NOMAD
ISSUE 3 // Wellington
THE ULTIMATE FREE-FALL
EDITORIAL TEAM Editor Mary Claire Curtis editor@globalcatholic.net Associate Editor Jackie Heider nomad@globalcatholic.net
MARKETING Angela Sumner info@globalcatholic.net
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joshua Danis Peter’s Pen Dianna McKnight & Kaitlyn Schneiders Off The Beaten Path Teresa Blazewicz Generation Nomad Gabriel Dantes Culture Warrior
Dear Readers, Welcome to the third issue of NOMAD! We invite you to explore amazing cities, learn about young adults who are making a difference in their communities, and follow our writers on their unique journeys of faith. These NOMADS are striving to embrace Pope Benedict’s call to utilize our skills while sharing their faith. The Ultimate Free Fall seems an especially poignant theme as we enter a new year. Sometimes we just need that extra nudge to take a leap of faith and become the people we are meant to be. We hope that this issue inspires you to make this year of faith your own and that you will share NOMAD with friends & family. We look forward to your feedback as we continue to develop NOMAD~
John & Liz Boring Ever Ancient, Ever New Kevin Ford The Watchman Mackenzie Murphy Fishers of Men
NOMAD is produced by GlobalCatholic and published 6 times per year by YUDU Media, 245 First Street, 18th Floor Cambridge, MA 02142. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited. NOMAD email: info@globalcatholic.net. Subscription price $15. Content does not necessarily reflect the views of individuals or organizations interviewed by staff. NOMAD is the product of Catholic young adults, who are faithful to the magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church and who seek to live out the New Evangelization.
CONTENTS 4
14
Off the Beaten Path by Kaitlyn Schnieders & Dianna McKnight
The Creative Genius Film, Art & Music of a Generation by Jackie Heider
22
Fishers of Men by Mackenzie Murphy
24
27
28
30
Peter’s Pen Fides et Ratio: Faith and Reason Joshua Danis
Cultural Issues Scrooge’s Shoes by Gabriel Dantes
Ever Ancient, Ever New Advent & Christmas by John & Liz Boring
The Watchman Finding Christmas by Kevin Ford
Cover Photo Courtesy of Brandon Kidd Photography www.brandonkidd.net
OFF THE BEATEN
Photos & City Guide by Kaitlyn Schnieders Young Adult Snapshot by Dianna McKnight
PATH
Wild...Windy...
Wellington by Kaitlyn Schneiders
Most people, if asked about New Zealand, would likely associate the island nation with its starring role in the Lord of the Rings movies. The craggy, snow-capped mountain ranges, roaring rivers and vast plains all stole their scenes respectively. But what about the real, non-Middle Earth New Zealand? Is it worth a visit? Is there even anything there but natural wonder and majesty? Yes, and more.
Local Lingo Kiwi: dual usage: a New Zealander or the flightless native bird Flat White: a Kiwi coffee creation, similar to a latte.
While it may be located in one of the more remote parts of the World (14 hours by plane from Los Angeles!) Wellington, New Zealand is well worth the visit. Even a modern day Frodo couldn’t help but be distracted by the plethora of activities in the coolest little capital in the World.
Brekkie: breakfast
Home to about 400,000 people, this small city has big heart. Known to locals as Windy Welly, Wellington has slipped comfortably into the role of the country’s growing cultural hub, while still maintaining its formal roll as the nation’s capital. There is an active artist community, a vibrant music scene and cafés featuring cuisines of all types and tastes. Be sure to check out the Underground Market for a handmade greenstone necklace, listen to the numerous street musicians on Cuba Street and grab a flat white at Floriditas with a side of fries and aioli. Conveniently, restaurants typically have gluten free and vegetarian options, which keeps everyone happy.
