MONDAY DIARY: ALMOST EXCRUCIATINGLY TRUE STORIES: I'M SORRY, THE PERSON TO WHICH YOU ARE SPEAKING IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE

On why meetings at St. Sebastian Parish cannot last longer than one hour:

FRIDAY POTPOURRI: PARISH HISTORY: 1930 - THE FLYING PRIEST LANDS IN AKRON

St. Sebastian Parish made front page, above the fold news of the Saturday evening edition of the Akron Beacon Journal on September 24th.  Father Schulte O.M.I. visited Father Zwisler at the rectory to tell of his adventures.  The reporter describes him as “adventurous in spirit, religious of mind, and powerful of body.”  He founded a missionary group whose charism it was to take care of missionaries that were far from away from medicine and science.  The group had a fleet of 300 motor cars, 15 boats, 12 airplanes and 12 wireless stations located all over the world.  See more HERE and HERE.

Fr. Schulte was a pilot and flew dangerous missions “over thousands of miles of Arctic wastes” bringing aid to those who needed it.  Of his many stories, “his longest and greatest flight, probably, was when he flew 2,200 miles to Arctic Bay to reach a French missionary brother, Father Cochard, who was dangerously ill, and fly him to medical aid,” an 18 hour plane ride away.  

It should be remembered what an extraordinary thing flight still was in those days.  Wilbur and Orville’s famous flight in 1903 was only 45 years before this interview.  This was quite a remarkable and daring feat.  Because of it, this priest was to be awarded France’s medal of heroism, an honor rarely bestowed.

The flying priest was in town trying to raise funds for another plane.  It was to be the first flying chapel in the world.  He was a colorful man with an equally colorful history.  He had made his first flight aboard the great German airship “Hindenburg,” which had met its fiery end the year before this article was written.  He had also flown in what was known then as the Great War.  “I flew for Germany, but without machine guns.  But let us not talk of war.”

But the silence on the topic would not last long.  War broke out in Europe the very next year on September 1st, 1939 and the “Great War” would no longer stand out as a unique word event, gaining for itself the numeral I to distinguish it from what would become Word War II.

NO SHAVE NOVEMBER

It’s no shave November and a number of priests (I am among them) are letting our faces go a little rogue.  If you are a guy, I recommend it to you too.

Not everybody is happy about it.  Some are adamantly opposed to the idea.  My sister is among them.  We have reached an agreement not to harp on it too much.  (It will grow one inch longer than agreed for every comment.)

Growing a beard is one of the last socially acceptable purely masculine things that a man may do.  By and large, men’s private organizations & associations (except for sleazy ones - which by the way is NOT truly masculine) have been deemed inappropriate, often legally so.  The BOY scouts for goodness sake is now becoming gender neutral!  In some states (California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington) even the distinctions between male and female restrooms are starting to become blurred (depending on your point of view.)  Increasingly the portrayed role of men in movies and shows portrays men’s roles as silly and useless.

There is a fundamental need for men in society - and more importantly a need for men to be men.  (Whatever is said here about men is echoed equally for women.)  Men need a time and a place to hang out with men.  In general, men have a role and way of being that, taken over a whole populace, tends to differ from women.  Except where it is dangerous or damaging (in which case it would not be truly masculine or Christian) men need the freedom to be who they are without being slapped on the knuckles with a ruler.

I know.  “Oh poor brave, strong men.”  But the male psyche is more fragile than one might initially imagine.  And it is in the suppression of the masculine that the very abuses some are trying to squash start appearing (like militant beard growth.)

Many police and firefighters are having facial growing contests during November to help raise funds for charities.  I HAVE NO DOUBT that sooner rather than later, somebody will sue to have this gender inequality practice brought to a halt.  I would not be terribly surprised that one day in the future this will be a matter of national concern.  If trends continue as they are today, it will not be the case that all women will have to have shots in order to have the ability to grow beards, it will be that all men will have to have shots to kill theirs off.

To be a balanced society, we need men to be men and women to be women.  That there is, and always has been, and always will be those who don’t fit well into those categories does not negate the need for them (and the need to accept those who don’t fit well into them.)  But the solution is not to suppress the sexes (when has it EVER solved a problem by forcing people to not be who they are) but to celebrate them and make them healthy expressions.

That’s why I grow my beard (plus it is less of a pain AND I have a sensitive chin) and recommend it to other men.  In a similar way, I tell a young that he needs to at least seriously consider once the possibility of the priesthood.  They don’t have to do it, but they have to ask the question once as a legitimate option.  It is the same with a beard.  All men should try it once to fully experience what they are capable of.

