From the Pastor: 12.27.09

FROM THE PASTOR: December 27, 2009 I have a friend who is a very successful financial advisor.  However, I’ve had the feeling ever since I’ve known him that he works his “day job” primarily to make it possible for him to do what he really loves: bringing interesting Christians together, and seeing what happens.  He does this in a number of original and inventive ways. First off, my friend Joe (not his real name) has fully embraced – perhaps even been possessed by?! – modern technology.  In fact, I first met him in connection with his website...

Homily: 12.24.09

Fr. Daniel M. Ruff, S.J. – Pastor Old St. Joseph’s Church, Philadelphia Christmas Vigil (Children) – 12/24/09 – 4:00 p.m. Fr. Dan: So…  what day is tomorrow? Children: Christmas!! Fr. Dan: Do you like Christmas? Children: Yes! Fr. Dan: Why? Children: Presents, Santa, family… Fr. Dan: Do you have any favorite Christmas stories? Children: Yes! Fr. Dan: What are they? Children: Rudolph, Frosty… Fr. Dan: But we heard the most important Christmas story just a few minutes ago. What was it? Children: The birth of Jesus! Fr. Dan: In the Bible, we actually have TWO...

From the OSJ Archives: 12.20.09

FROM THE OSJ ARCHIVES:  A Victorian Christmas at OSJ December 20, 2009 In the Victorian times Christmas was celebrated with much preparation and a spirit of “good cheer and gaiety”. Tables were groaning with food, houses were decorated with mistletoe, holly, and the newly arrived Christmas tree. While families gathered around fireplaces, the children performed pantomimes and plays. In Philadelphia there was no place or event that could surpass Father Barbelin’s Christmas at Old St Joseph’s. People from all denominations would visit the little church in Willings...

Homily: 12.13.09

Fr. Dan Ruff, S.J. – Pastor Old St. Joseph’s Church, Philadelphia 3rd Sunday of Advent (C) – 12-13-09 – 9:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. There is waiting, and then, there is waiting.  Waiting is not always something that we do very well.  In his 1999 best seller, Faster: The Acceleration of Almost Everything, popular science writer James Gleick pointed out that advancing technology, which was supposed to streamline our lives and create more leisure for us, has in fact merely driven us to do more and to do it faster.   One tiny example: I now get antsy waiting for the...

Homily: 12.12.09

Fr. Dan Ruff, S.J. – Pastor Old St. Joseph’s Church, Philadelphia Our Lady of Guadalupe – 12-12-09 – 12:05 p.m. Today we celebrate with the Church the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  This feast has special significance for all Americans because the Church has designated her as patroness of all the Americas.  The feast has special significance for me, because 28 years ago this past summer, I was fortunate enough to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe myself, where I saw the original image (of which a copy is displayed here).  I will never forget the...

From the Pastor: 12.12.09

FROM THE PASTOR: December 12, 2009: Christmas began with the birth of a child.  Should it surprise us that its spirit is best understood and enjoyed when we are childlike?  In one of his books, spiritual writer Ron Rolheiser recalls a “Hi and Lois” comic from the funny papers.  In the first frame, the dad is shown driving to work; he is thinking: “Another dumb day, going to that same dumb office, working at the same dumb paperwork I’ve done a thousand times before!”  In the next frame, the mom is depicted at the stove, thinking: “Another dumb day, cooking...

Homily: 12.06.09

Fr. Dan Ruff, S.J. – Pastor Old St. Joseph’s Church, Philadelphia 2nd Sunday of Advent (C) – 12-6-09 – 5:30 p.m. & 11:30 a.m. One of the things that distressed me when I was teaching preaching at a seminary was the apparent inability of some students to find an image in a biblical passage.  They would suggest “truth,” or “sorrow”; and I would have to explain that those were abstractions, whereas an image conjures a mental picture.  Inevitably, at this point, I would send them to the Mass readings for Advent, because more than almost any other time in...

From the Pastor: 12.06.09

From the Pastor: December 6, 2009 We hear a lot about joy during Advent and Christmastide; but what is “joy” exactly?  I suggest that “joy” is to happiness as “charity” is to ordinary human affection, or as “the peace that passes all understanding” is to mere absence of conflict.  Joy – like charity and peace – is God-touched and graced.  We receive it as a gift.  There is an element of surprise or wonder about it; and it goes deep to the core of our being. We have a good illustration of joy in that perennial Christmas favorite, A Christmas Carol,...

From the Pastor: 11.29.09

FROM THE PASTOR: November 29, 2009 It’s always a privilege to be pastor of a wonderful, warm parish like Old St. Joseph’s; but now and again, one has special graced experiences that are truly transcendent – moments that leave you breathless with joy and gratitude.  I had one of those this weekend, at a training event for our Eucharistic ministers. As most of you already know, my doctoral work was in the area of liturgy, with a special focus on the Eucharist.  My training tells me that ideally, a person’s liturgical ministry should be a special ritual expression...

Homily: 11.29.09

Fr. Dan Ruff, S.J. – Pastor Old St. Joseph’s Church, Philadelphia Advent Vespers – 11/29/09 We throw the word “joy” around a good bit at this time of year.  It blares at us in stores and on elevators: “Joy to the World,” and “Joy!  Joy!  Joy!  Glory to God in heaven on high!”  But what is “joy” exactly?  I’d like to suggest that “joy” is to happiness as “charity” is to ordinary human affection, or as “the peace that passes all understanding” is to mere absence of conflict.  Joy – like charity and peace – is God-touched and...