South Texas Catholic

Two blessed people were embraced by God...

2012-01-23T11:52:00.000-06:00

...and all the heavenly hosts as they passed away from this earth into life with God.

Jaime Nira, my cousin from Taylor Texas, passed away on Friday. His obituary is here. I pray for him and his entire family, particularly all of the Taylor Niras. God bless them all.

Sr. Madlyn Pape, longtime fellow instructor here at Our Lady of the Lake, who I worked with on several occasions on prayer services, meetings, etc., died two days before Jaime. Her obituary is here. Sr. Madlyn and I tried to pull together a trip to visit the birthplace of John Martin Moye, founder of the Sisters of Divine Providence, in France a couple of years ago, but couldn't pull it off. A trip of this sort is still on a burner, so if we do make it out to France some day, it will no doubt come about through Sr. Madlyn's heavenly assistance. I will miss her laugh and witness to authenticity. God bless her.

Bishop Oscar Cantu visited us....

2012-01-23T11:37:00.001-06:00

...last week for a "get-to-know-you" meeting between the Archdiocese of San Antonio and the Religious Studies/Theology faculty of Our Lady of the Lake. I believe it was a productive meeting, as we shared our experience of Catholic higher education as well as the mission and goals of our university in graduating students with an experience of community and service. Our mission is to graduate students with an applicable understanding of these fundamental concepts in the worlds they will live and work.

Below is a picture of Bishop Cantu, along with Gloria Urrabazo (Vice President of Mission and Ministry at OLLU) and Bishop John Wester (from Salt Lake City, Utah) from Fall semester 2010, when Bishop Wester gave a talk here about immigration policy.

By the way...Bishop Cantu gave the commencement at Our Lady of the Lake back in December 2010--an excellent example of the meaning and value of Catholic Higher Education. Check it out....

St. Paul's Methodist Church...

2012-01-15T23:41:00.000-06:00

...in East San Antonio was the site for this year's Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration. St. Paul's was an appropriate faith community to hold this service, as it was the first predominately African American church, established in 1866 by freeman.

Numerous local civic and religious leaders were present, including the chaplain of Our Lady of the Lake University, (who is also the pastor of Holy Redeemer, the African American Catholic parish in the archdiocese of San Antonio), Fr. Kevin Fausz.

The main address was given by Supreme Court Justice Wallace Jefferson, the first African American Chief Justice. He told a touching story of his forebears strong work and effort in middle 19th century Texas, especially as they transitioned from living as slaves to free citizens.

Two videos below--the first is of the procession, and the second from that classic song, "We Shall Overcome."

I'm posting two more videos....

2012-01-11T13:49:00.000-06:00

...to catch up from the holiday season. One of them is from OLLU's December graduation. I am following the venerable Dr. Hamid Khan from the School of Business. I have two observations from re-watching this video: first, my smart phone doesn't handle vibration well; second, the students are awfully quiet. One year the students were jumping out of their seats yelling out in celebration. Perhaps that was a Spring commencement.

The second video is from the Christmas Day celebration at Mission Concepcion. Beautiful liturgy!

It took me 43 minutes to bike into work today!

2012-01-10T12:00:00.000-06:00

Normally it takes me about 20-25 minutes....I guess it was a little cold for my aging bones!

Meanwhile...a blast from the recent past. An OLLU baccalaureate picture from December.

Here's a belated post from OLLU's Virgen de Guadalupe celebration....

2012-01-10T11:55:00.000-06:00

It was a little chilly, but beautiful.

Feliz Dia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe!

2011-12-11T23:59:00.000-06:00

Our celebration at Our Lady of the Lake is tomorrow at 10am, so I'll take some pictures and post them later tomorrow.
Meanwhile, enjoy this article published in the San Antonio Express News today....I found a way to get quoted in there again, as did some of my other OLLU colleagues.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/More-than-a-religious-icon-2395137.php

Feliz Dia de Immaculate Concepcion!

2011-12-08T14:36:00.000-06:00

This picture is from Mission Concepcion....I love this picture because of her stance--not typical of a Marian image--and also because the representation of God raining down upon her...beautiful!

Celebrations are coming up....

2011-12-08T14:31:00.000-06:00

...for Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe! So, our local newspapers are getting ready by publishing articles about them.

Connexion/SACultura has a story today...quoting the venerable Teresita Aguilar, Director of OLLU's Center for Mexican American Studies and Research, and me too.

I remember the last substantial change in the Roman Liturgy...

2011-11-29T11:01:00.000-06:00

...back in the early 1970s. I must have been in the 4th or 5th grade at St. John's the Evangelist Church in Hondo, Texas, when Sr. Maureen rushed into our classroom, waving a book over head as if waving a banner or flag. "We have a new Mass! We have a new Mass!" I recall her proclaiming. So she herded us all to our new church, recently built and modeled according to the changes in liturgical celebration and space.

This was no shoe-box where the altar and tabernacle were located at the far end of the building, with rails separating the ordained from the non-ordained. In the new St. John's, our pews were gathered around the altar, with the tabernacle in its own special location, off to the side. There the faithful could pray and contemplate the sacred presence of God. Gone was the railing; non-ordained read the readings, led prayers, and assisted the ordained in distributing communion, both in bread and wine. I didn't think of it then, but the changes in the liturgy was an extension of the changes that had taken place within our church building.

And so we marched into the new St. John's. "We all have things to say!" Sr. Maureen continued. "The Lord be with you!" "And also with you!" came the natural and enthusiastic response. "Lift up your hearts!" "We lift them up to the Lord!" And so our practice continued.

There were new occasions for strengthening the bonds between neighbors--the "Sign of Peace." Many of us youngsters took this as an opportunity to "greet" our neighbor as the father welcomed back his prodigal son, with demonstrative bear hugs, shrieks of joy, or vigorous handshakes. This new development didn't make Sr. Maureen too happy. But I remember feeling...this is "neat."

The new changes, which were implemented officially this past Sunday--the beginning of the Advent season--didn't affect me the same way. I guess this is because I am in the second half of my life. And because of my age and perspective, I am more sensitive to the reality that words are words--the context of these words, the delivery of them and the community that communicates them and in which they resonate--this is essential.

The United States Bishops Office has taken great pains to develop all sorts of instructional materials, videos, and plans to implement these changes, for good reason. The liturgical changes 40 years ago was met with strong resistance, I recall. Some members of the faithful refused to shake hands with those sitting next to them in the pew, refused to receive communion in the hand, or drink from the cup. Many despised the new liturgical music. (Side note: one of my early favorites, a liturgical piece I never hear during Mass anymore, was "Sons of God". Here's a website with the lyrics--enjoy!). There has been some resistance this time around, but I hear more of how beautiful it is, and how more conducive it is to prayer and sacred language. I'm not so sure that the response "And with your spirit" is more prayerful/sacred than "And also with you." For when I say "And also with you", I am recalling that first time I said it about 40 years ago, drawn into the enthusiasm for the changes by the Holy Ghost Sisters, and Sr. Maureen.

2011-11-28T11:49:00.001-06:00

I attended the Thanksgiving Interfaith Prayer Service last Wednesday at San Fernando Cathedral with much anticipation. I was looking forward to getting a closer look at the newly refurbished retablo (Picture below. Actually, it has been refurbished for years now--I took a look at it back then, but I wanted another closer look), as well as getting my fix for interreligious prayer and community. I recalled that in years past this service was held on Thanksgiving morning, with a good amount of celebration and pageantry.

Well, this year it was filled with talking heads. While we did hear from a great diversity of San Antonio faith communities--Christian (non-denominational, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Salvation Army, etc.), Buddhist, Jewish, Sikh, Muslim--most of the presentation was mini-lecture and prayer. Certainly some profound words and heartfelt expressions were shared, but my other senses could have feasted from more music, and more art, dance and other mediums to express gratitude and family.

Here's a short video of the offering procession during that evening.

Holiday Season Celebrations are beginning....

2011-11-25T21:44:00.000-06:00

...in San Antonio. It seems like every other day there is some type of celebration.

It all got started last Saturday, November 19, when I went to the University of the Incarnate Word campus to celebrate "Light the Way." It was fun, but I must admit, after seeing all of the local celebrities (newscasters from KSAT-12, singer Patsy Torres), one national celebrity (Ricardo Chavira), the Spurs Coyote, the UIW Cardinal costumed mascot, and Santa Claus, I was slightly nauseated.
Why? Because I remember back in the day when this "Light the Way" celebration was scheduled the first week of Advent, and it seemed to me that the celebration then was squarely connected to that joyous season of preparation for the incarnation of the Word of God (Christmas). But not this year's, in my estimation.
"Do you feel the magic", was the mantra of that evening's 90 minute long celebration. And no, quite frankly I did not, especially when Santa Claus lapped around the football field, and snow machines belched out faux flakes in 80 degree weather.

What was very, very nice, though, was the music from the St. Anthony's Elementary and Middle Schools, the St. Anthony Jazz Band, the UIW Marching Band, pictured below, and the various chorale groups. That was excellent music talent, and that was magical.

Santa Claus was not. Nor was the little stress on the season of preparation for the Light of the World.

A very nice celebration, and more appropriate, I think, was held at Providence Preparatory School for Girls the next night. The program was much shorter--30 minutes--and the jolly St. Nick (Mr. G, Providence Asst. Principal) reminded us that "Jesus is the Reason for the Season".

But my favorite holiday celebration has yet to occur, and that is the Posada celebration at Our Lady of the Lake University. No Santa Claus, no celebrities, just people appreciating and loving their time spent together. That celebration will be held on Friday, December 2, at 6:30pm, and will include the splendid Mariachi OLLUtlan, OLLU's Ballet Folklorico, and the matachines from Our Lady of Good Counsel. Good holiday celebration.

Finally, tonight we went to the lighting of the San Antonio River, although we didn't stay for the accompanying River Parade. Tons of people, and a good festive air. Let the celebrations continue!

Our Lady of the Lake students are beautiful!

2011-09-22T09:29:00.001-05:00

Happy Spirit Day, everyone!

My summer has been over...

2011-08-25T11:58:00.000-05:00

...for some time now. OLLU began classes last weekend, and the traditional semester kicked off this past Monday. I feel an aura of vibrancy and happiness around campus, as students, staff and faculty greet one another anew, and I bellow out an occasional "Happy New Year!"

I had a very eventful summer....from the Folklife Festival (where I met Tiago Splitter), to my tio Alberto and Emilia Nira's 60th Wedding Anniversary, to visits to my brother's family in Huntsville, and my mother and sister in Pflugerville....it was all very good. My daughter certainly kept us on our toes with her various educational adventures--from summer school to the National Hispanic Institute. In addition, we celebrated her 15th on the River Walk.

I also read some good books....early in the summer I picked up a copy of King of the Court, about Bill Russell and the new type of professional basketball he ushered into the world. It was a fascinating read for me, and it introduced me to the challenges Russell faced in a racist America/New England.

This whet my appetite for more basketball reads, so I then picked up "The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History" , a highly entertaining read that touches upon the contours of pro basketball throughout the years with imagination and creativity. Filled with interesting and novel graphics. I was a bit disappointed to read how the author's regarded the 1970s as a time where pro basketball "lost its way", as those were the years I came to appreciate the game. Still, if you like basketball, I highly recommend reading it.

I also picked up "Tall Tales", "The Hobbit" (in anticipation of the new movie release next Christmas season), as well as a wonderful text by Thich Nhat Hahn "A Pebble for Your Pocket". Hahn, a Buddhist monk, give simple guides to peace and meditation. Implementation of this text will bring powerful results.

My star reading of the summer, though, was a text by John O'Malley, SJ, "What Happened at Vatican II". Cliche alert--this was a real "page turner" for me; I was enthralled by the drama at this Council. The documents and spirit that this Council generated was to shape my Catholicism, and was remains instructive and an inspiration in my teaching.

Let us all remember to pray for rain...

2011-07-25T06:57:00.000-05:00

..to bring nourishment to our earth, mind and bodies. Job 37:6.