There is a person I know in New York.  They have a road on their property that people use as a public right of way but is really owned by that person.  The city recommends that they close down the street once a year in order that the locals know and remember that it is a privilege and not a right for them to use that road.  Likewise, No Shave November is that once a year time for us to remember that, no matter how much society may want to believe otherwise, there is a difference between the genders and a beard is just a friendly, though not always appreciated, reminder of that.

TUESDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK CCCCIX

FINDING TRUTH WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND:  "She was starting to see that life was like being handed the ingredients one at a time for a meal you were supposed to make, never knowing what was next.  You might start with chicken, a few carrots, a sack of potatoes, and think, Now we're getting somewhere - but the next three items would be a bicycle tire, a top hat, and bag of penny candy, and you had to figure out how to use it all."  from Brendan Matthew's "World of Tomorrow"

QUOTE II:  "He'd learned long ago that if you kept the booze in the bottle, you looked like a drunk, but if you emptied it into a fancy cut-glass decanter, you were a man who appreciated the finer things in life."  same source.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Standing ovation at Sunday's organ concert.  St. Sebastian is now starting an organ scholarship fund  in Lynn Frey-Steward's honor to help make sure that there are organists in the future.  Contact me if you would like to donate.

This came in the mail: Most Reverend Nelson Perez, Bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland, will offer a special Mass for Peace and Healing at noon on Thursday, November 9 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Cleveland.  This Mass presents an opportunity for people to gather as a community and unite our prayers into one asking God’s love and mercy and an end to the senseless violence that plagues our society today.  The Mass will be streamed live HERE

Fr. Simone giving a potential mustache a try for No Shave November at the Tacos and Trivia night.

PV sent THIS in.  Considering the masthead of this blog this is pretty cool news!

How is this comfortable?  (16.22)

EP sent THIS in on the 22nd anniversary of the release of the Shawshank Redemption.

From the ToT AKRON Facebook Page:  "Magic is the only artform specifically intended to produce wonder." (Michael Weber) Come this Wednesday, November 8 at 7pm at Ray's Place of Fairlawn to hear Mark Cook, member of St. Sebastian & a magician, speak on "Mercy, Mary & Magic." We look forward to seeing all of you there!"  Follow the Facebook Page HERE.

Here is part II of last week's video.

MONDAY DIARY: ALMOST EXCRUCIATINGLY TRUE STORIES: CAN YOU NAME THIS TUNE?

God sends the world blessings in ways in which we may not even be aware.  For example, I am so conflicted when it comes to assigning names that perhaps it was for the good of not messing up another human being that God called me to a vocation that required me to be a celibate.

I blame my sister Mickie for my lack in confidence for naming things.  When I was just a jot older than a foal, we got a dog.  My ever magnanimous sister offered to let me name him, which I did in an instant.

I mean, who WOULDN'T want a dog named Jonathon Benjamin?  She gave me the compromise names of either Raccoon (how THAT was a compromise I don't know) or Benny.  I chose Raccoon.  For a week.  And then was adamant about changing it to Benny which confused the entire neighborhood for six months.  As a result I have had difficulties assigning names in general every since.

When trying to name the new dog I tried to find names related to Sebastian.  They had crazy names back then.

The compromise name this time was Archer.  But . . . gee . . . this dog was just NOT an Archer.  Besides the upraised eyebrows of people thinking that he was named after the cartoon, far too many people kept saying, "Cool name.  Wrong dog."

So it was changed to G. K. Chesterton.  Chester for short.

And I like Chester.  People seem to go "Awwwww" when they hear it.  But is he a Chester?  You know, I don't know if he is the brightest bulb in the chandelier,  but I see potential in him.  He's just like St. Thomas Aquinas during is "Dumb Ox" stage.

FRIDAY POTPOURRI: PARISH HISTORY: THE GREEN EYED MONSTER

By the 21st century, none of the Catholic high schools in the diocese were schools of a particular parish.  But in the 1930s it was not uncommon in Akron for a high school to be a parish ministry.  St. Vincent Parish had a high school as did St. Mary Parish.  It is very clear that Father Zwisler had every intention of building a parish high school at St. Sebastian.  Diocesan archive records reveal some of the lobbying efforts in this endeavor. 

