The weekend after the alumni reunion, the seminary again opened its doors to a large group of people for our fall Vocations Awareness Weekend. The VAW that took place from November 13-15th was rather difficult. There were a lot of young men attending that were seriously considering what God was calling them to do with their lives. However, there were others who were here simply because their parents wanted them to come and who had no intention of looking at the priesthood as something God was calling them to do with their lives. However, the Lord worked through all of it. He used each and every one of the seminarians and priests who were here to show the attendees that God loves them and that He is seeking them to serve the Church and the people of God in some capacity. It was rather humbling to see, in the midst of the sometimes chaotic weekend, that the Lord was using me to reach someone I had never met. It goes to show you that the Lord works with what you have to offer, however limited that offering may be. All we can do is surrender it all to Him because we cannot necessarily see how the Lord is working in others.

After VAW, the rest of the fall semester was normal. By no means is seminary ever normal!! Seminarians are constantly embarking on journeys that travel into the deepest recesses of our personhood and it is rather exhausting in itself. However, to have a lot of extra things back to back, the semester was very exhausting. At the same time, however, all of us felt that we had accomplished a great feat; our exhaustion felt good. But, nonetheless, we all were looking forward to getting back to the regular routine of seminary life. Shortly after getting back into the regular routine, the seminarians had their final exams for the fall semester (all of which I passed–to go on the record) and departed for home to celebrate the Christmas holidays with family and friends.

Over the Christmas break, I was able to spend some amount of time at the feet of the Lord. I asked him to continue guiding me, strengthening me, and illuminating His will for my life. The fall semester was one that was filled with many struggles and the Christmas break showed me that the Lord had something rather interesting in store for me during the spring semester. He was going to be working in me and through me in ways that I could not imagine. When we returned from Christmas break, all of the seminarians breathed a sigh of relief when we noticed that the forthcoming semester was rather normal and tranquil.

“On January 15th, the seminary community went on a Day of Recollection to assist us in switching gears from the Christmas Break and to prepare us for the upcoming academic semester. The Day of Recollection, which only lasted about 20 hours or so, was eye opening for me. It allowed me to really reflect on priestly service and the baptismal call of all. The mini-retreat gave me the opportunity to reflect on how the Lord is working in my life and how he continues to call me to serve His church, His people.” [1]

Our semester continued with the presentation of the junior class’ Humanities Projects on January 28th. The purpose of the projects was to show a connection between the study of humanities (art, music, etc.) with that of religion and/or philosophy. To make the presentations go smoothly and not take five days to present, the juniors were broken up into five groups of three. Each of the groups were asked to choose two humanities categories and prepare a 15 minute presentation on how they are connected to theology or philosophy. Each of the projects were rather good; I was impressed by the work some of my fellow classmates completed. My group chose painting and literature and its correlation to theology; we focused on the Passion story–the Way to the Cross, the Crucifixion, and the Descent from the Cross.

The project had a very profound impact on me because I was able to see how, through painting and literature, the Lord can reach us on a level that is immense. I was reminded of God’s love for each of us. It reminded me that, no matter what we do with our lives, as long as we are praising the Lord and working to serve others, then we are living the life that God wants us to live. But it also reminded me of my sinfulness and how the Lord is constantly calling me to a conversion of heart and mind.

The most intriguing event of the second semester was the visit of a very special alumni for the seminary’s annual Fides et Ratio Conference. This year, the seminary was very blessed to have Ambassador Miguel H. Diaz, United States Ambassador to the Holy See, come and give the annual speech to the seminarians, faculty, and other invited guests. “The purpose of Ambassador Diaz’s speech was to highlight the growing relationship between the United States and the Vatican, especially in the areas where the two countries are working together for the common good of all peoples.”

Ambassador Diaz had a message for the seminarians in attendance:

“We need religious leaders who know the world, who know the issues of the world and who can wrestle them.” He went on to say that “we are not called to flee from the world. The Church is in the midst of the world. The people of faith are called to be there, to be in Haiti, to be wherever human dignity is trampled.” And finally, the ambassador told us that “we have to remember the past because we do not want the future to be that past.”

It was a reminder to all of us that the Lord needs us to stand up for our faith and the morals that He gave us. We need to live in a way that illustrates the love of the Lord. We need to defend the rights of others, putting ourselves last, risking everything we have been given to make the voice of God heard in the world.

After Fides et Ratio, things once again returned to our regular routine. In February, after returning from mid-semester break, we went on a three-day retreat. The retreat was very helpful and grace-filled for me. I was given the opportunity to spend a good amount of time in the presence of the Lord without the distractions of the external world. I was able to focus on my prayer and to truly grow in my relationship with the Lord and with our Blessed Mother. A couple of weeks after the retreat,the seminary community once again opened its doors to guests for our second Vocations Awareness Weekend of the year.

As you can see, the post is getting long again. Therefore, stay tuned for Episode III where I will reflect on the Spring Semester from VAW until the present time as we prepare for graduation and Summer Recess.

PHOTO: (1) St. John Vianney College Seminary; (2) St. John Vianney College Seminary; (3) College of St. Benedict–St. John’s University

Shortly after the Habemus Papam announcement, Pope Benedict XVI emerged and gave his first Urbi et Orbi address.

“Dear Brothers and Sisters,

After the great Pope John Paul II, the Cardinals have elected me, a simple and humble laborer in the vineyard of the Lord.

The fact that the Lord knows how to work and act even with inadequate instruments consoles me, so above all I entrust myself to your prayers.

In the joy of the Risen Lord, confident of his unfailing help, let us move forward. The Lord will help us and Mary, his Most Holy Mother, will be on our side. Thank you.”

VIDEO SOURCE: YouTube

SOURCE: Vatican | Holy See

Disclaimer: The posting of this video does not, in any way, show my endorsement of the National Broadcasting Company or any of its affiliates.

Holy Week is time when Catholics worldwide feel the pain of dying in Christ.

It comes this year as media reports bring up heartrending, often previously published, stories with a new twist – how the Vatican handled the cases. Efforts to link stories to culpable inaction by Pope Benedict XVI cause reasonable people anguish given all that the pope has tried to do to address this crisis…

For many, the emphasis of Holy Week is on Good Friday, a day that’s good not because Jesus died a terrible death that day, but because the death led to His subsequent resurrection. It holds deep meaning for Catholics now who seek meaning from the tragedy of pedophilia.

Pedophilia has had terrible effect on many and reminds us of sinful humanity than is around us and within us. It has made a long Good Friday for many, especially those victimized by this sin and crime. But as the church has learned while dealing with these wounds, as it did with the crucifixion of Jesus, the pain can lead to a church purified of sin.

With the current spate of news stories about inaction in the face of pedophilia, Catholics rightly feel numbness like that of Holy Saturday when the Apostles and followers of Jesus were stunned by the events around them. The message, however, is that Jesus’ death led to new life. The Church is still learning through its pain. The comfort of Christ awaits, which is something victims/survivors need and deserve and something the entire Church, from Pope Benedict to the newest baptized child, can take hope in.

As we journey throughout Holy Week, take some time to reflect on Jesus’ Passion. Recall Jesus’ struggle of carrying the cross and realize that even He needed help carrying it. Recall Jesus’ words: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34 NAB) Most of all, remember that Christ rose from the dead in glory. As in all things, the Church will overcome this struggle. For now, pray for the Pope and the Catholic Church.

SOURCE: USCCB Media Blog | Sr. Mary Ann Walsh

PHOTO SOURCE: AP | BBC News

The Catholic Bishops of the United States have long and consistently advocated for the reform of the American health care system. Their experience in health care and in Catholic parishes has acquainted them with the anguish of mothers who are unable to afford prenatal care, of families unable to ensure quality care for their children, and of those who cannot obtain insurance because of preexisting conditions.

Throughout the discussion on health care over the last year, the bishops have advocated a bipartisan approach to solving our national health care needs. They have urged that all who are sick, injured or in need receive necessary and appropriate medical assistance, and that no one be deliberately killed through an expansion of federal funding of abortion itself or of insurance plans that cover abortion. These are the provisions of the long standing Hyde amendment, passed annually in every federal bill appropriating funds for health care; and surveys show that this legislation reflects the will of the majority of our fellow citizens. The American people and the Catholic bishops have been promised that, in any final bill, no federal funds would be used for abortion and that the legal status quo would be respected.

However, the bishops were left disappointed and puzzled to learn that the basis for any vote on health care will be the Senate bill passed on Christmas Eve. Notwithstanding the denials and explanations of its supporters, and unlike the bill approved by the House of Representatives in November, the Senate bill deliberately excludes the language of the Hyde amendment. It expands federal funding and the role of the federal government in the provision of abortion procedures. In so doing, it forces all of us to become involved in an act that profoundly violates the conscience of many, the deliberate destruction of unwanted members of the human family still waiting to be born.

