The Good Catholic Life

Summary of today’s show: Cardinal Seán went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land with 29 priests from Boston, including Fr. Paul Soper, who talked with Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams about the places he visited that most moved him, places that we know with great reliability are the places mentioned in the Gospels, and how last Saturday was one of the three most amazing days in his life, taking him from the Tomb of Christ to the manger in Bethlehem and to the Upper Room where Christ instituted the Eucharist in the Last Supper and the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles on Pentecost, all in one day. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: BostonCatholicLive.com Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams Today’s guest(s): Fr. Paul Soper Links from today’s show: Read the blog posts from the Holy Land at TheGoodCatholicLife.com Photos from the Holy Land pilgrimage Videos from the Holy Land pilgrimage Today’s topics: Returning from the Holy Land 1st segment: Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams discussed the interfaith service being held at the cathedral of the Holy Cross tomorrow at 11am. It’s not an event being run by the Archdiocese of Boston. We’ve opened our house, one of the largest house of prayer in New England, so we opened it to allow people to pray. We’re being hospitable and kind. It does not imply endorsement of points of view. Gov. Patrick asked the archdiocese to allow this use and to work with Rev. Liz Walker who he asked to coordinate this event. Fr. Matt discussed the monthly LIFT gathering for youth and young adults he had last night with many youth and young adults who came together to pray in this difficult time. Fr. Matt discussed the importance of having our archbishop back among us at this time. Scot said Fr. Matt said yesterday in his holy hour that this experience brings us back to Good Friday and the cross, but that we must move forward to Easter Sunday. Scot welcomed Fr. Paul Soper and said today he will be talking about his experience of going to the Holy Land with Cardinal Seán and 28 other priests from the Archdiocese on a pilgrimage to amazing holy places. Fr. Paul said it was amazing to be there, but amazing in a different to come back at this time with the people of Boston. Fr. Paul said it gives him all the more connection to our Cathedral of the Holy Cross and to the archdiocese, having been in those places. He noted that in tomorrow’s service, we bring everything we are as Catholics, including strength and light and forgiveness. Scot noted we may not agree with all that is said tomorrow, theologically or politically. How can we approach that as Catholics? Fr. Paul said we must be secure in what we believe and not let someone else’s beliefs rattle our own. Fr. Paul said in talking to the Franciscans working in the Holy Land and to the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem, he learned how difficult it is for Muslims and Jews to talk to one another, but it’s not difficult for Catholics to speak to Muslims or to speak to Jews, so the Church becomes an important bridge despite being just 1 percent of the population because we are not afraid of that conversation. Fr. Matt said we have to be careful to become overreactive. We should focus on what unites us. People will not be using the podium to be divisive. The Catholic comes to this by referencing the elements of beauty and goodness and truth because that comes from God and then we want to pray that they come to the fullness of redemption found in Jesus Christ. Use this opportunity to pray for them, by taking the negative emotion as an opportunity for prayer. Scot said praying all together is a path to hope over and above a militant atheism that rejects that possibility. How can we respect our rights to pray together in the public square, not just on Sundays? We need to support each other, whatever our faith, in defending our right to pray where we can and will. 2nd segment: Scot said Fr. Paul worked closely with George Martell to bring us all on a virtual pilgrimage to the Holy Land through photos and videos and blog posts. He asked Fr. Paul what theme stands out from his time in the Holy Land? Fr. Paul said the theme is that there’s nothing vague about the Holy Land. There is a high degree of reliability in knowing where the actual events took place, but even when there is question, it is clear that Christianity is an historic religion in which particular things definitely happened in particular places. The pilgrims debated, for instance, about the location of the Ascension. It took place in either Jerusalem or Galilee. It definitely took place in one of those places. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, maybe not in this exact place here, but not 5 miles away. He was a particular individual in a particular place. When you visit the site of the Annunciation, there is a big sign that says, “Here the Word was made flesh.” Scot said the trip was broken into two part: Galilee and Jerusalem. He asked what was he most anxious to preach about. Fr. Paul said in Nazareth, there is a church built over the home where the Annunciation occurred. He said that from early times pilgrims visited this site, from the beginning of the second century. These would be the grandchildren of those who were there at the time and so this is personal family history, not generic history. He said when the Emperor Hadrian wanted to stamp out Judaism at the end of the 1st century, making no distinction between Christianity and Judaism, he torn down the buildings and built giant Roman temples over them, which permanently marked the locations until Christianity was legalized. Fr. Paul said he isn’t easily outwardly excited about spiritual places, but this place set him going. There was an extraordinary outpouring of the spirit in his heart that had nothing to do with his head. Another place was the location on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus was on the shore after the Resurrection and called to the apostles who were fishing and fed them a meal. He noted this was in the northwestern part of the sea of Galilee. There are seven springs that warm the normally cold sea, and this is where the large fish congregate. The seven springs are like the seven sacraments and they draw in the large fish and St. Peter draws the fish into the net (the Church), which isn’t broken. He drags them to shore and brings them to Jesus. There is a rock there on which Jesus laid out another Eucharistic meal and the fish. That rock is there in the church and the pilgrims bend down and kiss it. It’s called the site of the Primacy of Peter, the primacy of love where Peter tells Jesus he loves Him. Caesarea Philippi is the primacy of Peter in jurisdiction as foundation of the Church. This could also be the place of second chances. The forgiveness of Christ was counter to the theology of the world around them. Great labors were usually required to receive forgiveness, but all Peter did was ask for forgiveness and offer his love to Christ. Fr. Matt asked how they entered each site. Fr. Paul said each day was so packed, by the evening they were too tired to think about the next day, but as they arrived at each site, they would read the Gospel passage related to the site. They also heard from Fr. Francesco and Fabrizio, both Scripture scholars, who would give them background on the history and archeology and then a deep and personal account on the event in the Gospel for his life or the life of the Church. Either they would read the Gospel or sing it. They would take time to pray. After going to the site of the baptism of John in the Jordan River, they renewed their baptismal vows and Cardinal Seán and washed their heads in it. Scot said Fr. Paul wrote about God choosing to enter the world at a particular time. One of the big mysteries of Christ is God becoming man, taking on our flesh. The graces of being in that place where God chose to enter the world in that way of taking on our flesh would be awesome to ponder. Scot said it’s easy to say prayers over and over and not stop to think about what it really means. But to be in the place it happened would make you stop. Scot said some of his favorite pictures were of priest praying in these places. Fr. Paul recalled a great statement from G.K. Chesterton that what’s wrong with the world today is me. I am a broken man in a broken world. So what Christ took on was our broken humanity. 3rd segment: Fr. Matt asked about Caesarea Philippi. Fr. Paul said it took him most by surprise for what it looks like. First, the waters of the Jordan start there. Second, there was the site of the pagan temple of Pan, which was there for four or five hundred years before Christ. Third, there is a giant rock hill there. So when Jesus says to Peter that he will be the Rock and the gates of hell will not prevail, He is also talking about about the place they’re in. Christ says to Peter: I can pour into grace sufficient to change the world, but you have to give Me all of you. If you give Me everything you are, including your name, that gift will change the world and all the temples and the rest will fall into ruin. Fr. Matt and Fr. Paul point out the Jews did not worship here in the pagan sacrifices. Fr. Matt said you can imagine Christ pointing to the pagan temple as he says, “The gates of hell will not prevail.” On Jerusalem, having just experienced Holy Week and Easter and hearing the events that took place in Jerusalem, what were the highlights for him there? Fr. Paul said in one day the group celebrated Mass in the Tomb of Jesus inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, 31 of them standing very close together. There is an outer tomb and inner tomb. The Liturgy of the Word was in the outer tomb and the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist was in the inner tomb. They sent the oldest and youngest priests on the pilgrimage in with Cardinal Seán. The inner tomb could hold maybe three people. Through the course of the Mass, each priest got to stand in the tomb for a moment. What can one say about the events that happened here? This is where the Resurrection happened. The place of the Crucifixion is within the same church and the place where Christ’s body was prepared for burial. The same day they went to Bethlehem where Christ was born to the Church of the Nativity. The crowds there were bigger than anywhere else on the trip. It took them almost three hours to get into the grotto marking where Christ was born. For Fr. Paul it was a moving experience. He recalled how Bethlehem was really crowded at the time of the census and Joseph and Mary couldn’t find a place either. When they went back up into the church from the grotto, Fr. Paul wept and wept. He’s not sure why and it’s unusual for him, but he’s at peace with that. Later that night they were able to have an extraordinary moment of prayer in the Upper Room. Within 24 hours they were at the site of Good Friday, Easter, Christmas, Holy Thursday and Pentecost. Scot noted that Jesus didn’t just have the Last Supper there. Fr. Paul said the Apostles were in the Upper Room on the evening of Easter Sunday, then a week later when Thomas was with them, then 50 days later on Pentecost. Those were the walls that shook when the great fire of theHoly Spirit descended. This was the room where the Eucharist was instituted, those were the walls that shook. They renewed the vows of their priesthood in that place with Cardinal Seán. He felt the Holy Spirit there more than at any other place. He said he doesn’t remember the day of his baptism. He remembers the day of his ordination. But this is the third great day of his life.