In a letter dated June of 1938, Fr. Zwisler wrote a letter to Auxiliary Bishop McFadden in response to some sort of concern that had been brought to his attention that St. Sebastian was not supporting St. Vincent High School.  “The fact is,” he wrote, “that St. Sebastian parish, and St. Martha, and Annunciation to a lesser degree, have made it possible for St. Vincent to maintain its parochial high school.  Out of an enrollment of approximately 400 students, about 200 of them are tuition students from the above named parties at $50 a student per annum.  Out of the 200 tuition students, about 80, or nearly one half, are from St. Sebastian Parish.  

“As for furthering the great cause of Catholic secondary education, St. Sebastian Parish is far in the lead among parishes in Akron who have no parochial high school of its own.  Out of a class of 40 students who graduated from our 8th grade this year, 20 have enrolled at St. Vincent, 3 at the Elms, 3 at Sacred Heart Academy, and 2 at Prairie du Chein.  Seventy five percent of the class is entering a Catholic high school, in spite of the fact that we have no Catholic parochial high school of our own.  I don’t believe this record is surpassed by even St. Vincent and St. Mary Parishes who have parochial high schools of their own. 

“If, in conclusions, I may offer a suggestion, born of my knowledge of Akron affairs, I believe a Catholic Central high School, if feasible, might be of incalculable value to the Church in Akron.

“With every token of esteem, I remain, Yours very sincerely, Hilary A. Zwisler.”

TO TINSEL OR NOT TO TINSEL, THAT IS THE QUESTION

I am all for Halloween parties, parades, getting dressed up, and going Trick or Treating.  I don’t believe in ghosts (at least the popular notion of what a ghost is) but I do believe in ghost stories.  If you looked up over the front door of the rectory on All Hallow’s Eve Night, you would have seen my (hastily) carved pumpkin glowing.

The key is, however, that these are not odd ways of behaving floating out there on their own.  They are an extension of what happens at the celebration of the Mass first.  That is what (and always has) gives meaning all of these otherwise odd behaviors we exhibit at this time of year.  The Christian community comes together to celebrate all of the saints (especially those not officially recognized) and in our joy we burst forth from the church doors to continue the celebration in our homes with candy and music and costumes.

If it were not for a grounding in faith, this season would be a sign of a slight madness that overtakes our nation.  Why go about disguised as someone (or something) else on this particular day?  If we are going to unmoor it from its religious roots, why not change it so that it is always on a Friday and make it a three day weekend?  Or better yet, move it to early October when the weather is better.  Why not make every Friday a costume day?  Why give random strangers candy only once a year?  Why take a gourd and carve a face on it?  Why not just buy a ceramic one that you can re-use every year and be done with it?  Or if it is so cool, just leave it up year round.  Without faith, scratch too deeply and all of these celebrations become inane.  Fun perhaps - but inane.  

Thanksgiving is coming up.  Without God, what exactly are we giving thanks for?  “Thank you turkey for being food and letting us eat you.”  As if the Turkey had any say.  “Thank you Mom for making this fantastic meal!”  But she makes dinner every day and why make her do it on a day when we are thanking her for making food?  “Thank you for being my friends/family” might cut it but why do it especially on this day?  Do it another day when things are not so pressing.  “Thank you cosmos for being as you are instead of another way.”  Maybe.  But if existence is pure happenstance, it means there is nothing to thank or to be thanked that matters.  

But if there is a Creator who provides and we know things do not have to be as they are, we give thanks because we are debtors.  It reminds us of The Other.  We are paupers who need to remember we are all in this boat together so don’t let your pride get too high.  And these are things to celebrate.

If there is no God (at least a Pagan god), to Hades with all of the tinsel, the Rabbit, and the shoes placed outside the door.  It is absolutely silly.  Let’s just do our own thing when it is convenient for us, with music we actually like to hear ,when we like to hear it.  I’ll shop for you when there is a sale and let’s worry about things that really matter like Flag Day.  

TUESDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK CCCCVIII

FINDING TRUTH WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND:  "'The Fathers of the Church say that prayer, properly understood, is nothing other than becoming a longing for God.'  The life of prayer is already in us: if we reach into our deepest desires, we will discover our prayer.  To 'pray without ceasing' then, as the Apostle Paul admonishes us to do, one must learn how to live within the painful 'ache' of constant longing."  from Christopher West's, "Fill These Hearts"

IN OTHER NEWS:

6 Ways to get to now your patron saint better.  Read HERE.

Here are the latest inductees into the Bell Tower Hall of Fame.  Seminarian Joseph McCarren was here on Priesthood Sunday to encourage vocations.  After Mass we had a dinner for young men who would at least ask the question "should I be a priest?" and then we climbed up into the bell tower.  There was a great sunset of which you can see a sliver in the background.