What do the bishops find so deeply disturbing about the Senate bill? The points at issue can be summarized briefly. The status quo in federal abortion policy, as reflected in the Hyde Amendment, excludes abortion from all health insurance plans receiving federal subsidies. In the Senate bill, there is the provision that only one of the proposed multi-state plans will not cover elective abortions – all other plans (including other multi-state plans) can do so, and receive federal tax credits. This means that individuals or families in complex medical circumstances will likely be forced to choose and contribute to an insurance plan that funds abortions in order to meet their particular health needs.

Further, the Senate bill authorizes and appropriates billions of dollars in new funding outside the scope of the appropriations bills covered by the Hyde amendment and similar provisions. As the bill is written, the new funds it appropriates over the next five years, for Community Health Centers for example (Sec. 10503), will be available by statute for elective abortions, even though the present regulations do conform to the Hyde amendment. Regulations, however, can be changed at will, unless they are governed by statute.

Additionally, no provision in the Senate bill incorporates the longstanding and widely supported protection for conscience regarding abortion as found in the Hyde/Weldon amendment. Moreover, neither the House nor Senate bill contains meaningful conscience protection outside the abortion context. Any final bill, to be fair to all, must retain the accommodation of the full range of religious and moral objections in the provision of health insurance and services that are contained in current law, for both individuals and institutions.

This analysis of the flaws in the legislation is not completely shared by the leaders of the Catholic Health Association. They believe, moreover, that the defects that they do recognize can be corrected after the passage of the final bill. The bishops, however, judge that the flaws are so fundamental that they vitiate the good that the bill intends to promote. Assurances that the moral objections to the legislation can be met only after the bill is passed seem a little like asking us, in Midwestern parlance, to buy a pig in a poke.

What is tragic about this turn of events is that it needn’t have happened. The status quo that has served our national consensus and respected the consciences of all with regard to abortion is the Hyde amendment. The House courageously included an amendment applying the Hyde policy to its Health Care bill passed in November. Its absence in the Senate bill and the resulting impasse are not an accident. Those in the Senate who wanted to purge the Hyde amendment from this national legislation are obstructing the reform of health care.

This is not quibbling over technicalities. The deliberate omission in the Senate Bill of the necessary language that could have taken this moral question off the table and out of play leaves us still looking for a way to meet the President’s and our concern to provide health care for those millions whose primary care physician is now an emergency room doctor. As Pope Benedict told Ambassador to the Holy See Miguel H. Diaz when he presented his credentials as the United States government’s representative to the Holy See, there is “an indissoluble bond between an ethic of life and every other aspect of social ethics.”

Two basic principles, therefore, continue to shape the concerns of the Catholic bishops: health care means taking care of the health needs of all, across the human life span; and the expansion of health care should not involve the expansion of abortion funding and of polices forcing everyone to pay for abortions. Because these principles have not been respected, despite the good that the bill under consideration intends or might achieve, the Catholic bishops regretfully hold that it must be opposed unless and until these serious moral problems are addressed.

SOURCE: Whispers in the Loggia

PHOTO SOURCE: USCCB Media Blog

To Read Cardinal George’s letter, please visit: http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2010/10-043.shtml

Benedict XVI, the first pope with his own YouTube channel and presence on Facebook, is urging Roman Catholic clergy to use social media to communicate with parishioners and reach those outside the church.

“Priests are thus challenged to proclaim the Gospel by employing the latest generation of audiovisual resources (images, videos, animated features, blogs, websites) which, alongside traditional means, can open up broad new vistas for dialogue, evangelization and catechesis,” the Pope declared in January in preparation for World Communications Day in May.

But the Catholic Church, including the Orlando Diocese, has policies that take the “social” out of social media. Parishes that use social media, such as Facebook, are instructed to disable the comment functions of those sites.

The Orlando Diocese’s rules for the use of social media, enacted in August after six months of study and debate, expressly prohibit blogs because they imply two-way communication that encourages responses from the public, said Carole Brinati, Diocese spokeswomen.

“Blogging is ‘I can comment on that,’ and that is what we don’t allow,” she said. “Some people feel that is shortsighted, but that is our policy.”

The purpose of the pope’s push for social media is to get the church’s message out to the people in as many ways as possible. It’s not intended to spark debate; invite opinions and opposing points of view; or open a dialogue between church leaders and parishioners, Brinati said.

