Colleagues List, June 2nd, 2013

Vol VIII No. 32 **** Wayne A. Holst, Editor My E-Mail Address: waholst@telusplanet.net ***** Colleagues List Web Site: http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com Canadian Anglicans Google Groups Web Site: http://tinyurl.com/mz354eu "Quicklinks" are included with many items. Otherwise, scroll down to find your selection in the body of the blog. ***** Dear Colleagues: It was only recently that Pope Francis was elected, but books on his life and thought are already beginning to appear. This week, I introduce two of them: "Pray for Me" (and) "On Heaven and Earth" http://tinyurl.com/lkh2afb http://tinyurl.com/mapp8pd Hopefully, this will provide some good background on this intriguing global pastor. -- Colleague Comment this week is from Isabel Gibson of Ottawa who has thoughts on last week's "Wisdom of the Week." Colleague Contribution for this issue is from my longstanding priest friend Ron Rolheiser of San Antonio. http://tinyurl.com/ka82ofh -- Net Notes: "I Hear America Singing" - from an era past but still appealing, a poem by New England sage and author of  "Leaves of Grass," Walt  Whitman (Englewood Review of Books)) http://tinyurl.com/mhxoods "Canterbury to Visit Pope" - plans are in the works for a meeting of the two global Christian leaders (The Tablet, UK) http://tinyurl.com/k32qkaf "Scripture on the Silver Screen" - here are insights into how the Bible continues to influence modern movie-goers (Christianweek.org) http://tinyurl.com/mquecea "Visiting the World's Newest Country" - Karen Stiller won an award from the Canadian Church Press for an article that appeared on the South Sudan last year (Faith Today) http://tinyurl.com/m3a4p6q "Lessons from the Good Friday Agreement" - it is now more than fourteen years since this historic document was signed by combatants in Northern Ireland (America Magazine) http://tinyurl.com/lg34ud9 "Catholic Priest Comes Out of the Closet" this recently appeared in the Catholic press and it signals changes in the works (Uca News) http://tinyurl.com/pa9ryae "Andrew Greeley, Priest Writer, Dies at 85" - Greeley was a longtime friend of colleague Martin Marty in Chicago; I too read many of his books and appreciated our correspondence (National Catholic Reporter, America Magazine) http://tinyurl.com/k6o7fm2 http://tinyurl.com/kkd9n6 "How Henry Morgentaler Changed Canada's Laws" - this man was well-known in Canada a generation ago and continues to invoke strong feelings - pro-and-con - for his stand and work on abortion (Calgary Herald) http://tinyurl.com/l7wpe6n -- Wisdom of the Week - comes through the good services of Sojourners online. Paul Hawken, Robert James Brown and Francis de Sales appear this week. -- On This Day: May 26th - June 1st) India's First PM Dies http://tinyurl.com/lrqs6h3 Hillary Conquers Mt. Everest http://tinyurl.com/lxhjbee Helen Keller Dead at 87 http://tinyurl.com/kfrzxa6 -- Closing Thought -  Cesar Chavez (end) ***** Our New Fall Programs will be posted here shortly, as they develop over the next months. SPECIAL ST. DAVID'S LINKS Contact us at: asdm@sduc.ca (or) admin@sduc.ca St. David's Web Address - http://sduc.ca/ Listen to audio recordings of Sunday services - http://sduc.ca/St_Davids_United_Church/Audio.html ***** STUDY ARCHIVES An accumulation of thirty-five books studied since 2000 can quickly be found at: http://tinyurl.com/6oxmyj4 This collection of study resources represents more than a decade of Monday Night Studies at St. David's, plus extra courses too! You are welcome to use our course outlines, class notes and resource pages in your personal and group reflections. ********************* SPECIAL ITEM Book Notices for: PRAY FOR ME The Life and Spiritual Vision of Pope Francis, First Pope from the Americas by Robert Moynihan. $22.95 CAD. Kindle $9.99 Random House Canada, Image hardcover ISBN #978-0-307-59075-6 (and) ON HEAVEN AND EARTH Pope Francis on Faith, Family and the Church in the Twenty-First Century by Jorge Mario Bergoglio and Rabbi Abraham Skorka. $25.00 CAD. Kindle $10.99. Random House Canada, Image hardcover ISBN #978-0-7704-3506-6 Publisher's Promo: "Pray for Me" - From the founder and editor of Inside the Vatican magazine, the world's most well-informed, comprehensive monthly on the Roman Catholic Church, comes this enlightening introduction to the life and spiritual teachings of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, the first Pope of the Americas. On March, 13, 2013, 115 Cardinals elected for the first time a Pope from outside of Europe. Pope Francis, a native of Argentina, is not just the first Pope from the Southern