Guest Blog: A Grand Welcome into a Humble World.

Patrick Kennedy is a student at Neil McNeill Secondary School currently doing a co-op placement with me. He recently traveled to Ottawa with us to attend the annual D&P members meeting for the Ontario region (called the OPM). This blog is a reflection on his experience. Thanks Patrick!

Looking back at my experience at D&P’s annual Ontario Provincial Meeting, I can reflect upon the wonderful welcome I received from the people of Development and Peace. Being a High School co-op student who had been working at the organization for just over a month, I was nervous about entering into an environment full of members who had been with the organization for years. The trip to Ottawa was especially nerve-wracking because I was travelling with people I had only emailed with, so before I went on the trip I was hoping that the six hour drive would pass quickly and that I could reunite with the few familiar faces that I knew from D&P. Notwithstanding my anxiety, the unfamiliar passengers of the Dodge Avenger were very friendly and open-hearted. This was the first of many genial welcomes I received on the weekend of May 9^th-11^th.

OPM 2014 Group Shot: Find Patrick!

Once in Ottawa I was approached by many other unfamiliar faces and welcomed as a new affiliate of Development and Peace. I appreciated this welcome because I admire the humble work of the organization and was eager to learn more about its structure. The weekend did not disappoint; I learnt all about how ideas, suggestions, recommendations, and resolutions are passed. As a young person interested in political systems, especially in the integration of direct democracy into the Canadian political system, it was quite a learning experience to see how direct democracy was incorporated into aspects of the OPM. I now have an appreciation for the significance of the member-based organization of D&P.

I learnt a lot being part of the 2014 Ontario Provincial Meeting in Ottawa and now feel that I have a more significant role in the organization. I hope to participate in the OPMs of the future.

Back in the Saddle...

...riding in the field.

Here we are on Holy Thursday, about to enter the Triduum - that most Holy of celebrations for us Catholics. It seems a good time to reflect and report on the past four months since I came back to my job permanent position as the central ontario animator just before Christmas.

It feels like I am back in the saddle. I so missed being in the field - the churches, the schools, and yes, even the meetings! There are so many Development and Peace members and supporters here that I so enjoy working with and that make my life so rich as we work together for international solidarity.  Below is a small album of life back in the saddle.

by the numbers...

As animators we have a reporting form for all our activities in the field. It allows us to track our work over time. By the numbers, life back in the saddle looks as follows: 31 separate field activities, predominantly in the Toronto diocese, reaching 3465 people. The vast majority of these are youth. I am blessed to be regularly invited to schools to share the work of Development and Peace.

...and the memories.

There are so many highlights to share these past months that they cannot fit a single blogpost. all I can do is list instead of reflect. It was special to me that my first trip back into the field was to my son and daughter's own school - St. Cecilia - to talk about the Philippines after they raised over $1000. Later I visited St. James for the same reason. There the children learned and performed the Philippines' national anthem as part of their efforts! (See video here)




Memories - the always excellent iLite conferences under the leadership of Mike Consul, the annual Voices that Challenge conference led by Greg Rogers, ShareLent workshops in Peterborough and Kingston,the new Toronto Youth Council's first event - a screening of Defensora, the screening a New Leaf at Trent university, conferences at UTSC, my annual trip out to the amazing Denise Colterman-Fox's DOC school, spending Ash Wednesday talking about Syria at my old high school St. Mary, THINKfast presentations, and of course - the epic "Dodging for Justice" dodgeball game where admission was 10 signed action cards - all these and more have made these first months back in the saddle rich and colourful.

I am in the middle of my holy week fast for D&P (its not too late to donate!) As I write here, I realize I am fasting not only for the impoverished and the hungry around the world - this fast is also for the wonderful people here in Canada that I work with and their belief that as Canadians we can be part of the solution to the problems we face as one human family.

As the TCDSB youth leaders sing and dance at the end of our dodgeball game, "In the streets our heads are liftin', as we lose our inhibition. Celebration it's around us, every nation, all around us."

It is good to be back.

#SuorCristina and the Joy of the Gospel

Sister Cristina Scuccia sang herself into the hearts of 23, 420, 648 people* around the planet over the weekend, including mine. Italy's version of the hit TV show, "The Voice" has revealed a gift for the world.

