Everly Brothers: "All I Have To Do Is Dream"

As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of the Everly Brothers presenting "All I Have To Do Is Dream":

 

On Finding and Honoring NH Unmarked Graves and Other New England-related Topics

A number of articles/posts have recently been published on a variety of New England-related subjects worth considering.

To access some of these, please visit:

Hartford (CT) Courant: A CT couple has a farm that draws visitors from across the state. 'Come and meet the cows,' they say (30 NOV 24)

Only In Your State: Vermont: 7 Photos Of Vermont You'll Get If You Hail From This State

Middletown (CT) Press: Middletown friends collect garbage during daily walks and then decorate trees with it (19 DEC 24)

Concord (NH) Monitor: 'People deserve to be remembered': Finding and honoring Concord's unmarked graves (7 DEC 24)

Brattleboro (VT) Reformer: "No one ever gets left behind': Celine Merrim, driver for the Moover (22 FEB 24)

Andover (MA) Townsman: Mountains of possibilities in stone: Andover sculptor finds connection in geology, art (21 NOV 24)

WPRI-TV: Cleaning sneakers more than just a hobby for RI businessman (8 NOV 24)

Only In Your State: Rhode Island: You May Be Surprised To Learn These 11 Famous People Are From Rhode Island

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings You bestow on those who minister to persons with disabilities.

Theology Lesson in Sister's Love

When writer Delaney Coyne set out to explore the Catholic Church's ministries to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, she approached the topic with firsthand knowledge. Her younger sister, Charlotte, has an intellectual disability. As they were growing up together, Delaney witnessed the challenges and victories that Charlotte experienced when it came to learning and practicing her faith. That made Delaney wonder how the Church was currently meeting the needs of this sometimes-overlooked community.

During a Christopher Closeup interview, Delaney told me that Charlotte, now age 21, "is in a transition program through the public school in the state of Illinois. . . . She loves going to church. She loves finding community with her peers. She's super social. At our parish, there's a special friends Mass that she loves attending. She's also involved in the community of Misericordia, which is a home for people with disabilities in Illinois. She's not a resident, but she . . . goes to their events and makes friends there, and it's really lovely."

There were some bumps along the road, however. For instance, Charlotte experiences severe anxiety about going to the front of the church in front of other people. So, on the day of her Confirmation, she ran out of the church because she did not want to receive the sacrament. Her family followed her, as did the bishop, who forcibly anointed her with oil in the hallway while she screamed, "No, I don't want!"

Delaney recalled the incident, noting, "I've come to a kind of compassion for the bishop. I still think what he did was wrong. It is not in line with the guidelines for the celebration of the sacraments with people with disabilities, but I don't think he totally knew what to do in that moment because this has not always been the top priority of our Church. We haven't always put people with disabilities at the center."

That incident also challenged Delaney's faith because she came to see the Church as being too rigid. Charlotte, however, provided the theology lesson Delaney needed to find her connection to God again: "Charlotte reminds me that there's something a lot deeper to faith than just knowledge. My background is in academic theology. . . . It's beautiful, but that's not what faith is, in and of itself. You have this in Joseph Ratzinger's Intro to Christianity. . . . '[Faith is] an encounter with the man, Jesus, and in this encounter, it experiences the meaning of the world as a person. If it's strengthened by intellectual pursuit, that's wonderful. Knowledge can be liberating. It has been in my own experience, but it's not the only way. This very cognitive model of faith has been limiting for our brothers and sisters with intellectual disabilities."

"My sister does not want to receive the Eucharist," Delaney continued. "She engages with the faith in a different way than I do. She's often a much better Christian than I am. She sees the good in everyone. She shows love to everyone, and she's open to love. It reminds me to break from my own rigidity and see the mystery of God's abundant love. So, my image of faith and image of the Church was bound up in my relationship with my sister. I came to know God through going to church with my family and sitting next to her, and I learned who God is and what love is. It reminded me that there's this real power of unity in diversity. There's no one way to be a Catholic Christian."

This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column by Tony Rossi, Director of Communications, The Christophers; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.

Background information:

The Christophers

Reflection Starter from St. Peter Canisius

"In the light of all this approval from Sacred Scripture, let me ask my listeners once more: 'Has anybody the right to criticize us even if we seem to be beside ourselves with joy today over the birthday of our King?' If the princes and rulers of this world are privileged to make merry over the sons of their flesh, what a mountain of reasons we have for exulting over the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Savior!" - Saint Peter Canisius, whose memory the Church celebrates today (21 December)

José Pablo Moncayo: "Huapango"

It’s time for some classical music. This is a presentation of José Pablo Moncayo's "Huapango" as played by the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA) , conducted by Carlos Miguel Prieto:

 

Birthday Blessings, Christopher!!!

Birthday greetings to nephew Christopher Gonzalez, whose birthday is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of Advent calendars.

Fr. Richard DeLillio, OSFS, the Spirit of Advent

"In a powerful and tender manner, Advent uncovers God's dream for His creation. God created people from love, because God wanted love to be their life's focus. Then He placed them in the world hoping love would stir their lives.

"In other words, as love motivated God's interactions with His people, God believed that love would do the same for their interactions with each other. . . ."

 In a recent commentary, Father Richard R. DeLillio, OSFS, reflected on God's love and the spirit of Advent.

To access Fr. DeLillio's complete reflection, please visit:

De Sales Weekly: God’s Dream and Our Part in It! (19 DEC 24)

Reflection Starter from Henri Nouwen

"The Lord is coming, always coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see, you will recognize him at any moment of your life. Life is Advent; life is recognizing the coming of the Lord." - Fr. Henri Nouwen

"Be With Us, Mary, Along The Way"

As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of "Be With Us, Mary, Along The Way":

Birthday Blessings, Liam!!!

Birthday greetings to Myrna's grandson Liam, whose birthday is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!