RBWords - Volume 23 - Number 2: February 2010
Something to Think About
Lent began on February 19th and one of my busiest seasons of ministry began as well. Many parishes like to have a “parish mission” during Lent and this kind of event is one of my major ministries. Parish missions have been around for a long time but seemed to “disappear” for awhile during the decade or so after the Second Vatican Council. Now it appears that there is considerable demand for them, and not just in Lent. It’s a good thing because I’d be looking for other work otherwise!
Parish missions take on many different forms. I live with a Dominican priest and Dominican sister who preach together and their approach is very different from my own. I began this kind of preaching back in the early 1990’s when I was working in the provincial headquarters of our province. A phone call came into the office asking if someone from our province could come to League City, TX, to preach a parish mission. Without much thought, I said I would do it and I’ve been at it part time ever since. (To be completely truthful, I had been giving some thought to the idea but had not had an opportunity offered to me before that call. The same thing happened in regard to another major part of my preaching ministry – retreats for priests and deacons. A phone call came and I said I’d do it, and still do!)
The form of mission I preach usually takes three evenings. I arrive at the parish on Saturday and preach at all the weekend Masses, sometimes both in English and Spanish. The mission usually takes place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The first night emphasizes our Baptismal Commitment. The second night features Reconciliation (and a penance service) and the third night emphasizes healing and features the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick as well as a concluding “general anointing for mission.” Occasionally a parish will request a different kind of service and I design according to the need. The variety of parishes, parishioners, pastors and parish staffs is tremendous but I find it very enjoyable. Despite the fact that we Dominicans were first founded to be itinerant preachers, many of my brethren find “life on the road” not to their liking. There is an asceticism in coping with different beds, towns, houses, churches, foods and pastors (and their pets). Retreats are easier simply because the environment is fairly predictable. However, I find that itinerancy allows me the reward of visits in my travels with friends all over the country. Perhaps I’ll have a parish mission near you! Feel free to mention me to your pastor! If a parish mission occurs in your parish, it might be a good Lenten experience. Besides, a good preacher loves a good audience! IT’S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
It Has Been Said
“[F]allen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms. Laying down your arms, surrendering, saying you are sorry, realizing that you have been on the wrong track and getting ready to start life over again from the ground floor – that is the only way out of a ‘hole.’ This process of surrender – this movement full speed astern – is what Christians call repentance. Now repentance is no fun at all. It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means killing part of yourself, undergoing a kind of death. In fact, it needs a good man to repent. And here comes the catch. Only a bad person needs to repent: only a good person can repent perfectly. The worse you are the more you eed it and the les you can do it. The only person who could do it perfectly would be a perfect person – and he would not need it.”
C.S.Lewis, MERE CHRISTIANITY – Book II, Chapter 4