The Good Catholic Life

Summary of today’s show: Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, and Gregory Tracy discussed the news headlines of the week, including the retirement of Barbara Thorp as head of the victim assistance office; students returning to school equipped with amazing new technology; a disability group’s advocacy against the assisted suicide ballot question; the Bl. John XXIII Seminary lawn party; the amazing, late Msgr. Abucewicz; and responding from a Catholic perspective to the Republican and Democrat conventions. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes 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: Back to school; Barbara Thorp; assisted suicide; RNC and DNC; Bl. John XXIII seminary 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed Susan Abbott to the show and they discussed how she helps parishes find and form catechists for the beginning of the religious education year. Scot said Fr. Roger is away on his annual priest retreat, but he did welcome Greg Tracy back to the show and noted that we are back into a busy news cycle. Greg noted that the month of August was a desert for Catholic news, but then there is a massive backlog of news in September. He said their editorial calendar for the next month is completely filled. The headline in the Pilot this week is that Catholic school students are heading back to school. The school profiled in the article is St. Columbkille’s in Brighton and they note that there is a big technological push, especially to provide iPads and ebooks. Scot said his son has about 30 pounds of books and wishes his son could replace all that with an iPad. Greg also noted that they’ve created a closed social media platform for the students that will be monitored by the teachers. He said social media is a reality for kids today. The aim is to teach them how to be good and safe digital citizens with Catholic values and principles. Scot noted that Catholic schools aren’t just for the benefit of students enrolled and their families. He said he has come to realize it is a critical ministry for the Church and that it’s important for the whole Catholic community to support, not just financially, but also through volunteerism, especially if you have specialized skills. Susan reiterated how the entire society benefits from strong Catholic values education. Also in the news, Barbara Thorp, who has headed the office for pastoral support and child protection for the past 10 years, is retiring after 35 years of serving the Church in various ministries. Susan said she counts Barbara as a friend. She said she has a wonderful blend of a professional and pastoral touch. “Thorp to step down as head of Office for Pastoral Support and Child Protection”, The Pilot, 8/31/12 “This has been really ‘holy ground,’ to have been invited into the sacred space of people’s lives in the midst of a very, very painful moment in the life of our Church. So, I have just considered every minute of it an extraordinary gift and a blessing for me personally,” she said. “I have prayed and thought about this for a long time now too and it just felt like this was the right moment,” she said. “I think the people often will think in a situation like this, ‘well you know Barbara must be burnt out or something like that.’ It is not that at all,” she said. Greg said they dedicated a lot of space to this story because of the significant role Thorp has played in the Archdiocese of the past three decades. He said the news staff joked who else could have possibly taken on this role 10 years ago when there was no precedent for it. Greg said he is most amazed by what Thorp must have endured through this job and to hear these stories repeatedly while maintaining her faith and to remain hopeful that these people can reconnect with God. Scot noted that Cardinal Seán has often said how much he has appreciated Thorp’s work in this area. “Barbara Thorp has been a beacon of hope for survivors and their families. Her care, concern and compassion have been essential in bringing healing to many survivors and their families, and to the wider community of the Church,” he said. “These last ten years have been life changing for everyone impacted by the tragedy of clergy sexual abuse. I have relied on Barbara’s sound judgment and expertise in responding to the needs of survivors. We give thanks for her decades of service to the people of God and we ask the Lord’s blessing on Barbara and her family,” he added. Scot also said a few years ago Pope Benedict turned to Cardinal Seán to help when clergy abuse became a big topic in Ireland and the Cardinal made sure to bring Thorp with him when he visited Ireland for her expertise. Greg added that she was intricately involved in the meeting between victims and Pope Benedict during his visit to the US in 2008. She described it asa fundamental turning point for those victims who were there. “Disabilities group has ‘Second Thoughts’ on assisted suicide”, The Pilot, 8/31/12 Second Thoughts: People with Disabilities Opposing the Legalization of Assisted Suicide Also in last week’s Pilot was a profile of the disabilities group Second Thoughts. They are part of the coalition opposing Question 2 on the Massachusetts ballot in November to legalize assisted suicide. They are called Second Thoughts because we should all have second thoughts about assisted suicide when we see the reality of how it has been implemented elsewhere. Second Thoughts says it encourages voters “to look at assisted suicide in the real world” which it says is one “where insurance companies and other organizations try to limit spending on health care”; “where disabled people face discrimination through architectural barriers and unemployment while lacking in-home services to enable them to integrate into communities”; “where some people think it might be better to be dead than disabled”; and “where abuse and financial exploitation of elders and people with disabilities is at unacceptably high levels.” Susan said Tom Keane wrote a great article in the Boston Globe a few weeks ago called “Kevorkian comes to Massachusetts.” The question we ask ourselves as a society is who do we have sit at the table with us? Do we only value those who are productive? Because that way lies doom for society. She said we need to ask how we support the sick among us and the families caring for the sick. Beyond the vote in November, whether it succeeds or loses, we need to step up our care for them. Scot said Second Thoughts brings up many of the questions about and loopholes contained in the proposed law. Greg said The Pilot wanted to show this particular perspective on the issue because this isn’t hypothetical for them because they are in a situation where they feel threatened by this law. Coming up in the Archdiocese is the Blessed John XXIII National Seminary annual lawn party. This seminary forms and trains priests for dioceses all over the country, men who have come to the priesthood later in life after some very amazing life experiences. The event takes place on September 19. Susan and Scot have said it’s a treat to meet the seminarians. She said one of the men she met one year had been a park ranger in Alaska. Another was the first native Bermudian to be ordained for the Diocese of Hamilton, Bermuda. Blessed John XXIII National Seminary 31st Annual Lawn Party Greg added that the seminary is doing a lot of renovation work to prepare for the next 50 years of forming priests and their website has many good photos and videos of the work done. Supporting Our Seminarians: Pathways to the Future Next, Scot and the panel discussed the passing of Msgr. Abucewicz who has a very interesting biography, including playing an extra in the John Wayne movie “Sands of Iwo Jima”, playing to type as a priest administering last rites. He also wrote three published novels, two plays, and painted over 100 paintings. He was a Navy chaplain at the time of the movie role. Susan said the monsignor reminds her of another artistic Polish prelate, Pope John Paul II. Greg noted that the two were ordained in the same year. Also in last week’s Anchor was the story of Fr. Andre “Fr. Pat” Patenaude, a popular singing priest of the LaSalette order, who has been hospitalized in Grenoble, France, and is in a medically induced coma for a pancreatic disease. “‘Father Pat’ falls ill in France”, the Anchor, 9/6/12 La Salette Shrine, Attleboro 2nd segment: Looking to the 2012 presidential election, Scot said there was a powerful story in Catholic News Agency about Mary Ann Glendon, former US ambassador to the Holy See, in which she explains why she thinks this election is most important in many years. “Glendon: economic, cultural concerns make 2012 election historic”, CNA/EWTN News, 8/30/12 Her concerns are both economic and cultural. She has accepted the chairmanship of the Catholics for Romney group. She has left the Democrat Party and is a registered Independent. She never joined the Republican Party because some sections within it have failed to “place a high enough priority on our need to be responsive to the needs of the poorest people in our society.” Her greatest fears, however, are about what another four years of President Obama being in office will do to both the economy and culture of the United States. “The current administration will regularly subordinate rights relating to human life, rights relating to religious freedom, to their agenda items on the gay rights agenda and the abortion rights agenda,” she stated. Scot said he feels similarly, that he feels like a political orphan where neither major party is a complete fit for his views. Susan said as a pro-lifer, she’s not just pro-birth. She wants to see parties do more for the poor. Susan read a quote: “There is nobody here but us Americans, including the Catholics, and this election is going to be a very close election. The population is divided, families are divided; it’s like the Civil War when some wore blue and some wore grey and (they) were often brothers.” She recalled Pennsylvania Gov. Bob Casey, the Democrat who wasn’t allowed to speak at the Democrat convention solely because of his pro-life beliefs. Scot said it’s interesting to him that Glendon, who’s never really gotten involved in politics, has taken on this role with Catholics for Romney. He said there’s not really any wiggle room on what we believe as Catholics, although there can be room in some areas as to how they are applied. As a Catholic, there was much more for Catholics to agree with, but yesterday at the Democrat convention there was a big brouhaha over the simple inclusion of the word “God” in the party platform. Greg said he agrees with Susan that 25 years ago there were a lot more centrists and today both parties are heading harder to the Left and the Right. Scot pointed out that it’s the word “extreme” that’s being used to label people as polarized if they hold views that were centrist in the past, like pro-life views. When Casey was governor, you could follow him as a Catholic. A forum in Charlotte asks whether you can be a pro-life Democrat. “DNC forum explores: Can you be a Democrat and be pro-life?”, CNS, 9/5/12 He noted the statistic that there were 125 pro-life Democrats in Congress in 1978 but only 17 today. The forum noted that big pro-abortion lobbies, like Planned Parenthood, have targeted pro-life Democrats in primaries to oust them as incumbents. Susan added that when the Republicans controlled the White House, Senate, and House in the 2000s, they didn’t use the opportunity to propose any legislation to end abortion. If the Republicans won’t take action, where do we go? Scot said we can at least hold self-proclaimed pro-lifers accountable, but pro-life Democrats have nearly no one in power to hold accountable. Susan said Republicans allow pro-choice Republicans, but Democrats won’t tolerate any pro-life Democrats. Scot said the election will probably be determined by voter turnout, especially in the Midwest where there are a lot of blue-collar Republicans. “Bishop says eucharistic adoration during convention is gift to nation”, CNS, 9/5/12 “Planned Parenthood rally speakers frame pro-life views as anti-woman”, CNA/EWTN News, 9/4/12 “Final Republican platform has strong religious freedom plank”, CNA/EWTN News, 8/29/12 “Cardinal Dolan to pray at close of both parties’ conventions”, The Pilot, 8/31/12 Cardinal Dolan’s prayer at the Republican National Convention

Summary of today’s show:Tom Nunan and Mary Grassa O'Neill join Scot and Susan Abbott to discuss the newest Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Boston - St Joseph Preparatory High School. Tom, as the Head of School, explains his hopes and dreams for this merger of Mount Saint Joseph and Trinity High Schools, and how he hopes they will grow and educate in the future. Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today’s guest(s): Tom Nunan and Mary Grassa O'Neill Links from today’s show: St Joseph Prep Today’s topics: New school profile: St Joseph Preparatory High School 1st segment: Scot welcomed Susan back for a non-Thursday show - Susan said that with back to school happening, the beginning of the year shouldn't be January 1st but rather Labor Day! Scot said that Catholic schools are a central part of the Archdiocese's mission, and welcomed Thomas Nunan, the Head of School of the newest Catholic high school in the Archdiocese, St Joseph Preparatory High School, and Mary Grassa O'Neill, Superintendent of Schools and Secretary for Education for the Archdiocese of Boston. Scot asked Tom to give a snapshot of St Joseph Prep. Tom explained St Joseph Prep was formed on the tradition and legacy of Mount St Joseph Academy for girls in Brighton and Trinity Catholic High School in Newtown. What's fascinating, Tom said, is that the Sisters of St Joseph are engaged not only with the new St Joseph Prep but were the sponsors of Mount St Joseph and a vital part of Trinity Catholic. Tom concluded by saying that while the sisters have several sponsored ministry, having the sisters a stone's throw from the motherhouse and being joined by five sisters on the faculty is healthy for all. Scot asked how many students are enrolled in the new freshman class - Tom replied that the enrollment is approximately 280 students. While the freshman class is a bit smaller than before, Tom continued, it was recruited by people who didn't work for a school that didn't yet exist! The senior class is more than 90 students this year, and Tom said they have been blessed by contributions by the administrative team to create good classes all around. Scot asked Tom to talk about the priorities since he was named this past April, especially considering there is so much history between the two communities. Tom said he was hired during Holy Week, and they think of themselves as an Easter people with the new schools in a very real way. Tom explained the only other option from combining was to lose both schools, but there is tremendous new hope with the school's combination and re-opening. Taking a tour of the building was an interesting start, Tom said, and finding things like a bathtub on the 5th floor of the building by the library. Other challenges have been setting up master schedules for all the students, figuring out what the mailing address of the school is (they are 30 yards into Boston rather than Brighton), and most importantly putting the people in place. Tom concluded by saying that any institution relies heavily on its people, so they've put much time and prayer into finding the right faculty, staff, and administrative teams - about one third from Mt St Joseph, a third from Trinity Catholic, and a third new faculty members from as far as California and as close as down the street in Brighton. The mascot for the new school's sports, Scot said, is a phoenix. Tom explained that the students from both schools got together at a workshop at Boston College in the spring for team building, and one exercise was to pick a mascot. Tom said he usually says three things about the phoenix: first, the bird comes out of the ashes of a funeral pyre of it's own making; second, it is a resurrection symbol, sometimes our own views and timelines forget that loss and suffering have the last word and the phoenix shows that isn't quite the case; third, legend says there can only be one phoenix at any time in history. Tom explained each faculty member and student should feel they are unique and called to be at the school at that very time. 2nd segment: Scot commented that what Tom is going through at St Joseph Prep is not necessarily unique in the world of Catholic schools today - some schools are hanging on the edge of being viable. Mary said the first thing the Catholic Schools Office looks for schools to be excellent in faith formation, academics, and financial practices. Scot said over the last few years at the Archdiocese many grade schools have combined and come together for excellence, and asked Mary about the planning process for something like this. Mary replied that a strong leader, like Tom, is critical to facilitate the transition. The leader must understand first the Catholic part of Catholic schools, strive for excellence in education, have a strong sponsor, and recruit strong partners. Mary commented that Tom has facilitated partnerships with Boston College, major donors, and even an international program to recruit students from around the world. Mary expressed confidence that St Joseph Prep, under Tom's leadership, will produce well-formed and well-educated young adults. She also explained that this was one of the first high school integrations. Announcing the merge a year ahead of time allowed for planning and allowed students and parents to be brought further into the process. Scot asked Tom what he took away from his time on the board of Trinity Catholic Academy in Brockton. Tom replied that he learned a vibrant, active, thoughtful and engaged board is important, from recruitment to fiscal sustainability. Catholic schools need partners of many kinds, and board members can provide those partnerships Tom said. Scot mentioned that many people seek excellence, and that Tom is leaving St Sebastian in Needham, a school many people consider very excellent. Tom replied that he was attracted by the excitement of opening a new school, first - it's like working at a start-up company, sitting around a giant conference table planning to get a school going. The second thing Tom said attracted him to St Joseph Prep is the opportunity and even obligation to provide the same excellence St Sebastian's offers into the heart of Boston. The third thing Tom said he finds exciting about opening the new school is a new challenge to provide education to students and the challenge of bringing people together around the table. Scot asked what Tom has done since he was hired in April to get ready for the new school and new school year. Tom answered that he has a very "people first" approach, responding to email and phone calls from parents to acknowledge that a school is a partnership between parents and the faculty. Tom said he also tries to keep his focus on the high goal, to serve parents and students always and everywhere. The only reason the school exists, Tom said, is the students. The school is not about the adults (parents, faculty, staff, or administrators), but about the students they serve and nurture. When people come to the table at St Joseph Prep, Tom said, they will see a level of professionalism and care that no other school has ever offered them before. Scot asked how Tom plans to inspire school pride, which is an important part of the culture of St Sebastian's. Tom said that students have told him they want what every student should want - meaningful assignments, challenging and invested teachers, a positive morale, a nurturing community. This starts with a culture in the faculty, Tom said, teaching from bell to bell, putting up on the board what the objective is for the day, and implementing best practices for teaching. 3rd segment: Susan asked Tom about the challenges of moving from a single gender school at Mt St Joseph. She commented that both she and Mary are the product of single gender schools, and have spoken about how meaningful that experience was. Tom said coming from 27 years of an all-boys school to a merger with a school that is all girls is an interesting change! He explained that his initial response is that he has a teenage daughter who will be a senior in high school, so he does have some experience with girls that age in education. The first mission of preparing students for college is mostly gender blind in his opinion, Tom said, and that the new school will be opening with almost 65% girls in the school. There was an argument a long time ago about girls not taking advantage of the opportunities for leadership and more that schools offered if boys were in the same classes. Tom said he does appreciate the argument, but any guidance counselor these days will say it is harder to get girls into colleges than boys because their grades tend to be stronger, resumes more complete, and GPAs higher. Tom expressed confidence in the incoming senior class, and that they'll put St Joseph Prep on the map with their college placements. He hopes that the student body is able to take advantage of all the benefits of co-educational rather than single-sex education, even though retreats and such might be separated. Susan mentioned that Tom has had involvement in theater before, and asked what arts programs might carry over from the two schools. Tom said that Mt St Joseph had a strong theater tradition they hope to continue, and that freshmen and sophomores will have fine arts courses built in. Eventually, Tom said, the hope is to prepare students to take the AP Studio Art exam, which involves a significant amount of work preparing a portfolio. Scot said there are many parents who struggle with the decision of where their child should go to high school. Mary said that students at Catholic high schools are expected and have proved themselves as better candidates for better colleges, as well as have been formed into good Catholic young adults. Students perform community service, learn about their faith, and give back to others. Studies from Notre Dame have shown that Catholic school students vote more often, are more involved in their community, and are more stand-up citizens. Tom added that integrity is another critical part of the St Joseph Prep mission - they ought to be taught by people of high moral character in order to become people of high moral character. Blessed John Paul II said that young people don't learn from teachers, Tom continued, but they learn from witnesses. Scot asked Tom to provide some stats on the student body for the upcoming year at St Joseph Prep. Tom said they represent neighborhoods from West Roxbury to Hyde Park to Melrose and even around the corner in Brighton. Economically, the diversity is wide as well - families who are partnered with foundations who can reduce tuition down to only $1,000, and some who have no financial aid. In four years, Tom said he would like to grow the student body from the 280 or so that it is now to upwards of 400 students, where everybody could know everybody else's name in the school. This will also help with the structuring of the long-term financial planning, and encourage foundation partners to invest in the school as well as parishes and families. Right now, Tom said, there are about 50 international students with host families in the area, and he'd like to see students continue to come from all over Boston and all over the world. Susan pointed out that parents are sometimes scared by the idea that they are the primary educator of their children, and that what she hears from Tom about St Joseph Prep's model of welcoming parents is a fantastic way to involve parents in the pivotal years for their children's formation. If you can partner with a school who shares your values, Susan said, the odds are a lot better that the child will be a better formed, happy, and holy adult. Tom replied that he's been in high school education for most of his adult life, and people tend worry about dangerous places in high school - parties, gangs, and worse. But at the same time, Tom said, it is just as bad to be alone. St Joseph Prep will constantly strive, he said, to be a place where no one is alone. Another piece that they talked about their faculty meeting last week, Tom said, is no more "them," only us. "Us includes everyone" is the new mantra among faculty, staff, and students.

Summary of today’s show: Father Matt Westcott is a former Marine who loves being a diocesan priest, and yet he serves at perhaps the world’s most prestigious university, Harvard, as chaplain to its Catholic undergraduates. Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams welcome Fr. Westcott to hear about his path to the priesthood and the four years he served in parishes before becoming Harvard’s chaplain. They also discuss the unique joys and challenges of serving a student body that is highly accomplished and motivated and just doesn’t know when to slow down. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams Today’s guest(s): Father Matt Westcott Links from today’s show: Harvard Catholic Center St. Paul Parish, Cambridge Harvard Catholic Student Association Today’s topics: Priest Profile: Father Matt Westcott 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed everyone to the show and mentioned his kids had their first day of school. He then noted that since Fr. Matt Williams was last on the show over a month ago he was in the Dominican Republic with a pilgrimage of six young people for a mission experience as part of their leadership curriculum, which follows after Witness to Truth and Witness to Love retreat courses. They partner with Sr. Lisa Valentini, who’s been on the show several times. He thinks these young people will never look at the world the same way again. Fr. Matt then related a story of one of these life changing encounters with a family there. Scot said Boston is known as a university town and the Archdiocese has a special responsibility to help form in the faith young people who come here from across the globe. The undergraduate chaplain at the Harvard Catholic Student Association and parochial vicar at St. Paul Parish in Cambridge. He was ordained in 2007. He’s originally from St. Clement in Somerville, which he says is now technically in Medford. HE sometimes jokes that growing up it felt like a 1950s parish with a bunch of priests in the rectory, full schools and pews, and lots of activities. Everything in life was parish-based. Fr. Westcott also worked in the rectory as a youth, answering the door and phones. He got to see the day to day life of the priest, which later influenced his decision to enter the seminary. After St. Clement’s high school, he entered Norwich University in Vermont in 1993. It is a military college and he intended to make a career in the military and served in the US Marine Corps. He went on to law school later and graduated in 2000. He entered seminary in Fall 2001 in order to give God one year to show him whether he was being called to the priesthood. What he was looking for whether Jesus was enough for him in whatever way he is called. He said the decision to enter the seminary is the decision to discern along with the Church whether the man is called. The discernment is by both the man and the community of the Church. Scot said the month he entered the seminary was the attacks of 9/11 and just four months after entering the clergy abuse scandal broke. He said it was actually a good time to be in the seminary because they weren’t in the parishes like the priests were and weren’t in the battle. For most of the men it served as galvanizing force for them to take to heart the call to holiness. For Fr. Westcott, he was very excited about being a Boston diocesan priest. It is where the grace of God intersects with the every day existence. The parish priest, among all the roles in the Church, walks with people in the joys and tragedies and routine of life. After ordination, Fr. Westcott spent his first three years at St. Mary in Scituate. He still feels close to the people in that town. The community was based seriously on the Gospel and were serious about their town. He then went to St. Mary in Foxboro for only one year. Then he was asked to become undergraduate chaplain for Harvard. Fr. Westcott had anticipated being asked to be pastor, and he hadn’t considered specialized ministry. One of the threads of his priesthood was his friendship with Fr. Bill Murphy and he was his predecessor at Harvard, so they talked about it. It is very different from parish work. The work is much less sacramental–fewer baptisms, funerals, and weddings– and the pace is different. Scot asked what the typical day is like for the chaplain. Fr. Westcott said the typical parish priest is more free to plan disown day, until there’s an emergency call. Working with undergrads, he finds himself on their schedule. The opportunity to meet them when and where they’re free is crucial because they’re not working 9–5 lives. He might says the 8am Mass at St. Paul’s and then be out of the residence until 11pm. The goal is authenticity, to be visible and approachable. One way is to wear his collar and walk through Harvard Yard. They then commented on Fr. Westcott’s accent saying Harvard Yard. Fr. Williams asked Fr. Westcott his greatest challenges in fulfilling his role as priest-chaplain. Fr. Westcott said Harvard is unique. All the students are smart, but the students are also extraordinarily driven. They take tasks on themselves and want pressure. Motivating a Harvard student isn’t a problem, but getting them to slow down and cultivate silence is. They need to give themselves time to explore how the Holy Spirit is working in their lives. Even when they’re doing good things, it can stifle one’s spirit because they don’t have time or energy to dedicate to prayer. As a practical matter, he preaches about and talks about it in personal conversation. Scot asked about fielding the very tough questions from very smart and motivated students. Fr. Westcott said some of the conversations he has are almost like a seminar. Once they see the willingness to learn more, the students are capable. 