One reason cited is that even though there are a lot more Catholics today, a lower percent attend Mass.
From the Detroit News:
"But the Rev. Paul Sullins, a sociologist at Catholic University in Washington, is researching the distribution of priests, and he said Monday that the shortage may not be a crisis.
Sullins' findings:
* Demand has dropped. In 1965, when 70 percent of Catholic worshipers attended Mass weekly, there was a priest for every 540 weekly attendees, the group most likely to seek Communion. Today, fewer than 30 percent of Catholics go to Mass weekly; there's a priest for every 448.
* Many African and South American nations have three to six times more Catholics per priest than the United States.
* Permanent deacons (married or celibate single men) and parish administrators (including women) handle many tasks once performed by priests. There are 14,106 permanent deacons in the United States who perform sacraments such as baptisms and weddings.
The answer to empty altars is not in changing ordination rules but in redistributing priests, Sullins suggests. Like doctors and lawyers, priests tend to concentrate in urbanized, wealthier locations. They also are tied to the bishop who ordained them. Any change in assignment depends on a bishop's consent. "
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Perhaps Just a Little Tasteless
Popecountdown.com
Incidently the most popular prediction for the current pope's death is December 25th, second is December 24th...there is something of the saintliness of this pontiff that is reflected in that thought.
Meanwhile, that count may be a lot longer than anyone thought a month ago:
From Yahoo News:
Pope Jean Paul II's health has improved "incredibly" since his exhausting schedule of 25th anniversary celebrations last month, former Polish president Lech Walesa said.
"The suitable therapy must have been found because the pope has overcome his moment of weakness," Walesa said after meeting the pope at the Vatican with a delegation from the Polish Solidarity trade union.
"This meeting has been very moving. The last time we were really concerned (about the pope's health), but this time, there has been an improvement," he said.
Walesa met the 83-year-old pope last month during celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of his election and also attended the ceremony beatifying Mother Theresa.
The pontiff, who suffers from the degenerative Parkinson's disease and arthritis, had appeared visibly exhausted and was barely able to speak at the end of a week-long series of public engagements.
Incidently the most popular prediction for the current pope's death is December 25th, second is December 24th...there is something of the saintliness of this pontiff that is reflected in that thought.
Meanwhile, that count may be a lot longer than anyone thought a month ago:
From Yahoo News:
Pope Jean Paul II's health has improved "incredibly" since his exhausting schedule of 25th anniversary celebrations last month, former Polish president Lech Walesa said.
"The suitable therapy must have been found because the pope has overcome his moment of weakness," Walesa said after meeting the pope at the Vatican with a delegation from the Polish Solidarity trade union.
"This meeting has been very moving. The last time we were really concerned (about the pope's health), but this time, there has been an improvement," he said.
Walesa met the 83-year-old pope last month during celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of his election and also attended the ceremony beatifying Mother Theresa.
The pontiff, who suffers from the degenerative Parkinson's disease and arthritis, had appeared visibly exhausted and was barely able to speak at the end of a week-long series of public engagements.
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
The Met, the Walk, The Drive
Day 3
The third day was dominated by walking where cars roared past and driving where nothing but people were walking. Through an error in judgment (otherwise known as stupidity) I drove into Central Park on a "car-free"day in an attempt to get closer to the Metropolitan Art Museum that I had alread drove past. I thought it was rather strange that no other cars were on the road. There were thousands of people milling about, along with a fair amount of horse drawn carriages. Finally one jogger rapped on my window and broke the news to me, that it was a car-free Saturday and he pointed to where I might exit the park. Thankfully the CNN helicopters didn't hover overhead and break into their news coverage.
After driving down Park Ave. and turning correctly on 85th Ave., we arrived at the Met. Our main focus was on the El Greco special exhibit. I enjoyed this immensely. I especially liked the "Adoration of the Shepherds" it gave me an insight into a mission I'm preaching in a few weeks entitled "Let us go and see what the Lord has made known to us." The one downside about the El Greco exhibit was the lack of religious insight into the various paintings.
