June 4, 2023 Essay: Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

For centuries theologians have been trying to explain how the great One God can be Three Persons at the same time, and how being truly three persons that same God can be One. The explanations have gone from the simple (the three-leaf clover of St. Patrick) to the sophisticated if abstruse (the consubstantial Son proceeding from the eternal Father, and the Spirit proceeding from the Father and Son) to the aesthetic (three separate musical notes in one divine chord). The Greeks had the word Perichoresis—“peri” as in “perimeter,” “choresis” as in choreography: The three persons of the Trinity dance around each other all day! Undignified, perhaps, but very cheerful!

It reminds me of how the poet T.S. Eliot described it in “Burnt Norton”:

At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;

Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,
But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,
Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards,
Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point,
There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.

Let me share with you what the Holy Trinity means to me, how I understand this mystery. It comes to me in three revelations, three names.

The first revelation is when God says to Moses, from the midst of fire, “I AM” (Exodus 3:14). The first revelation, the primordial statement of God, God’s name: Yahweh, four Hebrew consonants (tetragrammaton) so sacred the Jews don’t vocalize them. “I am, I am who am.” The first name, the first person of the Most Holy Trinity.

The second manifestation, the second name: “Emmanuel: I am WITH YOU.” The angel says to Saint Joseph in a dream, “Behold the Virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:23). The name ‘Emmanuel’ takes in the whole mystery of Jesus, who took on our nature and shared our flesh, who shows us the merciful face of God. “I am with you.” Not just the tremendous voice of God from the blazing fire, Jesus tells us that God visits a sick friend, helps the poor, steps out into the new, the unsettling, the unfamiliar, feels the pain of a dear friend departing, feels the joy of a returning friend. The second person.

The third name of this wonderful revelation we hear is when Jesus promises the Spirit of Truth (John 16:7, 13-14). In effect, Jesus says, “I am with you ALWAYS” (Matthew 28:20). The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, the Advocate, the one who showers us with gifts all through our lives, gifts like wisdom, fortitude, counsel, and understanding. Jesus tells his disciples: “I will send you the Spirit of Truth who will guide you, and remember, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

In the course of our lifetime the Paraclete dwells in us and we come to know the God who is, and who is with us, and who is with us always.

This is something to dance about. We who walk together ploddingly on the earth are invited to live for each other, giving more of ourselves and thereby entering more into the life of God and the glory of God. This is why today is so central to our daily lives. What goes on inside God—shrouded in mystery—is the most relevant, the most pertinent, the most convincing key to the way we should live our own lives as Christians.

Behold, I AM. Behold, I AM WITH YOU. Behold, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS. The cheerful, eternal, sublime dance we call God!

— Michael Hilbert, S.J., Associate Pastor

Essay: Book Launch for Just Church by Dr. Phyllis Zagano

Recently, Phyllis Zagano, PhD., a leading expert on the theology and history of woman deacons in the early Church, gave a lecture in Wallace Hall promoting her newest book, Just Church: Catholic Social Teaching, Synodality, and Women. She is highly regarded internationally as a scholar and lecturer on spirituality and the restoration of women deacons in the Catholic Church. Dr. Zagano was appointed to the papal commission for the study of the diaconate of women.

The lecture was inspirational, and Dr. Zagano engaged the audience to think about the Synodal process happening in the Church right now. Pope Francis is encouraging change to come from us as members of the Roman Catholic Church and has established pathways for lay women to vote in the Synod. Progress is emerging in the new synodal process as women’s voices are being heard and the hierarchy is listening, thanks to Pope Francis.

However, even though the new synodal progress is encouraging, Dr. Zagano points out, “despite the many topics that touch on the experiences of women, Catholic social justice principles as they are, or are not, applied to women.”

In response to the study of women becoming ordained into the diaconate, Dr. Zagano reminds us that this would be a Restorative practice. St. Phoebe was one of the first female deacons who evangelized with St. Paul. During this very important Synod, the time is here for us to learn about the women deacons who preached the Good News.

