by Mary Sellars Malloy
Question of the Week, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Matthew 16:13-20
A few times in the past year, I’ve written about the life and ministry of Bishop Ken Untener. Bishop Ken came into my life after a difficult ministry experience that left me doubting my gifts and my usefulness as a Church minister. He hired me to serve as the director of the Worship Office in Saginaw, Michigan, and his first words to me were, “I am here to help you succeed.”
I learned much from working with Bishop Ken, and I would summarize the lessons I strive to carry into my own life and ministry in the following way.
- Be pastoral. Know what the Church teaches. Let that teaching inform your ministry, but meet the people you serve where they are, and call them forward from that place.
- Be prayerful. Don’t let the demands of ministry and life crowd out time for personal prayer and reflection on God’s Word. These are the foundations of the good work God has called you to do.
- Be playful. Maintain a spirit of joy, and take time to do the things you love to do and be with the people who uplift and inspire you.
- Be real. In the words of Saint Francis de Sales, “Be who YOU are, and be that perfectly well!”
- Be mindful. Always consider the needs of others, especially the poor.
- Be forgiving. That includes forgiving yourself. Nobody’s perfect!
- Be a visionary. Dream. Hope. Imagine. Believe. Inspire.
May we honor those who have inspired us by carrying their messages and examples into our work and into our daily living.
Mary Sellars Malloy has over forty years’ experience as a Catholic educator and lay minister. She is a frequent workshop presenter on the topics of prayer, liturgy, spirituality, the Sacraments, and the RCIA. In addition, Mary leads retreats and parish missions throughout the country. Her goal is to encourage Catholics of all ages to appreciate and to live their Catholic faith.
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The Faithful Revolution, Vatican II
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by Mary Clifford Morrell
When my oldest granddaughter was just three years old, she accompanied my daughter-in-law to a family wake. My daughter-in-law had instructed my granddaughter to say, “I’m sorry for your loss,” when greeting the family of the deceased in the funeral parlor.
As they stopped to speak with mourners, my granddaughter extended her little hand to each person and said with all seriousness, “I’m sorry you are lost.”
Often, out of the mouths of children comes wisdom.
What better way is there to describe that expansive feeling of grief, of losing someone whose presence has often been a compass, an anchor, an encouragement to fly and a promise of a forever home? We feel lost and adrift in our pain.
For some of us the experience seems to last forever and we wonder if we will ever feel whole again as we did when we knew who we were and where we belonged.
As human beings, we have a need to grieve such a deep loss. It is the process of grieving that allows us to heal, and often to learn that our emptiness and sense of being lost will only be overcome when we find our home in God.
Pope Francis reminds us, "Our loved ones have not disappeared into dark nothingness: Hope assures us that that they are in God's good and strong hands. Love is stronger than death."
Our sense of insolation can be tempered when we embrace our Catholic belief that we, also, are in God’s hands as we move through our grief.
The funeral rituals of our Catholic faith are important steps in our grieving, especially the Mass of Christian Burial. At the start of the Mass, the casket holding our loved one is draped with a white pall, recalling the white garment of Baptism when our Christian life begins, and reminds those gathered of their faith in the Resurrection.
During the Mass we are reminded of the union of the living and dead in the great Communion of Saints. With our faith family, we remember the life of our loved one and our belief that, though they are separated from us who are living, they are still at one with the community of believers. We also trust that they benefit from our prayers and intercession, as do we when we turn to prayer for strength.
Saint Augustine of Hippo discovered the truth that God is our true home, and Augustine shares that with us in his reflection, “Thou hast formed us for thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in thee.”
Sometimes when we are lost it takes a long time to find our way again. Other times the journey is not so long. It is the same with grieving – different for everyone. But on every journey our Catholic faith is a blessed support.
The Catholic Order of Christian Funerals includes a comforting prayer for mourners:
Lord, God,
You are attentive to the voice of our pleading.
Let us find in your Son comfort in our sadness,
Certainty in our doubt, and courage to live through this hour.
