The Post: Fame Can Turn on You Quickly

 (from my archives, March 24, 2018; updated March 24, 2025)

Welcome, God and All...

One thing that’s consistent in a (rapidly) changing world is how fast human thought and expression can turn completely around among the masses. We need look no further than President Trump or FB’s founder Mark Zuckerberg to see examples. Now it’s easy to think that because of nearly instant access to the latest sound bytes in the Information Age, reaction time is equally near instant. The accounts of Jesus’ Passion and Death in the Gospels, with all the detail they contain – even though they were written roughly fifty years after the events – convey a similar sense of instant reaction among the masses. Of course, there were groups of people with privileged access, people “in the know”, who discussed, analyzed, made judgments, and planned action. The moment it became known to the general public, any reaction was generally swift. How else can we explain large crowds cheering Jesus as he entered Jerusalem for the last time, only to call for his crucifixion four days later?

A glance at the major characters, all seeking their disproportionate level of fame at the center of perhaps the most chaotic times in all of human history, reveals weaknesses we still have to this day.

Judas Iscariot – the weakest link in the chain of Jesus’ inner circle. Certainly, he had become confounded, but more so than the others. On one hand he complains that it’s a waste of money to have expensive ointment poured on Jesus’ body; but he’s really beginning to think Jesus has lost focus, so he is an easy target for confrontation and manipulation by…

Caiaphas and Annas – As high priests they held sway over everyone who claimed to be devout Jews. What Jesus did and taught and preached did not fit in their presumed profile of God’s promised Messiah. Because of that, they saw him as a threat to themselves, using the Roman occupation of the time as a plausible argument and excuse. When they finally confront Jesus, of course it’s his elimination they want. But they’re supposedly bound by their own law, especially as it’s the high feast of Passover; so, they force themselves into a flimsy alliance with the Romans and…

Pontius Pilate – who would rather be anywhere other than Judea, because the empire’s attempts at keeping the peace has generally gone down the path of futility. He sees through Caiaphas’ passing the buck and tries to expose it. When that fails, he offers a choice, hoping that the cheering crowds of only days ago might exonerate the charges against Jesus; but even this gets confounded to where I’ve observed the possibility of the question raised by Pilate to the crowds sounded like: Which son of the father shall I release to you? In the end, fearing that news of further Judean unrest would travel fast to Rome (as ultimately it did), Pilate sentences Jesus to death by crucifixion.

The eleven remaining Apostles, as well as any other disciples within sight who might have come to Jesus’ defense – largely fled. John would somehow manage to witness his master’s death. Peter – who was the Type A in the group for better or worse – denied knowing Jesus. Judas, realizing he was made a puppet by Caiaphas, took his own life. Saint Mark’s account has a young man resisting arrest or restraint, and escapes, naked, into the night. Tradition holds that this streaker is Mark himself.  

Jesus – after three years of speaking, he becomes silent. Now we might make reason for this because a) in his humanity, after all the torture suffered before his execution, there was virtually no opportunity to think, and certainly no real time to answer in his own defense; and b) in his divinity, Jesus knew what was coming, had known it for all eternity, and was obedient to the will of his Father to the last.

As noted above, I made this reflection in 2018; two full years before I had even heard of the now successful streaming video series The Chosen (and a full year prior to the series' debut). Now about to release its fifth season on the events of Holy Week from Palm Sunday through the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, I have been watching and re-watching the series from its beginning. While the writers have used non-biblical subplots to tie the Gospel accounts together (and rearranged a few lines here and there without severely affecting their impact), it is still the story more people are talking about instead of trying to ignore. Because of the 'extra' material, you won't find the Church's seal of approval, the imprimatur, among its credits. Nor is it likely to win a coveted Emmy award despite some of the best performances I have seen on-screen.

Comparing my thoughts to my experience watching The Chosen, I find it interesting that my quick character study isn't far from the vision that Dallas Jenkins, his creative team, and the talented actors and actresses have brought to the screen. While I have been passive on some of the fan hype, as the long-awaited new release is imminent, I am truly anticipating what is about to come, the stuff of the most tragic event in the history of the world. And it would be, too; were it not for what followed. There are many events in history, both general and personal, that we would want to forget; and others that manage to be forgotten. There are events that have claimed thousands upon thousands of lives. This event, and its aftermath, would reclaim all life – for God.

How quickly can our fame and fortunes change!

Until we meet again, may God be with you...

+the Phoenix

Community Building

 March 3, 2025

Welcome, God and All...

I was recently asked by a colleague and friend, What is the reasoning in your mind that makes it worthy of driving forty miles to worship God every week? (Or words to that effect.)

It's a question worth considering.

Nearly a century ago, when fewer people were on the road, so to speak, churches were seen as the centers of community. In neighborhoods and hamlets across America, even in her biggest cities, at your church everybody knew your name, and vice-versa. You were part of the action because that's where the action was. Local congregations saw themselves as one big (and usually) happy family. Sure, there were always passionate differences of opinion, but that's been around since Cain 'lost' Abel (and that's an extreme example).

That all changed about 75 years ago. We became mobile. We went where we pleased, and it wasn't necessarily the church or synagogue of our choice - and for many, it wasn't even a choice. The 'day of rest' ordained by God for His glory was becoming a day of leisure. Fast forward to today, and that sense of leisure has taken the driver's seat. In the wake of the COVID pandemic it seems to be a neat thing to worship the God who meets you where you are in the lap of leisure - via cyberspace, at home, in your bathrobe. And that's IF you even choose to recognize God's presence in our lives. 

We can place blame on any number of things for the decline of church attendance and participation. A tight economy that makes it difficult to give the traditional 10% charitably. So many agencies and causes that need and seek out your discretionary income. A lack of meaningful catechesis or treading the unsettled waters of heretical thought. But that didn't hold back the church communities of the 1930s and earlier. They too suffered economic hardships, the specter of warfare, loss of life from natural disasters and catastrophic illnesses, and yet they thrived! They believed God was with them, and through their prayers, they were able to meet their challenges and grow through them.