2nd segment: This week’s benefactor card raffle winner is Joseph Jacob from Newton Center, MA He wins a CD from the Envoy Institute: "the Roots of Modern Atheism" by Dr. Ed Fesem and the booklet "Catholics in the Public Square" by Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix. If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit WQOM.org. For a one-time $30 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: Fr. Westcott talked about the four missionaries from Fellowship of Catholic University Student who help him to reach the students where they are, in places that Fr. Westcott generally isn’t available and they also meet them in in all phases of life, including social. FOCUS works on many college campuses across the country and they work closely with Fr. Westcott to ensure they are meeting the unique needs of Harvard. The vision and methodology are well in place as they begin the new academic year. Fr. Westcott said there is no shortage of information and material from FOCUS to help him work together with them. one of the FOCUS missionaries is the leader and he helps to ensure they’re on the same page, coordinating calendars, etc. The guidance generally comes from the Catholic Center out to the FOCUS team. He’s impressed by their dedication to daily Mass and a duly Holy Hour. FOCUS does a good job of taking care of their own missionaries and a regional coordinator also coordinates with Fr. Westcott and the pastor at St. Paul’s. Scot said he guessed about 400–500 freshmen at Harvard are Catholic. Fr. Westcott said there’s no shortage of opportunities for Harvard students to spend their time doing many things, but they encourage them to get involved in mall faith-sharing groups to give them a personal investment in the life of the Catholic Center and to create personal relationships. Scot noted that they now have adoration in the chapel. Fr. Westcott said they are clear that the Eucharist is the center of Catholic life and their is great desire among the students for expressions of devotion that are Eucharist centered. Scot notes that St. Paul’s is a parish that appreciates liturgy done well. There will be a special kickoff Mass on September 16, 11am, celebrated by Bishop Jim Connolly of Denver, for the new academic school year. He’ll then give a lecture after. Fr. Westcott said the Mass of the Holy Spirit derives from the great golden age of the universities of Europe, which began the academic year invoking the Holy Spirit in the pursuit of truth. Bishop Connolly has been invited as a bridge between FOCUS and the diocesan chaplaincy. He’s a friend of FOCUS and St. Paul’s pastor, Fr. Michael Drea. He will address the pursuit of academic truth and the life of the Church. Fr. Westcott said he hasn’t gone a day without being tremendously impressed by several students, not just by their resumes, but by their hearts and desire to live lives as holy men and women with authenticity in the world and for God. Scot said one of the most moving moments in his time serving the Archdiocese was the funeral Mass for one of Fr. Westcott’s classmates, Fr. Dan Kennedy, who died just 8 months after being ordained. He recalls all the priests singing at the end of Mass, Cardinal Seán’s palpable emotion at Fr. Dan’s passing, and Fr. Dan’s father’s talk at the end of Mass which was perhaps the best vocation talk he’s ever heard. He asked Fr. Westcott how this event has affected him. Fr. Westcott said they became friends the first year in the seminary. Neither remembers meeting, but they always seemed to have been friends. Fr. Dan remains close to him and there isn’t a day that goes by that he doesn’t think of something he’d like to talk to Dan about. He also remains close to Fr. Dan’s family. Fr. Westcott said Fr. Dan died one year to the day from when they were ordained deacons. Fr. Westcott says he finds himself praying for the intercession of Fr. Dan for vocations to the priesthood, but also for many of the young couples Fr. Westcott encounters. He was always very gregarious and joyful in his priesthood and touched many, many people in his brief time. Fr. Westcott clarifies that he’s not claiming Fr. Dan is a saint, but he’s relying on the graces and devotions we make for the deceased and has a private conviction that Fr. Dan is in heaven. Scot asked for prayers for Fr. Dan and for people to pray to him. Scot also noted that today is also the 15th anniversary of the death of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

Summary of today’s show: The story of the Mexican martyrs of the Cristero Wars, fighting against religious persecution in the 1920s, was virtually unknown, even in Mexico, until recently. Now the blockbuster film “For Greater Glory” has shed new light on these heroes of the faith. In anticipation of the release of the DVD and Blu-Ray, Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor welcome producer Pablo Jose Barroso to talk about how he saw the film as a work of his own faith. They also talk to Ruben Quezada, author of the official companion book, about his lifetime effort to make know this troubling time in Mexico’s history and what it could mean for the US today. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor Today’s guest(s): Pablo Jose Barroso and Ruben Quezada Links from today’s show: “For Greater Glory” official website VivaCrisoRey.com - Ruben Quezada’s website For Greater Glory [Blu-ray] For Greater Glory [DVD] For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada, the Cristero War and Mexico’s Struggle for Religious Freedom Today’s topics: The movie “For Greater Glory” 1st segment: Scot welcomed Fr. Chris O’Connor to the show and said today’s show will focus on For Greater Glory, a movie about the Mexican civil war and the fight for religious freedom. Fr. Chris said the movie also addresses the idea of what it means to be a priest. Scot welcomed Pablo Barroso, the producer of the movie, to the show. He noted that Pablo has not always been a film producer. but has been a Mexican Catholic businessman. Pablo said he has felt called to the New Evangelization and is concerned about creating Catholic movies for the sake of his four children and other children. They want to bring Hollywood-level production values to movies with good content. Scot said before the movie he knew nothing about the Cristero War in the 1920s and very few Mexicans knew about it either. Pablo said this sad period of history in his country has been written out of the history books. He said the concerns over religious freedom, especially in the United States today, see the same kind of conflict in Mexico in the 1920s. Pablo said it was a struggle to produce the movie, but it was worth it. The Holy Spirit wanted this movie to be delivered in this moment. It took three years to produce and he worried about the timing. The timing allowed many of the fabulous people involved to participate including composer James Horner, who said he was blown away by the movie himself. Fr. Chris asked Pablo when he first heard about this battle for religious freedom and what does he hope it does for younger viewers. Pablo said he is 41 years old and his father passed away when he was 9, so he never heard from his own father about the Cristeros, but society never really talked about it. But 5 years ago suddenly he heard from the same story from a number of different people and realized that he had to make this movie. He hopes young people will be inspired and entertained by both the values and the action included in the film. He hopes they come to understand everything the Lord has done for us and why we follow Him, if not in taking up arms, but through peaceful means where possible. We raise up our voice and be close to Our Lord and be clear about what we believe and practice. Scot said there’s no doubt this is an epic film, especially in the battle scenes and cinematography around Mexico. He said he read that it’s the biggest budget film shot in Mexico. Pablo confirmed that it was a very expensive movie, but he wouldn’t focus on the money. Instead he focuses on the cast and crew he put their hearts into high production values so that the people in the theaters will be drawn into the story. He noted that the director worked on the Chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings and so knew how to make these big scenes and to address a young audience. Pablo said it was a dream come true to have so many big stars and names in Hollywood trust in him as an inexperienced producer and to help him create this true story. Scot said the Blu-Ray and DVD come out one week from today on September 11. Scot said Pope Benedict surprised Mexicans with a plan to visit Mexico and honored those being profiled in the film at the same time that the movie was coming out. Pablo said the Holy Father came to the location where the statue of Christ the King is being built. Pablo said there was no way to anticipate that the Holy Father would make this trip at this time. Fr. Chris asked Pablo about the novel by Graham Greene that includes the events of the Cristero War and then Scot asked about the number of people who died in the war and how many have been canonized and beatified. Pablo said it killed 250,000 people, more than the Mexican Revolution. There are more than 25 canonized saints and 23 beati, some of them priests and some of them laypeople. Some are martyrs from the Knights of Columbus, which was very supportive at the time, trying to end the war through pressure in the American embassy. America had economic interests in Mexican oil at the time and so there was great interest throughout North America. Pablo talked about one of the priests who is canonized today who was among the martyrs. He is played in the movie by Peter O’Toole. He refuses to leave and stays to comfort the people. Another martyr is a 13-year-old boy who refused to renounce his faith. Andy Garcia portrays an agnostic general who was hired to lead the army and ended up finding his faith. Another was the man some call the Mexican Ghandi, who tried in every way to avoid violence and war. Fr. Chris noted that there were women-only St. Joan of Arc brigades. Pablo said if not for the women, there would have been no fight in the war. They were the support behind the army. They took care of the soldiers, providing food and medical care. Scot asked Pablo why they made the movie in English and subtitled it in Spanish for Mexico. Pablo said English is the international language of film and appeals to the widest audience throughout the world. He noted Schindler’s List wasn’t filmed in German and Troy not in Greek. 2nd segment: Scot said the companion book “For Greatery Glory: The Story of the Cristiada” is written by our next guest Ruben Quezada. Scot and Fr. Chris talked about the foreword to the book by Archbishbop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles. Ruben is the director of operations of the Catholic Resource Center. Scot asked Ruben how the idea for the companion book for the movie came about. He said he’d been speaking nationally and internationally on the subject of the Cristiada and he was contacted by Ignatius Press, the publisher of the book. He said he’d also helped some of the actors as they prepared to play their characters in the film. Fr. Chris asked about a Jesuit priest he talks about in the book. Ruben talked about how the priest inspired him as a child, and encouraged him to learn about the persecution of Catholics in Mexico and the story of Blessed Miguel Pro. He told about going to the library and trying to find anything about the Cristero War and learned how well these events were suppressed by the Mexican government for over seven decades. Scot noted that the ruling party in Mexico from the 1920s into the 1990s was the same party that engaged in the same persecution and so was successful in suppressing it. Ruben said he hears two responses: it happened in Mexico and can’t happen here or it was all so long ago. He noted that the same roots of the persecution have started today. He said Archbishop Gomez has said when it looks like outright persecution it may too late. We have to stand up and profess our faith before it gets to that point. Ruben said the Cristiada was about controlling the people. When President Calles came into power in 1924, he was already an atheist and he didn’t want the Church to have any influence or to compete with the socialist ideals he was putting into place. They started by kicking out all foreign priests from the country. In order to be a priest, they had to register with the local government and even then they were required to violate their faith by charging for sacraments for example. Some of the foreign priests stayed behind to risk everything and others went underground. There are images of the execution and torture of priests for saying Masses, hearing confessions and anointing the sick. Scot said the book contains questions and answers on all the key facts from the war, photos from the movie and of actual events, along with discussion points for parishes. Scot said his favorite parts were the letters sent from the pope to the Mexican people at the time as well as the remarks by Carl Anderson, Supreme Knights of the Knights of Columbus, on the Cristero War. He said 90% of the priests in Mexico were either killed or forced to leave the country. Scot said people will want to draw parallels between the persecution in Mexico and what the US Bishops have been writing about what we’re experiencing in the US. Ruben said we have to raise our eyebrows at the parallels. He gave the quote from the German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemoller: “When they came for the Jews I did not speak, because I wasn’t a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak for me.” This is not a Catholic issue, but is important for all people in the US. Ruben said people wondering whether to read the book or the film first. He said it works either way, but he recommends seeing the film first because the book gives the depth that the movie can’t give. He said more information is also available on his website vivacristorey.com. Ruben said what affects him most is knowing that these men gave their lives for him and for all of us, the next generations. The question is whether we will respond in kind.