P. V. sent an article in about architecture.  It reads in part, "More important than style, however, is how a new estate or village, say, is laid out. You have to get the roads right, the corners and junctions, the sightlines or lack of them, the pavements or shared surfaces."  Read more HERE.

She also sent in an article about Mark Wahblerg that reads in part, "Hollywood film star Mark Wahlberg, who is a Roman Catholic, recently admitted that he made some poor choices in his past and asked God to forgive him for starring in 'Boogie Nights,' the 1997-hit movie about the porn industry."  Read more HERE.

This Sunday at 4:30 Lynn Steward will be giving a 50th anniversary concert at St. Sebastian playing, "Things I practice when I think nobody is listening."  There will be pieces even kids recognize.  I hope to see you there!

There are two events on November 4th.  Tacos and Trivia will be in Zwisler Hall at 6:30PM.  Tickets are $30 which includes two beverage tickets.  21 and over please.

Earlier that day at 5:30 is a Chili Fest at the Julie Billiart School of St. Sebastian, Akron.

11 minute video on Why I Became Catholic

 

MONDAY DIARY: ALMOST EXCRUCIATINGLY TRUE STORIES: KNOCK IT OFF

Every year: All Hallow’s Eve

I buy my favorite treats

for on this night I still believe

that one day someone will come knocking at my door.

Gazing out upon the night

from my window high

wondering - wondering if I might

spy someone knocking on my door.

With locked doors and darkened lights

I do my best to add

to the spookiness and the frights

of someone wanting to knock on my door.

For five years and then five more

I wait for “Trick or Treat!”

But what am I doing this for?

for no one comes to knock on my door.

Then late at night: our beggars dodged

we come to life and merry

eat our way through our bags of stodge

for we have avoided someone knocking on the door! 

FRIDAY POTPOURRI: PARISH HISTORY: 1938 - 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

This year would also mark the 25th anniversary of Father Zwisler’s ordination.  In May, hundreds would turn out to offer their congratulations to the dynamic and driven priest.  A scrapbook presented to Father, leather bound with beautifully illuminated pages, contained extensive newspaper clipping of the event, hundreds of signatures of congratulations and even some telegrams.  One Western Union telegram proclaimed:

CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES FOR MANY SUCCESSFUL YEARS TO COME. WILL SEE YOU SUNDAY IN CINCINNATI AT ANTHONYS= GEORGE A. PARKER.

After a listing of his many accomplishments and a description of the celebrations to come, one newspaper wrote, “St. Sebastian’s parish property . . . is a showplace among diocesan buildings.  Father Zwisler on June 6th will celebrate the 10th year of the launching of the parish.   Plans are now under way to erect a rectory on the parish grounds.  Priests of the parish now make their home at 100 Elmdale Avenue.”

A letter from the Knights of Columbus says in part:

“The Knights of Columbus joins with your many friends in congratulating you on the twenty-fifth anniversary of your ordination to the priesthood.  Your extensive education, both in this country and abroad, your fine character and your devotion to God, equipped you well to be selected as a leader in the Church.

“We were pleased when you consented to act as the Chaplain of our Council.  Your words of helpful advice to us have always been attentively received, and we appreciated the sacrifice of your time for our benefit.

“May your future years in the service of God and humanity be as fruitful as those for which we now celebrate your jubilee.  Sincerely yours, C. C. Lippa, Grand Knight.”

There was much to celebrate during what must have been an otherwise difficult year for Fr. Zwisler.  In a post script of a letter written to Auxiliary Bishop McFadden dated July 15th, 1938, Father wrote, “My aged mother is dying of cancer.  The doctors do not give her a month.  An occasional prayer for a speedy delivery from her suffering will be much appreciated.  H. A. Z.”

JACK OF ALL TRADES - MASTER OF FEW

“I’m starting to get a taste of what’s involved with being a pastor.”

This was a line from a newly ordained priest for the Diocese of Cleveland.  He had visited St. Sebastian on Monday night to talk to our confirmation candidates, their parents, and sponsors about being on fire for God.  Afterward in the rectory he made that comment about being a pastor.  He was “Home Alone,” his pastor being on his annual retreat.  “I’m not running the parish,” he was quick to clarify, “but I’m discovering there is a lot more to it than I originally imagined.”

