tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565601.post7767198934620113300..comments2024-02-05T20:50:25.209-05:00Comments on Quantum Theology: Sacramental hostagesMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617476463347663364noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565601.post-14024165685290297972011-06-29T09:45:02.539-04:002011-06-29T09:45:02.539-04:00Fran, I am so glad that you greet people with warm...Fran, I am so glad that you greet people with warm and gracious hospitality (but I'm not surprised!); and glad that the conversations here and at Allison's blog are a help<br /><br />Stratoz...Oh I love the image of God in traffic court.<br /><br />Gaye - I worry about how we pass on the faith, too, but am glad you are trying!<br /><br />Robin -- I have a similar story with my SIL -- and Cindy, yes, there are wonderful parishes and pastors out there, and persistence can sometimes help.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617476463347663364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565601.post-84131080215248629892011-06-28T17:53:52.736-04:002011-06-28T17:53:52.736-04:00I dealt with two issues today that had me carrying...I dealt with two issues today that had me carrying this post (and Allison's) in my heart!Franhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07181529277715646835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565601.post-90968733882665700762011-06-28T07:27:12.868-04:002011-06-28T07:27:12.868-04:00Like Robin I have a "sister story" and m...Like Robin I have a "sister story" and my sister is farther away from the Catholic Church than ever (hers was with a misinformed, though passionate, Deacon).<br /><br />I am sad that more people don't have the opportunity I do to be around our Pastor, Fr. Kevin Johnson at St. Louis Parish in Tallahassee. He is the embodiment of Christ's love as shepherd and brother.<br /><br />He is traditional and fully Roman Catholic. He is not in the least bit squishy or relative. However, he is filled with love: of God, of His Son and of humanity in all our broken, twisted and even hopeful frailty. <br /><br />He welcomes questions, he soothes doubts, he prays for our souls and our bodies and our lives. He smiles. He shakes hands. He kisses babies.<br /><br />Over the course of about 8 years he has restored to me some idea of what Paul was probably trying to do back in the day.<br /><br />My prayer for anyone is that they keep looking - Fr. Kevin is not alone.Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05147416487171740144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565601.post-19988760411294879402011-06-28T07:12:32.171-04:002011-06-28T07:12:32.171-04:00Oh @Robin... I am so sorry. Those stories are the ...Oh @Robin... I am so sorry. Those stories are the worst. I am so sorry. <br /><br />And yes- traffic court is likely a place where Jesus would be. It is a wonderful image that Stratoz gives us.Franhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07181529277715646835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565601.post-87797281869138214022011-06-28T07:08:51.089-04:002011-06-28T07:08:51.089-04:00I will limit my reaction to one story. My sister-...I will limit my reaction to one story. My sister-in-law wants (wanted?) very much to return to her Catholic roots and, having never been confirmed, began an RCIA class. <br /><br />The priest's reaction, upon discovering in one of the last sessions that she is married to my brother -- not baptized, divorced, just becoming interested in a life of faith and uncertain how to go about it -- virtually assured their complete alienation from anything Catholic.<br /><br />I love the recognition that"God enjoys being in traffic court."Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01898073277524952683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565601.post-64515446289431882142011-06-28T06:59:43.462-04:002011-06-28T06:59:43.462-04:00Fran--- After ten years, Margaret and I and a mi...Fran--- After ten years, Margaret and I and a minister and maybe God (does God like to hang out in churches?) renewed our vows.Stratozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10148600260976577216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565601.post-39783657579598311282011-06-28T06:56:37.714-04:002011-06-28T06:56:37.714-04:00@Stratoz, you say perhaps the best thing of all, i...@Stratoz, you say perhaps the best thing of all, intentionally or not. Perhaps one of the problems with marriage specifically is that what is essentially a civil matter is conflated with church. <br /><br />A reasonable solution might be to look to our European brothers and sisters, for example and marry civilly and then and only then, move on to church if it so moves us.<br /><br />That is still an option here, but while priests and ministers and rabbis and so forth are justices of the peace, the issue remains.Franhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07181529277715646835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565601.post-31018747641911152362011-06-28T06:48:12.052-04:002011-06-28T06:48:12.052-04:00Margaret and I were married in traffic court. We ...Margaret and I were married in traffic court. We were not church goers at the time and I am glad I did not face the assumptions that would have been thrown at us. I doubt if I would have jumped through many hoops. A UCC minister has assured me that God enjoys being in traffic court. I have blogged about his importance to me and he was a man who was very open to providing the sacraments to those who sought it. He did it with much love and grace.Stratozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10148600260976577216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565601.post-43082640741650640892011-06-28T06:18:09.520-04:002011-06-28T06:18:09.520-04:00Michelle, you have written such a thoughtful post....Michelle, you have written such a thoughtful post... not that I would expect any less. It is a good compliment to Allison's original post, the one that Greg Kandra linked to.<br /><br />There is so much to say here, I don't know where to begin. I will say this - as the parish secretary, I am typically the one who is privileged to experience these inquiry encounters, as I like to think of them. (Our website and bulletin simply point one to call the parish office.)<br /><br />These are moments of real grace, whether the person is terrified to call a church (often) or whether they are the embodiment of entitlement. All humans are blessed with dignity, whether that is apparent or not - and so I try to respond with that in my heart.<br /><br />I usually begin my conversation by saying "I am going to ask you a few questions and they are not meant to be blocks or impediments. They are meant to guide our conversation, OK?" Then I repeat that and ask if they belong to the parish - again repeating that this is simply to guide our process. <br /><br />And guide our process it does. My work is such a privilege because I feel like I am so richly blessed to stand on such holy ground. Many people just want their sacrament. Most - more than some might thing - want something more, but just don't know how or where to begin.<br /><br />Parishes that, with all due respect, use regulation as an impediment of grace break my heart. However, we all make our meek adjustments and God continues to work on us all.Franhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07181529277715646835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565601.post-77054448517991241612011-06-28T05:44:31.502-04:002011-06-28T05:44:31.502-04:00I know confirmation is not the same but as a leade...I know confirmation is not the same but as a leader of a confirmation group I sometimes feel that some of the teenagers concerned are trapped by their parents need for them to be confirmed (so that they can marry in the Church) rather than their own needs. I am end up with some bored occasionally rebellious teens who are forced to attend a class they would rather skip. Despite my best endeavour to give them a genuine choice to say No, I am sure that some of them just "do" the sacrament to get it over with and their parents off their back.<br /><br />It always makes me sad, and I wonder how I might do better by these teens.Gayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05382575146394739428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565601.post-42560896668545663672011-06-28T00:04:08.116-04:002011-06-28T00:04:08.116-04:00Thank you for this. I wrote about the elderly wido...Thank you for this. I wrote about the elderly widower seeking to be married in the Church and you have articulated and broadened this theme in ways I was unable to. Thank you! This whole topic deserves a much bigger conversation.Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16021781602272064901noreply@blogger.com