— Jean Santopatre, Pastoral Associate

May 28, 2023 Essay: Notes from Some of Our New Catholics…

The RCIA experience was unlike anything I have ever participated in; it allowed me to look inward and connect with my fellow Catechumens. It was both a spiritual and an educational journey for me to learn about Catholicism and build upon my relationship with God through the bible, sessions, and attending Sunday Mass with my RCIA group. I also gained valuable relationships with those involved in the St. Ignatius community. Ultimately, I am grateful that I was able to partake in such a beautiful journey, which I know will continue to impact every aspect of my life positively.  — Naomi Minato

 

My spiritual journey has finally put me on the right track to the Catholic Church! Some of it is thanks to my interest in history and theology, yes, but in a deeper sense, I found warmth in the Gospels, the teaching of Christ, and its uniqueness compared to other faiths. I’d also have to give credit to the late Pope Benedict XVI and his speeches, along with his beautiful writings, as they drew me closer to the Church. One of them is his Apostolic letter “Porta Fidei,” which brilliantly illustrates how we must feel it in our hearts while also having knowledge of faith. Doing so “opens a door into the fullness of the saving mystery revealed by God”. — Tayyab M

 

For the past ten years or so, I have been struggling with depression and anxiety. Having tried everything else, I resolved to investigate the Christian faith further. As I began to research Christianity, I found the most reasonable path to be the Catholic one.  I was recommended the St. Ignatius RCIA because of its reputation as being a rigorous program. What I found was a wonderful class full of like-minded individuals. Being able to participate fully in the liturgy gives me hope. When I have hope, I feel like all things are possible. — Anonymous

 

After being baptized, the shadow that lingered left me. My energy is light and alive. I move about with more freedom and fullness, with comfort and vulnerability. The divine shield that has protected me slackens so that I may enjoy God’s presence not only interiorly but externally as well. Light consumes all, and my courtship with Christ has ended in my Union with the church. — Courtney Loftin

 

Catholicism was something that was always a part of my life. Growing up in a Vietnamese community, I was baptized Catholic and attended church, but was never able to truly understand the Scripture passages. Thus, I was never able to connect spiritually. As I matured, I thought about my life as a future husband and father. I realized that my sense of spirituality was missing, and I needed to be in touch with my faith — not only to be the best version of myself but also the best version of myself to my family. I am truly grateful that I was able to find this church and was able to connect to my faith. My family and I have a faith community to attend for generations to come. — Jonathan Le

 

After being connected to Father Yesalonia by a family friend, who is a priest and officiated at my wedding, I was inspired to explore Catholicism further. Seeking to develop a closer relationship with God and unite my family, I pursued baptism and have found a deep sense of peace and purpose in my newfound faith. I’m grateful for the guidance and support of the RCIA and church community, and I look forward to continuing on my journey of faith with an open heart and mind. — Ken Chang

 

 

 

 

 

May 21, 2023 Essay: Do Not Cling to Me

I am the father of two beautiful sons, Michael and Matthew, ages 13 and 15. I can’t express in words how much my wife Jessica and I cherish our time with them. We’ve made wonderful memories together—the fishing trips, the summer days at the beach, the baseball games, the heartfelt conversations, and the sheer joy of watching them discover their passions and joys. Yet I know the day is coming, and soon, when I will need to let them go.

Our sons must leave home to become men in their own right. Their parting will be, in a way, a death; a moment of grief and sadness, for the “little boys” will be gone. Our relationship will change, and they will become our peers more than our children. This passage will be painful, and I can only imagine the emotion that will be triggered when I look into their boyhood rooms to see their little beds empty, their toys permanently set aside, their desks vacant. I find hope and consolation, however, in what Jesus told his disciples before he left them—“It is for your good that I go away” (John 16:7), in what he told Mary Magdalene on that first Easter morning, “Do not cling to me…I am ascending” (John 20:17.)

Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, among the most insightful spiritual writers of our time, says that the spirituality and theology of the ascension can be summarized like this: “Refuse to cling to what once was, let it go and let it bless you, so that you can recognize the new life you already have with and within you and receive its spirit.” He observes that the ascension is a symbol of a paradox of the human condition “we all reach a point in life where we can only give our presence more deeply by going away so that others can receive the full blessing of our spirits.”

Our sons will undergo their own ascension when they take the nurturing that we gave them and ascend to a richer, more mature, more abundant way of being. Their new life will come back as a blessing to us and to the world. Our little boys will leave us in the form that we have known them, but this will be necessary so that they can give us the much deeper blessing of their adulthood. Yes, it is good that they go away, for then they will become the men God created them to be!