Summary of today’s show: In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon Bombings, Scot Landry and Fr. O’Connor were joined by Fr. Roger Landry to talk about evil and our response to evil; WQOM station manager Chris Kelley, who lost a cousin in the Pan Am Flight 103 terrorist bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988; and Joe D’Arrigo, an Archdiocese of Boston who was running the Marathon with his four daughters and was just down the street when the bombs exploded. There are no easy answers and many platitudes, but everyone on the show agreed that the best of human nature is exposed in the face of enormous evil; that the Lord grieves with us; and that our best response is to pray and to return love when shown hatred. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: BostonCatholicLive.com Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor Today’s guest(s): Fr. Roger Landry, Joe D’Arrigo, Chris Kelley Links from today’s show: Masses and Prayer Services in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon Bombings (regularly updated) Today’s topics: Responding to the Boston Marathon Bombings 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed everyone to the show and acknowledging the bombings at the Boston Marathon yesterday, we’ll be devoting today’s show to the events. Fr. Chris O’Connor read a prayer from the Mass in Times of War and Civil Disturbance. Scot said over the past 24 hours he’s seen how the entire country and entire world is praying with us. Fr. Chris said there’s a strong desire for justice, calling out to God for justice. Second, we should pray for everyone involved and ask for God’s consolation and peace. We have returned to Good Friday, but we know there will always be an Easter. We’re united in fighting this evil and figuring out who perpetrated it. Fr. Chris noted in today’s Mass readings that it records the stoning of St. Stephen and we are reminded that we haven’t progressed very far. God doesn’t cause this. We also realize that only bring about the healing and opportunity for new life. Suffering reminds us as human beings that we are never complete without Christ. Scot said Fr. Matt Williams led a holy hour at the Pastoral Center. He said this is a time when we turn first to God. He welcomed WQOM station manager Chris Kelley, who said he experienced the loss of his cousin in the terrorist attack on the Pan-Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, in the 1980s. He said there’s a lot of confusion, fear, and not knowing where to turn. You’re trying to come to grips what’s happening. At the same time, there are already people reaching out with prayers and support. We are united in prayer with the whole country, but this is the cross. It doesn’t get any more real than this. Scot said the image that stuck with him today was 8-year-old Martin Richard in his First Communion outfit in a picture that’s been going around and now the boy lost his life and his sister and mother are gravely injured. Fr. Roger Landry said there’s a certain powerlessness in human responses to this. There are no human words to adequately console. Our first Christian response is to fall to our knees. He said there was an outstanding contrast yesterday between good and evil, the response of goodness to evil. Fr. Roger said he thinks about how most of those injured or killed were spectators but in the marathon against evil there are no spectators. He thought back to the idea of Patriots Day which marks April 19, 1775 and the battle of Lexington Green. He recalled the poem which said it was the “shot heard round the world.” We have heard the bombs around the world and we all have to take up the weapons of prayer and work as hard as those who work in Homeland Security work to get at the root of all that. Today is the Feast of St. Bernadette, the patroness of Fr. Roger’s parish, and he said she exemplified courage in the face of adversity. Mary promised her that she wouldn’t necessarily be happy in this life but would be happy in the next. Scot recalled the column by Boston Globe sports columnist Dan Shaughnessy who noted that of all days in the calendar, Patriots Day is unique to Boston and we may never be the same day. Fr. Chris cautioned that we need to temper our desire for vengeance and turn it to a desire for justice. “Boston Marathon will never be the same”, Dan Shaugnnessy, Boston Globe Fr. Chris said if we wonder what we can do, we can look at ourselves and see how we can become less angry and become a peacemaker. This isn’t pollyannaish because we still want justice. If there was ever a case to show us that Satan still exists, yesterday was it. Scot noted the other of the 3 deceased victims was Krystle Campbell, 29, of Arlington, this afternoon. Scot said one of our colleagues, Joe D’Arrigo ran the Marathon with his four daughters. 2nd segment: Scot said Joe is executive director of the Clergy Funds and said he was following his times running the Marathon. Joe was running the Marathon because he recently turned 70 and he decided he wanted to run the Marathon. For the last 37 years, his family has attended and at least one member of the family has run for the past 20 years. So he said for his birthday he wanted to run the Marathon with all his girls. Joe said at 25.9 miles, a police officer stopped them from running, around Mass. Ave. They heard sirens and police radios were crackling. A police officer told them that there were two incidents at the finish line. It was total confusion and they knew it was bad. Joe said his girls’ thoughts turned to their friends who were ahead of them and there was crying and anxiety. Cell service was down and they couldn’t call anyone, but they were able to find out their friends were okay through social media and text messages. From that point, they tried to figure out how to get home. They started walking toward a friend’s house over by Commonwealth Avenue. On the way, they saw the true humanity of people. They walked down Marlboro Street and were freezing. A woman walking with a baby took a blanket off a carriage and gave it one of her daughters. People were coming out of houses with big trash bags so runners could cover themselves. They rerouted to the Boston Common and BAA volunteers were running down the street to hand out emergency blankets to runners. there were about 10,000 people all streaming to the Common. All the streets were shut down, the hotels were shut down. He said it was chaotic because so many people were from out of town and didn’t know where to go. First responders and the volunteers of the BAA did a wonderful job, he said. Joe said Mary Hanlon, the nurse who takes care of our senior priests, was present at the finish line yesterday and witnessed the horrific pain in that area. She’s taking some time off. Joe will spend this afternoon with his daughters. 3rd segment: Scot said Joe expressed the kindness and love of the people of Boston. Fr. Roger said when we see terrible evil we are jarred back to where we should be. We should be that way all the time, but we get distracted. Scot said Joe and his daughters runs in memory of his wife who died from cancer. Fr. Chris said he believes she was watching over them yesterday. He added that the bombs will not define Boston, but the response will where we saw literally the corporal works of mercy. Chris said people will experience a lot of guilt for having just missed being involved. Why them and not me? But by definition you can’t make sense of this senseless act. You just have to give gratitude for what you have. You take account and you begin to appreciate it even more. He encouraged anyone listening who is struggling to seek out someone to talk to. He said those who’ve been through previous attacks are often ready to reach out to those who are suffering now. Fr. Chris asked how Scot is talking to the kids about this. He said he hasn’t been letting his kids see the news and they’ve been hearing Scot and his wife talking so they asked what is going on. He explained that an evil person did something bad in Boston and they should pray for those who were hurt by him. You can discuss it without detail and let them know that they’re safe and they’re not going to be in danger. 4th segment: Scot said some people will ask how God can allow something like yesterday happen. Fr. Roger said God never wants evil to happen in the world. When a modern Cain kills his brother, God grieves. We can’t imagine what it’s like to lose one child like three families did yesterday. God lost three children. The only way to stop what happened yesterday was for God to eliminate human freedom. The risk of allowing love is that we can use free will to hate. Jesus changed even our suffering into opportunities for goodness. He noted that God’s direct will is that every single one of us become a saint in heaven, but he permits things as a result of our freedom in order to prevent a greater evil. This is God’s permissive will. God will bring good out of this evil. Fr. Chris said the most important thing we can do is pray for peace, in our world and in our city. Pray for the families too and unite whatever suffering we’re going through to that of Christ’s. And do little acts of penance and offer them up for these victims. Scot asked Chris when his family lost his cousin to a terrorist attack what did people do that helped the most. Chris said prayer was the key and that prayer has affected him throughout his life. Beyond that, people can cook meals and other things, but the bet thing to do is to love better. Also pray to the Blessed Mother, who knows what it’s like to go through the agony of the cross. Fr. Roger said our best response is to pray, especially the Mass. As a society we need to form hearts to be good through prayer at home, especially the rosary. Scot read the message that Pope Francis asked to be sent to Cardinal Seán through Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone: Deeply grieved by news of the loss of life and grave injuries caused by the act of violence perpetrated last evening in Boston, His Holiness Pope Francis wishes me to assure you of his sympathy and closeness in prayer. In the aftermath of this senseless tragedy, His Holiness invokes God’s peace upon the dead, his consolation upon the suffering and his strength upon all those engaged in the continuing work of relief and response. At this time of mourning the Holy Father prays that all Bostonians will be united in a resolve not to be overcome by evil, but to combat evil with good (cf. Rom 12:21), working together to build an ever more just, free and secure society for generations yet to come. Scot, Fr. Roger, Fr. Chris, and Chris gave their final thoughts. Fr. Roger said there are no easy answers. Scot said he’s convinced there are people listening today who are listening for the first time, maybe because they’re tried of watching the rest of the media. If they are angry with God, he encouraged them to cry out to God and demand He answer them.