This brings to an end the novena for rain. Blessed be God, from whom all blessings flow!

The Feast of Corpus Christi....

2011-06-27T09:05:00.000-05:00

...had a meaningful liturgy at Mission Concepcion yesterday.

Not only were these the final masses of Deacon Robert Ibarra and Fr. Jim Rutkowski (newly ordained Deacon Robert will begin his new ministry at St. Leo's; Fr. Jim will be the new pastor at St. Ann's), as well as celebrations for my and Gracie's birthdays, but Ken Salazar, secretary of the Department of the Interior, joined us and said a few words after Mass.

Secretary Salazar was in town to help dedicate the opening of the new Mission Reach, the continuing development of the San Antonio River Walk. I had an opportunity to take a bike ride last Thursday evening, and it was exciting to go through this new expanse of south San Antonio. There were very few folks on the path, but I was surprised to see some folks wading through the river waters, as well as some folks fishing. It was refreshing to see. I didn't have the time to go through the length of the new section....I understand that the new section is about two miles, but I hope to do so before the end of the summer.

Here's a picture of the newly opened Mission Reach approximately where Mission Road intersects with Southcross (looking north).

Here's a look from the same vantage point, this time looking south towards San Jose Mission.

Secretary Salazar also announced at the dedication that this river restoration project will be nominated as a World Heritage site. That's exciting too!

My prayer for rain today...

2011-06-24T13:19:00.002-05:00

is a brief one. It comes from Genesis 7:12.

"For forty days and forty nights heavy rain poured down on the earth."

Blessing South/Central Texas with forty days of pouring rain is likely a bit much....a nice soaking rain would cause all to bring into smiles....well, at least me.

Continue to bless us, O God, with your bounty and care. Empower us to receive your blessings for the continued stewardship of your earth and people.

Amen!

My prayer for rain today...

2011-06-23T12:13:00.002-05:00

...is from Leviticus 26:3-5. Although local forecasters predicted rain to visit us again in the wee hours of the morning, nothing came about. The ground is still plenty soft around our area from the abundant rain we received on Wednesday morning, but we can still use more!!

"If you live in accordance with my precepts and are careful to observe my commandments, I will give you rain in due season, so that the land will bear its crops, and the trees their fruit; your threshing will last till vintage time, and your vintage till the time for sowing, and you will have food to eat in abundance, so that you may dwell securely in your land."

May our nourishing God rain upon us every good thing, and may we receive these gifts to bring us health and strength in order to serve and love one another. Amen.

My prayer for rain today...

2011-06-22T18:17:00.002-05:00

...is a little late, as we got some of the blessed wet stuff this morning. In fact, the thunders and rumblings woke us up in the dark of the early morning, and continued throughout much of the a.m. hours.

We are very grateful.

We are supposed to get some more this evening and into tomorrow, so our prayers continue.

Today's prayer is inspired from Psalms 78:24-25:

"God rained manna upon them for food, bread from heaven he gave them.

All ate a meal fit for heroes; food he sent in abundance."

May our benevolent God continue to bless us with all that nourishes and heals us. May we be open to this nourishment, and continue to receive the rich blessings of our God, who is quick to rain down abundant blessings and joy. Amen.

My prayer for rain today...

2011-06-21T08:39:00.002-05:00

is taken from Isaiah 43:19-21--

"See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth--do you not perceive it? In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers.

Wild beasts honor me, jackals and ostriches, For I put water in the desert and rivers in the wasteland for my chosen people to drink.

The people whom I formed for myself, that they might announce my praise."

Choose us, dear God, so that your rains fall upon us and nourish in your ways of new life and justice. Bring us refreshment, and so enliven us to sing your praise.

Amen!

My prayer for rain today...

2011-06-20T08:34:00.002-05:00

...is taken from Isaiah 45:8--

"Let Justice descend, O Heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it down. Let the earth open and salvation bud forth; let justice also spring up!"

May our justice be in the form of rain to bring refreshment to our body and soul, and nourishment to our land, fields and plants.

Amen!

Deer sightings....

2011-06-13T23:00:00.003-05:00

....on the 29700 block of No Le Hace Drive (out by Boerne, Tx).

I was picking up my daughter at a recent outing with a friend, and lo and behold, there were a couple of deer out for a late morning snack.

They were quite placid...didn't run off as we drove up slowly to get a picture.

Kinda cool....

I finally made it out to the new Mission Library....

2011-06-13T22:44:00.005-05:00

...branch on Roosevelt Road. It's about a four mile bike ride for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed the getting there and the destination. Everyone was very friendly, and the library was quite busy. I'm including some pictures of the library, as well as some pictures of the refurbished drive-in theater screen. I saw a few movies in the drive-in theater...."Blank-Man", "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" & "Dodgeball" (double-feature), and "Blue Crush." There may have been some others. I suppose those days of drive-in theaters with folks bringing their own food and the kids playing out on swing-sets and playgrounds are long over with all the IMAX and Disney 3-D movies out now.

And it seems like every movie is in 3-D now....I think Woody Allen's latest is 3-D too....

I got so caught up in things that I missed Ascension Thursday....

2011-06-05T07:38:00.002-05:00

....but not to fear, the good folks that determine the liturgical calendar have given us an extra opportunity to call this special day into celebration today, June 5.

I suppose it didn't help me that Ascension falls in June this year. I'm so used to celebrating it in May, a June celebration strikes me as odd. Given that our celebration of Easter was so late this year, everything got pushed back.

Nonetheless, it is beneficial to call this special day into mind and practice.

"May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,

give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation
resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call..."

Ephesians 1:17

Biking along Mission Reach...

2011-06-04T08:22:00.004-05:00

...was a nice excursion for me yesterday.

I've been biking it for the last couple of months, particularly in the early evening, and it has been a nice, though brief, trip. A fuller two-mile stretch is to be open later this month as part of longer stretch all the way to Mission Espada. Eventually--by 2014--a seven mile stretch will open up.

The video (approx. three minutes) was taken by me at the southern most point of the stretch, almost at the Theo Street bridge juncture. When I go through this brief stretch in the early evening, there is usually a lot more wildlife, particularly cranes, egrets and turtles. There are some water fowl in this video, and if you look closely, you can see some ducks looking for food as they dunk their heads into the San Antonio River.

Mission Bells are ringing!

2011-05-12T08:04:00.000-05:00

The San Antonio Missions are approaching a renaissance....the city of San Antonio is considering a recent study that indicates upgrading the missions will bring substantial economic development to that corridor of South-SouthEast San Antonio.

While important, the upgrades will begin to restore the Missions to their original use, incorporating Spanish colonial farming techniques, and restoring the natural vegetation. I look forward to city leaders moving forward with these upgrades.

In related news, as a member of the pastoral council and parishioner of Mission Concepcion, we learned recently that Fr. Jim Rutkowski will be leaving as pastor of Mission Concepcion, going to St. Ann's in San Antonio beginning July 1. Mission Concepcion will be receiving Fr. David Garcia, former rector of San Fernando Cathedral, as pastor.

We will miss Fr. Jim's great service, strong liturgical gifts and wondrous voice (at left is a picture of Fr. Jim giving a homily in April 2010). And we welcome Fr. David's expertise in collaborating with the parishioners and experienced administrative gifts. He also is a student of Mexican American Catholicism, particularly as it has grown in South Texas for the past hundred years.

May God bless them both in their new ministries!

"God is Not One"...my latest book review...

2011-03-03T14:00:00.002-06:00

...is now published at Catholic Books Review. Take a look at it. Written by Stephen Prothero, religious studies professor at Boston University, it's a good text for the World Religion student beginner, and it raises more questions than what a reader may expect. That's a sign of a good book.

While on the website, check out Dr. Peter Phan's review of Raimundo Panikkar's "The Rhythm of Being." Dr. Phan was one of my instructors when I was at Catholic University about ten years ago, and I met Raimundo Panikkar at a conference when I was an undergrad student at St. Edward's University, thirty years ago. Hermano Bro. Jim Hanson accompanied me on that conference. Raimundo Panikkar was a stellar theologian and thinker.

Here's an excerpt from Peter Phan's review:

As I was reading this book for review, news of its author’s death at Tavernet, Catalunya on August 26, 2010 at the age of 91 was spreading through the Internet. The news did not catch me by surprise as I was privy to Panikkar’s brief letter last December announcing to his friends that he was going to observe absolute silence and that he did not wish to be disturbed by communication from anyone in order to prepare himself for death. I thought to myself what a blessing it was for Panikkar to have such a long and productive life and at the end enjoy the rare opportunity to prepare for the final passage in full consciousness and constant prayer.

Blessings to Raimundo Panikkar.

Announcing the Wallies!

2011-02-26T21:28:00.002-06:00

My selection of ten best films (that I viewed in 2010) are listed below, starting with my most favorite and then going down the ladder. I've also included some "honorable mentions."

The Wallies

Flipped: A nostalgic film that doesn’t ignore the tensions of family life and the dignity of young people, particularly the young woman whose heart for a young man begins to mature and soar. My favorite movie viewed in 2010.

Young Victoria: A narrative, based on Queen Victoria, that traces the development of a maturing leader. Emily Blunt reveals a sensitive and intelligent individual whose heart and mind are in constant tension and embrace.

The Perfect Game: If the events of this movie didn’t really happen (the first foreign team to win the Little League World series was from Mexico, in 1957, and the final game was a “perfect” game), this movie would not have been made. This film ranks so high for me because it ties me to a culture and spirit that I, and my parents, was raised in....and I got warm fuzzies all over.

Easy A: Another adolescent movie, but it satisfies with wittiness, comedy and meaning. Emma Stone was great, and her eccentric family was greater (played by Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci).

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: I know, I know....a movie for adolescents about adolescents and the issues they obsess about—love, conflict and angst. But this telling of it is so cool. Spoiler alert: Scott Pilgrim confronts all of love’s exes (and all of them evil, of course), and he beats them all!

Oscar Nominated Animation Shorts: Always a winner, every year. My favorite of this collection of ten: The Lady and the Reaper.

An Education: This is a very interesting movie that portrays education and family values at the cusp of upheaval in the late 1960s. Remarkable acting, excellent music and fine production, calling to mind this not-so-perfect society fraught with emptiness and deception.

Fair Game: Sean Penn and Naomi Wright portray Richard Wilson and Valarie Plame very well, and the drama of living their professional and personal lives in the tension of national politics and international intelligence and intrigue. I’d imagine that most folks have an opinion on the build-up to the Iraq world, but if one considers the movie on its own merits, it is a compelling study of personal responsibility and national values.

I Am Love: I’d see every Tilda Swinton movie if that was possible, and she didn’t disappoint me in this movie either. She embodied the character of the wife of a wealthy Italian family, a family that concerns itself mostly with convention and maintaining the integrity of the family name. The story is predictable—seduced by a young cook, she begins to experience herself in ways she had never thought possible....there’s even a bit of a “unitive” religious experience, wherein she experiences herself as one with her love, the season, and the natural world around her. Tedious at times, but I appreciate her character and acting.

127 Hours: A riveting re-telling of a young “caver” who gets his arm pinned between a cave wall and a boulder, eventually cutting it off to save his life. While pinned, he has the occasion to reflect on his life, the choices he has made, his loves, attachments and desires. I understand that the young man now is oriented towards the spiritual side of reality. Not for the claustrophobic.

Honorable Mentions

The Last Exorcism

Like Dandelion Dust

Precious

Dee Dee Sharp: Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)

2011-02-22T13:01:00.000-06:00

I missed the MLK, Jr. Interfaith....

2011-01-18T09:42:00.002-06:00

...Service this year.

Bad weather and a busy weekend gave me a case of lead foot when the time came around to get out and attend. I have really enjoyed the service in years past, whether at the First Baptist Church, Holy Redeemer, or some of the other downtown and east-side churches in religious San Antonio. Some of my World Religion students indicated that they would attend, and I hope to get some sort of report from them tomorrow when we meet for class.

