Octave Reflections

St. Thomas Becket

Yesterday was the sixth day of Christmas and the feast day of St. Thomas Becket. This morning, like every morning, the Church prays, "The Dawn from on High Shall break upon us" in the Benedictus (The Canticle of Morning Prayer) of Morning Prayer. Indeed the Dawn of the light of another day breaks upon us. So does the light of Christ again in this octave of His Birth. The dawn from on high is about to break upon us in a new year of grace and it is also about to break upon us in a new chapter of the life of the Church in the United States. As with the New Year, there is anticipation of the dawn of the Anglican Ordinariate. For those who have been waiting in hope, this is much like another Advent. As we await the dawn, it would be well to have some words from St. Thomas Becket (1118-1170) for us. His life and witness is not at all unconnected (although more remotely) with the heritage of Faith of the English Church in the United States which will find itself in ecclesial communion again with the See of Peter at the dawn of a new year. I believe his words are words for those in waiting:

"Remember then how our Fathers worked out their salvation; remember the sufferings through which the Church has grown, and the storms the ship of Peter has weathered because it has Christ on board. Remember how the crown was attained by those whose sufferings gave new radiance to their faith. The whole company of saints bears witness to the unfailing truth that without real effort no one wins the crown."

(From the Office of Readings, December 29th, a letter by St.Thomas Becket, bishop)

Words of Faith for those in anticipation, and words of Faith for the new year, the new dawn, and the new day of ecclesial communion for the Church in the United States.

        As we pray, watch and wait, more to come!

        Venite, Adoremus Dominum!

Venite Adoremus

Midnight Mass
St. Patrick's Cathedral 
December 25th, 2011

        

It is part of the human experience to always go in search of something. In my case, I find myself searching for my cell phone, or my keys, or other things. People go in search frequently of loss items, employment, loved ones, meaning in life and so on. It should be no surprise, then, that the theme of journey for something, looking for something, is found in the pages of Sacred Scripture. That is surely the case with the narrations of the Birth of the Lord found in the inspired pages of St. Luke and St. Matthew: Joseph journeys to Bethlehem to try to find a place to stay with Mary; The Angels go in search of the Shepherds to proclaim to them the birth of the Savior, and the Shepherds go in search, then of the Christ Child. The Magi search for the Star, and then search for the new born King. Herod, too, does his search for his own motives and his own reasons.  The Son of God who is born this day, then, as an adult, will tell of other searches; the woman searching for the lost coin, and the man searching for the treasure in the field.  

Can we not, this holy night, then reflect on these passages of searching in the Gospels, the searches in our own lives, and find a mirror image? Not of our searching in the first place, but of God's seeking us out, searching for us? Does not the Nativity of the Lord, the Birth of Christ, the Incarnation, teach us of the reality that God is searching for and has come to live among us? Through the centuries of salvation history, he comes looking for us, and now stops and stays: "Emmanuel - God with us" God is not "watching us from a distance" as that silly song sang years ago, but is here now, with us, knowing our sorrows, joys, ups and downs. He is here among us! And, now that He has come searching us out, are we going to run from Him? Are we going to keep on our search, when in truth, we have been searched out, and found by the God in the person of His Son who loves us. Let us look no farther, but rather stop, and let us be loved by Him, and in turn, as St. Paul says, live holy lives. God is indeed Faithful to us each, and every day, so we do not fear, and rather by our lives, are called to sing the same gloria that the Angels sing tonight and always.                   

O COME LET US ADORE HIM, CHRIST THE LORD.

VENITE ADOREMUS.

                                      

Federal Corrections Institute

HOMILY FOR CHRISTMAS EVE - 6:00 PM

MEN'S FEDERAL PRISON

Dear brothers in the Lord, staff and friends all,

Once more we are here on Christmas Eve, the evening before the celebration of the birth of Christ. I am truly grateful to be with you as brother, friend, priest, bishop and above all Pastor. I want to let you know that you are thought of and prayed for by me and many people, and are never forgotten.  

The Mass we are celebrating now is the Mass at Midnight. The Word of God speaks to us in a powerful, yet most personal way. The title given to Christ by the Angel Gabriel is "Emmanuel" - "God with Us."

