Humble Servant

I am writing this on the eve of our Papal Pilgrimage.  I could not be more proud to travel with fellow parishioners as we represent every member of Saint William Parish when we leave for Philadelphia Saturday Morning.  Know that we hold each of you in our prayer.  Cathy, one of my fellow pilgrims

had the idea to take something with us which would represent the parish so that when (NOT IF) the Pope passes by us that his blessing would be extended to every parishioner. We will each carry this sign with us as we represent the good people of Saint William.

I feel that Pope Francis embodies the Gospel message with the way he lives his life.  I know that I will feel the peace of Christ with his presence.  The more I think about being in the presence of Pope Francis, the more I wonder what it must have been like living in the time when Jesus walked the earth thousands of years ago.  I feel like I will be the hemorrhaging woman who reaches out just to touch his cloak.  I wonder what the excitement would have been like as people left their homes to head to the Mount to hear what this holy man, son of Joseph and Mary, had to say.  I wonder if they left their homes empty handed or carried with them provisions for a day or two.

I told myself to pack light, but as I look at my belongings I know I should be leaving a few things behind.  I don’t need to feed everyone, just bring what I need for me.  I find that this concept is not very easy!  I want to be able to have enough to share.  As I was shopping, I could not help but think of the feeding of the thousands.  I am convinced that the Gospel reflects not only the miracle Jesus performed, but also the very heart of human nature ~ to share and take care of our fellow man.  When each of us on our pilgrimage share what we bring along for the next few days, I can’t wait to see how many baskets are left over!

Know that as I step onto the parade route that I have you in mind.  Know that when I raise my voice in song at the Papal Mass that I hold you in my prayers.  May God bring you whatever you need and may you feel his awesome presence in your life.

Shalom,

Tina

Loving the Liturgy

Gosh, I am having a tough time keeping up with my blog right now.  Father Balash talked about offering forgiveness to others even when they frustrate you.  Well, I frustrate myself so much and find it very difficult to tell myself it is ok and to forgive myself for my many human weaknesses. 

For those of you who know me, you probably know by now how much I LOVE THE LITURGY!  I love the sites, the sounds, the smells that accompany a Catholic Liturgy.  I have been blessed this week to celebrate beautiful liturgy with my Parish family, my Catholic School family an

d today with nearly 1,000 Catholic School students at St. Columba with Bishop Murry.

Have you ever closed your eyes during liturgy and just listened to the sound of everyone singing, or everyone praying the Lord’s Prayer?  I especially love the sound of silence after communion.  To me there is something quite profound about the sound of silence for it is then that I hear God whisper to me.

It was amazing to me today to hear the sound of the faithful singing the Eucharistic Acclamations.  Their voices rose up through the rafters and I truly felt that we were singing with the choirs of Angels as we acclaimed, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.  I felt as if it were a wave splashing up over into the choir loft.  It was truly amazing.

We are called to full, active participation in the liturgy, and when we answer this call, oh what a difference it makes.  When we fully participate, body, mind and soul, our joy spills over to our neighbor and they in turn spread their joy to others.  I pray that you can be this fountain of joy for others.

On Sunday we heard that

                                    “Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.” 
                                                Demonstrate your faith to me without works,

                                                and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.”

                                                                                                                                                                James 2:18

I pray that the Words of God inspire you to a full and active participation not only in words, but in deeds as well so that when you go forth you glorify the Gospel with your life.

Shalom,

Tina

Catholic Family

Hello again!  I am glad to be back after a very busy week of activities at both the Parish and Kennedy.

I was so proud to see so many parishioners and friends from the Warren area parishes attend the Michael James Mette Concert on August 30.  I was blessed to spend much of the day with this beautiful Catholic family.  I am a person who notices details and I want to share with you some of the things that I noticed about this family that to me exemplifies what it means to be a Catholic family.

Celebrating the Holy Mass:  Flanked by their parents, the six Mette children honored the Sabbath by being full, active participants of the liturgy.  Along with their parents, they prayed, sang, listened, responded and honored God with their reverent posture.  It was beautiful to see every single one of them (well, with the exception of the baby) fully participate in liturgy.  It made me hunger to see this in every Catholic family.  Imagine how much more joyful our worship time together would be if EVERY person had the courage to be active, full participants in the liturgy!