Besides being an “expert” (as much as anybody is) on matters of faith, God, and people’s souls, there are budgets and roofs and counseling.  Art, education, tax laws, city ordinances, Increasing federal laws, and being able to play the politician (you can’t say yes to everything but try to keep people involved and happy) and more are all nuances of a pastor.

 
“I had to say, ‘No,’ to someone today,” he said.  “Gosh was that difficult.  It was something that the person really wanted and I knew the pastor (who was away) didn’t.  I had to find a way to say no without getting this very enthusiastic person upset.”  It is a very difficult thing.

That was an interesting lesson to learn for such a recently ordained priest.  

Then the next morning tragedy struck his parish.  One of the school children had died.  Pulled away from Mass, he had to run out to scene to pray and comfort.  But Mass could not be left unfinished and so he had to returned to finish Mass after witnessing this as duty called him to do.  But things would not end there.  This is something with which they will be dealing for a long time.  

Fortunately the pastor was able to hurry home and assist with his wizened and time tested years dealing with all kinds of things and together, along with a wonderful, faith filled community, they began the process of coping and healing.

This weekend is Priesthood Sunday.  Imagine how different things would have been if there was not a priest on hand at the parish that morning - if there were not someone living at the parish that could handle emergencies around the clock - if there were not someone free of familial obligations so as to be able to be that representative of Christ (however imperfectly we do so) whenever and for as long as needed.  Please pray for vocations.  Suggest to a young man that you think he might make a good priest.  Be a part of the solution of making sure our Catholic community is well tended in the future.

FOR THE FAMILY, PARISHIONERS, AND PRIESTS OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES

Thinking of you and sending you prayers.  What follows is a quote from Charles Dicken's. "The Curiosity Shop"

When death strikes down the innocent and young, from every fragile form from which He lets the panting spirit free, a hundred virtues arise, in shapes of mercy, charity, and love, to walk the world and bless it.  Of every tear that sorrowing mortals shed on such green graves, some good is born, some gentler nature comes.  In the Destroyer's steps there spring up bright creatures that defy his power, and his dark path becomes a light to heaven.

TUESDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK CCCCVII

FINDING TRUTH WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND:  "Today, even the Church is increasingly fearful of inflicting pain: afraid of exercising appropriate authority or discipling her members, afraid of telling them hard truths."  from Patricia Snow's article, "Empathy Is Not Charity" in First Things Magazine.

QUOTE II:  "The saint is not empathetic; he is charitable, which means he always wills the ultimate good of his neighbor."  same source

IN OTHER NEWS:

Our beloved Poor Clares in downtown Cleveland finally have updated their website a little bit.  They have a fund raiser coming up about which you might have some interest.  See HERE.

Out walking the dogs early one morning and saw this at Schneider Park.  

B. S. sent in an article concerning the Pope and the death penalty.  I remember when John Paul II greatly curtailed the use of it. Pope Francis appears to take it even further.  Read more HERE.

P. V. sent in THIS article about Christopher Columbus.  In part it reads, "It is unfortunate to see what was once a uniting figure—who represented American courage, optimism, and even immigrants—is suddenly in the crosshairs for destruction."

Our first Trunk or Treat was the other night.  Here I am with Super Priest.  (I really don't know what I dressed as.)

E. P. sent in THIS article, "Did You Pray for Your Pastor Today?"

Here are some up and coming events that you might like to know about:

Our music director will be celebrating 50 years of being an organist and is having a celebratory concert on November 5th at 4:30.  Lots of fun music that kids too will recognize and enjoy.  Bring friends, family, and the unsuspecting stranger walking down the street.  Free and open to the public.

Theology on the Rocks is returning to D'Agnese's.  Newly ordained, Fr. Jim Cosgrove will be speaking.

Tacos and Trivia is coming up on November 4th at 6:30PM in Zwisler Hall.  More information and ticket prices can be found HERE.

Maybe you are not so much a taco person than a chili person.  You are in luck!  The Julie Billiart School of St. Sebastian, Akron is having its second annual chili fest on the same day.  (I happen to be both a chili person and taco person and so will be at both!)

The next Theology on Tap will be at Ray's Place with St. Sebastianite Mark Cook speaking and doing magic.

Both ToT & ToR are ministries of St. Sebastian Parish intended for all.  Thank you to those who put so much time and effort into these ministries.

Here is another clip about art sent in by D. S.