Elsewhere in these pages I have written about my own sojourn in the desert, seeking to make an impact. As an impressionable teen and young adult, I saw the majority of folks symbolically pat me on the head, saying "that's nice" when I wanted to find my way to making friends, a major building block in community building. Then there were the one or two opportunists who wanted to grab more attention for themselves and exploited my talents for their own hoarded benefit. It would be easy to become disillusioned over that. I can't say I wasn't - doubts and the like are everywhere in life. I did discover one important thing in all of that, though. For me, to be honest about my shortcomings and concerns and to express them did more to find community than trying to assimilate by attempting to be something I am not.

The community I am among right now knows me. They welcomed me as a stranger in their midst and made me feel as one of their own over the course of time. At a time I really needed community - the sudden loss of so much eleven years ago - they were there and rallied around me. I thank God for them. I do what I do well, and some things I do not quite so well, to praise God and serve him through this community.

Sadly, this community is being broken up. It's happening because statistics and measurements indicate the community is no longer viable or sustainable, and there is nobody to spare to guide and spark sustainability, no resource available to breathe life into it. We're supposed to be consoled through the words of Christ through St. John: "Do not let your hearts be troubled...in My Father's house there are many dwelling places" (John 14:1-2a), a passage read at funerals. Hey, we are not yet dead! (Monty Python, Spamalot)

The Church exists so that people can thrive and grow spiritually by building community. When you revert to statistics alone to prove stability or lack thereof, I believe you take God and Christ out of the picture. Nothing can thrive without that divine presence, that journey together to make life better for the many and not the few. Does the Church have ALL the answers? In my innocent youth I thought so. I know now that it doesn't. I mean, Jesus reminds us that all who remain faithful to his word, mission and ministry will find and build community and peace. But you can't measure it in the long or short term. Pope Francis has cautioned that relying on too many things of this earth - those things measured by trends and statistics - can lead us to stagnation and instability. That mindset turns community into another disposable asset of what I call the "Church Incorporated", and a disastrous outcome is at the end of that road.

The Church's Number One priority is to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Her assets are not in how many attend or how much revenue is generated year-over-year, but in the faithfulness of her members who get the work done. They build the community by attending to the sick, feeding the hungry (physically and spiritually), consoling the sorrowful, and welcoming the stranger in their midst. They serve each other by acknowledging God's glory in prayer, art, and music; by setting a holy example for their children and neighbors. During the Roman persecution of the 3rd Century, when Pope St. Sixtus II was martyred, his Deacon, St. Laurence, was summoned by the Roman magistrate and ordered to surrender the "treasure of the Church", he liquidated the material assets, gave the proceeds to the poor, and presented those poor as the Church's treasure, which indeed they were. He understood that the Church was the house of God for the People of God and knew what the business model was - just as Christ had outlined it in the Gospels.

Jesus promised St. Peter (who was far from sainthood at the time) that his Church would stand firm. Peter would have an integral role in building the early Christian community, as would St. Paul and all who would follow them...including those struggling to maintain community in the world today, including me. I pray God continue to sustain us in our fight to maintain our identity as a community, faithful in Christ; wherever this takes us, be it where we are, or five blocks or 500 miles away, or half a world away.

That's my answer, and I'm sticking to it. You might find some further support in the 1990 Christian anthem, For the Sake of the Call by Steven Curtis Chapman. I know I did, every time I questioned my reasoning over living out my vocation. (Look it up on YouTube.)

Until we meet again, may God be with you, and may God have mercy on us all...

+the Phoenix

The Post: It's All Downhill From Here

Welcome, God and All...

Following last year's "Summer of Surprises", there was a flurry of activity surrounding the Targeted Restructuring of nineteen Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Joliet.

As part of the process required by Church canon law, 'listening' sessions were held to obtain input from potentially affected parishioners. One might expect that these meetings were not cordial, and I was not surprised. Many attend meetings like these and come away from them thinking that no matter what input was given at them, it was noted but never intended to be acted upon.

Then the committee assigned by the diocese presented its potential scenarios. Of four presented, only one would keep the parish I have served for nearly 25 years open. Petitions were developed, and everybody and anybody was asked to sign them, especially in lieu of our unique apostolate to the workers in the many office buildings within the parish boundaries. That was in November and early December. Then the Christmas holidays were upon us, and the waiting began. In early January an announcement came that there would be a delay in the decision by the diocesan bishop. Was it a ray of hope?

Last week, just before Saint Valentine's Day, that decision was announced. Not only that, but the explanation that the bishop accepted the committee's recommendations without exception. He had also presented this decision to two diocesan oversight boards, which unanimously agreed with his decision. This, after having spent "much time in discernment and prayer" (which in reality was less than two weeks' time).

Last summer, when the announcement came that my parish was considered for restructuring, many of us - myself included - prepared for the worst. The scenarios presented last fall confirmed that the worst was likely a done deal. 

And so it was. There was one concession. While we are merging with a nearby congregation, and their campus is the designated church, our campus will not be closed permanently but remain open as a "worship site" - only nobody really quite knows what that means. It will still be three months before a new pastor is assigned to this "new" entity, and he will have the final say on how much our campus will be utilized. Staffing will be important. Where there were two sets of staff operating two facilities, now there will be only one. Will there be a second priest assigned to the parish to assist the new pastor? Or a deacon, who could at least preside over a Communion service during the week. Nobody knows right now. What I see as optimal is that the daily Mass at 12 noon would be maintained (or replaced by said Communion service) for the benefit of those faithful office workers. Maybe one Mass on the weekend for the local faithful; but that depends on whether or not there is an available priest... and all that hinges on the yet-to-be-named pastor. Meanwhile a transition committee consisting of parishioners from both campuses will form and meet to discuss these and other matters to present to the new pastor once he is named.