Christian Parenting:  Michael and Michelle have a very patient and loving parenting manner.  I wish I possessed those skills when my Josh and Katie were little.  I feel like I became a better parent as more children came along and looking back I realize that the difference was not that I somehow got smarter . . .no . . . the difference was that I started going back to religious education!  I can say without a doubt that attending adult faith formation sessions brought me to a closer relationship with Christ which made me a happier person which in turn made me a better parent!  I can see this in Michael and Michelle!  They have such love and respect for each child and in turn their children have great respect for them.  They work as a family unit.  Over the years, this is something for which I long.  Brian and I have lived a life of divide and conquer; each of us doing our own thing and splitting up to make sure the children all got to where they needed to be.  Even in celebrating Liturgy . . . we very rarely have the joy of sitting together.  Parents with children still at home . . .the best piece of advice that I can offer you is to work as a family.  A family that plays together and prays together, stays together!  Please pray for my family!

Celebrating Meals:  The Mette children were so joyous no matter what the meal.  I was so worried that I did not prepare a hot meal for lunch (planned picnic food but alas, it rained) but when the children saw the lunch buffet, they were so appreciative.  No one was permitted to eat until all were in their seat so they could pray as a family.  They each ate everything on their plate and they cleaned up after themselves.  They asked permission before taking sweets!  THEY HAD CONVERSATION during meal!  It was so beautiful to witness.  My friends, no matter how difficult, reclaim your family meal time around your dining room table.  Put electronics aside, shut off the tv and talk with each other.  Help each other do the dishes afterward, pray together!

The Concert:  I have not been to a rock concert in years and I have never had the privilege of attending a Christian concert.  I forgot how loud it would be.  The lights and video to me was amazing and as a guitarist, I was all about watching Michael play his different guitars!  The music and video was so inspirational.  I loved the video about creation . . . it was very thought provoking for me.  Oh, and when the children came to join Michael “on stage” . . . they are each so talented and joyous.  Then Michael and Michelle stood next to each other as Michelle gave a moving witness of their struggles to hold on to each other in difficult times.  For those struggling with marriage, may God be with you.  May you feel the strength of the spirit through your difficult times.

Be a strong Catholic family and produce strong Catholic youth so that they may grow to become a strong Catholic family and the circle of life honoring God and neighbor may continue to thrive.

Shalom,

Tina

Only Love Remains

“For better or worse, in sickness and in health until death do you part” were the words in to which my parents said “I Do” to each other August 23, 1958.  These were the common vows 57 years ago.  They have been replaced with “I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”  This “newer” version is the vow Brian and I pledged to each other in 1985 and I believe they more closely reflect the covenant of the Sacrament of Marriage.  For while death parted my parents on December 26, 2014; my father’s love for my mother has not diminished in the least and he continues to honor her daily.  The love and honor he carries in his heart for his Rosie will last all the days of his life.

This is another rough day for my family and we are blessed enough by God to be celebrating this day together in the home of my sister who lives in New York.  While we gather to celebrate the 16^th birthday of my niece, we will honor and remember the day our parents left their homes and became one. 

Our parents took their marriage vows very seriously.  In good times and in bad, they held on to each other and I believe they remained in love because they kept God the Father, Son and Spirit as the third person in their marriage.  They took seriously the sacramental bond of man and woman united in love by God and their love grew with the grace of God.  I will be forever grateful for their example of Christian love and sacramental marriage. 

The sacramental love my parents had for each other is the love that has been keeping my Dad going these past eight months.  It is the love that gave him the strength to care for his Rosie as she lay dying and it is the love that gave my Mom the strength to surrender to her John and allow him to care for her very basic human needs.  I can remember saying to my Dad that I was so sorry he had to watch the love of his life struggle and he said “well, we said for better or worse; I guess this is the worse.”  Oh what love is this!  Love that is patient and kind, love that bears no record of wrong, love that remains!  He carries that love with him every day as he learns to live life with Mom in heaven and he waits until he will be united with her again. 

