Renewing Maryknoll

Marist Brother Sean Sammon gave a wonderful, week-long retreat to the retirement community as well as the residents here in the main building. From everything I heard from the men, they appreciated his simple, straightforward presentations.

Here is a synopsis of his talk on Thursday, offering us the Virgin Mary as the model of discipleship.

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There is a dying and rising that we must be about, individually and as an institution. Renewal is the work of the Holy Spirit. Our job is to get out of the way.

While the future may be with the Laity, there are still people called to exclusively religious life. The 1960s may have been an aberration with regards to numbers of vocations. We must look back over a whole century to get a more realistic view.

Many young people do not know a priest, Brother or Sister personally.

Young people have more choices than we did a few decades ago.

Some congregations have made a conscious decision to die. This is a shame because the congregation does not belong its members, but to the church.

We can create a fatalistic atmosphere or be open, inviting and welcoming.

The younger generation has not been catechized as we were.
They live in a world filled with questions.
The young are not conservative or traditional. They do not really know the past as we know and lived it. We must enter a dialogue with them.

A cross-section of young people show the same range of opinions as we have.

We must keep an open mind about views different than ours.

Imagine what parents think about the realities of religious life.

Each of us and our lives are the best advertisement for religious life.

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Mary is a model of vocational discernment. She pondered these things in her heart.

Jesus is the ideal vocation promoter. "Come, follow me."

Vocation is tied up in our life dream. On whom or in what do you place your heart?

Most young people don't feel worthy of religious life.

Young people have a great respect for priests and religious.

Mary at the Annunciation:

A call
Hesitancy
Many questions
Growing awareness that the call comes from God
Leap of faith.

A vocation is not a one time call, but a life-long conversation.

For some it begins in the high school years or university.

First reaction: let's hope these feelings go away.
The persistence of the Lord.
What can we do to change the perception?

Prior to Vatican II we knew who we were.

There was reinforcement for making this choice.

We began to ask: what makes us different?

Families became less sure about who wears.

What encourages young people to join today?

Zeal for mission
Love for people
Simplicity
Love of God
Spirit of welcome and hospitality.

Young people prefer priests, brothers and sisters who are personable, approachable, outgoing; less comfortable with those who seem remote or stern.

Retreats and "come and see" programs are effective.

It's a mistake to wait till after a prospect is post college graduation.

Families are smaller now; young people make commitments at a later age, they have more choices.

Celibate chastity doesn't make sense to a number of young people.
Target specific age groups (high school and university age students).

Invite.
Welcome.
,Be a living example of God's Good News.

Young people are looking for answers, stability, rediscovering traditional practices of faith.

They believe in external signs. (Habits, crosses, tattoos [I added this to see who's paying attention.])

Talk to individual young people and resist temptation to stereotype or generalize.

They are looking for active community life and a vibrant life of prayer.

Are some of our present structures and attitudes doing more to discourage vocations rather than promote them?

Of this and that

ANOTHER SIGN OF THE END TIMES: Whilst informally discussing just when salvation occurs according to Roman Catholic soteriology, Rabbi Veneroso of Amsterdam opined "At the moment one decides to give his or life over to Christ" but Rabbi Zunno of Williamsburg countered, "Only at the moment of death."

He was of the opinion that anytime before death opened the person up to sinning and therefore salvation could only be offered once that option passed. I appealed to the Gospel passage where Jesus calls Zachaias out of his tree and proposes going to his house for a little nosh. Zachaias responds by repaying any he may have defrauded over and above what the Law required, to which Jesus responded "Today (emphasis added) salvation has come to this house."

Mike was not convinced by anything Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth said, so we appealed to Rabbi Sivalon of Scranton who blew in from Pennsylvania (no doubt during the wind storm we suffered yesterday). Sivalon sought to distinguish between salvation through Jewish eyes and those of a Catholic persuasion when Rabbi Frazier of Sheol-on-Styx happened by. Zunno pleaded his case to him to which Frazier admonished: "Don't get hung up on death, Mike."

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In other news: this came in some time ago from a loyal reader when we were discussing the all-elusive "Renewal of Maryknoll" topic. He wishes to remain anonymous to protect his cajones. His input:

"(I'm) blown away by the lack of participation up there at community: Eucharist, Monday rosary etc."

He remarked, "This place (Mother Knoll) is like any other condominium in Westchester. A bunch of old guys showing up for meals and TV. No seeming obligation to community life, prayer, Eucharist. Used to blow me away watching the crowd avoid the cemetery after a funeral Mass and head to the feed bin. Alas!!! If there ever will be a revival.....that stuff has to change first!

I pointed out that even when weather prohibits our going to the cemetery and we proceed directly to lunch after a funeral Mass, some guys are already down there finishing their meal.

He concluded: "Solidarity with the young fellows (is important) to whom (communal prayer) obviously has value and meaning. Many of our guys are waiting for and working for the birth of the "New Church". Well and good, I suppose. BUT....we are going to die before the new church is born....if we don't change our trajectory."

So the question is: when will salvation come to Maryknoll? Let's hope it's before our collective demise!

Renewal, reform or rehash?

OUR 100th ANNIVERSARY is just a year away and the interest and range of emotions and excitement around the Knoll these days goes all the way from A to B. We know for sure that the special Mass commissioned by "On Eagle's Wings" composer Michael Joncas is complete, even using the as-yet-to-be-approved revisions in the English liturgy. Has the date of its debut performance been set?

Actually, regarding anything articles, prayers or pictures to appear in MARYKNOLL or Revista Maryknoll magazines, there are only nine months left, since the January 2011 issue must be finished by September 2010.

But I'm sure everything will be wonderful and memorable.

The question bounced about at many a meal in the dining room for many months now is: will this be an opportunity for more than just an elaborate and extended party? Will it be a rebirth or a swan song?

Fr. Mike Zunno, a delegate at the last Chapter, looks for ideas or suggestions as to what, if anything, we can do to bring about the renewal of Maryknoll.

"The Chapter and this Council made the mistake of treating Maryknollers like adults," he has said on more than one occasion.

He elaborates: "They want us to take the initiative and not wait for leadership to tell us what to do."

This is part of the Maryknoll paradox: some guys won't do anything that isn't sanctioned from on high, yet at the same time, for many good ideas, being officially pushed by leadership is the kiss of death. Those in leadership know the best ideas (at least those with the best chance for succeeding) come from below.

Some of the renewal (PTR) groups have continued to meet faithfully since before the last Chapter, but without networking with other groups how do these impact the Society as a whole?

At the Knoll we do get between two and ten men at Morning and Evening Prayer using the Christian Prayer breviary every weekday, but that's not a tenth of the guys in residence at the Knoll. Weekly Rosary for vocations each Monday draws a dozen guys. Community Masses are hit and miss. Many guys are retired or semi-retired and the operative and repeated syllables are TIRED.

Many have expressed hope that the Centennial celebrations don't emphasize the past at the expense of the future.

Granted the breviary, the rosary and yes, even the cassock, are part of Maryknoll's glorious past, where and what are the fresh ideas for the future?

Mike Zunno cuts to the chase by raising the provocative question: "What exactly is Maryknoll's mission going forward?"

Answer that and the rest should fall into place. Alas, raising this question only around the salad bar won't get us much beyond the feta cheese. We need to involve all the men (at least all who still have a pulse).

It would seem that as inspirational as Maryknoll's history and present membership may be, it's the guys currently in formation who must cultivate and share their vision with us if we are to have a future involving the Church in the U.S. in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people in other lands. Any ideas, guys?