The Ascension marks Jesus’ final departure, but it is also a threshold through which he becomes present to the church in a way that was not possible before. His parting brings the Spirit, the one who stands beside us as a helper, counselor, and comforter; the one who inspires the apostles to bring the Gospel “to the ends of the earth.” Moreover, by his ascension, Jesus becomes our advocate before the Holy One in the highest heaven; a brother who stands before God on our behalf. So much grace was born of his parting!

The ascension story ends, according to the Acts of the Apostles, with the disciples gazing into the heavens as Jesus is “taken up before their very eyes.” They are admonished, however, by the two men dressed in white, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky?” The women and men who knew Jesus in the flesh wanted, I’m sure, to cling to what was, to what they knew, to that which was familiar, as we all do. But the Spirit compelled them to embrace the new reality, to trust in God’s grace, to continue Jesus’ ministry, and move forward into an age of fruitfulness. As we journey through the many ascensions of our lives, let us take hope and comfort that sad partings are also doorways to unimaginable light and life.

— Brian Pinter, Pastoral Associate

ISJ Essay: What is College? A Workshop with Regis and LSA Students

We are grateful to Lisa Peterson, Director of College Counseling, Guidance Counselor, and College Advisor at Regis High School for presenting her “What is College?” workshop to a group of LSA (Little Sisters of the Assumption) Health and Family Services high school students and their parents on Friday, May 5th.

The audience was made up of eight families, predominantly sophomores and juniors, including recent asylum seekers. Lisa is fluent in Spanish and English, courtesy of growing up as a child of Cuban migrant parents, and is ideally suited to present this workshop. Lisa stressed from the beginning and repeated throughout the presentation, that anybody can attend college if they are willing to put in the work and we are there to support them. I consider these workshops a success if these families can come away with the knowledge that this country wants their children to attend college and there are various opportunities and support systems available to them from both the colleges and the government.

This knowledge may be something we take for granted based on our experiences, but for many families of first-generation college applicants, this will be the first time that they become aware of these opportunities, and discover the newly found freedom and the hope that it inspires. Lisa presented handouts in Spanish and English and presented in Spanish with a splash of English acronyms.

A key moment for me was when Lisa asked the audience if they were familiar with CUNY, and they genuinely were not. The enormity of the challenge facing these families was plain to be seen and the value of these workshops was never more evident. I was delighted to see Lisa visit with the families at their tables after the presentation was over. This gesture demonstrates that she is keenly aware of the family and cultural dynamics at play and that some questions are easier to ask in private rather than in front of an audience. I came away from this workshop with the assurance that no matter what obstacles to college first come to mind, there are solutions to be found in the pink, yellow, and green handouts.

— Jimmy Coffey

May 14, 2023 Essay: Quiet Prophecy

Christian discipleship calls all of us to be prophetic, to be advocates for justice, to help give voice to the poor, and defend truth. But not all of us, by temperament or by particular vocation, are called to civil disobedience, public demonstrations, and the picket lines, as were Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King, Daniel Berrigan, and other such prophetic figures. All are asked to be prophetic, but for some, this means more wielding a basin and towel than wielding a placard.

There is a powerful way of being prophetic which, while seemingly quiet and personal, is never private. And its rules are the same as for those who are wielding placards and risking civil disobedience. What are those rules, rules for a Christian prophecy?

First, a prophet makes a vow of love, not of alienation. There is a critical distinction between stirring up trouble and offering prophecy out of love, a distinction between operating out of egoism and operating out of faith and hope. A prophet risks misunderstanding but never seeks it, and a prophet always seeks to have a mellow rather than an angry heart.

 Second, a prophet draws his or her cause from Jesus and not from an ideology. Ideologies can carry a lot of truth and be genuine advocates for justice. But, people can walk away from an ideology, seeing it precisely as an ideology, as political correctness, and thus justify their rejection of the truth it carries. Sincere people often walk away from Greenpeace, from Feminism, or  Liberation Theology, from Critical Race Theory, and many other ideologies which, in fact, carry a lot of truth because those truths are wrapped up inside of an ideology. Sincere people will not walk away from Jesus. A prophet must be ever vigilant as to whether he or she is drawing truth from the Gospels and not from some ideology.

