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A good education

Posted on by Fr. Steven Marchand

There’s a common joke in religious education that the answer to every question in religion class is “Jesus.”

I once made the mistake of sharing that with students in a class, and for the next three weeks, the only answer I ever received to any question was “Jesus,” delivered with a knowing smile.

There is, of course, a kernel of truth here. As the Word of God made flesh, the fulfillment of the law and prophets, the perfect man, God-among-us, the whole of the cosmos is recapitulated and made new in the person of Jesus Christ. St. John expresses this beautifully in the prologue to his Gospel: “All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made” (Jn 1:3), which Paul echoes in the letter to the Romans: “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things” (Rom 11:36).

Now, this is either true or it isn’t. As believers, we affirm that it is true. This centrality of Christ is reflected in the centrality of crucifix, tabernacle, and altar in Catholic churches. St. John Henry Newman saw its ramifications for education. Writing about the nature of university education, Newman contended that to not teach theology in schools is to deny a foundational and necessary aspect of human knowledge. Those universities and schools which do not include theology as part-and-parcel of the curriculum are not true universities at all. By excluding theology, they betray their claim to be institutions exploring universal, or all, learning.

Who, then, is the best teacher of the knowledge of God? Say it with me — “Jesus,” of course. This is why we as Catholics live not “by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4). We hang on to Jesus’ words, or gather them up as so many pearls of great price. In the words and deeds of Jesus we find the culmination and personification of the entire pedagogy of God throughout salvation history.

And how does He teach? What is His method? He teaches primarily through parable and metaphor. In other words, imagination. The Gospels are teeming with imaginative examples drawn from creation. The one “through whom all things were made” now uses these very things as a bridge to bring us from creature to creator. We might even say that creation was made from the beginning to serve this very purpose.

Who can forget what Jesus says when He commissions His disciples? He does not send them as bloodless facilitators of an abstract something. He sends them as “sheep among wolves” who must be as “cunning as serpents and yet innocent as doves” preaching Him who is the “bread of life,” giving us His “flesh for true food, and [His] blood for true drink.” To help us understand what it means to reject God, Jesus tells us of a householder who plants a vineyard and has a right to its fruit. He sends his son, the heir, to gather it up, but the workers of the vineyard cast him out and slay him. If we do accept Him, our faith is like a “mustard seed, which grows into the greatest of plants, in which all the birds of the sky find rest.” When He wants to teach us about the forgiveness of sins, he performs a miracle of healing and orders the man to “take up your mat and walk” so that we have an image for what takes place in the soul.

How, then, does Jesus teach? By moving us from the natural to the supernatural. Jesus came down to Earth so that He might lift us up to heaven. Or as the medieval school-men would put it, God’s supernatural grace is freely bestowed on us to raise up and perfect our human nature.

Jesus gives us an example from experience or nature to teach divine things. Our imagination is what bridges the gap; it allows us to see the divine in the ordinary.

It takes a good and powerful imagination to understand what God wants to do in our lives, what it means to follow Him. A good education will cultivate that sense of wonder that is necessary for the imagination to take flight. These are the natural things on which a supernatural life of faith can be built. Without it, we can sputter with C.S. Lewis’s Professor Kirk, “What do they teach them in these schools?!”

If we would grow in faith, we must become like little children and sit at the feet of the divine master and teacher. To whom shall we go? Why, to Jesus, of course.

— Father Steven Marchand is administrator of St. Ambrose Church in Bristol and St. Peter Church in Vergennes.

—Originally published in the Fall 2023 issue of Vermont Catholic magazine.

 

 

 

A global vocation of peace

Posted on by Cori Urban

Sister Barbara Cline wanted to be a missionary, and when she learned that the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration had a mission in China, she knew that was the order in which she wanted to live her vocation to religious life.

But before she could get to the point of being missioned to China, that mission was closed because the sisters had been killed, tortured or expelled.

It was years before she undertook her first mission assignment — in the Middle East.

In the meantime, she taught, something she also wanted to do.

Most of her educational ministry was with persons — mostly children — with disabilities both in the United States and abroad. She liked how responsive they were to being taught to walk, play and feed themselves. “They were so responsive to me,” she recalled during an interview at the Catholic Center at the University of Vermont in Burlington where she lives. “When I’d show them something they’d want to do it, like throw a ball. One thing about that is they began to throw more than they should have,” she added with a smile.

With a reputation for never complaining, Sister Cline, 82, — who grew up in Spencer, Iowa —entered religious life as a postulant in 1959. After Vatican II, she was among 55 members who formed the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, the order to which she now belongs.

Her love for persons with disabilities grew, and she earned a master’s degree from Michigan State University in 1974 in developmental psychology with an infant/toddler specialization and a doctorate from that university in 1977 in special education administration and developmental psychology.

Through the years she has also taught at the University of New Hampshire, Bethlehem University, Arab College of Nursing in Ramallah, The Nutrition Institute in Cairo and at Michigan State and Grand Valley State universities.

Among the awards she has received is The Salma Friberg Award for outstanding achievement in working with the mental health issues of families with young children presented by the Michigan Association of Infant Mental Health and the Faith in Action Award presented by Guardian Angel Homes.

Sister Cline’s first experience working with children with disabilities began in 1968 at Misericordia Home in Chicago and later included work in the Middle East and West Africa.

She laments that some people see persons who are not physically “perfect” as somehow less important. But those with special needs “were created by God as all of us were,” she said. “Every one of us is created in such a way in Christ to become a saint and be in heaven.”

An extraordinary minister of Holy Communion at St. Mark Church in Burlington and director of religious education at Holy Cross Church in Colchester, Sister Cline is far removed from the war and unrest in areas where she once ministered to children with disabilities, places like Cameroon, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Gaza.

When she worked with traumatized children as director of the Near East Regional Office for Catholic Relief Services serving the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, and Lebanon, Israel bombed the airport in Beirut so she was not able to get into the country. And “in the West Bank, there was always violence of some kind,” she said. “It was everyday life.”

Working in the West Bank and Gaza, she had to get permission from an Israeli military officer for many of the things she needed to do, but she was grateful to have had a good rapport with the officer who called her “Baba” instead of Barbara.

She witnessed many horrors during those times, especially results of bombings, human suffering and violence. “If a child threw a stone at an Israeli military officer, they would destroy the child’s house. I found that really difficult,” she said.

Sister Cline always has worn her long brown habit and short black veil as she ministered in various places in the world, and in the Middle East, she was considered a “woman of the cloth,”
she said. “So I was respected.”

There was tension in what she was doing, but she accepted it. “I knew the people I was working with had more tension than I could ever think of,” she said. “I had to be upbeat for them.”

During those times, she found peace living in community with three other sisters, talking and praying together and attending daily Mass in the church on their compound. Still, prayer helps her find peace.

When war broke out in Gaze last year, Sister Cline was heartsick. “I knew those towns and people that lived there,” she said, and as television news showed more and more destruction, she had to limit her consumption of that coverage and follow it online instead.

“I understand their anger [Israel’s], but the civilians of Gaza are not a warring people. They’re a gentle people,” she said. “The war needs to stop.”

She prays it will.

For more information about the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, go to fsecommunity.org.

—Originally published in the Spring 2024 issue of Vermont Catholic magazine.

 

 

 

A gift from God

Posted on by Submitted Article

October was Down Syndrome Awareness Month, a time, according to The Jerome Lejeune Foundation, when “we applaud caregivers, families and medical professionals — but most of all, we applaud all the wonderful people with Down syndrome.”

As in most years during Down Syndrome Awareness Month, our family joined other families in our area who have a child with Down syndrome for the annual local Buddy Walk. Collectively, our children at the gathering ranged from infants to adults.

Though the children and adults with Down syndrome differ in abilities and personalities — and though our families are from all different backgrounds — there is an understanding among us. We get one another.

There is a beautiful acceptance and appreciation for the family members with Down syndrome. Our children are valued. There is a special quality that individuals with Down syndrome possess that is difficult to explain unless you have had the privilege of knowing someone with that extra 21st chromosome. I think the late Dr. Jerome Lejeune (considered Venerable by the Catholic Church) captures that quality perfectly: “Their ligaments, their muscles, are so supple that it adds a tender languor to their way of being. And this sweetness extends to their character.”

That sweetness of character, I think, is what we pick up on. The more people who get to know a person with Down syndrome, the more those qualities can be appreciated, and the more acceptance there is. And the more people there are with Down syndrome, then the more exposure people will have to them.

But what happens when their numbers disappear from our communities as a result of the routine practice of prenatal testing and abortion? A 2012 study estimated that about 74 percent of babies prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted in the U.S. (For various reasons, not all babies with Down syndrome are diagnosed prenatally, so, that high percentage does not reflect the overall reduction in Down syndrome births.)

Overall reduction in Down syndrome births is estimated each year in an annual study, People living with Down syndrome in the USA: Births and Population. The 2022 update (for year 2016) estimates the overall reduction in Down syndrome births, due to abortion, was about 36 percent. The previous study estimated 33 percent, so there has been an uptick in the percentage of babies with Down syndrome aborted. Future years will show whether the implementation of Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening, introduced in 2011, is having an effect on Down syndrome births. The findings for Europe are even more devastating. The 2022 update estimates that the effect of abortion on overall newborn births is 56 percent. In other words, Europe is reducing Down syndrome births each year by over a half.

This huge reduction in Down syndrome births is unbearable to think about. Thousands of innocent babies’ lives extinguished each year on both continents. Significantly fewer families blessed with a child with Down syndrome. Significantly fewer children with Down syndrome to get to know and appreciate. Less understanding for those who struggle for acceptance.

On a positive note, life expectancy for individuals with Down syndrome has dramatically improved over the decades. The U.S. study shows that life expectancy was, “53 years (mean) and 58 years (median)” in the 2010s.

I was talking to my daughter Sadie recently, about how, typically, babies get 23 chromosomes from the mom and 23 from the dad. We’ve talked about this before, so she’s familiar with the concept. I told her, “In your case, of course, you have an extra chromosome that comes from… .” Before I could complete my sentence and without skipping a beat, she said, “It comes from God!”

Wow! Now that is a young lady who knows her worth.

It is so incredibly sad that so many expecting parents don’t recognize the value of their own child. If only they knew what my daughter knows.

— Eileen Haupt is respect life coordinator for the Diocese of Burlington. This article was originally published at nationalrighttolifenews.org then in the Oct. 29-Nov. 4, 2022, edition of The Inland See.

 

A gift from God

Posted on by Submitted Article

October was Down Syndrome Awareness Month, a time, according to The Jerome Lejeune Foundation, when “we applaud caregivers, families and medical professionals — but most of all, we applaud all the wonderful people with Down syndrome.”

As in most years during Down Syndrome Awareness Month, our family joined other families in our area who have a child with Down syndrome for the annual local Buddy Walk. Collectively, our children at the gathering ranged from infants to adults.

Though the children and adults with Down syndrome differ in abilities and personalities — and though our families are from all different backgrounds — there is an understanding among us.  We get one another. There is a beautiful acceptance and appreciation for the family members with Down syndrome. Our children are valued.

There is a special quality that individuals with Down syndrome possess that is difficult to explain unless you have had the privilege of knowing someone with that extra 21st chromosome.  I think the late Dr. Jerome Lejeune (considered Venerable by the Catholic Church) captures that quality perfectly: “Their ligaments, their muscles, are so supple that it adds a tender languor to their way of being. And this sweetness extends to their character.”

That sweetness of character, I think, is what we pick up on. The more people who get to know a person with Down syndrome, the more those qualities can be appreciated, and the more acceptance there is. And the more people there are with Down syndrome, then the more exposure people will have to them.

But what happens when their numbers disappear from our communities as a result of the routine practice of prenatal testing and abortion? A 2012 study estimated that about 74 percent of babies prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted in the U.S. (For various reasons, not all babies with Down syndrome are diagnosed prenatally, so, that high percentage does not reflect the overall reduction in Down syndrome births.)

Overall reduction in Down syndrome births is estimated each year in an annual study, People living with Down syndrome in the USA: Births and Population. The 2022 update (for year 2016) estimates the overall reduction in Down syndrome births, due to abortion, was about 36 percent.

The previous study estimated 33 percent, so there has been an uptick in the percentage of babies with Down syndrome aborted. Future years will show whether the implementation of Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening, introduced in 2011, is having an effect on Down syndrome births.

The findings for Europe are even more devastating. The 2022 update estimates that the effect of abortion on overall newborn births is 56 percent. In other words, Europe is reducing Down syndrome births each year by over a half.

This huge reduction in Down syndrome births is unbearable to think about. Thousands of innocent babies’ lives extinguished each year on both continents. Significantly fewer families blessed with a child with Down syndrome. Significantly fewer children with Down syndrome to get to know and appreciate. Less understanding for those who struggle for acceptance.

On a positive note, life expectancy for individuals with Down syndrome has dramatically improved over the decades. The U.S. study shows that life expectancy was, “53 years (mean) and 58 years (median)” in the 2010s.

I was talking to my daughter Sadie recently, about how, typically, babies get 23 chromosomes from the mom and 23 from the dad. We’ve talked about this before, so she’s familiar with the concept. I told her, “In your case, of course, you have an extra chromosome that comes from… .” Before I could complete my sentence and without skipping a beat, she said, “It comes from God!”

Wow! Now that is a young lady who knows her worth.

It is so incredibly sad that so many expecting parents don’t recognize the value of their own child. If only they knew what my daughter knows.

—Originally published at nationalrighttolifenews.org.

— Eileen Haupt is respect life coordinator for the Diocese of Burlington.

 

A Game Changing Moment for the Church in the United States?

Posted on by Deacon Phil Lawson

In his apostolic exhortation, “Evangelii Gaudium” (“The Joy of the Gospel”) Pope Francis called for the Church to embark on a “path of pastoral and missionary conversion which cannot leave things as they presently are.” Last July in Orlando, Florida, Catholic leaders came together at the invitation of the bishops of the United States to ask the question, “How do we live the ‘Joy of the Gospel’ in America as missionary disciples?” In other words, how do we personally and institutionally change from a culture that can sometimes be lethargic and focused on maintenance to one of joyful mission in Jesus Christ?

In the Church in the United States, there had never been a gathering of this type that sought to bring together the whole Church in the United States with bishops, clergy, religious, laity and the many Catholic apostolates and movements. It was a remarkable four days, marked by joy and a spirit of mission.

The spirit of mission permeated every aspect of this gathering and there was a strong outreach to young adults to be part of the convocation. Of the 3,500 attendees, some 700 were between the ages of 18 and 39. The result: We were reminded daily that we are called to be on the move and ready, as missionaries, to bring Christ’s love to every encounter with our brothers and sisters.

Each speaker sought to equip attendees with an understanding of the current landscape of the Church in the United States and to go out boldly and joyfully in witness to Christ.

Prayer undergirded everything that was done at the conference. Daily Mass and special devotional activities were an important aspect of each day. A particular highlight was the rosary, which was beautifully and reverently prayed in 10 different languages. One morning featured an outdoor Eucharistic procession with more than 2,000 participants in the July heat of Orlando! The procession signified very beautifully the call to take our faith outside the doors of “the Church” or in this case the air-conditioned convention center!

The true test of whether this was truly a “game changing moment” in the United States is of course what happened after the conference.

I recently attended a meeting of diocesan leaders in New England. This meeting was one of the most open and fruitful conversations that we’ve had. The two days were marked by a true desire to look at what we’re doing and how we can best respond to the current needs in the Church. Quite frankly, I believe this is the type of conversation that the July convocation sought to inspire. It is hoped that this same spirit of joy-filled missionary discipleship and conversation on what we’re doing continues to trickle down, from the national level, to the regional (as in this recent meeting), to the diocesan, and ultimately to each of our parishes.

The Archdiocese of Hartford put together a very well done 30 min video of highlights from that gathering in Orlando: vimeo.com/231083728/05fc1cc90b

Deacon Phil Lawson is the executive director of evangelization, catechesis, divine worship, marriage and family and respect Life for the Diocese of Burlington. He can be reached at plawson@vermontcatholic.org.

The New Evangelization Summit

Streaming April 27-28

Holy Cross Church, 416 Church Road, Colchester

For information: jperry@vermontcatholic.org

To purchase tickets, register and get more information: newevangelization.ca

A Father’s Heart: A Year Long Mission for the Year of St. Joseph

Posted on by Submitted Article

The 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as patron of the universal Church was celebrated on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception in December. In honor of that anniversary, Pope Francis declared this liturgical year be dedicated to St. Joseph through his apostolic letter “Patris Corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”).

In Pope Francis’ apostolic letter, he expounds upon the qualities of St. Joseph’s fatherhood and how his fatherhood was an icon of God, the Father’s heart for us, His children.

St .Edmund’s Retreat in Connecticut is offering a yearlong mission for the Year of St. Joseph with a monthly Holy Hour with readings, reflections, prayers, confession and Benediction. The Society of St. Edmund is the order of priests and brothers that founded St. Michael’s College in Colchester.

A Father’s Heart: A Year Long Mission for the Year of St. Joseph takes place on the first Wednesday of the month from 7 to 8 p.m. in The Chapel of Our Lady of the Assumption at St. Edmunds Retreat in Mystic, Connecticut. The Holy Hour is live streamed on Facebook and YouTube and through the website Endersisland.org.

The monthly mission includes Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a passage from the fathers of the Church, a saint’s or a pope’s reflection about St. Joseph that is relevant to one of the many titles by which he is known.

Each session will include a reflection upon a different title, a reflection/homily, private and community prayer and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.