Father Bill says...for All Saints Day, November 1st

All Saints Day, November 1st

Saints - saints are an important part of the Catholic culture - we remember those who have gone on before us - they are our examples - and witnesses - to the hope of new life, Resurrection - after life. Each of us have our favorite saints - stories that mean so much to us - that remind us that we have the opportunity to make a difference in our world - basically, it says - if they can do it - so can I. The Catholic Church has a process to look into the life of a holy person - and decide - and declare that person a saint by a very wonderful ceremony called canonization - and the list of canonized saints grows every year - many are well known - some not so well known. Just a week ago - Brother Andre of Montreal was declared a Saint - St. Brother Andre - and then there is Saint Francis and St. Clare of Assisi, Italy - some of course are still on the way to being canonized - so Pope John XXIII is Blessed - the next step will be to be canonized and be declared a saint.

Now - there are many, many canonized saints - but not all saints have been canonized - there are many, many people with the Lord - who never go through the process and reach the stage of being declared a saint - and yet, they are truly saints - among them are our special saints - saints of our family - saints from among our friends - those special people who have been truly examples and witnesses for us - and have shown us the way to live and make our lives all they should be and have convinced us that our lives are worth while - and we are loved and important - so we should never give up on our road to sainthood.

One more thing to add to all of this - the stories of the saints - the canonized ones and the others - is that they achieved a good and holy life by being really good people - many, if not all, had their sins and failings but they never gave up - they had the faith and strength of will to get up and keep trying - they trusted the forgiving power of God - and kept on going.

So who do I think of today - among my saints - well, there is my mother, of course - then my friend, Father Bernard - who touched so many lives with his challenging talks and delightful wit - despite his failings - he never got down on himself - he kept on trying - and of course, my friend, Father Tim - who was truly a friend - some one I often needed to perk up my day - and to lift my spirit when I began to doubt.

So thank you, Lord - for such great saints - saints who were my friends - may I never forget them - so that I continue to realize my own goodness - that I may continue to walk on the way of following all the saints.

Mission Sunday - October 24, 2010

The Adirondacks in the Fall

Mission Sunday - I remember well my short stay as a missionary - I was so impressed with the missionaries that I met in Peru, South America - I remember the American priests that had joined the St. James Society - many had signed up for five years - and then just stayed - I met one who had stayed for thirty years.

When I think of a true, dedicated missionary - I remember Madre Antonia - a Maryknoll Sister who had been in the Altiplano of Peru - the small community of Yanque - for well over forty years - she died during this past week - her dedication to her people was well known - but her renown spread throughout the whole area - many visitors to the Colca Valley - deeper than the Grand Canyon - a nesting place for condors - would also add a visit to the sisters - I was there once when a group from Lima came - a German group - that included the Ambassador from Germany - and the Ambassador from Austria - they were so impressed with Antonia and her work - each morning beside the Church things were so busy - large pots of soup would be cooking over wood fires - and the people would come with their various containors - to take some home with bread - I enjoyed watching her shoo the children along - they would come for the soup - but then start playing in the square and she would urge them home to get the soup to their families.

I remember a wonderful family I met at language school - a father and mother and three children - who had volunteered several years to assist in a parish in Bolivia - they were such beautiful people - I hope all is still going well for them.

But the ultimate message - is that everyone is called to be a missionary - for a missionary is simply someone who strives to live a good and dedicated Christian life - and touches the lives of others around them by the way they live. May you also discover how to be a missionary - and make this world a better place.

Let us pray - Watch over us all, Lord - and send us, your missionaries - that they may lead us to be missionaries in your spirit. May we join you in this effort to transform our world. This is my prayer. Amen.

Please join me as we say the Lord's Prayer together.