It is important to remember on this night that truly God is with us. The Birth of Christ the means that God is not far away, but has taken on our human condition...like us in all things but sin. It means that God truly does not our concerns, our troubles and worries. He knows our loneliness, our regrets, our wishes to be without families. His love for us in His Son, means truly He is present to us now.  And in His presence in our lives, we are truly free, and this is a freedom that is with us no matter where we are!

The celebration of the Birth of Christ also teaches us again and again that God is Faithful. God promised a Redeemer to Adam and Eve, the Prophets said that He would come, and so He has.  So, is God no less faithful to us in our lives? 

The words of the angels to the shepherds are their words to us also: “Do not be Afraid." Do not be afraid because God is Faithful and because He has come among us. There is no reason to fear or be afraid. His love for us, given on this night in the Birth of His Son to Mary, means that we must not fear. 

As St. Paul tells us tonight, the grace of God is given to us to live justly and devoutly wherever we are. That applies to us right here, right now, and in the future. 

The new born Christ child is present to us, and this night he is present to those whom we love and who seem far from us:  parents, wives, and children, and friends. Yet, in our Faith, on this holy night, they are near and with us now.

Let us commit ourselves to live lives of adoration like the shepherds, and giving glory to God, like the Angels tonight. There, we will find strength and peace.

O COME LET US ADORE HIM, CHRIST THE LORD!

Christmas at Vietnamese Martyrs Parish

HOMILY FOR 9:00 PM MASS

VIETNAMESE MARTYRS PARISH

ARLINGTON, TEXAS

The readings for us this night, the account of the Birth of Christ the Lord, in the Gospels, is a story of a journey, and a story of firsts: Jesus is Mary and Joseph's first born; Joseph's first journey to Bethlehem for the census;  probably Caesar Augustus' first census;  the shepherds first experience - and a startling experience - of the presence of God in His Angels

We have a lot of firsts in our own lives: the first Christmas of a married couple; the first Christmas away from home;  perhaps the first Christmas without a loved one in the year of their death;  the first Christmas is a new city, a new country, or maybe a new job. "Firsts" can be moments of challenge, but they also can be moments of Faith, because that is where our Faith can be tested, and where the presence of the Lord can be found when we need Him, and when we least expect!

The is a "first" for all here tonight...this is the first Christmas in this beautiful new House of God, and just like the shepherds, we have made a journey here to meet the new born Christ Child.  Because of this, all of the other firsts in our lives this year will have a new perspective:  that of Faith.

The beauty of this Holy Night is shown in the beauty of this new Church, which reflects the faith and love whose generosity who made this possible: and  it also reflects the Faith of those whose witness of Faith , in the presence of so many difficulties and challenges, stood firm for all to see.

The birth of Christ, the Son of God, the Incarnation, teaches us clearly that God is Faithful to us.  He sent our Redeemer, just as He said, and just as the prophets promised. God is not distant, and far away, but dwells in our midst, and we, like the Shepherds, "have seen his glory."

A very blessed celebration of the Birth of Christ to all here on this holy night. Let us be like the Shepherds, and always adore and praise God, and may our lives reflect the Song of the Angels, and always give Glory to God, in all moments.

We have journey here this evening together to hear the Song of the Angels, and to meet the Shepherds, and hurry with them to see the newborn Christ Child.

O COME LET US ADORE HIM, CHRIST THE LORD!

Wishing all a very Merry Christmas!

QRS Player Piano Music Word Roll #7742, White Christmas
QRS Player Piano Music Word Roll, Christmas 2011: A Jim Brickman Christmas

Adventus

In this season every hope of the human heart is exquisitely articulated as it seeks out the reciprocity for which love was first given. And in the soul of each human being the Creator calls to us to remember our home. In a couple of days we will join the Holy Family, hopefully, with a certain impoverished spirit. Like Mary and Joseph, Advent is a time to face the natural world and civilization as outsiders. It is a time to be a pilgrim with expectation and faith in the Almighty's promise. 

Hopefully, over the last days we have taken time to reflect and pray with those sacred names of Jesus.