Churches have been riding the social-media wave for some time now. Many denominations reach out — either through their own Web sites or sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

By their nature, social media are wide open and egalitarian: Anyone with a keyboard and an opinion is entitled to join the conversation. That makes the incorporation of social media difficult for hierarchical religious organizations or denominations, said the Rev. Anthony Pogorelc, a research fellow at Catholic University’s Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies in Washington.

“In some sense there is a tension between social media and traditional, hierarchical organizations like the Catholic Church,” Pogorelc said. “With social media, everyone has a voice and can say what they want. In the system of the Catholic Church, more weight is given to the key spokespersons — the bishops or leaders of the church — and what they say.”

Some of the Catholic concerns about the rudeness, anger and inappropriate commenting that take place on some blog sites is not typical of Facebook, which is built around like-minded “friends,” experts contend.

“Facebook is a conversation that is already riding on the rails of relationships. The tracks are set. These are people who are friends with whom you share something together,” said Bill Reichart, a social-media consultant in Atlanta who works with faith-based organizations.

To short-circuit the interactive part of social media dilutes the full impact of what the technology can bring to a church and its congregation, he said. The discussion is already going on within members of the church. Social media just give that expression a different forum.

“What a lot of churches fail to realize is social media is already happening in their churches. People are already having conversations; people are collaborating,” Reichart said. “The church may not like what they hear, but it’s better to know and have open and honest discussion of what is going on.”

Mary Ann Brussat, director of the SpiritualityandPractice.com Web site, said Facebook and other social-media sites can help a church educate and inform its members.

“The medium is really totally open and nothing to be afraid of,” Brussat said. “People are using it to share what is meaningful to them, and that’s a function of religion and spirituality.”

The Rev. Stephen Parkes, pastor of Most Precious Blood Church, said his parish since its inception five years ago has used a Web site as an effective means of communicating with parishioners while their church in Oviedo is being built. But he doubts that social media can ever convey spiritual matters as effectively as face-to-face communication.

“We can’t replace personal interaction with technology,” Parkes said.

Even at half-strength, social media can be a powerful tool for churches and their congregations. Parishes within the Orlando Catholic Diocese use their Web sites and Facebook pages to post videos of Sunday sermons; send out last-minute notices and reminders of meetings and events; and provide ways parishioners can volunteer and donate to the church.

“It’s not just for the sake of communication, but lets us use the technology to speak the Gospel to people,” Brinati said.

And that’s not a bad approach to take, Reichart said. Even if the Catholic Church is being cautious in its embrace of social media, at least it is giving careful consideration to the long-term pluses and minuses of the technology.

“A lot of churches think, ‘I’ve got to do this,’ ” he said. “But if you don’t see the lasting value, you are going to give up. You’re not going to persevere. Other things are going to catch your eye.”

SOURCE: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/os-catholic-social-media-20100311,0,5867293.story

PHOTO SOURCE: Alessia Giuliani | AFP | Getty

To begin his first speech on U.S. soil, the ambassador spoke of his role in the United States government, which is to be a “bridge-builder of issues between the United States and the Vatican.” The ambassador noted two challenges that his office deals with: 1) global tensions that are the result of increasing pluralism, and 2) interests between the United States and the Vatican for the sake of the common good.

Ambassador Diaz mentioned that human identity is still a major issue as a result of the drastic changes in cultural dynamics in countries across the globe, which he attributed to “human migrations.” This struggle to define the human identity has made difference–whether those be based on culture, ethnicity, or gender–a threat to the world family. We have become increasingly fearful of the other before we have thought about becoming friends. However, we cannot allow this to continue because the “actualization of person” happens when we are in communion with others. Therefore, developing relationships with others is “not a choice” because we meet God in the other.

“Love offers no shortcut.” In our modern times, where we have a misunderstanding of human identity, we pick and choose who we want to love. This is where religious communities can make a major difference. Religious communities can, and do, come together–no matter what affiliation–to work for the benefit of all. These religious communities recognize that differences in culture can make a great impact on the world. Difference should not be a force of division in the world! Just the opposite is true; culture has been enriched by human diversity.

The “dignity of all persons is no easy task to accomplish”; it is a constant struggle that the Church and the United States have been trying to overcome for some time now. There are many ways that this can be accomplished. One of them is through the human imagination. “Failure to engage the human imagination” is not an option if we wish to foster commonality between cultures.

There is “serious evil in the world” that tries to inhibit the discovery of such commonalities. If we should be humble enough, we could eliminate the hatred that exists between cultures. There is a “great need today…to engage in conversation.” There is where the United States can make significant contributions, according to Ambassador Diaz.

