Training for Catechists

I am taking the online course “Apostles Creed” as part of the 80 hour training for cathechists. These courses are designed to ensure that all the catechists in the Archdiocese are well formed themselves, and they are extremely helpful.  I took most of these courses 10 years ago when I first took on this position, and found each one to have something valuable for me, however varying the quality; sometimes I learn material, and sometimes I confirm my previous understanding, but both are worth the time.  The online courses have a different feeling, because they force one to post and thereby participate -- and it is a wonderful window into the diversity of the Archdiocese and the amazing ways that the Spirit is expressed through people. They bring a breadth of experience and sensibility which expands my understanding of the material. 

Here's the link: http://www.nyfaithformation.org/central-offices/catechist-formation/catechist-formation-schedule-of-courses/

Another lovely First Communion celebration!

Every year First Communion is different, some of which comes from the size of the classes or the ages of the students, as well as the personalities of the students and our families.  It is always very moving for us who have participating in preparing them, and a special moment for their families. I hope it is also transporting for the congregation.

This year the readings were done by two students who were confirmed this year, and one of the acolytes was both a newly confirmed student and a sibling.  We had wonderful families this year, all of whom embraced our parish as a family (not just an institution); their engagement made the experience even more precious.

One of the advantages of such a small program is our intimacy.  I know all the children well by this time of year, and can celebrate with them in a very pure way.  

Usually on the day of the celebration, my attention is all on the details and what might go wrong.  I made a decision this year to give the details only the attention they deserve so that I could be more present during the liturgy and more available to the community. 

Notes for next year (for me, not necessarily of interest to anyone else):

By February

Verify which children will be likely candidates

Check their paperwork, and baptism certificates

Schedule First Confessions

in April or May
order ties  
check spelling of children's names
order or buy ribbon
order clear full page labels
order pins
check baptism certificates
order Bibles
meet briefly with parents – what to wear, what to expect  

One month before

Verify First Confession details

Order Bibles

Verify spelling of preferred names

Two weeks before

Verify rehearsal details

Check with priests

Let French Community know so their ceremony ends on time

Check with pastor

week of ceremony

touch base with celebrant
check with French community and make sure they make church available on time
verify time for rehearsal
Make reserved ribbons

Check with parents about details of rehearsal and ceremony

Order cake

Check on plates, cups, forks, tablecloths

Clear camera memory

The Food We Throw Away Is Stolen From the Poor!

Papal address, quoted in http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/

Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!
 
Today I want to focus on the issue of the environment, which I have already spoken of on several occasions. Today we also mark World Environment Day, sponsored by the United Nations, which sends a strong reminder of the need to eliminate the waste and disposal of food.

When we talk about the environment, about creation, my thoughts turn to the first pages of the Bible, the Book of Genesis, which states that God placed man and woman on earth to cultivate and care for it (cf. 2:15). And the question comes to my mind: What does cultivating and caring for the earth mean? Are we truly cultivating and caring for creation? Or are we exploiting and neglecting it? The verb "to cultivate" reminds me of the care that the farmer has for his land so that it bear fruit, and it is shared: how much attention, passion and dedication! Cultivating and caring for creation is God’s indication given to each one of us not only at the beginning of history; it is part of His project; it means nurturing the world with responsibility and transforming it into a garden, a habitable place for everyone. Benedict XVI recalled several times that this task entrusted to us by God the Creator requires us to grasp the rhythm and logic of creation. But we are often driven by pride of domination, of possessions, manipulation, of exploitation; we do not “care” for it, we do not respect it, we do not consider it as a free gift that we must care for. We are losing the attitude of wonder, contemplation, listening to creation; thus we are no longer able to read what Benedict XVI calls "the rhythm of the love story of God and man." Why does this happen? Why do we think and live in a horizontal manner, we have moved away from God, we no longer read His signs.
 
But to "cultivate and care" encompasses not only the relationship between us and the environment, between man and creation, it also regards human relationships. The Popes have spoken of human ecology, closely linked to environmental ecology. We are living in a time of crisis: we see this in the environment, but above all we see this in mankind. The human person is in danger: this is certain, the human person is in danger today, here is the urgency of human ecology! And it is a serious danger because the cause of the problem is not superficial but profound: it is not just a matter of economics, but of ethics and anthropology. The Church has stressed this several times, and many say, yes, that's right, it's true ... but the system continues as before, because it is dominated by the dynamics of an economy and finance that lack ethics. Man is not in charge today, money is in charge, money rules. God our Father did not give the task of caring for the earth to money, but to us, to men and women: we have this task! Instead, men and women are sacrificed to the idols of profit and consumption: it is the "culture of waste." If you break a computer it is a tragedy, but poverty, the needs, the dramas of so many people end up becoming the norm. If on a winter’s night, here nearby in Via Ottaviano, for example, a person dies, that is not news. If in so many parts of the world there are children who have nothing to eat, that's not news, it seems normal. It cannot be this way! Yet these things become the norm: that some homeless people die of cold on the streets is not news. In contrast, a ten point drop on the stock markets of some cities, is a tragedy. A person dying is not news, but if the stock markets drop ten points it is a tragedy! Thus people are disposed of, as if they were trash.
 
This "culture of waste" tends to become the common mentality that infects everyone. Human life, the person is no longer perceived as a primary value to be respected and protected, especially if poor or disabled, if not yet useful - such as the unborn child - or no longer needed - such as the elderly. This culture of waste has made us insensitive even to the waste and disposal of food, which is even more despicable when all over the world, unfortunately, many individuals and families are suffering from hunger and malnutrition. Once our grandparents were very careful not to throw away any leftover food. Consumerism has led us to become used to an excess and daily waste of food, to which, at times, we are no longer able to give a just value, which goes well beyond mere economic parameters. We should all remember, however, that the food we throw away is as if stolen from the table of the poor, the hungry! I encourage everyone to reflect on the problem of thrown away and wasted food to identify ways and means that, by seriously addressing this issue, are a vehicle of solidarity and sharing with the needy.

A few days ago, on the Feast of Corpus Christi, we read the story of the miracle of the loaves: Jesus feeds the crowd with five loaves and two fishes. And the conclusion of the piece is important: " They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets" (Lk 9:17). Jesus asks his disciples not to throw anything away: no waste! There is this fact of twelve baskets: Why twelve? What does this mean? Twelve is the number of the tribes of Israel, which symbolically represent all people. And this tells us that when food is shared in a fair way, with solidarity, when no one is deprived, every community can meet the needs of the poorest. Human ecology and environmental ecology walk together.
 
So I would like us all to make a serious commitment to respect and protect creation, to be attentive to every person, to counter the culture of waste and disposable, to promote a culture of solidarity and of encounter. Thank you. 

Last class! and details on First Communion

We had our last class for the year this year!  We sang, and one class went to the park, plus one student brought a visitor.  We are saying goodbye to some others who are moving and wish them wonderful growth.

Next week is First Communion, and the readings will be done by two of our confirmed last year (another will serve as acolyte) as we celebrate the four children who will make this sacrament.  The First Communion students will read the Prayers of the Faithful.

Some details: rehearsal will be on Saturday June 8, at 3:30 (time to be confirmed).  We will meet to get ready for the event at 10:30 on Sunday.

After the ceremony we will have cake and lemonade in the walkway.

See you there.