Summary of today’s show: Our Sunday Visitor has been serving the Catholic Church in the US for 100 years this year and Zartarian publishing has served parishes in the Archdiocese for 50. This year those two companies came together to continue that long tradition of helping parishes in many ways. Scot Landry sits down with Kyle Hamilton, Terry Poplava, Chris Keiley, and Joanie Lewis from OSV to discuss the many ways OSV serves, from books, periodicals and pamphlets to offertory solutions, websites, and communication plans, as well as the OSV Institute, which gives back millions of dollars per year to the Church. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry Today’s guest(s): Kyle Poplava, Terry Hamilton, Chris Keely, and Joanie Lewis from Our Sunday Visitor Links from today’s show: Our Sunday Visitor OSV Offertory Solutions Today’s topics: 100th anniversary of Our Sunday Visitor and Zartarian joins OSV 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed everyone to the show. Today’s topic is Our Sunday Visitor, celebrating its 100th year serving the Church in the United States. Scot welcomed Kyle Hamilton, Terry Poplava, and Chris Keely to the show. Scot asked Kyle for a brief background on OSV. Kyle said around 1912 Fr. John Noll started the OSV newspaper. Later he became bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend and in an unusual move was later named Archbishop even though it wasn’t an archdiocese. He set out initially to try to inform Catholics about their faith and how they could fit into American society. At the time there was a lot of anti-Catholic sentiment. Fr. Noll met it head-on, going to tent meetings and traveling roadshows to stand up and challenge the anti-Catholic information being spread. He was very entrepreneurial, teaching what the Church teaches, but also starting the newspaper and offertory envelopes and more. Scot said it’s not common for a parish priest to start an organization that ends up as a large as OSV or the Knights of Columbus and for it to last as long as they have. Scot asked Terry about the growth of OSV to what it is today. Terry said OSV has printed diocesan newspapers and more, but the mission has always been focused on serving the Church. The business tries to focus on two primary things: bringing your Catholic faith to life, making information accessible and easy to understand, particularly within their publishing business in print materials like books or periodicals or electronically, whether websites, ebooks, blogs, social media. The other focus was helping parishes with operational needs, within offertory envelopes at the beginning to online giving today. They also pioneered the use of offertory materials to communicate catechetical information to parishioners. They’ve also moved into creating curricula. Scot said OSV is a very large not-for-profit organization. All of their surplus income goes into the OSV Institute to support innovative projects within the Church through grants. Kyle said this is what sets them apart as a 501c(3) which exists for a charitable, religious purpose. Through the years the business has changed in that there have been different growth engines. For years the newspaper was the growth engine. They had a publishing operation which was large, but it’s now closed. But throughout all the surplus income goes into the Institute. They have t here grant cycles per year and any diocese can make grant application for projects related to stewardship, education and more. On average they’re giving about $3 million per year back to Catholic organizations. The typical grant is $10,000 or $15,000. They made a grant of several hundred thousand dollars to the US Bishops’ conference’sCatechism office. He said there is a Master’s degree through the University of Notre Dame that the Institute has funded to send catechists to get degrees in catechesis and religious education. Scot said three different organizations that received funds last year helped put on the Co-Workers in the Vineyard conference, help fund the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, which is on local campuses, and fund RENEW International, which help put on the ARISE and Why Catholic? programs in the Archdiocese. Terry said in the offertory solutions business, OSV serves 11,000 parishes in the US. There are about 18,000 parishes total. OSV walks with the individual parishioners through life: baptismal formation materials or a pamphlet, marriage, the grieving process. OSV may be in the entrance to the church, in the pew, in a bookstore, or something the pastor is reading. They are touching the majority of Catholics in the US and many throughout the world. Scot related a story about visiting his brother’s parish and how his brother had put OSV’s pamphlets directed at men on sensitive topics in the men’s room. He said those pamphlets are taken by many men. Terry said it’s a great idea. So often the pamphlets are in a display in the entrance to the church, but there are so many more opportunities to make them available. Kyle said they’ve had a busy year marking the 100th anniversary. On May 5, they had an open house at their headquarters in Huntington, Indiana. They have almost 400 employees in 18 states, but the majority are in Huntington. They opened the doors to local neighbors as well as their retirees, many of whom have retired with up to 40 years of service, to show them how it’s changed. They had almost 1,000 visitors. They also had an employee and retiree picnic on site this summer, with a focus on the history of the company, On September 28 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, they will host a symposium with a general theme on religious liberty. Cardinal George of Chicago will be a speaker along with Helen Alvaré and Dr. Scott Hahn. It will be followed by a massive celebration. They a cardinal, three archbishops, nine bishops, and 60 clergy celebrating that Mass. They will cap the year with an employee Christmas dinner to wrap up the anniversary. Scot noted that we pray for Cardinal George, for whom it was announced his past week that his cancer has returned. He has been a leader on religious liberty issues. Scot asked what OSV is looking forward to in the future. Kyle said this question has been part of their planning for the year. They wanted to acknowledge their rich history, but also to be talking and looking to the future. They’re looking at how technology can and should be adopted and integrated into parish life, whether it’s the way people give or the way parishes or dioceses communicate. It includes websites, social media, ebooks, online giving, and more. He said an interesting part of their history is that it looks like the business cycle, with the engine that drives the finances of the organization changing with the time. For instance, they don’t have confidence that offertory envelopes will have the same prominence in 50 or 100 years that they do today, so they want to evolve with the ways parishes want to communicate and relate to their people. Terry added that during the open house they had an observation from the retirees who came back that the the changes they saw in the facility, they were amazed. While they don’t print many of their actual publications there anymore, they do continue printing envelopes and specialized communications materials and do much of the conversion and creation of materials. They’ve made huge investments in the latest technology and continue to update so that they remain very efficient and provide optimal customer service. Scot said in his previous work experience he was worked in consumer products companies and he’s been impressed by the OSV plant floor operations. Kyle said they have two brand-new high-speed envelope converting machines. They make 1,600 envelopes per minute, which is 27 per second. They invested about $5 million in them. He recalled how one of the retirees stood and stared in awe at the operation of these machines, comparing it to the machines he worked with 20 years ago. 2nd segment: Terry said OSV has been working with the Archdiocese of Boston for decades providing both materials and services for websites and online giving. A majority, if not all, parishes have at least some connection to OSV through one of their products. They are serving about 30–50 parishes with envelopes and have rolled out their website and online giving offerings in partnership with the Archdiocese to a similar number or parishes. Terry corrected himself by saying that the number is now 200 parishes. Scot said OSV recently acquired Zartarian Publishing,which was the major offertory envelope printer locally. Chris Keely was the general manager of Zartarian. Chris said the business was founded 50 years ago by Dick Zartarian, who died four years ago, and Chris has been running it since then with Dick’s widow. They joined with OSV and chris currently works with them. He too has been impressed by OSV’s operations and agrees that they are the industry leader. He said Zartarian just didn’t have the resources for all the new technologies that they see coming in the future. Chris thinks this acquisition will serve the parishes tremendously. Scot said Zartarian wasn’t in the offertory envelope business to make money, but to serve the Church. He noted that the company often sacrificed on their end in order not to pass costs along to parishes. Chris said they agonized every time they had to worry about raising their prices. They asked their employees to do more and more and they often went without salary increases for years, but they eventually saw they had to do more. Chris noted that Zartarian too constantly gave back to parishes through sponsoring parish programs and events. He said that’s why so many parishes stayed loyal for so long. Chris said he began thinking about the future of Zartarian and talking with people and after he met with Terry and OSV it became clear which way he had to go. Scot asked Kyle why Zartarian was a good fit. Kyle said it’s the reputation and history. Fifty years is a long time for any business to be serving the Church. He’d known Dick and his wife for years and recognized them as a quality supplier. Kyle said the primary focus is to serve the Church and they felt like they could bring some of the new product and service offerings to benefit Zartarian’s parishes. They think all the pieces together are better than the individual pieces by themselves. Scot said Zartarian was mainly in New England and New York. He asked Terry what he hopes this acquisition does for servicing parishes throughout the Northeast. Chris added that they did have 5 or 6 accounts in Arizona and even in one in the Bahamas. Terry said the focus is helping all of the parishes in the Northeast which has had a high density of Catholic population. By joining forces with Zartarian, they think they can serve the parishes even better. While it benefits OSV’s reach, the objective is helping parishes deliver their message to parishioners in multiple ways. Chris said there was some shock from the 348 Zartarian customers in the beginning, but OSV was able to roll-out the switchover smoothly with the customary OSV efficiency. He said he was struck by their concern for the Zartarian employees. Terry said that from the beginning the idea was determining what’s going to be good for everyone involved. they wanted to make sure it was positive for everyone and worked out well. Scot said he views OSV as one of the strongest partners for the Archdiocese. He said it’s moving to him that when a Catholic like Dick Zartarian decides to start a business to help the Church and to do so for 50 years. They have served well more than half the parishes in the Archdiocese. He wanted to take a moment to thank everyone at Zartarian for the way they have served the Church. Chris thanked Scot and offered an anecdote about some Catholic parishes outside Boston being taken aback by the Armenian name on the company, but Dick had a devout Irish Catholic mother. But in Boston, no one even thought twice about, which speaks to his impact in Boston. Scot said we’ve talked about how the way people support the Church has changed ever since she began. Today the offertory envelope is starting to give way to online giving solutions and OSV’s solution is one of the biggest. Scot said OSV doesn’t just provide the tools, but also provides strategies for parishes to communicate to parishioners about the need and grow the offertory. Joanie said parishioners want to increase their offertory to grow their ability to do more. She helps parish’s plan for their goals and how to reach them. There are many tools they use including envelopes, websites, and print communications. For instance, they make sure that the same strong message is on the envelopes, in the bulletins, on annual reports, on newsletters and more to reinforce the message they want to portray. Scot said OSV may be the only provider of both envelopes and online giving. Joanie said nationally that about 12% give through online giving and that has grown a lot over the past few years. Those giving electronically are giving of their first fruits rather than from they happen to have on Sunday morning. Online givers are planning ahead and they are giving 38% more than those putting an envelope in the basket. When people switch from envelopes, they increase by that amount. Scot noted that by planning ahead monthly, people can compare their giving to their other monthly bills and prioritize accordingly. He also said when people travel, like for vacation, they don’t put their envelope in, but when people give online they don’t miss a week. Terry said very few people make up missed contributions when they travel. But when people don’t miss the difference is 10 to 20%. Scot said as more people transition to online giving, it makes it easier for parishes to plan. Kyle said the business manager or pastor can see the whole history of giving through the online tool and lets them look ahead because they can generally count on a steady level of giving. He told the story of a parish that had implemented online giving and after a tornado leveled the church, the giving continued to flow in to support the parish. Scot said the Catholic Media Secretariat at the Archdiocese is always looking to help parishes stay innovative in communications. He asked Terry how he sees the newer trends in offertory. Terry said they need to continue to reach people to sustain parish life. They have to make sure that people recognize their giftedness and are able to participate in their parish. He sees much more openness in many different ways. He said a recent book asked why people give to Harvard, which doesn’t necessarily need their money, and it’s because they believe in what they’re doing. Offertory has to continue to be the ability to give in ubiquitous ways to their parish.