Influenced by Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., was sensitive to and drew inspiration from a variety of religious traditions, most notably Gandhi's embrace of ahmisa. Of course, King was rooted solidly in the Christian tradition, but his recognition of what brought people inspiration is an important method that develops greater understanding and communication amidst the diverse world we live in today. It is also the central call of the Catholic Church in Nostra Aetate, the Vatican II document that stresses inter-religious dialog and study.

There is much work that needs to be done in this area.

Feast of the Holy Family....

2011-01-10T09:32:00.002-06:00

...celebrated at Mission Concepcion last Sunday, so the baby Jesus was perched in his cradle underneath the massive painting of Our Lady. This happened last Sunday; this Sunday celebrates the Baptism of the Lord, so he was put in his white baptismal garb, although I didn't get a picture.

My training urges me to bring all sorts of analysis to this, deconstructing the statue, painting, and the event itself. In the end, though, I am moved by the faithfulness and devotion by the people who chose to exemplify their faith in this manner...it's simply beautiful.

Feliz Navidad!

2010-12-25T12:34:00.005-06:00

Here are some pictures of Mission Concepcion's Midnight Mass celebration last night.

We have a small mission, but even so, attendance was lighter than I expected.

The celebration was very nice, prayerful and celebratory nonetheless.

A rosary started off the night, followed by a modified Posadas, where we visited the grotto and well on the Mission grounds, before coming in through the doors of the Mission.

We also venerated the Christ-Child, greeting him on our knees. All of this celebration was capped off by a traditional bi-lingual liturgy.

"The people who walked in darkness, have seen a great light..." (Isaiah)

Here's another picture of a Christmas tree...

2010-12-21T12:31:00.003-06:00

...this one our very own, taken yesterday.

It's an old one, with matted branches and some lights long past flickering days. But it's a tree that reminds us of light and life in this season where the natural world reminds us that an end is near.

Not so, says our faith. I use the word "faith" in the broadest meaning possible. Whether Catholic or not, human experience calls out and works diligently to bring forth life amidst the darkest days and inscrutable nights.

May the sacred light that beckons us onward continue to sustain and inspire us.

The leaves continue to fall...

2010-12-20T09:34:00.003-06:00

...at our little nook in San Antonio. Moderate temperatures, little breeze.

I enjoy it, and prefer it to the cold I experienced earlier this month when I was in Louisville. I feel for those folks who are enduring rains on the Pacific coast and continued cold and snow in the Midwest.

We could certainly use some of that precipitation. We are a little dry here.

The Christmas tree was at a museum in Fort Worth last year. I'll upload some current Christmas pics later.

Blessings to SA's new Archbishop...

2010-10-28T10:13:00.003-05:00

...designate Gustavo Garcia-Siller.

May your shepherding of this wondrous and diverse archdiocese be modeled after Jesus' shepherding of his disciples, and inspired by the Holy Spirit.

I'd thought I'd include in this welcome a picture of the amazing picture of the Immaculate Conception at Mission Concepcion. I understand that he will be invited to celebrate mass at Mission Concepcion on December 12, 2010...welcome ArchBishop Garcia-Siller!

Come out and celebrate with us!

2010-10-27T13:48:00.001-05:00

Día de los Muertos Celebration

November 2, 20010 (12:20p.m.)

Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto

Happy Lent, everyone!!

2010-02-17T11:14:00.003-06:00

If you are within the Catholic tradition, I pray that this period of reflection and preparation blossom in an array of new life and gratitude for you.

I was planning on going vegan for this lenten period (after briefly flirting with the idea of giving up Facebook), when I realized that for this morning's breakfast I had two slices of toast with a slab of butter. Oh well...I guess vegan is out now. But I'm still holding on to the traditional lenten observance...giving up meat throughout lent, as well as fasting.

Here's picture of a crucifix on display at the McNay Art Museum in their Southwest collection. Appropriate for Lent..."Rend your hearts, not your garments" (Joel 2:12)

The Mexican American Scholars Conference...

2010-02-05T08:09:00.004-06:00

...got a write-up in the Express-News recently...

Come on out if you get a change...Lots of great talks!

(I'm including a pic of a bluebonnet--I hope all of these rains bring some beautiful spring Texas flowers).

Happy February!

2010-02-01T08:28:00.003-06:00

Even though it's in the dead of winter, there's lots to love about this month...it's short, it's sweet, and every four years there's a day added on to prolong the celebration.

Yes, February is a good month.

It's also the month of Our Lady of the Lake's Mexican American Scholar's Conference, held on February 11-12. This year's theme is "Spirituality, Faith, Theology and the Empowerment of Mexican American Communities", and with such a delectable theme I couldn't help but offer up a paper proposal. My paper and presentation will survey various sources of inspiration that Mexican Americans have tapped to engage their communities in change. I'll touch upon Cesar Chavez, the Cursillo movement, the theology of Fr. Virgilio Elizondo (just touch...there's is lots here to consider!), and also give some considerations of where we are at now.

There many excellent topics that I look forward to learning from--from Pentecostal experiences, Chicana literature, Latin American reflections, etc., etc. The keynote speaker, Nancy Pineda-Madrid, teaching at Boston College, will give a presentation "On Popular Catholicism, Borderlands Visioning and the Spiritual Journey." I met her years ago during a Hispanic Theological Initiative conference...although I scarcely think she will remember me. Even so, I look forward to her talk with great anticipation.

On another, very different, note--I was visiting The Lone Star Brewery recently, currently being developed into condos, and saw a mural of San Antonio history on its walls where the old Buckhorn Saloon used to be housed. After my chest receded from a puff of pride and nostalgia, I snapped a photo of it. Ice is slamming Hondo!

We have one of the nation's biggest...

2010-01-19T10:54:00.002-06:00

...MLK, Jr. marches in the country here in the great community of San Antonio, but I have a hankering for the MLK, Jr. Citywide Interfaith Worship Service. This year the celebration was at the Second Baptist Church in the shadow of the AT&T Center. I love the celebration not only for the recollection of the life and values of Martin Luther King, Jr., but also for the various religious expressions from different San Antonio religious communities. Buddhist, Ba'hai, Sikh, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, etc.; they were all there in procession. (Click on the link above for a 1 minute video of the procession). I encourage my World Religion students to attend, and although I don't recall seeing any in attendance yesterday, I did see some OLLU alums....may they always profess the values and spirit of OLLU and MLK, Jr.

"The Big Questions"...

2010-01-09T09:13:00.002-06:00

...were considered in an interview conducted on NPR's "Talk of the Nation" on New Year's Eve that caught my ear for various reasons. Steve Landsburg was talking about his latest book, "The Big Questions: Tackling the Problems of Philosophy with Ideas from Mathematics, Economics and Physics" and I was both entertained and confused by his arguments...particularly in the area of inter-religious dialogue.

Towards the end of the interview, an email from a listener was read. Here's the text of the email and Mr. Landsburg's response:

...here's an email that we have. This is from Brad in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I have wondered for many years why different religions can't realize that each religion has wonderful truths and insights. I would love to see people quit arguing for their religion to be the only correct view and open up to the best of all insights. And that's something you address in your conversation about interfaith dialogue.
Mr. LANDSBURG: I don't get that at all. I mean, religions contradict each other, and two contradictory things cannot be true. If Christianity is true, then Islam is false. If Islam is true, then Judaism is false. Anybody who tries to pretend that conflicting things can be true - what greater evidence could there be that these people don't really mean the things that they're saying? I find it extremely telling that people will say yes, there are true things in religions other than my own, and yet my religion is completely true. Those things cannot both be correct.
And as soon as they say that, you know that, at some level, they don't really mean it. They may think they really mean it, and the reason they think they really mean it is because they have not actually given it any serious thought. But at the moment when they were to give it some serious thought, I don't see how anybody could say such a silly thing.

There are many comments that can be made here about Mr. Landsburg's understanding of religion, faith, and how individuals can intuitively come to some understanding and acceptance that religions of the world share many concepts, and that this sharing represents some similarity on some level.

But that is a conceptual argument. What strikes me first is the comfort Mr. Landsburg has in declaring that "if Christianity is true, then Islam is false", etc., etc. The clarity of his understanding of Christianity puts him in select company. What type of Christianity is he talking about? Roman Catholicism? Episcopalian? Baptist? Pentecostalism? I get the idea that his understanding of Christianity comes from some textual version of a Baltimore Catechism, with its clearly articulated questions and answers, but not the lived reality of the millions of faithful.

Religion may be a set of doctrines or concepts that can be defended as "true", but that is not where the substance of religion is to be found. It is a much more organic, lived reality, found in the day to day hopes, desires and struggles of those cling to it.

This was a slow "good" movie year for me...

2010-01-05T21:14:00.003-06:00

...as I saw only three films on Roger Ebert's two "Best Films of 2009" lists.

Yes, Roger has two lists of ten best movies. One list is comprised of mainstream films, the other of not-so-widely released indie films, which is not so bad of an idea. There are lots of entertaining films out there, so expanding the lists makes sense.

The movies I saw off of Ebert's lists? An Education, Knowing, and A Serious Man.

Of those three, I enjoyed Knowing the most; the acting was superb in An Education, and getting a view of early 1960's London and Paris was a treat, but viewing the mistakes of the young recalled my own youthful indiscretions, and that's not exactly entertainment for me. A Serious Man was a story of how a man who plays by the rules and according to plan, only to experience his life coming apart at the seams. [SPOILER ALERT] The final scene of a fearful storm blowing his direction was an ominous way to end a movie. But as a man in the throes of middle age, perhaps this struck too close to home...good film, but not so entertaining.

Knowing, however, was altogether artful, mysterious, ominous and hopeful. The story weaved together so many various parts, in the end bringing about an acceptance of an inevitable global destruction, but along with a faithful promise that life will continue. Well told on a grandiose scale.
So, speculative fellow that I am, I found this to be grand entertainment.

Nevertheless, perhaps 2010 will be a better year...

Mission Art of Northern Spain...

2010-01-02T20:03:00.003-06:00

...is on exhibit at the San Antonio Museum of Art, and I had an opportunity to view it today with Fr. Jim Rutkowsk, pastor of Mission Concepcion, along with several parishioners.

It's a very nice exhibit, with most of the pieces coming from northern Mexico, and a few from assorted places in the United States--Colorado, California, and a couple from San Antonio. One piece is a statue from San Jose Mission, and the other is a portrait done of Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus, archived at Our Lady of the Lake University. All of the pieces call to mind the courageous commitment of the Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries to their cause of advancing the Gospel and their respective empires.

I particularly was drawn to the items used in liturgical celebrations--one of them a very large book (4x5 ft.) used for prayers and hymns, and another a large statue of "Jesus Entombed" that was used in Good Friday celebrations. I snapped a photo of it (only to be told by a museum attendant that photos were not allowed). These items helped me recall the impassioned faith demonstrated at liturgical celebrations all across South Texas in Mexican American communities.

In other San Antonio museum news, The Museo Alameda apparently has fallen on hard times, with low attendance and inadequate support. The San Antonio Express News recently published a report on the resignation of the director. If this indeed is the situation, it marks a regrettable moment for museums in San Antonio. Museums are necessary educational tools that allow for continued reflection on the historical and cultural significance of a people and the forces that shape and inspire them. With the Museo Alameda in jeopardy, our collective reflections on Mexican American culture are in jeopardy. I hope the leaders and people of San Antonio can see to its continuing success.

By the way, the Mission exhibit ends tomorrow, and an important exhibit at the Museo Alameda by Jesse Trevino, art alum from Our Lady of the Lake University, continues for a few more weeks.

A few days ago I finished a remarkable memoir...

2009-12-09T08:38:00.003-06:00

...entitled "Lit" by Mary Karr.

I came across this memoir when listening to Terry Gross' "Fresh Air", where she was giving an interview about her new memoir. From the interview I could tell she was a witty sort, Texan to boot, writing in a genre in which I have a great interest. But what additionally caught my ear was when she began to talk about her conversion experience. It was interesting to see that in this secular age an intelligent, articulate--even arrogant--woman speak of a conversion that recalls some of the great conversions within the Catholic tradition--Augustine, Ignatius, et.al.