Kumara: sweet potato
Many of the bars and restaurants serve wine from the nearby Martinborough region and beer from numerous local craft microbrewers. If you’ve liked what you’ve tasted, take a day trip to Martinborough for an afternoon of wine tasting. Stop by Greytown on your way back and check out the fun and quirky antique stores. There is an active and growing Catholic community in Wellington. Certain Masses seem to draw specific demographics (young families tend toward the children’s Masses in
Bap: buttered bread roll Sweet As: awesome, cool
Flash: fancy or showy Capsicum: bell peppers Lolly: candy or sweets Bonnet: car hood Biscuit: cookie Chemist: pharmacy or drugstore Jandal: flip flops Petrol: gasoline Torch: flashlight Jumper: sweater
the morning, with young adults frequenting evening Masses.) The archdiocese is currently in the process of building a diocese-wide Youth and Young Adults ministry, so for the moment, most activities vary from parish to parish. Located around the corner from the hubbub of Cuba Street is St. Mary of the Angels parish, which hosts a prayer group every Thursday, Theology on Tap on the last Sunday of the month and Eucharistic Adoration on the third Thursday of every month. The Sacred Heart Cathedral, located across the street from Parliament often has featured speakers and hosts a monthly wine and cheese reception. Want to get out of town for a bit? One of the great things about Wellington is that even though you’re in a city, you’re never far from nature. There are plenty of outdoor activities and day trips worth checking out. A drive up the Kapiti Coast offers shoreline views of craggy rocks and crashing waves (Fun fact: you are never more than 79 miles from the seaside). The Queen Elizabeth Park is a great place to park your car and walk on the beach. Adrenaline your thing? There are numerous skydiving operators, kayaking companies and bungee jumping spots to take advantage of. But before you run and pack your bags, remember that seasons are opposite because New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere. Summer is around Christmas and winter occurs around July. While it rains plenty, leave the umbrella at home: the gusting, knock-you-over winds have killed many an umbrella. Whatever your taste, from artsy to outdoorsy, wild, windy Wellington has something for everyone.
Adventures The Weta Cave / Free A fan of the Lord of the Rings movies? Be sure to check out the Cave, which features a minimuseum, shop and 20-minute behind-the-scenes video on the work Weta does. Located 20 minutes from central Wellington, it’s easily accessible by car or Bus Route 2. Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand / Free Open 365 days a year, this six-floor art/history/science museum-in-one is worth dedicating at least whole day to. Be sure to see the giant squid exhibit. Red Rock Reserve / Free Formed 200 million years ago by undersea volcanic eruptions, this beautiful coastal walk leads from Owhiro Bay to the Red Rocks. Continue a bit further past the Rocks and visit Sinclair Head, an active fur seal colony. Mount Victoria Lookout / Free The best lookout spot in the city, Mount Victoria offers a stunning panoramic view of the harbor, the Hutt Valley and the Cook Strait. Accessible by car or hop on Metlink Bus #20. The Embassy Theatre Rainy Day? Catch a movie at this classic theatre built in 1902, and restored in 2003. Recently hosted the Hobbit World Premiere, it features a 1920’s style bar and a small café. Movie tickets run about $15 NZD. All Blacks Rugby www.allblacks.com Winners of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the All Blacks are not to be missed. Games are played throughout New Zealand from June to October, and tickets sell out fast. Be sure to arrive early to catch the Haka, a traditional Maori war cry performed before each match. Adventure Safari Lord of the Rings Movie Tours www.adventuresafari.co.nz Tours can range from 4.5 hours to all day, they’ll take you to many of the shooting locations featured in the Lord of the Rings movies, including Rivendell and Helms Deep. Helipro Tours www.Helipro.co.nz Take in the sights of Wellington from the air! Helipro NZ offers tours of all types, from a city panorama flyover to tours outside the city and on the shoreline.
*** Money - New Zealand uses the New Zealand Dollar. $1USD = $1.20 NZD***
Markets The Underground Market Located in the Frank Kitts Carpark next to Wellington Harbour, the weekly Saturday market helps connect local artisans with the wider public. Every month has a different creative theme featuring specialty stalls, and often include handmade jewelry, locally pressed olive oil, delicious jams, kids clothing, fresh baked bread and pottery. December will feature Christmas markets! Farmers Markets Each Sunday, markets pop up next to the Te Papa Museum on the Harbor and at the Victoria Street Carpark. Much of the produce comes from the nearby Kapiti Coast and the prices are often lower than you’d find in the supermarket. The Harborside Market also hosts food trucks if you want something to munch on while you shop.
Taxi: Wellington Combined Taxi 04-384-4444
Getting Around
Cable Car: Up the side of a hill starting on Lambton Quay and ending at Wellington’s Botanic Gardens, with a few stops along the way. $5 round trip, runs 7am-10pm weekdays. Great views of the city from the Botanical Gardens outlook at the top. Book a bike: Discover the Wellington Waterfront on a quadracycle: The Enormous Crocodile Company / theenormouscrocodile.wordpress.com On Yer Bike / www.onyerbikeavantiplus.co.nz Stocks bikes for rental and purchase, $30 for half day. Public Transportation: Metlink Reliable and has a helpful website and Twitter handle with up-to-date trip information: @metlinkwgtn. If you’re staying a while, check out a Snapper Card for convenience.
