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by Br. Daryl Charron, C.PP.S.
I recently got another lesson in Vietnamese culture as it relates to charity, generosity and hospitality. The spirit of Advent inspired our candidates in formation to do some outreach ministry with a group of children with cognitive delays. The Dominican Sisters of the Eucharist care for these children in their school called Hoang Mai. The Precious Blood candidates provided the children with care packages of snacks that they assembled beforehand. In addition to bringing food, the candidates also played the guitar and taught the children dancing, and also played games with them. They asked the children questions about Christmas. The 65 students, ranging from the ages of 5-16, enjoyed the entertainment. Our candidates in formation were especially touched to learn that some of the sisters were in chapel praying for a meaningful time for the candidates interaction with their children.
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The New Wine Press, Vol 25, no 5 January 2017
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Winter Solstice Celebration of Light
The following is a reflection by Companion Kathy Keary on the December 21st event at Precious Blood Center in Liberty.
What a spectacular evening! We began with a reflection from Fr. Joe Nassal that redirected us from the business of the holidays to deep personal reflection—a pause in this fast-paced time of year. Fr. Joe invited us to a time to transform the part of us that remains in darkness. We were encouraged to celebrate the light—the Christ child who lives within each of us. In order to find this light, we must meet the darkness in our life. Fr. Joe encouraged us to embrace both the darkness and the light, for our God is the God of both. No matter the enormity of the darkness, a flicker remains—a twinkle that will not allow our hope to die. It is through the scars of our personal darkness, that the light emerges. The evening was a time to create space in our heart for the new person being born within us.
With lit candle in hand, we processed to the labyrinth in the dark of night. Luminaries marked our path. Guided by Fr. Joe’s words, we thought about what we wanted the labyrinth to be for us that night. We heard the invitation of the solstice to linger, to soak in the experience, and to be open to what God was calling us to in that moment. Fr. Joe compared the labyrinth to the still small voice within each of us as we moved into the center of the path. The center of the labyrinth contained a fire where we paused to ponder our true identity, to breathe in the Spirit, to release all that is not our authentic self, and let go of all that imprisons us. We walked away from the center as people who believed that the light is more powerful than the dark.
We then gathered in the dining room and parlor for a simple meal and fellowship. Joy was evident by the conversation and laughter that filled the space. I am grateful for the many people who chose to join in the celebration of the winter solstice.
A Merry Little Christmas
Dear Friends,
photo by Ruth Mather
The Christmas story is about small things—a little town of Bethlehem, a humble young virgin, a confused carpenter, shepherds who smell like their sheep. And the smallest, of course, is a child born in a manger. But the consequences of these small things reflect the largest of truths—the universal truths of love, peace, mercy, and compassion. In his new book, The Soul of Christmas, Thomas Moore views Christmas as “the prime opportunity to renew the birth of that child” within his own soul. Two events this week helped to renew the birth of Jesus within me.
On Sunday night in south central Los Angeles, I joined Father Dave Matz and more than a hundred acolytes, servers, children, youth, parents and grandparents from St. Agnes Parish in the annual Posada. We gathered in the parish parking lot and then processed down the sidewalk along the busy Vermont Street. Four young men from the youth group carrying the manger scene led us in the procession. Many of the children and the elderly carried tambourines or other instruments to make joyful noise. Others carried and waved Christmas decorations that sparkled under the street lights. We walked slowly, singing songs and celebrating this annual tradition that goes on for nine days. At Saint Agnes, each of the nine nights of the Las Posadas is led by a different group from the parish and commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph looking for lodging as Mary prepares to give birth to Jesus.
After walking several blocks, we stopped in front of a house where we sang more songs and more prayers were said. And then the family who lived in the house welcomed us through the gate and led us to the backyard that was illuminated with Christmas lights and decorations. We concluded with the ritual with more prayers and songs, followed by a festive meal of tamales and enchiladas. The presence of so many children whose eyes and smiles radiated such wonder and joy would awaken the child in the oldest or coldest codger.
The second event that renewed the spirit of the Christ child in me was on Wednesday night, December 21, at Precious Blood Renewal Center in Liberty. More than fifty people gathered to celebrate the Winter Solstice by reflecting on images of light on the darkest night of the year, and to walk the reconciliation labyrinth. We started our evening in Schaefer Mission House where I reflected on the winter solstice as a time for transcendence and transformation. As part of our Litany of Light, I invited each of us to hold in our hearts a personal intention where transformation is needed in our lives; where we long for the light of Christ to scatter the darkness of doom or despair. Following our prayer, each person lit a candle to symbolize his or her intention, and we began our pilgrimage to the reconciliation labyrinth.