 Third, a prophet is committed to non-violence. A prophet is always seeking to personally disarm rather than arm, to be, in the words of Daniel Berrigan, a powerless criminal in a time of criminal power. A prophet takes Jesus seriously when he asks us, in the face of violence, to turn the other cheek. A prophet incarnates in his or her way of living, the eschatological truth that in heaven, there will be no guns.

Fourth, a prophet articulates God’s voice for the poor and for the earth. Any preaching, teaching, or political action that is not good news for the poor, is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to bring good news to the poor, to “widows, orphans, and strangers” (biblical code for the most vulnerable groups in society). As an insightful axiom has it: Nobody goes to heaven without a letter of reference from the poor.

Fifth, a prophet speaks out of a horizon of hope. A prophet draws his or her vision and energy not from wishful thinking nor from optimism but from hope. Christian hope is based on God’s promise, a promise that was fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus; it is based on the belief that we can entrust ourselves to love, truth, and justice, even if the world kills us for it, knowing that the stone will always roll back from the tomb.

 Finally, a prophet doesn’t just speak or write about injustice, a prophet acts, and acts with courage, even at the cost of death. A prophet is a wisdom figure, a Magus or a Sophia, who will also act, no matter the cost in lost friends, lost prestige, lost freedom, and danger to his or her own life.  A prophet never seeks martyrdom but accepts it if it finds him or her.

This last counsel, I believe, is the most challenging one for “quiet” prophets. Magi and Sophias are not renowned for being on the picket lines. But there is the challenge. An authentic prophet can discern when to park the placard and bring out the basin and towel – and also when to lay aside the basin and towel and pick up the placard.

— Ronald Rolheiser OMI


On Monday, May 22nd at 7 PM, in Wallace Hall and by livestream, Fr. Rolheiser will present Quiet Prophecy – Another Kind of Protest for Social and Religious Transformation.

Scripture tells us that, as he grew, John the Baptist “grew strong in spirit.” What if you are the type of person who is “accommodating in spirit”? What if you are not the type of person who can openly protest things and openly challenge others? What are your prophetic gifts? How can your quiet gifts challenge the world and the church to be more just, loving, and faith-filled? Is there another kind of “protest” that is powerfully prophetic?

How To Go “All In” For Peace: No More Velleities!

Recently, Frida Berrigan gave her reflection for our Lectures at St. Ignatius series in our church. She engaged the audience with stories of her parents, Phil Berrigan and Elizabeth McAllister, and her childhood years spent at Jonah House with her siblings in Baltimore, MD. She recalled days of “dumpster diving” for fruit and vegetables that were considered not worthy to sell in supermarkets. She recalled how Jonah House, made up of peace activists in the Catholic Worker tradition, became family to each other, and these were the people who took care of her and her siblings if her parents were both in jail at the same time.

Although Frida had quite an unusual childhood, she is thoughtful and soft-spoken and adds humor to her stories. Another important person in her life was her Uncle Dan. Dan Berrigan, S.J., was a poet, peacemaker, anti-war activist, and Jesuit priest. She entitled her lecture, How To Go “All In” For Peace: No More Velleities! She quoted her Uncle Dan, “We have assumed the name of peacemakers, but we have been, by and large, unwilling to pay any significant price. And because we want the peace with half a heart and half a life and will, the war, of course, continues, because the waging of war, by its nature, is total—but the waging of peace, by our own cowardice, is partial. So a whole will and a whole heart and a whole national life bent toward war prevail over the velleities of peace.”

Velleity is the weakest form of volition, a desire that one has no energy or intention to fulfill. Frida urged the audience to go all in. “No more velleities! No more half-tries, no more vague attempts, no more vacillation. All in. All together. The work is clear: Reconnect estranged family members, reweave tattered human connections, restore frayed trust, reforge bonds between people, repair the damage done by decades (no centuries) of war. And do it all on a human scale. And bit by bit, connection by connection, person by person, we are creating new cultures—as Dorothy Day taught us—where it is easier for people to be good.”

 — Jean Santopatre, Pastoral Associate

May 7, 2023 Essay: Fashioning a Truly ‘Pro-Life’ Society

After the Dobbs decision, in which the Supreme Court ruled that there was not a constitutional right to an abortion, the United States Catholic Bishops wrote a letter to every member of Congress in which they articulated what our nation must do to ensure the flourishing of the human person from conception to natural death. Their letter was a powerful articulation of what it means to be authentically pro-life.

“…We hope for the day when abortion is unthinkable because society has decided to make the full flourishing of children and their families the highest goal, without anyone being excluded…Ultimately, we call for what Saint John Paul II described as ‘radical solidarity’ with mothers, babies (born and preborn) and families throughout each person’s entire lifespan.” To provide for the needs of all women and children, our bishops set forth the goals that our society must now meet. “Ensuring that no children grow up in poverty, that parents have time away from work to care for them, that families are formed and remain intact, that the healthcare necessary for healthy moms and children is affordable, that workplace policies respect pregnant and nursing mothers, that child care is affordable and high quality, but also not forced on families by financial pressures, that no children are hungry or homeless, that toxic chemicals do not cause babies to have birth defects or cancer, that immigrant families be treated in accord with their inviolable dignity—all of these goals require the cooperation of all and the exclusion of none.”

Our bishops take a strong stand in defense of immigrants and the need to include them in society’s efforts to ensure that the needs of all are met. “…We must also recognize the central role of immigrant families within our society. In a country fundamentally shaped by the contributions of immigrants…we cannot accept policies that unjustly exclude newcomers, especially when we continue to rely on—and collectively benefit from—their labors. With a strong scriptural foundation, the social doctrine of the Church clearly affirms that the ‘families of migrants have the right to the same protection as that accorded other families,’ including ‘the right to respect for their culture and to receive support and assistance towards their integration into the community to which they contribute.’ Immigrant workers in particular, whether seasonal, undocumented, or otherwise, must be treated ‘not as mere tools of production but as persons.’”

Our bishops went on to enumerate specific policy proposals that they support. They include:

  • Pregnant Workers Fairness Act – This legislation was, in fact, passed and will go into effect in June of this year. It will require employers to provide a reasonable accommodation to workers for known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
  • Child Tax Credit – The bishops call for the credit to be fully refundable, without a minimum income threshold, and to allow mixed-status families to be eligible for the credit. The costs of the credit should not be offset by cutting programs that serve those most in need.
  • Paid Family Leave – The bishops’ Conference continues to support a federal paid family leave policy. The United States remains the only advanced economy without nationally mandated paid parental leave.
  • Housing – Housing policy should: increase the supply of quality housing by funding production; preserve the affordable housing that does exist, including public housing; significantly expand rental assistance so it is available to all households in need; address racial disparities in home ownership.
  • Nutrition – Congress should support and strengthen programs that feed hungry families. These programs must be safeguarded from harmful cuts or changes that lessen their effectiveness or accessibility.

In supporting these and other public policies, our bishops are challenging us to create a society that is truly ‘pro-life’, that is, a society committed to the flourishing of all persons without exception. It is what our gospel demands of us.

— Fr. Mark Hallinan, S.J., Associate Pastor

April 30, 2023 Essay: Where Do You “Find” God in All Things?

As part of my weekly Ignatian Parents book club, sponsored by neighboring Regis High School, I have been pondering and reflecting on the Ignatian concept of “finding God in all things.” It really is an interesting part of my spiritual journeying, perhaps sparked partly by some recent health challenges. While the book we are exploring is mainly about “forgiveness” (The Jesuit Guide to Forgiveness: Ten Steps to Healing by Marina Berzins McCoy), other Ignatian concepts and themes have also come to the surface for me.

I would like to share some thoughts of truly finding God in all things—which turns out to be rather easy if you prepare yourself to just look at what is going on around you in a normal week. Because our life in NYC lately seems to have been so focused on what I will call the political and pandemic craziness, we can easily get distracted. We miss what is happening with and for us on a daily basis.

One suggestion I would like to make, in order to see where you can find God in all things for yourself, is to remove the news cycle for a week. Get rid of it from your sphere of reference (print and online, and TV). Believe it or not, that alone could be a significant reason why you get distracted and can’t find God in all (any!) things.

Next, take a walk with no destination in mind, just walk for 15 minutes aimlessly in terms of seeking a destination, but at the same time, with your eyes and ears open to what is happening around you. The last time I did this on my 15-block walk to my office, I saw a mother carrying her daughter’s purple backpack and skillfully maneuvering her daughter’s purple scooter on their way to school. The young girl, I think a kindergartener, was also wearing striped purple leggings and a purple hat. (I guess she likes purple—one of my favorite colors, too). They were talking to each other and laughing about something I couldn’t hear. But what I saw was an unmistakable love and awareness of each other on a busy Second Avenue stretch of about six blocks. It made me smile and think of our own 16-year-old twins. In that instant, I saw God working divine magic on that young girl and her mother and reminding me of our graces and gifts, too.

In general, I have come to think that finding God in all things is not as hard as it sounds because God is the source of all things and creator of all things, visible and invisible. So I would like to suggest that you can find him in familiar everyday things and in the people who are part of your everyday life. Sometimes you even find God in strangers like the mom and her daughter on the purple scooter, but you can find God just as easily in your own family, friends, and colleagues. Just look. I promise you’ll be surprised.

— Rich Miller-Murphy, Parishioner 

Rich joined St. Ignatius Loyola Church in 2010 and is currently working towards his Master of Arts in Chaplaincy at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace (formerly Hartford Seminary).

 

 April 23, 2023 Essay: The Long Walk   

No Newspaper. No Photographs. No Radio. No TV. No Internet. No Social Media.

There were just two disciples walking and talking. They were walking from Jerusalem back home to Emmaus, maybe a seven-mile journey. They were engaged in a lively conversation about what happened to Jesus, the Nazarene. Their hopes and dreams of Jesus liberating Israel were shattered. They felt despair and hopelessness.

Then, a stranger appears alongside them and is listening intently to their discussion. He asks what things have happened in Jerusalem. They are astounded he has not heard. They speak of Jesus as the great prophet who was Israel’s hope of Redemption. They tell him that the women at the tomb saw angels and Jesus’ body was gone. Even as the stranger breaks open scripture stories that foretold the death of Jesus, the disciples still do not see.

No Newspapers. No Photographs. No Radio. No TV. No Internet. No Social Media.

Only a lone stranger’s voice unpacking the scriptures to help the disciples to see and regain their hopes and dreams. Their hearts were burning as he talked to them on the road, yet they did not See. They were so distraught about the terrible death of Jesus in Jerusalem that they could not hear his voice. The voice of the stranger…the voice of Jesus. Whose voice do you hear in Luke’s Gospel as the trio is walking along the road? Would you have recognized the Risen Christ in your midst?

As they near their home, and the sun is setting, the disciples invite the stranger to spend the night with them. He accepts. He takes the bread and blesses it as they sit at the table. It is at that moment their eyes are opened wide. He disappears, and then they know he is the Risen Lord. All along, something was burning, or stirring, in their hearts. After Jesus vanishes from their sight, they are compelled to get on the road and walk back to Jerusalem to share their news with the other disciples about their encounter with Jesus.

 No Newspapers. No Photographs. No Radio. No TV. No Social Media.

They had to walk seven miles to Jerusalem so they could communicate to the other disciples in person that they indeed did see Jesus. In our chaotic world, where is the invitation of the Risen Lord to open your eyes and see? How do we, as God’s people, see? On this third Sunday of Easter, the presence of the Risen Lord prevails in our world, yet so does gun violence. We do not have to walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus to see the death and violence guns have unleashed in our country. More than 11,500 people have been killed since January 2023 in the United States. In only three months, families have been shattered by the violent deaths of their loved ones. Children, women, and men brutally murdered by guns, as Jesus was brutally murdered on the cross. Where are the burning hearts stirring in God’s people?

Yes Newspapers. Yes Photographs. Yes Radio. Yes TV. Yes Social Media.

In our world today, we are thoroughly and globally woven together by the Internet. News travels at an incredible speed disseminating the chaos—and the goodness—in a matter of seconds.

May this excerpt from the poem, Some, by Daniel Berrigan, S.J., open your eyes to our Risen Lord and give you the hope Jesus promised to God’s people by his Resurrection.

“Why do you walk? 

Because of the children, they said, and
Because of the heart, and
Because of the bread. 

Because
the cause
is the heart’s beat
and the children born
and the risen bread.”

— Jean Santopatre, Pastoral Associate