Author: Richard Chonak

Christ the Bridegroom comes into our lives in a time and manner of His own mysterious choosing. In Holy Week He comes beaten, bound, and crowned with thorns, as the icon of “Extreme Humility” shows Him. Behold, the Bridegroom is coming in the middle of the night: blessed is the servant He shall find awake. But the one He shall find neglectful will not be worthy of Him. Beware, there-fore, O my soul! Do not fall into deep slumber, lest you be delivered to death and the door of the kingdom be closed on you. Watch instead, and cry out: “Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O God! Through the intercession of the angels, have mercy on us.” (Troparion of the Bridegroom, Matins of Great and Holy Tuesday) Bishop John Elya reminds us in his Lenten message to keep alive our first love, our desire for the second coming of Christ.

For bloggers interested in arranging regional meetings, I’ve put together a list of “St. Blog” weblogs by country and US state, to the extent I could figure them out. Please drop me a note if you can help fill in the missing info, or have any corrections. My list is based on Gerard Serafin’s roster.

Respect for life:
Singapore archdiocese takes measures to reduce SARS risk
Maybe not quite so good a respect for life:
Hit-and-run nuns on the loose in Bergamo

The board of the Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston has voted to accept a donation (with strings attached) from the dissenters of VOTF. Bp. Lennon, the apostolic administrator, is exercising some forbearance and not sacking them.

Board leaders declined to give the exact tally, but it was nearly unanimous, according to chairman Neal F. Finnegan.
The decision followed a private meeting Friday at which Finnegan and vice chairman Peter Meade said they told Lennon they were caught between obeying him or taking money to help the poor.

These men seem to have forgotten that Catholic Charities isn’t supposed to operate as a secular humanitarian agency, but as part of the Church’s mission, and according to the Church’s values. If the board helps VOTF play its political game, it’s harming peace and communion in the Church.
I guess it’s time for me to drop CC a note and ask them to refund whatever donations I made to them in the past. There are plenty of organizations fulfilling the Gospel’s calling to help the poor.

(1) Do try to give up the cussin’ and blasphemin’, especially during Lent.
(2) Don’t use your real name.
(3) Vary your modus operandi.
(Hey, Mark Shea, are these going to be useful in your new job?)