Hemisphere, he is also the first Jesuit to ever hold the Chair of Peter. This means a bridging of the Northern and Southern hemispheres and religious traditions in a way we've never seen before, signifying a new global vision for the 1.2 billion people who call themselves Catholic. Now a leading expert on the papacy provides the ultimate introduction to this new Pope, including biographical information and an absorbing collection of Jorge Mario Bergoglio most persuasive words. -- About the Author: Dr. Robert Moynihan is founder and editor of Inside the Vatican magazine, a monthly journal on Church and world affairs from Rome. He is regarded as one of the world's leading Vatican analysts. He received his PhD in medieval studies from Yale University and divides his time between Rome and Front Royal, Virginia. -- Author's Words: Who is this man? What does he believe? What will he do as leader of the church? This book hopes to provide starting points to answer some of those questions. Written in the two weeks following the papal election, "Pray for Me" is partly my eye-witness of those early days... Here is a bit of history in the making, captured as it was happening, in order to root out the story of Pope Francis in facts, rather than speculation about what he might do in the future. First, a brief biography... I approached this material as a journalist, but also as a believer... (but) The central point of this book is to offer readers the opportunity to journey alongside this new pope, to experience the soul of this ma, the strength, passion and tenderness. The simple request was his first "Pray for Me." He (knows) his own imperfection, his humanity. He knows he needs the prayers of others. In calling for prayers for himself, Pope Francis asks us as a community to care for the poor, those treated unjustly, for the imprisoned and the suffering, for those who have lost hope, and also for him, that he might carry out his task with courage and humility. (Rome, April, 2013) - from the Preface. -- Publisher's Promo: "On Heaven and Earth" From the man who became Pope Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio shares his thoughts on religion, reason, and the challenges the world faces in the 21st century with Abraham Skorka, a rabbi and biophysicist. For years Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, archbishop of Argentina, and Rabbi Abraham Skorka were tenacious promoters of inter-religious dialogues on faith and reason. They both sought to build bridges among Catholicism, Judaism, and the world at large. On Heaven and Earth, originally published in Argentina in 2010, brings together a series of these conversations where both men talked about various theological and worldly issues, including God, fundamentalism, atheism, abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, and globalization. From these personal and accessible talks comes a first-hand view of the man who would become pope to 1.2 billion Catholics around the world in March 2013. Rabbi Skorka's Words: True dialogue is at the heart of the thinking (man's) life and demands that each person tries to get to know and to understand the person with whom they are conversing... In its most profound sense, to have a conversation is to bring one's soul nearer to another's in order to reveal and illuminate his or her core... There were many different opportunities which helped pave the the long road ... that brought Cardinal Bergoglio and me closer and allowed us to get to know each other better. (Out of our conversations) written ideas become permanent testimonies that allow people to access them... We have transformed our dialogue into a group conversation, exposing our souls. - from the introductory chapter entitled   "How We Experience Dialogue" -- My Thoughts: It is now almost two months since the election of Pope Francis, and many of our first impressions of him have been good. In many ways he is quite different from his predecessor, but it is also apparent that he was selected because his theological stance remains true to those popes who have served before him. He is a Jesuit, the first from that order to be elected pope. Popes and Jesuits have not always gotten on, but it is clear that Francis assumes a non-combative stance. It should also be assumed that his theological formation is as good as any pope. Added to that is his authenticity and his heart for the poor and those on the margins of society. How will all this pan out as time confronts the new pope with big decisions and church politics? All we know at this point is how he has dealt with major issues in his own past. These two books provide