So, I found the book at our trusty San Antonio Public Library and began reading it in earnest. This was a fascinating read for me...not only because of her retelling of how she met her marriage partner and their subsequent raising a family (always an interest for me), but also because of her rationalizations about her alcoholism, her wrestling with this demon of a disease, and with her encounters with the Divine that enables her to fall into and begin a faith practice.

Now, I realize that "encounters of the Divine" sounds mystical, a kind of fantastical hokey-pokey of maudlin faith expressions. Karr's recollections are anything but. If you are squeamish about language, you may find her verbiage off-putting. No, her encounters are careful examinations for the "proofs of faith", conveyed through life's events, rigorous dialogue with friends, family and counselors.

I found the dialogue in chapter 33, "Waking in the Blue", where she converses with various individuals--nurses, a therapist--about her recovery from a suicide attempt and her ongoing battle with alcohol, fascinating and true, in that it lays bare the honesty, doubt and hope necessary for individuals to come to grips with their reality and begin their healing. It is in the mental hospital that she begins regular recitation of "The Prayer of St. Francis", just a hint of surrender that would begin her transformation.

Chapter 39, entitled "God Shopping" is interesting in that, spurred by her son's interest in discovering whether God resides in any of the churches in town, she begins a tour of various houses of worship--Jewish temples and various Christian denominations. Yet, when she stumbles in a Catholic church, disheveled with noisy families and prayerful intentions for the sick and dying of the parish, that she begins to find a community of faith that is not so much focused on themselves, but on their community. And in the pastor, Fr. Kane, she finds an experienced spiritual guide.

The final chapters, entitled "The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius","The Bog Queen" and "My Sinfulness in all its Ugliness" are all too real (honest), renderings of the one's spiritual life in the context of family, memory, hopes and dreams. She writes--

"Every now and then we enter the presence of the numinous and deduce for an instant how we're formed, in what detail the force that infuses every petal might specifically run through us, wishing only to lure us into our full potential."

So, I heartily recommend that you go out and check this book out...or even buy it.

Long time no post...

2009-12-05T21:13:00.002-06:00

...but as things settle down and the semester winds down, I hope to post more during this season of expectant hope (Advent).

I've read some good books, seen some good movies, and eaten at some nice restaurants. So I hope to share bits of this as I can....

In the mean time...smile and cuidado...

I was having a really bad headache early this morning...

2009-10-22T21:50:00.003-05:00

...so, after sitting in my office for about 20 minutes, I decided to go home and try and sleep it off.

It did a world of good.

I figure it was a stress headache...lots of stuff going on...preparing for Dia de los Muertos, helping out with my daughter's phone book recycling efforts, planning all sorts of things at OLLU.

So the headache has gone away, but there's always tomorrow. I'm behind on my grading, there's advising going on, and there's some important work to be done in reviewing the Religious Studies and Theology mission and goals of OLLU.

So, I'll rest up, and getting ready to do the good work.

I've been trying to settle down by mid-evening...

2009-10-20T08:20:00.002-05:00

...and treat myself with a nice good book and soft, reflective music.

So far, its been working out very well. I am pleased with what I hope will be the formation of a habit for me...setting aside time for some quiet reflection and meditation.

My selection of readings may surprise you--on my nightstand shelf I've got a book on the burgeoning effects of cycling in the U.S. (riding my bike a bit more now), a "Dummie's" Guide to Algebra 1 (will help me from potential questions from a significant other), the current issue of "Texas Monthly" (love the Texas mountain ranges in that issue) and Bram Stoker's Illustrated Dracula (more on that later).

I may have one or two others...I don't recall at the moment.

I've also got some issues of Iron Man, Wonder Woman, Batman and Echo piling up that I'll eventually get to reading.

My selection of Dracula is tempered by the turning of the season (even here in South Texas, it's turning noticeably cooler and darker), including preparations for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. Also on my radar is the release of some movies with vampire themes (Cirque de Freak and, of course, the next installment of Twilight saga: New Moon).

Back to my reading list: I am especially drawn to Bram Stoker's Dracula--the story as told has slowly drawn me in, using journals and newspaper clippings to crescendo an increasingly horrific tale. There are constant Christian references within it as the main character, Jonathan Harker--a self-professed cynic who reluctantly accepts a crucifix from some Transylvanian natives who know of the evil he will be encountering in his next real estate transaction--finds comfort in sacred symbols as his association with Count Dracula grows.

There are significant differences from the vampire stories that I have encountered before, although I certainly do not count myself an expert in that genre.

But it is certainly an interesting read.

A significant publication...

2009-10-15T08:49:00.002-05:00

...has recently been released, detailing the diverse and complex reality of Hispanic/Latino religious experience.

Entitled Hispanic American Religious Cultures, the two volume set covers everything from acompanamiento (the idea that theology must be a critical reflection on society, "accompanying" those individuals and groups as they work for change amidst injustice) to teologia de conjunto (a method of theology contrasting from "ivory tower" or "armchair research" methods of past generations). These volumes are an achievement of Hispanic/Latino scholarship, drawing from some of the most creative and young minds in the Hispanic/Latino theological community. Miguel de la Torre, editor-in-chief, ought to be proud of what must have been laborious work (the link leads to a powerful reflection written by Miguel).

I made four contributions: two longer essays on the Trinity and Hispanic Buddhist communities, and two shorter pieces on the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops and numerology. I originally wrote these some of these essays about two years ago, and I think I added one of the shorter pieces later in the process. The research and writing generally took place over the summer and early fall. Looking back now, it was a fruitful experience, although the time commitment was significant.

My next writing project will be a reflection on Hispanic/Latino theology and its practice of social engagement for the Mexican American Scholars Conference held here at Our Lady of the Lake early next year.

I am trying to develop a habit of blogging regularly...

2009-10-14T08:22:00.003-05:00

...as I have done in spits and spats throughout the years. My first blog goes back about five years; one website starts back in 2004; another more recent one goes back just over a year. I've since left those two addresses...I hope to maintain this present one for a while at least, but one can never know in this constantly changing world of cyber-communications.

I've found that in the hustle and bustle of college teaching and family life it is important for me to spend a least a little time in reflecting in some concrete way...namely, writing.

I was introduced to reflective writing way back as a ninth grader in Adams City Jr. High--in 1974--by a my journalism/typing teaching, Mr. Joe Hernandez. It was a fruitful experience for me, and I maintained reflective journals throughout my high school and early college years. I still have them all, except for the very first one from Adams City...how I'd love to have that one back.

But enough of the recollections and nostalgia...so much work to do and things to experience in this world! I hope to experience it as fully as possible, sensitive that its fullness is found in inter-connectedness with not only others, but also with all of the "things" that God is poured into all around me.

Rain, Rain, and more Rain...

2009-10-13T08:01:00.002-05:00

...may God bless the rain.

After a blistering summer, I appreciate all of this soaking rain that we've been having, although it does make for a bit more hazardous driving and walking. Even so, we are now out of Stage 2 water restrictions, so we can be a bit more liberal with watering our plants and lawns.

But let us bless this rain, and help us recall the beauty necessity of it to cleanse and renew.

I didn't plan for last weekend's entertainment to be...

2009-08-14T08:18:00.004-05:00

...depressing, but it seemed to be oriented that way.

A friend of mine was visiting from Ohio State, the venerable school of Buckeyes and football, and so we went out and did some stuff around town.

We took in a play, "The Women of Troy", at San Pedro Park. Outstanding acting on a relatively pleasant evening, this was a fine way to spend an evening. Several OLLU students, present and alums, were in it...Kristel Lara as Cassandra shone...and I hope to make this event a regular summer experience. Previous students in year's past have invited me...last year, I believe, was "A Midsummer's Night Dream," and some students invited me to that, but I was sorry not to have made it.

In the bottom picture are OLLU alums Anthony Rodriguez and Michael Hernandez as the guards, and the excellent Joan Fox as Hercula, wife of the conquered Trojan king Priamos. In the picture at the top we have Cassandra, played by Kristel Lara. Poor Cassandra is considered slightly mad by those around her, as she can foresee her future sorrow and ill end, but no one understands her.

Later that weekend, my friend and I took in the movie "The Stoning of Soraya M." Based on a true occurrence in 1986 Iran, it tells the story of a woman, Soraya, who becomes the object of her husband's disdain because she will not grant him a divorce, and evil lout that he is, he begins crafting a adultery charge against her that his willing bought by the men in the community, particularly the imam and the city mayor.

Stunning in its portrayal of patriarchy and institutional--as well as personal-- evil, it is equally stunning in its recounting of the strength of the women, particularly Soraya and Zarah, played by Mozhan Marno and Shohreh Aghdashlooo, respectively. These women actors fill the screen, and I found myself unable to take my eyes of off them. I've used the word stunning so many times already, but I have to do so again...stunning performances.

The circumstances around Soraya's stoning are wrenching; it is these circumstances and the subsequent violence that make it very difficult to take...it was one of the few times I shielded my eyes and mouthed the prayer..."O my God!" during a movie.

This movie depicts an action that cries to God for justice, and compels me to work towards such in my own small, feeble ways...

On my last day of summer...

2009-08-12T11:14:00.009-05:00

...I took a bike ride to Mission Concepcion.

I had never done this before, and it was quite fun. Took me about 20 minutes to get there. Maybe I can get the family to hop on their bikes to go to Sunday mass this weekend.

Lots of stuff going on at Mission Concepcion now...it will be beginning a renovation of its interior...or rather...a removal of plaster and re-painting to the original colors inside the church walls.

The mission will be closed from September to December or January to get this work done.

Additionally, this Sunday we will hold a special vespers for the "Miracle of Light"--when the sun shines at the center of the sanctuary, in front of the altar and directly underneath the 54ft. dome.

Pretty cool stuff.

The Express-News wrote an article on this phenomenon on December 12, 2006, where the sunlight again shines through the Mission, this time falling on the altar.

I plan to attend vespers at the Mission, my first time. Come out if you get a chance--it's scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., Sunday, August 16.

(By the way, the reason I noted that yesterday was my last day of summer was because with all the preparation going on, the days and nights of "foot loose and fancy free" have come to an end. Planning and more planning and preparation, along with the efforts to get to bed earlier. We'll see how that goes...)

Eunice Kennedy Shriver...

2009-08-11T09:45:00.003-05:00

...who died earlier this morning, is an exemplar of what Gregory of Nyssa, the great Cappadocian mystical writer, wrote when he penned this over 1500 years ago...

"...the most perfect and glorious path of salvation [is] by the way of love." (Commentary on the Canticle of Canticles, Sermon I).

By all accounts, Eunice Shriver was a lover, so passionately committed to individuals who were ostracized by society due to the effects they suffered from mental retardation.

Her experience of this was close and personal, as her eldest sister, Rosemary, was struck with this condition. A recounting of this part of Mrs. Shriver's life is found in the Washington Post obituary. It surveys the enormous impact she had throughout her life, and the incalculable joy she and others who supported her have brought to families around the world.

With the passing of Mrs. Shriver to her final glory, another member of the iconic Kennedy family is brought to light. In some ways, it is the passing of the "old Catholic guard", that was so fully formed by Catholic Action, devotions, rigor of intellectual thought and integration of such for the benefit of the common good.

I pray that succeeding generations follow in Mrs. Shriver's spirit and footsteps.

Why theological method is so important...

2009-08-05T08:08:00.001-05:00

Click on comic to see full strip...

Will Gov. Perry do anything for a vote?

2009-08-04T11:43:00.002-05:00

It certainly seems so, especially if the votes come from his conservative base.

Fearing Sen. Kay Baily Hutchison's challenge to his seat for the governorship of Texas, Perry has been tuning up the conservative rhetoric...talking boldly about Texas leaving the Union if the federal government doesn't shape up, rejecting stimulus money for the unemployed, and participating is the "Texas Tea Party."

