Your light must shine, even in the darkness

Yesterday my wife and I decided to go to the later Mass (11:30 a.m.) at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Atlanta, and it turned out that the Gospel reading, the homily and God’s sense of humor brought it all home to us in a practical fashion.

In yesterday’s Gospel from Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus challenged us to be “the salt of the earth and the light of the world.” Our actions as Christians must demonstrate to those around us that we follow Jesus Christ and we strive to model him in our words and deeds.

In his homily Deacon Levi Jelks said we must be the salt in a world that has gone on a salt-free diet. “Like salt we as Christians are called to be of special flavor within society, within our church, within our families and on our jobs or on our college campuses,” said Jelks. “We are called to be a beacon of light for those who are spiritually lost and stumbling in moral darkness,” said Jelks.

It’s no small challenge to live up to, but with the help of the Eucharist and reflection upon the sacred Scriptures, it’s possible.

After an enlightening message the liturgy unfolded in a normal fashion until it was time for holy Communion. Just as the priests, deacons and extraordinary ministers of holy Communion were coming off the altar and the ushers were leading people to the foot of the altar, the lights went out in the entire church. The only light in the church was the candlelight on the altar and the ambient light from outdoors penetrating the ornate stained glass windows of the 87-year-old structure.

When the power failed, the instruments accompanying the choir also stopped, so the choir sang, an a cappella version of Reuben Morgan’s “I Give You My Heart.” It was a powerful moment and a compelling visual to go up to receive the body and blood of Christ in a darkened sanctuary after hearing the word of God on the topic of salt and light.

We later found out that the surrounding neighborhood had lost its power as well. It was further indication that our light must shine beyond the boundaries of our church and spill out into the community around us.

Michael Alexander, Staff Photographer

Scenes from Our Move

We put the paper to bed on Tuesday, Jan. 18, and movers showed up on Wednesday.

I took some time to capture photos with my iPhone as people packed up offices and the community areas, gathered photos for archives and discarded the garage door openers that opened up the parking lot gate. You can see the slideshow below.

I'm a short-timer here. Some folks have been there close to 15 years or longer. Leaving for the last time gave some pause. So with the paper's deadline pressing down, a handful gathered for reading a short prayer printed in the National Catholic Reporter. It is written by Servants of Mary Sr. Joyce Rupp.

Psalm 121

Yahweh guards you from harm,
He guards your lives.
He guards your leaving, coming back,
now and for always (Ps 121:7, 8)

Prayer:

Guardian, guide, no pillar of cloud by day nor fire by night,
Yet I sense your presence with me, God of the journey.
You are walking with me into a new land.
You are guarding me in my vulnerable moment.
You are dwelling within me as I depart from here.
You are promising to be my peace as I face the struggles
of distance from friends and security,
the planting of feet and heart in a strange place.

Renew in me a deep trust in you. Calm my anxiousness.
As I reflect on my life I can clearly see
how you have been there in all of my comings.
You will always be with me in everything.
I do not know how I am being resettled,
but I place my life into the welcoming arms of your love.

Encircle my heart with your peace.
May your powerful presence run like a strong thread
through the fibers of my being. Amen.

-Andrew

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

His gifts of beauty surround us

Sometimes in our busy and hurried schedules we fail to stop and take in the beauty of God around us. Recently I was on my way to an assignment when I noticed the December evening sky below.

I've never taken a photograph that God didn't

see first, because it was his creation.

Ordinarily I would have gone about my business, but it was like God was trying to get my attention. ‘Hey Michael, take a look at this!’ It’s the kind of aerial fanfare God often provides, but can go unnoticed. During this season of Advent as we wait for the greatest of all gifts, the birth of our savior Jesus Christ, slow down and take in a full breath of God’s beauty that surrounds us.

Michael Alexander, Staff Photographer

Award Winners Announced

The Office of Black Catholic Ministry recently announced the winners for the January celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

And here they are:

A crayon drawing of a dove with its open wings hovering over people of many colors was the first place winner in the Fourth Annual Chancery’s Choice Poster Contest in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Workers in the archdiocesan downtown office judged the entries. The theme for this year’s January celebration is “Your Kindness Should Be Known to All.”