Journey of St. Patrick

The new Saint Patrick Statue for our Cathedral Pastoral Center arrived.

Following Our Lady of Guadalupe....The Evangelization continues!

Following the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Hispanic communities gather throughout the Diocese for a "Pastorella" and "Las Posadas." A "Pastorella" is a drama of faith that always teaches about the birth of Christ, and the drama between good and evil, where good, in the person of the Christ Child, always has the "final word." These plays are a combination of drama, mystery, and even humor at times. The "Posadas" are another type of Novena that reenacts the journey of the Holy Family to Bethlehem for the Birth of Christ, and the response of all who meet them. Both the Pastorella and the Posadas are actually live tools of evangelization that were brought to the new world centuries ago by the Franciscan Friars. It is a tribute to their labors that these live moments of Faith are still lived and taught, and handed down each year to this day by the Hispanic peoples. This is another example of how the presence of the Hispanic people is renewing our Catholic Faith in "El Norte." The pictures that follow are from the Pastorella which was held at Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Decatur, Texas on December 15th, just last night!

Solemn Vespers with the Conferral of Pontifical Honors



The recipients of the Pontifical Honors with Bishop Vann.



HOMILY AT EVENING PRAYER FOR THE FEAST OF ST. LUCY
St. Patrick's Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas

This evening we pray together the Evening prayer for the Feast of St. Lucy and we also give thanks for those who have been recognized by the Holy Father...

The Feast of St. Lucy

        There is not a lot known about St. Lucy other than she was from Sicily, and martyred during the last great persecution of the Church by Diocletian in about 304 BC. Part of her suffering, we are told, was that she was blinded. That is why her hagiography shows her with wreaths, candles and light, and refers to the loss of her sight. However, there is another matter to consider here about St. Lucy.

        The Church, in her wisdom, teaches that Sacred Liturgy and song in praise to God, which in the Liturgy can complement or enhance the regular calendar, can offer a different vision of life. This is what I believe it does this evening.

        It is not by happenstance that St. Lucy's day is today. In the Western Hemisphere, as the days grow shorter, and the darkness is longer, the Church places her feast day today, December 13th. Her name comes from the Latin, "Lux" or light. Thus, in times of increasing darkness we have an image of light, born from the love of Christ. After all, in the responsory to the Word of God this evening we pray "Let your face shine upon us and we shall be saved!"

        Our brothers and sisters this evening, whom Pope Benedict has recognized, in these honors with a history of many years, have been , as it were, channels for the light of Christ in so many ways. Just as the light comes through the windows of St. Patrick's on a bright day, so too, in many ways, in the years of our history of our local Church, the light of Christ has been present in their ministry and apostolic witness, and hard work and dedication. Their witness has helped, and continues to help, to weave together the strands of life in our local Church, and hold it together in a vibrant and bright faith: much like the colors in this woven cloth of many strands and colors from Ghana. It is a tapestry of faith woven together by the hand of God. And, when one is honored, all are honored, and the communion of our local Church becomes strong.

        The communion of Faith of our local Church is also strengthened this evening, as we pray the psalms and canticles of Advent, with the awareness of the presence of Pope Benedict XVI, the successor of St. Peter. In a special way, the Universal Church, which is also present in the local Church, is very evident this evening.

        Pope Benedict XVI himself said in 2006 that "Communion is also a gift with very real consequences. It lifts us from our loneliness, from being closed in on ourselves, and makes us sharers in the love that unites us to God and to one another....Communion is truly the Good News, the remedy given to us by the Lord to fight the loneliness that threatens everyone today, the precious gift that makes us feel welcomed and beloved by God, in the unity of his People gathered in the name of the Trinity."

        As we acknowledge our brothers and sisters this evening for their recognitions that have helped all of us realize that we are indeed “sharers in the love that unites us to God and to one another.”

The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great was established in 1831 by Pope Gregory XVI and is bestowed on men and women in recognition of services to the Holy See and the Church, unusual laborers and the good example set in their community and country.

