From the Pastor: 9.27.09

FROM THE PASTOR: September 27, 2009 One of the interesting aspects of a parish priest’s job is the regular celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation.  When I was a kid, we talked about “going to confession,” which obviously focused on the penitent telling their sins to the priest.  In those days, the sacrament only took place in a confessional “booth,” where it was dark, secret, and anonymous – unless, of course, the priest recognized your voice!  I suspect that most kids, like myself, were fascinated by the sliding doors that the confessor could open...

Homily: 9.27.09

Fr. Dan Ruff, S.J. – Pastor – 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. Old St. Joseph’s, Philadelphia 26th Ordinary Time B – 9-27-09 If you recall, last Sunday in the Gospel, the apostles were arguing among themselves over which of them was the greatest, and Jesus called them out on it.  Jesus shocked them by insisting that anyone wishing to be the greatest of his followers must work to be the least, the most humble, the servant of all.  And then, using a small child to sharpen the point, Jesus indicated that the “greatest” of his followers would reach out to care for the...

From the Pastor: 9.20.09

FROM THE PASTOR: September 20, 2009 We held a retreat this weekend at Irani House for OSJ’s new coordinators of liturgical ministries.  We were asked, in one exercise, to reflect prayerfully on a memorable celebration of Eucharist in which we had taken part.  In addition to reporting when and where that Eucharist had taken place, and who was present, we were also asked to indicate what had made the event so special and memorable for us – so transformative of our own spiritual lives. The sharing of our experiences was rich and full.  I couldn’t help but feel as if...

Homily: 9.20.09

Fr. Dan Ruff, S.J., Pastor Old St. Joseph’s Church, Philadelphia Mission Sunday (25th OT-B) – 9-20-09 – 10:30 a.m. We heard Jesus predict his own passion and death to his apostles in last Sunday’s Gospel.  You’ll remember that Peter, who had just scored big points by identifying Jesus as “the Christ,” the Messiah, quickly lost his spot at the “head of the class” by reacting negatively to Jesus’ prediction of personal suffering and execution.  “No way that’s gonna happen, Jesus!” blurted Peter.  “We’ve got your back!  So get off that downer...

Homily: 9.13.09

Fr. Dan Ruff, S.J. – Pastor Old St. Joseph’s Church, Philadelphia, PA 24th Sunday in OT (B) – 9-13-09 – 11:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. I remember well when I first took ownership for my faith as a young adult.  I was 21 years old, a newly arrived graduate student at Duke, and getting involved at the Newman Center – initially, as a way to get to know some people.  For the first time in my life, I was living far from family and friends.  Also, for the first time in my life, I was surrounded by young people my age – both Catholic and Protestant – who placed their...

From the OSJ Archives: 9.13.09

FROM THE ARCHIVES: September 13, 2009 “Then he beheld, in a dream, once more the home of his childhood; green Acadian meadows…… with Sylvan rivers among them” (all quotes are from “Evangeline” by Henry W. Longfellow) Over 200 years ago a great part of the land known as Nova Scotia was originally called Arcadia after a garden spot of ancient Greece. It soon became mispronounced as Acadia. In the first days of the 1600’s the French arrived, followed by the Jesuits in 1607 to take charge of a new mission. In 1713 England gained political control with the proviso...

From the Pastor: 9.06.09

FROM THE PASTOR: September 6, 2009 Many of the tensions which have arisen in the Church since Vatican II revolve around divergent understandings of “church” – who or what do we understand it to be?   Is it the Roman magisterium?  Is it the local faith community?  Is it both (hint: yes)?  And how do we weigh and balance its various elements and constituencies? The issue is further clouded because we also refer to the building as a “church.”  But is the building the “house of God”?  Or is it the “house of the church,” meaning the local community of...