Tuesday, February 28, 2006 
the longest shortest month
I gotta say that, limping towards the end of February, I am feeling a little on the crispy side.  The end of January seems to be eons ago. Activity on the blogging page for me is usually a good indicator of about where and what I been. This page for February consumes 15% more memory than any other previous month’s worth of blogging – averaging over two entries a day. March brings Lent- which will hopefully bring a little more quiet and reflection to may pace. March brings a brief vacation to see my mother and my daughter and sun and sand. I’m going into March with a lion’s ferociousness but hope to come out more lamb-like by the end of the month.    [blogging]
World Youth Day Letter
Benedict reflects on the theme: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. He says, "Jesus taught us how this can be done: "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." The incarnate Word, Word of Truth, makes us free and directs our freedom towards the good. My dear young friends, meditate often on the word of God, and allow the Holy Spirit to be your teacher. You will then discover that God’s way of thinking is not the same as that of humankind’s. You will find yourselves led to contemplate the real God and to read the events of history through his eyes. You will savour in fullness the joy that is born of truth." See it all here. [pope]

  Monday, February 27, 2006 
going upstairs on this one
The recent National Directory for Catechesis has identified that "a special concern in the catechesis of adolescent is catechesis for the Sacrament of Confirmation. . . The Church must make every effort through a revised and revitalized catechesis to ensure that adolescents do not view their preparation for and reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation as the end of their formal catechesis.  (NDC #48, D; page 200)"  Today, in a meeting with our three auxiliary bishops we will be at the first stage of developing a small task group to address “Confirmation: Cultivating a Culture of Commencement vs. Graduation.”  Our intention is to look at Confirmation as the starting point, a commencing moment of a faith journey rather than as the end.  It’s interesting to note that even in USCCB’s Receive the Gift: The Age of Confirmation (thanks, Barbara Anderson!) that the confusion between beginnings and endings exist.  On page 5, we note these two sentences, one immediately after the other:  "The reception of the sacrament of Confirmation in necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. The strengthening in grace effected by confirmation empowers one to assume to full duties of the Christian life, to be a disciple and a witness."  See it?  Completion vs. strengthen, empower, and assume- you pick.  Ending or beginning?  Graduation or Commencement? [church]
going farther upstairs on this one
"It’s only by addressing the moral issues that we’ll get some relief on the political questions." Newsweek has an interesting article addressing the grey issues on the present "reality check" that our society is addressing on Roe v. Wade. See it here. [culture]
gifts
Just got one this morning.  It is lovely and hysterical all at the same time. [friends + family]

  Sunday, February 26, 2006 
My Index finger has Carpal Tunnel
For those of you keeping track at home (OK, that’s just me) – - – Why, yes, that was five power-point presentations (uno en español) within the last eight days. Whew! [work day]
star wars – the empire brokeback
Droid love… so wrong and, yet, so right.  If you loved Brokeback to the Future (see February 5), you’ll love this as well.  [funny stuff]
UMBC Basketball
Clark and I went to the mens’ game today. (This allowed me to use my Boston College Student id for a discount ticket.) Sophomore guard Jon Iati scored a career high 29 points as visiting Albany wrapped up the America East regular season title with a 76-61 win over UMBC in the final regular season game for both teams. UMBC is in the midst of its longest losing streak of the season at four in a row, and falls to 9-18. Iati hit six of nine shots from the floor, four of seven from behind the arc and all four three throw attempts (20 points) in 12 minutes of play. [friends + family]

  Saturday, February 25, 2006 
Encuentro
Along with about 180 of our Hispanic hermanos and hermanas en Christo, we celebrated the Encuentro process. The day worked to give a voice to many youth and young adults, even if I don’t understand the language fully. Bishop Mitch gave a well revived presentation. We finished, of course, with Mass and fiesta! Bueno! [work day]