“In the United States of America, a positive approach in relating faith and civil” contributions can work to advance the dialogue between various cultures and beyond religious affiliation. Faith is a positive agent of change in the world. Religion is not to be simply practiced in the privacy of one’s home. Religion and faith should not be left at home. Religion should be brought into the world. The ambassador went on to quote Benedict the XVI: “There is thus an urgent need to delineate a positive and open secularity which, grounded in the just autonomy of the temporal order and the spiritual order, can foster healthy cooperation and a spirit of shared responsibility.”

Persons of different faiths can and should work side-by-side in order to address the differences that exist between us. We are all “transient pilgrims” in this world. Do we spend our time tearing each other apart, or do we build bridges among the members of our human family? We should not take the easy road. “We must do unto others as we should have them do unto us.” This was the pulse of our Father’s love and still “beats in the hearts of people throughout the world.”

US Embassy Holy See

According to Diaz, the mission of the United States government is to engage the Holy See, using what Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calls “smart power”. Smart power utilizes a wide-range of diplomatic tools that enable us to spread our mission throughout the world. We use this type of diplomacy by focusing on 1) Global Health, 2) Religious Freedom, 3) Human Rights, and 4) Peace and Security.

In terms of promoting global health initiatives, the U.S. government and the Holy See are ready to fight world hunger. However, this goes hand-in-hand with easing the tension of climate change on the planet. During talks about the Copenhagen Accord, several international steps were taken to combat climate change. These include: 1) making a pledge to only raise the global temperatures by 2 degrees Celsius, 2) setting goals throughout the world that help reduce countries’ impacts on climate change, and 3) having transparency to let the world know how those goals are being met.

Countries must now work together to advance the Copenhagen Accord. Caring for persons and caring for the environment are interrelated!! “We need to be mindful of inter-generational solidarity so future generations can share” in the same benefits that we share in now. Universal solidarity is a benefit, as well as a responsibility.

In terms of religious freedom, the United States and the Vatican are working together to promote religious freedom throughout the world because it is a “human right and [a] source of stability for all countries.” The United States is seeking to identify and denounce those countries throughout the world that do not honor religious freedom. Ambassador Diaz quoted Secretary of State Clinton:

The freedom of religion “is the first liberty mentioned in our Bill of Rights, and it is a freedom guaranteed to all people in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights…Religious freedom provides a cornerstone for every healthy society. It empowers faith-based service. It fosters tolerance and respect among different communities. And it allows nations that uphold it to become more stable, secure and prosperous.”

In terms of the protection and advancement of human rights, Ambassador Diaz highlighted one specific area in which the Vatican and the United States are working together, human trafficking. The ambassador stated that there are 12.3 million victims  of human trafficking around the world; women make up 56 percent of those victims. The U.S. and the Holy See have come together in a special way by assisting in the creation of the “first ever inter-congregational effort” against human trafficking. The International Network of Religious Against Trafficking in Persons was formed in October 2009 and includes 30 women religious from 26 nations.

In regards to peace and security, the United States and the Vatican both hold that religion is being used as a “pretext of violence.” Throughout the world, religion is being used to justify the murder of innocent peoples. Ambassador Diaz reminded us that “no Holy War is a just war.” Religion cannot be used as a pretext of violence because the very foundation of all religions is love.

In concluding the 11th Annual Fides et Ratio conference, Ambassador Diaz remarked that the President of the United States (POTUS) and Benedict XVI have called upon all to embrace actions that “promote the common good for all.” The United States is “committed to bridging human differences.” We must “listen to the other; listen with the ear of the heart.” People across the world have a tremendous and deep love for the United States, but that also brings high expectations for the POTUS. However, the same goes for the Catholic Church. The Church is “one of the most important listening posts in the world” because they have international relations with many of the world’s countries. If we simply work together, despite our cultural or religious differences, we can effectively bring change to the world and advance peace.

At the end of the conference, the ambassador took questions from the audience. When asked what he could tell the seminarians for future reference, Diaz stated: “We need religious leaders who know the world, who know the issues of the world and who can wrestle them.” He went on to say that “we are not called to flee from the world. The Church is in the midst of the world. The people of faith are called to be there, to be in Haiti, to be wherever human dignity is trampled.” And finally, the ambassador told us that “we have to remember the past because we do not want the future to be that past.”

Article Sources: The Florida Catholic

Photo 1 Source: St. John Vianney College Seminary

Photo 2 Source: US Department of State