I don't fit in any of this, as I wrote last summer. I have looked at other parishes with multiple sites - there's one such parish in my own hometown - and there's only one music ministry that covers services at both. All staff positions in this merge must apply - or reapply - if they intend to have a job in the new entity. And that's for regular staff, which would include the director of the music ministry. Outside of the people I have worked with over the last few years, I am an unknown. I would not be applying for the director's position, as I am underqualified. Cantors are, in many parishes, a volunteer ministry. I was very fortunate to have served in a place that paid well for my work. That is all up in the air now. The only way I might have in is if the director I currently work with is hired and calls upon me - and if the new pastor was willing to continue to compensate me. Then there's the fact that I commute forty miles round trip to do this, which I'm sure would have an unknown pastor who doesn't know me scratching his head.

As I wrote last summer, I have been planting some small seeds in my older stomping grounds, places where people know me. And to that end I am busy with a lot of volunteer leadership. Yes, I am happy for it, and I may be able to adjust things to live with less income - but I am still concerned. There are challenges even here - a group I lead offered a weeknight session that another gentleman had volunteered to cover, only to bow out after the holiday break. I had already committed to the schedule dates and times for the spring sessions, so I responsibly am covering them both.

If this were not enough, life is getting more and more complicated. A gentleman at the parish who I was fairly certain would be called to work on this transition committee died just days ago. A local Methodist church I visited periodically some years ago because I had musical friends there; a campus built less than twenty years ago, is closing its doors at the end of February. Some of their woes are similar to ours - declining attendance and tithing revenues. Their issues run deeper - a schism has developed in the Methodist church because of progressivism. American Methodists wanted to allow same-sex marriage and "gay" clergy but were seriously and surprisingly outvoted by African congregations.

Healthwise, my son and I are stable and trying to deal with the things we've known about for the last several years. But these twists and turns create stress and anxiety i can neither ignore nor sustain. Add to this the uncertainty of just about everything the news cycle spews out each and every day. Are we really as bad as we look on television? Is that how God sees us from a distance?

I can assure you that I turn these matters over to God in prayer daily. I know it is not perfect. I often multitask while I am at prayer. Some say that's okay; others say that it's wrong in a big way. The latter group often quote biblical verses which state that if you don't focus on God alone your ticket to heaven won't get punched. But the interruptions - those real and those contrived - have been impossible to overcome.

And to all this, my sister - who really has been a Godsend to both my son and me (and who herself is dealing with health issues and so forth) - she tells me that I worry too much, and that God will provide. I see in my behavior patterns that my worrying and other attributes takes after my dear mother, God rest her soul. That God will provide is something I know but need reminders.

I am praying that the ride downhill does not become like a runaway freight train. I will survive the crash only if God steadies the momentum.

Until we meet again, may God be with you...and may He have mercy on us all...

+the Phoenix

The Post: The Slaughter of the Innocent

Or: If Only We Could Leave Off The 'S' in the Title Above

December 28. 2024

(updated, originally posted on December 28, 2019)

Welcome, God and All...

There's a song for Christmas that was recorded a number of years ago by 1970s pop icon Barry Manilow called "Because It's Christmas." Like most of Manilow's sentimental ballads, the song strikes a figurative chord that somehow still prevails in the Season of Light - it's a time of wonder and awe, especially for children. Our hearts are touched with a spark of that Divine Love the Christ Child brought to Earth, shrouded in the act of gift-giving and stuffed stockings. We see the smiles and hear the laughter, as the song goes, and there is that sense in those few fleeting moments that we are the people God meant us to be.

But all is neither calm nor bright. The news cycle makes us readily aware of that. If only we could see the smiles and hear the laughter. Instead, we are given harsh reminders that all in the world is not yet right.

Today (Saturday) the Church observes the Feast of the Holy Innocents. Holy Mother Church (Catholics often refer to their sacred institution as such) records Deacon St. Stephen, whose feast was observed two days ago, as the first Christian martyr. You can read his story in the book of Acts, chapters six and seven. His story is important, because the mantle of discipleship would pass from Stephen to his adversary Saul, who would soon become Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. But there are others who suffered martyrdom for Jesus while he was living on Earth: John the Baptist (see Mark 6:17-29); and what the Church recalls today, the aftermath of the visit by the three Wise Guys from the East to the stable in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:13-18).

It was an act of cowardice, jealousy, and politics - yes, politics - that Herod the kings in their raging ordered the slaughter of innocent children and later, John. (I use the plural regarding Herod because there is a bit of uncertainty with the timing of the events and that several ‘kings’ of Israel/Judea went by that name. The apples didn’t fall far from the tree, in any case.) And it’s not the first time the Bible records such an act of horror; the Pharaoh of Egypt issues a similar order in Exodus 1:15-22, the scene on which we’re introduced to Moses, who will also escape death from the powers that were (Exodus 2:11-15).

I won’t hide the fact that there are those among us today who have little but contempt for life other than their own. This contempt has sown seeds of confusion through modern-day humanity, scandalizing the institution of marriage and the concept of what love is and does, and what love requires. And yet we dare to put another spin on taking an innocent life, calling it “reproductive rights.” It’s hard to wrap this with any sort of compassion; that, too, is part of the confusion. Maybe that’s why even some of the best ministers and preachers tend to avoid the subject. It is a hot button issue that has, as we see here, not been limited to American history since 1973. It just seems more insidious now than it was in the time of Jesus and Moses, because of the way it’s presented and because the disdain for the dignity of life, especially defenseless life in the womb, has reached the lowest common denominator as well as the high and mighty.