Good Eats Floriditas / 161 Cuba Street Known city-wide for their yummy baking and fabulous coffee, Flo’s is open all day, but bookings for dinner are advised. Be sure to try their Flat White and scones. The General Practitioner / Corner of Willis and Boulecott Streets Originally a Victorian-era doctor’s office and home, this gastropub offers a vast selection of beers, ciders and wines from the bar, and lip smacking entrees. Martha’s Pantry / 276 Cuba Street An old-fashioned tearoom featured tiered plates, and a variety of teas and baked goods, including mini-cupcakes and soft scones. They also offer a traditional high tea, but reservations are recommended, as they’re highly popular. Fork and Brewer / 14 Bond Street Great place for evening drinks, ideal for small and large groups, large beer selection on tap. Small plates to snack on available. Scopa / Corner of Ghuznee and Cuba Streets Italian restaurant featuring hand-made gnocchi, fresh salads, and $10 lunch specials. Try the hot chocolate for dessert. Wholly Bagel and Pizza / Various Owned by an American who moved from Washington, DC to Wellington in 1998, this bagel and pizza chain has a number of locations around the city and they’re a reliable stop for inexpensive eats breakfast, lunch or dinner. Many pizzas feature fun names like: “The Donald Trump”, “The Harlem Hustle” and “Jersey Girl.” Self Catering / New World, Countdown, Pak n’ Save There are a few supermarket chains located around the city and most offer some carry-out, ready made food options.
Crash Pads During the peak summer months of December to Feburary, book your bed in advance. Also check if parking is available, as longterm parking spaces are limited and expensive.
$-$$ YHA Wellington City / www.yha.co.nz : Big kitchen, clean rooms, laundry facilities, free wi-fi and a coffee bar. Private rooms run $135/room, with dorm style rooms priced at $33/person. $$ Book a Bach / www.bookabach.co.nz : If hotels or hostels aren’t your thing and you’re like a more local flavor, Book a Bach offers holiday homes and apartments up for rent. Capital View Motor Inn / www.capitalview.co.nz : Recently renovated, this Inn has great views of the city, with many rooms equipped for self-catering. Centrally located, it’s an easy walk to shops and restaurants. $$$ The Bolton Hotel / www.boltonhotel.co.nz : A five-star, modern hotel around the corner from Parliament. Many rooms have small kitchenette and laundry, and it’s just a five minutes walk from shopping and cafés.
Getting There Air: Air New Zealand, Virgin Australia, JetStar and SoundsAir all service Wellington with flights daily. Bus: InterCity www.intercity.co.nz: The primary North Island bus company goes just about everywhere. They offer backpackerfriendly passes, day excursions to the Hobbiton movie set from the Lord of the Rings movies, and even $1 deals. Rail: TranzScenic www.tranzscenic.co.nz: A scenic train option for a trip between Wellington and Auckland. Boat: Interislander Ferry www.interislander.co.nz: The floating option to get to and from the North Island to the South Island. Tickets available for pedestrians, car and both.
Transformation Reformation Rebirth
These are all words that describe the Arch-
diocese of Wellington’s Young Adult Ministry, as next year Young Church Ministries (YCM) will launch, enabling faith communities to serve the youth of the Church, with the help of Transitional Project Manager, Dan Siave.
what they le
To oversee tablished th Catholics (N ple is about and our min the Church’ bishop of W
As preparations begin to reignite the life of young adult ministry, the Church in Aotearoa (the Maori name for New Zealand), is looking for new, creative ways of sharing the The vision o gospel with young people, while maintaining people aims relevance to the native culture adding a multi-cultural aspect “Ministry with Young Peo to Young Adult ministry in keepis about journey ing with the Catholicity of the & relationship; Church.
by Dianna McKnight
The Archdiocese draws inspiration for modern evangelization from the Biblical account of Jesus’ informal ministry to the Samaritan woman as she went about her daily life in a secular community.
