http://paulisttalk.org Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:47:29 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en If I may be allowed a moment of immodesty, I used to throw the BEST Christmas parties. It all started when I moved into a house seven years ago; I had been living in an apartment for the past few years and if you know anything about apartments, they tend ... http://paulisttalk.org/?p=66 Although this time of year brings typical fights between secularists,  Christians and, where they are numerous, Jews, over outdoor displays in public places, it is hard to conclude from any of this that America is somehow anti-Christmas.  On all the most overt indicators of interest, America breaks the bell curve when it comes to Christmas.  ... http://paulisttalk.org/?p=65 What we have witnessed with the election of Obama is truly a historic and profound moment in American history and he rightly should be congratulated.  Few Americans would disagree that he ran a masterful campaign, one that attempted to transcend the divisive and partisan politics of ... http://paulisttalk.org/?p=64 When I was formally introduced to the Paulists at a vocation retreat not to long ago, I was made aware by fellow discerners that the Paulists were known as ‘workers on the fringe’ in America.  I would later find out that what my fellow discerners were trying to articulate is ... http://paulisttalk.org/?p=63 Fifty years ago, on Sept. 8, 1958, I made my first promises as a Paulist. To show you how long ago it was, I had hair and weighed 137 pounds on the same bone frame you see today. (The frame is the same, but what’s hanging on it is a ... http://paulisttalk.org/?p=62 Although Paul alludes to his livelihood in only a few places, tent-making was not a bad occupation for doing exactly what Paul was so good at doing—for reaching out to other people, particularly those different from himself. Ancient society was often structured around occupations, with those who had similar skills or ... http://paulisttalk.org/?p=61 I was preparing some remarks on the beginning of the Paulist Fathers for our upcoming celebration in October (at Newman Hall-Holy Spirit parish at the University of California at Berkeley), and since July 7 marks the actual 150th anniversary of the Paulist Fathers, these notes will find some initial airing ... http://paulisttalk.org/?p=60 My head, I presume like the heads of my brother Paulists and our Paulist Associates and guests, had to operate on many levels at our Convocation in Washington, DC, at the end of June.  In between the endless greetings and exchanges of information (and jokes) that goes along with socializing, we experienced wonderful liturgies—including the ... http://paulisttalk.org/?p=59 (This reflection is based on two of the readings for the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time -- Romans 8:9,11-13 and Matthew 11:25-30.) I’ll make a confession:  even now, there are weekends when I tune out during the second reading.  Paul writes about abstract ideas.  He often uses long, convoluted sentences.  Paul ... http://paulisttalk.org/?p=58 During my first week on my summer assignment, one of the parishioners of the Paulist parish St. Patrick's took me out with him as he conducted his weekly run for the local Meals-On-Wheels program. It was a late Tuesday morning, but he wasn't in a rush; he didn't have to ... http://paulisttalk.org/?p=57