  Friday, February 24, 2006 
Compass of loving will, not a weather-vane
On Feb. 15 George H. Niederauer was installed as Archbishop of San Francisco. The new archbishop, as reported by Rocco, had no qualms affirming that he had seen Brokeback Mountain, making him the first senior American cleric to state publicly that he has viewed the controversial film. When asked for his reaction, he replied that "I thought it was very powerful, and I probably had a different take on it than a lot of people did…. It was a story not only about the relationship between the two principal characters, but very much a cluster of relationships…. And I think in all of that one of the lessons is the destructiveness of not being honest with yourself, and not being honest with other people — and not being faithful, trying to live a double life, and what that does to each of the lives you try to live."  In his installation homily he also said that “in the many moral dilemmas that face them today, Catholics look to their church, to their faith, to be a compass, not a weather­vane. The church must point toward the true north of God’s loving will, and not merely track where the winds, or the polls, are blowing.”  [church]
Lent’s a-coming
(Sent today to ArchBalt youth ministry contacts.) May the Peace of Christ be with you.
   Next Wednesday, we begin the season of Lent.
   Remaining constant in encouraging the strengthening of adolescent catechesis in our Archdiocese, it would be neglectful of us if we were not also calling for renewed commitment to our own discipleship relationship with the Lord.
   Lent, of course, is an excellent time to intensify our own personal faith practices. Might I call the following to your attention?
* Lenten Radio Retreat: Franciscan Radio and the U.S. Catholic bishops encourage you to put aside today’s cares and worries, and take a “Radio Retreat”—online. Using either the Windows Media Player, Real Player or any MP3 player, including Apple’s iPod, take this opportunity to focus clearly on what God is saying to you this Lent. Each week one of the bishops (including our own Cardinal Keeler) will lead you, in English or in Spanish, through the Lenten Gospels
* Operation Rice Bowl: Consider being involved (as a faith community or individually) in this Lenten tradition.  Resources can be found here.
* Archdiocesan Pilgrimage for Young Adults and Youth: By now, you certainly should be well aware of this annual event on April  8th.  This looks to be our last year on the “alternate route” to the Cathedral as we anticipated returning to the renovated Basilica in 2007.  I certainly hope that you are planning to bring a group, no matter how large or small. See more here.
Prayers and Blessings for a Holy Lent, [youth ministry]

  Thursday, February 23, 2006 
web site "Honey do" List
Maintenance of this website usually involves a daily 10-15 minute daily blog update, just a few minutes longer if I’m uploading a power point or something else. But, I have some projects in my mind and figured that I would just document some upcoming stuff:
   * an overdue (in my mind) second podcast of my portion of the membership meeting presentation. done 2/25
   * subscribing to an actual e-mail delivery service for newsletter #2 done 2/24
   * standardizing the "comment/categories/achieves" toolbar (on the left) on all the blog pages done 2/23
   * organizing the third(?) national catholic youth ministry NCAA/Final Four basketball pool in 2nd newsletter 2/23
   * strategizing the possibility and structure of an on-line retreat (see more here.) page done 2/23
It’s an ambitious list, more so if I truly ‘beat the clock’ on Ash Wednesday. We’ll see. [blogging]
scheduling parish meetings
Just go invited to a men’s breakfast and prayer group.  On top of that, we had a snow out of a commission meeting a week ago and are using Meeting Wizard, thus far rather successfully, to reschedule it. [parish]

  Wednesday, February 22, 2006 
Cardinals, Partial-Birth Abortion, and Blogging. . . OH My!
The Pope is naming new new cardinals; the newly configured Supremes will be hearing a partial-birth abortion case; and I’m out this evening presenting on blogging and the internet this evening.  What a morning this has been already.  [blogging]
Love notes from my daughter
Woke up this morning with a love note from Nichole telling me that I "totally rock." Thinking that is good thing. [friends + family]

  Tuesday, February 21, 2006 
Broke-bed mountin’
Let’s review, I have a two-bedroom with minimal storage.  Yet, Sunday evening when the girls somehow broke the bed in the kids’ room, I still had enough spare pieces around to rebuild a bed with a run to Home Depot for bolts and some bed-slates. Total costs: $11.78.  I wish I knew how to quit myself.  [friends + family]

  Monday, February 20, 2006 
Living faith into reality ???
I was surprised to have not heard of this already. Tom Monaghan, the devout Catholic who founded Domino’s Pizza, has broken ground on Ave Maria, a Roman Catholic university (heard of that) and a whole new town (that’s new to me) 30 miles east of Naples. Ground was officially broken last week, and the plan is to build 11,000 homes—likely drawing families who already hold the church at the center of their lives. See more here.  [church]
Living reality into faith ???
Regarding Detroit and the John Paul II Cultural Center: "If you took a poll, I can’t imagine that a museum would make the top 20 on anyone’s list," said Steven Wasko of Detroit. "They’d say, ‘Support my local parish and my local school, and let’s have some outreach to the poor and some social services. Let’s help the hungry and let’s have a chaplain ministry at hospitals.’ See more here. (Hey, isn’t Tom Monaghan from Detroit?) [church]

  Sunday, February 19, 2006 
Living faith into reality II
From today’s reading of Isaiah – Thus says the LORD: Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers.  [blogging]

  Saturday, February 18, 2006 
Living faith into reality
Between Austria and Italy, there is a section of the Alps called the Semmering. It is an impossibly steep, very high part of the mountains. They built a train track over these Alps to connect Vienna and Venice. They built these tracks even before there was a train in existence that could make the trip. They built it because they knew some day, the train would come. (from Under the Tuscan Sun)   [culture]
We’re huntin’ wabbits!
Following today’s Methodology class, Meghan and I were off to Micah 6:8 to visit Clark, and then down to the Hippodrome Theatre for a viewing of Looney Tunes cartoons.  (Upon another viewing, Vice President Cheney looks suspiciously like Elmer Fudd.)  I’m not sure how we exactly got to downtown Baltimore; I think that we took a wrong turn in Albuquerque.  [friends + family]

  Friday, February 17, 2006 
Blogging gone Wild
Oh my gawd! When I offered a link to Sandy’s site in San Jose, I really thought to me-self, wouldn’t it be nice if I got a little hyperlink kick-back. Wow! Yikes! Thanks, Sandy.  (I think!) See Sandy’s site (and me) here.  [blogging]

  Thursday, February 16, 2006 
living impaired
(From Stew’s site) The tribal wisdom of the Dakota Indians, passed on from generation to generation, says that, When you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount. However, in modern business, education, government, and yes, even churches, a whole range of far more advanced strategies are often employed, such as:
1. Buying a stronger whip.
2. Changing riders.
3. Threatening the horse with termination.
4. Appointing a committee to study the horse.
5. Arranging to visit other countries to see how others ride dead horses.
6. Lowering the standards so that dead horses can be included.
7. Reclassifying the dead horse as "living impaired".
8. Hiring outside contractors to ride the dead horse.
9. Harnessing several dead horses together to increase the speed.
10. Providing additional funding and/or training to increase the dead horse’s performance.
11. Doing a productivity study to see if lighter riders would improve the dead horse’s performance.
12. Declaring that as the dead horse does not have to be fed, it is less costly, carries lower overhead, and therefore contributes substantially more to the bottom line of the economy than do some other horses.
13. Rewriting the expected performance requirements on all horses.  [youth ministry]
living impaired by narnian assumptions
(with edited apologies to Dilbert)

[youth ministry]

  Wednesday, February 15, 2006 
Answering that age-old question
Can a nun drive a monster truck? (C’mon, you know you were asking that!) Here’s the video evidence.  [funny stuff]

