Why we sin

TIGER WOODS' recent travails prompted an interesting discussion over the breakfast table. Among our numbers were Fr. Mike Zunno (Korea) and Fr. Dan Dolan (Taiwan). We sacerdotal types have heard thousands of confessions over the years. We've heard just about everything bad that people do. But an intriguing question arises: why do people sin?

Broadening the group beyond Catholic categories of mortal and venial, omission and commission that fulfill the prerequisites of 1) being wrong 2) knowing it is wrong and 3) being free and willing to do it anyway, let's condense the discussion to: why do people intentionally violate their own moral standards of right and wrong?

Mike suggested pride; Dan said greed. I offered low self-esteem. Another not-to-be dismissed reason: because it's fun. We are all right. There are probably as many reasons as there are people. A proud person refuses to admit wrong and continues in his or her offense until discovered or stopped. A greedy person always wants more. Why? ("Because he fears death." "Yes, Yes! Thank you for answering my question!" —Rose Castorini, Moonstruck)

But in men like Tiger Woods, incredibly talented, rich and famous, with a beautiful wife, why cheat?

1) Because he can

2) Because he feels entitled

3) Because it is risky

4) Because he thinks he can get away with it

5) Because he feels deprived

6) Because he feels depressed

7) Because he feels bored

We "holy" people sin out of a sense of compensation: "After all I've sacrificed, what's this little indulgence?"

We "institutionalized" people sin to manifest our independence: "I am not just a cog in this machine. See? Look what mischief I can do!"

Guilty people may sin to provoke God's wrath and unmask God's illusion of mercy.

Sad people may sin to escape their unhappiness. Lonely people may sin to ease their pain.

As we enter more deeply into Advent and do a little spiritual house-cleaning, instead of just confessing what we do, it may be beneficial to consider why we do it. Then, instead of focusing on how nasty we are, we might progress further in religious life by concentrating on how good God is.

A modest proposal

BR. VIANNY FLICK suggested to Sodexo that perhaps instead of Civil War trivia or the invention of the sewing machine by Elias Howe in 1846, it might be good to post pertinent events in Maryknoll's 98 year history at the entrance to the food line.

According to Flick, he got his head handed to him from "people upstairs." Fr. Ernie Lukaschek? Inquiring minds want to know, especially since, IMHO, this is a great idea. Certainly our archives can provide a steady supply of Maryknoll historical facts such as when certain "giants" joined or first set foot overseas, when certain new regions were added, and when exactly was Fr. Price's heart enshrined at the tomb of St. Bernadette in Navarre. (OK, maybe this is not the greatest thing to read just before lunch. Then again, it could be the start of a new Maryknoll diet: "Suppress your appetite! Read a disturbing factoid from our history!")

Seriously, as we await ideas and plans from our Centenary Committee, here is one that could be implemented immediately without endless meetings and minimal expense. Visitors, especially, would be edified to learn more about our history as they wait in the food line, the Battle of Antietem or the pedal-powered chain stitcher notwithstanding. Mayhaps as a member of the all-important Food Committee, I can revisit this proposal at next week's meeting.

Colbert Report

Richard (Ticket #2) & Carrie (Ticket #1)

Colbert Report

Tickets #4 & #3

Colbert Report

THANKS TO MS. CARRIE SEO, one of the Sunday School teachers at St. Paul's, Fr. Ed Szendrey and I got to watch a live taping of tonight's Colbert Report. Carrie's friend Richard rounded out our group that, owing to her planning and persistence (she waited in line at the studio on West 53rd St. from 2:30 on for the 7 p.m. shooting) we were able to garner tickets #1~4!

OK, so we finally get into the rather small studio that holds less than one hundred, and are seated in the second row. After a great warm-up routine by a stand-up comic whose name escapes me, out came Stephen Colbert to schmooze with the audience before the taping began. He invited questions. I asked, "What changes would you make if you were pope?" He responded, "I'd let priest get it on—legally. You know what I mean, get married."

Me, never known to let a good set-up line go by, added "Yes, but only if they love each other."

He was flumoxed and blubbered something before going on to the next question! My simple win.

The show was fascinating to watch with all the cameras and managers and prompters flying around.

Mr. Craig Watkins, D.A. from Dallas, was the guest. Watkins uses D.N.A. to exonerate men who have been imprisoned wrongfully for many years.

Colbert is probably the most popular, hip and funny Catholic commentator on TV. Hmm....maybe we can get him to do some schtick for our 100th.