Thank-you sister, for inspiring me to get back in the 'habit' and blog for the first time in nearly a year.

I have always been guilty of seeing the symbolic value of things. For me, there is much more going on here than just 23 million people wanting to see the real life version of Sister Act. This is about the Joy of the Gospel.

The whole thing unfolds like magic:

00:03

A 25 year old ursuline nun stands on the stage as Alicia Keyes “No One” starts up.

The four judges sit with their backs turned so they cannot see the surprise contestant – as per the format of the show. The nun’s job is to get them to turn around through the beauty of her voice. Is this not the task of all Christians? Are we not a missionary church, trying to turn the world towards what is good and true? Are we not trying to get the world to turn towards the embrace of God?

00:07

The camera turns to a shot of three nuns from Sr. Cristina’s order – the Ursaline sisters. They are her community and they are here to support her. It is a powerful image because it conveys the truth of religious life – it is a life lived in the mutual support of community.

00:12

Somebody give this cameraman a raise. A brilliant shot of her functional black shoes, bouncing in harmony with the music. Poverty is, of course, one of the three religious vows. The simplicity of the footwear is itself a message. The Joy of the Gospel comes without asking you to find your self-worth in the status symbols of our material world.

00:15

“I just want you close, where you can stay forever.” Her first words bring the audience to their feet. And do you know why? It’s not because they are being nice to the nun. It’s because her voice is amazing. Interestingly, this song, “No One,” has been repositioned as a Christian song many times – most recently I saw it done at a youth leadership conference I attended. I would not be afraid to guess Sr. Cristina chose it for the same reason – she’s performing it as a lovesong to God. The sweetness of her voice resonates with our own hearts and their own longing for God. “You and me together, through the days and nights. I don’t worry cause, everything’s gonna be alright.”

0:31

Family shot. Her parents are there to watch. After all, she’s only 25 years old. That is the other appeal of Suor Cristina – her youth. She is a young breath of fresh air in the Church that is emblematic of the Church envisioned by Pope Francis – out in the world. My 7 year old daughter (who is also dramatically inclined) sat on my lap as we watched her sing together. This is the kind of religious example I want for her.

0:41

Who is this voice that the crowd roars for? The first judge turns towards her - J-Ax, the Italian rapper. The other young judge, “Noemi” follows close behind. If we could be more like this as the Church, I think more people would turn. And when they did they would be surprised to find that the source of this beautiful music is none other than the Church they thought to be tired and irrelevant.

0:51

Wanting to share this marvelous surprise – J-Ax implores the other two older judges to also turn their seats as he has. “Should I? Should I? I’m Going for it Damn it!” The third one turns. “Push It!” J-Ax implores the last. She does. All four have turned to Sister Cristina. The other nuns are ecstatic. 

1:43

“No one can get in the way of what I feel for you!” Sister Cristina finishes and the crowd goes wild – the ovation lasts nearly a minute. They chant, “Sorella, Sorella, Sorella.”

Then the striking exchange happens between ‘Suor Cristina’ and the four judges. We see what happens when we embody the Joy of the Gospel and share it with others.

The judges can hardly believe it. “Are you a real nun?” she is asked.

“Absolutely, I am a real nun.”

Catholics shouldn't be surprised. Pope Francis told us this will happen. He asked us to do it - not in our churches, but in the streets, in the world - share the joy of the gospel. I think that is why I am so moved by this video. Nothing embodies the present day popular culture like reality TV shows. That is why the sight of a nun auditioning for one is so striking. It is the contrast between the sacred and the profane that gives us pause. And yet the contrast is not one marked by conflict, or a rejection of the world. Instead it is a transformation – the joy of the gospel penetrates the medium of the culture and creates a holy moment. Sister Cristina reaches out with the voice of an angel.

It is said that Sister Cristina herself discovered her vocation to religious life while singing the part of a nun in a musical.

She explains why she has come to audition for the voice - "I have a gift and I am giving it to you. Shouldn't things be this way?...(Pope Francis) always says we should go out and evangelize, telling people that God doesn't take anything away from us but will give us more. I am here for this."

The camera cuts shortly after these words to J-Ax. He is clearly moved and wipes tears from his eyes.