Make our faith strong through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Mary Regina Morrell is a Catholic journalist, author, and syndicated columnist who has served the dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey, and RENEW International in the areas of catechesis and communication.
by Mary Sellars Malloy
Question of the Week, Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Matthew 15:21-28
Several years ago, I served as music minister of a merged parish whose members were African-American, Hispanic, Italian, and Polish. Each culture brought to the table a variety of feasts, celebrations, traditions, and—of course—music, that invited growth in awareness and understanding.
At that parish, I first explored the wealth of bilingual psalmody and music that engaged voices and hearts. I learned to sing “Silent Night” in Polish and Italian. And there we sang the spiritual “I’ll Be Singing Up There” as the Song of Farewell for a beloved mother-figure to many and “Good News, the Chariot’s a’Comin” at the funeral Mass for Beulah, a long-time choir member who, at the end of her life, had no recognition of who I was, but could still join me in singing her alto part to “Amazing Grace.”
And faith was shared at table, as Erlinda invited Michael and me to a Guadalupe feast of tamales, and Romie and Jesse introduced us to the rich and flavorful mole. Faith was shared at the table of Bobbie, who could cook fried chicken and greens to perfection, and at the family sausage-making gathering hosted by Andy and Floyd. All of these families worked together to make any parish dinner a tasty celebration of culture and community.
As I think about our friends today, and all that Michael and I learned from them, the sixth verse of “Where Charity and Love Prevail” comes to mind: No race nor creed can love exclude if honored be God’s name; Our family embraces all whose Father is the same.
May we continue the work of peace and justice, welcoming all to our tables, until these words are true in our lives and in our world.
Mary Sellars Malloy has over forty years’ experience as a Catholic educator and lay minister. She is a frequent workshop presenter on the topics of prayer, liturgy, spirituality, the Sacraments, and the RCIA. In addition, Mary leads retreats and parish missions throughout the country. Her goal is to encourage Catholics of all ages to appreciate and to live their Catholic faith.
Product Recommendation
Catholic Prayers and Practices
This small book, Catholic Prayers and Practices including The Order of Mass, contains traditional practices and prayers that unite us as Catholics. It is designed to support you in your faith life, and it can assist you in helping the younger members of our Church learn, grow and live as active members of the Catholic community.
This resource can be used for private, family or communal prayer. The Order of Mass section incorporates the language of the revised Roman Missal. Share the faith by giving copies of this book to others. In this way you are sharing in the ministry of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who called us to be his disciples and to share the Good News with all people.
by Mary Sellars Malloy
Question of the Week, August 15, 2020, The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Year A
Over the past forty years, I’ve had the opportunity to travel the country to lead retreats, workshops, and parish missions. Because the Church and the world are ever-changing, ever-growing, and ever-evolving—and because I am (hopefully!) too—I never give the same presentation twice. What I learn, what I read, what I experience, and the insights that come in prayer and silence are always bringing new understandings that I love to share and explore with others.
But one retreat plan has remained a constant over the last several years. I call it “The Spirituality of Joy.” The plan came together as the result of reading James Martin’s Between Heaven and Mirth, and from the comments of two coworkers. One said to me, “It is so good to see someone who really enjoys her work.” The other prayed, “Lord, thank you for Mary, who brings such joy to our workplace.” The book and the comments made me pause and think about joy, or the lack thereof, in the lives of those around me.
We’ve come through some difficult and challenging months as individuals and as a country. But today, Mary’s words of rejoicing in the beautiful Magnificat (see Luke 1:46-55) remind us that God still reigns and that we still have many reasons to rejoice.
In the spirit of the Magnificat, take some time today to follow a suggestion made by James Martin in Between Heaven and Mirth. Identify your sources of joy, past and present—individuals, experiences, opportunities for growth, religious things, small everyday blessings, things you take for granted, and things that make you laugh.
What might you need to rekindle in order to join Mary in full-heartedly proclaiming, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior”?
Mary Sellars Malloy has over forty years’ experience as a Catholic educator and lay minister. She is a frequent workshop presenter on the topics of prayer, liturgy, spirituality, the Sacraments, and the RCIA. In addition, Mary leads retreats and parish missions throughout the country. Her goal is to encourage Catholics of all ages to appreciate and to live their Catholic faith.Product Recommendation
Our Family Devotions
This book celebrates the many ways people of different cultures express the Catholic faith in their churches, neighborhoods, and homes. As the Good News of Jesus spread around the world, people in every culture found special ways to express their faith in God. Through the ritual words and gestures of popular devotions, Catholics show their love for God and devotion to Mary and the saints.
