so I went for a walk up the mountain instead, going along Dr. Penfield to Atwater to conclude with a walk along Ste-Catherine back to the Cathedral (where I live). Not a bad hike, but it was the perfect day for it.
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Post for August 21, 2009
Since I’ve posted my offer to celebrate mass for specific intentions, I’ve had 44 different intention requests. For (almost) each one of them I send a “mass card” in PDF format and an mp3 file (usually of the Eucharistic prayer where the name is mentioned). Thus far the reaction has been very positive, and I in turn am grateful for those making requests, as it helps me keep in touch with the core element of my priesthood.
» Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment
Post for August 20, 2009
Last term I gave a course called the Christian Understanding of God at Concordia University. One of the weeks was dedicated to a comparison between the Christian and Muslim perspectives on God, and it was very well received — the Muslim students in my class in particular said that I was able to accurately reflect their faith.
Fast forward to last May, when I was on retreat with the Recluses Missionnaires: the superior of the monastery heard about my course and asked if I could come in and give that particular lecture as part of their in-house continuing education. I accepted, and today was the day.
The sisters also invited the current retreatants staying at the monastery to attend, so there were about 25-30 people. The lecture was in French, and lasted about two hours (with a break in the middle). Judging from the reactions over coffee it was very well received. For those who know a bit of French, you can listen to the talks here (part 1, part 2). I apologize for the accent and the occasional grammatical errors.
Many thanks to the sisters for making me feel so welcome, and in particular for feeding me some lunch! Here’s hoping this first time won’t be the last.
» Filed Under Nature of God, Theology | Leave a Comment
Post for August 19, 2009
Bing! Is it a sound effect? Is it a search engine? In this case, it is a person: the wife of my old classmate Ian, who is presently in town with Bing and their daughter Chloe. This lovely little family used to live in Singapore, where I once visited them (post 1, post 2). Now they live in Shanghai, and have recently completed a major trip through Europe on their way to visiting Ian’s parent here in Montreal.
The “surprise” part comes in from Bing herself, who called me up, said they were in town, and invited me to a BBQ in the West Island on Montreal. Happily I was free, so I fought the traffic to enjoy a delicious dinner of tomato+mozzerella appetizers, corn, roast lamb, beers, etc., finished off with a walk to the local ice cream parlour.
And yes, they have officially invited me to visit them in Shanghai. I was thinking next April/May. Apparently that is a good time climate-wise, and since the Archdiocese is giving us an extra week of vacation next year (in lieu of a pay increase, due to the economic downturn), I might as well use it for something special.
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Post for August 18, 2009
I got together with an old friend today: Keith Donoghue, a buddy from high school and university who is now a financial planner. He’s invested some of his own money to investigate a tool called Bible-based money management seminars. It’s a USA-based program, so some of the financial terminology would need to be translated for Canadian users. It also is coming out of a Protestant background, so our meeting was more about going over the material to see how it can be used in a Catholic context. I’ll be going over the workbook, and Keith will in turn be looking at the Catholic concept of stewardship (which, from what I can see, has direct parallels in this program).
I’m proud of my friend Keith for wanting to take his talents and use then in the service of others in a way consistent with his beliefs. A number of people, including our current Pope, believe that our current economic problems stem from fundamental moral issues of honest and justice. I tend to agree, and so I’m glad to see a program that offers people a way to help live their economic life consistent with the gospel.
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Post for August 17, 2009
I spent today getting ready for the liturgy class I am teaching this fall. For the past few years I have given a very particular assignment: my students would hand in their course notes, and I would correct them. The best of them would be shared among the students to serve as study material for the final exam.
After three years of this process, I have collected a full set of high-quality course notes. In addition, my Powerpoint slides have been added to the set, meaning that we now have a rough draft of an “open source” textbook. I say “we” because, while it is my material, this truly has been a group effort. That is something of which I am particularly proud: my students have not just been doing otherwise forgettable papers and tests, they have been contributing to the creation of training materials for others. Their schoolwork has had value and meaning, and they’ve done well. Yes, I am proud of them.
The next step is to give research assignments to the students, so that the more scholarly elements of the course book can be fleshed out. As well, the language will need to be polished up a bit. But the basics are in place, and my hope is to have something worth sending for an imprimateur in the next couple of years.
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Post for August 16, 2009
This Sunday we had an interesting experience at morning mass. It was extremely hot and humid. As I was presiding, I looked out and saw that an elderly gentleman was collapsing. Parishioners trained as nurses went to his side to see how he was doing, and at a certain point I stopped the mass and went down to see for myself. An ambulance was called, and at communion time I also offered this man the anointing of the sick. We aren’t sure if it was just the heat, or if he had a seizure of some sort (it’s possible it was both, actually).
Please pray for Pat!
» Filed Under Scenes of priesthood | 3 Comments
Post for August 15, 2009
Some friends of mine are up from Mexico, and tonight they treated me to dinner at a very special restaurant. It is called O Noir.