Summary of today’s show: Father Joseph Mazzone became pastor of St. Mary Parish in Hull just four years out of the seminary. Scot Landry and Father Mark O’Connell sit down with Father Joe to talk about life as a parish priest on “the peninsula”, Hull, a close-knit seaside community, as well as his path to the priesthood from Providence to Notre Dame to Prague and then to Boston, where he entered Blessed John XXIII Seminary, which forms men who have “late” vocations. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Father Mark O’Connell Today’s guest(s): Father Joseph Mazzone Links from today’s show: St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Hull Blessed John XXIII National Seminary Today’s topics: Pastor Profile: Father Joseph Mazzone 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed Father Mark O’Connell back to the show and they discussed a news story this week about an article in the Economist magazine about church finances in the US. Father Mark said in his previous work, he was in charge of the Clergy Fund. During that time, they found out through audits that there was trouble in the clergy fund. He had to go to the priests of the Archdiocese to tell them that there was trouble and one of the slides in his presentation was misinterpreted that seemed to show that contributions from the mid-80s to the mid-90s were not given to the Clergy Funds. Scot said the information was misinterpreted and that money was used for the medical care of the retired and active clergy. So the money was going to a different fund within the Clergy Funds, but the all the money was spent on the purposes for which it was intended, the care of the priests. Father Mark said that particular slide was written so poorly that the priests became angry and demanded an outside audit to determine if money was stolen from the Clergy Funds. The outside audit explained that this was a legitimate use of the money and recommended some changes. Today, the Clergy Funds is almost in the black, if not already in the black today. The Economist article’s author simply lifted the previous erroneous information and repeated it. The misleading information is repeated over and over. Today’s guest is Father Joseph Mazzone, pastor of St. Mary of Assumption Parish in Hull. Father Joe was ordained in 2008 after attending Blessed John XXIII Seminary. Before seminary, he worked in human services mostly in Boston. He’s not from Boston, but from Providence. He said both Sacred Heart, Weymouth, his first parish, and St. Mary’s have had patient and kind people who pray for him. He was named a pastor on February 1, 2011. He hadn’t even been a priest for three years. Scot noted back in the day, it would take 25 or 30 years before a priest would become pastor. Father Mark said when he was ordained he was told it would be 12 years before he became a pastor, although Father Mark has never been. Father Mark said he was ordained at 25 years old, but Father Joe comes with a lot more experience. Father Joe said he was surprised at being asked to become pastor already. The people at St. Mary’s were warm and inviting and it made the transition easier. The people had been praying for whomever their new pastor would be and it made a huge difference. Scot said Hull is off the beaten path as a peninsula and people have to intentionally go there. Father Joe said Hull is tight-knit with 11,000 people and has a strong sense of identity. It’s physically beautiful and you’re never more than 3 blocks from the water. Sunrise in the morning is a beautiful opportunity to pray. Within pastoral planning, they are connected with St. Anthony in Cohasset which is a little over seven miles. Father Joe said three of his four grandparents grew up on islands, Sicily and Madeira. He grew up on and around the water. In the summer, there are a lot of visitors. Father Joe said the Mass attendance goes up 15 to 20%. Scot said Sacred Heart in Weymouth stands out to him in his experience as warm and welcoming. He asked what makes St. Mary in Hull stand out. Father Joe said they have a great commitment to the poor and social justice, including through St. Vincent de Paul. It’s not a wealthy community, but is fairly middle class and extremely generous proportionally. He recalled that when Sacred Heart’s church burned down a few years ago, people attended Mass in the school hall and the Mass attendance drop at all. In the same way, the Church in Hull has had its challenges too. Hull used to have three parishes plus a chapel on Peddock’s Island. Two of the parishes merged into the third at St. Ann’s Church. Nevertheless, the community remained tight and committed to their faith. 2nd segment: Scot asked Father Joe what age he first started to think about the priesthood. He said he was very young. His parents were great models of faith and he loved going to church. He remembers one Mass with his father very early on a Sunday. He remembers looking into the sanctuary at the priest celebrating Mass and knew that something different and beautiful and holy was happening and that never left him. His mom had saved a picture he drew as a kid of what he wanted to be when he grew up and it was a priest. Father Mark said Father Joe took a long route to the priesthood. Father Joe said he graduated the University of Notre Dame in 1987. He had been thinking during his time there whether to become a diocesan priest or a member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross. He said it was a very Catholic experience. Each dorm had a daily Mass and spirituality is woven into the life of every student. There’s a high rate of Mass attendance among students. Scot, Father Mark, and Father Joe discussed their experiences of being at or visiting Notre Dame and seeing the faith lived out by the students. After college, Father Joe went to New Orleans for a two-year service project and then came back to the Northeast. Then he got an opportunity to work in Prague in the Czech Republic to write for the English-language newspaper there. He said responding to the call to the priesthood is different for each man. Every time he wanted to apply the seminary, he kept getting the sense that it wasn’t the right time. It eventually happened one year to the day after his father died. He said the three biggest influences on his priesthood were his parents, his parish priests, and Karl Malden. He played a priest in the movie On the Waterfront and Father Joe remembers seeing Malden as a great model of the priest, brave and courageous. On the Waterfront (Special Edition) Growing up as Sicilian and Portuguese, everything in their family lives revolved around the parish. They were at the church during the week all the time. He saw his parents live out their faith, not just in all they volunteered to do, but that their motivation for being kind and non-judgmental was their faith in JEsus Christ. They prayed the rosary every day, but they also prayed in little ways in everything they did. When he applied to the seminary, he was at work at the time. He was going back and forth whether to apply. He reached into a pile of articles on his desk and pulled out a magazine article with a prominent quote on it in which a nun said, “My father said, go into the convent and if you change your mind come home. That was 58 years ago.” And he took that as inspiration to apply. Father Mark asked why Father Joe chose Boston instead of Providence. Father joe said he’d lived and worked in Boston for a decade before applying and he’d made friends with a lot of Boston priests. Scot asked Father Joe about formation at Blessed John XXIII Seminary in Weston. Father Joe said it’s a national seminary. There were 17 men in his class, only 4 of whom were from Boston. Many of the men had also had careers before seminary and they brought all kinds of life experiences, like being a physician or carpet-layer or video store owner. He said they had great models of priesthood in the faculty who were very patient with all these middle-aged men who had been set in their ways. They went from being in charge of their own lives and then had to give it over to the seminary and give up so much autonomy. In addition, most of them hadn’t been involved in a college setting for decades in some cases. Father Joe said what he loves most as a priest is celebrating Mass. He celebrates Mass quite a lot in his parish and he loves it so much he never feels like it’s too much. Scot asked how much Father Joe prepares for Mass. He said he tries to pray over the Scriptures early in the week. He tries to stay current on events in the world. He doesn’t want his homilies to be political, but they should be topical. He loves to weave historical events into his homilies when they’re relevant. A wise priest once told him that if he hasn’t hit oil in seven minutes stop drilling and he tries to keep his homilies that length. Scot asked him about the challenge of preparing a homily to address all the different kinds of people who will hear it. Father Joe said some people want more catechesis, others want life experiences, others want a story they can tell, and others just want the Scriptures explained more. He tries to balance as much as he can, but you have to be yourself and you have to respond to how Christ is calling you to preach today. On the Feast of the Assumption, he talked about the encyclical of Pope Pius XII in 1950 on the doctrine of the Assumption and the people seemed moved by the Pope’s words. Scot said Father Joe serves on the committee that helps implement the Light Is On For You confession initiative in Advent and Lent. Father Joe said being a confessor is great because he knows what it’s like to be a penitent on the other side. He sees people who are transformed by confession. When he talks to people who have fallen away from the faith, when penance comes up that’s when the person gets very interested and it piques their interest on even an emotional level. Even when he talks to people at social events, they approach him in a very confessional way. One thing Father Joe has brought to Hull is the tradition of processions. The first year they did they had a statue of the Blessed Mother that they brought on board a boat, and then to a dock and then down streets with 350 people. He said people really turn out for the processions. Father Joe said people want to be public and and are proud of their Catholic faith. With very little publicity, hundreds of people turned out and the numbers keep going up each year. 3rd segment: 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 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 26, 2012(Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b) Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, summoning their elders, their leaders, their judges, and their officers. When they stood in ranks before God, Joshua addressed all the people: “If it does not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” But the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD for the service of other gods. For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among the peoples through whom we passed. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.” Gospel for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 26, 2012 (John 6:60-69) Many of Jesus’ disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” Father Joe talked about how often people have trouble wrapping their heads around the mysteries of our faith. We live in a culture that is not comfortable with the idea of mystery and not knowing something completely. Scot said when he hears a message that is hard to receive, he looks to the messenger and if he is trustworthy then to trust his message. Father Mark said when he looks at his previous homilies on these readings during the difficult years nine years and six years ago, these powerful lines stand out, especially Joshua saying he and his house will serve the Lord and Jesus knowing people will leave despite what he says. We have to make s stand and choose faith for ourselves. Scot said St. Peter’s response of faith is simple. Who else can we go to? Father Joe said when he talks with people who have drifted from the faith or those who haven’t but have great doubt and struggle, he tells them that even in our doubt we can never be disconnected from God, we always remain connected to him.

Summary of today’s show: Our usual Thursday panel of Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, Fr. Roger Landry, and Gregory Tracy looked at the news headlines of the week, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan being asked to give the benediction at the Republican National Convention; Presidential candidate Mitt Romney agreeing to an interview with EWTN’s The World Over program; the Archdiocese of Atlanta receiving Gone with the Wind as a bequest; the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm showing the alternative to assisted suicide; and Fr. Roger writing on the call to martyrdom as a witness to our culture. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes 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: Cardinal Dolan at the GOP convention; Mitt Romney on EWTN; Gone with the Wind in Atlanta; Carmelite serving the infirm 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed the four Thursday regulars back to the show after a long time apart. Scot said that soon we will start making a live video stream of the show available for many shows. Susan said she is preparing for the new catechetical school year. She said August feels like the shortest month of the year sometimes because they’re so busy getting ready. Scot welcomed Gregory Tracy and Fr. Roger Landry back to the show. “Cardinal Dolan to give benediction at Republican convention”, CNA/EWTN News, 8/22/12 At the top of the news was the invitation by Mitt Romney to Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York to give the benediction at the Republican National Convention. Scot wondered if people will criticize the cardinal as being partisan. Susan said the move by the Republicans is brilliant. Cardinal Dolan is very articulate and will use the time to call down blessings on our country without being partisan. Susan then told the story of being at dinner with Cardinal Dolan during Bishop Richard Malone’s installation celebrations in Buffalo, New York. Scot asked Greg why would a Catholic prelate say yes to such an invitation. Greg recalled the discussion about the invitation to the President Barack Obama to participate in New York’s Al Smith dinner to benefit Catholic Charities. He said it’s interesting that the Cardinal is blasted for inviting Obama and he’ll be criticized for praying at the convention. Scot asked Fr. Roger about the involvement of the Catholic Church in the political sphere. Fr. Roger said the first thing to recognize is that Cardinal Dolan said he would be willing to speak at both conventions and that the principle is that we should start something so important with prayer to call upon God’s authority and wisdom as we undertake such actions. He added that there are some people who think that the Catholic Church’s business is to be in church on Sunday, not to be salt and light for the world. We’re trying to lift everything up for the common good. It is a great sign that we begin so much of our public life with prayer because we can’t evict God from our society. Cardinal Dolan has been trying to chart the path by which the faith will purify all political reason. This is the same goal of Pope Benedict XVI, who said during his visit to the United Kingdom that the political sphere has nothing to fear from the Church. The Church is trying to articulate the moral principles which aren’t just for Christians, but apply to the dignity of every human person as part of natural law. EWTN’s “The World Over with Raymond Arroyo” Scot noted that Mitt Romney will be appearing on EWTN tonight in a significant interview. He said it’s clearly an attempt to reach out to Catholics from the Romney campaign. Susan said the whole issue of the candidate’s religion has come up before, but the issue of Mormonism is new today and should make for an interesting conversation. Scot said these are the sorts of interviews that frame lots of issues going forward. Greg said this looks like evidence that the Romney campaign is reaching for the Catholic vote. Greg said he’s not sure that there is a Catholic vote, as if all Catholics vote the same. Traditionally Catholics did vote Democrat, but there seems to be a split between generations where older Catholics still tend to Democrats while younger Catholics often tend to be Republican for pro-life reasons. He thinks President Obama should take the opportunity to make his