"Everyone's fine" [movie review]

WOW. No apocalypse. No explosions. No chase scenes. No frickin' cgi fx. No violence. No sex or gratuitous nude scenes. Just wonderful acting by superb actors (Robert DeNiro and Drew Barrymore) with impeccable direction, crisp photography, great music and a tight plot.

Alas, this will not be the kind of multimillion dollar blockbuster that keeps Hollywood studios addicted to producing the mindless pap to muddle the minds of the teaming masses yearning to escape. More's the pity.

"Everyone's fine" celebrates the all-too-human condition of the dysfunctional family and the lies we tell or truths we withhold to maintain an illusion of normalcy.

Robert DeNiro plays Frank, a recent widower, who takes it upon himself to travel by bus and train around the country and surprise his four adult children whose busy lives no longer allow time for gathering together as a family.

Each one attempts to continue the charade that "everyone's fine" but eventually the whole sham comes crashing down. Ultimately, the elusive truth proves more hurtful and devastating than the little white lies they used to protect the father from life's tragedies.

"Everyone' Fine" holds up a mirror to the human spirit and the little quirks that make us oddly lovable. You may come out edified or depressed, depending on your own family situation. But in so far as it captures our humanity and underscores family, this movie certainly resonates with the Maryknoll spirit.

Grimm view of the Vatican

GREETINGS, all! Lucky for me and luckier for all of you, Fr. Bill Grimm did a far better article on this subject than I could have done (given that I, unlike Bill, also have a life outside of writing.) That being said, do yourselves a favor and click on the link below:

"Viewpoint: Humpty Dumpty in the Vatican"
http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=15250

Why don't you take a moment to check it out?

Thanks,
Independent Catholic News

My oldest MK connection?

FR. RUSS FELDMEIER (Korea) blew into town and it was good to see him, although conflicting schedules preclude our sitting down and hobnobbing about developments in "Uri Nara" until Thursday.

I've known Russ longer than any other Maryknoller because he and I were Peace Corps Volunteers together in the early 1970s teaching English at Kyung-buk University in Taegu. Actually, with his name and red hair, for the longest time I thought he was Jewish. This made me all the more confused when I'd run into him at Sunday Mass in the K-2 Air Force chapel.

He joined the Peace Corps before me but I joined Maryknoll before him, making for a convoluted relationship in Korean which emphasizes who is the younger or older "brother." In any event, he and I are just two returned Peace Corps Volunteers who went into Maryknoll or other religious groups. Korean Volunteers Ted Dziack and Jim Nickoloff became Jesuits. Fathers Dennis Moorman and the late Dennis Dunne came to us after service in Burkina Faso and Bolivia.

There has always been a symbiotic relationship between Peace Corps and Maryknoll. Certainly the spirit of President Kennedy inspired my generation to serve. Once overseas, the Maryknoll hands-on model of mission attracted many Catholics PCVs to enter religious life.

How can we get the Maryknoll message out to Catholics serving in the Peace Corps? There is a vineyard awaiting harvest.

Seminary shift

ACCORDING TO A RELIABLE SOURCE, Archbishop Dolan, Bishop Dimarzio of
Brooklyn and Bishop Murphy of Rockville Centre are near agreement on combining their three seminaries.

Dunwoodie would close, but still under discussion is whether to move Douglaston or Hungtington.

Dunwoodie has suffered from declining enrollment and my source says Rome has been none too pleased by their "more Roman than thou" (my words) atmosphere. [OK, to be fair, apparently the quality of theology offered at DW left something to be desired. Like quality theology.] Plus as bishop in Milwaukee Dolan showed he is not averse to closing seminaries.

All of which re-raises the question: whatever became of the evaluation of our program at CTU? Are we getting our "money's worth"? What happened to all those assessments done of CTU by our seminarians over the years?

Former rector Fr. Larry Lewis informally suggested if we wanted our candidates closer to home, Hungtington would be a better choice than either Dunwoodie or Douglaston.

The question remains: is CTU the best venue to prepare our men for both ministry and mission? Might not our mission charism become clearer if our guys studied alongside diocesan seminarians?

Douglaston, Dunwoodie and Huntington all have their share of foreign candidates actively recruited overseas by their bishops. But that is grist for another mill.

Sent from my iPhone

Huffington Post: 10,000 Albinos In Hiding After Killings

DISTURBING NEWS out of Kenya.