The food was excellent, as was the service, but to be honest here in Montreal a restaurant can’t survive without these basics. What makes O Noir so different is that you eat in the dark.
I mean really in the dark. Pitch black.
Now you may wonder: how are the waiters and waitresses able to serve you? The answer is simple: they are themselves blind, so the lack of light makes no difference.
Yeah, it’s a gimmick. But a popular one. You need to reserve at least 2 weeks in advance to get a table! And the restaurant does have a social mission as well: the full integration of the visually impaired into so-called “normal” society. I certainly don’t mind supporting that!
» Filed Under Personal tidbits | 1 Comment
Post for August 14, 2009
I had a particular joy this evening. Three years ago I had the chance to celebrate the marriage of Charlie Smith to his lovely wife Bernice. At that time, he had expressed his desire to enter into the Catholic Church – but then I got transferred from that parish, and it never got followed up.
Then, about a week ago, Bernice called to let me know that Charlie was in the hospital. The diagnosis: leukemia. The prognosis: not great. I visited with him, and the issue got raised once again. And yes, he still wanted to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.
So, this evening, I brought my chrism oil, and the Holy Eucharist. We prayed, and he received the sacraments of initiation in his hospital bed.
Welcome, Charlie, to the Catholic faith!
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Post for August 11, 2009
A recent pastoral encounter has prompted me to write about a particular problem many people seem to suffer from: problem gambling. I’ve never been attracted to gambling myself, but I’ve known people who’ve gone down that road, eventually to their (possible) ruin.
Why do people gamble? Years ago I concluded that one main reason was for the fantasy value. Take lottery tickets, for example, which is a favourite form of gambling for lower and middle income persons. Spending $1 on a lottery ticket gives you much more than a chance at winning $1,000,000 (or more). It also gives you a chance to dream of what life might be like if you win. That’s what you are really buying: the opening of a door, even if only a tiny crack, to the dream of a “better” life.
Another reason, of course, if for the thrill. Winning, when it happens, is a rush. This second reason is more often found in casinos than in lottery tickets, where the games are structured to let you win just often enough so that you feel the thrill. Yes, in the long run the house always wins, but the money you spend is not just buying you a chance a making more: it is also buying you a chance to feel that rush.
A final reason, I think, is the seeking of control. A gambling game represents a kind of puzzle, something to “figure out” so as to have greater control than the other players (and basically outsmart them). How many gambling movie or TV plots, for example, involve the creation of some sort of mechanism to “beat the house”? So I think a lot of people gamble for the same reason they make jigsaw puzzles: to try and find the order in the chaos. For a person who feels that some part of his life is out of control, gambling may represent a way to feel potentially in control, a feeling nourished by the occasional win. After all, before “figuring out the system”, a lot of “experiments” must be done…
Know someone needing help in this area? Perhaps even yourself? If you live in the USA, the National Council on Problem Gambling may be a useful starting point for you. If you live in Canada, ProblemGambling.ca is a another starting point (with, I might add, a French section as well). Finally, here in Quebec, here is a French resource on Jeu excessif.
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Post for August 10, 2009
A couple of years ago I was visiting the island nation of Saint Lucia, where I got a chance to meet a young girl and chat a bit about her life: school, friends, that sort of thing. At one point she said something that made me realise that I really was in another culture. We were talking about her Catholic faith, and I wondered if it was hard to be a good Catholic in her culture. So she gave an example how being a person of faith made a difference: one of her schoolmates had done something to hurt her, and she explained that while she was tempted to light a devil candle against her, she didn’t because she knew Jesus would not want her to.
Devil candle? What the heck is that?
It turns out that Saint Lucia has its own native version of voodoo, and this traditional “religion” includes magical practices that allow you to curse someone. One of these practices is the lighting of what are basically cursed votive candles, calling upon evil forces to hurt the other person.
Wow. Good for her for not lighting one.
But this is also found closer to home. Last December I celebrated Christmas up north in Saint Augustine and Pakuashipi, the latter being an Innu reservation. The woman I visited with other there said how many people have abandoned Christianity and gone back to the traditional religion. The thing is, because the shaman not only has the power to bless, but also to curse, many of them now live in fear.
Fast forward to now: just recently I received a mass intention request. It was from a woman whose husband is having an affair. The mass intention was for the other woman.
In other words, the offended party is asking for blessings, not curses, for the other person. No devil candles, no shamanistic curses. No living in fear.
This is yet another reason why I love being Catholic. While we have a book of blessings, we simply don’t have a book of curses. We don’t believe in personal revenge of any sort, particularly the spiritual: that sort of justice belongs to God alone.
» Filed Under Reflections | Leave a Comment
Post for August 9, 2009
My homily for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (year B).
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Post for August 8, 2009
Hey blog readers,
Just a little update on what I’ve been up to.
I have a LOT on my plate right now (what else is new) but I’ll be sure to check in a little more regularly. God bless!
» Filed Under Personal tidbits | 1 Comment