Summary of today’s show: Live from Jerusalem! Fr. Mark O’Connell joined the show by phone from the Holy Land where he’s on pilgrimage with Cardinal Seán and brother priests to give a taste of the amazing experience, including renewing baptismal vows in the Jordan and celebrating Mass in the Lord’s Empty Tomb as well as riding a camel. Then Fr. John Sheridan joined Scot Landry and Fr. Chip Hines to talk about his experience as a pastor of a parish that’s joining one of the new Disciples in Mission collaborative even as he takes a new assignment as pastor of another of the collaboratives. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: BostonCatholicLive.com Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chip Hines Today’s guest(s): Fr. John Sheridan, Pastor of St. James Parish in Salem Links from today’s show: Disciples in Mission Today’s topics: Fr. Mark from the Holy Land; Fr. John Sheridan on beginnings and endings in parish collaboratives 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed everyone to the show, including Fr. Chip Hines and Fr. John Sheridan. Also joining us is Fr. Mark O’Connell calling in from Jerusalem. He talked about the photos of him from yesterday of him riding a camel. Scot asked Fr. Mark about his highlights of visiting the Holy Land. Fr. Mark said it far exceeds his expectations to be on this trip with 29 priests and Cardinal Seán. It’s a holy trip. He put his feet in the Sea of Galilee and they prayed at the Wailing Wall for the beginning of the Sabbath. Tomorrow, they’re going to the Holy Sepulchre early tomorrow morning. They discussed the the experience of riding the windy, choppy seas on the Sea of Galilee, but he was told that it’s usually even more choppy and so he imagined what it must have been like for Jesus to walk across the water. He added that the guide pointed out so many areas all around, little things like the hill which was the reference to a “light on the hill”. Fr. Mark said that celebrating the Mass of the Annunciation in the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, right where the Angel Gabriel came, was the first “oh my goodness” moment of the trip, but those come every hour. Tomorrow, he expects to be the peak as they go to Bethlehem after the Holy Sepulchre and then later to the Upper Room. He said that even the men who have been to the Holy Land before recognize this is a special trip. They didn’t have their cardinal renew their baptismal vows in the Jordan River or celebrate Mass literally in the Tomb of Jesus tomorrow. Scot asked Fr. Mark what is it about the trip that is exceeding his expectations. Fr. Mark said what he’s read in the Bible clicks into place when you’ve been there. Reading the Bible passage while you’re looking at it, all the little things click into place. Walking up from the Kidron Valley, through the gate of the city, and to the Holy of Holies like Jesus makes it so real. Scot then asked Fr. Mark about the photo of Fr. Mark, Fr. Paul Soper and Cardinal Seán wearing headgear in the desert. Fr. Mark said they got out on an overlook to Jerusalem and some men were selling some Bedouin headdresses. He ignored them at first, but then he saw the cardinal wearing one and they didn’t want the cardinal to be all alone. Truth be told, they got snookered. Fr. Paul negotiated them down from $20 to $15, but they found out later that the Cardinal paid only $5. He said Fr. Stephen Zukas not only rode the camel but also a donkey and as he’s 6-foot-5, that was quite a sight. BostonCatholicPhotos.com BostonCatholic videos on YouTube.com Read the blogs from the pilgrims at The Good Catholic Life website 2nd segment: Scot and Fr. Chip discussed the tangible joy in Fr. Mark’s voice even though it’s after 11pm in Jerusalem. Fr. John said this has lit the fire under him to go sometime. Scot asked Fr. Chip how it’s been going at St. Joseph in Medford. Fr. Chip talked about going through the Triduum for the first time with the new parish, how exciting it is each time. He’s settling into a good rhythm and they’re working in collaboration with St. Francis in Medford. Scot also noted that Fr. Chip is on the cover of CatholicTV’s monthly magazine advertising the movie review show Spotlight. Fr. Chip said they’ve recorded 114 shows so far. He encouraged people to send ideas for the show to [email protected] Scot now welcomes Fr. John Sheridan, currently pastor in Salem, but soon to be pastor in Middleboro, Lakeville, and Rochester. Fr. John said he’s looking forward to Fr. Chip’s review of “42”, about the legendary Jackie Robinson. Scot said the Salem collaborative under the Disciples in Mission pastoral plan will be the only four-parish collaborative. He will be moving to the extreme southern end of the Archdiocese. Fr. John said there couldn’t be a better pick to become pastor in Salem than Fr. Dan Riley. He said they’ve been working for two years in Salem to bring together the lay leadership and see how the parishes can work together. Scot noted Fr. Riley helped Sacred Heart in Weymouth a few years ago to bring the community together to rebuild the church after it burned down and now the parish is thriving. He said it was no small accomplishment by the leadership in Salem to get four parishes to agree to be part of Phase 1 of the Disciples in Mission. Fr. John talked about the now-closed St. Joseph Parish, which was his first assignment, and how the people of Salem have grown after that parish closed. Fr. Chip asked about the diverse community in Salem. Fr. John said there’s a Polish community and a Hispanic community and there’s even a Ukrainian Catholic church, which isn’t part of the archdiocese, but they wanted to work with. They determined to work on what everyone has to bring to the table and what they all have in common. Each parish has it’s unique skills and gifts and they build on what’s there. Fr. John was at St. Joseph’s from 1990 to 1996 and then came back to St. James in 2004 and has been pastor there since, about 14 years total. Scot asked him about his discernment in offering his resignation to go where the cardinal determines he would best serve the archdiocese. Fr. John said he’s walked through a lot of emotions. When he announced there would be a new pastor in Salem, there were gasps. He’s been there long enough to have seen children grow from baptism to communion. Fr. John said the Willows in Salem has a store called Hobbs that sells the best popcorn anywhere. They have a hundred-year-old corn popper there that makes amazing popcorn. But he said as much as he’ll miss Salem, he’s spent his last Holy Week and Easter focusing on the Resurrection. The chaos of the last few weeks is a jumble of excitement, loss, and a sense the Lord is calling him to do this. He got into this knowing he serves at the pleasure of the Archbishop. On holy Thursday, he used Pope Francis’ Chrism Mass homily as the basis of his homily and he’s felt that over the last 8 years he’s given himself in that way to the parish. All the good work they’ve done never ends. Fr. Chip said it’s testimony to Fr. John that he was asked to be a pastor in a Phase 1 collaborative to continue this work. Fr. John said Fr. Aveni, who is the current pastor, has done a great job. Fr. John said it’s three towns, three churches, two parishes, and one pastor. He said it’s perfect in happening between Easter and Pentecost, in the middle of the now and not yet. He said he’s been down to the parishes to visit and he said it’s a lively community with lots going on. Scot noted He’s going from city life in Salem to some of the most rural parishes in the Archdiocese. Fr. John said he’s always served in cities, but he’s the son of a farmer and the first time visiting St. Rose of Lima he looked out over dairy farms and took in a deep breath. Scot noted that that these two parishes might be the largest in combined land area. Fr. John said the people there have a great sense of humor about being on the fringe. He said Middleboro is the second biggest town in the Archdiocese in land area, second only to Plymouth. He noted that the churches are in three different environments, in town, by a lake, and out by farms. In Middleboro, they have five buildings including a large hall which he thought would be great for youth ministry. In Salem, he stressed that the archdiocese wants to work with the parishes and provide everything they need to do what they have to do. Fr. John said his motto for this 2013 on New Year’s Day was “Behold I make all things news” and this was before he knew what was going to happen. Scot asked him about his custom of taking a motto from Scripture for the year. Scot said the parishes will be surrounded on three side by the Diocese of Fall River. He said most dioceses in the US fall along county lines, but because they didn’t want to have Cape Cod separated from Fall River/New Bedford went they created the diocese, Fall River was given five communities in southern Plymouth County. Fr. John he tells people that he’ll be out by Edaville Railroad and they say, “Oh yeah!” Scot asked what aspects about the Disciples in Mission training that Fr. John is looking forward to. Fr. John said he has been told that people will be trained to build the youth ministry with him, to figure out what is needed by the people in the mission. He said he has been in some of the most difficult situations before and now he’s got a new blank slate with a lot of potential. Scot asked Fr. Chip as a member of the archdiocesan clergy personnel board about what it takes to assign priests under the new pastoral plan. Fr. Chip said they know that they are affecting people’s lives in very big ways and the board has reached out to priests who are being affected by this heavily. Some are upset and others are joyful. But the internal process he can speak about has always been about who is the best person for the job. There’s a lot of information to take in regarding the collaboratives and they use it to find the best person. Since only 12 pastors are chosen for the 28 parishes, there’s a lot of displaced priests and they’re working to transition them. It’s been challenging, fun, and even heartbreaking as people are leaving places they like. Scot said anger happens when people’s expectations get violated. We’re in a new chapter in our archdiocese in how we staff our parishes. He noted that at one time it was said every pastor would move, but now the policy is to look at each situation and find the best guy whether the current pastor or a new one. But that opens it up subjectivity where people say, “Who could be better for the job than the priest we’ve had so long?” Part of the process is to clarify expectations. Fr. John talked about how he plans to spend his last couple of months before June 4 when he shows up at this new assignment. It will be tough to leave the rectory where he lives with some senior priests in residence. Scot and Fr. John discussed how people don’t travel from North to South through the archdiocese and how they treat the other side of the archdiocese as a distant country.

Summary of today’s show: Our Thursday panel of Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, and Gregory Tracy discussed the news headlines of the week, including the pilgrimage by Cardinal Seán and 29 Boston priests to the Holy Land; a burst in vocations from MIT; final appointment of pastors for Phase 1 parishes in the Disciples in Mission pastoral plan; Congress for Catechesis and Evangelization for Hispanic Catholics; unique hot dog street ministry by St. Clement’s Shrine on Red Sox opening day; opening of a time capsule from the former St. Joseph church in Salem; and a judge’s decision to allow abortifacient pills for any girl without prescription. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: BostonCatholicLive.com Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today’s guest(s): Gregory Tracy, managing editor of the Pilot, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston Links from today’s show: The Anchor The Pilot Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot’s and The Anchor’s websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links. Today’s topics: Holy Land pilgrimage; Vocations at MIT; Final Phase 1 Pastors; Hot dog ministry; Time capsule; Abortion pills 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed Susan Abbott to the show and he said things are getting back to normal after the conclave and Easter, but Susan said she’s still very busy with so much still going on, including the Co-Workers in the Vineyard gathering for pastoral associates tomorrow at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Newton. Susan talked about the various speakers and the title which comes from a USCCB document about the role of the lay ecclesial ministers in the life of the Church. Co-Workers in the Vineyard details Scot welcomed Gregory Tracy and noted that the Pilot is working shorthanded this week with editor Antonio Enrique traveling in the Holy Land this week. Greg said while he doesn’t have someone to bounce ideas of off, that makes things go faster because you don’t have anyone to consult with. He also said that he’s been experimenting with multimedia journalism for the Pilot like many of the other newspapers are doing with video to accompany printed stories. Speaking of the Holy Land, George Martell is there with Cardinal Seán taking photos and video and reporting back. Scot has a couple of favorite photos from today, including Fr. Mark O’Connell and Fr. Stephen Zukas riding camels and a photo of a George with Cardinal Seán wearing a headwrap. BostonCatholicPhotos.com BostonCatholic videos on YouTube.com Read the blogs from the pilgrims at The Good Catholic Life website 2nd segment: Scot said in the Pilot this week is a story about the growth in vocations coming from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, some of them for Boston and others for their home dioceses. Greg said they were able to do many more local stories this week now that the conclave and Easter are in the past. He said the campus chaplain, Fr. Richard Clancy, said in the story that the type of student who attends MIT tends to be intense and the more they study something