He cares for us, too

Wednesday was the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, so I'm a few days late in blogging this.  Better late than never, though, I suppose.  Some days just don't have enough hours.

I have never been a big "Mary person,"  but this past year - past six months, really - I have developed quite an affection for her.  It's been a work in progress and a great blessing.

My older son and I attended the anticipated Mass for the feast on Tuesday.  I was a little disappointed that the church was only slightly more crowded than a regular daily Mass.  My kids don't balk at coming to Mass - although I know there were other places my 15 year old would have rather been.  A mostly empty church tells them that most people (the ones that are there on Sundays) don't value these Holy Days of Obligation very much, even if their mother does.

My personal little rant.  That's when the "Body of Christ" figures into the whole deal.  Kind of the "takes a village" mentality (which I generally don't care for).

Our homily was about the great things God did in Mary's life.  How He cared so much for her and was so intimately involved even before her conception.  But guess what?  He cares just as much for us and wants to do the same things in our lives.

The next morning, before school, I stopped by the church near my school to spend some quiet time.  I haven't done that in quite a while.  As I was about ready to leave, my co-worker friend came in while I was there.  We prayed for a bit, and then left, taking a moment in the parking lot to chat.  It was too cold to chat for long, though.

When my kids are not in the car - because they usually adjust the station to their tastes - I listen to KLOVE, which is a nice Christian Station.  I like their music, but I think it's fair to say that many of their staff and listeners wouldn't quite share the Catholic level of devotion to the Blessed Mother.  Anyway, as I started my car, I heard the announcer say, "...... 'Wow God!' story.  What God did in Mary's life, He wants to do in all of our lives!"  I can only guess that a listener - coincidentally (?) named Mary had called in and shared something amazing that God had done in her life.    Thought that was cool.

Wanted to share this bit of music.  I heard it twice on Tuesday - once at our retreat, and then again as the offertory song at Mass.  Go ahead and sing along with John Michael when he gets to the Holy....Holy....Holy is His name.... even if you can't sing.  I could listen again and again.....

a little silence

Sister-in-law and I had signed up for a women's "day of recollection" in early November.  I had seen it in a church bulletin (it's a sickness - picking up a bulletin of whatever parish you visit), and we had sent in our $$ in plenty of time.   But we got back letters saying that we were being placed on the waiting list. 

Tuesday was the long-anticipated day, and since we had both gotten subs for the day, we decided to go anyway.  If they let us stay, fine.  If not, then we would have our own day of recollection somewhere.  They warned us that we might have to sit on the floor, but they let us stay.

There were two presenters, and there were a lot of messages woven into the day.  Femininity, waiting, loving, listening, quiet, utter active receptivity (try that one on for size!), slowing down, surrender, and more.  Wonderful advent messages.

But the best part for me - maybe for all of us - was the silence.  After we listened to the first presentation, we were told to meet back at 11:30 in the cafeteria for lunch.  There would be silence until then.

So SIL and I walked outside.  

It was a little cold, but we found spots in the sun.  

I stretched out on a bench.  

She walked on further and found a chair.

Very peaceful. 

 

I found that it wasn't a time so much to talk to God, as a time to listen.

It was confirmation for me that I'm not the crazy one for craving silence in my daily life.

That, in fact, we NEED it. 

 

I had forgotten my journal, so I had to improvise.  I still found a place to write.

And I reached into my bag and found some things to meditate upon.  

Things that seemed to be just what I needed to hear.

God has a plan for my life.  I knew that already.

And that plan includes paperwork and meetings.  

Why?

Only God knows.

And he wants me to be patient.

He is there.  In the craziness.  In the mind-numbing paperwork.  In the endless meetings.

We were behind an old, historic church.

There seemed to be cemeteries on all sides.

A reminder of  the promise of something better.

And then there was school today.

The stupid IEP program wouldn't work when I had time to use it.

And so it begins.