But that's all politics, and politics--as well as politicians--are strange creatures.

What I find offensive is the self-proclaimed "Zionist Christians" who wear tallits at their services, pictured here on the San Antonio Express-News website.

A tallit (shawl) has some religious significance in that it is a reminder to keep the mitzvah (commandments) of God. My understanding is that the tallit is deeply immersed in Jewish religious culture; it is a blessing to wear it.

I wonder if Zionist Christians, particularly Gov. Perry, hold the tallit in the same religious significance.

"From your mouth to God's ears...

2009-07-30T12:08:00.003-05:00

as well as the ears of leaders across the globe."

That was my thought after reading a news report concering Bishop Edwin O'Brien's speech at the 2009 Deterrence Symposium.

His basic point: that world leaders begin to eliminate nuclear weapons from the face of the earth.

This point is a relatively recent development within Catholicism, slowly gaining steam after the U.S. Bishop's issued its pastoral letter "The Challenge of Peace", which marked its 25th anniversary last May.

Catholicism, with its strong faith in God's presence working intimately through our world and it's day-to-day events, has long dealt with the issue of war. Going back to Augustine in the 5th century, who first developed the principles of just war as a result of Rome's getting sacked by various marauding peoples, Catholic leaders have had a principled understanding of enacting war between various national bodies.

Now it appears to be taking a definite stance towards war's most horrendous fruit--nuclear arms.

O'Brien writes:

When it comes to issues of war and peace, and nuclear weapons and deterrence, the end is the protection of the life and dignity of the human person through defending the tranquility of order. Tranquillitas ordinis is peace built on justice and charity.
So in this moral analysis of nuclear weapons and deterrence, let us start with the end and work backwards. The moral end is clear: a world free of the threat of nuclear weapons. This goal should guide our efforts. Every nuclear weapons system and every nuclear weapons policy should be judged by the ultimate goal of protecting human life and dignity and the related goal of ridding the world of these weapons in mutually verifiable ways.

I pray that his words fall upon accepting ears, particularly all those in leadership positions that have a role in developing and sustaining conditions that do not provide the ground for war and violence.

The complete text of his speech is here.

Teilhard de Chardin is back!!

2009-07-29T11:36:00.004-05:00

Pope Benedict made a reference recently concerning the French theologian, considered progressive in his day (1930s-1950s). In truth, many folks today may call his theological reflections progressive.

Basically, Teilhard did what many other theologians have done in the past...he partnered Cathlolic revleation and doctrine with a dominant intellectual framework--in his case, Darwin and his evolutionary theories--just as Augstine developed his thought along the lines of Platonic thought, and Aquinas along the lines of Aristotilean thought.

Here's a list of some of Teilhard's greatest works: "The Phenomenon of Man", "The Heart of the Matter", and, perhaps my favorite, "The Divine Milieu", dedicated to those who "love the world."

Here's an excerpt from the "Divine Milieu":

"When Christ aapears in the clouds he will simply be manifesting a metamorphosis that has been slowly accomplished under his influence in the heart of the mass of mankind. In order to hasten his coming, let us therefore concentrate upon a better understanding of the process by which the holy presence is born and grows within us. In order to foster its progress more intelligently let us observe the birth and growth of the divine milieu, first in ourselves and then in the world that begins with us."

According to an article reported in the National Catholic Reporter, the pope made a reference to St. Paul's letter to the Romans, who stated that the world will one day become a living worship, and then chimed this about Teilhard--

"It's a great vision that later Teilhard de Chardin also had: At the end we will have a true cosmic liturgy, where the cosmos becomes a living host....Let's pray to the Lord that he helps us be priests in this sense to help in the transformation of the world in adoration of God, beginning with ourselves."

Amen, Pope Benedict.

This summer heat is hellacious...

2009-07-13T12:40:00.002-05:00

...it's almost like I've been dragged to hell.

Well, it's not really that bad, but I was tempted to use that expression, especially after the early summer release of Sam Raimi's flick. It's an entertaining film, especially if you are given to think in terms of strong dualistic realities, the horrible weight of bad karma, and gypsy curses.

But seriously, this heat has been noteworthy.

Forest Mims III, a columnist with the San Antonio Express-News, has written a piece on this drought, first noting how Canyon Lake is about 14ft below its "normal" level.

Personally, I hesitate to use the word "normal" as Mims does in his column. "Recorded average" makes more sense to me...from our perspective, what is normal is only a slice of 40 or 50 years of history, in this case, and that's not very long in the grand scheme of things.

More to the point in this gem of Mims' column: He quotes a researcher of rainfall and lake levels in this area saying...

“Drought is normal in Texas. The great drought of the 1950s may have been just a taste of what’s to come.”

Ouch.

Such drought does give one pause to reflect on the meaning of all this in our time. Drought and dryness is a rich theme in the Catholic spiritual tradition, from the Gospels to the Spanish mystics. And it's especially important in our time of a generally accepted understanding of global warming, and how that fits in this country of unparralled energy use and waste.

The aforementioned scholar, Malcolm K. Cleaveland, produced the study entitled "Extended Chronology of Drought in the San Antonio Area." (.pdf file)

Seems to me that Michelle Obama is trying too hard...

2009-07-10T22:11:00.003-05:00

...so be "fashionably-Catholic" while visiting Pope Benedict, along with her husband.

I mean, is it really necessary to wear a veil while having an audience with the Pope?

No.

Not unless she were attending mass, and only then if she were a Catholic, neither of which was the case.

So it made for an odd sight...to me at least.

The practice of wearing veils for women, and head coverings for men, in Western religious traditions, is to show humility and reverence in the presence of God.

No need to wear such in the presence of the pope, even if one holds great respect for him.

No doubt about it, Mrs. Obama is a handsome woman, and she has been seen as a fashion trend-setter, but come on. Wearing a veil is too much.

I can't call myself a Michael Jackson fan...

2009-07-01T09:06:00.002-05:00

...and although I appreciated his music, some more so than others ("She's Out of My Life," "Human Nature," all the early Jackson 5 hits), I can't include myself among the fan(actics) that bought all of his albums, attended his concerts, bought (and wore) a sequined glove, etc., etc.

He's good, but I didn't get carried away by him.

I did feel a sense of loss at his passing last week, particularly by the suddenness of it, and the tragic and mysterious conditions surrounding his death.

But some did get "carried away" by him and his art. This has been so eloquently stressed by longtime friend Deepak Chopra in a Huffington Post tribute, and now in a column printed by the Washington Post.

In the Washington Post piece, Chopra writes that Jackson elicited the "God feeling" within us, wherein we are brought into a unitive experience where boundaries fall and animosities cease and there is a real, though brief, feeling of communion.

"The God feeling is important just because it isn't bound by doctrine and dogma. No one is outside the fold. When an audience lights candles and sways to "Heal the World," a space is created where nobody is unholy, no religion can exercise its imaginary exclusive patent on the true God. To the extent that Michael inspired such a feeling, he healed his own demons and ours, if only for an hour."

His is a very interesting observation, and it relates back to his religious tradition of Asian religions that are formed in a non-dualistic understanding of reality, in contrast to the stark dualism found in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In his post, Chopra begins to frame a contemporary discussion of modern religion, perhaps the next great challenge for those interested in a dialogue between religion and religious experience.

The non-dualistic and dualistic understanding of God.

There is much to discuss here, and I find it interesting that Michael Jackson's friend helps raise the discussion through his own reflections on the death--and life--of Michael Jackson.

For many of us, religious experience is found in the regular "pop" phenomenon of music, movies and art.

My hope and prayer is that these types of experiences help lead us beyond the fleeting "god feeling" towards something less so.

Cornerstone Church welcomed gay leaders...

2009-06-29T09:28:00.002-05:00

...this past weekend, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

Besides the fact that gay leaders were welcomed by Cornerstone Church, the other remarkable part of this event was lack of judgmental rhetoric and blistering comments.

"If any of them expected fireworks from the gatherings, none erupted. Everyone seemed surprised there were no surprises.

The visit, initiated by two Austin-based groups, Soulforce and Atticus Circle, were portrayed as groundbreaking. It was the first in a series of meetings called Sundays of Solidarity, in which the LGBT community will meet with faith communities. Its goals are to have tough conversations, but Sunday’s was to connect with people on a personal level."

I am interested to know if these "Sundays of Solidarity" will extend to a meeting with leaders of the Catholic Church here in the Archdiocese of San Antonio. I hope so, and will be interested to see how the Archbishop responds.

Our fledgling group on the OLLU campus, The Alliance--a group made up of heterosexual and LGBTI students, has been largely left alone.

I hope that if a meeting does occur between gay leaders and the Archdiocese of San Antonio, that the talks will be constructive, not just cordial.

Just got back from a family vacation in Chicago...

2009-06-29T09:13:00.005-05:00

...and what a great time we had.

Chicago is a fascinating city...great cultural diversity and great heritage. And lots of bustling activity.

I could see myself living there, and enjoying myself...

Above is a pic of me standing in front of a model of Chicago. In the background is the Sears Tower (soon to be renamed the Willis Tower, after the UK firm that bought the building). Of course, my OLLU shirt figures prominently.

This model was at the Science and Industries Museum, where there is an exhibition of Harry Potter movie stuff.

My prayer goes out this evening too all those who are...

2009-06-20T23:16:00.002-05:00

...incarcerated in our nation's jails.

Guilty or not, jails can be places of terrible loneliness and despair.

My father was part of a prison ministry in the Diocese of Austin, and I regret that we never spoke about it, how he went about it, what his experiences were, the people that he met.

Now it is my experience to work with people who are currently in that system, and people who have been touched by that experience.

It can be a soul-sucking experience...guilty or not...

And so my prayer goes out to them.

The Internet has been a huge player...

2009-06-19T22:34:00.003-05:00

...in the "revolution" going on in Iran.

Evidently, Iranian government officials had shut down most of the internet access available to Iranians, who are amongst the highest, if not the highest, users of the internet (percentage wise). They shut down Facebook, My Space, and other social networking websites.

But they forgot about Twitter.

The main point, however, is that a true revolution is taking place in Iran, and the current leaders don't seem to know what to do about it.

Actually, they do...they are beginning to crack down. Hard.

My prayers are with the Iranian people, in their struggle for true representation in their government. I feel that there will be much more left in this story...I just pray it turns out positively.

This summer...

2009-06-18T22:58:00.001-05:00

...has been a busy one. The four articles I wrote for the Encyclopedia of Hispanic American Religious Cultures should be coming out in September. I wrote those articles over a year ago, but I guess it takes a while for these things to get published.

It's funny how writing and editing go; re-reading my articles surfaced various feelings in me, from "wow! That's tight!", to "huh?!" I am looking forward to the publication of them...I wrote two large essays on "Trinity" and "Buddhism" and smaller blurbs on numerology and the United States Council of Catholic Bishops.

I love to write, but I am so slow at it...I hope to put something else up for publication soon.
And I've done other things this summer...work on the OLLU Honors Program, developing the RLST Dept., and a bit on the Alliance.

It's been good. Gracias a Dios!

The U.S. Bishops are in town!!

2009-06-17T20:50:00.003-05:00

Are they sightseeing? Going to Sea World? Enjoying our balmy weather?

Nope.

They are instituting changes in the Catholic liturgy. Evidently, liturgical changes that took place close to forty years ago as a result of Vatican II went a bit too far, and so they (the bishops) feel it an opportune time to tweak the liturgy a bit in order to make it convey the original intent as found in the original Latin.

For my non-Catholic or un-catechized friends, the liturgy refers to the Catholic mass. Literally, the word liturgy means "public duty" or "work of the people."

Specifically, the proposed changes are:

• After the priest says, “The Lord be with you,” the response will be, “And with your spirit” instead of, “And also with you.”

• The prayer before Communion will be, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,” in place of, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you.”

Not exactly earth-shattering proposals...at least not yet. I hear from reputable sources that some proposals in the recitation of the creed are coming down the pike...such as, using words like "consubtantial" and "incarnate" instead of "one in being with" and "born of."

Those proposed changes are not exactly earth shattering either.

But I don't see the great need to have a big meeting to consider the changes. The "work of the people" has been reciting the "old" words--words that aren't substantially different--for the last 30-40 years.

No big deal.

Today was another hot, hot day...

2009-06-16T22:13:00.002-05:00

...by my car's thermometer, 104 degrees.

That's hot, and it wears me down, so I puttered around the house, made some breakfast and later some spaghetti, watched some Harry Potter (the second one), and answered some work emails. A rather full but laid back day. Went to go see a newly born family member in a northern San Antonio hospital. Too hot to do too much.

The heat doesn't keep me in all the time...yesterday I went out to practice my disc golf shots. I hadn't been on the course for several weeks, ever since my surgery, and my knee is still a bit tenuous, but I was just trying to get some rhythm back. It felt good. I get some good distance at times, but my game still needs lots of work. I imagine some day I'd like to try and compete in some tournament, but mostly it's just for fun.

Something to keep this old man busy...

My heart and prayers continue to go out to the people of Mexico, particularly those in Juarez. There are several OLLU students who are from that area--El Paso, Texas--and the conditions of violence and fear are just terrible, terrible.

It's unbelievable that there have been close to 800 deaths in Juarez this year due to drug related violence. Incredible!

Over the weekend, though, the citizens have tried to reclaim some sense of normalcy be holding a series of concerts while proclaiming "Amor por Juarez!"

I can't imagine life in those conditions...yes, it's hot here, but nothing like Juarez.

The news that Miguel H. Diaz has been nominated...

2009-06-15T22:45:00.003-05:00

...by President Barack Obama to be the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican is thrilling news for me.

Not only is he a Hispanic/Latino scholar, but he and I share some similar paths as HTI scholars and members of the Hispanic/Latino theological community.

I met Miguel about ten years ago, when I applied and was accepted into the Hispanic Theological Initiative, a young community of Hispanic/Latino scholars working on their master's degree, doctoral dissertations, or first publications of graduate work, and also developing a community that nurtured one another in this academic adventure. He was a couple years ahead of me in his work, and his mentor was Orlando Espin, who would come to be my mentor as well.

It was an exciting time for me, a young theology student landing in the midst of a very vibrant theological community. I had been away from doing serious theological reflection for over ten years, since I graduated with a masters from Catholic University of America (CUA) in 1987, and went immediately into pastoral work at San Jose Catholic Church in Austin, Texas. From that time, until I was admitted into CUA in the fall of 1998, I worked at college prep schools and other parishes, occasionally spelling some theology professors for a class or two. Getting married in 1995, I quickly learned that I needed something a bit more solid than college prep-school/parish work, so after some discussion, off we go to CUA (me, my wife and two year old daughter).

Anyway...to the point. After a year of work, I got into this community, and Miguel was a big part of it. His smile and personality was efficacious, as he spread his good humor around the room with the rest of us young theologians. I recall car rides through Washington D.C., talking about his experiences with some of the professors I knew at CUA, and his tourist pointers when at a conference in Miami.

And the man can dance. After one conference...was it at Menlo Park? Atlanta?...(there were so many in such a short period of time, my mind was dizzy with them...) we all broke out our CDs, having been previously told to bring music. And we danced...and danced...I can still see Chris Tirres and Michele Gonzalez dancing...they were excellent.

I have a memory of Miguel dancing brilliantly too, but perhaps my memories have embellished those fond memories.

I do remember dancing to Barry White with Daisy Machado...I enjoyed myself immensley, but I know I'm a terrible R&B dancer...

At any rate, my prayers are with Miguel and his new assignment/ministry. It'll be interesting to see how how a theologian who has made such an effort to emphasize culture in his theological reflection will manage a relationship with a very distinct culture that is the Vatican, in many ways in conflict with the life of faith of Hispanics/Latinos around the world.

Mission Concepcion had a nice liturgy today...

2009-06-14T22:44:00.002-05:00

...the feast of Corpus Christi.

The music was strong, the readings well proclaimed, the homily helpful in unpacking the Gospel...it was all good.

I have a strong feeling of "church" when I celebrate at Mission Concepcion. It must be the age of the place, the structure that is so rooted in time and place, as well as the soaring air it evokes once one steps inside the structure. So...happy feast of Corpus Christi...let our prayer and action be that we are fully present to others throughout this season.

-----

As I noted last night, I finished reading a remarkable narrative on Catholic education entitled "The Street Stops Here," and it evoked strong recollections of the import of Catholic education, and the complexity through which these institutions are constructed. Catholic education has been responsible for transforming entire ethnic communities...from the Irish to the Italians, to many immigrant groups that transferred here from Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. We are now in the full flower of this Catholic education...the majority of the Supreme Court justices are Catholic (six, including the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor), and the majority of the U.S. Congress is Catholic as well.

The individuals responsible for Catholic education have practiced strong witness to Christian values and practice. This was certainly true in the past, when Catholic education was largely shaped by Catholic religious communities, and it is true today, as Catholic education is largely being shaped by non-ordained Catholic men and women. The text, "The Street Stops Here," is certainly an example of the latter case, wherein the principal, Orlando Gober, practiced a strong Christian witness to inspire and challenge young men to move beyond their present situation, challenging as these situations may be, and orient themselves towards a higher education as means to achieve and sustain success.

This book is a powerful read. It recalls the incredible amount of work and challenges that are ever present for Catholic educators, and that their commitment to the education of the entire person, instilling values and self-discipline as the essential engines to academic success. Yes, brains are important, but commitment and self-discipline equally so.

Written by Patrick McCloskey, "The Street Stops Here" is an essential read for folks interested in contemporary Catholic education.

My novena of blogs begins tonight!

2009-06-13T23:07:00.004-05:00

It's been such a long time since I last blogged, that I am going to commit my self to add some reflections for the next nine days.

As many of you well know, the tradition of nine day reflections has its source in the traditional Church calendar, which counts the time between Jesus' ascension and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as nine days.

Hence, novena.

The hope of the novena is to come to some fruit at the end of nine days of concerted prayer and meditation.

Just as the apostles retreated to the Upper Room, lost and confused after the ascension of Jesus, and had the Spirit burst upon them--empowering them to go out and proclaim the Good News--contemporary novenas focus on a particular desire or need.

The desire of my novena, though, is a modest one...reflective time well spent.

I'll catch up on some of my old postings in the next nine days, and of course add some new ideas. Ideally, I'd like to eventually blog every day...but we shall see. Life is crazy...

Tomorrow I'll blog on Catholic education, inspired by the text I finished reading some weeks ago..."The Street Stops Here"

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy!

2009-04-29T08:33:00.002-05:00

The above verse is from today's psalm reading...may it serve as a guide and inspiration for me this day.

I've been listening to lots of different music recently...I don't think I have been exposed to so many different types of music as I have recently.

From my daughter's interest in pop and hip-hop, to the offerings found on Sirius, Pandora and Imeem--there is lots out there, and I am particularly taken by the beauty of much of it. Such creativity and depth.

I would like to say that all of the music I have heard participates in "crying out for joy", as the Psalmist says. Not necessarily so, but I'm ok with that. Much of the music does touch my soul, though, giving me pause to think of the author's experiences that have led to such music and lyrics.

And then an odd thought occurred to me recently...what music would I like to have played at my funeral?

And so I'm coming up with a little list--no where complete--I do hope I have some years left to put together at least a full CD's worth. I imagine that it'd be cool to have such a CD distributed at my funeral, so folks could enjoy it some time later.

Here's what's on my list so far--

Nina Simone--"I'm Feeling Good"
Kris Kristofferson--"Why me Lord?"
"Un Dia a La Vez"
Spyra Gyra--"Morning Dance"
"How Great Thou Art"
"Pescador de los Hombres"
"Yo Te Amo Mucho"
Herb Alpert and the TJB--"The Lonely Bull"
"The Shaker Song"

Here's a link to Nina Simone's song.

Catholic educaton is on my reading desk...

2009-04-28T08:37:00.002-05:00

...right now, consisting of two texts that I eagerly anticipate completing.

The first is The Street Stops Here: A Year at a Catholic High School in Harlem, written by Patrick J. McCloskey. I am about 150 pages into this text right now, and I am riveted by the dynamics of running a Catholic school in the heart of Harlem. The individuals who make up the faculty and administration remind me of my years teaching at Catholic high schools--from St. Mary's Cathedral School, Mackin Catholic High School, Georgetown Preparatory School (more on that later), St. Michael's Academy and Antonian College Prep. Lots of schools--lots of drama. Lots of work. As Clifford Geertz, the noted sociologist might have said, these institutions, and the individuals that people them, are a part of the "thick description" of what these places are--full of life and hopes and dreams and meaning...some of it not so productive, seemingly, but certainly effecting lives and potential.

As I read The Street Stops Here, that realization strikes close to my heart.

The other text I have just begun to read touches upon an experience I lived for three years of my life. God and Man at Georgetown Prep: How I Became a Catholic Despite 20 Years of Catholic Schooling, by Mark Gauvreau Judge, is a brief educational memoir wherein the author recounts his education at Catholic institutions in light of his own desires for faith and reflections on the example of faith left by his father, a devout Catholic. I have only begun to read a few of these pages, though I look forward to reading it, as I spent 1984-87 as a prefect in the boarding school (Judge's experience, from what I can gather, covers 1980-84). Some of the faculty and staff he vividly reflects upon stir up vivid recollections in me as well. Fr. Schmidt, Fr. Nicola, Ed Joyce, Fr. Byrne. There are so many others...

One of the questions I have as I read these texts is the experience of how Catholicism is translated into a specific context, and the understanding of what it means to be Catholic by the principals in the institution. The author of the first text is not a Catholic, but comes at the Catholic educational tradition from the perspective of a learned student, whereas the author of the second text had been immersed in Catholic practice and education from birth. How these square with my own experience and understanding of Catholicism will be interesting for me to consider.

I imagine that may not be much squaring at all; perhaps only in the broad, general sense.

The 3rd Monday of Easter...

2009-04-27T09:10:00.002-05:00

...gives me occasion to write...things are slowing down here with my academic work, and I have been able to manage my recovery from my recent knee surgery adequately.

I have not written so much in the last several weeks...the reasons are the same...lots of work, both professionally and personally. It's really difficult for me to get a handle around it all, let alone having time to sit and reflect about some things of some import. That used to bug me to a substantial degree, but I'm learning to live with it. And be peaceful about it. It's all ok.

I do want to take time to sit and reflect on vital matters, although these matters that are not so important in the grand scheme of things. I just look for some time to reaffirm for me the simplicity and the gravity of things...in work, in family, in the daily intercourse of events.

Life is good...there is no doubt in me about that. Whether I forget that, or don't realize that, or fail to act on that on occasion, I believe that truth to remain. I don't know how I came to that realization, whether I received it from my parents and their indefatigable optimism, or from some other life event, or from some revealed truth that has been handed down to me. But I believe that, even in the face of all that is contrary, even in the face of death or it's maddening sister....mystery.

That is the message on this 3rd Monday of Easter...life is good...it has triumphed over death, and awaits us beyond the wisps of obfuscation and doubt.

Folks certainly are angry about Notre Dame's...

2009-03-24T07:01:00.002-05:00

...decision to invite President Barack Obama to give the commencement speech at their spring graduation.

Not only that...Notre Dame is also giving Pres. Obama an honorary degree in law!

This is a bomb set off by Notre Dame that I do not understand. And there are many, many others who are angry at these actions.

It is important to engage a variety of opinions and perspectives in a continuing dialogue essential to the political, social and cultural fabric of society, but I do not believe that giving this distinction to Pres. Obama is a way to promote this dialogue. I do not agree with all of the positions staked out by a variety of scholars and pundits in the National Review Online Symposium (link above), but I am inclined to agree that Notre Dame has taken a mis-step here.