the closer to it they get. A photo with the story shows Deacon Joseph Laracy who is now studying in Rome and is preparing for ordination next month. Christopher Bae is a native of Korea who graduated from MIT and is now at St. John’s Seminary. Susan said she touched by his insight that his studies led him to ask what it is that he lives for. “It was a question of what do I ultimately live for? Do I live for money? Do I live for honor? Do I live for some kind of material success? Because that would determine how I chose my next step,” he said. Scot said Fr. Kwang Lee is parochial vicar at Sacred Heart in Weymouth and graduated from MIT. He said had he known he was becoming a priest he would have studied boiler repair, which would have been more applicable than his degree in naval engineering. Greg said having men coming from such varied backgrounds is helpful because it shows that they are like everyone else and that many of them started out wanting to do something and then they discerned God’s plan for their lives. Also in local news, there was a Congress for Catechesis and Evangelization for Hispanic Catholics in the Archdiocese. Susan said they have a catechetical congress each year and they usually have it at least bilingual. This year, they decided rather than having the people come to Congress, the office went out to regional gatherings for English-speaking people, but for the Spanish-speaking community, they held an archdiocesan-wide event for 350 people. Susan said the joy cold not be contained in the room. For the official news this week, Cardinal Seán appointed the final three pastors in the Phase 1 parishes under the Disciples in Mission plan. Fr. Joseph M. Rossi will lead Immaculate Conception and St. Jerome Parishes in Weymouth, Fr. John Sassani will become Pastor of Sacred Heart in Newton and remain Pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians, and Fr. Brian Clary will remain Pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption in Brookline. Scot asked for prayer for the priests who are still living in those parishes and awaiting their next assignment, and the members of those parishes. The panel discussed how parishes and priests are dealing with the changes, where priests who have been in parishes a little while stay, and longstanding pastors move. DisciplesinMission.com Scot said a timely story came from St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine in the Back Bay, was to provide a hot dog and a drink to people who are walking by on their way to the Red Sox home opener at Fenway Park on Monday. Greg said it’s a great story about the seminarians coming up with the idea last year on seeing the crowds. Many people stopped to have a hot dog and chat and even get a tour of the shrine. By giving out something to eat rather than just a flyer, people are more likely to engage and they got a sense that many people didn’t know anything about this building they walked by each day. Greg had mentioned that Pope Francis when he was archbishop in Buenos Aires encouraged his pastors to go out from the churches to where the people are and engage them in the streets and he thinks this will become more common. Susan said the Church has a long tradition of feeding people, right back to the multiplication of loves and fishes. In Salem, a time capsule was opened at the former St. Joseph’s church that was demolished. It was given to St. James Parish in Salem. Fr. Lawrence Rondeau, the last pastor at St. Joseph’s opened it. The capsule was put in place in 1949 when the church was built. There wasn’t anything deeply profound but there were newspapers from the day, including a French-language newspaper that served the French-Canadian population in Salem. The opening of the time capsule provides a bit of closure for those for whom the closing and demolition of the church was painful. The panel discussed time capsules and how there should have been a time capsule when Central Ministries moved from Brighton to Braintree during the 200th anniversary year. Also in the Pilot is a disturbing story about a federal judge requiring over-the-counter distribution of abortifacient drugs to girls of any age without prescription. Scot asked what kind of country do we live in where the kids have to get a doctor’s note to receive an aspirin in school, but they can get this? “Allowing over-counter sale of contraceptives to all ages ‘simply wrong’”, CNS, 4/5/13 Greg said the background is that previously it was only available without prescription for women over 18 and with prescription under. He said the larger concern, in addition to the abortion issue, is also that we’re also talking about sex by young women, at an age when it is technically illegal and so the question of coercion comes up. He added that it completely removes the right and authority of parents over their children. Scot and Susan agreed that it shows disrespect for the role of parents. Scot said another disturbing aspect is that such a decision was made by one judge, not by legislators in open debate and accountable to voters. What can you do when one judge with certain opinions legislates from the bench?

Summary of today’s show: Susan Conroy flew to India as a 21-year-old Dartmouth college student with the idea of serving beside Mother Teresa. That trip to the slums of Calcutta changed the course of Susan’s life and she joined Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams to talk about her experiences with Mother Teresa and the secrets to holiness and a life of faithfulness found in her work and witness. Susan will be a keynote speaker at the 6th annual Eucharistic Congress for Youth and Young Adults in Boston April 19 and 20. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: BostonCatholicLive.com Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams Today’s guest(s): Susan Conroy Links from today’s show: The 6th Annual Eucharistic Congress for Youth and Young Adults Susan Conroy Mother Teresa’s Lessons of Love and Secrets of Sanctity Today’s topics: Susan Conroy: Mother Teresa’s Word’s and Witness for a Life of Holiness 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed Fr. Matt Williams to the show and they discussed Cardinal Seán’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land with a group of 29 priests and today’s events on the Sea of Galilee and Capernaum. BostonCatholicPhotos.com BostonCatholic videos on YouTube.com Read the blogs from the pilgrims at The Good Catholic Life website Next weekend is the 6th annual Eucharistic Congress for Youth and Young Adults and one of the speakers is today’s guest, Susan Conroy. Fr. Matt said the theme this year is “…In memory of Me.” Msgr. Jim Moroney will be speaking on how the liturgy shapes and forms our spirituality to have missionary hearts. Susan will talk about her experiences with Mother Teresa and what it means to shape our hearts in missionary service to our neighbor. 2nd segment: This week’s benefactor card raffle winner is Kenneth and Janet Conroy from Bridgewater They win the audio book “St. Bernadette of Lords” and the CD “Ecce Fiat: The Annunciation Gregorian Chant”. If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit WQOM.org. For a one-time $50 donation, you’ll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for WQOM’s weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We’ll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. 3rd segment: Scot and Fr. Matt welcomed Susan to the show. He asked her how she first came to know Mother Teresa. She said she was 20 years old when she first started learning about Mother Teresa when she was a student at Dartmouth in New Hampshire. Her own mother had sent her a poster with some words of Mother Teresa that so impressed her. When she came home, she found three books by Mother Teresa purchased by her mother and this started her dream to work beside Mother Teresa. Fr. Matt asked about the words on the poster. Susan said: “Joy is prayer. Joy is strength. Joy is Love. We give the most when we give joy.” Then as a young women who always longed for heaven, Mother Teresa’s other words that we don’t have to wait for heaven floored her. She said her mother had no idea what she was igniting in her daughter’s heart. Her mother has 10 children and only wanted to give her children uplifting and inspiring books. The first person she mentioned her dream about helping Mother Teresa in Calcutta was her mother who said it would be her worst nightmare. Her natural response was to not want her 21-year-old daughter to fly around the world to be exposed to death, danger, and disease. She remembers her first trip away, watching her mother crying in the airport as she left, knowing she couldn’t assure her mom that she would be home alive and well. Fr. Matt said some people would say they went to Calcutta to feel good about helping people, while Susan went to experience heaven on earth. Susan said helping the poor and dying was happy and fulfilling, but it was grueling and some days were very difficult. Someone once asked Mother Teresa how she kept doing it without going into depression or getting burned out. She said: “I pray”. It’s through her relationship with God that she had this endless source of love and grace. Susan added that every very early morning in Calcutta started with Mass and only after receiving Jesus in the Eucharist could they go out and serve. Then every evening they would come back to the Mother House to have adoration. Mother Teresa also wanted to make sure people didn’t think what she was doing was social work. Instead she was serving Christ. It is Christ who is the sick person or lonely or in need. As she reached out to person, she remembered that as she touched each person, she was touching Jesus himself. Scot asked how Mother Teresa’s sanctity was expressed in her daily life. Susan said she was captivated by the idea of a living saint. She had only thought of saints as long gone. As a young person, she thought she could do anything and had very expectations of what a saint might be like and Mother Teresa surpassed them. Her first impression of Mother Teresa was talking to her face to face after Mass in the Motherhouse. Susan was struck by her humility. As a young college girl she knew she was about to meet a celebrity and had never put humility together with celebrity. Another of her qualities was her kindness and her motherliness. Finding out that Susan’s mom had been struggling with cancer, she gave her two Miraculous Medals for herself and her mother which she kissed first. Her mother lived another 20 years. Susan said Mother Teresa also treated every single human being she encountered the same way, whether a man in a gutter, a Russian dignitary, or an American college girl. She treated every person like gold. It was as if they were the only person in the world to her. Scot asked Susan how this encounter affected the trajectory of her life. Susan said Dartmouth graduates are among the most successful in the country and she was definitely on that track, but this changed it completely. She recalls Mother Teresa saying once that it’s not a sin to be rich; it’s a blessing. Susan found it remarkable coming from someone who lives among the poorest of the poor. But although it’s not a sin, it brings a responsibility to the poor. Mother Teresa also said at the end of our lives we won’t be judged based on the money we made, the cars we drive, etc. but on how we love. Fr. Matt asked what Mother Teresa’s life, witness, and words teach us about the New Evangelization. Susan said the most powerful evangelizers in her life are not those who spoke much, but those who loved much and served much. Mother Teresa didn’t talk about faith so much as showed others. She invited people to come and see for themselves, to serve in the homes for the dying. She preached the faith by her witness. Susan said God tells us that we are to be holy as he is holy. We’re all called to be holy. So how do we become holy? Susan has hosted a series on EWTN called “Speaking of Saints” and so she was able to study the question. Humility is at the heart of holiness. Jesus told St. Faustina that only the humble of soul can receive His divine grace. A saint is full of the goodness of God. A saint is a friend of God. A saint is led by God through prayer and the spiritual life. Love is also at the heart of holiness. St. Paul said faith without love is nothing. Mother Teresa would say it didn’t matter how many people you help; it’s how you do it. It’s the love you put into the deed that can save souls. They talked about daily Eucharistic adoration and its importance. Once Mother Teresa started daily adoration the Missionaries of Charity order flourished. Fr. Matt said Mother Teresa once said, “We’re not called to be successful. We’re called to be faithful.” He asked Susan to explain what that means. Susan said the context of that statement was a group of businessmen visiting the home for the dying in Calcutta. They were there as tourists. Susan said the house was a place where the dying were treated as royalty, lifted from the gutter. This was not a hospital, but a place where the dying who were in the streets were given a place to die with dignity. These professionals thought they should be kept in modern hospitals, not in the simple home for the dying. Mother Teresa was being faithful to what Jesus called her to do, to serve the poorest of the poor. Jesus had told Mother Teresa that poor didn’t love Him because they didn’t know Him and so she was to go among them and bring Him to them. Our duty isn’t success. That’s up to God. Our duty is to do God’s will, exactly like the Blessed Mother did. St. Therese of Lisieuex equated faithfulness with holiness. Scot asked Susan what it was like in 1996 to receive permission from Mother Teresa to write her book. Susan had been giving presentations to businesspeople in packed audiences. She was told to keep sharing it. So she wrote to Mother Teresa and asked for her permission and she was stunned how quickly, even miraculously, the letter came back. Mother told her to do it for the glory of God and for the good of souls. Wouldn’t it be great if we did all things every day like that.