	NAIROBI, Kenya --- The mistaken belief that albino body parts have magical powers has driven thousands of Africa's albinos into hiding, fearful of losing their...

Please click on the above for the full story. Can any of our men in Tanzania or Kenya add to this disturbing development?

Sent from my iPhone

Maranatha!

ADVENT (Year C) brings to mind an old chestnut long bandied about at many a table in our dining room whenever rumors of a return to the Latin Mass rear its turpis caput. "If Latin was good enough for Our Lord, it's good enough for me!"

Change is frightening to many people. We cling to the familiar. Yet often it is the strange, the foreign and the unfamiliar that shock us into appreciating what we have and what God offers. Maryknollers take for granted the need for the gospels to be translated into local languages. In addition, customs and symbols used by Jesus and St. Paul in the first century might be meaningless to cultures half a world and two millennia away. The challenge facing the missioner is to find ways to communicate the forgiveness, love and mercy of God into the daily lives of people using words and actions that they can understand.

The explicitly graphic apocalyptic movie "2012" currently raking in big bucks notwithstanding, what does all this talk about the end of the world in Luke's gospel mean to people today? To be sure, fundamentalists love this drama and use it to swindle gullible followers out of their homes and savings. Too bad those followers don't take time to stop and think if the world is really ending, why do their religious leaders need money and deeds to real estate?

Yet every year at this time the readings at Mass (not to mention our weekly reciting of the creed) remind us Jesus will indeed come again and the world will one day end. When this will happen on a global scale is one thing, but truth be told, people's worlds end on a regular basis all the time. The end of the world is not theoretical theological speculation for millions of people who suffered earthquakes in Indonesia and Samoa or tsunamis in Thailand and India. Even modern equivalents like the current global financial upheaval remind us our existence is very tenuous and our tranquility an illusion.

Thus, Advent admonishes us to stay awake, be aware and be ready. At this very moment somewhere in the world tens of thousands of people died for all kinds of reasons. How prepared were they when their world came crashing down around them? Live in such a way as to make the most of the time we have been given, no matter how short or long. We are closer to the end than when you first started reading this!

Attitude of gratitude

AS A EUCHARISTIC (Thanksgiving) people, we give thanks for the blessings and bounty we have received, but also for the trials, setbacks and failures that remind us of our limitations, humanity and dependence upon God and one another.

In 2002 Fr. John McAuley (China) gave a homily on Holy Thursday during the vocation retreat in Los Altos. (How many homilies can you remember after seven years?) He pointed out that the Last Supper was not only a time for the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood, but also a time of disintegration. Things were falling apart—rapidly. Their hopes, their plans, their dreams, their future, indeed, their very lives faced imminent annihilation. And things were going to get a lot worse.

Yet in the midst of that darkest of nights when all seemed lost in a cloud of uncertainty, Jesus took bread and gave God thanks and praise. Then he blessed it, broke it etc. etc.

What we do in memory of Jesus is more than just "take and eat." Like him and the apostles, we also give thanks in the midst of suffering and insecurity.

And so this Thanksgiving, I give thanks that Maryknoll has become older and smaller.

I give thanks that the recession has made us think twice about how we steward the gifts we receive.

I give thanks for my medical emergency last February that helped me appreciate the excellent health care we receive and to work for health care reform for others.

I give thanks for the generosity of all our supporters and benefactors, especially during the earthquakes in Indonesia and Samoa and the floods in the Philippines that reminded us we are all one family.

I give thanks for the young members who remind me of the zeal and idealism that attracted me to mission and Maryknoll.

I give thanks for the older members who show the power of God active though diminishment.

Above all I give thanks to God for sending his Son whose cross and resurrection illuminates our life and gives us the strength and courage to face whatever awaits us with joy and serenity.

Awaiting Roman largesse

FATHER GENERAL left for Rome yesterday where he will, among other things, petition the Sacred Congregation for Maintaining Clerical Supremacy At All Times and In All Circumstances to accept the election of Br. Wayne Fitzpatrick as the first consulter to the U.S. regional superior. Just like the first time, Fr. Ed Dougherty expressed optimism that this time things will be different because there is precedent and if there's anything that gives the prelates in Rome warm tingles up their leg it's precedent. Unfortunately there is also a precedent, recently invoked, for giving us and the democratic process the Roman shaft.

Of concern, apparently, is what would happen should newly elected U.S. regional Fr. Mike Duggan be unable for whatever reason to finish his term. It clearly states in our rarely read Constitutions that the first assistant becomes regional, but I'm sure we can work things out so that under no circumstances can Miss Congeniality become Miss America.

