Today is a celebration of Fatherhood. Father’s Day is an observance we’ve had since 1910.
Today, I had the distinct privilege to attend the rabbinical ordination of a colleague of mine. Gideon and I worked with the inter-seminary dialogue of the New York Seminaries, and so being present for a friend’s ordination was meaningful and educative (since until now I had never been to a rabbinical ordination).
I haven’t seen him in nearly 7 years, but I was very sad to hear of the death of Jesuit Father William W. Meissner, 79, the other day. A New York Province Jesuit priest who was trained as a psychiatrist at Harvard, Bill was a great man in my mind with lots of quirks, probably too many to speak of. Bill was the sort of man who didn’t suffer fools gladly; he was one of those Jesuits who worked very hard and play well but didn’t do pastoral work. His life as a priest is was dedicated to the ministry of research and teaching. All the same, I loved being on vacation with Bill and I remember fondly our many serious conversations. When I studied in Boston in the early 1990s he gave a series of lectures on the psychology of Saint Ignatius of Loyola which I attended and found incomprehensible; the lectures eventually became a book, Ignatius of Loyola: The Psychology of a Saint, you may have seen it. I have to admit that psychoanalyzing a dead saint is a bit weird –with or without a couch– but fascinating nonetheless because we got a glimpse into the heart and mind of terrific saint.
Being busy about many things affords one many distractions, which can be a good thing. Very often, being too busy and distracted offers no consolation and actually makes life less interesting, less thirsty for God, less able to hear the promptings of the Lord, less focused on substantial matters of life. Perhaps one can say less able to take serious our own reality. But life is not about measuring up to a standard as it is about a relationship, time spent in the company of the other person (though the other person be yourself).
Bishop Peter Anthony Rosazza, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford, celebrates his 75th birthday today.
Our prayers are with him as he makes this milestone.
Bishop Rosazza was ordained a bishop in 1978 (31 yrs a bishop) at the age of 43 by the great Archbishop John Francis Whealon.
Since I am from New Haven, Bishop Peter (as he’s known) is a legendary character. For one, he confirmed me in 1982 at Saint Stanislaus Church (New Haven, CT) and he’s been a tireless advocate for those living on the margins of society (the poor, the immigrant, the widow).
He’s been known as a good preacher of the Gospel and attentive teacher of the faith. Significantly, Bishop Peter is also been a friend to the Communion and Liberation group of New Haven for which are we deeply grateful.
Happy 75th birthday Bishop Peter!
Some have bats, we’ve got holes! Big, dangerous holes!
Last evening a segment of the faithful gathered at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for the Sacrifice of the Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Celestino Migliore, on the first anniversary of the death of a friend, Father Richard John Neuhaus. It is hard to conceive with ease that a year has past since Father Richard passed from life to Life. He died a year ago as a result of complications to cancer at 72.
Prayers were requested by my friend, Suzanne, for a
friend, Tina Lillig, one of the pioneers of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS)
here in the U.S., and indeed Director of the National Association of the CGS. Tina
suffered a stroke Friday afternoon while at work. She underwent surgery at
Loyola Medical Center (Chicago). Tina died early this morning. Here is the note
sent by her friends at CGS:
