April 2011
Monthly Archive
John Paul II Beatification Website
Posted by Fr. Bruno M. Shah, O.P. on 28 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
It’s All Polish to Me
Posted by Fr. Bruno M. Shah, O.P. on 28 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Events in the Archdiocese
Saturday 30th April, 9pm: Divine Mercy Vigil Night of Prayer
Run by our Polish Dominican confreres, Columbia Catholic Ministry invites you to their final vigil of the year. They will gather in the grotto at Notre Dame for several hours of Eucharistic adoration, and will pray through the whole Divine Mercy Novena. The choir will lead them in a number of meditative chants, including a chanted form of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the Litany of Divine Mercy. All are welcome.
Besides attracting a happy number of Columbia U’s young fold, CCM’s chanted meditations are absolutely beautiful.
Following the vigil, they will have a celebration for the Beatification of Pope John Paul II in the church’s rectory, watching the festivities live on EWTN.
Venue: Church of Notre Dame (W 114th @ Morningside Drive)
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=220512871296611
Website: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/earl/ccm/
Urbi et Orbi!
Posted by Fr. Bruno M. Shah, O.P. on 25 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
[The translated transcript of Our Holy Father's Easter Message to the World here follows:]
“In resurrectione tua, Christe, coeli et terra laetentur!
In your resurrection, O Christ, let heaven and earth rejoice!” (Liturgy of the Hours).
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Rome and across the world, Easter morning brings us news that is ancient yet ever new: Christ is risen! The echo of this event, which issued forth from Jerusalem twenty centuries ago, continues to resound in the Church, deep in whose heart lives the vibrant faith of Mary, Mother of Jesus, the faith of Mary Magdalene and the other women who first discovered the empty tomb, and the faith of Peter and the other Apostles.
Right down to our own time – even in these days of advanced communications technology – the faith of Christians is based on that same news, on the testimony of those sisters and brothers who saw firstly the stone that had been rolled away from the empty tomb and then the mysterious messengers who testified that Jesus, the Crucified, was risen. And then Jesus himself, the Lord and Master, living and tangible, appeared to Mary Magdalene, to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and finally to all eleven, gathered in the Upper Room (cf. Mk 16:9-14).
The resurrection of Christ is not the fruit of speculation or mystical experience: it is an event which, while it surpasses history, nevertheless happens at a precise moment in history and leaves an indelible mark upon it. The light which dazzled the guards keeping watch over Jesus’ tomb has traversed time and space. It is a different kind of light, a divine light, that has rent asunder the darkness of death and has brought to the world the splendour of God, the splendour of Truth and Goodness.
Just as the sun’s rays in springtime cause the buds on the branches of the trees to sprout and open up, so the radiance that streams forth from Christ’s resurrection gives strength and meaning to every human hope, to every expectation, wish and plan. Hence the entire cosmos is rejoicing today, caught up in the springtime of humanity, which gives voice to creation’s silent hymn of praise. The Easter Alleluia, resounding in the Church as she makes her pilgrim way through the world, expresses the silent exultation of the universe and above all the longing of every human soul that is sincerely open to God, giving thanks to him for his infinite goodness, beauty and truth.
“In your resurrection, O Christ, let heaven and earth rejoice.” To this summons to praise, which arises today from the heart of the Church, the “heavens” respond fully: the hosts of angels, saints and blessed souls join with one voice in our exultant song. In heaven all is peace and gladness. But alas, it is not so on earth! Here, in this world of ours, the Easter alleluia still contrasts with the cries and laments that arise from so many painful situations: deprivation, hunger, disease, war, violence. Yet it was for this that Christ died and rose again! He died on account of sin, including ours today, he rose for the redemption of history, including our own. So my message today is intended for everyone, and, as a prophetic proclamation, it is intended especially for peoples and communities who are undergoing a time of suffering, that the Risen Christ may open up for them the path of freedom, justice and peace.
May the Land which was the first to be flooded by the light of the Risen One rejoice. May the splendour of Christ reach the peoples of the Middle East, so that the light of peace and of human dignity may overcome the darkness of division, hate and violence. In the current conflict in Libya, may diplomacy and dialogue take the place of arms and may those who suffer as a result of the conflict be given access to humanitarian aid. In the countries of northern Africa and the Middle East, may all citizens, especially young people, work to promote the common good and to build a society where poverty is defeated and every political choice is inspired by respect for the human person. May help come from all sides to those fleeing conflict and to refugees from various African countries who have been obliged to leave all that is dear to them; may people of good will open their hearts to welcome them, so that the pressing needs of so many brothers and sisters will be met with a concerted response in a spirit of solidarity; and may our words of comfort and appreciation reach all those who make such generous efforts and offer an exemplary witness in this regard.
May peaceful coexistence be restored among the peoples of Ivory Coast, where there is an urgent need to tread the path of reconciliation and pardon, in order to heal the deep wounds caused by the recent violence. May Japan find consolation and hope as it faces the dramatic consequences of the recent earthquake, along with other countries that in recent months have been tested by natural disasters which have sown pain and anguish.
May heaven and earth rejoice at the witness of those who suffer opposition and even persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. May the proclamation of his victorious resurrection deepen their courage and trust.
Dear brothers and sisters! The risen Christ is journeying ahead of us towards the new heavens and the new earth (cf. Rev 21:1), in which we shall all finally live as one family, as sons of the same Father. He is with us until the end of time. Let us walk behind him, in this wounded world, singing Alleluia. In our hearts there is joy and sorrow, on our faces there are smiles and tears. Such is our earthly reality. But Christ is risen, he is alive and he walks with us. For this reason we sing and we walk, faithfully carrying out our task in this world with our gaze fixed on heaven.
Happy Easter to all of you!
Blessed Easter!
Posted by Fr. Bruno M. Shah, O.P. on 24 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
Our Prior Provincial Fr. Brian Mulcahy O.P.’s Easter Sunday Homily at St. Vincent Ferrer. Christ is Risen! Alleluia!
Holy Week Schedule
Posted by Fr. Bruno M. Shah, O.P. on 21 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
Holy Thursday
Posted by Fr. Bruno M. Shah, O.P. on 21 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
Our Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated at 7:30 pm.
I Confess
Posted by Fr. Bruno M. Shah, O.P. on 20 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Events in the Archdiocese
The Archdiocese of New York with the Dioceses of Brooklyn-Queens and Rockville Center sponsored a wonderful day of Reconciliation on Monday — every church heard Confessions from 3-9 pm!
A contest to make a video about the good of the Sacrament of Penance is also being held: Here is one video; there are many, many more!
The High Road That Leads to the Living God
Posted by Fr. Bruno M. Shah, O.P. on 18 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
[Our Holy Father's Homily, Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion 2011]
It is a moving experience each year on Palm Sunday as we go up the mountain with Jesus, towards the Temple, accompanying him on his ascent. On this day, throughout the world and across the centuries, young people and people of every age acclaim him, crying out: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
But what are we really doing when we join this procession as part of the throng which went up with Jesus to Jerusalem and hailed him as King of Israel?
Homilies – Archbishop Timothy Dolan at St. Vincent Ferrer Palm Sunday (A)
Posted by Fr. Bruno M. Shah, O.P. on 17 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Homilies
Word to Life – Palm Sunday (A)
Posted by Fr. Bruno M. Shah, O.P. on 17 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Word to Life
St. Gianna
Posted by Fr. Bruno M. Shah, O.P. on 16 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Events in the Archdiocese
Being Good: A Public Dialogue
Posted by Fr. Bruno M. Shah, O.P. on 15 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Events in the Archdiocese
What makes a person moral? Which principles determine whether an action is right or wrong? Which virtues are worth striving for? The Catholic and secular worldviews have long been in conflict over these questions. Yet where exactly do they diverge? And do they have anything in common?
To address these questions, the Center for Inquiry in New York City presents a forum featuring its executive director, Michael De Dora, and Father Jonathan Morris, an author and Fox News contributor. The event will be hosted and moderated by journalist Chris Jansing of “Jansing and Company” on MSNBC. The two speakers will make opening statements, then sit down with Jansing for a conversation about the disagreements and potential overlap between their religious and nonreligious moral outlooks. An audience question-and-answer session will follow.
General public admission is $5 at the door. Students (with a college ID) and paid CFI members get in free. Photo ID is required for everyone to enter the building. Tishman Auditorium is located on the first floor of NYU Law’s Vanderbilt Hall, located at 40 Washington Square South, between MacDougal and Sullivan Streets. It is one block east of the West 4th Street subway station (A/CE/B/D/F lines).
This event is part of the Voices of Reason lecture and panel discussion series that features leading thinkers on philosophy, science, and religion.
Bishops Speaking 1
Posted by Fr. Bruno M. Shah, O.P. on 14 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Culture
[A number of extra preaching assignments as well as the ardors of Lenten preparation led to a hiatus from posting on this blog. For the time being, we're back... Thanks for your patience!]
Here are three examples of thoughtful episcopal commentary, beginning with our own local shepherd (who, by the way, will be here on Saturday Evening to celebrate the Vigil for Passion Sunday).
Archbishop Dolan (New York): A Blessed Holy Week
Let’s see now: we’ve got a Sunday night series on one of the most corrupt and tawdry families in Church history, the Borgias, with popes, cardinals, bishops, and priests, all part of this big, happy family; we’ve heard non-stop for a decade about abusive priests, (albeit a small minority) and lax bishops who reassigned them; we’ve got front page stories of priests who embezzled money from their parishes; and I saw one not long ago about a priest arrested for DUI.
Bishops Speaking 2
Posted by Fr. Bruno M. Shah, O.P. on 14 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Culture
Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan (Santa Fe): Pastoral Care of Couples Who Are Cohabitating
We are all painfully aware that there are many Catholics today who are living in cohabitation. The Church must make it clear to the faithful that these unions are not in accord with the Gospel, and to help Catholics who find themselves in these situations to do whatever they must do to make their lives pleasing to God.
Bishops Speaking 3
Posted by Fr. Bruno M. Shah, O.P. on 14 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Culture
George Cardinal Pell (Sydney): Some Guadium and No Spes
Father Eric Hodgens’ piece on the Gaudium et Spes [see pp 12-13 here] priests gives us plenty of food for thought. It is well written and provocative, as you would expect of a priest who described his own cohort as possessing “the biggest proportion of intelligent, educated and competent leaders”. But it is unbalanced, misguided, selective and sometimes inaccurate.
Musical Highlight of the Year!
Posted by Fr. Bruno M. Shah, O.P. on 02 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Music
This Sunday, April 3 at 3:00 PM, our choir and soloists will present Part II of Handel’s magnificent oratorio, Messiah. Part II portrays Jesus’ atoning sacrifice in His passion and death, and His resurrection and triumph over death.
Part II concludes with the most thrilling of Handel choruses, the Hallelujah chorus, of which Handel exclaimed: “I did think I did see all heaven before me and the great God Himself!”
(Suggested donation is $10 seniors and students, $15 general.)