These words, along with the soaring hit count of the viral video, reminded me of this passage from the Holy Father’s EVANGELII GAUDIUM

"Goodness always tends to spread. Every authentic experience of truth and goodness seeks by its very nature to grow within us, and any person who has experienced a profound liberation becomes more sensitive to the needs of others. As it expands, goodness takes root and develops."

We need to help that goodness take root in our world, to develop it. According to the shows rules if more than one judge turns the contestant chooses her coach for the next phase of the competition.

Sr. Cristina chooses J-Ax, the self-proclaimed diablo, because he was the first to turn. He runs to the stage and gives her a big hug – goodness, taking root and developing.

J-Ax’s pitch was that together they would be like “the devil and the holy water” (I’m guessing it sounds better in Italian). He tells her that if he had met her when a boy at church he surely would have become the pope because he would have been at church all the time.

“Well, you’ve met me now.” She answers.

We have all met her. And we should all embrace the joy of the Gospel as she has and share it with the world. And just maybe, the world will start to turn.

 *at the time I am hitting publish on Tuesday evening that number has reached 30,433,252

On the Brink of Alleluia - Last day of the 45 day fast.

My stomach is rumbling and I am on the brink of Alleluia.

Today is day 45 - the last day of the fast I began on Ash Wednesday, February 17th. (still time to donate!)

In a matter of hours, the Easter Vigil will begin at my parish, St. Cecilia's in Toronto. For the 45 days of Lent Catholics do not sing Alleluia, but tonight at the Easter Vigil we will sing. We will sing and we will celebrate the mystery of Jesus Christ, whom death could not defeat.

Ryan's scale this morning

And after we sing, I will eat. There will be a meal of delicious meats, cheese, salad, bread and wine. There will be a meal and there will be a phone call - to my friend and colleague, Ryan Worms. He will be breaking his own fast at the same time in Montreal today. Yes, the best thing about this fast has been doing it together. As he wrote today,  "Une soupe par jour, le résultat est sur la balance et dans nos coeurs." (One soup per day, the result is on the scale and in our hearts.)

When I look in my heart, what is it I find after 45 days as I stand here, hours away from Alleluia and hunger still in my stomach?

My scale this morning

I find the hunger has fed my heart - my spritual desire. In my heart is a deeper yearning for our mission at Development and Peace. I so want others to join us in our search for a better world.

There is also a deep understanding in my heart that it is a great privilege be able to choose to break my fast. It is a choice that so many of our brothers and sisters do not have. For them the fast continues. The burden of hunger will not be lifted from their shoulders as it will be from mine. For that reason,  Ryan and I have both told each other that we would like to try and continue to fast in a similar manner at least one day a week.

Sharing soup together...

My heart is lighter (and not just because my body is). Along with the spiritual desire is also a spiritual peace. In some strange way, the self-denial has brought with it a liberation and self-fulfillment. Somehow, knowing that I can go without food has deepened my knowledge that there are a great many things that I can go without in my life.

When I look into my heart I see desire, understanding, and a spiritual peace - here on the brink of Alleluia.

The First Homily of Pope Francis - Walking, Building, Professing.

On the 28th day of my fast for Development and Peace the Holy Spirit gave us the first pope from Latin America. And what was his first act? To ask us all to pray for God's blessing upon him - Pope Francis, the first of his name.

Little more than a day has now passed since I sat with my father and children watching the momentous events unfold in Rome via a choppy rural Internet connection on the farm where I grew up.  Since I am not digesting much food during the fast, instead, I have been digesting the first actions of our new pope, chosen from the ends of the earth.

In the words of my friend and colleague Jess Agustin:



Pope Francis pays his hotel bill

Instead of adorning himself with an ornate gold cross as popes traditionally do, he wears a simple cross around his neck. Rather than riding in the "popemobile," he joined cardinals on a bus back to their temporary Vatican residence after his election. On Thursday, he stopped by the priests' residence where they had stayed before the papal conclave to grab his bags and pay his bill.

