Melkite Greek Catholic Eparch Nicholas Samra Visits Our Lady of Perpetual Help

The Melkite Greek Catholic Eparch, Bishop Nicholas Samra, was in town this week to do some teaching for this year's class of Melkite Deacon Candidates.  While here on Sunday, June 2, 2013, he con-celebrated Divine Liturgy at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) in Worcester, MA.  The other clergy joining him were Pastor, Fr. Paul Frechette, Deacon Elias Bailey and Deacon Dennis McCarthy.  The class of Deacon Candidates joined the laity.

There is something grounding about having the Eparch at our church, especially this Eparch.  When I sat next to him after Liturgy downstairs in the church hall, I was greeted and talked with as if I was one of the family.  Bishop Samra is down to earth and humble.  Please pray for him at all times, but especially in the coming week when he travels to strife-ridden Lebanon for meetings.

Having the Deacon Candidates present to pray and chant with the rest of us was also a blessing.  Their deep and loud voices lifted us up.  May God bless their discernment process.

Veneration of the Cross w/Bishop Nicholas Samra &  Deacons in Background

2013 Class of Deacon Candidates Preparing for Divine Liturgy 

The celebration was multi-layered in that OLPH also began its year long celebration of the 90th anniversary as a church community and the 50th anniversary of the church building.  To see more photos, visit the OLPH Facebook Page.

images - Personal photos

Keep Calm and Stay Catholic

I wish I wrote the original article below, but I did not.  It is about Eve Tushnet, the author, consciously choosing to stay within the Catholic Church, even though she is gay.

I'm Gay, but I'm Not Switching to a Church That Supports Gay Marriage
With so many options for gay Christians, why stick with the Catholic church?

Eve's insight goes beyond the immediate topic of being gay.  She presents her reasoning in such a way that its effect is universal.  For example, I am a single heterosexual and I am faced with the same teachings on living the celibate life, as gay folks are faced with - and, like Eve Tushnet, the author of the article above, I am sticking around.  Not only am I sticking around, I am joyful to be living by the Church's Teachings. 

A lot of folks are sticking around even though they are faced with tough situations:
- Folks who cannot have children naturally and are tempted by In Vitro Fertilization. 
- Folks who are tired from being a parent and want to get vasectomies or use artificial contraception.
- Folks who are overwhelmed by an unexpected crisis pregnancy and are tempted to abort the baby.

All of these folks choose to remain Catholic and use their Faith to overcome their temptations, instead of abandoning the Faith to avoid them.  That is what love and charity are about.  That is what it means to live the spiritual life.  That is what Eve Tushnet is role modeling for the rest of us.

* Changed photo

images - http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/keep-calm-and-stay-catholic-7/
http://www.stjoeparish.org/youth/YEvents.html

Let's Do Both - Lower Blood Alcohol Limit AND Stop Abortions

It was reported today that the "National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) voted to recommend to states that they lower the blood-alcohol content that constitutes drunken driving."  They want to lower it from 0.08 to 0.05 because they claim it will save 1000 lives per year.

Whenever I hear a death toll, my mind jumps and I compare it to the death toll associated with babies being killed through abortions in the US.   So my immediate thought was to forget the blood alcohol effort.  Let's get rid of abortions instead, because that will save more than 1.2 million lives per year.  Then I realized I was thinking with a narrow mind.  There is no reason we cannot do both! 

Politicians, lawmakers, doctors, mothers and fathers --

 

 

image -

Jason Collins - Will We Christians Ever Get It Right?

Ok, so Jason Collins announced today that he is gay.  Everybody in the world is doing it these days, so it's somewhat anti-climactic to me, but I am sure it is a big deal for him.

The big deal for me is the misrepresentation I hear in the media on the Christian views on homosexuality.  I listened to some Christian (Protestant) folks give their take on the situation on NPR radio today.  I heard, "'Homosexuality is a sin,' so I am against it."  Oh boy. 

If by homosexuality one is referring to the person's being, then, no, homosexuality is not a sin.  It is what a person with Same Sex Attraction does with their homosexuality that determines whether they are sinning or not,  i.e., behavior determines sin, not personal trait.

Please see Separating The Sin From The Sinner - Part 2, which goes into more detail about this concept relative to homosexuals.











This is important.  It causes so much confusion and anger and hurt that can be avoided for and with homosexuals who might otherwise pursue the path of Jesus Christ.


image - http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/does-god-really-hate-gay-ppl/question-118395/?link=ibaf&imgurl=http://avoicenoecho.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/god_loves_gay_people.jpg&q=love%2Bhomosexual%2Bhate

Happy Easter! Happy Pascha! Let's Celebrate Resurrection 2013!

  

 

Christ Is Risen! Truly He Is Risen!

Christos Anesti! Aleithos Anesti!
Al-Masih-Qam! Hakkan Qam!



Some Wonderful Chanting

Greek Melkite Catholic chant / Christ is risen

Resurrection of Christ | With Arabic transliteration

 

image - http://orthocath.wordpress.com/2010/04/03/christ-is-risen-from-the-dead/

Transitioning with the Popes

Pope Francis and Pope emeritus Benedict XVI 

"Oh, Dear Jesus, as we await your Ressurection on this Great and Holy Saturday, please hold me in Your arms.  I pray that nothing I say is offensive to You."

The ongoing media blitz about Pope Francis' humility is essentially cheapening it, at least for me.  With those never ending flash bulbs going off in front of him, and those never ending articles and blog entries about him and every move he makes, I am blinded and can't seem to break through the hype to warm up to him.  Besides, I am still reeling from the fact that Pope Benedict just up and left us, even though it was all for good reasons.  It was a jolt and I have not recovered.
 


images - http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/popes-meet-lunch-1st-time-600-years-18796239

Today's the Day! Unite Yourself to Christ on the Cross

A Blessed Good Friday to everyone.

image - http://www.greek-icons.org/jesus_christ/2-crucifixion-christ.html