Patricia and Arthur Dickerson are receiving the St. Gregory Award for their well-known, legendary and appreciated commitment to faith, the Diocese and St. Patrick Cathedral. The Dickersons continue to be actively involved in various aspects of the Diocese and St. Patrick. Art is involved in a range of St. Patrick parish life, including overseeing renovation of the Cathedral and the construction of the pastoral center. Pat also is deeply involved at St. Patrick’s, she is a member of the Catholic Daughters, the Altar Society and works to promote devotional life at St. Patrick.

The Pro-Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross was established in 1888 by Pope Leo XIII and has evolved to recognize distinguished service to the Church by laity and clergy and is the highest award to laity by the Papacy.

Sister M. Devota Sweeney, SSMN, a Wichita Falls native, is recognized for a lifetime of work as a member of the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur serving as a school principal in the Diocese as well as in England. She also served as the order’s provincial superior and the order’s General Council in Belgium. Most recently, she was missioned at Notre Dame High School in Wichita Falls. At 90-years-old, Sister M. Devota is at Our Lady of Victory Center in Fort Worth.

Brother Al Kuntemeier, SM is recognized for his service to Nolan Catholic High School where he has been a faculty member for the last 30 years. Brother Al has served as a role model and touched the lives of thousands of students as a guidance and academic counselor while living out his faith during his 60 years as a religious.

Brother Paul McMullen, TOR is recognized for his respected work throughout the Diocese particularly for his recent service as the pastoral administrator of St. Bartholomew Catholic Church. He is also recognized for his work on various diocesan boards, Sacramental assignments, and his work with the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis within the Diocese, nationally and internationally. He served as the vocations director for his province as well as a member of the General Curia staff of the TOR at SS. Cosmas and Damian Church in Rome.

Sister Juliana Tran, CSFN is recognized for her dedicated work with the diocesan Vietnamese community, from catechesis in the largest Vietnamese church in the Diocese, Vietnamese Martyrs, to assisting the diocesan Tribunal Office. Sister Juliana, whose faith is exemplary, is well-respected in her religious community. Sister Juliana is currently in graduate school in Philadelphia.

The Benemerenti Medal was created by Pope Pius VI in the late 1700s. In 1832 Pope Gregory XVI instituted the medal to recognize individuals who have exhibited long and exceptional service to the Catholic Church, their families and community. In 1925, the medal was expanded to recognize persons in service of the Church from both civil and military as well as the laity and the clergy.

Michael D. Barks is recognized for his work as a member of the Our Mother of Mercy School advisory council. Not only is he a strong proponent of Catholic education to help African-American students to overcome barriers and to advance in life, but he also was instrumental in the construction of a new school. He lives out his faith by serving as a role model for young African-American men as an instructor and mentor for Junior Knights of St. Peter Claver, as a JROTC instructor, and through his many parish works. Mr. Barks and his wife Marie are members of Our Mother of Mercy Parish.

Peter M. Flynn is recognized for 26 years of dedicated work to the Diocese and to Bishops Joseph Delaney and Vann. He began as director of stewardship and development and now is vice chancellor for administrative services and finance director which requires him to be deeply involved in all aspects of one of the fastest growing dioceses in the United States. He is deeply committed to his faith and his family. Mr. Flynn and his wife Shirley are members of St. Bartholomew Parish.

Guadalupe (Lupe) and Deacon Emilio (Popo) Gonzalez are recognized for being “bridge builders” between Hispanic and Anglo communities at their parish, Immaculate Conception of Denton, as well as mentors to newly arriving seminarians from Mexico. They live out their faith, as well as their commitment to family, by welcoming immigrants to the parish and community. Both Deacon Popo and Lupe are on staff at Immaculate Conception.

Ann R. Healey is recognized for her dedicated and relentless work to first form the diocesan Permanent Diaconate Formation program and then to serve as its director for 26 years before retiring. She is recognized nationally for her work on behalf of permanent deacons including serving as president of the National Association of Deacon Directors. Her tenure and her life are marked by her dedication, pastoral skills, and loyalty to the Church. Ms. Healey is a member of St. Andrews Parish.