The chances to practice patience and looking for God in the paperwork.

One of my co-workers so neatly summed it up...

Re-entry's a b!tch, isn't it?

Yeah, but worth it!

While I was there, I signed up for a 3-day silent retreat in September.  Can't wait!

golden milestone

Our little church parish has been a parish for 50 years.  Before that, it was a mission church.  I've only been there for about 8 of those years, but I love it!  I've heard our church called "The Little Cathedral in the Ghetto" by someone who loves it as much as I do.  We laugh at that, but it is quite beautiful - I am not biased - and the area where we are located has declined over the years.  Decades ago, a nice quiet neighborhood.  Now, not so much.

Our pastor has repeatedly said that our parish has been "the oasis in the desert of his life".  I do think that he is happy where he is at.  Beautiful things bloom in the desert, he said.

Our parish is a nice mixture of people.  The parking lot is bordered by apartments housing the elderly and handicapped, and the neighborhood has aged, so there are a lot of senior people there.  There is also a school associated with the parish, so there are some families with children there.  That's why I am there...because my kids went to the associated school.  There are white people and there are black people and they worship in harmony from the same pews.  People that tell you "hello" when they see you at the grocery store or in the car-rider line at school.   A family feel.  A lot of people are on fixed incomes; not alot of money is spent on extravagance.

It is a small parish, as parishes go.  Our current pastor has additional duties with the diocese.  Our previous pastor was also pastor of another small parish.  There are not 85 committees or opportunities for ministry in the church bulletin, but I suppose if you want to be involved, there is a place for you.  I've found one.  There is an altar society and altar servers.  Ushers and lectors and ministers of Holy Communion.  Religious education for the kids and Bible studies scattered throughout the year for the adults.  RCIA.  Choir.  Our little choir is awesome and the music at every Mass is heavenly.  People sing.

So....our celebration.  There is a beauty in simplicity, and I think it's fair to say that our pastor is very much tuned in to that beauty.  As nearly as I can tell, this event was planned by the Ladies' Altar Society.  There was not a lot of anticipation and hype.

The church was decorated simply.  Some gold ribbon bows on the front pews and a beautiful red poinsettia in a gold pot on either side of the [gold] tabernacle.  Very simple, but elegant.

That's a picture of our beautiful sanctuary.  It's a picture of a picture that was in the commemorative booklet that we received.   (which is why the quality is so-so)

Our pastor celebrated Mass on Saturday evening and Sunday morning.  I was at the Saturday evening Mass, and he spoke simply and from the heart about our parish and what we are called to be.  There was quiet applause at the end of his homily, as he wished us Happy Anniversary.

Our Bishop was there for our second Sunday morning Mass. There were musicians with stringed instruments in the choir loft.  Quite lovely.

After Mass, there was gumbo in the church hall.  A band.  Standing room only.  Gumbo isn't the easiest thing to eat standing up.  There was a lot of effort put into the decorating by the "Ladies".  We had real table clothes and utensils wrapped in gold and white napkins.  There was a guest book to sign and a booklet with details of our parish's history.  More desserts than any one could possibly eat.  I said "no" to the desserts until they were cleaning up and kept asking if I wanted some cake to take home..."for the boys".  I have a hunk of cake in my freezer, as I type. 

The second pastor of the parish was at Mass and the gumbo.  He is in his 90's now.  Towards the end, the seminarian - now priest - who had been at our parish about 4 years ago showed up.  He was a great guy; my boys enjoyed serving with him because he carried on a conversation with them.  It was really good to see him again. 

My boys and some other Boy Scouts provided clean up services. 

All in all, a good day.  Happy Anniversary!

winnowing

Today was a golden day at our parish!  We celebrated 50 years as a parish!!  I've only been a part of it for about 8, but I love my little community.  More details about that celebration in another post, perhaps. 