This seems consistent with the stories of simplicity that abound in the media. He gave up his palace and chauffeur to live in an apartment and ride local transit. He cooked his own meals and washes the feet of those living with AIDS.  Did he aid the violence of the dictators in Argentina's dirty war? If Nobel Peace Prize laureate Adolfo Perez Esquivel and Sergio Rubin are to be believed, the answer is no. I wonder if Rubin's biography of our new pope, El Jesuita, is available in English. If it's not, it will be soon.



biography

Of all that I have read, Mary Jo Leddy's article in the Toronto Star has impressed me the most. In her reflection on the wounded angel she expresses her hope that, "like St. Francis of Assisi, he will follow the call to 'repair' the church by being with the poor."

What I was most keen to read though, was his first homily, delivered in the Sistine chapel.   In the readings for the mass, he identified the common theme of movement and broke it down into three points - Walking, Building, Professing. Turns out he delivered it in Italian without script.

It was the bit about 'professing' that I kept returning to: "We can walk as much as we want, we can build many things, but if we do not confess Jesus Christ, nothing will avail. We will become a compassionate NGO, but not the Church."

Many Catholic activists who work for NGO's are fond of the saying attributed (some would say falsely) to St. Francis, "Preach the Gospel, and if necessary, use words." We use it to stress the importance of our actions as people of faith - the importance of walking and building.

And yet, I have often felt that our use of these words serves another purpose at times.  Sometimes, these words are an excuse. They are a convenient way to excuse ourselves from speaking in the language of faith as we go about our daily work of trying to change the world and make it a better place.  I myself have been guilty of this. And yet the truth is that my belief in Christ and love for God are the beating heart of my work with Development and Peace. This is something that must be professed in words.

Development and Peace is something more than a compassionate NGO. It is true that we provide assistance for others regardless of their creed. It is true that we work closely with those who do not share our faith. It is true that we do not concern ourselves with proselytising but focus on development. It is true. Yet I believe there is no contradiction between these facts and that fact that we are the Church - the official international development agency of the Catholic Church in Canada.

Development and Peace is the Church in the world - seeking in love and truth God's justice for the poor and oppressed.  This means being ready to accept crucifixion at the hands of those who would have it otherwise. To stand for God's truth and to truly stand with the poor requires a readiness to accept crucifixion.  Pope Francis recognizes this in his homily,

"The same Peter who confessed Jesus Christ, says 'you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. I will follow you, but let us not speak of the Cross. This has nothing to do with it.' He says, "I'll follow you in other ways, that do not include the Cross.' When we walk without the Cross, when we build without the Cross, and when we profess Christ without the Cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly, we are bishops, priests, cardinals, popes, but not disciples of the Lord."

The hunger I am feeling right now, the hunger that has left me more than 20lbs lighter as I start the 30th day of my fast, reminds me of the cross that nearly 1 billion of my brothers and sisters must face each day. This fast is my small way of taking up a cross as I walk, build, and profess.

When he became Cardinal in 2001, Pope Francis asked the faithful in Argentina not to spend the money to come and celebrate with him in Rome. Instead, he asked them to celebrate by taking that money and giving it to the poor.

I hope that now he is Pope, people will again celebrate by giving to the poor, to the crucified ones. Why not do so by sponsoring my fast with a donation to Development and Peace?

To Renew the Spirit of Lent

40 Day THINKfast - The First Sunday

 Let us renew the Spirit of Lent once again.

As Ryan and I complete the first 5 days of our fast for Development and Peace, these are the words that come to me. We are grateful to those who have already donated to our own fast pages.  We are moved by those who have signed up for D&P's  Good Friday THINKfast and become D&P fundraisers in response to our call.

When Development and Peace was founded 46 years ago in the wake of Vatican II, it was mandated to "renew the Spirit of Lent". For 46 years Catholics in our parishes and schools across Canada have continued to faithfully give on the 5th Sunday of lent in support of our mission to end poverty and build a world of justice. But our annual ShareLent campaign must also now reach beyond these safe walls and out into the world if we are truly to be Christ's witnesses.

Over the last two days I have had the honour of walking with a true witness of Christ - Pedro Jimeno Barreto, archbishop of Huancayo, Peru. He has joined us in Canada to launch the national ShareLent campaign. Death threats against his life would not stop him from speaking out in defense of the poor in his archdiocese - who live in one of the most polluted places on the planet, la Oroya. His efforts, supported by your donations, have put a stop to the ecological destruction of their lives.  His witness embodies the Spirit of Lent, the move from death to life.


