Msgr. Pope on Parishes in Changing Communities

"For my first assignment as a priest I was sent to a large parish located in a suburb just inside the Washington Beltway. At the time it was flourishing, with four well-attended masses each Sunday. The people there loved their parish and spoke with devotion of the former pastor who, though he had died a dozen years before, loomed large in the memories of both Church and neighborhood. He was from that generation of pastors who had an almost kingly status. He stood 6'4" and his physical stature was matched by his personality. He was so strong a leader and had such a booming voice that people swore you could hear him from outside the Church when he preached. Parishioners loved or feared him; city/county officials respected him and knew that little would be politically feasible without his support.

"When I arrived, the congregation consisted mostly of older families headed by World War II veterans, many of them retired. They had worked at blue-collar and white-collar jobs, government jobs and industrial jobs at the nearby Navy Yard. They were proud and remembered the sacrifices it had taken to build the parish 'after the War.' Indeed, the parish was one of those 'factories' we used to build. The grammar school, a three-story solid brick structure, had once been filled with 1500 children. The church seated over a thousand and in the halcyon days of late 1950s and early 1960s the rectory housed five priests; the convent was built for 25 religious sisters and was full. Right next door was the high school, staffed by another religious order. In all, the parish stretched two blocks along the main street of that town. Thousands moved through its facilities each day.

"But by the time I arrived in the late 1980s an era was ending. The demographics of the neighborhood had already begun to change in the early 1970s. . . ."

In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on why it is important for parishes to meet the challenges of changing demographics and on how they may do so.

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: The Parish Church in a Changeable Community: Some Basic Requirements for Survival (1 FEB 16)

Reflection Starter from Pope Francis

"God wants to live amidst his sons and daughters. Let us make space for him in our hearts." - Pope Francis

The Apollo Club: "It's De-Lovely"

As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of The Apollo Club and The George Maurer Group presenting "It's De-Lovely":

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for inspirations to and oppotunities to praise You and thank You.

Dennis Emmons on Ember Days and Rogation Days

"If you are a Catholic under age 50, you might not be familiar with two long-practiced penitential periods known as Ember days and Rogation days. For centuries, these days were among the most solemn times of the Church year. Periods of intense penitential practices, they took on the flavor of Lent, including obligatory fasting, almsgiving and abstinence. For 15 centuries, Ember days have been part of the Church, and Rogation days can be traced back to pagan Rome."

In a recent commentary, writer Dennis Emmons reflected on the meaning of the Church's observvance of Ember Days and Rogation Days.

To access Mr. Emmons' complete essay, please visit:


OSV Newsweekly: Giving thanks for the fruits of the earth (3 FEB 16)

Reflection Starter from Fulton Sheen

"The real test of the Christian is not how much he loves his friends, but how much in loves his enemies." - Venerable Fulton J. Sheen (in That Tremendous Love)

Dean Martin: "Walking In A Winter Wonderland"

As we in New England continue our snow storm experience, I offer this version of Dean Martin singing "Walking In A Winter Wonderland":

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the many ways in which young Catholic are embracing their faith.

On the Coolness of Being Catholic

"When I was 17 years old I wanted to convert to Buddhism. Raised by a Catholic family and forced to attend religious education classes until I was almost 13, I’d had enough of what I perceived to be an overly-conservative institution that relied on 'Catholic guilt' and strict adherence to doctrine.

"So, I sought out a way to be spiritual; a way to be a good person without being handed a rule book on how to do it. Buddhism seemed like it fulfilled this need. However, a year later I found myself a college freshman on the campus of one of the largest Jesuit universities. A year after that, I was confirmed in the Catholic Church, marking a complete 180 from my momentary fling with Buddhism.

"Despite my own spiritual journey back to Catholicism - a journey which is similar to that of many other young adults, many media reporters are claiming Millennials, such as myself, are rejecting religion in droves. If anything, Millennials are aligning themselves with a new and perhaps more effective way of practicing their faith."

In a recent commentary, Shanna Johnson, a student at Loyola University Chicago, reflected on why being Catholic "is cool again" and on how this is reflected in the actions of Millennials.

To access Ms. Johnson's complete post, please visit:

U.S. Catholic: Blogs: Being Catholic is cool again (January 2016)

Reflection Starter from St. Francis de Sales

"Just as little children learn to speak by listening to their mothers and lisping words after them, so also by keeping close to our Savior and meditating on and observing His words, actions and affections we learn by His grace to speak, act and will like Him." - Saint Francis de Sales

Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 82 in C major ("The Bear")

It's time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Joseph Haydn's "Symphony No. 82 in C major" (the Bear symphony) as played by the the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic (conducted by Jerzy Maksymiuk):

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for quality television programs of all genres.