I can’t say any more without using terms I would rather not use because they are so divisive. As I write, I can’t help but wonder if this isn’t at the root of how American politics and society have become so polarized, so at odds with each other. It would demand that we give up our joy, the joy I’ve kept in mind in rereading reflections written years ago. It is enough that I must approach the subject soberly and somberly. Do you think Jesus or the angels weep over this indignant injustice? I know I do. However, I’m reminded of the four pillars of Advent preparation - Peace, Hope, Joy and Love; represented by the four candles of the Advent wreath. The brilliance of the Christmas Star, the arrival of the Daystar, surrounds us with that great light of which Isaiah spoke (Isaiah 9:1). We see, then, that we the faithful are to be bearers of that light and carry it into every dark corner. That the martyrdom of Stephen and the Innocents are placed where they are in the calendar is a reminder to everyone of the lessons every generation must learn and not ignore; while at the same time we can see the smiles and hear the laughter; a foretaste and promise of eternal life secured on a foundation of five pillars with Jesus being the cornerstone.

If we don't want to lose that even fleeting moment of peace and joy, that momentary sense that all can be right in the world if we but allow God an honored place in our lives, we must become as innocent as the little children we love so very much. And we must resist and fight, with every fiber of our being, the denial of the Truth that God is THE Author of all Life; and as that gift of life has been invested in us, we must work actively as Life's stewards...

This time belongs to all the children

For now their joy rings through the air

So let us ask God's tender blessings

On all the children everywhere

To see the smiles and hear the laughter

A time to give, a time to share

Because it's Christmas

For now and Forever

For all of the children

And for the Child within us all

And until we meet again, remember that God is with us...always.

+the Phoenix

The Post: The Day the (Church) Music Died

Welcome, God and All...

 And the three men I admire most

- The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost -

They caught the last train for the coast

The day...the music...died.

{Don McLean, "American Pie", 1972)

Somewhere back around three months ago, I was writing a trilogy over my summer of surprises. Since then, the local water project has been completed and our street returned to whatever normal is supposed to be these days. It's now November, the national election is at its climax, and the US of A is caught between mourning the passing of All Hallows (Hallowe'en) and the anticipation of HanYulFestiMaZaa (an amalgamation of Hanukkah, Yule [the winter solstice], Festivus, Christmas, and Kwanzaa). I suspect that the nation is not in the holiday mood this year because the presidential election hasn't been decided. I know this is perhaps premature - but I don't think so, because as close as this race is, as divided a nation as we appear, it will likely be weeks - and several accusations and court decisions, and potential violence in the streets - before we know who will sit in the Oval Office for the next four years. That's why the countdown to December 25 seems to have started even earlier this year than last. Radio stations began playing music for the holiday season in earnest on November 1, perhaps to take some edge off of the election jitters. And for a couple of hours, I thought it was working. Oh, I'll get into it soon enough, because of what started this whole thing a couple of thousand years ago. This year, though, has the potential of being about as bittersweet as my first Christmas season without my beloved Diane ten years ago.

In the third part of the trilogy, I wrote of a twist in the story of my relationship with God, Christ, and His Holy Church. I learned that one of the now several parishes in which I serve, and possibly for the longest time (roughly 25 years), was on a list of 19 parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Joliet being considered for what they call "targeted restructuring." 

What's this like, you may ask?

In a business sense, this takes on different scenarios. A business entity may have two factories manufacturing similar products. Demand for said products has dropped to the point where operating both factories is cost prohibitive, so the decision is made to close one factory and merge its operations into the other. Another decision could be to drastically reduce production (and thus, employment at one factory but keep it open on a limited basis with reduced staff until business conditions favor a re-opening, sometimes with the addition of a reconfiguration of the facility to handle a new or different product line.

Essentially, this is happening in the Joliet Diocese. There is a lack of demand for as many Catholic parishes as currently exist. Shifting population, the general trend of a lack of interest in ascribing to a religious affiliation (which wasn't helped by churches being deemed "non-essential" during the COVID-19 pandemic); the shutdown during the pandemic itself, the state of the economy and the world stage; even the scandals affecting the priesthood and the dwindling number of priests able to serve as pastors have all had a hand in reducing, as it were, supply and demand in and of the Church, particularly in the United States. Scandal among the priesthood in Joliet attracted LOTS of attention - and lots of lawsuits - and lots of cash settlements that are still being paid out.

The current bishop of the diocese has sought to reduce costs and their footprint. The first of these steps or phases was to reduce diocesan staff by ten percent; and to remove a number of positions from full-time to part-time status. The latter was done to reduce the requirement to provide medical insurance benefits as current US law does not require employers to offer these benefits to part-time staff. Some positions were combined into others to reduce staff.

The second phase was a restructuring of the parishes within the immediate Joliet region (or deanery). After restructuring the number of parishes was reduced from sixteen to eight, with five parishes actually closing, or under the official term, being "extinguished." The original plan was actually going to reduce the number to seven, but a parish built long before the diocese was established in 1948 claimed to have conditions the diocese did not take into account. That parish went over the bishop's head and petitioned the Vatican to have the decision overturned - and their petition was successful. The diocese has chosen not to appeal this overturn. That process began in 2023 and the restructuring took effect in July 2024.

Upon completion of the second phase, the third and current phase was launched. This time, nineteen parishes were tagged in the more populated area of the diocese in the western suburbs of Chicago. I serve in one of those nineteen parishes and have done so for twenty-five years.

One of the earliest reactions to being put on this hit list was one of disbelief. It can't be us. It won't be us. We have a newer campus on a through street with easy access, our facilities are compliant for the disabled, and our location attracts Mass-goers and worshipers from the busy shopping district and office complexes nearby. So much so, that we offer daily Mass at midday rather that early morning to serve this niche.

However, offsetting this is the fact that none of these office and store workers actually live in or are registered in that parish. When the location was considered over fifty years ago, it was likely thought that there would be more family residential homes within its boundaries. Unfortunately, development turned into more offices and stores, and what residential homes have been added over the years are retirement communities instead of single-family homes.

The diocesan committee overseeing the restructuring process started to gather its data. What it looked at was financial resources on hand, offset by any potential outstanding debt; age and condition of the facilities; as well as the record of baptisms and marriages performed annually, and the historical average Mass attendance on weekends. I don't dispute that this information is necessary; it just isn't enough.