As D&P moves towards its 50th anniversary, it is time to renew the Spirit of Lent once again. This time: on-line, where the world now gathers. Through our on-line Fast pages, we are calling out to the world, "Repent and believe the good news."

These words, "repent and believe the good news," are spoken as we are marked with ashes for the world to see on Ash Wednesday. Repentance is not a popular word in today's culture, especially if you are trying to raise funds for your mission, as we are doing with this Fast.

But repent we must if we are ever going to live in a world that respects the human dignity of each and every person and sees the truth of God's Love. We are calling out to all those who know that the world cannot continue to ignore the cry of the poor and of the earth much longer.  We are calling out to those who know we are not sharing the riches of the earth as God would have us do. We must repent from our ways of selfishness, violence, war and destruction that are the source of so much poverty and despair.  When we desecrate the poor, we desecrate God.

I believe there are millions of us that want to repent. Because repentance is not about guilt. It is really about wanting to live a better life and to be a better person. God's love can show us how to do that. There is nothing more generous than God's love.

Generousity is the antidote. Generousity of Spirit is where goodness is to be found. Generousity is able to recognize the image of God in every human person, no matter where they come from or what they look like. That generousity is there in every one of us, beating in our heart. Through our fast we want to find that generousity - to honour it and celebrate it.

We choose to fast to renew the Spirit of Lent. We choose to fast as Christ's witnesses to the world - "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted." Liberty to the captives, sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed. This is the Good News. Development and Peace is making it happen in our work around the world every day. Read the stories about what we are doing. Come and join us. We are fasting for 40 days. We invite you to sign up and join for one of them - Good Friday. Sign-up for the Good Friday THINKfast and raise funds for a better world!

Graduation!

Several weeks ago I was invited, for the first time, to give a graduation address.

I have always had a special place in my heart for the Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts community. Over the past 6 years they have been an amazing partner with Development and Peace - fundraising, carrying out our annual education campaign, and much more.

Good times with the Cardinal Carter Community

It was an honour to receive the invitation to keynote their 2012 graduation ceremony. A brief excerpt: 

Do you know what my favourite quotation is? My wife spent 50 hours cross-stitching it into a gift for me, "The World Will Be Saved By Beauty." This was the assertion of the great Russian novelist Dostoyevsky.  I believe him.  Share the beauty you have to offer with, literally, everyone. 

 
Never before in history has it been so easy to share. (at this point I produced my blackberry, snapped this photo and posted it to facebook) And yet, at the same time, it has never been so difficult to share - to reveal to others our search for who we are, why we are here, and what we owe as brothers and sisters to one another. To truly share in this way, in a world that increasingly is closing itself off in fear requires strength of heart, as the Psalms say.

One person who does exemplify this call to share in a meaningful way is Marilyn Grace. She is the teacher/chaplain at Cardinal Carter who invited me to speak. This was her last graduation ceremony as she retired at the end of the year - Thank-you Marilyn for all the young people whose lives you have touched.

Speaking of graduation...

...as of July 1st, I began a one year leave of absence from my position as the Central Ontario Animator. For the next 12 months I will be serving Development and Peace as the Deputy Director of In-Canada programs on a maternity leave contract.  My new position is responsible for the entire network of animators across Canada - a team of 14. Therefore, you will notice that the tag-line on the Mustard Seed Muse has accordingly changed - so too will the content of my posts. Reflections and Reports will take on a National rather than regional flavor.

This message will be sent out across list-serves operated by members in my three dioceses: Toronto, Kingston, and Peterborough.  To all of you reading this who have been part of my journey as animator these past six years, thank-you. Working with you in the cause of the Gospel call to Solidarity has given me a solid foundation for the year ahead. My very first trip into the field as the animator remains vivid for me. It was the October 2006 education campaign workshop at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Toronto. I had yet to officially begin my responsibilities as animator. We began the training in prayer. I knew I was home. The chance to freely express my Faith and its meaning in my search for a better way of living with one another and with all creation is a blessing. Not everyone gets to both find and live their vocation in life.

Some shots from the field - 2006-2012

Please pray for me as I make this short sojourn to a place where my view will widen from Central Ontario to all of Canada. I look forward to continuing to share with you all on the road ahead as it stretches out for me in both directions - west to the Pacific and east to the Atlantic - from sea to shining sea.