Lucas R. Pollice is recognized for dedicated work as director of the diocesan Catechetical Department. He has worked diligently to ground the catechetical and formation programs of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth in foundational pastoral and Catholic teaching, ensuring that the tenets of the Catholic faith reach the faithful, while maintaining a deep commitment to his family and community. He has been very much involved in the planning of the University of Dallas Ministry Conference which is jointly sponsored by the Catholic Dioceses of Fort Worth and Dallas. Mr. Pollice and his wife Mary and their family are members of St. Maria Goretti Parish.

Heather Reynolds is recognized for bringing Catholic Charities of Fort Worth, Inc. into closer concert with the Diocese by preserving the Catholic identity of both the board and staff while reaching out to all in need throughout the Diocese, regardless of religious affiliation. She is recognized for spearheading a $16 million capital campaign to relocate and construct a new center for Catholic Charities. Ms Reynolds and her husband John are members of Holy Family Parish.

Jean Riley is recognized for her tireless work as the diocesan representative for persons with special needs. Wheelchair-bound herself, Riley is a respected advocate for the disabled both with the Church and the local Fort Worth community. She demonstrates her commitment to her faith through religious painting and her parish life. Ms. Riley is a member of St. Rita Parish.

Daniel Shine is recognized for 50 years of dedicated services to Our Lady of Queen Peace Parish and to the Diocese in an array of areas, from chairing the parish building committee that guided construction of its new church, to serving on the diocesan capital campaign committee, and various diocesan boards and projects. He demonstrates his deep faith in many ways, including serving as an Extra-Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion, as a Knight of Columbus, and leading the annual benefit for the diocesan seminary burse. Mr. Shine and his wife Sue are members of Our Lady of Queen Peace Parish.

Ann Louise Smith is recognized for dedicated pastoral work with young people and college students as a campus minister both in Fort Worth and Wichita Falls. She also uses her nursing and pastoral skills to serve children and those in hospitals. As an Oblate of the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, she has continually demonstrated her great faith, care, and love for all people and particularly the members of her community. She also serves on the diocesan Conduct Review Board. Ms. Smith is a member of the TCU Catholic community.

More Media from Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebrations Last Night

View from the Sanctuary at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Fort Worth

Our Lady of Guadalupe

   HOMILY FOR OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish

Fort Worth, Texas

          December 12, 2011 

The Cufflinks/Las Mancuernillas 

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, 

Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas en el Señor,

I know that at times, on this great day, I have used this image to speak about Our Lady of Guadalupe, but I thought that I would reflect on it again this year, as we meet once more the Mother of God.

Sé que algunas veces, en este gran día, Yo he usado esta imagen para hablar acerca de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, pero pensé reflexionar sobre esto de nuevo este ano, al encontrarnos una vez más con la Madre de Dios. 

As a newly ordained priest, I was sent to Rome to study Canon Law thirty years ago. During those years, when I was in residence at the North American College, I began to wear cufflinks on formal feast days and Sundays, and it is a manner of dress that I keep to this day.  I always found that cufflinks added a certain amount of style or order to the suit and Roman Collar, and help certainly to keep the shirt sleeves in good order...holding the sleeves together in place!  Over the years I have acquired a number of pairs of cufflinks, and when I came to Fort Worth, I found another:  this set of cufflinks of Our Lady of Guadalupe!

Cuando recién ordenado como sacerdote, fui enviado a Roma para estudiar ley Canoníca, ya hace treinta años. Durante esos años, cuando residía en el Colegio Norteamericano, yo comencé a llevar mancuernillas en días de fiestas formales y los domingos, y es una manera de vestir que mantengo hasta este día. Me daba cuenta que las mancuernillas añadían un cierto estilo o orden al traje y al Cuello Romano, y ayuda a mantener las mangas en buena condición, sosteniendo las mangas juntas en su lugar! A través de los años he adquirido un numero de pares de mancuernillas, y cuando vine a Fort Worth, me encontré otro par, este par de mancuernillas de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe!

Our Lady of Guadalupe cuff links

I found them in a store in downtown Fort Worth, and right away they caught my eye!  I found them at a time when I was walking downtown, reflecting on some of the challenges that I had to face at the time.  They caught my eye, or now, I should say rather, they were a manifestation to me of Our Lady’s word to Juan Diego when his uncle, Juan Bernardino was seriously ill: "Do not be distressed, my littlest son. Am I not here with you who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Those cufflinks began a series of instances in whenever there were concerns or worries for me, I would almost at the same time, turn around and find an image of her waiting for me…again and again.