Love does not brood.  Dad is courageously moving forward even though it is difficult to be separated by this earthly plane.  He knows without a doubt that there will be a day in which he will be reunited with his Rosie and on that day the church bells will once again ring out, just as they tolled to mark the sacramental union of my parents, just as they tolled to mark Mom’s entry into the Promised Land.  Oh what love is this, love that is strong enough to wait for God to bring forth the light. 

So for all of you love birds out there who, like my Daddy, must spend your wedding anniversary here on earth while the love of your life waits for you in heaven, take courage in this steadfast love.  Be strengthened by the certain hope that you will be reunited with your love when Jesus calls you home.  May you feel the presence of that love on your special day.

Enjoy this song by Michael James Mette who will be coming to St. William on August 30 for a “Sharing Faith Through Music” Concert.

When We Leave Earth:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDRwPwoRxQI&list=PLi_umedfYxvXP6OEVlAglx9bUZk5Ckvbz&index=9

Shalom,

Tina

Community

St. William celebrated a wonderful family meal today at our annual Parish Picnic.  As usual, Father Balash had the perfect homily . . . reminding us of the open invitation Jesus offers us every day to come to his table and share in the sacred meal of the Eucharist. 

I personally was very emotional today at Mass, for when my Anna walked into the worship space, it shot right to my heart that this was our last Mass together before she goes off to college.  My Anna, who many of you blessed as she was carried around the church on her baptism day, will be leaving Tuesday for Loyola Chicago.  It dawned on me that I will not have the chance until next summer to listen to her as she proclaims the Word of the Lord.  Oh, it hit me hard.  I love to hear her tell Christ’s story.  Then Father had to go and talk about Eucharist and I thought . . . oh no . . .after the family Mass at Loyola I will not be able to share the Eucharistic meal with her until she comes home for Thanksgiving!  Oh boy . . .I was in trouble.  If you were at Mass today, now you know why I started on the wrong chord for the Communion song . . . I was a mess inside.

The picnic has always been such a fun event for our family.  I remember when the children were little and they would get soaked by fire truck.  Back then the children got to sit up in the truck and the truck would drive them around in the parking lot.  It was always the highlight of the day!  I am so grateful that this simple tradition remains as part of our day.  Seeing these young children soaking wet brought back so many wonderful memories for me.

So, thank you my Saint William family for helping me get through a tough Sunday.  As I sit here sharing my thoughts with you, my Anna is finishing up her packing.  I am enjoying being in her presence, my heart is over being sad and I look forward to traveling to Chicago and spending three days helping her get settled in, going to orientation, and then the highlight of the festivities, celebrating the Sacred Liturgy with her in the beautiful Loyola chapel. 

My prayer for Anna and all of our graduates of the Class of 2015 as they spread their wings to college,

 "… Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,

 for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."                                Joshua 1:9

Stay safe and go forth to proclaim the gospel with your life!

Shalom,

Tina

Regeneration

After a busy weekend, I finally made it to the Lake!  The harsh winter, stormy spring and summer has taken its toll on the shores of Lake Erie.  It is astounding how much the beach has eroded.  The day I arrived, the wind was fierce on the bay side; so much so that the waves were slapping over the back dock and we could feel the spray all the way over on the house deck.  In contrast, the lake was as still as glass.  So much of the beach has been washed away that even the roots of trees, once unseen under layers of sand, are jutting out precariously throughout what remains of the beach.  Some of the roots are sticking up out of the sand with jagged edges; a danger to any barefoot beach-goer.  A ledge has now been formed making the drastic change in the beach ever more apparent.

As I sat viewing how battered the beach looked, I could not help thinking that this is how life is at times, and it is certainly a reflection of the life I have lived this past year.  Storms in life come and go and the constant force of trial and sadness can slowly peel away the person you once were.