The 1st Place prize went to Gilliane Conklin, who attends St. Catherine of Siena School, Kennesaw. Olivia House, a student at St. Thomas More School, Decatur, earned 2nd place and Carmela Pagsisihan, Our Lady of Victory School, Tyrone, took home 3rd place.

The winners will be recognized during the Youth Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 16, at St. Peter Claver Regional Catholic School, Decatur.

'With The Blessings Of Fruitful Fields And Healthful Skies'

Saint Michael the Archangel Church, Woodstock, Thanksgiving, 2009.

This week’s Georgia Bulletin hits the streets as many families are gathering together to celebrate Thanksgiving. In this issue, we turn our attention to Catholics who find themselves with much to be thankful for: from an adoptive family to a living donor who gave a kidney to a fellow parishioner.

What many may not realize is the contemporary American holiday was forged in days of war. President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 is credited with establishing it as a national holiday.

Sadly, in 2010, the country finds itself engaged in two wars. So, say a prayer for the safe keeping for people in harms way and those that keep the peace.

From Lincoln’s proclamation:

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

… The country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. ...

You can read the complete proclamation here at the National Park Service website.

A very blessed holiday to you and your loved ones.

Andrew

Staff Writer

Photo by Michael Alexander.

A community honors Our Lady of Divine Providence

On Sunday, November 14, I attended the Spanish Mass at St. Philip Benizi Church, where the liturgy was devoted to the celebration of Our Lady of Divine Providence.

Our Lady of Divine Providence Mass

Since 1989 the Puerto Rican community at the Jonesboro parish has annually honored the Blessed Virgin, who was declared the patroness of Puerto Rico by Pope Paul VI back on November 19, 1969.

Franciscan Father Abelardo Huanca, St. Philip Benizi parochial vicar, was the main celebrant and homilist for the Mass. He was also joined by fellow Franciscans Father John Koziol, pastor, and parochial vicar Father Michael Kolodziej. Deacons Joseph Anzalone, Peter Swan, Etienne Rodriguez and Julio Martinez were also on hand. Rodriguez and Martinez are Puerto Rican natives.

This year’s Our Lady of Divine Providence Mass and celebration was coordinated through the efforts of Father Huanca, Hispanic pastoral assistant Maria Torres and parishioner Haydee Santiago. It was also dedicated to the memory of Deacon Martinez’s late wife Minerva (affectionately know as Minnie). Minerva died on Oct. 16. She was a member of the Our Lady of Divine Providence planning committee, as well as a singer in the Spanish choir.

Choir members sing during the Nov. 14 liturgy.

Speaking of the Spanish choir, they were great. There were 10 vocalists and 11 instrumentalists and percussionists. Choir members wore stoles with an image of the Puerto Rican flag and buttons bearing the face of Minerva Martinez. If music can be described as both spiritual and festive, that’s how the sound added to the liturgy.

The music continued at the reception that followed the Mass, and while the people listened, they shared a meal that consisted of roast pork, rice and pigeon peas, green bananas (marinated in olive oil, with onion and a tad of garlic), salad, flan, and cake.

I covered my first Our Lady of Providence Mass at St. Philip Benizi in November 1997. Bishop Enrique Hernández Rivera, the bishop of the Diocese of Caguas, Puerto Rico at the time, was the main celebrant and homilist.

As history points out, the Marian devotion to Our Lady of Divine Providence originated in Italy, spread to France and Spain and was introduced to Puerto Rico in the early 1850s.

I had an opportunity to kneel before the shrine of Our Lady of Divine Providence in San Juan’s cathedral in 2009, so last Sunday’s Mass brought it full circle for me.

Our Lady of Divine Providence shrine, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Today, November 19, marks the feast day of Our Lady of Divine Providence. “Dios te salve Maria, llena eres de gracia” (Hail Mary Full Of Grace).

Michael Alexander, Staff Photographer