Receiving communion...

2009-02-20T08:03:00.002-06:00

"...means that you're in agreement with what the Church teaches..." says Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, Colorado.

I'm not so sure that's what I am thinking of when I receive communion.

For me, it's less a cognitive acceptance of what Church teaches and more of an encounter with Christ present in the community gathered in worship, along with all the others gathered together throughout the world in the celebration of the Eucharist.

It's not so much a reception of Church dogma, but a unification with Christ and that community that derives life and sustenance from the Risen Lord now and throughout the ages.

No disrespect to Archbishop Chaput, but his characterization of the meaning of the Eucharist is delimiting its mystical and substantial reality.

It's not a check-off on Church teaching; it's life.

It may be that Archbishop is trying to put pressure on and rein in way-ward Catholics, as his characterization was given in a response to House Speaker's Nancy Pelosi's visit with Pope Benedict recently. Even so, such a characterization is dubious and possibly disrespectful.

Let's not make the Body and Blood of Christ a battleground between Catholics. Such an action will only serve to divide more still.

Congratulations to Arturo Chavez...

2009-02-06T08:49:00.002-06:00

...President of the Mexican American Catholic College, which is just about a 5 minute drive north from Our Lady of the Lake University.

Arturo has been named to President Obama's Council of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

Fr. Larry Snyder, President of Catholic Charities, has also been named...a strong Catholic presence will be on this council.

When I first read the story on the Washington Post website yesterday, I fired off a congratulatory email to Arturo, but noted that the story got the place wrong. The story located the Mexican American Catholic College in Austin, Texas, not San Antonio.

I then emailed the authors of the story, noting the mistake, as well as their mistakenly naming the College as the Mexican American Cultural Center.

I received very quick responses from one of the authors. It's correct now...

Congratulations again to Arturo, MACC and San Antonio. It will interesting to see how this council manages government grants to these institutions, particularly in light of Obama's positions that are contrary to official Catholic teaching.

It's about time that the Vatican is holding the "ultra-conservative" bishops accountable...

2009-02-04T11:03:00.002-06:00

...and I am interested to see what their response will be.

These "pre-Vatican II" bishops, who have rejected the authority of the popes since before John XXIII, are not easily won over.

Not only has the Vatican called for Bishop Williamson to recant his recent comments that Jews were not gassed during WWII, and that far fewer than 6 million lost life, but they have also called for recognition of "the teachings of Vatican II and of post-conciliar popes" in order to be in full communion with the church.

That's a tall order for them, I think.

But it is necessary, and I'm happy that the Bishop of Rome (Benedict XVI) has been making some demands of them.

We had a special thrill on Sunday...

2009-02-03T13:52:00.002-06:00

...and no, it wasn't the Super Bowl.

Fr. Jim Rutkowski came by my father-in-laws house to bless it. It was special having him over, as I don't believe we've ever had a house-blessing.

Fr. Jim had been informing the parish about his intention to visit all homes of the parish during the month of January for a special blessing.

So when he came over, I didn't really know what kind of blessing to expect. But he broke out a crayon and inscribed over the door "20+C+M+J+09."

Which I translate to mean "May Caspar, Melchior and Jasper (the Three Kings) bless this home in the year of our Lord, 2009."

May they indeed...thanks, Fr. Jim.

I had a brief opportunity to tell Fr. Jim of my work, and I did not expect what he then shared with me..."I'll have to keep you in mind for formation of the deacons of San Antonio."

Fr. Jim is the director of the deaconate program for the Archdiocese of San Antonio!

Georgetown Prep, that all-boys Jesuit school...

2009-01-28T09:00:00.002-06:00

...in North Betheseda, Maryland was in the Washington Post a couple of days ago, much to my surprise.

In a column written for the "On Faith" section, Mark Judge, a former student at Georgetown Prep, talks of the poor quality of his Catholic religious education at Prep during the early eighties.

The surprising thing for me was that, I was present at Georgetown Prep from 1984-1987, as a prefect for the boarding students. I read with great interest his brief reflections on the people and manner of Catholic religious education.

His was not a positive experience.

Now, I was not responsible for any religious education at Prep during those years. As a prefect, I was responsible for making sure the boys got their homework done, provided a listening ear on occasion, and took the guys out on some weekend excursions (see some basketball games, concerts, etc.). It was a wonderful, learning and growing experience for me.

Judge never came my way, in fact he was probably before my time, and a "day-hop" at that. But I look forward to reading his text, "God and Man at Georgetown Prep" to see what he says about his experience.

I'll keep you posted on what I think of his ruminations...

Fifty years ago yesterday...

2009-01-26T11:33:00.002-06:00

...Pope JohnXXIII proclaimed his intention to open an ecumenical council.

Unexpected, many faithful and others wondered what the reason for such a council could be...most, if not all, of the other councils, were called to address a specific, fundamental issue challenging the church.

Such as, the nature of Jesus--fully God? Fully man? Or, the nature of salvation--only faith? and works?

In 1959, no such issues were present--actually, all seemed to be going well in the Catholic Church. Attendance was strong and the seminaries were full.

Pope John XXIII perceived a problem, as did other ecclesiastical leaders and theologians--the Catholic Church had never engaged the modern period of intellectual insights, whether scientific, philosophical, economical, etc.--and the Church had become increasingly isolated from the modern world.

Pope John XXIII wanted to open the windows to all the Spirit to blow in...aggiornamento...updating to modern times.

In many ways, the Church is continuing to update herself even 50 years later...an updating that Pope John XXIII may not have even been able to forsee.

May the Spirit continue to be with the Church as this aggiornamento continues in increasingly complex times.

Who knew? Our Lady of Guadalupe is at the top of the list...

2009-01-23T09:25:00.002-06:00

...of most visited religious sites in the world.

I would put her site in the top ten, perhaps top five, but #1? That's a lofty number.

I am surprised that according to this study, the top sites are found to be in the Christian tradition. What about Mecca, which attracts about 3 million adherents a year, as well as the Kumbha Mela, the largest religious festival in India (although this festival takes place every six or so years), attracts about 70 million adherents!

Now that's a lot of folks!

Today is the anniversary of that dubious Supreme Court decision...

2009-01-23T09:08:00.003-06:00

...Roe vs. Wade.

That decision protected the right to choose for each individual in the United States and, on the surface, that is certainly a human, natural right to uphold and defend.

But in today's world, we must be wise enough to understand that such a choice includes tremendous responsibility, and, in the constant flux of today's societies, the potential for great harm.

This is not new--with every choice comes the capacity and potential for great good and great harm. One of the insights of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition is to use such choice for the good.

"Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live" cries out the Deutoronimist. This is the clarion call that all people of faith must proclaim and practice not only in their own lives but also in their daily practices. These are the choices that will assuredly engender continued life and community.

Even so, our new president Obama has re-stated his commitment to freedom of choice and Roe vs. Wade--a commitment not well received by pro-lifers in Washington D.C. met there to protest the decision.

Our prayers, and practices, continue...

The Religious Studies and Theology Dept...

2009-01-22T08:05:00.002-06:00

...of Our Lady of the Lake will soon consider developing and sponsoring a lectures series based upon the mission and vision of OLLU.

It has been a long while since we (the RLST dept. of OLLU) has sponsored a lecture, let alone a lecture series.

In the past we have had Latino/a theologians, such as Fr. Virgilio Elizondo, Fr. Gustavo Gutierrez, Dr. Renata Furst, and the late Dr. Anita De Luna, MCDP. We've also had ordinaries, such as Bishop John McCarthy, and speakers from other religions, such as Surwat Husain from the local Muslim community.

So, we had a nice run in the past, but we need to get back on track.

The RLST Dept. will meet soon to plan and discuss possibilities--I'd like to think that there are many out there--and I hope that we have something to announce not too far into this semester. I also hope that we can make some sort of a splash, but not like the splash St. Mary's College is making in California. At this campus, later this month, the controversial Bill Ayers is scheduled to speak about his life's work, and how it has involved the pursuit of social justice.

We may remember Bill Ayers as the man whose relationship with Barack Obama was scrutinized, particularly how much Obama embraced Ayers beliefs and perspectives. Ayers was a member of a domestic radical group that railed and acted against the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s. This group, the Weathermen, was responsible for several terrorists acts, some which involved loss of life.

So, we'd like to create a splash, but not one like St. Mary's College must be enduring in California.

What a day yesterday was...

2009-01-21T12:05:00.004-06:00

...full of celebration, joy and promise.

Now the work begins...

Happy Inauguration Day!

2009-01-20T08:03:00.002-06:00

There's lots of excitement in the air with the swearing in of Barack Obama. If I were still living in the area, I'd like to think I would brave the crowds and cold in order to be in the presence of the history-making day. But I will watch with great interest from the campus of OLLU, ready to reflect and act upon the meaning of this event.

I was sad to miss the Inter-faith service at Central Catholic Church in celebration of MLK, Jr. day. I had gone the past several years, and enjoyed its liturgical brilliance.

There's always next year...

It's an especially cool morning for me...

2009-01-16T08:42:00.002-06:00

...even though it is only 42 degrees, with a high expected to be around 50 or so. I'm partial to warmer weather, so any cold of note gets me wishing for warmer temps.

The weather is of interest to many here in San Antonio and in Washington D.C. For San Antonians, the Martin Luther King, Jr. events kick off today, culminating in the great march on Monday. About a 100,000 folks from all over San Antonio and South Texas participate in this event, swelling with pride and purpose in order to effect change for the better in San Antonio and this country.

I have participated off and on for the last several years, but this year will not be able to attend. Oddly, I have a doctor's appointment at that same time, checking out an MRI that may tell me whether or not I have a torn meniscus, as my doctor suspects.

But I was present at City Council Chambers yesterday in order to witness Providence Preparatory School's reception of an award from City Council noting their recycling efforts last semester. While there, I witnessed the recognition of the MLK, Jr. March Commission--a large and earnest group that, by the comments of all the city council members, really do a bang-up job of planning the largest march in the country.

I remember I was in attendance one year when John Lewis was in attendance, he a contemporary of Martin Luther King, Jr., and a participant of marches to Selma and many other civil rights activities. I remember his remarks when he addressed the crowd after the march. "When I was told that San Antonio had the largest march in the United States, I said to myself, 'San Antonio?! Are there even African-Americans in San Antonio?' So I had to come see for myself!'"

And what he must have seen, as I did that year, was a vibrant, committed community, working to make Martin Luther King's dream a reality here in San Antonio. And I think we have taken real steps in direction.

So, make plans to go to the march--I won't see you there this year, but I plan on being there next year. The weather is supposed to be fine, although the same many not be true for the Inauguration on Tuesday. Very cold temps are expected there.

One of my Christmas presents from my wife...

2009-01-15T08:51:00.003-06:00

...was a gift certificate to the famous San Antonio company, Paris Hatters. So, I gleefully went in a couple of weeks ago, looking for a small brimmed hat, somewhat like the Carlos Santana hat, or even one of my great role models growing up as a young boy in South Texas, a Tom Landry hat. I finally settled on an Atwood Cowboy hat, made in Mexico, where the vaqueros began.

I plan to wear it for practical reasons--to keep the sun off during my disc golf outings, and to and from places where there is abundant sun, as there has been the last few months here in San Antonio.

Besides, rodeo season is coming up soon here in San Antonio, so there will be even more need to don the hat.

First day of Spring classes!

2009-01-14T08:24:00.001-06:00

May God bless everyone at Our Lady of the Lake with a fruitful semester!

Can you feel the excitement building...?

2009-01-13T08:43:00.002-06:00

...as the day moves closer to the inauguration? It's like a breath of fresh air enthusiastically anticipated.