Summary of today’s show: With Cardinal Seán and 29 priests of Boston on pilgrimage in the Holy Land, Scot Landry and Rick Heil encouraged listeners to follow along on a virtual pilgrimage at TheGoodCatholicLife.com where there will be regular updates. Also, Scot and Fr. Chris O’Connor discussed the Sacraments of Initiation, especially baptism and confirmation, two sacraments that are particularly timely during the Easter season. Why do we have confirmation names? What is confirmation? Can we switch godparents later? These questions and more are answered in the show. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: BostonCatholicLive.com Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor Links from today’s show: BostonCatholicPhotos.com BostonCatholic videos on YouTube.com Today’s topics: The Feast of the Annunciation; The Sacraments of Initiation 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed everyone to the show. He said the big news this week is that based on the coverage of the papal conclave in Rome, providing a pilgrimage experience to people back home, some of Cardinal Seán’s cabinet members said that the cardinal and 29 priests were going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and George Martell should go. Scot said he couldn’t go at the last minute, but George was. More importantly, Susan Martell allowed George to go even though he will miss Susan’s birthday. Scot said George was a photographer at the Boston Herald for about 20 years and so he was used to being able to go on assignment at the last minute. Cardinal Seán and the pilgrims arrived Monday evening and today was their first full day in the Holy Land, visiting Galilee, the Basilica of the Annunciation, and Mount Carmel. There are many great photos at BostonCatholicPhotos.com. Scot said it’s already a tremendous virtual pilgrimage. Every day, we’ll have photos and video and blog posts at TheGoodCatholicLife.com. Rick Heil said we have a TV in the Catholic Media office area showing an unending slideshow of George’s most recent photos as they get posted online. He said his favorite photo right now is from the excavation of Joseph and Mary’s home in Nazareth. It sets your faith on fire to know that this is the place. Scot said his favorite so far is seeing three of our priests kneeling before the altar in the lower church. Scot said our faith is rich because you learn something new every day. He was shocked to learn that yesterday was the Feast of the Annunciation because when March 25 falls during Holy Week, it is moved to the first Monday after the Octave of Easter or two weeks later. The Feast of the Annunciation is when the angel Gabriel appeared before Mary and tells her that she will be the Mother of God and she gives her fiat, an attitude of faith seeking understanding. Fr. Chris O’Connor arrived in the studio, having been stuck in traffic. He said he was horrified to see in the New York Times that they actually published on Easter that it was the day that Jesus ascended into heaven. They then discussed the significance of the Annunciation and how it would normally fall exactly nine months before Christmas. Fr. Chris said the Annunciation reminds us to give ourselves over to Christ. He said it’s an important day in the seminary because it’s the day Mary received her vocation for all eternity. Scot read from the Gospel of Luke 1:25-38: The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. He said Mary said, “Let it be done to me according to your Word.” Scot said he thinks that’s what someone like the pilgrim priests must be praying on their pilgrimage and he asked listeners to pray for Cardinal Seán and those priests in the next chapter of their lives. 2nd segment: Fr. Chris and Scot bring up the topic of the Sacraments of Initiation. Fr. Chris said it’s most appropriate to talk about them now because after Easter the Lord’s grace is flowing abundantly at this time and at Easter Vigil and in the weeks following people are receiving these graces. He said at the parish where he lives the kids are preparing for confirmation and first communion. Some parishes suspend baptism during Lent and hold them all during the season of Easter. He said on the cross, when the soldier pierced the side of Christ, water and blood flowed from his side. The water represented baptism and the blood the Eucharist. Scot said on the Easter Vigil, the catechumens receive the three sacraments of initiation: baptism, confirmation, and first communion. Meanwhile the rest of the congregation renews their baptismal vows. Fr. Chris said on Easter Sunday everyone renews their vows because baptism is connected to the feast of Easter, newness of life. Baptism is descending into the tomb of the water and rising again with new life. Fr. Chris said we use water to drink and to clean. Similarly, in baptism God is actively involved in offering us the washing away of original sin, membership in the Body of Christ, and the pledge of eternal life. “I was made for heaven and heaven was made for me.” Fr. Chris said the Church doesn’t have a preference between full immersion versus pouring water in baptism. He said the formula of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit reminds us of the three days spent in the tomb waiting to burst back into life. Scot asked what the Catechism means in 1280 that it imprints on the soul an indelible character. Fr. Chris said it’s a sign that goes with us to heaven and the eternal Father will recognize it on our souls. There are two other sacraments where this indelible mark takes place: Confirmation and Holy Orders. Once a priest, always a priest. That’s why, even in cases of priests who have left active ministry, in an emergency the priest could hear a confession or administer anointing of the sick. He said he someone ask to have a godparent changed and he had to say no because those relationships are indelible and unchangeable. Thus those decisions are so important. Scot asked about people at the Easter Vigil who are called “candidates for full communion with the Catholic Church.” These are people who were already baptized in any Christian church with water and using the formula: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirt. Amen.” Scot said with his kids he never wanted to wait to baptize them and chose to do it as soon as possible. He asked why in the Church we do it for infants before they reach the age of reason at which they can choose this faith. Fr. Chris said the children are baptized into the faith of the Church, of the community. That’s why it’s essential moms and dads and godparents are living the faith. what’s most important is that God is doing the activity. With the sacraments comes the promise of God’s power. The sacraments aren’t magic. In baptism, even before we were aware, God was already present to us, acting in our lives, and claiming us as his own. Scot noted that any Catholic in an emergency could baptize someone using the correct formula. Fr. Chris recalled an episode of All in the Family where Edith Bunker baptized her grandchild in the kitchen sink. Fr. Chris then talked about the signs of baptism that are found at funerals, including the paschal candle and the white pall on the casket that reminds us of the white baptismal garment. Scot said a lot of priests try to find out the date of baptism of the deceased in order to preach about the connection between the funeral rite and the baptismal rite. He said many godparents take the date of baptism so seriously that they observe that date over the birthday. 3rd segment: Scot asked why baptism and confirmation are usually tied together and in some places in the Church celebrated at the same time. Fr. Chris said we look at confirmation as an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on those who are confirmed in which they are asked to be witnesses to Christ. He said the bishop puts the sign of oil on the forehead as a sign that when we come face to face with others, we bring the face of Christ to others. Fr. Chris read from the Catechism 1319 which says the candidate has to be the age of reason, which in some dioceses is the same age at which they receive first communion. A candidate for Confirmation who has attained the age of reason must profess the faith, be in the state of grace, have the intention of receiving the sacrament, and be prepared to assume the role of disciple and witness to Christ, both within the ecclesial community and in temporal affairs. He said the key why most dioceses wait is that they must be prepared to assume the role of disciple and witness which assumes some maturity. On the question of whether a confirmation sponsor should be one of the godparents, Fr. Chris said they don’t have to be the same. He said the candidate should carefully choose the person they seek to emulate in the Christian life. On the formulation of being sealed in the Holy Spirit, Fr. Chris said slaves used to be sealed, or branded, to show ownership, and so when the bishop seals the person, he is claiming him for Christ, affirming in them the fact they are called to be disciples and witnesses. Fr. Chris said confirmation is not graduation, but just the opposite. They are called to more deeply live the life of Christ. On the oil, Fr. Chris said in ancient times oil was seen as a healing remedy. When someone is given holy oil, they are given some healing, some grace. Also oil has always been used to set people apart. Priests, prophets and kings were anointed with oil in the Old Testament. Messiah means “the anointed one.” When we are anointed, we are set apart. there are three oils: chrism, oil of catechumens, and oil of anointing of the sick. Chrism is used for baptism, confirmation, and holy orders. He said there is a great smell to chrism and this saintly odor reaches to the heavens. Scot asked the significance of selecting a confirmation name. Fr. Chris said it’s similar to the old days when someone went into the religious life, they take a new name, like Patrick O’Malley became Friar Seán O’Malley. It shows that the old person has fallen away and a new person steps forward. Scot’s confirmation name is Theophilus, which was picked for him by Fr. Lenny O’Malley after he lost a bet.