After several hours at the Met, including twenty minutes of trying to find our way out (which gave us a quick look through many galleries we might otherwise have missed) we grabbed a cab and headed to Saint Patrick's Cathedral. I had wanted to pray at the tomb of Archbishop Fulton Sheen but this turned out not to be possible because of all that activity going on at the Cathedral on this day.
Next we hiked over to Rockefeller Center, watched the folks skating on the ice, peeked into the Today Show studios, walked underneath the GE building, checked out the toy soldiers on top of the marquee of Radio City Music Hall, saw the Time-Life building, walked over to the Fox News building, saw the Simon and Shuster building, walked a few blocks to Times Square, walked up one street and then down a block and ate at Hamburger Harry's. Next we walked back toward Times Square, into the theater district to where The Producers was playing, then back through Times Sqaure, over several blocks to the New York City Public Library, then to Grand Central, then to the Empire State Building. All of this on a very cold windy 41 degree day!
Hopping on the subway, after another two block walk we headed to Ground Zero. The cold fit the mood of one of the largest graves of the twenty-first century. A fence around the site carries pictures of happier times, and the cross at ground zero stands as a monument reminding us of all who died on that fateful day in September. The site now reminds me of those religous sites where apparitions have occurred with trinkets and memorabilia for sale everywhere--but no one seems to buy any of these wares. A street preacher railed against the money being spent to rebuild, while so many continue to die the victims of disease. Meanwhile across the street at the Century 21 department store people cram the ailes in some mad rush to consume...anything...just consume.
We walked a block to St. Peter's the oldest Catholic Church in Manhattan. This is the Church where Father Mychal Judge was carried and laid before the altar. The wheels of one of the planes that struck the second tower landed upon the roof of this church. The smell of incense flooded my nostrils as we walked in out from the cold. A plaque announced that Father Sorin the founder of Notre Dame had said Mass here before making his trek to Indiana to eventually start the famous Catholic University. The Mass we attended was simple (no music) and the readings for the the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica were startling, "destroy this temple and I will rebuild it in three days." Earthly temples eventually fall and in the end Our Lord's offer of salvation is our only hope. Sitting in St. Peter's one was reminded that the Lord gave charge of His assembly, His church to St. Peter so that we might receive Him at this Mass.
After Mass we made a futile attempt to take the subway to the Statten Island Ferry, after a visit to the aforementioned Century 21 department store to get out of the cold, we went to the omnipresent in the northeast-- Dunkin Donuts across the street to await Father Joseph Wilson who had graciously invited us to dine with him.
Father Wilson entertained us, taking us to a fine Italian restaraunt in China Town. Father Wilson is the friend of converts and a frequent contributer to The Wanderer...also Crux News has some of his columns here. At the end of our evening Father called a cab for us...the driver, Amy surmises a Korean spoke very little English and couldn't understand any of us in the back seat trying to direct him back to the Met where our car was parked. We ended up in Brooklyn for a time, but finally back to our car at the Met parking garage. Then off from the island back to White Plains where the moon slowly recovered from an eclipse and we longed for home.
The third day was dominated by walking where cars roared past and driving where nothing but people were walking. Through an error in judgment (otherwise known as stupidity) I drove into Central Park on a "car-free"day in an attempt to get closer to the Metropolitan Art Museum that I had alread drove past. I thought it was rather strange that no other cars were on the road. There were thousands of people milling about, along with a fair amount of horse drawn carriages. Finally one jogger rapped on my window and broke the news to me, that it was a car-free Saturday and he pointed to where I might exit the park. Thankfully the CNN helicopters didn't hover overhead and break into their news coverage.
After driving down Park Ave. and turning correctly on 85th Ave., we arrived at the Met. Our main focus was on the El Greco special exhibit. I enjoyed this immensely. I especially liked the "Adoration of the Shepherds" it gave me an insight into a mission I'm preaching in a few weeks entitled "Let us go and see what the Lord has made known to us." The one downside about the El Greco exhibit was the lack of religious insight into the various paintings.