The young and our ministry with them are at the heart of the Church’s life,”
In the same way that Jesus challenged the Samaritan woman to discipleship, so the Church in New Zealand’s initiative challenges young people with the catch phrase “Stand Tall,” encouraging them to be active members of the Church in their own communities. The bishops of Aotearoa, New Zealand have identified goals to empower young people to live as disciples of Christ in our world today, to draw them into active participation, and to foster their total personal growth, helping young people make a connection between
In a dioces sion on the the well, you as the Sam become ea
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earn and believe and how they live.
this vision, the bishops have eshe National Council for Young NCYC). “Ministry with Young Peojourney & relationship; The young nistry with them are at the heart of ’s life,” states John A. Dew, ArchWellington.
of the Church’s ministry to young s to provide a comprehensive approach, integrating ministry ople to young people into the total ministry of the Church. It is appropriately viewed as a responsibility of the whole Church community. Archbishop Dew puts it well, “Those involved in leading the young are recognised as valued and capable pastoral ministers in a critical and challenging area of contemporary Church life.”
se that models ministry and mise actions and words of Jesus at ung adults will surely “stand tall” maritan woman did, and likewise ager disciples in their daily lives.
ntage, Retro & Designer Fashion Mary’s College: Guildford Terrace, Wellington fundraiser for St Mary’s ean out your closet and make ome new-to-you clothing.
ellinton North Pastoral Area Christr Dance. 7:30pm at Johnsonville
Community Centre, Johnsonville, Wellington. Enjoy a night of dinner, dancing, and prizes for all ages. Formal attire, tickets $30 for adults. All proceeds to the parish. Jan. 4 - Hearts Aflame 2013 12pm Friday, January 4 -- 1pm Sunday, January 13, at the Nga Tawa Diocesan School, Marton, NZ Hearts Aflame is a ten day Catholic summer school that aims to develop and foster authentic relationship with Christ and His Church through the Sacraments, prayer, and formation in theology, philosophy, and spirituality. Open to young adults aged 18-35. More info at ww.hearsaflame.org.nz For Young Adult group events and devotions at the parish level, check out St Mary of the Angels in Wellington. Their mission to support each other in the faith journey, as they “strive to fight the good fight and keep the faith,” is evident in their weekly prayer group and Theology on Tap. They also have fun events such as BBQ’s and volunteer opportunities. Email SMAYACs@gmail.com or visit their website, smayacs.weebly.com, for more information. Prayer group: 6pm every Thursday, meeting in the church for prayer and reflect on the word of God. Social time afterwards at a local bar. Eucharistic Adoration: 6pm, 3rd Thursday of every month in place of the prayer session. Join in a holy hour of prayer, music, and inspirational readings. Theology on Tap: The last Sunday of every month at 6:30pm at the Hotel Bristol Pub in Cuba Street. Guest speakers every month.
The Creative Genius
Music, Movies & Art of a Generation by Jackie Heider
How Far Is Heaven Mist rises above the river and hovers quietly below the mountain peaks. Birds chirp in the swaying trees. Bells ring from the church. Nature in its beauty and grace, in its power, meets here, in the small village of Jerusalem/ Hiruharama on New Zealand’s Whanganui River.
in Jerusalem. Much of it focuses on the newest sister to arrive, Sister Margaret Mary, as she volunteers regularly at the school.
Through the eyes of the children, life in the village is revealed. The life of the sisters is revealed through the work they do at their home, in their Home to an average of 30 Maori peo- prayer time, in their relationships ple, this naturally beautiful haven has with the people in the town, and in also been the mission of the Sisters of a reflection on what compassion is. Compassion for 120 years. The film is not action packed: scenes The unique relationship between the range from the 94 year old Sister Maori and the sisters piqued the in- Anna Maria chopping firewood to terest of Christopher Pryor and Miri- a young boy chasing a bird, from am Smith so much that they wanted piano lessons to a perfume party. It to explore it further. In an act of faith, is simple, but it broadens viewers’ these two filmmakers devoted them- horizons and expands their knowlselves to living among the people of edge of a different way of life, while Jerusalem for as long as it would take also leaving them wondering. to reach the heart of the mystery. Pryor’s cinematography and the Without any preconceived ideas, they musical score, composed by Ratook up their cameras and followed chel Shearer, add to the beauty their hearts to Jerusalem, where they and mystery of the film. Without watched life unfold through four sea- any sort of definitive statement insons. The result is their quietly mov- tended by the filmmakers, it’s the ing documentary How Far Is Heaven. wonder and the mystery that make this film worth watching. Filmed in observational style with limited interviewing, the documentary offers an honest glimpse into life
TIKA Tikanga - a Māori word used to describe culture and customs, is pretty much the equivalent of ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans.’ It is all emcompassing - from medicine to education, the environment and conservation to the Māori language, not to mention art and cultural heritage. So when in New Zealand, the man to see, is Joe Harawira. Harawira is more than a Tikanga expert and artist. The Maori story teller and cultural leader is a chief in his own right. Harawira, a prominent speaker and supporter of Maori arts. has travelled internationally, sharing the rich Maori oral traditions at festivals and tribal gatherings. His passion for teaching and performing arts is undeniable. According to Toi Māori Aotearoa: Māori Arts New Zealand, a Charitable Trust and an umbrella organization that supports the development of contemporary Māori arts, he has “led and tutored Te Kapa Haka o Te Whare
Wananga for 30 years, taking the group to 13 National Festivals ... He convenes a popular programme with other well known faces on his panel called Whatukura, which deals with questions that are relevant to today’s society, from a Maori context and perspective. “ Mr. Harawira is a Principal Cultural Advisor for the Department of Conservation, is based in Wellington, and is in the process of setting up a New Zealand Maori Storytellers Association, with their first conference being held in 2013. Mr. Harawira graciously participated in an interview with NOMAD, and the following is a brief portrait of the Maori arts scene in Wellington.