Summary of today’s show: When the Goudreau family of Rhode Island got the opportunity to live in Rome for a semester while dad Paul taught theology for Providence College’s Rome program, they saw it as an opportunity for their five children, including eight-year-old Dominic who has cerebral palsy. But on Easter Sunday, Dominic had a heart-stopping and emotional embrace with Pope Francis that was captured and broadcast around the world. Dr. Paul Goudreau joined Michael Lavigne and Scot Landry on today’s show to share how the moment came about and why he believes this was miraculous moment brought about by God to teach the world that Dominic and others like him have a special vocation to teach us how to love and through that love to rebuild His Church. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: BostonCatholicLive.com Today’s host(s): Scot Landry Today’s guest(s): Dr. Paul Goudreau and Michael Lavigne Links from today’s show: “A Special Vocation to Show People How to Love”, CatholicMoralTheology.com “Megyn Kelly’s Emotional Interview With Dr. Paul Gondreau, Dad of Disabled Boy Embraced by Pope Francis”, Fox News Video of Pope Francis and Dominic Goudreau in a special moment (begins at 10:25) Today’s topics: The Remarkable Encounter between Dominic Goudreau and Pope Francis 1st segment: Scot Landry said today is Red Sox Opening Day, but don’t go away because we have a very special guest, Dr. Paul Goudreau, a professor at Providence College, who is in Rome for a semester with his family and his son, Dominic, who has cerebral palsy. On Easter Sunday, Dominic received a wonderful gesture of love from Pope Francis that was captured by media from around the world. Michael said he’s friends with Paul and he said it was a beautiful moment. Scot welcomed Paul to the show. He is a professor of theology at Providence. Paul said Providence began a Rome program two years ago and they have a theological orientation. Each semester, a member of the theology department volunteers to go and teach a course in Theology in the Eternal City. He and his wife decided it was a great opportunity for their family. In fact, they decided that six months was about the limit for how long Dominic could be away from the services he gets, including various therapies. While they found some services in Rome, it’s not the same, but they figured they could handle it for a semester. With five kids, they thought it would be great for them. They decided to take as full advantage of going to St. Peter’s as possible since they got an apartment nearby. It was only a month later that Pope Benedict made the unforeseen announcement of his resignation and they decided to capitalize on the historic days as much as they could. They’ve been in the Square for most of the big events of the end of Benedict’s pontificate and the beginning of Pope Francis’s. They were there at his final audience and final Angelus and when he left the Vatican for the last time. He said the mood in the Square was strange, not exactly joyful and not sad. He compared it to Holy Saturday. When Pope Francis was elected they were at home and they decided to run down to the Square for the announcement. He said the crowd rushing from the metro and the energy in the air was electrifying. He said the Italians saw Dominic in his wheelchair and ushered the family right through the crowd. Later they were present for Pope Francis’ first Sunday Angelus and his first Sunday Mass. They were able to participate as a family in all the historic events. Beginning with Palm Sunday, they’d already got tickets for the various events long in advance. He went to the Easter Vigil the night before with his two oldest and because Rome switched over to Daylight Savings so they were tired and got out of the apartment a little late and thus arrived too late to get into the seating area. They were there an hour and 15 minutes early, but the Square was filling quickly and the moment with the Pope almost didn’t happen. They almost decided not to try to get into the seating area, but the older kids kept asking to try so he went off to check it out. In fact, they were able to get in and the Swiss Guard there is supposed to let one person accompany a disabled person into a special area. Paul decided that since he got to go to the Easter Vigil the night before, he would let his wife go to the prime location. He related how difficult it can be to receive Communion at papal Masses and so since he’d received the night before, he let his wife and Dominic go and he stayed in the back by the obelisk with the other kids. Scot asked where the special seating area is. Paul said the area is a fairly decent view and access to the barricades to see the Pope. During the Mass, Dominic wasn’t situated with his wife along the route the Pope would take. What happened is that an usher took a notice of Dominic and was drawn to him. This happens to Dominic all the time that people are drawn to him. So the usher got it in his mind that Dominic would meet the Pope. Dominic was rather agitated during the Mass. When a boy with cerebral palsy isn’t feeling well, or tired or too warm, it expresses itself in bodily tone and agitation. His wife, Christiana, took him out of the chair to hold him and stand with him. At the end of the Mass, he asked her to take him out of the chair and follow him to where he could see the Pope. The Pope starts touring the Square in his popemobile. Paul noted that Pope Francis is a people person, who goes around and around the Square to see and greet as many as possible. Pope Benedict was much more introverted and reserved and while he was pleasant and happy to see people, Francis is much more extroverted. Pope Francis did a first pass by Dominic without seeing him, looking the other way. Agostino, the usher, had said when the Pope comes, lift Dominic up. When the Pope missed him, Agostino was apologetic, but Christiana was elated by being so close to the Pope. The Pope comes again and this time other ushers join in and they signaled the Popemobile to stop. The ushers and Christiana lifted Dominic up and the two of them embraced. Paul said you almost can’t believe it in the moment. His wife was weepy and teary-eyed and overcome with emotion. Paul said when it first happened he wasn’t looking at the big monitors and didn’t know it. So his son Lucas said, “It’s Dominic”. And then “The Pope is holding Dominic!” From there, the feelings of a father seeing his son embraced by the Pope is an emotional moment. Seeing that charming smile of Dominic and putting his arm around the Pope, that he did that with the whole world watching is part of the miracle of the event. Paul said Dominic is cognitively completely normal and understands everything. He knows who the Pope is and that’s why he smiled and put his arm around him. Then it passed and they had to wait about a half hour before they could join up with his wife. They had to wait for the pope to give the Urbi et Orbi message at noon before they could connect. Scot said one thing that amazed him was the number of people involved in letting Dominic have that moment. He’s reminded of the men who lowered the paralytic through the roof to be healed by Jesus. Paul said if they had tried to orchestrate this, they would have botched it completely. Looking back to see all the hands involved in making this iconic moment happen, it bespeaks the beauty and mystery of the Church. He and his wife are humbled and in awe how God willed this to take on a life of its own. This world deems children like Dominic to be useless and denying his personhood, but God sometimes seems to have had enough and accomplishes a wonder that leaves no doubt that God has willed it to happen. God uses us as his instruments to share in the glory that’s proper to Him. The reality of the Church is a participation in the mystery of Christ and the Cross of Christ. Michael asked about the impact of this moment on Dominic’s siblings. Paul said that Christ does not permit us a cross without the grace to bear with it. He also doesn’t permit it unless he draws good out of it. Just today, he got an email from a mother of one his students here who they ran into in Assisi on Tuesday of Holy Week. The student and her mother were in the town. The mother expressed how moved she was by having spent time with Dominic and getting to know him. In the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, the mom saw Paul’s daughter Julia give a gentle caress and kiss to Dominic and there was a look of contentment on his face. She had just been praying for God to repair His Church, like Francis did. The Church is repaired by small acts of love like that and by receiving love, the Church is built up by love toward each other and receiving acts of love. Paul said he and his wife had been wondering recently what God’s vocation for Dominic is. After the meeting with the Pope, a women shouted to Christiana, “Your son is here to show us how to love.” This was a confirmation of what Christiana had been thinking that Dominic has shown his family how to love and other virtues. It’s like the Father in heaven at Jesus’ baptism saying “This is my beloved Son.” The Father raised up Dominic to show us how to love. The highest end in life is to love. How more useful to society can Dominic be than that? Scot said Pope Francis has had so many gestures and like his namesake has been planning the restoration of the Church. Now if you ask worldwide what one thing Pope Francis has done that people would remember, it would be this act of love for Dominic and for another disabled man a couple of weeks ago. Paul finds it deeply humbling. God chooses who He wills to accomplish His wonders. This is the folly of the Cross of which Paul speaks in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2. Paul tells us to consider how we aren’t powerful in the eyes of the world, yet chosen by God. Consider Dominic in that light. Paul said it’s easy to look at how much Paul must give Dominic, but in this event he realizes how much more Dominic gives back to him. It’s awe-inspiring to see it. He’s still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that it happened on Easter Sunday. The Resurrection was an unforeseen, unexpected wonder, and here He is still accomplishing the unforeseen wonders on Easter Sunday. He’s humbled by thinking it’s got nothing to do with him or Dominic and it’s got everything to do with Christ. By stressing our devotion to the poor, Pope Francis is not limiting himself to political or economic terms. He means the despised, the suffering, the alone, and the Church is constituted by acts of love to these especially. Scot said he reflects on Pope Benedict’s resignation and how he left so quickly perhaps so his successor could be in place for Holy Week and so Pope Francis was there for this event. Secondly, that there were witnesses at this event willing to go anywhere to tell anyone this story in Paul and Christiana giving every possible interview in every venue, seeing hard-eyed journalists get teary in the moment. He asked why Paul and Christiana have taken on this mission. Paul said last week was so crazy and the six-hour time difference left them doing interviews after midnight some nights. But if you’ve been chosen to play a role in spreading the Gospel, then you have to take your role, like Jonah. You have to play your part and embrace it. Paul said in some of the interviews he was expecting with some of the journalists that he would be baited or invited to criticize the Church or Pope Benedict. But in not one interview was there even a hint of an attempt to turn the conversation in that direction. Paul said Dominic himself is a sign of contradiction. In a world that rejects Christ, Dominic and this moment make no sense outside of the Cross of Christ. Christ is a sign of contradiction. Certainly there’s a human element that bespeaks that despite the corruption of society, the natural law is still active in us and people are still sensitive to caring for those in need. And when a boy responds to the leader of 1 billion Catholics embraces and is embraced by a boy who smiles so joyfully, you can’t help but respond to that. Scot said Pope Francis’ expression of love for Dominic has helped our own love for Pope Francis has grown. He noted Paul has prepared his whole life to be the right man for this moment as a witness and Dominic has prepared his whole life as well. Paul noted that it’s like a perfect storm of moments, such as this occurring on Easter Sunday when the whole world was watching Pope Francis. Michael said he’s noticed how people have shared and commented on this moment on social media, including Facebook, especially for people who aren’t practicing their faith. Paul said he was aware and trying to be careful to preach the Gospel without sounding preachy. In this interview today, he’s let it all out. But he still marvels how even the Huffington Post reprinted his post from CatholicMoralTheology.com which unreservedly it proclaims the pro-life truth and the truth of the Gospel. It’s an opportunity to evangelize people who are usually not open to the Gospel. He’d been surprised that it took so long to get interviews with Catholic outlets, but those did come. His favorite interview was with Megyn Kelly at Fox News who understood the moment and didn’t shy away from the moral element in all of it. As Catholic parents, they try to teach their children to be obedient to God in all things and they try to live it by example, even as they fail sometimes. Paul recalled being in the Diocese of Portland before their marriage referendum recently and his 12-year-old son, Lucas, was there and saw how Paul was attacked and cursed at. He thought it was a testament for his son to see his dad be a cultural warrior. But this is evangelizing in a different way and gives a different perspective to his son. You play the role that God gives to you in the moment. Scot asked about Providence’s Rome program. He said students are required to take a theology class, the New Testament in the Eternal City. They use the city of Rome as a classroom so half the class is formal lecture and half is site visits. They stand in these amazing locations and learn their faith.