Luminaries guarded the path to the labyrinth to guide our journey and encircled our destination. One by one, we arrived and walked the circular pattern of the labyrinth, holding our intention and our candle. Slowly, prayerfully, we arrived at the center of the labyrinth where a blazing fire warmed us, illuminating our faces and beckoning us to believe in this sacred space that the intention for transformation in ourselves, in a relationship, in our family, community, society, nation, or world we were carrying in our hearts would begin.
After each pilgrim completed his or her journey to the center of the labyrinth and spent time in silent prayer, we returned to the center building where a simple meal of soups, bread, and fruit awaited us. Both the center’s dining room and circle room were filled with folks gathered around tables, sharing soulful conversation and stories of the journey. Old friendships were renewed and several new friendships were forged in this celebration of light on the longest night of the year.
Both the Las Posadas in Los Angeles and the Winter Solstice Celebration of Light and Labyrinth Walk in Liberty reflected how “Christmas is the prime opportunity to renew the birth of Jesus with his new vision of humanity in myself,” Thomas Moore writes. “The vision is born in me once again…and I am ready to live a life that is a challenge to the way of the world with its self-interest, excessive aggression and failure to heal.” These were not sentimental strolls down memory lane but rather “a celebration of the Jesus vision” that Christmas conveys which calls for a radical transformation. As Moore writes, “The child lying in the manger would become the most radical of all spiritual visionaries, showing us how to live more joyfully and communally.”
These two events in Los Angeles and Liberty, small in the larger scope of world events, awakened the Christmas spirit in me. I am grateful to the people of St. Agnes and the staff at Precious Blood Renewal Center for their extraordinary efforts in preparing and carrying out these two sacred traditions to renew the spirit of hope and peace in me and so many others. May this season that reveals large truths in small moments of grace awaken the child, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, in all of our souls.
So, my friends, I pray you and your loved ones “have yourself a merry little Christmas” and “let your hearts be light.” As you “hang a shining star upon the highest bough…have yourself a merry little Christmas now.”
With peace in the Blood of Christ,
Joe Nassal, C.PP.S.
Provincial Director
Advent Day of Reflection #2: Those Who Wait in Hope
by Kathy Keary, Kansas City Companion
Gabino Zavala, the Kansas City Province’s Justice and Peace coordinator, led our second Advent Day of Reflection on December 10th at Precious Blood Center in Liberty.
Gabino shared touching personal stories of hope. One such story occurred when he was a baby. His family was caught in fire in a theater in Mexico. His father and sister were unable to escape. His mother was severely burned and spent months in a sanatorium. Once she recovered she faced the daunting task of being a single mother of her five living children. They eventually migrated to the United States where his mother found employment. She did not lose hope as she was certain that God was with them in their struggle. It is this same hope that motivates the refugees of today.
Hope requires patience, perseverance, trust in God, an understanding of our God, and a belief that God will not abandon us. It allows us to know that what seems impossible is actually possible. In life, we can chose pessimism or possibility. Hope, a gift of the Spirit, allows us to experience the power of God and to be confident in our faith. It invites us to conversion, gives us a voice, and enables and empowers us even when we feel overpowered or paralyzed. We are called to be agents of hope in the world with masses of people overwhelmed by their reality. Jesus is our role model who ministered to the least, the lost, and the last.
Gabino also shared stories from scripture and history that spoke to the virtue of hope. One such story was the beautiful account of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego ten years after the Spanish had conquered the indigenous people in Mexico. The indigenous people had lost all hope as the Spaniards tried to stomp out their spirituality in an attempt to convert them to Catholicism. Because of their undesirable means to change the people, little success was achieved. Our Lady appeared in 1531speaking Juan Diego’s native language and looking like an indigenous woman versus the typical European image of Mary. She respected the dignity of the people unlike the treatment rendered by the Spaniards. Our Lady’s appearance gave the people hope, and conversions to Catholicism followed. Instead of the forceful means of the Spaniards, Our Lady humbly came to them as one of them. She stands as a beacon of hope not only for Mexico but for all of the Americas.