¡Las encontré en una tienda en el centro de Fort Worth, y enseguida las vi! Las encontré una ocasión en que caminaba por el centro, reflexionando en algunos retos que tenía que enfrentar en esos días. Las vi luego, luego, o ahora mejor dicho, fueron una manifestación para mí de las palabras de Nuestra Señora para Juan Diego cuando su tío, Juan Bernardino estaba gravemente enfermo: «No se turbe tu corazón ni te inquiete cosa alguna. ¿No estoy yo aquí que soy tu Madre? ¿No estás bajo mi sombra? ¿No estas por ventura en mi regazo? ».  Esas mancuernillas fueron el comienzo de una serie de instantes en los que  había preocupaciones que me esperaban para resolver, en esos momentos casi al mismo tiempo volteaba y me encontraba con la imagen de ella esperándome, una y otra vez.  

Mass for Our Lady of Guadalupe in Morgan, Texas

Is that not always our experience of the Mother of God for each one of us…the Mother of God who Juan Diego, and now all of the Americas, and beyond that all of the world now know? The Gospel for this day is that of the Visitation of Mary.  The words of St. are “How is this that the mother of my Lord comes to me?”  This day, and always, she comes to us as the Mother of Jesus – the Mother of God to say indeed that “God is with us.”  She comes as an icon to show how Faith can both embrace and transform a culture.  She comes to us as an Icon of her Son’s constant and faithful presence in our daily lives…God is indeed faithful.  She comes to us in our travels in our daily lives and in our travels in and out of borders to remind us that she travels with us, and enfolds us in her mantel.  Because she is everywhere, she teaches us again and again that our Faith knows no frontiers. With the stars and the flowers, she sings the power and beauty of God’s creation.  And, just as in the Gospel, the image tells us that she is expecting her Son, the image of her on the tilma powerfully proclaims that human life is sacred and that God is the author of life.  

¿Que no esa nuestra experiencia con la Madre de Dios para con cada uno de nosotros?…la Madre de Dios, quien Juan Diego, y ahora todas las Américas, y mas allá en el mundo conoce ahora. El Evangelio de este día es el de La Visitación de María. Las palabras de Santa Isabel fueron: Como es que la Madre de mi Señor viene a mí? Hoy, y siempre, ella viene a nosotros como la Madre de Jesús—la Madre de Dios para decirnos que en verdad “Dios es con nosotros”. Ella llega como icono, como imagen para mostrar como la fe envuelve y a la vez transforma una cultura. Llega a nosotros como icono de  la constante y fiel presencia de su Hijo en nuestras vidas…Dios en realidad es fiel. Ella viene a nosotros en nuestras jornadas cotidianas en nuestros viajes atravesando fronteras para recordarnos que ella viaja con nosotros, y nos envuelve en su manto. Porque está en todo lugar, ella nos enseña una y otra vez que nuestra Fe no tiene, ni conoce fronteras. Con las estrellas y las flores, ella canta del poder y de la belleza de la creación de Dios. Y al igual que el evangelio, la imagen nos habla que ella está en cinta, esperando su Hijo, la imagen de ella en la tilma poderosamente proclama que la vida humana es sagrada y que Dios es el autor de la vida.

Her appearance to Juan Diego during his walk and journey also reminds us that it can be in the most unexpected moments of life that the presence of God can come to us.  And, just as my cufflinks keep my shirt sleeves in good order, so to, does she, by her love, protection and care, help keep our lives in good order by redirecting us always back to her Son.  

La aparición de María a Juan Diego durante su caminar y su jornada al igual nos recuerda que puede ser en los momentos más inesperados que la presencia de Dios puede llegar a nosotros. Y, así como las mancuernillas conserva las mangas de mi camisa en buen orden, así ella con su amor, protección y cuidado, nos ayuda a conservar nuestra vida en buen orden al dirigirnos de nuevo a su Hijo.