Summary of today’s show: Sister Patricia Boyle has been a Sister of St. Joseph for nearly 50 years and Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O’Connell talk with Sr. Pat about how she became a religious sister, and served in a number of positions including parochial school teacher for many years, a pastoral associate at St. Ann’s in Quincy, and now as associate director of pastoral planning for the Archdiocese. Sr. Pat was instrumental in helping professionalize the ministry of pastoral associate and now is working in the vital ministry of pastoral planning for the future of the Archdiocese through the Disciples in Mission pastoral plan. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: BostonCatholicLive.com Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O’Connell Today’s guest(s): Sister Patricia Boyle, CSJ Links from today’s show: Sisters of St. Joseph Disciples in Mission St. Ann Parish, Quincy Today’s topics: Profile: Sr. Pat Boyle 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed everyone to the show on this end of the workweek and Friday of Easter week. Scot noted that Fr. Mark O’Connell will be leaving this weekend for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Cardinal Seán and a group of priests from the Archdiocese of Boston. They will stay in Galilee and Jerusalem. He’s looking forward to being in all these places connected to the life of Christ. He said he’s been to two other Holy Lands: Rome and Ireland, but this is his first trip to the real Holy Land. Cardinal Seán will be preaching this trip like a retreat for the priests. Fr. Mark also noted that today would have been his father’s birthday and his father died this past January. Scot said today’s guest is Sr. Pat Boyle, who has worked in the Pastoral Center for the past few months, but has worked in the Archdiocese of Boston for years as a pastoral associate at St. Ann’s in Quincy. Fr. Mark said Sr. Pat now works with Fr. Paul Soper in the Pastoral Planning office. Sr. Pat said she’s worked on the pastoral associate advisory board for as long as she’s been a pastoral associate. The board provides an encouraging presence to the pastoral associates. Sr. Pat grew up in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Jamaica Plain. She’s one of five children. Her father died when she was young and so was raised by her mother. In elementary school, she had the Sisters of St. Joseph and then later at high school. She knew from a young age that she wanted to be one of them. It was their way of life, their joy, and their outreach that drew her in. They had an impact on her as a child and she wanted to be like them. Sr. Pat said her sponsor, Sr. Ann Marie Mazzone, stood out as the happiest. She was the cook in the rectory. She said was a real dynamo and everybody loved her. Scot noted that the Sisters of St. Joseph are a diocesan order so they generally stay local and many of the sisters grew up in Boston. Sr. Pat has been able to be in religious life with Sisters that she had as teachers and later lived in community with them. They also connect to the wider Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph throughout the world. Fr. Mark asked about the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph. They describe themselves as a congregation with an emphasis on unity and reconciliation. They try to live the prayer that “they all may be one.” They work to bring people together in places that need unity. They have teachers, retreat leaders, those working with immigrants, working in technology, social services, and more. Sister started as an elementary school teacher in St. John the Evangelist in Canton, after five years in formation. She described the habits they wore at the time and then the modified habit. They discussed the changes that came about after Vatican II and how they had gone back into their founding documents to rediscover their purpose. They found that they were to dress like a woman of the day, but even so today people can pick her out of a crowd as a religious sister. After three years in Canton, sister moved to St. Raphael’s in Medford for 7 years then three years in St. Catherine’s in Charlestown. After that she became vocation director, where she had the privilege of helping people explore their potential and desire for religious life. From there she did graduate studies at Boston College and then came to work at the Office of Spiritual Development for 11 years. Then she went to St. Ann’s in Quincy as a pastoral associate and from there to her current position. Scot asked Sr. Pat what a pastoral associate does. She said they work in connection with the priest or priests in the parish. Their responsibilities vary. Some may have responsibility for faith formation. Others work with liturgical ministers. Some visit with sick and homebound or grieving. Some work with baptism teams and work with new parents. It’s determined by the pastoral associates conversation with the hiring pastor. Cardinal Seán has promulgated a new certification process for pastoral associates to ensure they’re competent for the work in the parish. Fr. Mark said the Tribunal is relying on certified pastoral associates. The Tribunal certifies them separately to do marriage work, especially with declarations of nullity. These are pastoral associates in the parish who have been trained in the processes and paperwork. Sr. Pat said she loved being in the weekend liturgies at St. Ann’s because she loved getting the flavor of the whole parish and connecting with all the people. She especially loved the children’s liturgy program. She said St. Ann’s has a strong sense of family. People enjoy being together. They are a very faith-filled people of diverse ages. Scot noted that while she was at St. Ann’s, Sr. Pat was named a member of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Commission and then was later asked to come and be part of the Pastoral Planning Office. Sr. Pat said it was difficult to leave St. Ann’s. She still feels like a woman without a country. She wants to be a part of a parish. Once you leave a parish it’s hard to go back. When she goes to Mass she no longer feels the same tie. Fr. Mark said Sr. Pat was loved by Quincy and she loved them back. He said that the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph is perfectly matched to the new job where so much disharmony will be involved in the new pastoral collaborative process. Sr. Pat said she feels called since being in her new job to be more intentional about her faith life. If we can help the people in the pews to be more intentional about living their faith, they will be the evangelizers who bring the message out to other people. She said she prays every day, but is more intentional about it. She tells herself that she is going to be listening to what God has to say to her today about how to live her life. There is a more conscious awareness about it. She’s also trying to reach into her activities and attitudes during her day, especially while driving. She’s trying to be more aware of her words and behaviors as a witness to Christ. Scot has related how putting a WQOM bumper sticker on his car has made him more aware of his witness while he drives. He’s also been more intentional about what he listens to on the radio and on his iPhone, whether spiritual books or Christian music, especially during Lent. Sister said one her sisters prays the rosary while she drives and calms her down and makes her less aggressive. Scot asked about the implementation of Phase 1 of the Disciples in Mission pastoral plan. They’re waiting for the last pastors to be named and that should happen in next week’s Pilot. They’re preparing the eight-day training session for the eight new pastors. Then those pastors will move into the new parishes on June 4 and the new collaboratives will begin July 1. At the end of October the new pastors will be forming new pastoral teams and new parish councils. Sister said people should check out the DisciplesinMission.com or read the Pilot. If they have questions, they can call Sr. Pat at 617-746-5689. Sister said she and Fr. Paul are willing to go anywhere to talk to anyone about this process. They have re-instituted parish consultations for when a new pastor is going to be assigned so that they can elicit what qualities parishes would like to move them from where they are now to where they hope to be. Sr. Pat said much of the feedback in the parish consultations has been positive rather than negative because people welcome the ability to be able to share. Sister said in her 49-1/2 years of religious life, she hasn’t seen the engagement of people at all levels willing to share their wisdom. This is the movement of the Holy Spirit within the Archdiocese. People have been educated in their faith, have had good experiences in their parishes,and all of that has touched people in their faith life to help them to see they have something to say. Sister said the time when just priests and sisters did the work has passed. There are many more laity who are willing to offer their expertise to help the work of the Church. Now as we do every week at this time, we will consider the Mass readings for this Sunday, specifically the Gospel reading. First Reading for the Second Sunday of Easter, Acts 5:12-16 Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s portico. None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them. Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women, were added to them. Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them. A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured. Gospel for the Second Sunday of Easter, April 7, 2013, John 20:19-31 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name. Scot said Fr. Mark will be in the upper room from the Gospel in about a week. Fr. Mark said he’s hoping it’s a moment for a revelation for him as well. Scot said we all have doubts sometimes. Sr. Pat said it’s part of being human. She said she remembers learning as a child that we should praise at the moment of the elevation of the Eucharist at the consecration we should pray, “My Lord and my God.” It comes out of those moments of doubt where we need to remember my Lord and my God. Scot said his wife and son went to the Holy Land last year and there isn’t one of these Gospels that don’t remind them of those tangible moments there. He said Fr. Mark and his brother priests will help us to look at it in a new way.