In our case, each of the three priests assigned prior to the current pastor reached retirement age during their terms as pastor, and our current pastor is only two years away from retirement himself. In Elgin I had worked with a priest who had been reassigned close to his retirement age and was unhappy about it as the parish he was coming from was newer and he had hoped to retire from there. And it's reasonable to suggest that as priests get closer to their retirement age, that they're looking forward to getting out of administration and to simply work in the background as their health and situation permits. It's also reasonable that they might take a minimal position as possible on growing the community, especially in a community which might be aging as fast as the retiring priest. This is certainly a contributing factor, and it is an important one. Keeping a church open if there's no full-time and capable priest to pastor it contributes to burnout of the priests who are called upon to pastor multiple parishes, not even necessarily in close proximity to each other.

Another thing the committee does not seem to have considered is what relationship exists within the present structure of the community. Granted it might appear that we don't do much, but the work we do IS essential. I hope that was made clear during the pandemic. As this particular congregation is more senior, attention can be focused there. But we also consider ongoing faith formation, and that's important because we all need refresher courses in that, and it's not something one can get in fifteen minutes on a Sunday morning. There's no lack of interest, but the numbers are noticeably small. Is it now time for Catholicism in the USA to abandon its neighborhoods and move further into the big box, warehouse look and feel the evangelicals use?

The committee was aware that any suggestion to close a particular church would be met with some opposition, but their reaction to this was not one of sympathy or looking to review and reflect on what information they have or pick up on a solution they had not previously considered. No, their response was a vague acknowledgement that we will be inconvenienced by having to travel another fifteen minutes in suburban traffic to a church building that may not have the ease of access to the disabled. Not to mention that some will feel so 'inconvenienced' that they will choose to effectively leave the Church.

Then there's the fate of those working in the affected parishes. If you're closing a building and moving its assets to another, you don't need two full sets of staff to operate it, so it is very difficult for the displaced staff who must suddenly look for new work - elsewhere. And the thorn in this is that while the restructuring decision will be announced in January, the priests who will serve as pastors in the newly restructured and open parishes may not be announced before May - leaving everyone affected in both places wondering how or if they fit in this 'new' place. That's where I find myself right now. As a musician, one of many and probably sufficient quantity in the surviving facility, there may not be a place for me - especially since at present I make a nearly forty-mile round trip in that suburban traffic every time I serve there, which to now I have been generally happy to do. I love my colleagues and have affection for the community I serve. They have been good to me over all these years, and I will miss them.

What pains me most is that THIS IS THE HOUSE OF GOD AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD I'M TALKING ABOUT! And while we must be prudent and good stewards of our resources, both financial and human, all the conversation has tap-danced around this important difference between a commercial entity and the Church!

People are undeniably upset about this. Some have lost sleep, a few others have wept over the prospect of knowing their house of worship is likely to close (of the scenarios presented by the committee, our chance of surviving closure is only 25%). And many trying to read between the lines and the body language and tone of the committee's spokesperson, sense that the final decision has already been made and is not being announced until after Christmas so as not to lose the large collection usually taken in at the celebration of Jesus' birth, or to mar our would-be festive mood. Sadly, it looks as if in trying to ward off collateral damage, the damage is already done.

Finally, in seeking to figure out where I will land going forward, I must reexamine my place as an 'inactive' deacon. Is there anything at all to be gained by attempting to learn what I would have to do in order to restore my full faculties? Or does it remain a cross I am burdened to bear? And what might God have to say to weigh in on what decision I make?

As I get closer to ending my 70th turn on the merry-go-round that is life, I wonder if I am getting too old for all this drama. Then I remember that for about half of the last ten years my son and I lived in virtual isolation, and while it was no Hell, it may have felt a bit like Purgatory. So, I have to apologize to the reader and ask forgiveness for the presumptuous title of this essay. The music itself will not die. It will continue to live, and I will have opportunities to share in that ministry. I took on leadership in another program, not affected by the potential closure; that in itself keeps me busy. And if God is challenging me to make some sort of comeback, I need to give that serious thought and discussion. That said, I fully intend to hang on to the end of one chapter before jumping to the next. I know that there will be others, knowing that the ship is sinking, will bail out at the first opportunity; I can't see doing that unless that's what God demands. I must experience this sense of loss to be able to fully appreciate whatever will come after it.

Until we meet again, may God be with you...and may God have mercy on us all...

+the Phoenix

The Post: Requiem Eternam MMXXIV

 Welcome, God and All...

Once more I (perhaps as a sort of penance these days) compile for myself and for those who may read it, a list of the famous, near famous, and even infamous who entered eternal life in the last twelve months.

Why do I do it? We as Christians are encouraged to pray for the dead - for Catholics it is a duty. It is a reminder that sooner or later it will be our turn to cross the bridge to the afterlife. I do it now, rather than at the end of the calendar year, because Holy Mother Church has chosen now, as daylight continues to fade and autumn prepares for winter. This is the real meaning of this sacred yet subdued triduum, contrasted with the Paschal Triduum in the spring, celebrating new life in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

My list is somewhat random. It includes many names known to most people, especially my contemporaries; and I encourage you to remember those loved ones and friends of yours who are unknown to me and therefore unlisted. 

2023

October

26 - Richard Moll, 80, American actor (Night Court, House, Batman: The Animated Series).

31 - Ken Mattingly, 87, American astronaut (Apollo 16, STS-4, STS-51-C).

November

7 - Frank Borman, 95, American astronaut (Gemini 7, Apollo 8) and airline executive (Eastern Air Lines), stroke.

14 - Arthur Simon, 93, American Lutheran minister, founder of Bread for the World.

17 - Suzanne Shepherd, 89, American actress (The Sopranos, Goodfellas, Requiem for a Dream), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney failure.