I recently had the occasion to be in Queretaro, Mexico last week. One of the priests that I met, Fr. Prisciliano Hernandez Chavez CORC, shared with me these words of Our Lady of Guadalupe from his 34^th Ordination Anniversary.  I think that they are fitting for us tonight:

La semana pasada tuve la ocasión de estar en Querétaro, México. Uno de los sacerdotes que conocí alla, el Padre Prisciliano Hernández Chávez, CORC, compartió conmigo estas palabras de una poesía que uso para su 34 aniversario de sacerdocio. Son palabras de alabanza para Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Creo que nos quedan bien esta noche.

“A Santa María de Guadalupe”

Flores de milenarias primaveras

Flowers of a million springs

Se hermana en la pascua Mexicana

Sister with the Mexican resurrection 

Para morir y dar la vida

To die and bear life.

A la perenne imagen de María.

To the perennial image of Mary.

Canto y flor, flor y canto

Song and flower, flower and song

Vuelo policromo de pinceles

Polychrome flight of pencils

Roban la belleza al cielo

Steal the sky’s beauty

Para vestirla de soles y luceros.

To dress her with suns and stars.

La noche y el día

The night and the day

 La aurora y el ocaso

Aurora and sunset

Enmarcan el Pentecostés de antaño,

Frame the ancient Pentecost,

Rostro bruñido en suavidad alada.

Brilliantly profiled in soft swiftness.

Su belleza se escucha

Her beauty is heard

Su voz se contempla

Her voice is contemplated

Su ternura aprisiona

Her tenderness imprisons 

Cual Madre que arrulla

As a Mother lullibys  

Con su candor silente.

With tranquil candor.

Lagrimas y lagrimas

Tears and more tears

Forzan su presencia,

Her presence force,

De niños en orfandad hundidos

Of  children buried in orphanhood 

Sin sus caricias

Without her caresses

La desesperanza abruma

Desperation overwhelms

Ante una vida de falsos esplendores.

Before a life of false splendors.

Imagen sonora

Harmonious icon

Voz que se toca

Palpable voice 

Ojos de  misterio

Misterious eyes

Del acto de ser

Of the act of being

En ti siendo.

Being in you.

Matachines in Morgan, Texas

Vietnamese Martyrs

Participant in a procession for the new church building wait outside.

         HOMILY FOR THE DEDICATION OF VIETNAMESE MARTYRS CHURCH

DECEMBER 10, 2011

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, all a part of this great family of God here today.

I wish to thank all of you for the invitation to be with you today.  This is a great day of rejoicing for all of us, as the word of God tells us: Welcome to My friend and our friend, Bishop Dominic, Father Louis, the CMC Provincial, Father Polycarp and all here present.  This is a day of blessing, and a day of rejoicing in God’s faithfulness to us, to bring us to this day. 

Let us listen to the Word of God from the Old Testament which says that, “Today is Holy to our Lord….for rejoicing in the Lord must be our strength.”

The new Vietnamese Martyrs Church in Arlington, Texas

We rejoice in the Lord today for the gift of our Faith, that has come down to us from the Word of God in the Old Testament, and through the Apostles, from the Lord Himself.  Just as in the Gospel of St. John, we have a personal encounter with the Lord Himself this very day, who calls us to live lives of worship and love.  The encounter with the Samaritan woman changed her life.  May the encounter with the same Lord, on this day of the dedication of your Church, change our lives, to always be witnesses of His love, which will be given to us Sunday after Sunday, day after day in this parish Church.

A photo just before mass

We rejoice in the Lord today to hear St. Paul’s words.  St. Paul speaks of the living temple of God.  In this temple of God, we lay a foundation for our lives for now and into the future.  And, each stone, each statue, each sacred object is a reminder of each of you here today:  your love, your sacrifice, and your generosity, without which this would not be possible.

Bishop Vann practices for mass

We rejoice in the Lord today in the example of the Saints of your parish, the Vietnamese Martyrs, who in the 1800’s gave the greatest witness of their love by their lives.  We are called today to give heroic witness of our love for Jesus Christ in our daily lives.  That love is strengthened here by the celebration of the Sacraments here each and every Sunday. 

We rejoice in the Lord today at the vision and generosity of the Vietnamese families who came here to Arlington to begin this parish family, and whose faith, love, and vision have made this House of God possible. 

