Happy St. Dominic Day!

This came up on my uncle's Facebook page today, as he was tagged by one of his brother Claretians.

I just found it quite amusing that the Claretian Missionaries (the religious order my uncle is a part of) would use a quote from the founder of the Jesuits for a vocation meme and have it be seen on FB on the day in which the Church universal celebrates the founder of the Dominicans.

Happy St. Dominic Day!

Rally and Great Music

Last Saturday I was blessed to have had the opportunity to assist with the Taize prayer experience as part of the Junior High Rally, held at Archbishop Murphy High School, which gathered hundreds of grade school children from around the Archdiocese. We were expecting only about 40 of them at Taize, but that number quickly doubled at the last minute when the Stations of the Cross prayer experience was cancelled. We also had a San Damiano cross, a number of icons, and tons more tea lights and candles of all sizes that I didn't take a picture of.

 

Before the kids came into the theater, I asked for volunteers to say the intercessions. We had prayers for the Pope, the clergy, all gathered at Rally, youth ministers, all who teach and pass along the Catholic Faith, etc. which they just said from their place, and after each prayer when they said "We pray to the Lord" we all sang "O Lord Hear our Prayer". After we went through the prepared list of intercessions and we invited others to name the prayers they wished to pray for, the kids started raising their hands as if they were back in the classroom, instead of simply saying their petition they would like to pray for. I forgot that these were grade school children. They did find the repetitive chanting prayerful.

Mass followed. After making sure folks had everything they needed and such, I had to leave for Seattle.

John Michael and I went to St. James Cathedral for "Great Music for Great Cathedrals". For lack of a better word, it was a great experience of sound and color.

And just for fun, here's what happened at Rally during a break before lunch. I quickly took a picture before the stack of U-Haul boxes came tumbling down.

Picture this!

In my previous post, I included a picture of Fr. Bryan taking a picture of the assembly from the weekend's CYC Mass.

Courtesy of the Priesthood and Religious Vocations for the Archdiocese of Seattle's Facebook page, here's the picture that Fr. Bryan took:

Blessed JPII (On the feast of St. Luke)

On this, the feast of St. Luke, let us hold in prayer the parishioners of St. Luke Parish in Shoreline and their pastor, Fr. Brad Hagelin, as they celebrate their patronal feast day.

Also taking today to note that Tuesday, October 22nd is the optional memorial for Blessed (soon to be Saint) John Paul II. The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship approved insertion of this beloved Pope into the proper calendar of the dioceses of the United States about a year ago.

Here is a link to more information as well as the proper liturgical texts for observance of the Memorial in the Mass and Liturgy of the Hours.

And this fun and also somewhat encouraging autotuned video of a speech Blessed JPII gave to youth. Because the video's theme of love can also be found in the Gospel of Luke in popular passages such as the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan, found in Luke's gospel, focus on Jesus' compassion and love for the weak, the suffering and the outcast. (I had to tie this post back to St. Luke somehow, right?)

Score

I'm no expert quite yet, but thanks to yesterday's brief training from a colleague at the Chancery who is also a musician for Village Theatre and accompanist at a North Seattle parish, I have some basic knowledge, tips and tricks on using Finale (a well-known music software that was recently installed on my computer).

In playing with the software again this afternoon, just to familiarize myself with it more, I scored Tamtum Ergo from scratch. I did have my user guide and notes from my meeting with Joseph handy, but didn't need to refer to them all that much. (That, and the CTRL + Z undo shortcut was ready at hand.)

The one thing I'm still trying to figure out, and might need to call more expert help on, is how to get rid of the annoying indentation in front of the first measure.

Liturgical (Musician) Nerd status is almost achieved.

Catholic Cuisine blog

I had a fun two-part movie night with some friends as we watched Karol: A Man who Became Pope (I recommend this film as a way to experience the suffering and tragedy of the early life of Karol before he became the beloved Blessed -soon to be Saint- John Paul II and the hope that comes out of that despair, but warning that the movie does contain graphic violence with blood and weapons, and has a very long running time.)

Nonetheless, both nights were Polish and Pope-themed by our gracious hosts. Their home was transformed to include a table display with Blessed JPII's image on a table, candles, and various images hung around. One night, they even prepared a delish home-cooked Polish dinner. The best part: appropriate snacks courtesy of a fun blog that we recently discovered.

May your staff meetings, parish or school gatherings, and various liturgical celebrations (except for the Mass, of course) never be the same again after checking out this neat site!

"English Mass for Filipino Catholics"

Can someone explain how English Mass for Filipino Catholics: The Meaning of the New Words of the Mass, by Virgilio T.J. Suerte Felipe, is specific to Filipino Catholics (or how is it any different than Mass for Roman Catholics?)

More Musings

The long-awaited arrival of the new Archdiocesan Director of Liturgy is here! Andrew was in the office for a few hours last Friday morning to get his id badge, parking pass, finish signing papers with HR, get his computer and email set-up, etc. Tomorrow he'll begin his new ministerial position full-time. But I can already tell why he was the unanimous choice of the search committee! He is a great person and I look forward with even more joy, hope, and excitement in ministering together. Now the real time of transition begins...prayers are appreciated!