ANGA You are an artist and Maori story teller; can you talk about your heritage, art, and its meaning(s)? Maori are the Indigenous people of New Zealand. We have a strong and proud culture of which the oral tradition and storytelling is but one facet, albeit a very important facet. Our old culture is rich in the historically changing perspectives of our people, of their long sea voyages, of peace and war, and of survival. Our art and forms and genres are a result of our ways of knowing, of doing, of feeling, of understanding our cosmos and connectivity to and with the natural world. Is there a growing interest in Maori art? The art forms are evolving from traditional to contemporary. Our culture is dynamic and not static. Maori artists are challenging the artcentric boundaries of the past to create new art for the heart. What is your favorite story or topic to speak about?
I have recently become a recipient and bearer of full face Ta Moko. I am part of a generation that is going to normalise this art form of our ancestors, back in to New Zealands society. I also share the well known stories of the Maori people as a storyteller. I enjoy sharing story about the Maori people and our culture. What made you want to become a story teller? I did a lot of plays and theatre whilst at a boarding school called St Stephens School in the early 70’s. I was in education for 24 years and used story to motivate my classes into different curriculum subjects. Did a mentor, role model, or something inspirational influence you? I remember our elders speaking at formal occasions on our marae(places of gathering). They were storytellers, all. I have met some wonderful storytellers in the 30 years that I have been travel-
ling throughout the world. I have mainly travelled to Indigenous Storytelling festivals, throughout Canada, the United States of America, the Pacific, Europe and Asia. Are there opportunities for young people to learn these art forms and become involved in their communities? Not nearly enough opprtunities. I am in the process of talks with a New Zealand actor whom would like to introduce this into the New Zealand Curriculum. I am also in the process of setting up a New Zealand Maori storytellers Association, the first of our conferences being held next year (2013). Is faith/spirituality represented in most Maori art? We are heavily influenced in all we do as a people, by spirituality, not to be confused with religion. Spirituality from my perspective as a Maori, is the God-Force that transcends all man made boundaries. Spirituality is the seed for world peace, the power of brotherly and sisterly love, and the crucial element for the maturity of mankind. Do you think art, music and education has helped bring European Christians, the Maori people and other immigrants together? Most definitely. What we must do is acknowledge the richness and the diversity of and within each of our cultures, and be open to the wisdoms and the learnings within. in order for me to un-
derstand others cultures, I must firstly be confident in my own Maori-ness.(Maori is the term coined for the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa-New Zealand.) Does living in New Zealand, a land which seems to reflect God’s love of beauty, peace and order, encourage a deeper connection with humanity’s creative spirit? My sense is that it is all to do with our ability to understand the importance of our connectedness and connectivity to the heartbeat of Papatuanuku(Mother Earth) It is encapsulated in the saying..
”Rere kau mai i nga maunga ki Tangaroa Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au” “As the rivers flow from the mountain to the sea. I am the river, the river is me” If you could share one piece of wisdom with the younger generations, what would that be? Everyone is a storyteller. Everyone has a story to tell. Somehow we have become disconnected from the heartbeat of our ancestors in todays modern world. Story is the way to reconnect with the heartbeat. They contain our knowledge, our wisdoms, our experiences, our learnings, our ways of knowing.