  Tuesday, February 14, 2006  (Feast of Saint Valentine)
how can I not remember to mention today father andrea santoro?
The pope called the missionary a "silent and courageous servant of the Gospel" and asked that "the sacrifice of his life contribute to the cause of dialogue between religions and peace among peoples." Read more about this martyr of the new millennium here. [pope]
Who was Saint Valentine?
Saint Anthony Messenger Press takes a shot at the answers here. [church]
e- valentine’s day cards
CatholicGreetings.org has got your hook-up for this right here.  [culture]
first kisses
CNN has a Video Report on first kisses. For me:  I was a Catholic school freshman.  She was a public school sophomore cheerleader. ‘Nuff said.   [blogging]
anyone else want to call domestic wire trapping illegal?
From the Daily Show with John Stewart  – - –
John Stewart: I’m joined now by our own vice-presidential firearms mishap analyst, Rob Corddry. Rob, obviously a very unfortunate situation. How is the vice president handling it?
Rob Corddry: Jon, tonight the vice president is standing by his decision to shoot Harry Wittington. According to the best intelligence available, there were quail hidden in the brush. Everyone believed at the time there were quail in the brush. And while the quail turned out to be a 78-year-old man, even knowing that today, Mr. Cheney insists he still would have shot Mr. Whittington in the face. He believes the world is a better place for his spreading buckshot throughout the entire region of Mr. Whittington’s face.
Jon Stewart: But why, Rob? If he had known Mr. Whittington was not a bird, why would he still have shot him?
Rob Corddry: Jon, in a post-9-11 world, the American people expect their leaders to be decisive. To not have shot his friend in the face would have sent a message to the quail that America is weak.
Jon Stewart: That’s horrible.
Rob Corddry: Look, the mere fact that we’re even talking about how the vice president drives up with his rich friends in cars to shoot farm-raised wingless quail-tards is letting the quail know ‘how’ we’re hunting them. I’m sure right now those birds are laughing at us in that little ‘covey’ of theirs.
Jon Stewart: I’m not sure birds can laugh, Rob.
Rob Corddry: Well, whatever it is they do … coo .. they’re cooing at us right now, Jon, because here we are talking openly about our plans to hunt them. Jig is up. Quails one, America zero.  [funny stuff]

  Monday, February 13, 2006
St. Joseph of arimathea pallbearer society
A Catholic high school has developed this ministry of providing pallbearers for funerals. You’ve got to take a moment and listen to the NPR story.  What a great community witness and lesson in the Corporeal Works of Mercy for these young people. [youth ministry]
I remember when Jesus Christ was about religion
That goes back to when he was caring and compassionate all the time, not just during the political campaign season. So begins Web Bryant’s guest editorial on religion in today’s USA Today.  For the life of me, I do not get if I weakly agree with it or am slightly offended by it. [culture]

  Sunday, February 12, 2006
Snow
It did wallop the area.  It looks to be between 6-12 inches (post-shoveling update: 14 inches) which means today is a wash-out. (Great, a "snow day" on a day where I had nothing scheduled.)  Likely, tomorrow’s day start for work and school will be delayed for an hour or two as well.  I have a good sized self-delegated chore list for myself today; it’s time to get going on it. [blogging]
It’s not just trouble in Denmark
Through intensive investigative effort, I have unearthed these blasphemous references to Jesus on Family Guy. I have also discovered that Family Guy is funded, in part, by Luxembourg.  Please join me in marching on the  Luxembourguer embassy which is in a store-front next to an Office Depot outside of Washington, DC.  Let’s all trash the joint with office supplies.  Our "Litter the Luxembourguers" campaign will get our message of faith and reason across to the rest of the world. Peace, out.  [sarcastic stuff]
Here’s to swimmin’ with bow-legged women
I once dated a lovely young woman named Klair.  She worked at the concession stand at the drive-in movie theater. (I know, I know. . . drive-in movie theater = I am ancient.) Throughout the entire summer, the movie Jaws played on the outdoor screen. Occasionally, a friend and I, while waiting for the girls, would yell out, "Here comes the Shark!" just moments before the da-da dum-dum-dum soundtrack would kick in.  Today, it was announced that Peter Benchley died. Thinking of you, beautiful K.T. Farewell and adieu to you fair Spanish ladies / Farewell and adieu you ladies of Spain. / For we received orders for to sail back to Boston / And soon never more will we see you again Thanks, Mr. Benchley.  