I am writing this on my second morning here . . . the first morning that I was able to be at the beach by myself.  The winds have changed; the bay had calmed and the lake is once again moving.  As I sat facing the rising sun I kept asking myself, who is the woman that I have become this year.  Even now as I type I am facing my reflection in the sliding glass door . . . ten pounds heavier than last year at this time when I left the lake to meet my family at the Cleveland Clinic for Mom’s appointment with the head of the spinal surgical unit . . .  reflecting on how I have been changed by the storm called ALS.  This storm battered my mother; eroded away her ability to use her body until her lungs could no longer expel the carbon dioxide, thereby leaving toxins behind, much like the dangerous roots sticking out of the sand, just waiting to do more damage to the innocent person walking along the beach.

With these heavy thoughts weighing down my heart, I sat there praying for regeneration and lightheartedly thought of Dr. Who.  For those who may not know; Dr. Who is a television series about a time-traveler.  Every once in a while, Dr. Who regenerates – light bursts forth from him and he takes on a new image (well, a new actor usually.)  Being the Christian that I am, I always think when this happens that perhaps that is what we may look like when God calls us back home and we shed this earthly vessel so that our soul can return to God.

So, I made my way out of the chair to stand and meditate before God.  I focused on the word I chose while on retreat at Villa Maria, faced the rising sun and listened to God speak to me through the sound of the water, the feel of the wind and the singing of the birds.  Warmed not only by the rising sun, I felt embraced by the ever present SON.  My peace of mind is restored and I am once again as calm as the lake on the day I arrived, humbled in the sight of the Lord.

“Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord.  Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up; higher and higher and he will lift you up.” James 4:10

I pray that you find rest in God through life’s storms; though battered and torn, regeneration can be found in arms of the Holy One!

Shalom,

Tina

Seashore

My husband’s family takes a yearly vacation on the shores of Lake Erie.  The week is spent fishing, playing games, and playing on the seashore.  Family members come and go throughout the week, but there are normally a few days when most of the McCue clan gathers for what I fondly call wonderful, organized chaos.

I find great peace by the water.  The sound of the waves meeting the shore; the smell in the air; the way the sand feels under my feet; the incredible view of the sun rising over the water . . .these physical, tangible earthly experiences remind me of the awesome power of our God.  I love doing yoga on the beach as the sun rises and having my morning coffee with a good book in hand while the sound of the water and birds play a symphony to sooth my weary soul.  And then the house starts to awaken and the air is filled for the rest of the day with laughter and constant chatter until dusk when we tend to walk the beach again as the sun sets over the bay then play games or work on a puzzle as the house quiets back down and I am lulled to sleep by the sound of the water meeting the shore.

Last summer a dear friend of mine loaned me the book “Jesus” by Fr. James Martin, S.J., the same Fr. Martin who wrote “This Our Exile” which I spoke about in my blog last week.  Fr. Martin shares with the reader his spiritual journey as he embarked on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  I have secretly (well, now it’s not a secret) always wanted to travel to the Holy Land, so the more I read “Jesus” that longing pierced my heart in such a way that I actually could not finish reading the book!  No surprise, but it was the moment he started to talk about walking along the Sea of Galilee that got me.  I remember closing the book and crying . . . the longing to walk that same shore was too intense for me.  I took out a notebook and jotted down the people with whom I would want to share this pilgrimage.  One of those people was my mom!

We have been hearing quite a bit these past few weeks of Jesus getting into the boat to seek rest from the crowd.  Hearing these stories has been making me think that perhaps it is time for me to pick up where I left off and continue my pilgrimage to the Holy Land through the eyes of Fr. Martin.  I have been thinking quite a bit lately of salvation and what it means to have eternal life.  My mother’s journey to heaven has shed new light for me on St. Paul’s call to the Ephesians to “put away the old self of your former way of life” and “ be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.”  She has made the journey to the Holy Land, the new and eternal Jerusalem without me.  The peace on my mother’s face as she left this earth to join God will be forever engrained in my mind, for she literally put away her old self and put on the new self as she left this world.

So, as I pack for the lake, I am going to bring “Jesus” with me so that I can be reminded as I walk the shores of Lake Erie that Jesus can just as easily be found in the footprints left in the sands of Northeast Ohio.  I don’t need to travel to the Holy Land, I just need to remember his promise and believe!

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

Shalom,

Tina