After several hours at the Met, including twenty minutes of trying to find our way out (which gave us a quick look through many galleries we might otherwise have missed) we grabbed a cab and headed to Saint Patrick's Cathedral. I had wanted to pray at the tomb of Archbishop Fulton Sheen but this turned out not to be possible because of all that activity going on at the Cathedral on this day.
Next we hiked over to Rockefeller Center, watched the folks skating on the ice, peeked into the Today Show studios, walked underneath the GE building, checked out the toy soldiers on top of the marquee of Radio City Music Hall, saw the Time-Life building, walked over to the Fox News building, saw the Simon and Shuster building, walked a few blocks to Times Square, walked up one street and then down a block and ate at Hamburger Harry's. Next we walked back toward Times Square, into the theater district to where The Producers was playing, then back through Times Sqaure, over several blocks to the New York City Public Library, then to Grand Central, then to the Empire State Building. All of this on a very cold windy 41 degree day!
Hopping on the subway, after another two block walk we headed to Ground Zero. The cold fit the mood of one of the largest graves of the twenty-first century. A fence around the site carries pictures of happier times, and the cross at ground zero stands as a monument reminding us of all who died on that fateful day in September. The site now reminds me of those religous sites where apparitions have occurred with trinkets and memorabilia for sale everywhere--but no one seems to buy any of these wares. A street preacher railed against the money being spent to rebuild, while so many continue to die the victims of disease. Meanwhile across the street at the Century 21 department store people cram the ailes in some mad rush to consume...anything...just consume.
We walked a block to St. Peter's the oldest Catholic Church in Manhattan. This is the Church where Father Mychal Judge was carried and laid before the altar. The wheels of one of the planes that struck the second tower landed upon the roof of this church. The smell of incense flooded my nostrils as we walked in out from the cold. A plaque announced that Father Sorin the founder of Notre Dame had said Mass here before making his trek to Indiana to eventually start the famous Catholic University. The Mass we attended was simple (no music) and the readings for the the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica were startling, "destroy this temple and I will rebuild it in three days." Earthly temples eventually fall and in the end Our Lord's offer of salvation is our only hope. Sitting in St. Peter's one was reminded that the Lord gave charge of His assembly, His church to St. Peter so that we might receive Him at this Mass.
After Mass we made a futile attempt to take the subway to the Statten Island Ferry, after a visit to the aforementioned Century 21 department store to get out of the cold, we went to the omnipresent in the northeast-- Dunkin Donuts across the street to await Father Joseph Wilson who had graciously invited us to dine with him.
Father Wilson entertained us, taking us to a fine Italian restaraunt in China Town. Father Wilson is the friend of converts and a frequent contributer to The Wanderer...also Crux News has some of his columns here. At the end of our evening Father called a cab for us...the driver, Amy surmises a Korean spoke very little English and couldn't understand any of us in the back seat trying to direct him back to the Met where our car was parked. We ended up in Brooklyn for a time, but finally back to our car at the Met parking garage. Then off from the island back to White Plains where the moon slowly recovered from an eclipse and we longed for home.
Veteran's Day/Feast fo St. Martin of Tours
There is a very neat site dedicated to Catholics in the military...Welcome to CatholicMil.org...check it out while you offer up a prayer for those who are still in and for those. like myself (77-80 US Army) who've served in the past.
Only Catholic Church Losing Clergy
Contrary to an oft repeated mantra by certian groups with regard to the retention of Clergy in Christian Churches in the United States, the truth is that only the Catholic Church has experienced a decline.
From CNS NEWS BRIEFS Nov-10-2003:
Among major U.S. religious bodies, the Catholic Church is the only one experiencing a decreasing number of clergy, according to Purdue University sociology professor James D. Davidson. In the current U.S. discussion over whether mandatory celibacy is a significant factor in the Catholic priest shortage, some church officials have cited clergy shortages in other denominations to argue that it is the social or cultural climate of the country that inhibits vocations, not celibacy. Davidson compared 1981-2001 trends in the Catholic Church, seven large mainline Protestant churches and three more theologically conservative churches. He found that the Catholic Church experienced a 22 percent decline in clergy, while all the Protestant churches registered gains. Even seven denominations that had declining membership in those years had more clergy in 2001 than in 1981 or 1991, he found. The CARA Report, a quarterly publication of the Washington-based Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, cited Davidson's findings in its fall 2003 issue.