case to the Catholic voters like Romney is. Fr. Roger said he hopes Arroyo asks Romney about his conversions with regard tho the life issue. Early in Romney’s life was pro-life, then was later pro-abortion running for governor, and then came back to a pro-life position. Catholics need to be able to get beyond the typical frame on Romney as a flip-flopper who switches for political expediency. Fr. Roger said he’s heard that Romney’s switch came when Fr. Tad Pacholczyk explained to him about what’s going on in embryonic stem cell research. He’d also love to see what he likes about Paul Ryan in terms of Ryan’s understanding of the Catholic faith as well as what Ryan has written with regard to Catholic teaching and public policy. Fr. Roger thinks Ryan’s writings on the subject are the best attempt to apply the principles by any public elected official. Fr. Roger also always wants to see if candidates are men of personal faith and personal principle. Scot said he’d ask Romney how things would be different in a Romney administration with regard to religious liberty and how the HHS mandate might be reversed. Susan would ask him about his faith and why it’s important to him and about his Mormon missionary commitment. Greg said he would ask him to speak a little about how Catholics can somehow relate to him in his Mormon faith. At the Pilot they’ve seen a lot of reluctance to support Romney because they’re afraid of his Mormonism in the feedback they’ve received in letters to the editor and elsewhere. “Mitchell heir leaves millions, literary rights to Atlanta Archdiocese”, CNS, 8/17/12 Scot said there is a deep connection between “Gone with the Wind” and the Archdiocese of Atlanta, because one of Margaret Mitchell’s heirs has willed it to the archdiocese. From the Joseph Mitchell estate, Archbishop Gregory has designated that $7.5 million be given to the Cathedral of Christ the King for its building fund. He also has assigned $1.5 million to Catholic Charities Atlanta for its immediate use and an additional $2 million to create an endowment fund for the social services agency to address its long-term need for sustaining income. The archbishop also has asked the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia to create an endowment fund for each parish, mission and Catholic school of the archdiocese with a $10,000 gift apiece from the Joseph Mitchell estate, totaling more than $1 million. He also has assigned $150,000 to the Deacons’ Assistance Fund, $100,000 of which will be a challenge grant that is in place until May 31,2013, to match any charitable contributions made to the fund during that time. The remainder of the Mitchell bequest will be held in reserve and used by the archdiocese for general religious purposes as requested in Joseph Mitchell’s will, Deacon Swope said. Plans call for the cathedral parish, which has limited space on its Peachtree Road site, to use part of the bequest to purchase the nearby archbishop’s residence on West Wesley and renovate it as a rectory. A new residence is planned for Archbishop Gregory and future archbishops of Atlanta on the property given to the archdiocese by Joseph Mitchell. Scot said he loves to highlight the living legacy that generous people leave to the Church. Susan said she didn’t realize many of the details about Gone with the Wind in the story, like the language translations and how the estate had many artifacts from other authors, which they hope to put on public display. Scot said when an estate gives half or more to the Church, it shows the Catholic faith was central to the donor’s life. Greg said it also provides a massive cultural icon. He also finds it shows how much the South is changing and growing and becoming so much more Catholic. He also noted that it’s an ongoing gift that will benefit the archdiocese with future profits. Scot said he was surprised the Church didn’t sell the rights and various art, rather than seek to maintain it. Fr. Roger has been writing recently on the importance of art and beauty to the soul. Fr. Roger said the Church has been preserving cultural treasures from the beginning because they are created through the genius of human beings that God has implanted in them. The second consideration is that if the Church tried to sell it, it would have been impossible for the other half-owner to buy it and could have damaged the cultural legacy they’d been endowed with. Fr. Roger’s first thought was about the scandal years ago when Bob Dylan performed before Pope John Paul II and John Paul preached extemperaneously on what it means to be “blowing with the wind” and in similar way the Mitchell family has blown with the Wind of the Holy Spirit. 2nd segment: Scot called attention to a lengthy article in the Pilot this week about the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm in Massachusetts who run two homes for the elderly and infirm in Framingham and South Boston. They show that there’s a better way than assisted suicide, which is to love. Susan said the dignity of the human person has been their stock in trade since the beginning. They address the fear people have about end of life issues and they have assembled a good staff to meet the needs and fears of the dying. They say that people don’t come to them to die but to live, which is such an opposite attitude from the assisted suicide proponents. Scot said the founder of the Carmelite Sisters used to be one of the Little Sisters of the Poor, who focus mainly on the poorest at the end of life, but she wanted to offer the same care to everyone regardless of wealth or class. Scot noted how one of the sisters said with regard to assisted suicide that it not only could disrupt otherwise dignified lives, but also the peace of families that help someone end their own life. There will never be peace in that family again, she said. It will make everyone wonder what will happen to them if they get ill. The mission of the facility is to care our elders and to talk with them in this final stage of life so they don’t feel alone. Scot and Fr. Roger said that this is how our whole society should treat every sick person, and it shouldn’t be unique to the Carmelite Sisters. Fr. Roger said our culture is starting to look at people as disposable, as an economic burden. Instead we are a brother or sister and we are looked at with love. Mother Mark of the Sisters said “Somebody has to advocate for the elderly.” That should be all of us. Scot said people who contemplate suicide need help, no matter whether they are terminally ill. Susan said many years ago the Church started a program called “In Support of Life” and a priest told a gathering a story about interviews of families of elderly and terminally ill patients who said overwhelmingly that they should have the right to take their own life, but the elderly and terminally ill themselves said overwhelmingly that they shouldn’t have that right. SuicideIsAlwaysATragedy.org Scot said people can go to the Suicide is Always a Tragedy website and click through to stopassistedsuicide.org to donate, to get educated, and to learn how to talk to others about voting No on Question 2. Scot said in other news, EWTN host Johnette Benkovic will be speaking this weekend at the St. Francis Xavier Parish in Acushnet, Mass. Call 508–995–7600. Fr. Roger has also restarted his Putting Into the Deep column in The Anchor newspaper. He has most recently written about the installation Mass homily by Bishop Richard Malone upon his arrival in Buffalo. He said the bishop preached about martyrdom, partly because he recognized that carrying out the New Evangelization today in a culture hostile to our faith, we need to have the grit of the martyrs to do what Christ has asked us to do. He said what our culture needs most today is the courage of the martyrs. The word martyr means witness in Greek and we are called to witness with our words and lives. Fr. Roger said we can’t proclaim the Gospel if we have a watered-down cowardly vision of the faith. Too often people are afraid to engage their faith in politics or public affairs. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. CatholicPreaching.com Scot said Fr. Charles Sheehy died at 94 years old on August 10, which was the 68th anniversary of his ordination. He served in 10 different towns in his time as a priest. Meanwhile, Fr. John Farrell, who just received Senior Priest status, served in only two different parishes, as well as teaching in the seminary. They also discussed how Fr. Farrell told his mother at his First Communion that he felt called to the priesthood.

Summary of today’s show: Fr. Tom Foley has embarked on a new phase of his priesthood 26 years after his ordination by becoming an Air Force chaplain. Scot Landry and Fr. Chip Hines talk to Fr. Foley about his decision to answer the “call within a call”, the process of moving from the Archdiocese of Boston to the chaplains corps, and the important service provided by priest chaplains to our men and women serving our country all over the world. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chip Hines Today’s guest(s): Fr. Thomas Foley Links from today’s show: Air Force Chaplain Corps Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA Today’s topics: Fr. Thomas Foley, Military Chaplain 1st segment: Scot Landry and Fr. Chip Hines talked about how the summer is going for Fr. Chip and his parishes in Wrentham and Plainville. He said his parishes have been offering some summer programs to combat the drop off that many parishes experience in attendance and participation. Fr. Chip said he spends his summer mainly with his parents in Plymouth. Scot said as the show airs he’s going to a 20-year college reunion in Pittsburgh. Today’s guest, Fr. Tom Foley, left his post as Secretary for Parish Life and Leadership about a month ago to enter the chaplain corps for the US Air Force. 2nd segment: Scot welcomed Fr. Tom to the show. He said Fr. Foley’s role as secretary was one of the toughest jobs in the Pastoral Center. He deals with a lot of the materials that eventually end up on the Vicar Generals. Cardinal Seán gave him a few weeks for vacation and retreat before going on to the Air Force. Fr. Roley was secretary for 4 years. He oversaw clergy personnel matters, permanent diaconate, vocations office, Clergy Funds, Regina Cleri and many more. Fr. Foley said each of the offices were staffed by great people so that the work is done by many hands. Much of his work was working with priests. He noted that the staff of the Clergy Funds, caring for the priests’ health, have done much to stabilize those funds. He noted the work of Deacon Dan Burns and the formation of permanent deacons. Another office if Pastoral Planning, which is a top priority for the Archdiocese now, but we always have to be planning for the future. His role was to monitor and orchestrate a whole spectrum of the priests. Fr. Chip asked about the fun and edifying memories of his office. Fr. Tom mentioned visits to the three seminaries, engaging with the seminarians, which is a hopeful experience. The quality of the men coming into the seminaries is outstanding. He thinks of the priest appreciation dinner we’ve had the past three years. No one expected the turnout at that annual dinner, which is not just a fundraiser for the Clergy Funds, but has also become a chance for the people of the archdiocese to pour out their love for their priests. He said no one expected such an outpouring. Scot recalled the priests’ convocations. He said there have been at least 3 or maybe more. Fr. Tom said the priests are ordained to serve the people of God and to be there for the people in all times of sadness and joy. But someone has to take care of the priests too, which is the responsibility of the bishop. As Cardinal Sean’s helpers, they made it a top priority to visit the priests when they were sick, or to visit the retired priests at home or those living in Regina Cleri retirement home. The purpose is to care for those who are caring for others. The Clergy Services Group includes highly respected priests, both retired and active, to make sure they are available to priests at any time, so as to be present to them to be healthy and strong for the people. Fr. Chip said he had surgery a few years ago and was the recipient of that love and attention while he was recovering at Regina Cleri. Fr. Chip having lunch with the retired priests was a highlight of his stay, especially the stories of the old days. Fr. Tom said the seminarians talk about how much they look forward to visiting Regina Cleri. It’s an experience of sharing one generation’s wisdom to another. It’s truly a home of priests who look out for each other. Scot said Fr. Tom served in parish ministry until 2008. He asked him about the adjustment from parish to administrative work. Fr. Tom said it’s an eye-opener, but St. Paul talks about the gifts of administration. It’s all about helping the cardinal to lead the Church. They try to be good stewards of the resources of the Church as best they can, to give the best advice to the Cardinal they can. It’s a lot of meetings, on the phone, at the desk. There’s a lot of detail work. Fr. Chip said much of the sensitive material that comes across Fr. Foley’s desk could only be seen by a priest and it must have been difficult to deal with. Scot said Fr. Foley was often one of the leading celebrants at the Pastoral Center’s 8:15am Mass, which saw a handful of employees on a constant basis. Fr. Foley said the 12:05 pm Mass is a blessing, which sees so many people come to it, especially from outside the Pastoral Center. But he often found the noontime hour problematic, especially when at meetings. So they started the 8:15 Mass, which mimics parish Masses. It’s great to start the day that way. 3rd segment: Scot asked Fr. Foley what led him to ask Cardinal Seán about going to become an Air Force chaplain. Fr. Tom says chaplains speak about the call within the call. Chaplains are ordained and serve in parishes, but at some point they have experienced another call to serve as a military chaplain. Some of his close priest friends are or have been military chaplains. He’s been inspired and edified by them. It’s natural for priests to have an interest in military chaplaincy because as celibates it’s easier for them to pick up at a moment’s notice. He said there’s a lot of stress of military families, long deployments, many of them are young adults. There is a need for someone to support and care for them. A priest-chaplain is a reminder of home. He’s a connection to family and home. Scot asked how many Catholics in the Air Force and priest-chaplains. Fr. Tom said about 25% of the 330,000 active duty members are Catholic, plus any dependents. There are about 250 chaplains in the Air Force of all faiths. There are only 60 Catholic priests on active duty in the Air Force today. That’s 60 priests serving over 75,000 airmen plus their families. Scot said he could drive 20 miles in any direction, he could pass 15 Catholic churches in each direction. But in our military some of our service members could go a month or more without access to the sacraments. Fr. Foley said Catholic chaplains are only assigned to the largest bases in the US and take turns being deployed to the combat zones to serve the troops who have been waiting for them. They hear of the great desire of the Catholic service members to see a chaplain. The priests are stretched thin, especially in deployed situations. Fr. Chip said his brother was in the Navy for five years. He met a chaplain on his brother’s ship, who told him that there’d never been a Catholic chaplain on their ship and they only get to go to Mass maybe once per month. Fr. Foley said those in the military have the constitutional right to the free exercise of religion and the military is determined they can exercise that right. The chaplains are there to serve primarily their own faith group, but they’re also chaplains for everyone in the military and will do everything they can to help them whatever their faith. The chaplains are willing to travel everywhere and work very hard for their people. Scot asked what was the attraction of the Air Force over the other services. Fr. Tom said his friends in other services will listen attentively to his answer. One of his closest friends spent 20 years in the Navy, mainly with the Marine Corps. He ‘s worked closely the past couple of years with priests who have been Air Force chaplains so he got to know it better than the others. Having been ordained 26 years already, he didn’t know if he could even be accepted and talking to the Air Force it seemed possible with them. Scot asked him about the process to prepare himself for acceptance. Fr. Foley