DAILY REFLECTION: St. Gerard Magella

So often, as a priest, I have heard about this saint who is on the calendar of the saints for today. Here's a little research result. This man who became a brother in the religious order of the Redemptorist Fathers also became the patron saint for expectant mothers. How fitting is today's first reading from St. Paul's letter to the Galatians (4:22-24, 26-27, 31). This young brother became a "brother of all trades" in the Redemptorist community where he lived. A man of deep prayer and religious practices, Brother Gerard died when only 29 years old. But in the few years of religious life he developed genuine piety and wisdom. He is reported to have enjoyed the faculties of levitation and bi-location. His prayers for a woman in labor brought about his becoming known as the patron of expectant mothers. In his short six years in religious life, this saint of God achieved what many struggle to achieve in a lifetime. His piety, holiness, simplicity and wisdom brought many to recognize in him a man whose intercession, again especially pregnant woman, is often graced with miraculous responses.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Our parish will begin anew Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesday, October 17th. Please check the bulletin boards in the church for a review of the schedule.

Let's give a prayerful thanks to Maika Fowler and her team of captains who met more than a few time to get this project under way. Apparently doing all the preparatory work, Maika learned to use spreadsheets on her computer. Way to go, Maika! Thanks, Tom, for teaching her and making the excellent charts a possibility!

As a priest and Pastor, I know it is our regularly recited prayer of dedication to the Immaculate Heart of Mary that has brought about the wonderful success of this effort. No doubt in short order, the effects of this devotion will become evident for us in our parish.

DAILY REFLECTION: Sunday, October 15, 2006

Twenty-six years ago today, a little-known priest of the Archdiocese of Washington died. Fr. E. Albert Hughes, native Baltimorean, was a young and always dapper priest at my home parish of St. James, located in Mt. Rainier, MD ... just over the "District Line" in Maryland on US Rt 1 or where Michigan Avenue become Queens Chapel Road. A movie, The Exorcist, details the experience that made the man who greatly impacted my life and ultimate decision to become a priest suffered tremendously in his priesthood. Fr. Hughes was the first priest called by the Archbishop Patrick O'Boyle, our first resident Archbishop, to respond to the request of the local Mt. Rainier Lutheran priest to help with a case of what was believed to be a genuine case of demonic possession. Most of you know about the story in the movie. Beyond the celluloid, the case actually involved a young man. Father Hughes visited the house more than a few times. He rarely spoke with anyone about the experiences that actually caused him serious injury by the possessed boy. At one time, for no apparent reason, Father Hughes disappeared for several months. Our Pastor at the parish told us that Father Hughes was away resting. Later I learned that he was away recovering from serious bodily damaged caused by the young man. While visiting the fellow who was hospitalized, Father Hughes fell victim to demonic rage. The young fellow ripped one of the springs from his mattress and used it as a knife-like weapon to attack the priest. He was cut by the weapon. Eventually, the young man was moved to St. Louis where he worked with a famous Jesuit exorcist. While in St. Louis the young man's possession was ended. Today, so the story goes, he is fine, living with a new surname and his wife and several children. Father Hughes, on the evening before he died, met with one of my brothers and his fiance as part of their marriage preparation. As was his custom, he left early the next morning, his "day off," and headed to his family's home in Baltimore. That evening, while driving home on the BW Parkway, he became seriously ill. He drove into a motel located near BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. He told the clerk that he needed to be awakened at 5:30 am so that he could get to Mt. Rainier for his morning Mass. Not receiving an answer at 5:30, the clerk went to find Father Hughes. He found him dead on the floor of his room. Apparently as soon as he walked into the room, he fell dead. He never made it to the bed. A wonderful priest who loved to be with young people, Father Hughes will always remain in my memories of priests who touched my life. Eternal rest grant unto him, Lord.