  Saturday, February 11, 2006
Snow Racing
To heck with the Winter Olympics in Turino, today’s major event was getting in the first two sessions of the Methodology class before a major winter snow storm came in and walloped the area. Mission accomplished. See powerpoints here. [work day]
The words any parents waits to hear
Immediately after Methodology, son Clark and I went to laundromat to do wash, organize donations for Goodwill, and basically get some life stuff in order. After the washers were done and the dryers were well underway, the lad says, "Hey, Dad, you can go now. . . I mean now that everything’s been paid for."  Sorta brings a tear to your eyes, doesn’t it? Actually, it was great- he was taking responsibility to wrap the project all up himself. This is not unlike the oldest daugheter who has the room all organized and was cleaning the kitchen last night. God bless my kids. [friends + family]
Thou shalt not have other blogs before mine
But you might want to check out what Sandy Scott’s doing out in San Jose with Youth Ministry and Youth Catechesis.  But, please remember to come back to the one you love. [youth ministry]

  Friday, February 10, 2006
Abide, O Spirit of Life
Loyola College hosted David Hass and Lori True in prayer concert last night.  It was an opportunity to showcase their wonderful College Chapel Choir as well.  After a full and active week, this was a nice way to close it up (if, of course, we were actually closing the week up!) Just sit back and sing along.  Hass’ "God is Here" and True’s "One Lord" were the finds for future programming.  Haas’ "Abide, O Spirit of Life" was the personal prayer find for the night.  It was good to watch these two interact with the talented (college) kids. What a blessing it must be to see others take and reinterpret your works boldly in front of yourself- something that composers seemingly have over catechists somedays.   [friends + family]
signs that the end must be near
Speaking of music, Barry Manilow is on top of the album charts again with his recent album "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties." Personally, I am very concerned.  [culture]

  Thursday, February 9, 2006 
Habits
Yea, I missed you, too.  I’ve been blogging for a pretty serious stretch here- one, two, sometimes three entries a day.  And then I missed yesterday. Sickness? Accident? Nah, just busy and tired all at the same time.  Last two days have been Coordinators’ Institute and both presenters were worthwhile and interesting.  Coffeehouse stops on the way home, good conversations between friends, and family movement back at the apartment. That’s it.  I’ll gat back to the rhythm of blogging tomorrow.  [blogging]

  Tuesday, February 7, 2006 
Brotherly Love
While I am proud of all my brothers, Chris, the youngest (I am the oldest) has recently added a second foster care kids into his family.  He and his wife Christie and their three children already had DJ and now have added DJ’s brother, Shawn, who was newly born on my birthday to their clan.  Please keep them in your prayers. [friends + family]

  Monday, February 6, 2006 
Super Bowl Accounting
Gas money to get to a party . . . $4.63.   Preparing an appetizer to be shared . . . $8.34.   The Steelers winning for me a bet on a bottle of wine . . . priceless.  [friends + family]
Commercials recap
The Stick commercial for Fed Ex got the biggest laugh.  The Dove Real Beauty/ True Colors ad got the warmest reception by the woman folk. to get to a party. Anheuser-Busch’s Secret Fridge, Clydesdale Pony, and Ameriquest’s Friendly Skies (see all here) were all enjoyed as well.  [culture]
No More Telegrams
(From Pastor Michael’s site) Western Union announced that they will not be sending any more telegrams.  They sent the last one last week.  Apparently, there’s just no demand for these things anymore. I can only imagine how many church secretaries will be upset about this.  First telegrams…then what?  Typewriters?  You can barely find the ribbons in the office stores anymore.  Clip art books?  Hundreds of people have just figured how to white out the edges of clip art taped to church bulletins to get rid of those lines  Fax machines? How will people communicate with each other?  It’s a slippery slope my friend.  [funny stuff]