19 - Rosalynn Carter, 96, American mental health activist, first lady of the United States (1977–1981), and of Georgia (1971–1975), complications from dementia.

December

1 - Sandra Day O'Connor, 93, American jurist, associate justice of the Supreme Court (1981–2006), member of the Arizona Senate (1969–1975) and chancellor of W&M (2005–2012), complications from dementia and respiratory illness.

5 - Norman Lear, 101, American Hall of Fame television writer and producer (All in the Family, Maude, The Jeffersons), cardiac arrest.

8 - Ryan O'Neal, 82, American actor (Love Story, Barry Lyndon, Paper Moon) and boxer, congestive heart failure.

26 - Tom Smothers, 86, American comedian, musician (Smothers Brothers) and actor (Get to Know Your Rabbit, Serial), lung cancer.

29 - Maurice Hines, 80, American dancer, singer and actor (The Cotton Club).

31 - Shecky Greene, 97, American comedian and actor (History of the World, Part I, Splash, Tony Rome).

2024

January

13 - Joseph Zadroga, 76, American 9/11 survivor advocate, traffic collision.

16 - Peter Schickele, 88, American composer and musical satirist (P. D. Q. Bach).

23 - Ice Train, 56, American professional wrestler (CWA, WCW).

23 - Charles Osgood, 91, American news anchor (CBS News Sunday Morning), complications from dementia.

24 - Harry Connick Sr., 97, American attorney, district attorney of New Orleans (1973–2003).

February

2 - Carl Weathers, 76, American actor (Rocky, Predator, The Mandalorian) and football player, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

5 - Toby Keith, 62, American country singer ("Should've Been a Cowboy", "How Do You Like Me Now?!", "Red Solo Cup") and songwriter, stomach cancer.

10 - Bob Moore, 94, American food executive, founder of Bob's Red Mill.

10 - William Post, 96, American inventor (Pop-Tarts).

11 - Randy Sparks, 90, American musician (The New Christy Minstrels, The Back Porch Majority) and songwriter ("Green, Green").

13 - Twomad, 23, Canadian YouTuber and Twitch streamer, accidental morphine overdose.

22 - Edith Ceccarelli, 116, American supercentenarian.

23 - Flaco, 13, American owl, window collision.

27 - Richard Lewis, 76, American comedian and actor (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Anything but Love, Robin Hood: Men in Tights), heart attack.

28 - Virgil, 72, American professional wrestler (WWF, WCW) and actor (Bridge and Tunnel), complications from strokes and dementia.

March

2 - Jim Beard, 63, American keyboardist (Steely Dan).

3 - Presto, 31, German rapper, cancer.

7 - Steve Lawrence, 88, American singer ("Go Away Little Girl", "Footsteps") and actor (The Blues Brothers), complications from Alzheimer's disease.

11 - Eric Carmen, 74, American musician (Raspberries), singer ("Hungry Eyes"), and songwriter ("All by Myself").

27 - Joe Lieberman, 82, American politician, member of the U.S. Senate (1989–2013), Connecticut attorney general (1983–1989) and member of the Connecticut State Senate (1971–1981), complications from a fall.

29 - Louis Gossett Jr., 87, American actor (An Officer and a Gentleman, Roots, Iron Eagle), Oscar winner (1982), complications from COPD.

April

1 - C. W. McCall, 93, American country singer ("Convoy", "'Round the World with the Rubber Duck", "Roses for Mama") and politician, mayor of Ouray, Colorado (1986–1992), lung cancer.

2 - Estelle Harris, 93, American actress (Seinfeld, Toy Story, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody).

5 - Bobby Rydell, 79, American singer ("Wild One", "Wildwood Days") and actor (Bye Bye Birdie), pneumonia.

17 - DJ Kay Slay, 55, American disc jockey and record executive, COVID-19.

20 - Robert Morse, 90, American actor (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Tru, Mad Men), Tony winner (1962, 1990).

23 - Orrin Hatch, 88, American politician, senator (1977–2019) and president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate (2015–2019), complications from a stroke.

May

4 - Bob Avellini, 70, American football player (Chicago Bears), cancer.

16 - Dabney Coleman, 92, American actor (9 to 5, Tootsie, The Guardian), Emmy winner (1987), cardiac arrest.

27 - Bill Walton, 71, American Hall of Fame basketball player (UCLA Bruins, Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics), and sportscaster, colorectal cancer.

June

4 - C.Gambino, 26, Swedish rapper, shot.

18 - Willie Mays, 93, American Hall of Fame baseball player (New York / San Francisco Giants, New York Mets), World Series champion (1954), heart failure.

20 - Donald Sutherland, 88, Canadian actor (M*A*S*H, Ordinary People, The Hunger Games), Emmy winner (1995).

23 - Julio Foolio, 26, American rapper, shot.

23 - Tamayo Perry, 49, American surfer and actor (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Blue Crush), shark attack.

27 - Martin Mull, 80, American actor (Clue, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Roseanne) and musician.

July

6 - Joe Egan, 77, Scottish singer (Stealers Wheel) and songwriter ("Stuck in the Middle with You", "Star"), heart attack.

10 - Dave Loggins, 76, American singer and songwriter ("Please Come to Boston", "Pieces of April", "If I Had My Wish Tonight").

12 - Bob Booker, 92, American writer and record producer (The First Family), heart failure.[

13 - Richard Simmons, 76, American fitness instructor and television personality (General Hospital, Match Game, Hollywood Squares), complications from a fall.

18 - Lou Dobbs, 78, American political commentator (Lou Dobbs Tonight), television producer (CNNfn) and writer.

18 - Jerry Fuller, 85, American songwriter ("Young Girl", "Travelin' Man", "Show and Tell"), lung cancer.

18 - Bob Newhart, 94, American comedian and actor (The Bob Newhart Show, Newhart, Elf), Emmy (2013) and Grammy (1961) winner.