We rejoice in the Lord today for the gift of family:  Our own families and our parish families.   Every family, every parish family has its own history, full of blessings and challenges.  But in the midst of it all we know that the Lord is present, guiding us on with His love, just He did the Samaritan woman so long ago.  We may not understand everything all of the time, but we do understand the love of Jesus Christ for everyone here today, everyone in the history and story of every family here, of every person in the history of this parish. It is because of that great love that you – that all of us - are here today.

We rejoice in the Lord today for the gift of time.  We are now in the time of Advent, which means “coming.”  The Lord is coming to meet us at His Birth,  yet truly He comes to meet us today.

Like the words of Nehemiah, we celebrate with great joy all that has been accomplished in Faith.  Yet, the Lord is not done with us.  He still comes to us and has more work for us to do, everyone here, to take the presence of Christ here today, out into the world that awaits Him and needs him. We are called to build up the Body of Christ here on earth the Church – wherever we may be - , to make the living House of God reflect this same beauty that is here.  I thank you personally for your friendship and love for all that you have done and been for me in these past years.  Because of all of you, and the faith of the Vietnamese people, I have seen the presence of God in a way that I never could have imagined.  With all of my heart, I thank you. 

For today is holy to the Lord our God, rejoicing in the Lord must be our strength. 

As the Word of God says, AMEN , AMEN!

Pics from the OLG Novena

The Immaculate Conception

Let every heart, that is devout, now raise itself and devoutly celebrate the Conception of the Virgin ever blessed.

Progress

A view of the new Cathedral Pastoral Center from Throckmorton Street.

On a rainy Sunday afternoon several hundred people gathered in downtown Fort Worth to witness the historic blessing of the St. Patrick's Cathedral Pastoral Center. Parishioners, who are finishing a successful fundraising effort, gathered and welcomed guests. Since St. Patrick's itself was dedicated on July 10, 1892, the new Pastoral Center is about 120 years overdue. Until recently, the primary meeting space for the Cathedral was the basement of the neighboring St. Ignatius building, a former location for an Academy run by the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur. In keeping with the architectural style of the Cathedral itself, the new building makes use of Neo-Gothic references and expresses a theological continuity that reinforces the centrality of Fort Worth's mother church.

People begin to gather for the blessing of the new Cathedral Pastoral Center.

Bishop Vann says the prayer of blessing.

Bishop Farrell and Msgr. Weinzapfel of Dallas were present.

Being "missioned" at "home"

Associates of the CFRs gather

Saturday, December 3rd, the feast day of the great Jesuit missionary, St. Francis Xavier, saw a full house at Sacred Heart Friary of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal  in Fort Worth. The day began with morning prayer, followed by Mass, in turn followed by a day of formation and reflection for the associates of the CFRs.  This day of reflection also included an afternoon at St. Benedict's mission in Fort Worth and time spent ministering to the homeless with the Friars.  On this day of a great missionary, the CFR associates were truly being sent into mission in their own city, to live their Faith and extend the love of Christ to the homeless and the abandoned. 

Novena

The word novena in the Catholic vocabulary comes from the Latin root word meaning "nine" and refers to either nine days of public or private prayers, either private or liturgical. One class of novenas are what are called novenas of preparation, usually preparation for a major feast. In recent years, for example, novenas in preparation for the celebration of the Solemnity of Pentecost, or Divine Mercy Sunday have become well known. In these days, we are beginning nine days of preparation for the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I began the novena with the faith community at San Mateo mission in Fort Worth, on Friday evening, December 2.  It was a very foggy night, evidenced in the street, where lights shown through in the area surrounding the mission. In contrast, at the mission itself, there was a spirit of joy as Hermana Soledad explained the symbolism in the image of Our Lady on the tilma of Juan Diego. In this mission, which is small, but nearly full, the rosary, singing and other prayers to Our Lady, and the matachines, filled this house of God with great joy, as we began the nine days journey to December 12th. On Monday evening, December 5, I will be with the parish family of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the north side of Fort Worth for one of their evenings of the novena.   

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Main Street

Sundance Square in Fort Worth