“I just had a real sense that if we get these five people together in a room, beautiful things are going to happen.�
Upon listening to The Glory Collective’s first full-length album, Shine, I couldn’t help but feel St. Augustine’s words “O Beauty, ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you!” fill my heart. A collaborative project by several independent singer/songwriters, The Glory Collective blends the ancient and the new in a compilation of sacred music with a modern, artistic edge, and the belief that beauty will save the world. These artists (including Greg Boudreaux, Chris Cole, Kevin Heider, Haylee Mitchell, and Maria Price) performed together at the GLORY 2012 conference in Nashville, Tennessee this past May. The conference for college students and young adults brought in speakers and artists to explore the intersection of faith, art, and culture, and to dive deeper into the mystery of humanity in order to become fully alive, and thus bring greater glory to God. The idea is not to create a subculture of young Catholics, but for young people who are deeply Catholic to transform the culture they live in by bringing truth and beauty back, particularly through the arts. Out of this conference and with this vision, The Glory Collective was born. Produced by Allen Parker and Jimmy Mitchell of Mysterium Records, it was an opportunity for these founding artists to come together for a higher purpose than their own individual endeavors. Together they formed not a band, but a community of independent artists, a collective that uses its God-given talents to give praise and glory back to God. “Each one has unique and repeatable gifts,” said producer Jimmy Mitchell. “It was cool to see God’s work in that. I don’t think I had a plan for how the five would become one, I just had a real sense that if we get these five people together in a room, beautiful things are going to happen.” Beautiful things did happen. The album begins and ends on quietly familiar notes that echo the human being’s longing for God, with “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace.” In be-
tween, the songs are infused with the artists’ unique styles—upbeat and joyful, reflective and prayerful, sacred and beautiful. Some songs are original (including Haylee Mitchell’s reflective “My Heart,” and the inspired “Samuel’s Calling” written by Kevin Heider and Noah Rauch, featuring Maria Price), some are covers of songs by contemporary artists such as David Crowder (Chris Cole’s rendition of “Shine”) and Jon Foreman (Greg Boudreaux’s “Your Love is Strong”), and others are somewhat drastic rearrangements of ancient hymns (“O God Beyond All Praising,” “Veni Per Mariam,” and the bluegrass-esque “O Mother Dear”). The product is a seamlessly beautiful collection of music that gives glory to God in itself and in its effects on the listener. What’s next for The Glory Collective? Mysterium Records will release another 8 song set by these five artists on iTunes, tentatively in February or March. Members of the Collective continue to pursue their individual projects, and occasionally travel with Mysterium Records for conferences and concerts, including Love Come Alive concerts taking place around the country in partnership with 40 Days for Life. An exciting aspect of this project is that artists will come and go, which will allow growth and movement while the vision remains the same. The vision is apparent in the very name The Glory Collective. It was inspired by the GLORY conference, but, as with just about anything truly Catholic, it stands for much more than that. “Glory” refers to the life of God Himself in heaven, the communion with Him that our hearts long for. “Collective” refers to life shared in common, living that communion with God on earth, reflecting the life of the trinity. The Glory Collective, then, seeks to give glory to God in communion with one another—something we are all called to do, and so we can all take part. Find The Glory Collective’s music on iTunes, and learn more about events and how to bring these artists to your hometown at mysteriumonline.com.
FISHERS OF MEN
an every-day leap of faith by Mackenzie Murphy
Daykin and Escarlett
Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
I spent four wonderful, challenging, humbling, and life-changing months living in community with the beautiful people of Bánica in the Dominican Republic. My goal was to love and serve these people who were less fortunate than I was, to step outside of my comfort zone and to live as Jesus calls each and every one of us to live. And yet from the moment I stepped off the plane in Santo Domingo, my eyes were opened to the grace and humility of a people who love God with all that they are because He is all they have. I think many Americans can take a leaf out of their book, about relying on God. To me, my job was to live in the community and get to know the children and families living there, teach various classes of Religion and English, assist with the middle school youth group, co-lead a Bible study for multiple high school girls groups, and be an example of a faithful woman of Christ. God, though, had other plans. He constantly humbled me and gave me opportunities to allow myself be loved by people in the numerous villages that I visited over my time there. I honestly believe that I came home more changed than all the people with whom I interacted with during my time in the Dominican Republic. This is a short excerpt from one of my blog posts about one of those life-changing moments. I am used to cooking for myself and doing the dishes and my own laundry and not being served. So when the question of laundry came up with Simona, [my house mother] I told her that I would like to help. The conversation went something like this (only in much simpler Spanish) Kenzie – “I would like to clean my clothes at some point in the near future, I am running low.” Simona – “Well give me your clothes and I will wash them for you.” Kenzie – “I would like to help.” Simona - “When do you have time?” Kenzie – “emm, emmm (how they say “um” in Spanish) I don’t know. My days are kind of busy.” Simona – “I get up, I walk in the morning, I prepare you breakfast and I do chores. I do not have anything else to do during the day. You teach and work for the Church. What you are doing is more important and takes precedence over you doing your own laundry.”
