Some criticized Francis’s decision to change Canon Law and allow all people to be acolytes and lectors because it reinforces the clericalism the Pope wishes to eradicate. I am especially sensitive to this charge because I bristle at the least exercise of clericalism. But it’s so odd – it’s only clerical when women can get…
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I wasn’t even looking for a poem.  In this week of new beginnings and promises, of cautious hope and restrained joy, I just wanted to memorialize a turning.  In this new year, during this week of new beginnings, we will have two new world leaders, one, blessedly, a mixed race woman, beginning to take on…
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So many people responded “what’s the big deal” to Pope Francis’ change to Canon Law allowing all laypeople to be acolytes and lectors that I am going to say it IS a big deal.  I’ve edited what I wrote to my grandson: “This is so important to me right now because it’s a chink in…
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Actually, it may be fewer than that today, more like six miles. I’m speaking of the distance to Bethlehem from Jerusalem. Even I could walk that distance if need be. And I think the time has come. In fact, it came a long time ago and has now become urgent.  When I visited pre-pandemic Bethlehem…
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We now understand how privilege operates. Some people get to do things that others don’t. Many are seeing that in the response of the police to “gatherings” in Washington this year. I’m not going to explore this here; I’m just putting it in your minds. Some people are able to be a lot more free…
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Whenever I would go to meetings in DC, including the WOC Board, I would get a thrill seeing the Capitol dome, as I see it tonight. I remember being inside with a class I took to Washington near the end of my teaching career. We took photos and listened for echoes in statuary hall.  We…
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The symbolism is just too hard to resist.  My city center parish church was definitely adorned for Christmas —with an interlaced network of harsh, metallic interior scaffolding. On Christmas Eve the priest and the few intrepid parishioners who attended in person had to tuck themselves around and duck under galvanized bars that twisted throughout the…
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I am writing this on the last day of 2020. You are reading it on the second day of 2021. Do you feel different? Are you relieved? Hopeful? Joyful, even? I wish that for you and for all of us. No more darkness covering the earth.  Meanwhile, I am finding many lists that try to…
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This year, we are living out salvation history. I cannot remember a time when our experience mirrored the Christmas story as well as this year does. We had our wanderings in the desert, our Advent, and now our fragile moment of joy. We move forward with hope knowing that there will be difficulties along the…
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I believe our Christmas joy this year is a silent one. It is more profound but less wondrous, more extensive but less exuberant, more calming but less soothing. It has a disquieting sadness at its core. Bells don’t jingle and ring as much as toll. Yet, with all its silence, we still recognize it as…
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