But on a lighter note, last Saturday morning we had a moving party for Andrew and his family. We're ever-so grateful for those who took a few hours to babysit his two beautiful children and move furniture, boxes, toys, and some other items. This is just a sneak peak into the "other items" we unloaded off the moving truck and into his family's new home in Shoreline. Pretty neat stuff, if you ask me!

                         



This week is the NPM Convention in Washington, D.C., in which three people (that I know of anyway) from the Archdiocese are in attendance. Please hold them, and all participants in prayer. For those of us who wish we could participate in this national gathering, the Pray Tell blog will be live-streaming some of the sessions.

Here's a very informative summer issue of the liturgy newsletter from Diocese of San Jose Worship Office. I think I have some ideas for the next issue of our very own Liturgy Line. A fun note, last Sunday the 21st, the director of worship for San Jose, Diana Macalintal, made a surprise visit to the Chapel of St. Ignatius in Seattle. She is the same Diana Macalintal that I had the grace-filled opportunity to have breakfast with one day when at the Religious Education Congress in Anaheim last February.

In the newsletter included a pretty neat podcast from Diana providing a run-down of Pope Francis' encyclical Lumen fidei and what may be important for all who prepare liturgy to know about the document.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Father Emmett Carroll, SJ, Pastor of St. Cecilia on Bainbridge Island, who died unexpectedly last week. His Funeral Mass will be tomorrow evening, 7:00pm at St. Cecilia. Archbishop Brunett will be the main celebrant and Father Patrick Howell, SJ will offer the homily. Eternal rest, grant unto the soul of Father Emmett, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

I do...with the help of God

During the Rite of Ordination, the candidates make several promises, in which they respond "I do" except for the last promise, where the candidates responds "I do, with the help of God."

For those of you who were at Father Mark's priestly ordination last month, you may recall a memorable moment when Father Mark forgot to say "with the help of God" but after a few seconds of silence, he added on this forgotten phrase with laughter from the assembly once everyone realized he had forgotten the phrase.

I've since learned that Father Mark was counting the promises with his fingers in order to remember when to say "with the help of God" but he lost count sometime during the Rite. Thankfully, two of the Masters of Ceremony (and maybe even the bishop) whispered to Father Mark before he realized the mistake.

If you click the video below, right after Father Mark says "I do" you'll notice his fingers moving, indicating his counting. It was a good laugh (for me anyway) to re-live this moment of the rite, knowing that Father Mark was counting with his fingers, then knowing that he had lost count.

Thanks to Father Mark's sister, Mary Jane, who took this video (in addition to the other videos below.)

A suggestion I have, albeit a bit late for Father Mark, is that instead of counting with fingers, to remember a key phrase in the promise that is associated with adding "with the help of God." (i.e. "Christ the High Priest" might have been a good one to remember.) Hopefully this suggestion is not too late for future ordinands.

To view other video clips from Father Mark Kiszelewski's ordination to the priesthood and Mass of Thanksgiving, simply click here to go to Mary Jane's youtube channel for the eight additional clips.

If you watch the videos closely, you'll see some additional light-hearted moments from the Ordination Mass, like in Video # 2 at 0:24 with some good commentary about Father Mark laughing because we put a cushion for him kneeling during the Laying on of Hands, Video #4 at about 0:03 the bishop nudges Father Mark with his elbow and in Video #5 which you'll see Father Mark is a bit anxious for the recessional.

But of course, please view these videos not because of these hilarious moments or to get a good laugh, but because of the beauty within the ritual itself!

Thanks to Father Mark's brother, Matthew, for forwarding these videos to me. And lastly but most importantly, thanks to Father Mark for being a great friend to me over the past few years and for whatever other moments we can laugh about in the future! Ad multos annos, Father Mark!

Chapel Makeovers

Now that we're halfway through the Easter season, a couple of Chapels got a makeover with some fresh new flowers, since by now the easter lilies have gone to compost.

Did you know?

Today is both National Eggs Benedict Day and also the birthday of Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI. Happy Birthday to Pope-Emeritus Benedict!

 

A sweet idea

For the Triduum and Easter Sunday celebrations, in the sacristy of St. Paul are ziplock sandwich bags of Easter candy and chocolates that I give to the altar servers, as my way of saying thank you and great job.

Looks like Pope Francis has a similar idea after yesterday's Mass with the priests who reside with him at the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

A Great Joy

This morning, as I poured essence and olive oil into the vessels to be used at next week's Chrism Mass, we heard the announcement of great joy: we have a new Pope. Habemus papam!

When the Cathedral's bells began to ring sometime after 11am, I knew right away that white smoke had come out of the Sistine Chapel. I literally dropped what I was doing, (by calmly putting down the gallon container of Magnano family Napoleon Olive Oil on the table) grabbed my office keys and walked a block to the Cathedral to take a poor quality cell phone video (no, I do not have a smart phone), to snap better quality pictures, and more importantly, to experience this great joy.