Until such time as Rome settles this matter, ballots for the second assistant will not go out. At this rate, the election of the entire regional council could drag on well into the new year, just in time for our regional assembly in May to take up the question of whether we really want or need to be a region at all.

But the Dockster is up to other business in Rome as well and, God willing, Maryknoll's star may yet rise over the Eternal City.

40 Hours of Prayer & Remembrance

AS WE COMMEMORATE World AIDS Day on December 1, Maryknoll missioners around the world are working to combat the spread of the deadly disease while accompanying those affected by it.

We invite you to join us wherever you are in a worldwide 40-hour prayer vigil for an hour, anytime from 7 p.m., Monday, November 30 until noon, Wednesday, December 2.

To participate, please e-mail your name, location and hour of prayer (using EST) to mkinformation@maryknoll.org. Please write "AIDS Vigil" in the subject line of your e-mail.

This is our first AIDS prayer vigil since the Maryknoll AIDS Task Force, ably directed for ten years by former lay missioner Ms. Susan Weissert, was decommissioned earlier this year. The promotion of this global prayer has been taken up by the Washington, D.C.-based Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns. Their mailing address is:

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

P.O. Box 29132

Washington, DC 20017

Some news at lunch today

FR. BILL COY, fresh back from the SOA march at Fort Benning, GA, reports a smaller crowd than in previous years. Only four people "crossed the line" and got arrested. In addition, Fr. Roy Bourgeiose was away for the first time since the annual march began in 1990 to be at the bedside of his dying father. Please pray for them.

Fr. Ed Szendrey reports a mystery leak in the main sacristy on the first floor, which had apparently dripped down through Health Services on the second floor making quite a mess, which in turn came from someplace on the third floor C-Wing, perhaps Fr. Tom Mc Donnell's room. Tom has been away since his remedial surgery and then the sudden death of his brother Martin who died while driving up to see Tom. Please pray for them.

Fr. Mike Duggan, newly elected U.S. regional superior, will be the main celebrant and homilist at our Thanksgiving liturgy this afternoon. Ed will be cantor in Mike's place. Please pray for them.

What with the new (?) changes in the English Mass due in 2010, renowned liturgical composer Michael Joncas (of "On Eagle's Wings" fame) may have to make adjustments to the Gloria of the Mass he has composed for Maryknoll's 100th anniversary. Ms. Lucille Naughton, once and future choir director and our main contact with Joncas, is having a few Maryknollers over to her house this week to listen to the new Mass.

Thanksgiving predux

WE GATHER TOGETHER to goose the cook's pumpkin—or something like that—as we hold our pre-Thanksgiving dinner this evening. Considering we have roast turkey with mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie at least twice a month throughout the year, one might be inspired to ask, as in the Passover Seder, "Why is this night different from other nights?"

Well, for one, tonight's meal will be preceded by a special Mass at 4:15 in the main chapel and an Hour of Happiness in the dining room. Carafes of red and white wine (IMO only good for salad) will be available and chances are for dessert we will also have morsels of that most traditional of Thanksgiving foods: cannoli.

This premature pig-out allows for a meal of thanks before Thursday when many guys, your faithful blogger included, head over the river and through the woods. Alas, my sister is now the grandmother in the family.

For those who remain here at the Knoll on Thanksgiving Day, yet another Thanksgiving meal will be available at noon, unless you are among the chosen few invited to the annual feast at the 39th Street House.

That being said, wherever we are, we have much for which to give thanks. And since Thanksgiving is the translation of the word "Eucharist", we should foster an attitude of gratitude 365 days a year. (Just don't serve us roast turkey every day!)

Transfigured

THIRTY-EIGHT young folks from Chinatown's Transfiguration parish are on retreat today and tomorrow here at Mother Knoll. They will be chaperoned by two adults and their pastor, Fr. Ray Nobiletti, M.M.

Mr. Anthony Ma organized the retreat. An ever-elusive vocation prospect, Anthony was a winner of this year's Explore My Mission contest for his video on community service. The prize was a 10-day visit to our mission in Brazil, where, if he was bitten by the mission bug, he has yet to show symptoms. But I digress...