Obama already has put together a cabinet that reflects diversity and fresh ideas, but his selection of individuals he has asked to pray at the various inaugural functions also shows diversity. Obama was sharply criticized for selecting Rick Warren to pray at the swearing-in ceremony (Warren noted for, critics point out, openly supporting California proposition 8, which made same-sex marriage illegal), but since that time he has asked Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay cleric that has caused no small stir within his own Episcopal and Anglican Church. In addition, Obama has asked the leader of the Disciples of Christ Church, Rev. Sharon Watkins, to lead a closing prayer at the beautiful National Washington Cathedral. Her congregation is certainly open to the homosexual/lesbian/transgendered community, and I anticipate her prayers to reflect that sensibility.

Lots of different people, lots of different prayers, lots of stuff to look forward to.

I will be listening with earnest ear. I will be listening to the various voices joined in prayer, and I hope to hear great diversity and, because of that diversity, even greater unity.

I went to Mass yesterday at Mission Concepcion...

2009-01-12T09:21:00.003-06:00

...and I smiled when one of my favorite songs was announced as communion song..."Yahweh, I know you are here."

I've blogged about this song before, in my previous blog, dated Friday, August 15. I bemoaned the recent "banning" of this song by the U.S. Catholic Bishop's Office of Divine Worship out of respect to the Jewish faithful and tradition, which does not utter that intimate, profound name of God out of deep respect.

I bemoaned its ban, not because I wish to be disrespectful, but because it stresses a unique posture and relationship towards God--one of intimacy. And out of this intimacy comes confidence, strength and fearlessness.

Well, the song was announced yesterday, and I was looking forward to singing it, particularly the first word "Y-A-W-H-E-H." Yet, when it came time, the excellent choir elongated a replacement word: "L-O-R-D."

It was still beautiful, but missed something...for me, it's equivalent to singing a song to my wife by only using her title and refraining from using her name.

Cultural differences, I suppose.

Still, the liturgy was beautiful...

A Central Catholic High School Teacher...

2009-01-09T08:28:00.003-06:00

...was terminated due to her November marriage to a man who had been married and divorced years earlier.

The problem? The man she married had not secured an annulment for the first marriage--considered valid according to Catholic canon law.

I can only imagine the embarrassment of all involved here, but the institution--Central Catholic High School--bears the responsibility of developing its faculty to understand and practice the Catholic faith.

A more pastoral approach towards the faculty member who planned to marry would likely have revealed the fact that, indeed, the marriage had been annulled. Not only would this have saved all involved suffering and embarrassment, but it would have been an instructive moment for all parties as well.

More importantly, what this situation reveals is the terrible mess Catholic instruction has been on marriages. Such a complex reality, marriages have suffered the brunt of changing Catholic teaching (before 1970, divorce for Catholics was considered a mortal sin and refused Holy Communion; such is not the case any more, as long as the divorced do not remarry, or, if remarried, secure an annulment).

Pope Benedict has noted the "complex and troubling pastoral problems" presented by Catholic marriages among the divorced and remarried. It is my prayer that this problem be attended to positively, creatively orientating itself towards life in Christ and community, rather than stressing a stern, literal adherence to canon law. It is my feeling that the Body of Christ yearns for it.

I have begun attending Mission Concepcion...

2009-01-08T09:16:00.002-06:00

...on the near south-east side of San Antonio.

I have been attending since mid-November, drawn to it by its location, its history/tradition, and its liturgy.

The music reverberates through the intimate chapel, and the blending of instruments (flute, saxophone, bongos, guitars) and voices (the priest regularly plainsongs penitential rites and prefaces) is beautiful.

I get a little thrill from the knowledge that Mission Concepcion was established a generation before the American colonies' declaration of independence from England.

The grounds of the mission are maintained by the National Park Service, who also have a nice little bookstore next to the mission chapel. Educators get 20% off of purchases--a nice deal.

I look forward to continue worshiping at Mission Concepcion.

Let's continue to pray for rain...

2009-01-07T10:32:00.002-06:00

...as we certainly do need it.

We finished this year with the driest 18 months in recorded history.

My parents always told me that they got married when South Texas was going through a terrible drought (April 1955), where livestock would eat the bark of trees looking for moisture.

I had it in my mind that I'd never live to see such a drought--but I guess that is isn't the case.

So, let's pray for rain.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-06T08:25:00.003-06:00

It has been so very long since I last posted, but the new year brings new hope and fresh resolve to maintain this blog in a consistent, meaningful manner.

In some ways, I was over-whelmed last fall with classes and some new administrative responsibilities. I am looking forward to this semester, where I have a course release to manage the Honors program. This ought to free me up to maintain the quality of my classes, and plan and develop not only the Honors program, but some of the other important (essential?) aspects of Catholic higher learning, such as the Religious Studies and Theology program.

So, I come to this with new resolve, and perhaps served by clearer vision and pertinent experience.

Personally, I would like to carve out some time for greater attention to personal well-being--that is, prayer, exercise and writing. I have found this to be a challenge. I find that once I have some time, little energy is left to do some meaningful writing, prayer or practice in a particular interest. I plan to make a commitment to integrate my desires with all of my work and leisure time.

For the students enrolled in my classes this semester, I hope this blog will give additional information on my academic and faith interests--Catholicism, particularly the Church, world spirituality, and Mexican American-Latino/a experience and reflection.

I wish all a meaningful semester.

Election Day USA!

2008-11-04T15:01:00.002-06:00

Reports are that poll sites are crowded here in San Antonio.

I am thankful that I took advantage of early voting last week, and even then I had to wait in line for 15 minutes--unusual for our polling place on the near south side.

I think Barack Obama will win. If he does, it will be something of a rapturous experience, for many US citizens are keenly sensitive to the struggle for civil rights.

Yet, the fantastic thing about an Obama win would be that a vote for him would not be solely for civil rights reasons.

The man is talented. Presidential.

Either way, whether Obama or McCain wins, it will be a long time before I can exhale.

If Obama wins, I will fear for his safety throughout his presidency (remnants of the shadow side of the Civil Rights era).

If McCain wins, I will fear for his health--that he makes the full 4 years--only to keep the inexperienced Sarah Palin away from the Oval Office.

"The Bishop is coming! The Bishop is coming!"

2008-10-23T08:59:00.002-05:00

This is what parishioners of St. John's Church at Honesdale, PA must have yelled out when they saw Archbishop Martino's limo pull up to attend a political forum organized by the parish.

It was reported that the Bishop's intention was to listen to what was being said, especially how they interpreted Church teaching.

But something he heard set him off.

From the Catholic News Agency report:

...he (Archbishop Martino) continued, “Certain groups and individuals have used their own erroneous interpretations of Church documents, particularly the U.S. Bishops’ statement on Faithful Citizenship, to justify their political positions and to contradict the Church’s actual teaching on the centrality of abortion, euthanasia and embryonic stem cell research.”

When the bishop heard the speakers using the bishops’ statement to justify their choice for president, he reminded the audience that those “groups and individuals who make statements about Catholic teaching do not speak with the same authority or authenticity as their bishop.”

The prelate then clarified his authority as bishop and the Church’s teachings on abortion as an election issue.

“No USCCB document is relevant in this diocese,” said Martino according to the Wayne Independent. “The USCCB doesn’t speak for me.”

“The only relevant document ... is my letter,” he continued, “There is one teacher in this diocese, and these points are not debatable.”

These are startling words, going beyond the political debate. Archbishop Martino chose to play his "authority" card, and according to Church doctrine, there is truth in his words. The archbishop is the lead teacher of his archdiocese. His teachings and authority have precedence over other bishops from other dioceses.

Yet, and this is a big yet, such focus on authority must be balanced by the essential communal nature of Catholicism. Catholicism is substantially understood as a community united in Christ, not as people who follow their bishop.

Archbishop Martino's words lack the charism of community, and indicate real problems with the community of bishops across the United States, and perhaps throughout the world.

What is the "Sensus Fidelium" on Barack Obama?

2008-10-22T14:46:00.003-05:00

Is it moving towards its Catholic leaders, dismissing Sen. Obama and the Democratic party as hopelessly contrary to life in its pro-choice platform?

E.J. Dionne, Jr., suggests that U.S. Catholics may be supporting Sen. Obama in spite of the teaching and proclamations of their bishops.

Moreover, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, Gabino Zavala, stresses that Catholicism is not a "one-issue" church, in light of several bishops who have suggested that Catholic are bound to vote for pro-life candidates.

Zavala notes: "What I believe, and what the church teaches, is that one abortion is too many. That's why I believe abortion is so important. But in light of this, there are many other issues we need to bring up, other issues we should consider, other issues that touch the reality of our lives."

It will be very interesting to see how the votes break down after the looming November 4 election.

This is such a hot and exciting political season...

2008-10-22T14:05:00.002-05:00

...and Catholics are in the thick of it.

I have discussed some of the issues in my Religious Studies/Theology classes, as they give those who study Catholicism and other religious issues an opportunity to consider some of the fundamentals of the faith, and the relationship between faith and action.

One of the issues that many Catholic bishops are trumpeting now is the abortion issue. This morning, San Antonio's own Archbishop Gomez has weighed in, stressing that abortion is not just a Catholic issue, but is fundamentally a human rights issue.

Archbishop Gomez takes pains to chide Senator Joe Biden, Democratic candidate for Vice-President, for explaining his pro-choice stance as consistent with his role as an elected representative of his state (Delaware). While he believes and follows the pro-life teaching of the Catholic Church, he can not impose this belief through legislation, as this Catholic belief is at odds with other beliefs.

Simply said, the Catholic teaching on abortion is simply belief, according to Sen. Biden, a belief that is alongside many other beliefs regarding the conception of life. As a belief, Sen. Biden feels that this can not be legislated into law.

Returning now to Archbishop Gomez' statement: The conception of life is not solely a Catholic issue; it is fundamentally a human issue. Hence, the laws on abortion (Roe vs. Wade) can and must be changed, regardless of belief.

I submit that Archbishop Gomez' declaration is itself a declaration of belief. Many Catholic leaders today are hanging their hat on the irrefutable conclusion that contemporary science has apparently arrived at: human life begins at conception.

Many Catholic leaders have melded their belief with the science of the day, forgetting that faith is just that: faith. Such a faith functions as certitude for me, and I live accordingly. That current science coincides with my faith is a happy happenstance, but I am not going to go out and wield such scientific fact upon others who have not come upon that faithful conclusion. In this case, my faith comes first, and I will not use anything other than faith to "convince" others of the veracity of this faith. If I were to do so, then it would not be an act without meaning or resonance. And as such, open to change.

And that is not conversion--certainly not a conversion based upon faith.

I certainly agree with Archbishop Gomez' position of pro-life, but I disagree with his method. It is based upon and understanding of science and science is not what the Christian faith is built upon.

Blessings to Archbisop Gomez as he speaks out on behalf of immigrants to the United States...

2008-10-08T13:58:00.002-05:00

calling for a "moratorium on deportations, federal work site raids, and new anti-immigration legislation until after the upcoming elections. He suggested that instead of deportations, which he said break up families, illegal immigrants should be subject to 'intensive, long-term community service.'”

The Catholic News Agency reported on a speech Archbishop Gomez gave at an immigration rally in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Archbishop Gomez, pastor of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, has long been an advocate of USA immigration reform, stating that the present situation is contrary to Gospel values of hospitality, love and service.

His words at the rally come from the heart of the Gospel.

Are you listening, Senators McCain and Obama? Are you listening, adherents of McCain and Obama? Faithful Catholics should pressure their candidates to act on the behalf of justice and hospitality.

We are getting ready for the Dia de los Muertos celebration...

2008-10-07T08:41:00.002-05:00

but we plan to change it up a bit.

In past years, we have used the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, located on the west-side of the campus, tucked behind the beautiful Sacred Heart Chapel.

Dr. Bernadino Verastique, may he rest in peace, instituted the celebration about twenty years ago, and it is a tradition that we have continued to celebrate.

I must admit, I am not given to this sort of thing, but I have been encouraged to organize and lead it, and I have complied.

But this year, I'm considering changing things up.

Different place for the ofrenda, different route, shared presiders...I think this will involve the community more, and make me more comfortable about the nature of the ritual in this particular context--a community sharing recolletions of those dearly departed.