openings into the new pope's life and mind. And, we can rejoice that he seems quite accessible and truly human. Whether we are Catholic or not, we truly want to see him succeed as perhaps the leading global figure of spiritual conscience. So let us all indeed "pray for him" and try to come to know him better, as he desires to get to know us. -- Buy the Books from Amazon.ca: Pray for Me: http://tinyurl.com/lkh2afb On Heaven and Earth: http://tinyurl.com/mapp8pd ***** COLLEAGUE COMMENT ISABEL GIBSON Ottawa, ON May 26th, 2013 Wayne: Your Lichtenberg quote would be enough for this week all on its own, it seems to me. Thanks, Isabel From Colleagues List Wisdom of the Week May 26th, 2013 Issue: "I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is that they must change if they are to get better." - Georg Christoph Lichtenberg ***** COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTION RON ROLHEISER San Antonio, TX Personal Web Site May 26th, 2013 "Ordinary Time" http://tinyurl.com/ka82ofh ***** NET NOTES I HEAR AMERICA SINGING Poem by Walt Whitman Born May 31st, 1819 Englewood Review of Books May 31st, 2013 http://tinyurl.com/mhxoods -- CANTERBURY TO VISIT THE POPE Welby and Francis to Meet in Assisi The Tablet May 31st, 2013 http://tinyurl.com/k32qkaf -- SCRIPTURE ON THE SILVER SCREEN Bible-Based Movies are Popular Christianweek.org May 21st, 2013 http://tinyurl.com/mquecea -- VISITING THE WORLD'S NEWEST COUNTRY Karen Stiller, A.C. Forest Prizewinner Faith Today May/June, 2012 http://tinyurl.com/m3a4p6q -- LESSONS FROM THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT When Peace Came to Ireland America Magazine June 2nd, 2013 http://tinyurl.com/lg34ud9 -- CATHOLIC PRIEST COMES OUT OF CLOSET Reveals His Gayness, Risks Vocation Uca News May 29th, 2013 http://tinyurl.com/pa9ryae __ ANDREW GREELEY, PRIEST-WRITER, DIES AT 85 Chicago Writer Had a Heart for Imagery National Catholic Reporter, May 30th, 2013 http://tinyurl.com/k6o7fm2 -- "Greeley in America" America Magazine, May 31st, 2014 http://tinyurl.com/kkd9n6 -- HOW HENRY MORGENTALER CHANGED CANADA'S LAWS Agree With Him or Not, He Served the Nation "Canada Would be Different for Women"  Morgentaler Made A Special Contribution Calgary Herald May 29th, 2013 http://tinyurl.com/l7wpe6n ***** WISDOM OF THE WEEK Provided by Sojourners Online When asked if I am pessimistic or optimistic about the future, my answer is always the same: If you look at the science about what is happening on earth and are not pessimistic, you don’t understand data. But if you meet the people who are working to restore this earth and the lives of the poor, and you are not optimistic, you haven’t got a pulse. What I see everywhere in the world are ordinary people willing to confront despair, power, and incalculable odds in order to restore some semblance of grace, justice, and beauty to this world. - Paul Hawken -- We have got some very big problems confronting us and let us not make any mistake about it, human history in the future is fraught with tragedy... It's only through people making a stand against that tragedy and being doggedly optimistic that we are going to win through. If you look at the plight of the human race it could well tip you into despair, so you have to be very strong. - Robert James Brown -- Love the poor and love poverty, for it is by such love that we become truly poor. As the Scripture says, we become like the things we love. If you love the poor you will share their poverty and be poor like them. If you love the poor be often with them. Be glad to see them in your own home and to visit with them in theirs. Be glad to talk to them and be pleased to have them near you in church, on the street, and elsewhere. Be poor in conversing with them and speak to them as their companions do, but be rich in assisting them by sharing some of your more abundant goods with them. - Francis de Sales ***** ON THIS DAY Provided from the Archives of the New York Times INDIA'S FIRST PM NEHRU DIES http://tinyurl.com/lrqs6h3 HILLARY CONQUERS MT. EVEREST http://tinyurl.com/lxhjbee HELEN KELLER DIES AT 87 http://tinyurl.com/kfrzxa6 ***** CLOSING THOUGHT Cesar Chavez "When we are really honest with ourselves, we must admit that our lives are all that really belong to us. So it is how we use our lives that determines what kind of men we are. It is my deepest belief that only by giving our lives do we find life. I am convinced that the truest act of courage, the strongest act of manliness is to sacrifice ourselves for others in totally nonviolent struggle for justice. To be a man is to suffer for others. God help us to be men!" - Cesar Chavez (end)