Some popular devotions begin with a message that is given to a person and then shared with others. Many traditions grow from the blending of the Catholic faith with a cultural celebration. Although the prayers and rituals may be adapted to meet the spiritual needs of a culture, all popular devotions are intended to help people recognize God’s love for them and grow in their love for God.
It is our prayer that through this book your family will experience God in new ways in your everyday lives. May the diverse and rich traditions of families and the Church from around the world lead you to find new ways of living out your faith. May the beauty of these devotions remind us that we are one family in Jesus Christ, sharing God’s love in our homes, churches, and communities.
by Mary Sellars Malloy
Question of the Week, August 9, 2020, Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Several years ago, a coworker gave me a lovely South American pottery piece. It is a small boat carrying Jesus and the disciples. I treasure the gift to this day, and when I look at it, I think, “We’re in this boat together.”
We’re in this boat together—Jesus, you, me, family members, friends, coworkers, sinners, saints—we cry, we laugh, we sing, we pray, we question, we rise, we fall, we move forward, together.
Being in this boat together, facing storms and trials and challenges together, gives us courage and strength to keep going. It is the kind of strength I find in the Communion of Saints, the procession of holy ones—past, present, and future--who surround me on the road to the kingdom and just don’t let me fall. Their words and examples remind me to fix my gaze on Christ and to keep walking in faith. It is much easier to do so when I am walking with others.
Over the past several months, we’ve often heard and seen the slogan, “We’re all in this together.” Now, as we enter back into familiar activities and social gatherings, and as we respond to new challenges and opportunities to create a more just and inclusive society, will we take these words to heart? Will we bring the Good News of Jesus into the conversation and into the rebuilding of relationships and communities? Let us draw our strength to try from the words Jesus says to us today, “Take courage, . . . do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27).
Mary Sellars Malloy has over forty years’ experience as a Catholic educator and lay minister. She is a frequent workshop presenter on the topics of prayer, liturgy, spirituality, the Sacraments, and the RCIA. In addition, Mary leads retreats and parish missions throughout the country. Her goal is to encourage Catholics of all ages to appreciate and to live their Catholic faith.Product Recommendation
Our Family Devotions
This book celebrates the many ways people of different cultures express the Catholic faith in their churches, neighborhoods, and homes. As the Good News of Jesus spread around the world, people in every culture found special ways to express their faith in God. Through the ritual words and gestures of popular devotions, Catholics show their love for God and devotion to Mary and the saints.
Some popular devotions begin with a message that is given to a person and then shared with others. Many traditions grow from the blending of the Catholic faith with a cultural celebration. Although the prayers and rituals may be adapted to meet the spiritual needs of a culture, all popular devotions are intended to help people recognize God’s love for them and grow in their love for God.
It is our prayer that through this book your family will experience God in new ways in your everyday lives. May the diverse and rich traditions of families and the Church from around the world lead you to find new ways of living out your faith. May the beauty of these devotions remind us that we are one family in Jesus Christ, sharing God’s love in our homes, churches, and communities.
by Mary Clifford Morrell
Is there anything better than a baby’s belly laugh?
Passionate and perfect, no matter the pitch; able to bring joy to any heart and, inevitably, echoed back by those who hear it.
I like to think God laughs that way. Certainly God has a sense of humor. Just look at the ostrich, or the blue-footed booby bird, the sloth, or my favorite, the penguin.
I believe wholeheartedly that God intended us to laugh, and to experience laughter as a brief respite from trying times, a mini port in a storm, a breathless retreat, especially when we laugh with another person.
One of my favorite memories of laughing happened the night four of my friends and I sang with the Greek Symphony Orchestra. To say it was a little out of our comfort zone is putting it mildly, but after a month of rehearsal, learning enough Greek to sing the songs, and maintaining our composure when the lights went out during the production, we headed out in tuxedos and gowns to a local bar/restaurant to celebrate and breathe a sigh of relief that we had made it through.