I was speechless for a minute. Of course she was right, and I was presumptuous enough to think I had time for everything. Everyone has ways of showing love and hers is by allowing me to focus on why I came here – to serve God and this wonderful community of Bánica by teaching and working with the kids and she is serving God and me by providing me with food and a place to put my head at night, and washing my clothes. Lesson learned, God. Education does not have the same precedence in Bánica as in the United States. There are many who cannot read at their grade level; they attend school for only four hours each day. Few men attend college and even fewer women study past liceo (high school). While many would consider that to be a handicap, their life is simpler; it is more beautiful – for they recognize what is truly precious in this life…God, each other., children and life. That lesson is one I carry with me daily, even two years later. God calls us to live and love as children, and the beautiful people of Bánica have learned that lesson through and through. I returned to the United States focused on how I can live more simply, more humbly, with more love and reflect what I had learned from my time there. Some days I know how, but other days I get immersed in my daily routine and the busyness of American culture, but it only takes a small reminder (a photo, or a phrase) to remind me that life is so much more than the next paycheck or new movie. It is about love and living in community with everyone we come into contact with; this is what the lovely people of Bánica showed me. The Mission in Bánica is run by the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. Their website can be found at www.banicamission.com.
Peter’s Pen Fides et Ratio by Joshua Danis
Growing up in a generation that faces such staunch ideological divisions, Fides et Ratio presents the Church’s unique capacity to unite apparent enemies. Fides et Ratio literally translates from Latin into Faith and Reason, and it has been widely utilized to clarify the relationship between Religion and Science. This papal document, explains the mutuality that is meant to exist between Faith and Reason, between Religion and Science. My favorite example of this goes back to a news comic that a friend shared with me last summer. It was released during the Mars Rover Curiosity landing, which nearly coincided with the Chik-Fil-A boycott day and appreciation day.s It showed the image of a smug little man penning a note to an acquaintance. The caption read, “Dear Religion, while you were busy debating whether or not we should eat fried chicken, I successfully landed a photo-taking robot on the planet Mars! Your friend, Science.” Now, I will be the first to admit that it is pretty funny as a comic, but lest we take it too seriously, we should all take a deeper look at what Fides et Ratio has to share with us.
As Blessed John Paul II begins the encyclical, he does not seem primarily concerned with ending the battle between science and religion. His questions to humanity are more fundamental than that. He wants to invite us to know ourselves. He wants us to ask, “Who am I? Where have I come from and where am I going?” (Fides et Ratio, p 1) In other words - What is the meaning of life, and my life in particular? These are deep questions that have fascinated great men from cultures all across the world and throughout history. JPII mentions just a few of them including Confucius, Buddha, Plato, Aristotle, and even the great poet Homer. Do these questions fascinate you? I worry sometimes that I don’t allow them to capture my attention as much as I probably should. There are so many sources of distraction, entertainment, or even rivalry; we often fail to get to such questions that really matter. Even the Religion vs Science debate can be a serious distraction. We are sometimes so tempted to say how much better one is than the other, that we completely forget that they are not ends in and of themselves. The real
purpose of each is as a gateway to answering those more fundamental questions. JPII chose to write this encyclical when he did as a kind of continuation of Veritatis Splendor: which means ‘the splendor of truth’. He was aware that people were losing interest in asking such pivotal questions, and he wanted to invite us to become inspired again by the pursuit of truth for its own sake. He wanted to renew and unite our interest in receiving truth. After all, since God himself is the ultimate fulfillment of truth, faith and reason, or religion and science are designed to ultimately lead us to Him. In the case of reason, we utilize all of the empirical data of creation with this amazing rational tool that we call a mind. We then compile, sort, predict, and discover many things about the nature of creation and of God. While some may argue that the created order and our capacity to reason in no way proves God; it certainly does not disprove Him. It even makes a compelling case for describing just what He might be like. If we make the mistake of rejecting all knowledge of which we cannot be scientifically convinced, we are forced to stumble into the despair of relativism. Since there are many things that reason can never prove, those who place their trust solely in reason would be forced to hold that all un-provable beliefs have either no value or equal value. They would be required to assume that, “truth reveals itself equally in all different doctrines.” We would be a people “adrift.” In this way, a pure commitment to reason without faith is itself unreasonable. Just because science cannot prove something to be true does not mean it is not true. In this way, reason really needs the support of faith. JPIII calls this the beauty of “reason before a mystery”.