27 - Vladimir Petrov, 66, American professional wrestler (Jim Crockett Promotions, UWF, WWF).

August

1 - Leonard Engelman, 83, American makeup artist (Ghostbusters, Batman Forever, How the Grinch Stole Christmas).

1 - Daniel Selznick, 88, American film and television producer (Blood Feud, The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind, Hoover vs. The Kennedys).

9 - Carl Weathersby, 71, American blues guitarist (Albert King, Billy Branch).

13 - Wally Amos, 88, American businessman (Famous Amos) and television personality (Learn to Read), complications from dementia.

13 - Greg Kihn, 75, American musician (The Greg Kihn Band), songwriter ("Jeopardy"), and radio host (KFOX), complications from Alzheimer's disease.

15 - BeatKing, 39, American rapper ("Then Leave"), pulmonary embolism.

15 - Bob Weatherwax, 83, American dog trainer.

18 - Phil Donahue, 88, American talk show host (The Phil Donahue Show) and filmmaker (Body of War).

21 - John Amos, 84, American actor (Good Times, Roots, The West Wing), heart failure.

September

2 - James Darren, 88, American singer ("Goodbye Cruel World") and actor (Gidget, T. J. Hooker), heart failure.

5 - Sérgio Mendes, 83, Brazilian bossa nova musician ("The Look of Love", "The Fool on the Hill", "Never Gonna Let You Go"), Grammy winner (1993), complications from long COVID.

9 - James Earl Jones, 93, American actor (Star Wars, Fences, The Lion King), Tony winner (1969, 1987).

17 - JD Souther, 78, American Hall of Fame singer-songwriter ("You're Only Lonely", "Her Town Too", "New Kid in Town").

20 - David Graham, 99, British actor (Thunderbirds, Doctor Who, Peppa Pig).

27 - Dame Maggie Smith, 89, British actress (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Harry Potter, Downton Abbey), Oscar winner (1969, 1978).

28 - Kris Kristofferson, 88, American Hall of Fame singer-songwriter ("Me and Bobby McGee", "Help Me Make It Through the Night") and actor (A Star Is Born), Grammy winner (1972, 1974, 1975).

30 - Pete Rose, 83, American baseball player (Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Montreal Expos) and manager, World Series champion (1975, 1976, 1980), heart disease.

October

17 - Mitzi Gaynor, 93, American actress (There's No Business Like Show Business, The Birds and the Bees, South Pacific), singer and dancer.

19 - John Kinsel Sr., 107, American World War II veteran (Navajo Code Talkers).

23 - Gary Indiana, 74, American novelist, playwright and art critic (The Village Voice), lung cancer.[

23 - Jack Jones, 86, American singer ("Wives and Lovers", "Love Boat") and actor (Over the Garden Wall), leukemia.

24 - DJ Clark Kent, 58, Panamanian-American DJ, hip hop record producer and music executive, colon cancer.

25 - Phil Lesh, 84, American Hall of Fame musician (Grateful Dead) and songwriter ("Box of Rain", "Truckin'").

29 - Teri Garr, 79, American actress (Tootsie, Young Frankenstein, Close Encounters of the Third Kind), complications from multiple sclerosis.

May their souls and the souls of all the departed, through Your mercy, O Lord, rest in peace.

Until we meet again, may God be with you - and may God have mercy on us all...

+the Phoenix

A Summer of Surprises, Part Three

 Welcome, God and All...

In my previous post I brought up something very important: It seems we should all be on our knees repenting, asking God to intervene that calm and order might be restored in our land; but it seems a majority of the American public doesn't believe in that anymore.

Indeed, studies have indicated - long before the COVID lockdowns - that more and more Americans find that religious observance and freedom have little or no relevance in their lives. I read a homily given by a Catholic priest (who is conservative leaning, but not far right as some others); he states that some of this is unintentional, blaming it on how things like the cost of living can make it very difficult to find even 15 minutes to pray, let alone attend Mass (or the worship service of their choice) for an hour once a week. The reality is that such reasons - good, bad or indifferent - coupled with the pandemic lockdowns have greatly reduced the size of many congregations. Costs to operate church facilities, like everything else, have increased dramatically; and revenues have fallen, also dramatically to the point that Church officials have had to consider what would have been inconceivable sixty years ago.

During the great migration of the 19th and early 20th centuries, churches seemed to spring up not unlike a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Many were formed along ethnic lines, especially in big cities like Chicago - the Italians had their parishes, the Germans, theirs, and the Irish, their own as well. And their location was often based on donations of land, and not necessarily strategically located by geographic area. In my own region there are still two Catholic parishes within walking distance of each other. That one of them hasn't been closed yet is only due to the fact that one of them ministers to a large Hispanic population, and the other, to the non-Hispanic. One thing for certain, though - the era of the neighborhood church serving not only as the center for worship but also the center of a neighborhood or community has all but vanished. This leaves Church leaders having to consider what is called (in my area) structured or targeted reorganization. And for the first time in my life, I'm serving in one such parish that, along with nineteen others, are on edge waiting to learn their fate. As an example, another geographic cluster in the same diocese went through this process a year ago. Sixteen parishes were reduced to seven, and five building campuses were closed permanently. Ultimately those five buildings will be de-consecrated and sold.

I learned that this was happening in one of the several parishes where I serve late in May. And almost immediately the speculation started. There are about as many reasons to keep us open as there are to shut us down. On the plus side, our buildings and grounds are in good physical condition and there is no outstanding debt. On the minus side, our current pastor is not a diocesan priest, but one from a Carmelite order. He is from India, speaks with a heavy accent and it's often hard to understand what he's saying.

To keep us focused on something positive while the diocesan advisory committee gathers data, performs analysis, considers a few "what-if" scenarios, and ultimately makes their recommendations to the bishop, I am thankful for four things. And that's good, because even under the best outcome, I don't see how or if I fit in it. As a result, through prayer and discernment, I am focusing on where I might land closer to home.