Violent Execution of Orthodox Priest in Iraq

Last week a Syrian Orthodox priest was kidnapped in Mosul, Iraq. Part of the demands for his release was that the Syrian Orthodox Church was that this church, not affiliated with the Holy See, would publish a repudiation to Pope Benedict's now famous or "infamous" remarks during a lecture in Regensburg, Germany. The Mosul church complied and the money also demanded was collected. The kidnappers walked away from negotiations to free the priest. On Wednesday the dismembered body of the priest was located. This raises the question: is the politically correct speech always correct. Is this not another example of "the sentence" in the speech "heard 'round the world?"

COMMUNITY PRAYERS NEEDED

The father of our principal, Mrs. Martinez, just suffered a stroke. He lives in England. Please remember Sheila's Dad as well as her Mom during these days of anxiety.

Time -- On Whose Side in Archdiocese of NY?

Unfortunately the remarks continue tomake press in NYC about the relationship between the Ordinary and the other ordinaries, the priests of the Archdiocese of New York. Once again, relying on what CNN and other news agencies are beginning to recognize as one of the most up-to-date aficionados of Roman Catholic Church business, Mr. Rocco Palmo, the youthful and spirited author of Whispers in the Loggia, I see a presbyterate in a swirling mess.

The "story" goes that the Archdiocese has closed down its communication with the media. What does that do? Just what a stirred up group of people who feel ignored, not trusted, and probably far overworked: they speak out on their own beyond the words of an anonymous letter. As Palmo points out from his sources, even the friends of the leader of Gotham's Catholics are commenting that the contents of the letter speak much truth.

The meeting for the Presbyteral Council was scheduled by the Cardinal or his staff at the same time as the funeral Mass for a well-liked and admired pastor. Communications? Is there any consultation happening anywhere there?

As mentioned before in my blog thoughts, we truly need to offer up at least one Our Father that peace will come to the presbyterate of the Archdiocese of New York and it's leader. Maybe the patron of NYC's most famous parish has to be brought in to drive out the snake of division. Don't forget to check our that very interesting and up to date blogger who, by the way is responsible for my starting my blog. http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.blog

Daughters of St. Francis DeSales Gathering

Our Lady of Victory hosted a day of recollection for the Daughters. Margherita Guttmann, Pastoral Council Member, and very active parishioner help put the day together. Oblate of St. Francis DeSales priest and theologian of repute, Fr. John Crossin, conducted the day of recollection. The ladies invited the Pastor to their luncheon which beat any lunch spot on the Boulevard! About 40 women and men from several states, one as far away as Illinois, attended the day of prayer and fellowship.

PASTORAL COUNCIL: Secretary

Someone, a friend of Mr. Dan Gibbons, suggested that Dan would be an excellent parishioner to serve on the Pastoral Council. When asked, Dan hesitated for a few moments and then gave an affirmative reply. Today, mindful of Dan's skill as a writer, his colleagues serving on the Council elected him to serve as the "official scribe" of the Council's meetings. Goes to show that letting a friend volunteer us can bring extraordinary "honors." Doesn't everyone in the parish long to be the Council Secretary?

PASTORAL COUNCIL: Vice Chair

The Council members turned to youth for its preference for the Vice Chair person. A Junior Class student who lives at George Washington's Mount Vernon Campus, Andrew ("AJ) Harrison has a close connection with the parish: (1) AJ is a Minister of Holy Communion and (2) is a karate instructor at our OLV School. How fortunate this parish is to have AJ volunteering so much of his time ... a break from the term papers, AJ???

PASTORAL COUNCIL: CHAIR

Today at the first meeting of the Pastoral Council, the newly formed committee considered a number of important issues. At the end of the meeting, after having the experience of working with one another and several issues, the group elected Mr. Kevin Fischer as the Chair Person. Kevin was the Chair of the OLV School Board last year. He and his wife, Fran (Mooney), are parents of a fourth grader, Caitlyn. There is no doubt that Kevin is truly committed to the well-being of the parish and sees the school as an important part of the parish.