Today's retreat comes on the heals of both the larger Korean retreat last weekend and also of the grumblings of some Maryknollers about not getting through the food line quicker. In its favor, the Trans group is smaller although they do have a smaller student/chaperone ratio than the Korean group. (1 to 20 vs. 1 to 5!) Of course, absent any drama, they won't have the opportunity to go around to the tables of Maryknollers in the dining room and introduce themselves to the missioners, even if it's to say, "Sorry we woke you up in the middle of the night (or afternoon, as the case may be.)"

Still, it is mine and others MKers contention that, inconvenience aside, these groups bring energy, vitality and life to our home. They fulfill our vocation. If we can no longer go to the missions, we can still bring the missions to us.

Guests: threat or menace?

AN ON-GOING CONVERSATION began during last week's monthly house meeting concerning how and if we are to continue welcoming guests here at the Center. Some men expressed feeling like strangers in their own home, with large numbers of outsiders who use our facilities.

The problem arises not so much from retreats or religious workshops (although even these tend to dawdle in the food line and chat, thus delaying undernourished Maryknollers from getting their life-saving sustenance in a timely manner), but rather from large secular groups who simply need a facility in which to meet and eat. Last week's 250+ gathering of UPS and postal workers was a case in point.

In addition, some guys feel uneasy when visitors come to our happy hour unaccompanied by a host Maryknoller. One solution may be to relocate in the Sheridan room as was done in days of old. An interim solution is to make sure Maryknollers accompany their guests, lest they get happy for an hour all by themselves.

Last week Sodexo moved the ice cream freezer inside the food area to accommodate board of health regulations. Now a steady stream of water cleans the scoop. On the downside, younger guests are wont to cause a log jam at the freezer thus blocking undernourished Maryknollers etc. etc.

A suggested solution (already in effect, for the most part) is to have outside retreatants come a half hour later to meals, thus giving semi-retired Maryknollers time to feed their faces and rush off to their next urgent appointment.

One man suggested the Walsh building be refurbished to accommodate outside groups. Hmmm.. Since that will take upwards of 3 million and will only provide 20 rooms, I have a better idea: put all the disgruntled sociopaths there and let the Center be used for the living.

Choir practice precluded my attending last week's meeting. The conversation will continue on January 20, 2010 when I hope to coat my barbs with honey.

Don't call 911 tonight!

FIREFIGHTERS and EMT workers from the Greater Ossining area will enjoy a spaghetti dinner in our dining room and a tour of our main building tonight here at Mother Knoll. The brainchild of Fr. Dick Callahan (Treasury), this informal gathering allows the men and women who come to our aid and save our lives on a regular basis (like at least twice a month) the opportunity to visit us under less urgent circumstances.

In addition to meeting Maryknollers when we are not in a prone position, turning blue, incoherent or comatose, the firefighters and emergency workers will get a walk-around to acquaint themselves with all the crooks and nannies of Emerald City (and yes, I am aware of the Spoonerism).

Having myself been on the receiving end of their expert care when I was rushed to Phelps last February with my then still undiagnosed rectus sheath hemotoma, I am grateful for their good work and happy that this time I will not be writhing in pain and screaming unseemly epithets at the top of my sacerdotal lungs.

Mayhaps at least one ambulance and firetruck will be parked outside during their visit, so no need to dial 911 or 4444. In case of emergency, just go to the window and shout.

Back to the liturgical future

FR. JOHN KASEROW introduced the new revised Roman Missal (do NOT call it a Sacramentary!) that will go into effect starting in 2010. Like, in six weeks). Speaking at the monthly house meeting, Kaserow handed out packets of pamphlets explaining all the revisions intended to get the English-speaking church more in line with the majesty and poetry of the Latin, from which it claims a more faithul translation.

Goodbye, "And also with you." Hello (again) to the traditional "And with your spirit" (whatever the hell that means. Nevermind, it's faithful to the Latin and that's all that matters.)

To be fair, some (re)translations are beautiful and more prayerful IMHO, as in "Behold, the Lamb of God..." As well as "...Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb." The people then respond with the more Scriptural (but out of place) "Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof..."

The confiteor reinstitutes, "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault" and the creed goes back to "Credo in unum Deum" by translating "I (no longer "we") believe in one God..."

The cup has been replaced by chalice. Christ sheds his blood for "the many" and no longer for "all" (that'll show 'em!).

There are many other changes that have been made but neither you nor I could bear it now. Suffice it to say that while hunger, poverty, war and disease vanquish our planet, the good prelates in charge of liturgical propriety have been busy at work.

For those of us who remember the initial changes following Vatican II, we'll have a profound sense of déjà vu all over again. "Plus ça change, plus sont les même chose."