God has not disappointed me, but the path has many twists and turns. For openers, the local parishes (in a separate diocese than the one undergoing targeted restructuring) have newly reassigned pastors and the whole process of working with them has to start from scratch, can be painful and is time consuming. There is also my status as an inactive deacon. I've interpreted this to mean that I cannot function in the liturgical ministry of the diaconate but have not been laicized. For the longest time that was covered by my abilities and availability as a pastoral musician, one of the four things for which I'm thankful.

The second thing has been my involvement in the "That Man Is You" program. Now in its tenth program year, the program is designed to attract men to redevelop their sense of spirituality and leadership as Catholic Christian husbands, fathers, and community members. The program has grown from the seed of one person giving 26 talks (complete with statistics, charts and graphs) to several men, most well known in Catholic circles, giving those same 26 talks. It's a virtual parish mission of sorts. I have genuinely benefitted from the program - and we managed to continue it virtually during the COVID lockdown. Now, I have been tapped to lead the program, as the current leader has purchased a condo in Florida (I have heard that many retired folks do that) and would not be able to devote time to it as he would be away a good chunk of the time. When he asked me, he said I was his first - and only - choice. Lord, I am not worthy... I believe I am up to the task, but how this fits in with two new pastors as yet I have no clue.

The third thing I'm thankful for is the appearance of the acclaimed dramatic series on the life of Jesus and the character study of his disciples, The Chosen. Yes, you can call me a fan. Yes, you can tell me that a lot of the teleplay is not found in the Bible. Yes, it leaves out some important parts and suggests possibilities that aren't likely the 'gospel truth'; but it's doing exactly what its creators want it to do - spark discussion, get people to open their Bibles, and become aware that there is a loving God out there - and for some this awareness is for the first time in their lives. The parish which is being considered for restructuring decided to hold a viewing and discussion group this summer. I wanted in on it as I had led a similar group in my home parish for the first two seasons and I would not have any reservations about it now. It will keep us occupied and focused while we await our corporate fate.

The fourth thing for which I'm grateful is seeing opportunities to enrich my own love for the Church, her sacraments, and her ministries. I have appreciated my growing circle of family (including my developmentally challenged son), friends and colleagues who help lift me up when I need them, and vice-versa. This has led to an even greater desire to seek out and focus upon the path of holiness. The recent National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis was very beneficial to me. Even though I could not attend, I was able to watch the liturgies and the key talks either live on television or streamed through the internet afterward. The initial Holy Hour on the first night held me tightly.

It was a boost I truly needed, for I would be tested almost immediately, from near and far. The 'near' was a challenge from one of my nieces, who identifies as an evangelical fundamentalist - those who claim that what we are to believe is only in the Bible, and if it's not there, the opposing family can steal and take the money (oops, wrong metaphor).

That discussion began on a passage in the Gospels where Jesus tells his disciples, Do not call anyone on Earth your 'father.' You have but one Father, your Father in Heaven. And it went on a slippery slope from there. I remember reading or hearing somewhere that, unless you're a degreed theologian you should never argue with a fundamentalist. (Same sort of thing as the saying about never teaching a pig to sing.) But wait a minute - isn't there a passage within the Bible that states that no man can add to or take away from Scripture? So what does that say about the removal of chapters, verses, and entire books of the Old Testament during the Protestant Reformation? Lord, have mercy...

Of course, the devil must have his due right after a genuinely uplifting spiritual moment. I'm referring to something I apparently missed in the opening dramatic drivel of the Summer Olympics in Paris only hours ago. In the name of artistic liberty, or freedom of expression, apparently some drag queens lined a section of the River Seine and parodied the da Vinci painting of the Last Supper. Why they didn't fall in the river I don't know. On the other hand, should we now be banning classic clips of Milton Berle who dressed in drag as part of his act? Should we chastise Jamie Farr for cross-dressing all those years on M*A*S*H? But have we reached the point in time where we can no longer ignore it and hope it goes away?

The Church indeed calls us to get on our knees in awe, wonder, and - surprise! humility and reparation; and not only for our own sins, but for the sins of others. I sense we have enough trouble seeking forgiveness for ourselves, let alone others; it was Donald Trump who, when courting the Christian vote eight years ago and, asked if he ever asked God for forgiveness, responded that he had never done anything to be forgiven for. It's the same Donald Trump who just days ago told a gathering of Christians at a campaign rally that if they voted for him this November "they would never have to vote again." He insists he was joking. Like he also stated that on Day One in 2025 he will act as if a dictator. He claimed that was supposed to be a joke, too. And on the other side of the aisle, there's talk of codifying the right to abort an infant in the womb as under Roe v. Wade, as well as supporting the fiasco of gender identity and redefining marriage. Only they're NOT joking.

Is it surprising to anyone that we could use direct divine intervention right about now? We do see it; it's not all that hard to find. We see it in the enthusiasm of the pilgrims who make it to things like the Eucharistic Congress or World Youth Day. We also see it in the life stories of individuals like Francis of Assisi and Carlo Acutis; of Joan of Arc and Mother Teresa of Calcutta, just to name two men and two women. We also have the direct intervention of God Himself in the person of Jesus Christ; yet, like the contemporaries of His time, we are looking for a leader in battle armor, mounted on a white horse, who will single-handedly undo all the emotional, spiritual, and physical damage humanity has inflicted on itself. If there's one thing my encounters with Christ tell me again and again, is that the uniform didn't fit the Messiah - and still doesn't. What He leaves us is His blueprint, His Way, Truth, and Life; His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. His yoke is easy, and his burden, light. His requests are simple: Follow Him and Love one another as I have loved you. And in spite of a world seemingly eager to destroy itself, the most genuine surprise of all is that God is still in control and does great things for those with faith as small as a mustard seed.

Until we meet again, pray for me as I pray for you. May God be with you - and may God have mercy on us all...

+the Phoenix