Author: Paul Zalonski

Béshara Raï elected new Maronite Patriarch

Beshara Rai.jpegOnly 20 years junior to the out-going patriarch, His Beatitude Nasrallah Peter Sfeir, the Maronite bishops elected today Bishop Béshara Raï, 71, as the new patriarch. He’s  77th patriarch of the Maronites; Raï takes up the See of St Peter (Peter’s first diocese before moving to Rome), adopting the name Peter. He will be known as “His Beatitude, Patriarch Béshara Peter Raï.“

He succeeds Patriarch Sfeir after his 25 years of service. It is expected that Patriarch Béshara Peter will be enthroned on 25 March.

I am happy for His Beatitude’s new opportunity to serve the Church. I met him a number of years ago and he’s a wonderful person.
His Beatitude has been a priest for 43 years and a bishop for nearly 25 years and since 1990 he’s been bishop of Jbeil (Byblos). In Lebanon, the Maronite Christians number about a third of the 4 million population.

Are chickens people, too?

chicken.jpgOne of the NY “news” rags that I periodically glance at (no pun intended) told me that a study at the University of Bristol (UK) determined that chickens are people. I didn’t know that. Did you? Here’s the story:

Chickens have feelings, according to British veterinarians. The researchers took a group of mother hens and their chicks and blew puffs of air at the chicks. This caused the birds distress and sent their heart rates up, reducing the temperature of their eyeballs –a well-known sign of stress. The mother hens showed exactly the same signs of stress when they were hit with puffs of air, too …
I wonder what the chickens feel when you tell them Colonel Sanders is coming for tea.
Now you can see why some people people do and think silly things about humanity.

Patrick Madrid speaking in NYC March 18 & 19

Patrick Madrid speaking pic.jpgThe Siena Forum for Faith and Culture will be hosting Patrick Madrid -of EWTN fame– at the Church of Saint Catherine of Siena (NYC) this
coming weekend!


We are delighted to have Patrick with us for the the weekend!


Madrid’s talks are very promising as I believe that they will open
new doors to knowing Christ, loving the Church, and spreading the Good News
that Christ is risen from the dead!  For those who ask the questions, “Can an educated person
be Catholic?” Or, “Why be Catholic?”, Madrid’s talks will give good
answers. Even for those of us who are consider life-long Catholics Patrick
Madrid will be helpful.


The Church of Saint Catherine of Siena is
pleased to host Patrick Madrid for a 2-day seminar based on his
book Search and Rescue: How You Can Help People Come Home to the
Church.

Continue reading Patrick Madrid speaking in NYC March 18 & 19

Charitable work and the common fund: 2 wings of the Christian witness

candles.jpgI always look for evidence –that is, I am looking for light on a situation that may not be very clear for me– i.e., for the reality, the truth and beauty of a vigorous Catholic life by seeing if people are willing to live the Gospel. We do our best given the graces we’ve received and our own open hearts. I find myself in need to know that others belief that that the promises (and extraordinary claims) of Christ are true and are lived. Novel, right? Not really. We Catholics have been concerned for the welfare of others since the time Jesus and because our Christianity has its roots in Judaism, even before Jesus. Just read the Old Testament and dig into the narrative there. But it is Jesus gives a new lens by which to see life and to live differently today by the fact of the Paschal Mystery (His life, death, resurrection and ascension).

When one follows the lay ecclesial movement of Communion and Liberation (CL) you quickly find out that you belong to a group of friends larger than oneself and that we aim to care for the needs (the faith, education, culture, social assistance) of others. The idea is rooted in what we read int he Acts of the Apostles and various letters of Saint Paul. Our doing good is not just another forum of activism. It is based on the Savior’s life and example.
Here are two points made by Father Julián Carrón, President of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation and the successor of Father Luigi Giussani, to flesh out these two wings of our companionship –either as Catholics who live their life only in the parish, and for those who belong to a group like CL.

Continue reading Charitable work and the common fund: 2 wings of the Christian witness

JPII Generation says thanks to their hero

Headline Bistro3.jpgHeadline Bistro is collecting testimony on the ways in which Pope John Paul II has been influential in our lives. The so-called “JPII Generation” is a powerfully impacted by the life, ministry and teaching of this giant of Catholicism.

If you can form your response tightly, the Headline Bistro folks are looking for 500 words on  why you are thankful to Pope John Paul II.
Pope John Paul II will be beatified on 1 May 2011.