"What a Joy!" has been on my mind this past week. One might ask, "Joy during Lent?" At first glance it seems to be out of place, but in reality it has become the heart of my Lenten journey.
At the vigil mass of Palm (Passion) Sunday, when I was reading the words of Christ as we recounted his passion, I truly felt joy. I experienced great joy for the gift of life and love that Christ bestowed upon his people by allowing himself to die to save us. How powerful a role to play in the liturgy? It was in speaking the words of the Last Supper, that the words of institution in our Eucharistic Prayer took a new life in me.
Just yesterday at the Chrism mass, seeing our beloved Bishop John celebrate the Eucharist with his fellow priests, deacons, and lay ministers truly brought joy to my heart. What a Joy to see our Diocese together in prayer and worship. As I renewed my promises of ordination that I made less than a year ago, I felt a renewal of strength and vision.
Today, as look forward to my first Triduum, that is first Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil as priest, I expect nothing less than what God has in store for me and his people. I cannot wait to participate in the Mass of Lord's Supper and to wash the feet of the people I serve. I look forward to participating in Christ's saving act of love on the cross. I yearn to celebrate the resurrection by welcoming new members to our Church.
Although I mourn with my parish over the tragic death of a dear parishioner, who served as a teacher for over 30 years. Although it pains me to see those whom I consider my family to be in pain. I have joy that in Christ's life, death, and resurrection we have been saved. The joy that I feel is not of giddiness or passing pleasure, but the consolation that Christ is among us ever especially when we share in his suffering.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
March Madness Priest Style
College Basketball’s March Madness is well underway. Unfortunately FSU dropped in the 1st round to Gonzaga, but this parish priest, in his first year during the Year for Priests, is still standing…barely. Round by round:
1. Red Mass—It was a great honor to invoke the Holy Spirit’s guidance upon our State’s government with the bishops of the province of Florida, minus one regretfully. Our own Bp. Ricard who continues to recover from the effects of a stroke before Christmas was absent. What a powerful expression of the Church at prayer.
2. MOGS St. Patrick’s Day Dinner—The Men of Good Shepherd (MOGS) host outstanding meals several times a year. The latest was in honor of St. Patrick. I enjoyed the finest of Irish cuisine together with, I confess, one and .5 Guinesses..I didn’t give up alcohol completely for Lent..and lots of exciting music, singing, and dance. Fr. Foley was in his element. So was I since I’m a ¼ Irish, but full-blooded on St. Patrick’s. Together with this giant of Church history I place the breastplate upon me and shout, “Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ on my left, Christ on my right…!!!”
3. JPII’s South Woodstock—what a fantastic event to support a great Catholic High School. There was art, music, food, and games. Young and old, clergy, religious, laity, in-towners and out-of-towners basking in the beauty of God’s spring re-creation on the campus of JPII w/o the muddy mess of the Northern version some years ago!
4. Golf FORE Life—Open Door Women’s Clinic here in Tallahassee is a Catholic Pro-Life Women’s Health Clinic specializing in unplanned/crisis pregnancies. Together with one of our parishioners this past weekend I solicited sponsorships for my “Guarantee of Victory” round for their annual golf event. If you want to be part of this Victory please contact me at Good Shepherd!
5. Another 1st Mass: Spanish—In seminary we worshipped in Spanish frequently, but I’ve gotten rusty with the passing months. Just when I thought Spanish was something of the past I GOT THE CALL! Todavia todos los fieles son vivos despues de la disastre. The Lord is kind and merciful.
6. And Holy Week IS STILL To Come!—Let me give you a sneak preview…The Lord wins at the end of March Madness every time! Let’s allow Him to hoist the trophies of our resurrected hearts to the Father.
*The sports theme is dedicated to Deacon (soon-to-be Father) Chris LeBlanc who is a dedicated reader of his “senior” priests’ blogs.
Father Will Ganci
1. Red Mass—It was a great honor to invoke the Holy Spirit’s guidance upon our State’s government with the bishops of the province of Florida, minus one regretfully. Our own Bp. Ricard who continues to recover from the effects of a stroke before Christmas was absent. What a powerful expression of the Church at prayer.
2. MOGS St. Patrick’s Day Dinner—The Men of Good Shepherd (MOGS) host outstanding meals several times a year. The latest was in honor of St. Patrick. I enjoyed the finest of Irish cuisine together with, I confess, one and .5 Guinesses..I didn’t give up alcohol completely for Lent..and lots of exciting music, singing, and dance. Fr. Foley was in his element. So was I since I’m a ¼ Irish, but full-blooded on St. Patrick’s. Together with this giant of Church history I place the breastplate upon me and shout, “Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ on my left, Christ on my right…!!!”
3. JPII’s South Woodstock—what a fantastic event to support a great Catholic High School. There was art, music, food, and games. Young and old, clergy, religious, laity, in-towners and out-of-towners basking in the beauty of God’s spring re-creation on the campus of JPII w/o the muddy mess of the Northern version some years ago!
4. Golf FORE Life—Open Door Women’s Clinic here in Tallahassee is a Catholic Pro-Life Women’s Health Clinic specializing in unplanned/crisis pregnancies. Together with one of our parishioners this past weekend I solicited sponsorships for my “Guarantee of Victory” round for their annual golf event. If you want to be part of this Victory please contact me at Good Shepherd!