From CNS NEWS BRIEFS Nov-10-2003:
Among major U.S. religious bodies, the Catholic Church is the only one experiencing a decreasing number of clergy, according to Purdue University sociology professor James D. Davidson. In the current U.S. discussion over whether mandatory celibacy is a significant factor in the Catholic priest shortage, some church officials have cited clergy shortages in other denominations to argue that it is the social or cultural climate of the country that inhibits vocations, not celibacy. Davidson compared 1981-2001 trends in the Catholic Church, seven large mainline Protestant churches and three more theologically conservative churches. He found that the Catholic Church experienced a 22 percent decline in clergy, while all the Protestant churches registered gains. Even seven denominations that had declining membership in those years had more clergy in 2001 than in 1981 or 1991, he found. The CARA Report, a quarterly publication of the Washington-based Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, cited Davidson's findings in its fall 2003 issue.
Monday, November 10, 2003
Universities and the Conneticut Coast
Day 2
The second day was dominated (for me anyway) of taking care of Joseph while Amy spoke at the Catholic Congress at Sacred Heart University, in Fairfield, CT. After lugging Joseph around the previous day, I immediately went with him to a nearby mall after dropping Amy off at Sacred Heart. Luckily, I quickly found a cheap stroller and we headed back to the University where I took in a few minutes of each of the speakers who were speaking at the same time as Amy. Barbara Morgan of Stuebenville was telling the teachers that they needed to present a Catholic world view in how they taught their subjects, regardless of what the subject was...Monsignor Irwin was speaking about the liturgy and it's importance as a part of life and Amy was speaking on how to teach young people to pray and evidently since people kept saying to me "oh this must be the stroller," that entailed relating the need for help that we all have in carrying our burdens.
Joseph and I spent much of the afternoon sitting in the Pioneer's stadium watching the football team practice (mostly goof around). His comment in between sifting through peanut shells left from a previous game was that the boys were being silly. The silly Pioneeer boys lost again this past weekend, it turns out for the third straight time!
Here is an interesting tidbit about Sacred Heart's nickname:
Sacred Heart University's nickname, Pioneers, stems from its founding, in 1963, as the first Catholic university in the United States that was led and staffed by independent lay people. All five of its presidents have been laymen. The first issue of the school's yearbook, in 1967, refers to the men's basketball team as the "Pioneers". This name was subsequently adopted as the name for all of our athletics teams.
We met the wife of the President at lunch.
At the end of the day we traveled along the Conneticut coast. A beautiful drive, up toward Guilford, CT. I had been to Guilford two other times in my life, both times to visit a friend who was assigned in a parish there. We had a nice meal at the Guiford Mooring, where the chilled air smelled of seaweed and lobster traps were piled high in the air.
On the way home we drove through New Haven and the Yale University campus.
The second day was dominated (for me anyway) of taking care of Joseph while Amy spoke at the Catholic Congress at Sacred Heart University, in Fairfield, CT. After lugging Joseph around the previous day, I immediately went with him to a nearby mall after dropping Amy off at Sacred Heart. Luckily, I quickly found a cheap stroller and we headed back to the University where I took in a few minutes of each of the speakers who were speaking at the same time as Amy. Barbara Morgan of Stuebenville was telling the teachers that they needed to present a Catholic world view in how they taught their subjects, regardless of what the subject was...Monsignor Irwin was speaking about the liturgy and it's importance as a part of life and Amy was speaking on how to teach young people to pray and evidently since people kept saying to me "oh this must be the stroller," that entailed relating the need for help that we all have in carrying our burdens.
Joseph and I spent much of the afternoon sitting in the Pioneer's stadium watching the football team practice (mostly goof around). His comment in between sifting through peanut shells left from a previous game was that the boys were being silly. The silly Pioneeer boys lost again this past weekend, it turns out for the third straight time!