said he’s still finalizing all the details and paperwork. Most the chaplains who enter are in their 30s to 40s. Being over 50 is unusual. He had an age waiver from the Secretary of the Air Force to even apply. He had to travel to an Air Force base in New Jersey to interview with a Wing Chaplain. He had to go before a board. Fill out all kinds of paperwork. It’s quite a process and takes several months. This was all after he’d gone to the Cardinal to express his desire to explore it. Fr. Foley said he will go through 4 weeks of officer training. In his first year he will go through 12-week chaplain school. Then he will get his first assignment at a base in the continental United States. From there to any American base in the world, including deployments to any active deployment area. For chaplains the basic commitment is three years. They get fitness reviews every year. Fr. Chip said Fr. Tom looks like he’s in great shape and working on all those fitness requirements. Scot said the Archdiocese of Boston sends some of its finest priests to serve in the military and it’s a longstanding tradition. It’s not easy for an archbishop to send one of his episcopal vicars off to the military instead of putting him in charge of one of our largest parishes. Cardinal Seán recognizes the need in the military and we have to do our fair share. Fr. Tom said Cardinal Cushing had been an Army National Guard chaplain as a young priest and perhaps even continued after he became a bishop. These young men and women are in harm’s way. They are all-volunteer and highly trained to go defend our freedom anywhere in the world. If a chaplain can be there to help them, that’s the least we can be doing for them. The Church wants to be wherever her people are. The Church is the mission of Jesus. We are missionary by nature and outgoing. In this way, we want to go with our men and women in uniform. Scot asked how Fr. Tom has been prepared for combat situations? Do chaplains get trained with weapons. Fr. Tom said chaplains do not carry a weapon as noncombatants. He said chaplain friends told him that when you’re deployed in forward operating areas, you are assigned a bodyguard. They do go wherever the military goes. Fr. Chip talked of a friend deployed in Iraq who said that after the company commander he was the most protected member of the unit. Scot said diocesan priests are usually assigned within an hour’s drive of their family. How do you prepare for the transition to be sofa away from family? Fr. Tom said after he got the green light from Cardinal Seán, he shared this with his family, including his brother and sister. He’s received lots of love and support and he thinks his nephews are probably proud of him. Wherever the Lord sends us, we never go alone. We hold each other in prayer. Plus today we have means of communication that people never dreamed of in the past. Fr. Tom also said the airplanes fly both ways and people can come and visit. Scot wondered how he expects serving as a base chaplain to be similar to being a parish priest. Fr. Tom said the way a chapel works on an Air Force base is very much like a diocesan parish, with a staff, RCIA, religious education, and the like. Having spent 22 years in a parish that’s what he’s used to. It’s a chapel-based ministry in the Air Force and families are very much used to that. He expects that he will go at least briefly to a base where there’s another Catholic priests. Archbishop Broglio of the Military Archdiocese said we are 1-deep, meaning one priest deep on the line. Scot asked the connection to the Archdiocese for Military Services. Fr. Tom said a chaplain is an Air Force officer and reports up that chain of command. He’s only able to be a chaplain if he’s endorsed by the Archdiocese for Military Services and the priestly faculties are granted by that archbishop. So as far as the Church is concerned, you come under that Archdiocese. This is a Lend-Lease situation, where the archbishop of Boston lends his priests to the archbishop of the military. An important aspect of the chaplain’s work is helping the young people who come to faith while in the military.They do a lot of baptisms, receiving into the Church, sacraments of initiation, plus lots of counseling. Fr. Tom said he asks people to pray for peace, for security of our country, for all those who serve our country. Those prayers are a tremendous consolation. Fr. Tom said about 12 or 15 priests of the archdiocese of Boston are currently serving on active duty in the military.

Summary of today’s show: Deacon Thomas MacDonald found a calling to the priesthood while studying at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Since then he has studied at St. John Seminary and the Pontifical North American College in Rome. This summer he was ordained to the transitional diaconate by Cardinal Seán and has served at St. Paul’s in Cambridge. He returns to Rome this fall for his final year before ordination. Deacon Tom joins Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor to talk about his journey to the priesthood and give listeners a brief tour of the Rome he has come to call home. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor Today’s guest(s): Deacon Tom MacDonald Links from today’s show: St. John Seminary Pontifical North American College St. Paul Parish, Cambridge Today’s topics: Transitional Deacon Tom MacDonald 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed Fr. Chris O’Connor back to the show and they announced that St. John’s Seminary is completely filled and can take no more men. There are 27 new men coming to the seminary this fall. It’s partly due to more men from Boston and more dioceses sending men to St. John’s. Scot said we need many, many more men to answer the call to the priesthood. Fr. Chris said they are strategizing ways to accommodate even more men next year. Scot asked Fr. Chris what he attributes the growth in seminaries to. Fr. Chris said in parishes with Eucharistic adoration, there you find vocations coming out. Fr. Chris said particular priests inspire young men in their vocations as well. Today’s guest is Deacon Tom McDonald, who was ordained a transitional deacon on June 30 this year and will, God willing, be ordained next spring. 2nd segment: Scot and Fr. Chris welcomed Deacon Tom to the show. He grew up in Westford, Mass. He was born in Concord, Mass. He is a lifelong parishioner of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Westford. Deacon Tom said the town of Westford boomed in his childhood and St. Catherine boomed as well. He attended public schools in Westford. He said the seeds of his priesthood were sown about the age of 16, around his confirmation. He had a reconversion as a young adult and became convinced of the truth of the faith and he and a group of friends grew together in faith. He attended University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Scot said UMass was known as a crazy school. Deacon Tom said the reputation was deserved in some places, but that’s also the place where his faith grew to include a call to the priesthood. He saw the sadness of the life lived away from God that opened his eyes to the gift of faith and the privilege of sharing his faith. It was through sharing his faith that he came to appreciate how wonderful it was to do that. Thanks to the help of Fr. McGonagle at the Newman Center that he was steered to the priesthood. Fr. Chris asked what helps in his own spiritual growth he encountered, what advice he would give to college freshman. Deacon Eric told them to get plugged in to what’s going on. Take the initiative and ask how to get involved. Stay close to young men and women who share your values and faith. The company you keep shapes your destiny over the next four years. He knew a number of students who faded away from campus ministry and took a tragic course. Much depends on those opening weeks, cultivating the right sort of friendships and getting involved in the right sort of activities. Deacon Tom said one of the advantages of going to a secular college was that there was a clear demarcation between the life of faith and the life of the world. All you had to do is wake up early on Saturday morning to see the “walks of shame” and the dazed looks. You can see that they are suffering from the lies of the world. On the positive side were the friendships built upon the fullness of the Church’s teachings and a life lived there. The decision was crystal clear. The goodness of God was so attractive in comparison with the darkness beyond. Scot asked what it was about the campus ministry at UMass that led so many to a deeper faith. Deacon Tom said it was the quality of friendships. When people would come to the Newman Center and get connected they would find themselves attracted to the friendships. Deacon Tom said his first instinct when he heard the call to the priesthood was to run. He heard the call as a freshman, but as a senior he resigned himself to exploring the call. During that time, he went to daily Mass, frequent confession, adoration. The quiet silence attuned the heart to hear God’s voice. After graduation he wanted to spend a year in service. He worked at Northampton High School working with kids with learning disabilities. Deacon Tom asked himself which hurt less: walking away from the possibility of marriage or walking away from the prospect of the priesthood. The priesthood won out slightly and he decided to give it a year. He was still very far from knowing he was called and it took a long time for him to stop going back and forth over the decision. Scot asked when it connected and he became settled about the question. He had asked to leave the seminary in February of his first year but the faculty had asked him to go to a priestly formation course in Nebraska. They asked him to go regardless. In the midst of the eight-day Ignatian retreat, he experienced incredible graces and all of his worries, concerns, and apprehensions were obliterated. Scot asked what he would say to young men listening who are wondering if they’re really being called. Deacon Tom said there is nothing to lose by applying to the seminary. He would recommend giving it a shot. If there’s a woman you’re interested in, you have to ask her out to determine if she’s the one for you. You can’t figure that out from afar. The seminary is like a courtship. By giving it a shot and experiencing it, he answered questions that could only be answered inside. Deacon Tom was also sent to the Pontifical North American College in Rome by Cardinal Seán. He hadn’t known anything about it beforehand and so he trusted the faculty to send him where he needed to go. He’s not a big traveler and so the prospect was daunting. He also loved his time at St. John’s, where he was with three friends from U. Mass, and where he felt at home. To leave for Rome was intimidating. He also had to study Italian. Fr. Chris asked what graces he received from studying at the NAC. The first major blessing was going into this unknown world and having to trust God outside the network of his friends and family, but in a more radical way. Being in the city of martyrs and churches is humbling. One can’t help but feel the immense place of Rome in the Church when there. Attending the big papal liturgies was electrifying, especially to se the love of pilgrims for Pope Benedict. The Pope exudes peace, calm, and power. People from every corner of the world crowd into the Square just to see him. Scot asked his favorite churches. Deacon Tom said his favorite is St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, built in classic Roman basilica style. Fr. Chris asked Deacon Tom what would be the perfect day visiting Rome. He said it would have to begin in St. Peter’s Square by the obelisk in the center, the some obelisk St. Peter saw as he was crucified upside down. Then they would go on the Scavi tour in the excavations under St. Peter’s, where the cemetery that held the bones of St. Peter were buried. This is the heart of the city. Then he would take them on a tour of the basilica itself, seeing the great altars and statues and art and windows. Scot said his favorite time in St. Peter’s is 7am where everyone is there to pray. Deacon Tom would then take people to the North American College for the best view of the city from it’s sixth floor. From there they would take the “Greg” route, which is their path to the Gregorian University and along the way they would see the beautiful Piazza Navona. The Piazza has beautiful cafes and fountains and art. From there would be the Pantheon, originally a Roman temple converted to a beautiful church dedicated to Our Lady. It’s a testament to the history of the Church. They would stop at the Gregorian University. Fr. Chris complained they haven’t stopped for food yet. They would also see the Trevi fountain, which Deacon Tom says is a trust trap with pickpockets. So they would go to Santa Maria Maggiore, the first church in Christendom dedicated to Our Lady. They have a relic of the creche, the manger in which Christ was laid in Bethlehem. Deacon Tom said in the fifth century a young Roman patrician had a dream about the Virgin Mary sending snow in the middle of the summer. He told the bishop and he interpreted it as a desire of the Blessed Mother for a church in the city. Sure enough the snow fell in Rome in the middle of summer. Rome is extremely hot in the summer and it hardly even snows in winter. This is the Feast of St. Mary Major on August 3. Ever year they drop white rose petals on the congregation to remember this miracle. From there it’s to the Colosseum and then St. John Lateran Basilica, the cathedral church of Rome. Scot said this is his favorite church in Rome. Fr. Chris disagrees and said St. Peter’s is first for him, then St. Mary Major, then St. Paul’s, and only then St. John’s. Scot said the Popes lived at St. John Lateran until the 16th century. Fr. Chris said the Pope celebrates Holy Thursday at St. John Lateran instead of St. Peter’s. Deacon Tom also recommends the neighborhood of Trastevere, which was the site of some of the first Christian communities in Rome. It was traditionally Jewish in the imperial time. It’s a beautiful picturesque and artistic community with wonderful food. Fr. Chris said there’s a Bohemian feel to the neighborhood. 3rd segment: Deacon Tom has been doing his summer pastoral assignment at St. Paul in Cambridge. He said it’s very vibrant, with a lot going on, including the boys’ choir school and campus ministry to Harvard. The parishioners are very active and involved. Fr. Chris asked Deacon Tom what is the basic message of his homilies. Deacon Tom said it’s that God desperately wants to be a part of your life in many and varied ways. Be vigilant and generous in opening ourselves to him. Scot said he thinks St. Paul’s is unique in the United States. He said people drive for more than an hour to come to St. Paul’s on Sundays. There’s a deep intellectual tradition that comes with the parish. Deacon Tom said he’s encountered a number of young people who have come into contact with the faith and who have questions and want to know more. He’s given a couple of talks at the parish on several topics and he’s had a very varied group of attendees, from Protestant pastors to agnostic political science students. Fr. Chris asked Deacon Tom to explain his position. He said a transitional deacon transitions from the diaconate to the priesthood. He will become a priest. They also take a promise of celibacy. Permanent deacons who are married do not. the deacon is also meant to have a heart for the poor and needy. In the liturgy, the deacon assists the priest at Mass, including preaching at the discretion of the priest. They can also baptize and witness marriages. Scot said many young priest and transitional deacons don’t have the opportunity to live in a full rectory like at St. Paul’s. Deacon Tom said some of the priests are on vacation but they’ve also had visiting priests, including some studying at Harvard. There’s been a wonderful fraternity and fellowship in the rectory. He’s learned a lot from the experiences and stories from the older priests. Deacon Tom said the parish was kind of quiet during the summer, but still was busy. He was surprised by the number of young people coming to confession every day after Masses. Fr. Chris asked Deacon Tom’s goals in Rome next year. He will be starting a new degree in theology and spending these months as a deacon and preparing for priestly ordination in May. His pastoral assignment will be teaching First Communion class at Santa Susannah in Rome, which is the American parish there. The students aren’t always American but are there to be exposed to new cultures.

