To all, especially MOG's Irish members, have a blessed day. And I add St. Brigid to the mix since (at least here in the States) she gets overshadowed! Such a wonderful history! The dark days of the last quarter-century shall soon be assigned to the ash bin. So let's celebrate what was and will be, and also those who have remained faithful during these distressing times! Ireland forever!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all of you in Ireland and all the rest of us with Irish roots and more so Christian roots. My priest gave a beautiful homily at Mass today…. Not the typical one about St. Patrick. He tied it to the gospel and readings reminding us that St. Patrick truly was a Christian follower of Christ … willing to suffer. We likely all know his story…. He was kidnapped and enslaved forced to serve abs live with animals. Taken from his family and a “good” life. After escaping, he could have been angry, resentful, seeking revenge. But no, the suffering and pain he experienced transformed him and brought him closer to Christ. So much so, that he decided to go back to the very people who treated him poorly not to get revenge, but to serve again, this time willingly, and to bring them God’s good news. The rest as they say is history…… God richly blessed Patrick and his work. From this tiny Island, Christianity grew abs in many ways was saved in the Dark Ages. The roots of Irish Christianity started by the great Saint Patrick reverberated throughout the world and especially here in the US and New York. Yes, Ireland , the US abs world are in dark times again. But, God will not abandon us. He will not allow the fruits of this great saint to languish. Like Patrick, we are on the Cross, but resurrection is guaranteed. peace. Slainte! God Bless Ireland. Thank you for your great patron.
Well Padraig I can understand your feeling about being EME. I joined a new church in January where the choir was permitted to sing. My local church the choir has been shut down. And the new church lets me receive on the tongue and no mask requirements or cordoned off areas. Sooo, I was up in the choir loft and no one went down for communion. They said sometimes the EME goes up to the loft but the choir doesn't go down because they do two songs and are too out of breath to sing after climbing the stairs (rolling my eyes). Or after Mass they go down and hang out around the altar hoping to have someone distribute communion. Well, I told them if I can't receive communion I would have to leave the choir or come up with another plan. So, I was commissioned an EME years ago in another diocese. The Holy Spirit totally moved me to go to the Priest and volunteer to be The Choir EME if he thought I could do it without being commissioned in this diocese. He immediately commissioned me and said I have the job. So I ordered a large Pyx and last Sunday was my first time. I was nervous! But did it, and some of them grumbled that it would be better if I did it after Mass was done. But NO, I am doing it after the second communion song so they have some time for reflection before doing the last hymn at the recessional. I decided to be the Irish Mother Superior, ha! This is a good teaching experience, yes? Our choir director is not Catholic, interesting . . .
Love you all!!!! My Love for my Catholic religion is thanks to all my Irish nuns and Monsignor’s in grade school and high school. Happy St Patrick’s !!!!!
According to ancestry.com, a good 20% or so of my ancestry comes from County Cork, so Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Being a Eucharistic Minister is a funny old thing. I did it for years and years but had to give it up because of my shift work, I hardly know where I will be from one day to the next and could not be relied upon. I also began to have some reservations about Communion in the hand. But I was glad to help out in an emergency. But being a Minister of the Word or Eucharistic Minister is a funny old thing because it puts you in the Public eye, which I was uncomfortable with. I love to be at the very back of the Church out of the way. Just praying. There is already far, far too much talking in Church, even by priests and nuns and being a Minister can involve loads and loads of taking ,especially in the Sacristy. Also I had the uneasy feeling that some of the Ministers got a little puffed up and regarded themselves as rather special, or more important than others in the Congregation. But perhaps I imagine this. I notice at the moment that although there are often several priests in the Sanctuary the Ministers give out communion whilst the priests sit and watch. This was not the intended usage. It was only a kind of emergency provision for when the priest could not cope... ..sometimes these things take on a life of their own. I would not like to be a priest who tried to tell some of these Ministers what to do, I get the impression of great bossy-ness of some of them. I expect to be nuclear bombed at Mass this morning for not wearing a mask. But they asked me, I did not ask them. We will see...these priests are still not hearing confessions because they say it is still too dangerous. Fear,fear, fear.
Thank you so much, Heavenly Hosts! Yes it was ... and passed far too quickly. Husband woke me up to say he was sad how quickly the day went. I rarely imbibe liquor, but did enjoy a big margarita over dinner; it had Captain Morgan spiced rum, orange and pineapple juices, and grenadine. Salted rim. YUM.