Here is an interesting tidbit about Sacred Heart's nickname:
Sacred Heart University's nickname, Pioneers, stems from its founding, in 1963, as the first Catholic university in the United States that was led and staffed by independent lay people. All five of its presidents have been laymen. The first issue of the school's yearbook, in 1967, refers to the men's basketball team as the "Pioneers". This name was subsequently adopted as the name for all of our athletics teams.
We met the wife of the President at lunch.
At the end of the day we traveled along the Conneticut coast. A beautiful drive, up toward Guilford, CT. I had been to Guilford two other times in my life, both times to visit a friend who was assigned in a parish there. We had a nice meal at the Guiford Mooring, where the chilled air smelled of seaweed and lobster traps were piled high in the air.
On the way home we drove through New Haven and the Yale University campus.
New York and Conneticut
Day 1
After a flight to Chicago and then to Westchester County we picked up the rental car and proceeded to Manhattan. Flying into White Plains I was amazed at how sparsely populated the area is just a half hour from one of the largest cities in the world. The Westchester County airport had two gates, making it one of the smallest airports I have ever flown into.
After picking up tickets and dropping off books to a generous benefactor who had contacted Amy we headed to the Mother Cabrini Shrine in upper Manhattan. Here is the final resting place of Saint Mother Cabrini, her body lies in state under the main altar. The walls in the sanctuary contain mosaics of her life, from her commission by the Pope to "go west", to illustrations of her many charitable works. I met with several workers at the shrine to discuss the inclusion of the shrine in a new book that will come out next year entitled The Church's Most Powerful Novenas--a complete revision of the (Mention Your Request) book that will be done more like a prayer book. One of the workers gave me a second class relic--they were all very cooperative!
While we were there one of the Shrine directors was giving a presentation to a group of students visiting the shrine. I only caught part, but it was fascinating to hear--like a scene out of an episode of CSI the details of Mother Cabrini's remains when her tomb was openned some twelve years after her death. All done with a thick New York accent!!
We had lunch at a little New York diner, where Joseph gobbled down his grilled cheese (when promised that he would receive a cookie from a nearby bakery).
When we returned to where I had parked, we found another car had double parked next to us--blocking us in. The driver was in the car though, so it didn't seem like it would be a problem--until the driver found they couldn't start their car. Another driver, also double parked got out and tried to help the driver of the car that wouldn't start by banging the battery cables. Finally the second driver moved his car and I was able snake my way out. I found evey New Yorker I encountered on this trip to be incredibly friendly--are the days of the rude New Yorker a distant memory now or did we just luck out?
Next we went to the Cloisters, where there was plenty of parking. By now it was raining a cold damp drizzle. Taking turns lugging Joseph around and trying to keep him entertained in a beautiful peaceful setting is no small chore. He did take a fancy to a small bird (fake) in a cage that hung from the ceiling in one of the rooms. And he was able to identify figures of Mary, Jesus on the cross and "nummy" referring to an exposed woman's breast whenever he would spot one.
Which brings to mind one image (that I believe was there), of Mary interceding with her Son who was inteceding with the Father for a group of petitioners who were at the bottom of the painting. In the image the people small stand pleading under an image of Mary who appears larger than life, who holds one of her breast out toward Christ saying (portrayed by words flowing from her to Christ) something to the effect "for the sake of the milk that I nurished you with" hear these people's prayers. Jesus then has one hand opening the wound on his side as he looks to the Father in Heaven and says (agains symbolized by words flowing upward) something to the effect "for the sake of the suffering I endured for your glory". I found the whole image an incredible lesson in the nature of sacrifice as essentially a "giving" of oneself for others and how intricate this is to true prayer. Thanks to Joseph who pointed it out to me as another "nummy" image...thanks to the giving of his mother for planting that thought in his mind.
Next, since it was already rush hour and any attempt on fleeing New York would have been in vain. We just bit the bullet and drove right through Manhattan. Down Broadway, up Fifth Avenue, past Rockfeller Center, through Times Square, past Ground Zero, through the Brooklyn Tunnel and then north on I-278 where crawling in traffic we spyed the New York skyline at night to the music of Joseph whining, crying and shouting that he wanted something. We tried to convince him to take his neglected nap and that when he awoke he would indeed get something, but to no avail. Meanwhile Amy tried to read a map but like me found that her reading without the aid of some magnification is failing. When I looked at the map several times when the traffic was at a complete stop, I found that while I could make out roads the numbers were totally illegible. But we made it finally out of Gotham and into the more placid region of Conneticut.