Summary of today’s show: For our regular Thursday review of the week’s news, Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, Fr. Roger Landry, and Gregory Tracy looked at this week’s headlines, including the upcoming Divine Mercy Sunday and how the topic of mercy is emerging as a defining theme of Pope Francis’ papacy; a brief summary of the Diviner Mercy devotion; and how Pope Francis’ pick for Vatican Secretary of State will launch the much-expected reform of the Vatican Curia. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: BostonCatholicLive.com Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today’s guest(s): Gregory Tracy, managing editor of the Pilot, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston, and Fr. Roger Landry, pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Fall River Links from today’s show: The Anchor The Pilot Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot’s and The Anchor’s websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links. Today’s topics: Divine Mercy; Vatican Secretary of State and reform of the Vatican 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed Susan Abbott, Gregory Tracy, and Fr. Roger Landry to the show. Fr. Roger said this week he was conducting a priests’ retreat with priests from around the country, as they recuperated from the work of Holy Week and Easter. Susan said her Triduum was of course wonderful as it should be. Greg said his whole family was together on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, and he and his wife were at the cathedral at the Easter Vigil without the kids, but with the Neocatechumenal Way. Fr. Roger said the first time celebrating Holy Week in his new parish in Fall River was a little more work so he could work together with everyone who has been doing the things the same way for years. He said Good Friday is the toughest day because priests are fasting, but are going all day long with various services. On Holy Saturday he tried to rest. He then told a story of his Easter Vigil in which the fire for the liturgy went out but then spontaneously erupted. Scot said in his column this week in the Anchor, Fr. Roger wrote that Pope Francis wants the fruit of Easter to go beyond our heads to extend to our hearts. Fr. Roger said Pope Francis talked on Easter that love is triumphant. The truth of God’s mercy has to be in our heart, so our heart believes what our head grasps. We have to internalize it. The column was an introduction to Pope Francis’ teachings on mercy. He said in the book-length Spanish-language biography of Pope Francis, “The Jesuit”, he had talked about Jesus as the One who had saved us, yet so many of us are distant from the experience of gratitude for what Christ did for us. He noted that 74% of Catholics in the US never go to receive the Sacrament of Confession. Never. We’re so supposed to go at least once per year and even more if possible. He said Christ appeared to St. Faustina in Poland in the 1930s as the Divine Mercy to ensure that His mercy isn’t forgotten and that we should be open to it as much as possible. Scot asked Susan as a religious education professional how we can help people go from head-knowledge about Christ to knowing him in our hearts. She said that Pope John Paul II said catechesis is first about formation, secondly about information. It can’t just be facts we know in our head. The Hebrew word for “know” means to be “seated in the heart.” We need to know dogma and doctrine, but we also have to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. When she works with adults in formation, they save the lesson on sacramental reconciliation for the second half of the process. She said the people from her parish who were baptized at the Easter vigil had sins fully forgiven and so on Tuesday she emphasized with them that going forward they need to know that reconciliation is a great gift and an obligation. Scot said Cardinal Dolan said to the bishops last year that the sacrament of the new evangelization is the sacrament of confession and in recent weeks Pope Francis has talked often of the need for Christ’s mercy and how He reaches out to us. He said it’s going to be a frequent message in his papacy that we need to accept Jesus as our savior, which changes the nature of our relationship with God. Greg talked about people who say Catholics are too hung up on sin, but the reality is that if we don’t recognize our sins and what Christ has saved us from, then we have even more reason to be glad and to see what He has done for us. Fr. Roger said Pope Francis’ motto clearly points to the fact that mercy will be a center point of his papacy. His motto “Miserando Atque Eligendo” comes Bl. Venerable Bede and shows that his vocation was born in an experience of God’s mercy, when as a 16-year-old boy he went to confession on the Feast of St. Matthew. Pope Francis told us in his first homily that God will tire in offering his forgiveness, but that we often tire of asking for forgiveness. Scot asked Fr. Roger to give a brief summary of the Divine Mercy devotion and why the second Sunday of Easter is now Divine Mercy Sunday. Fr. Roger said when Jesus appeared to St. Faustina he specifically asked this Sunday to be set aside for Divine Mercy. The Gospel reading for that Sunday deals with Jesus giving the power to bind and loose sins to the apostles and thus the ability to hear confessions. Jesus revealed five practices to St. Faustina five practices to help us grow in the knowledge of Divine Mercy: acknowledging the three o’clock hour each day; praying the Divine Mercy chaplet; venerate the image of Divine Mercy; pray a novena of Divine Mercy leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday; and mark Divine Mercy Sunday with special devotion. Scot noted that the national Shrine for Divine Mercy is just a few hours away in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Greg said it’s run by the Marians of the Immaculate Conception and he’s gone a few times. The Divine Mercy “At Easter pope calls Christians to be channels of mercy, justice, peace”, Catholic News Service, 3/31/13 2nd segment: Scot said even before the conclave, in addition to the question of who would be the next pope, there was also the question of who the next pope would pick as Secretary of State to begin the reform of the Vatican Curia that so many people say is needed. “Looking out for No. 2: Who will be Vatican secretary of state?”, Catholic News Service, 3/29/13 Catholic News Service has published this article dealing with the question of who Pope Francis will pick. Greg said the Secretary of State is not like the US Secretary of State, but he’s more like a vicar general of the archdiocese or the prime minister in a parliament who does the daily function of governance, while the head of state is a president or monarch. Greg said there’s a lot of talk of the position going to an Italian as a consolation prize that an Italian didn’t become pope. It could also be invaluable because of the close relations with Italy, but also because so much of the curia is an Italian. There’s also a lot of talk of choosing an outsider from outside the curia. Three different Italians being talked about are Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the commission governing Vatican City State; Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, who served under Cardinal Bertone for four years as the “substitute” in charge of the church’s internal affairs; Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy; and Cardinal Maria Vigano, formerly the second-highest official in Vatican City State and now the pope’s nuncio in Washington, DC. Fr. Roger said after this conclave with its unexpected results, the speculation in the media needs to be tempered in light of that so the fact that these names are mentioned doesn’t mean that’s who Pope Francis is thinking about. The new secretary needs to be able to work closely with Pope Francis and there needs to be a complementary. He needs to be a sign of contradiction, willing to make some people mad in the course of reform. He needs to be very well organized, capable of bringing about a culture that’s organized and efficient. The corruption of the curia isn’t moral, but mainly a corruption of inefficiency. There’s also a corruption of nepotism, where connections and personal trust are more important than a lower bid. The new secretary, as chief foreign minister, must also be capable of working in diplomatic circles. The current secretary, Cardinal Bertone only speaks Spanish or Italian. Scot asked Susan why she thinks this is such a high-profile position where in the recent past most Catholics would have no clue such a position even existed. Susan said there’s an awareness now that people want to know what’s going on. Greg said this decision will be seen as an indicator of the trajectory of Pope Francis’ papacy, especially since there was such emphasis on the need for reform in the run up to the conclave. He said it’s akin to the attention paid to a new US president’s first picks for his cabinet. Fr. Roger said he’s not surprised that the appointment hasn’t come yet. You wouldn’t do that during Holy Week to avoid taking the focus off what’s more important. It’s also a sign he didn’t know exactly who he wanted and wanted time to think about it. Fr. Roger noted that Cardinal Filoni and Cardinal Harvey were on the Pope’s schedule today. He would be surprised if the appointment doesn’t come within a month. Scot said he was surprised to learn that the Pope has never used a computer or even sent an email himself. He said he also admitted that he’s tone-deaf,which is why he doesn’t sing or chant during Mass or prayers. He gets all his news through printed newspapers, which Greg said we all should do. “Pope Francis and the Reform of the Priesthood”, Fr. Roger Landry, National Catholic Register, 3/28/13

Summary of today’s show: Easter is celebrated for a whole Octave (8 days) and we’re continuing to celebrate by looking at Cardinal Seán’s Easter Vigil homily in which he reminds us that the Resurrection is an event that should continue to change our lives. He notes that in the 40 days between Easter and the Ascension, Jesus readies the Apostles for the new reality they are experiencing, and so should we be readied because the tomb is empty, the tabernacle is full, and our hearts are full of laughter. Also, Domenico Bettinelli relates to Scot Landry the hilarious story of his near-disastrous experience of the Easter Vigil at his parish with his family of five children, six and under. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: BostonCatholicLive.com Today’s host(s): Scot Landry Today’s guest(s): Domenico Bettinelli Links from today’s show: Easter Vigil from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on CatholicTV Today’s topics: Cardinal Seán’s Easter Vigil homily 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed Dom Bettinelli to the show. They started by recalling the Easter Vigil and Dom told the story of the near-disaster of attending Easter Vigil Mass at his home parish with his five kids. The complete story can be found at his blog: *“Why not to take 5 small children to Easter Vigil, or How to reaffirm priests in their celibacy”, Bettnet.com 2nd segment: This week’s benefactor card raffle winner is Joseph Marinna from Brighton He wins the booklet Divine Mercy Explained by Fr. Michael Gaitley and an audio CD of the Divine Mercy Chaplet from the Congregation of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception in Stockbridge, MA. If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit WQOM.org. For a one-time $50 donation, you’ll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for WQOM’s weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We’ll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. 3rd segment: Scot and Dom then offered commentary on Cardinal Seán’s Easter Vigil homily at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston as summarized below: He started by talking about the medieval custom that a bishop’s homily on Easter should start with a witticism because on Easter we are supposed to laugh at death. Cardinal Seán then read some of his favorite witticisms found on tombstones. Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake Stepped on the gas Instead of the brake. Under the sod and under the trees Lies the body of Jonathan Pease. He is not here, there’s only the pod: Pease shelled out and went to God. But Jesus’ tomb has no epitaph because there is no body in the tomb. The borrowed tomb is empty. And the last thing Magdalene expected was to see the risen Lord. The disciples were hard to convince that Jesus rose from the dead, far from foisting a story on others. The question we need to answer: Why do you seek the living among the dead? So many still look for Jesus among the dead. Some regard him as one of the greatest people of history, but that is not enough. Jesus is not some distant historical figure, merely a hero of the past or a story to be studied. We study Easter to day and each sunday because Jesus is alive. Our redeemer lives, calling us to conversion, discipleship and mission. Like the disciples we too are on a quest to discover meaning in our lives and path that will lead us to God and salvation. When they struck the shepherd the sheep were scattered on Good Friday. Jesus was crucified and the followers dispersed into hiding. On Easter, the Good Shepherd returns to gather the flock. The Gospel of the 40 Days: Jesus impresses on the disciples the new modality in which he will be present to them everywhere in the world and for all time. One of the ways is in the sacraments. On Easter, the Risen Lord breathes on the apostles and gives them the Holy Spirit for the sacrament of penance. He tells them to go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And they recognize Jesus in the Eucharistic gesture in the breaking of the bread at Emmaus. Jesus disappears but the Eucharist remains. The empty tomb was but the first hint that the resurrection took place. Far more important were the apparitions that took place during the 40 days of easter in which they were able to eat with Jesus and hear his instructions. Only now do the disciples begin to understand their mission and vocation and it is Pentecost when the Church is born. Faith in the resurrection was connected to the work of the Holy Spirit that inspired them to write down the Gospels and the New Testament. 150,000 adults throughout the US were baptized at the Easter vigil. The extended readings that recall the great events of salvation history, the blessing of fire and water, all focus us on the most important event in history, the Resurrection. Today the Church calls on all of us to renew our baptismal promises, recommitting ourselves to our membership in Christ’s family, the Church. No other event in history has marked us a deeply or as permanently. It is because Jesus is risen that we are who we are. the commercialization of our culture has confused people to be confused about their identity and their worth. Eating disorders tell women they can never be thin enough. Millions of images challenge us that we aren’t good enough. Advertising tell us that we have an inadequate or poor image and we need to be made over for a price. Our mission is to be beautiful and feel good, not to be holy and remake the world. The cartoonist Jules Feiffer made a cartoon featuring a boy named Danny who said he’d never wanted to be himself but like another boy named Billie, so he imitated him, but he was imitating someone else, and so on and so on. Archbishop Tutu once said he always preaches to his people that God loves them, because the entire culture tells them that they are unloveable. Each one is a child of God. Baptism is a basic, irreversible identity that bestows on us the dignity of being God’s child. It resists redefining by culture. It is our truest and lasting identity as children of God and disciples of Jesus Christ. At Jesus baptism in the Jordan, the voice of the Father was heard: “This is my beloved Son.” Our baptism was the same. We have been defined forever as God’s children. No one can take that from us. We have been given the mission of baptism, to do the works of Christ, to continue his mission to build a civilization of love, to manifest the merciful faith of the Father, to serve the poor and needy, to invite other to a life of community and discipleship. We should be reminded of our responsibility to welcome and invite people into the Church. We stand before the empty tomb and rejoice that the Holy Sepulchre is empty, the tabernacle is full and we can still laugh at death.