  Sunday, February 5, 2006 (Super Bowl Sunday)
Holiday of love I: The law – order valentines
It’s during the Super Bowl that we guys plan for the next holiday.  I’m think these (check all four pages) are exactly just right for expressions of love.. forget roses or chocolate, nothin’ says lovin’ like Det. Tutuola. [funny stuff]
Holiday of love iI: scary in Seattle
How to get more guys to watch chick flicks. View it here. [funny stuff]
Holiday of love iiI: Brokeback to the future
Another movie preview satire. I wish I could quit posting these. View it here.  [funny stuff]

  Saturday, February 4, 2006 
Super Bowl I: the difference between Pittsburgh and Seattle
It’s all in the way one drinks their coffee, it seems.  Go, Steelers, Go.  [culture]
Super Bowl Ii: Warp Speed to Sunday
Late Night’s Conan O’Brien said, ”The New York Daily News reports that Leonard Nimoy, Star Trek‘s Mr. Spock, will star in a pain-reliever ad during the Super Bowl. Star Trek fans were excited by this news and asked, ‘What’s the Super Bowl?”’ [funny stuff]
The Ghost of Decisions Future: 2008 edition
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) greets people as she arrives for U.S. President George W. Bush’s the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington January 31, 2006. REUTERS/Jason Reed  [funny stuff]

  Friday, February 3, 2006 
dont’cha just hate when your star player goes off to do missionary work?
Read more here about the the Second European championship of priests-only soccer teams.   [church]
bono’s homily
"Please join me in praying that I don’t say something we’ll all regret. . . If you’re wondering what I’m doing here, at a prayer breakfast, well, so am I.  I’m certainly not here as a man of the cloth, unless that cloth is leather.  It’s certainly not because I’m a rock star.  Which leaves one possible explanation:  I’m here because I’ve got a messianic complex."   That’s just the warm-up. Read it all here.   [culture]
bush and bono at the national prayer breakfast
From the President’s remarks at yesterday’s National Prayer Breakfast:
BUSH: You know, I was trying to figure out what to say about Bono — (laughter)
BONO: Careful. (Laughter.)
BUSH: And a story jumped to mind about these really good Texas preachers. And he got going in a sermon and a fellow jumped up in the back and said, "Use me, Lord, use me." And the preacher ignored him, and finished his sermon. Next Sunday he gets up, and cranking on another sermon. And the guy jumps up and says, "Use me, Lord, use me." And after the service, he walked up to him and said, "If you’re serious, I’d like for you to paint the pews." Next Sunday, he’s preaching, the guy stands up and says, "Use me, Lord, use me, but only in an advisory capacity." (Laughter.) So I’ve gotten to know Bono. (Laughter.) He’s a doer. The thing about this good citizen of the world is he’s used his position to get things done. You’re an amazing guy, Bono. God bless you. (Applause.) [culture]

  Thursday, February 2, 2006 
more on moralistic therapeutic deism
If the faith of today’s youth is any indication, the future of Christianity in America could be in jeopardy, says Christian Smith.  To read more about The Faith of the Next Generation, click here. [youth ministry]
An opus on marriage
Bloom County and Opus have always been favored cartoons. Sunday’s cartoon reflects my general mood this week. (click on the picture to enlarge) [friends + family]

  Wednesday, February 1, 2006 
A Catholic Wiki
My son, Clark, has started his own Wiki- not that I really understand what that is…  It seems to be a "commonly contributed to" encyclopedia that all can access.  He has developed a Catholic Wiki- "an online encyclopedia of articles that anyone can edit with the goal of compiling all knowledge of the Catholic Church, Her Sacred Tradition, and Her dignified history." (ok, so the boy starts off with small goals…) He told me about it Sunday night but never sent the link.  Like a good father, I found it anyway.  You’ll find it here. [friends + family]
basilica in a baggie
Each work day, I walk past the renovation crew for the Basilica of the Assumption which is a co-cathedral for the Archdiocese. It is a beautiful historic structure… America’s first cathedral designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the same guy who designed the nation’s capital building in DC.  Right now, however, is looks like a Christo art project gone awry. (click on the picture to enlarge) [church]
Dateline: Me, part Deux
(click on the picture to enlarge)  [blogging]

before there was a “studio,” it was just me, a mic, and a computer