After a flight to Chicago and then to Westchester County we picked up the rental car and proceeded to Manhattan. Flying into White Plains I was amazed at how sparsely populated the area is just a half hour from one of the largest cities in the world. The Westchester County airport had two gates, making it one of the smallest airports I have ever flown into.
After picking up tickets and dropping off books to a generous benefactor who had contacted Amy we headed to the Mother Cabrini Shrine in upper Manhattan. Here is the final resting place of Saint Mother Cabrini, her body lies in state under the main altar. The walls in the sanctuary contain mosaics of her life, from her commission by the Pope to "go west", to illustrations of her many charitable works. I met with several workers at the shrine to discuss the inclusion of the shrine in a new book that will come out next year entitled The Church's Most Powerful Novenas--a complete revision of the (Mention Your Request) book that will be done more like a prayer book. One of the workers gave me a second class relic--they were all very cooperative!
While we were there one of the Shrine directors was giving a presentation to a group of students visiting the shrine. I only caught part, but it was fascinating to hear--like a scene out of an episode of CSI the details of Mother Cabrini's remains when her tomb was openned some twelve years after her death. All done with a thick New York accent!!
We had lunch at a little New York diner, where Joseph gobbled down his grilled cheese (when promised that he would receive a cookie from a nearby bakery).
When we returned to where I had parked, we found another car had double parked next to us--blocking us in. The driver was in the car though, so it didn't seem like it would be a problem--until the driver found they couldn't start their car. Another driver, also double parked got out and tried to help the driver of the car that wouldn't start by banging the battery cables. Finally the second driver moved his car and I was able snake my way out. I found evey New Yorker I encountered on this trip to be incredibly friendly--are the days of the rude New Yorker a distant memory now or did we just luck out?
Next we went to the Cloisters, where there was plenty of parking. By now it was raining a cold damp drizzle. Taking turns lugging Joseph around and trying to keep him entertained in a beautiful peaceful setting is no small chore. He did take a fancy to a small bird (fake) in a cage that hung from the ceiling in one of the rooms. And he was able to identify figures of Mary, Jesus on the cross and "nummy" referring to an exposed woman's breast whenever he would spot one.
Which brings to mind one image (that I believe was there), of Mary interceding with her Son who was inteceding with the Father for a group of petitioners who were at the bottom of the painting. In the image the people small stand pleading under an image of Mary who appears larger than life, who holds one of her breast out toward Christ saying (portrayed by words flowing from her to Christ) something to the effect "for the sake of the milk that I nurished you with" hear these people's prayers. Jesus then has one hand opening the wound on his side as he looks to the Father in Heaven and says (agains symbolized by words flowing upward) something to the effect "for the sake of the suffering I endured for your glory". I found the whole image an incredible lesson in the nature of sacrifice as essentially a "giving" of oneself for others and how intricate this is to true prayer. Thanks to Joseph who pointed it out to me as another "nummy" image...thanks to the giving of his mother for planting that thought in his mind.
Next, since it was already rush hour and any attempt on fleeing New York would have been in vain. We just bit the bullet and drove right through Manhattan. Down Broadway, up Fifth Avenue, past Rockfeller Center, through Times Square, past Ground Zero, through the Brooklyn Tunnel and then north on I-278 where crawling in traffic we spyed the New York skyline at night to the music of Joseph whining, crying and shouting that he wanted something. We tried to convince him to take his neglected nap and that when he awoke he would indeed get something, but to no avail. Meanwhile Amy tried to read a map but like me found that her reading without the aid of some magnification is failing. When I looked at the map several times when the traffic was at a complete stop, I found that while I could make out roads the numbers were totally illegible. But we made it finally out of Gotham and into the more placid region of Conneticut.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)