5. Another 1st Mass: Spanish—In seminary we worshipped in Spanish frequently, but I’ve gotten rusty with the passing months. Just when I thought Spanish was something of the past I GOT THE CALL! Todavia todos los fieles son vivos despues de la disastre. The Lord is kind and merciful.
6. And Holy Week IS STILL To Come!—Let me give you a sneak preview…The Lord wins at the end of March Madness every time! Let’s allow Him to hoist the trophies of our resurrected hearts to the Father.
*The sports theme is dedicated to Deacon (soon-to-be Father) Chris LeBlanc who is a dedicated reader of his “senior” priests’ blogs.
Father Will Ganci
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Little Ones
As I approach 9 months as a priest, I realize the statement, "The children are our Future," is a statement that needs to be modified. I believe the children are our future, but also a glimpse into our past, and a beacon of light on our present. At St. Ann I have ample opportunities to be present to the youth of my community. It is such a joy, from the small child that hugs you around your ankles and knees to the limitless energy of a teenager playing ball. I have the children to truly remind me of my own childhood growing up. They challenge me to really enter into their own particular perspective on the world. I believe children help us focus on what is really important.
With regard to children giving glimpses of our past, I have found that children remind me of a time less complicated in which love, affection, and security were abundant. They remind me of not only the joys but also the struggles that a child goes through as they pass from one stage of development to another. Above all, they remind me of where I have come from so that I may better know where I am going.
With regard to children being a beacon of light upon the present, when I see the awe and wonder in the eyes of child it makes me think, "Am I missing something?" The truth is, most of the time, we are. We miss the awesome wonder that is creation and this world that we live in. We miss the amazing gift that is sweet smell of bacon in the morning, the feel of a gentle breeze, the warmth of a sunny day, or the vastness of space.
I do believe children are our future, but also our past and present. Above all, children are the most precious gift that God gives to us.
Father Paul Lambert
With regard to children giving glimpses of our past, I have found that children remind me of a time less complicated in which love, affection, and security were abundant. They remind me of not only the joys but also the struggles that a child goes through as they pass from one stage of development to another. Above all, they remind me of where I have come from so that I may better know where I am going.
With regard to children being a beacon of light upon the present, when I see the awe and wonder in the eyes of child it makes me think, "Am I missing something?" The truth is, most of the time, we are. We miss the awesome wonder that is creation and this world that we live in. We miss the amazing gift that is sweet smell of bacon in the morning, the feel of a gentle breeze, the warmth of a sunny day, or the vastness of space.
I do believe children are our future, but also our past and present. Above all, children are the most precious gift that God gives to us.
Father Paul Lambert
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Forget me not!
Yes. This is a phrase we saw recently on those candies distributed during Valentine’s Day, but this blog is not about those (sigh of relief from your end and mine). Just a thought on a good “travel companion” that has been naggin’ at me since the beginning of Lent: The Holy Spirit! Our Blessed Lord went into the desert filled with the Holy Spirit. I desire the same during these holy and transforming days.
Lent, in my view, can often slip in unexamined fashion, into an enclosed gloomy ambience composed of the heavy clouds of personal sin and the tempestuous winds of its social counterpart. Although I say the former with great reverence for the human condition and cannot/will not dismiss the gravity of sin, my “travel partner” seems to keep picking my head up to Christ with His generous Gifts and savory Fruits. Meanwhile, He is coaching me out of old and unsuccessful life strategies (He’s better and less expensive than Stephen Covey) to new ones — He’s the best coach..sorry Coach Calhoun, you’re #2)
This past weekend I was so thankful to be part of about 90+ young and a couple not-so-young people’s Confirmation here at Good Shepherd. It was confirmation in the Holy Spirit not only in the sacraments sense, but also in my interior priestly life: I WANT IN ON THIS LENTEN JOURNEY AND ALWAYS in your ministry as I did with the Great High Priest in His.
In addition—it’s been a real long winter here in Tally so I’m asking my “travel companion” to, as the Veni Sancte Spiritus says, “Fove quod est frigidum/Melt the frozen, warm the chill.”
Happy trails to all. Forget HIM not!
Father Will Ganci
Lent, in my view, can often slip in unexamined fashion, into an enclosed gloomy ambience composed of the heavy clouds of personal sin and the tempestuous winds of its social counterpart. Although I say the former with great reverence for the human condition and cannot/will not dismiss the gravity of sin, my “travel partner” seems to keep picking my head up to Christ with His generous Gifts and savory Fruits. Meanwhile, He is coaching me out of old and unsuccessful life strategies (He’s better and less expensive than Stephen Covey) to new ones — He’s the best coach..sorry Coach Calhoun, you’re #2)
This past weekend I was so thankful to be part of about 90+ young and a couple not-so-young people’s Confirmation here at Good Shepherd. It was confirmation in the Holy Spirit not only in the sacraments sense, but also in my interior priestly life: I WANT IN ON THIS LENTEN JOURNEY AND ALWAYS in your ministry as I did with the Great High Priest in His.
In addition—it’s been a real long winter here in Tally so I’m asking my “travel companion” to, as the Veni Sancte Spiritus says, “Fove quod est frigidum/Melt the frozen, warm the chill.”
Happy trails to all. Forget HIM not!
Father Will Ganci
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