Summary of today’s show: The Knights of Columbus is one of the largest charitable organizations in the world and was started by a parish priest wishing to care for Catholic widows and orphans. Brian Caulfield joins Scot Landry to discuss the Knights of Columbus, Fr. Michael McGivney’s cause for canonization, and their website initiative, Fathers for Good, which aims to help men become better husbands and fathers to their wives and children. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry Today’s guest(s): Brian Caulfield of the Knights of Columbus Links from today’s show: Fathers for Good Knights of Columbus Parish Priest: Father Michael McGivney and American Catholicism Today’s topics: The Knights of Columbus’ Fathers for Good 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed everyone to the show. He said today’s topic is the discussion of the Knights of Columbus initiative called Fathers for Good. He read Supreme Knights Carl Anderson’s words about the website and then welcomed Brian Caulfield to the show. They discussed that Anderson is one of the leading lay Catholic thinkers in this country. Scot asked Brian to give an overview of the Knights. They were founded in New Haven, CT, in 1882 by Fr. Michael McGivney, whose cause for canonization is active right now. Their headquarters are still in New Haven, including their museum and St. Mary’s Church, where Fr. McGivney was pastor. They have 1.8 million members worldwide, including Mexico, the Philippines, and Poland. They are just starting in Poland. They publish their magazine Columbia in four languages: English, French, Spanish, and Polish. They are most known for their charitable works. Every year they have a survey of their fraternal activities and their local councils donate millions of dollars in charitable giving and millions of hours of volunteer work. Scot said the Knights donated $158 million this past year. He said the Knights donated more than 70 million hours of charitable work worldwide. Brian said the Knights are known in parishes as the ones to go to get things done. They’re often men who want to give something back to the parish and to God. They know their faith calls them to give to those in need. Our Catholic faith demands of us to give to others, whether financially or through our “sweat equity”. They have been big supporters of the Special Olympics from the beginning. Other programs include giving away coats to children for the winter. They have a food for families program where councils restock the food pantries of their local parish or town. Scot pointed out that the millions do not come primarily from the members themselves. The Knights are one of the largest life insurance companies in the US. They got into the business at the idea of Fr. McGivney to care for orphans and widows. Brian said in 1882 anti-Catholic discrimination was rampant even as boatloads of Catholics continued to come into the country. Often they had the most dangerous, backbreaking work and if they died, the widows were left penniless. Fr. McGivney had lost his own father at a young age. He had thought of giving up the seminary to care for his family, but the bishop of Hartford took him aside and offered him a scholarship because he recognized his potential. So Fr. McGivney kept the idea in his heart of providing help. There were many non-Catholic fraternal organizations that provided these death benefits, and he didn’t want men to have to jeopardize their Catholic faith in order to provide for their families. The insurance idea was right at the foundation of the order and was intended as a charitable option. The original idea that there would 1,000 members and if a member died, the rest would give $1 each to the widow. Now they are one of the highest rated insurance programs in North America and receive highest ratings for ethics. Life insurance is sold by brother knights to brother knights. You have to be a knight in order to buy the insurance. Scot said he’s struck that the Knights of Columbus and Our Sunday Visitor were formed by parish priests and have been so influential in the Church in the US. Brian said Fr. McGivney’s vision was ahead of his time in seeking to empower the laity in their legitimate vocation. He gathered 12 men in his parish to start the organization, but within two years he stepped aside in leadership. He was never Supreme Knight, but became Supreme Chaplain. Within four years, he had been transferred by the bishop to a new parish which removed him from day to day to contact. So 100 years before Vatican II, he was helping laity to lead, to grow spiritually, and to keep their faith both in church and socially in the community. We don’t realize today how difficult it would be for a parish priest to found a lay organization and then to set it to go on its own. Scot said that the Knights are also very active in Rome in caring for St. Peter’s Basilica and to support the work of the Pope. Brian said they’ve always tried to be supportive of the work of the priests and bishops without trying to take their place. They don’t try to overstep their bounds. Brian said he’s been helping to promote the cause of Fr. McGivney in the Philippines. He was in a remote and rural region of the island nation meeting various councils. As he was driving with someone to stop at councils along their route and calling ahead with a few minutes notice, at every stop a group of men would be gathered at the church to greet him as someone coming from the Supreme Council. They had a strong connection immediately despite the distance and were able to immediately discuss their charitable works and the news of order’s work worldwide. 2nd segment: Scot said Fathers for Good has been around for a few years and has great resources. He asked what the genesis was for this initiative. Brian said in 2008, Carl Anderson realized that in order to attract younger men to the order, they needed to be on the web in a big way with a site geared toward fathers. The intent was to provide a forum for ideas. They look for responses to each article. They want to give men information, formation, a sense of welcoming. Fatherhood is a not always welcome in our popular culture, especially when you see how fathers are portrayed in primetime television. The biggest problem is separation of man from his family, on a cultural level, a communications level, and even a legal level through involuntary divorce. They do try to keep a positive view of fatherhood where it’s not always esteemed. Many of their articles offer suggestions for fathers to implement in their lives. The name has two meanings: Every father is a father for the rest of his life, for good. It also means that all fathers want to be good fathers deep down in his heart. Many men come from families where they didn’t get a good example and now it’s our turn to make good for our own children. Fathers for Good provides the resources to be the best dad they can be. Wives are some of the biggest readers of the articles. Most wives want to be involved and they want more involvement from their husbands. Scot remembers the day he and his wife learned that she was pregnant for the first time. He was surprised how much information was out there for general pregnancy books and general parenting tips, but how little there was about being a great father, especially from a Catholic perspective. He finally found some books by a local Bostonian called Jim Stinson. But now he’s happy to see Fathers for Good as a resource he didn’t have. Fathers for Good is for all dads, including men who want to be dads. Brian said the average user of the site is a man over 40 who has two children in their teens. The demographic are men on the web looking for resources and advice. They are often already connected to online Catholic communities. He said the men will share their experiences with each other and this is a forum they feel comfortable doing that. Brian said one regular features is movie reviews, which help them decide whether they should watch it themselves or whether their children should see it. Secular reviews often don’t give that kind of information. They discussed other sections of the site and topics covered, including discipline, courage as a father, fathering a daughter, spirituality for fathers, a section for moms, and even how to overcome porn. There was some discussion of the prevalence of porn and the statistics of how much of an epidemic there is given easy access on the web. It’s a terrible scourge for men, Brian said. Men like to think of themselves as strong and courageous, yet they can fall so easily for such cheap images on the web. We have to look at it as right and wrong and we have to think of our loved ones. How would the men feel if their wife walked in on them or their children. Brian said they have a powerful witness from Deacon Ralph Poyo about his own former addiction to porn. Men need to pray about it and in some cases they may need a Catholic counselor and provide all kinds of resources for them to be set free to be the men and fathers they’re called to be. Scot said this isn’t just affecting men, but affects everyone. Twenty-one percent of websites are porn sites, he said. It’s a $3 billion per year business. About 8% of all email is porn-related. Twenty-five percent of all search engine requests. The average age of first viewing online porn is 11. Scot asked what new elements of the site they’ve added. Brian said they have a new Facebook page and they invite people to Like it and add their comments. They post links to new content there. The movie reviews are updated each week. The husband and wife column is also updated weekly. Fathers for Good on Facebook Right after Labor Day they will be featuring how families can get involved in the upcoming Year of Faith, starting October 11. The Knights of Columbus have recently come out with a booklet “What is the New Evangelization?” They hope to answer it in a way that is practical for families, like praying as a family and being witnesses in your community and parish. To get a booklet, write to 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT, 06510 and include $1. Scot asked about the cause for canonization of Fr. McGivney and where it stands. He said in March, 2008, Pope Benedict declared Fr. McGivney Venerable, which is the furthest stage that human effort can bring the cause. They explore all the written records, do interviews, and so on. This is ruled on by the Congregation of Saints to rule whether it is evidence of a life of virtue. He lived all the Christian virtues to a heroic level, above the level of usual sanctity. From that point, in order to verify they are in heaven, God performs a miracle due to the intercession of the Venerable person. With one miracle, they are declared Blessed. When a second miraculous healing verified by the Vatican occurs, they can be canonized. Fr. McGivney’s process began in 1997. They are currently looking into a reported miracle regarding the intercession of Fr. McGivney. Brian asked for listeners to hope and pray for the canonization. They can order the canonization prayer card for free and can join the Canonization Guild for free at a special website. Venerable Michael McGivney Scot said if canonized, Fr. McGivney would be the first American priest who didn’t found an order or became a bishop to be made a saint. Brian also suggested listeners check out their news website called Headline Bistro. Headline Bistro