We looked and felt very much out of place in this very relaxed environment and were pleasantly surprised at being treated like special guests. Actually, it was my first, and only, experience of what I imagine it would be like to be treated like a star. It came with a tiny price tag, though—having to maintain the sophisticated image.
As we sat at our table with our wine glasses full, perusing the menu, one of my friends leaned forward and whispered, “Mary, what is ‘rag out’?”
Perplexed, I asked him to show it to me on the menu. When I saw the item I burst out laughing and could barely speak. I can only blame the hilarity on stress relief.
When I was able to compose myself, I explained, “It’s ragout, not rag out. Ragout is a kind of stew.”
By now we were all hysterical, imagining how quickly the curtain of our sophistication would have been pulled back if my friend had actually ordered the “rag out.”
It would understandably seem trivial to someone outside our little group of friends, but we still laugh about it years later. It was also one of the first memories to came to mind upon the recent passing of one of my dear friends who was part of that memorable evening.
Laughter leaves a powerful imprint.
Look back at those times when you laughed the longest, the hardest, with the most pleasure. Where were you? Who were you with?
During these challenging times, it’s important for children to laugh, too. It’s healthy, especially in the midst of experiences that can leave them anxious and fearful.
We might not think of saints as bastions of wit, but many are exceedingly good examples of the virtue of good humor.
Two who come to mind are Saint Teresa of Jesus and Saint Philip Neri.
Saint Teresa of Jesus, who earned the title Doctor of the Church, asked the question, “What would happen if we hid what little sense of humor we had?” and exclaimed, “From silly devotions and sour-faced saints, good Lord, deliver us!”
Saint Philip Neri would agree. He said, “A cheerful and glad spirit attains to perfection much more readily than a melancholy spirit.”
Archbishop Alfonso Capecelatro, who wrote a biography of Saint Philip Neri, said of him, “There was one feature in his character that never fails to fascinate the young: he was always mirthful and humorous.”
And let us not forget the message of the angel announcing Jesus’ birth: “I bring you tidings of great joy.”
Joy and laughter are fundamental to our faith. Let’s weave them into our lives whenever possible and make some wonderful memories.
Mary Regina Morrell is a Catholic journalist, author, and syndicated columnist who has served the dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey, and RENEW International in the areas of catechesis and communication.
by Mary Sellars Malloy
Question of the Week, August 2, 2020, Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
What Church musician starts his or her new ministry during Holy Week? You guessed it. Me! There I was, on the Tuesday before Palm Sunday, meeting with the cantors and choir and trying to put together a plan for Palm Sunday and the Triduum. Somehow, by the grace of God, we made it—and not only did we make it, we truly celebrated and prayed together!
I remember that ministry site. After the whirlwind Holy Week experience, I worked to settle into my small and dusty office, and by the time I weeded out old files, copies, and junk, I was left with one xerox box full of useful music. But onward I went, through the Easter Season and into Ordinary Time, when choir members offered to host a cheesecake sale to provide funding for new music. We raised $1100!
From there, five college students, all music majors, stepped forward to add their voices, violin, percussion, clarinet, and exquisite piano playing to the mix. The next year, a parishioner who wished to remain anonymous sent word to me to choose and buy new hymnals for the parish and new accompaniment books for all of the instrumentalists.
Five loaves and two fishes? Impossible tasks? I understand! But I’ve seen with my own eyes that, when the work is God’s, when the timing is God’s, God provides all that is needed for the task and more.
What seems impossible to you today? Be that child who places the little you have into the hands of Jesus, and trust that you will have more than enough inspiration, courage, and wisdom to do what he is calling you to do.
Mary Sellars Malloy has over forty years’ experience as a Catholic educator and lay minister. She is a frequent workshop presenter on the topics of prayer, liturgy, spirituality, the Sacraments, and the RCIA. In addition, Mary leads retreats and parish missions throughout the country. Her goal is to encourage Catholics of all ages to appreciate and to live their Catholic faith.
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Music Programs
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These engaging music program, developed in partnership with Oregon Catholic Press, contain a variety of liturgical and catechetical songs for Eucharist and Reconciliation. A mixture of songs in Spanish and English and selected instrumental tracks are provided. |