The Bishop celebrated Mass today.  He is so personable; he speaks our language.  The homily ranged here and there - about what we do as a church parish, etc, but he also tied it in to today's Gospel.  He gave us a lesson in wheat harvesting, explaining that when the wheat grains are picked off of the wheat stalk, a lot of trash ends up in the pile of wheat.  That's where the winnowing fan comes in.  One person picks up a shovelful of wheat and tosses it in the air, while another fans.  The fan blows the trash away, leaving the wheat. 

Are we in need of winnowing?  Where is the winnowing room?  He pointed to the back of the church where the confessional is - where we bring our lives to Jesus, and He blows away the trash, leaving just the good.  As we wait for Jesus, as we prepare our lives to be more open to Him, let us take advantage of the opportunities that we have.  Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!

Side note:  We attended Mass celebrated by the Bishop two days in a row.  Yesterday, he was at the Boy Scout retreat that my guys attended.  One of them remarked that he is going to think we're stalking him.

sunday snippets

R'Ann at This That and the Other Thing hosts a weekly meme for Catholic bloggers to share posts of interest from the preceeding week.  Check it out.  Join us.

It was a busy week at my house.  Back to school after a week off for Black Friday Thanksgiving.  Not much made it to the blog, though.

Two short (relatively speaking) posts.  Quick reads.

Meetings .... you might discern from the title...it's about meetings.  Too many of them.

Lost....because I don't understand what it is about men and directions...

Hope you enjoy.

lost

So I get a phone call from the dear man I'm married to.  Never mind that it's late, and I'm about 5 minutes away from crawling into bed.  He is a truck driver by trade and tonight he's in the great state of Alabama.  He calls because he has the feeling that he is being led in the wrong direction by his GPS, and wants me to look on mapquest.

So I do, and after several rounds of  "CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW", I am finally able to locate where he appears to be headed and where he is supposed to be going.

So I confirm, that if he is headed north to Point A, and he wants to end up at Point B, he is really not going the right direction.  So what does he tell me?  He'll just keep following his GPS, and he'll call me back in 30 minutes if he's still lost.  $%^&  (So I'm trying to stay awake, and figure.... I haven't blogged in a few days...)

We can probably draw a spiritual parallel to that pretty easily.  God, I'm not sure I'm going the right way.  Can you send me a sign, give me an idea, tell me what to do?......... Thanks God, but never mind, I'm just going to keep doing whatever it is that I'm doing.  Somebody's telling me it's the right way.   I'll call you again if I REALLY need You.

Do you think God just shakes His head sometimes?

In other news - congrats to my brother-in-law.  He is the head coach of a local high school football team, and they are headed to the state championship.  His team now knows a little something about overcoming adversity, since they had to forfeit four games during the regular season for playing an ineligible player (who lied about his age - falsified documents, etc.)

meetings

I sometimes wonder if anyone has ever died from too many meetings.  Sometimes I feel like I might.  I don't know why it takes so many meetings to teach children.  Oh - never mind.... we don't really TEACH any more.  That's so last century.

Yesterday I had a meeting during school to decide who was going to monitor the interventions that needed to be done for a child, and how often.  This meeting lasted 45 minutes and had 7 people present at it.  It was about 40 minutes too long.  Today I had a meeting before school.  It wasn't too bad as meetings go.  Then I had a department meeting during my planning time at school.  It went about 30 minutes into my last block class.  A lot of it was a re-hash of yesterday's meeting.  At some point, I just had to ask, "Are we finished here?" 

Tomorrow during my planning time is an IEP meeting.  One of my co-workers is conducting the meeting, but she asked if I would like to attend, and I told her I'd show up for moral support.   Tomorrow after school, we have an hour-long faculty meeting. 

I think Friday is meeting-free.  Monday we have a meeting during our planning time so someone can help us  with the finer points of progress monitoring. 

I wonder who the patron saint of meetings is?

Oh - and there is no Mass at my parish tomorrow morning.  Our priest has a meeting...