Fix You

This piece of art was created by Br. Travis Gunther, SDB. The intention behind this piece was to illustrate how we hurt others, intentionally or unintentionally. We need to realize that we are hurt and that we can hurt others. Once we realize this, we can then begin the process of forgiveness for it is the only end to this cycle of pain and hurt. And as it says at the end of the video, "the way things are, are not the way things have to be."

A Willing Desire To Give Our Entire Self To Christ

     Yesterday Fr. Dennis Hartigan from the Don Bosco Preparatory community in Ramsey, New Jersey gave an evening of recollection at Don Bosco Residence.  He geared his talk to the novena of Mary Help of Christians--her solemnity is celebrated on May 24.

     Fr. Dennis used the story of the Wedding Feast at Cana as a lead in.  He noted that Mary was able to “send” Jesus along the way even when he questioned whether his “hour” had come (Jo 2: 4).  But he followed through, and having  the stone jars filled with water and making them into wine, he affirmed this couple’s wedding reception, and he gave himself entirely to the will of God.  Sometimes we are asked to do things that we would rather not do, but  we need to remember that when we are sent, Mary will be with us along the way.  God’s kingdom is built  when we are willing to give our entire lives over to the mission of Christ.

     Our willingness to submit our entire selves to God’s saving plan, even when we may not like it, will bring about the best vintage, like it did at The Wedding Feast at Cana.  May we know that our Our Lady Help of Christian’s is among us, so that we freely give over our entire selves to be at the service of God’s kingdom.  

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Scriptural Passage: Mark 1:17

Core Shape: Heart (If you take the wheat and follow it up on one side, then follow the sail up on the other side you can begin to see the image of the heart.) This is really the core of Don Bosco’s charism.

Wheat & Grapes: Elements of priestly ministry.

The lamb: symbolizes Jesus who is the lamb of God and its Salesian connection is of Don Bosco’s dream of 9 where wild animals turn to lambs.

Fleur De Lis: Look to the right of the lamb you see blades of grass. One of them is shaped like a fleur de lis. Its Salesian connection is also to the dream of 9 where Don Bosco is told I will give you a helper. (The Blessed Mother)

Rock: Symbolic for Peter who is being called, also where the water meets the land. 

The boat: Captures the biblical image of come follow me and I will make you fishers of men. There is a net in the water filled with a catch of fish which is being left behind to follow the Lord. It’s not because the fisherman wasn’t successful rather he left his nets to follow the Lord and obtain the pearl of great price.

Cross: If you look at the Sail you see that at the center is the cross

The bird: Serves a twofold purpose. It can be a sea gull or it can also be the Holy Spirit which breathes life into the sail.

Left half of the image: Cover up the right half of the image and you will see abundance of harvest. Grapes, Wheat, Fish. Everything is calm. This symbolizes for me the calm and fruitful moments of my vocational journey.

Right Half of the Image: Cover up the left half of the image and you will see waves, rocks, and a full sail. It looks as if the boat is going through rougher waters. This symbolizes for me the times of challenge in my vocation. However in these moments the Lord is using these moments to draw me to new places.

Vocation Ministries Visit to Our Lady of Good Counsel, Surrey, B.C. (April 24-28)

Spending the Easter octave at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish (OLGC) in Surrey, I met with a host of youth and catechetical groups, offered an evening of recollection to youth, young adults and parents, facilitated a vocation discernment weekend, and helped with a Sunday liturgy.  Vibrancy characterizes the environment at the parish.  There is always something in the works and on the move in a spirit of joy and playfulness.

On Sunday OLGC took four buses to a celebration of thanksgiving for the canonization of John XXIII and John Paul II.  The Archdiocese of Vancouver hosted this event at the Coliseum arena that gathered an estimated  10,000.  The day was a triumphant celebration of Church.  In the words of the meditation hymn, “O God Beyond All Praising,” the song expressed thanks to God for the tremendous gifts, blessings, and mercies that we shared in celebrating the lives of the newly canonized.

A relic of St. Faustina Kowalska, the uneducated Polish nun who kept a journal of the revelations she received regarding Gods’ mercy captured how the lowly are called upon to collaborate in the saving activity of God.  

Easter Invites Us To Actively Participate With The Risen One

These pictures during work period at Don Bosco Residence evoke a strong presence of springtime irrupting in the Northeast, a sure sign of new life after a gruesome winter.  Easter’s a glorious exultant springtime, a celebration of God’s power irrupting in The Risen One, moving him from death to life.  Jose Pagola, author of Jesus: An Historical Approximation maintains that God was not a “passive” observer at Jesus’ crucifixion; rather God was on the scene to raise Jesus from the clutches of death.  The metaphor of awakening Jesus from the tomb represents the profundity of God’s active role to raise up and stand up the Crucified One.  While Jesus rose from death to life, it is all God’s doing.  Pergola points out that Jesus is “awake because God wakened him; he is standing up because God raised him; he is full of life because God filled him with God’s life” (Pagola, 389).  This loving act of God pervades through the resurrection to us.  Through Eastertide, may we be receptive of God’s desire to fill us up with life so that we can bring that Easter presence of the Risen One to all we encounter.