Gold and white banners hang from
St. James Cathedral















Standing outside the Cathedral as the bells rang and as John, one of the sacristans at the Cathedral, put some finishing touches to the hung yellow and white banners, was an experience I can't put into words. It seemed like time had come to a complete stop!

Not really in the mood to finish pouring olive oil into glass vessels, I decided to join a few of the Chancery employees outside the Chancery chapel to have a live streaming party, which was yet another moment of great joy, simply gathering with colleagues to watch CNN live, as if we too were at the Vatican. All of us waiting in anticipation for the official announcement, appearance, and blessing of our newly elected Holy Father. Then around 12:30pm, Father Tony Bawyn celebrated Mass for the Election of Pope Francis.

And a Jesuit! As Archbishop Sartain mentioned in his statement regarding Pope Francis, "...his election holds particular excitement for the many Jesuits who serve in the Archdiocese of Seattle..." The news also holds particular excitement for this alum of Seattle University --- a Jesuit-Catholic institution and a friend and colleague to many Jesuits.

And just for fun...the Holy See-gull who may have been a symbol for the answer to one of the first questions asked of the newly elected Holy Father: "By which name do you wish to be called?" Francis (of Assisi) who is almost always portrayed in icons with a white bird.

On that note, in the first words of our Holy Father, Pope Francis:

"Let us always pray for one another. 

Let us pray for the world so that this might be a great brotherhood."

Oración para la Elección del Papa

In case you have not seen them already, the USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship has added resources in Spanish for the papal transition.

Catholic dioceses, parishes, and schools have permission to download and reproduce any of these graphics, prayers, and bulletin inserts for distribution. Nice print copies are also available for order, through the USCCB.

Let us continue to pray for the Cardinal Electors, Pope Emeritus, our future Pope (just throwing this out there for fun), and for the Church and the world!

Liturgy as Play

While I was a student at Seattle University, I took a course on Ignatian Spirituality with Fr. Pat Kelly, SJ, who has a deep passion for sports and the church.

Next Friday at the Elliot Bay Bookstore in Seattle, Fr. Kelly will be discussing and signing his new book Catholic Perspectives on Sports.

Fr. Kelly, and his knowledge and love for the relationship between sports and spirituality reminds me of Cardinal Ratzinger's book titled "The Spirit of the Liturgy" where he compares the Liturgy to play...but not just any kind of play, rather a special kind of play that has a deep purpose and meaning. Here's a good excerpt:

"Children’s play seems in many ways a kind of anticipation of life, a rehearsal for later life, without its burdens and gravity. On this analogy, the liturgy would be a reminder that we are all children, or should be children, in relation to that true life toward which we yearn to go. Liturgy would be a kind of anticipation, a rehearsal, a prelude for the life to come, for eternal life, which St. Augustine describes, by contrast with life in this world, as a fabric woven, no longer of exigency and need, but of the freedom of generosity and gift. Seen thus, liturgy would be the rediscovery within us of true childhood, of openness to a greatness still to come, which is still unfulfilled in adult life. (14)" 

And to sum it all up, wasn't it Fr. Anthony de Mello, SJ who is known to have said that work becomes spiritual only when it is transformed into play? 

Dancing Books at the Rite of Election

Now, before I go any further, more than likely there will be no dancing Books of the Elect at the Rite of Election celebrations throughout the Archdiocese of Seattle...at least, not anything planned...but we'll see where the Holy Spirit takes us.

Anyway, many Dioceses throughout the U.S. celebrate their Rite of Election tomorrow, customarily held on (or in our case for the Archdiocese of Seattle, near) the First Sunday of Lent. The Diocese of San Jose in California posted a great video four years ago of their Dancing Books of the Elect at their Rite of Election...just scroll down a bit on the site to view it! The article is well informative as well.

And in other related news, this Friday early morning I will be flying out to Anaheim for the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. Well, just got it all confirmed that next Sunday, the last day of L.A. Congress, I'll be having breakfast with Diana Macalintal and a mutual friend of ours. Diana is the Director of Worship for the Diocese of San Jose (yes, the same San Jose where these dancing Books of Elect emerged!) Thanks to JM for making this dream become a reality!

Rite of Election...day 1

Tonight is the first of nine celebrations for the Rite of Election, which is a very significant and important step in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. All of the Catechumens and Candidates gather together where the Church formally ratifies the Catechumens' readiness for the Sacraments of Initiation, and the Candidates' readiness to be received into full Communion with the Catholic Church.

In turn the Catechumens - from now on known as the Elect - publicly acknowledge their desire to receive the Sacraments of Initiation, and the Candidates' their desire to be received into full Communion with the Catholic Church. The assembly also holds each of these Elect and Candidates in prayer as their names are read aloud in prayer.

Our office (in addition to coordinating the Rite itself) will be hosting the reception at the Cathedral Parish Hall. This morning's Costco run with my mom was quite the experience, and I am truly grateful to my mom for helping me load the car and push the carts around. This is what making sausage, I mean shopping for the reception, looks like.

Behold...

Behold, the Lamb of God...(or Pac-Man?)

Just a fun picture from today's Mass, courtesy of our parochial vicar for St. Paul Parish, on this 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time.