The logo for the Year of Faith shows the image of the ship of faith, led by the light of Christ, and moving towards a very specific destination of meaning and purpose. God does not want us to waste our lives adrift in the midst of scientific relativism. He wants us to give our faithful “assent to divine testimony” in order that we might possess an awareness that is deeper than just human reason. When equipped with this gift, we discover that God did not just bring about this beautiful world, but He has remained intimately engaged with its welfare. We embrace the witnesses of those who have gone before us, and we discover the revelation of God; a God who loved us so much that he wanted to free us from the perpetual bonds of sin and death. We discover a God who is himself the very embodiment of love. Faith is not something that you can know with perfect certainty in this life. It is your own choice to believe in what so many others have testified is true, but it is also a gift from God to have the strength to believe it. Still, it must be stressed that Faith does not teach anything contrary to Reason. Some things may be mysterious and difficult to understand, but what our faith teaches, true reasoning affirms as logical. Hence, there ought to be a mutuality and support between the two. As JPII says,
“There is thus no reason for competition of any kind between reason and faith: each contains the other, and each has its own scope for action.” If you have the chance, read Fides et Ratio on your own. Of course, it will require taking a break from those great Religion vs Science newspaper comics!
Scrooge’s Shoes by Gabriel Dantes
Scrooge. A bitter, covetous old sinner. Yet an intriguing, captivating character. What is so alluring about him, it seems to me, is the realness of his character and the dynamic inner transformation that he undergoes after the visit of three ghosts. But why is it necessary that Scrooge be haunted by three ghosts? What does each one bring that is in a certain sense indispensable for his salvation? To answer, let us put ourselves in Scrooge’s shoes. Psychologically, in principle the heart cannot move past something until it has confronted that thing. For Scrooge his self-destructive greed is like a big elephant sitting in the living room of his heart that he refuses to acknowledge. Bitterness is all he knows. For years he has been ignoring the effects it has had upon his whole person. Because of this, it is necessary for him to enter into a kind of examination of heart. It is more than what Christians might call an “examination of conscience.” It is an entire re-examining of the direction of one’s entire interior life (which has been formed from one’s own experiences and choices). By this, Scrooge appears to us in person what in a certain sense every man (or woman) must confront in order to become whole. There exists for us all elephants that we do not want to confront. Dark memories or decisions that we do not have the courage to face. But face them we must! For this reexamining is the only path to becoming truly and wholly ourselves. Through the first ghost this image of himself (that greedy elephant he ignored) begins to be unveiled before his eyes. Joy! Yet oh such pain! He begins to behold the old joys of his life (i.e. his fiancee and sister) and how those joys were lost, either by chance or by choice. These memories he had once repressed into bitterness, but now he confronts them and is forced to reconsider their implications. The second ghost shows Scrooge all the beauty and joy in the world that he is missing on account of his own choices and enclosed heart. He begins to long for this joy and, regretting his confined heart, begins to open it. It is only when the final ghost comes that everything before reaches its fullest content particularly when he sees his own gravestone. However, it is not necessarily death itself that disturbs Scrooge so much. What scares him most is this image in his heart (the one he sees which turns out to bring only bitterness to others). In his reflecting upon his death, this regretful image has become something real, definitive and unchanging. He is terrified, because he wants to change! This is why often people are led to change their life because of a near death experiences, for death forms of their life choices something real, definitive and unchanging. Not to be morbid or dramatic, but in facing the shadows in you heart, will you be happy with yourself if you died now? Take courage! Confront them. Change your life!
Saturday, December 1 (sundown) - Monday, December 24 (sundown) Advent, which means ‘coming’, is a liturgical season, at the beginning of each Church year. For four weeks, we await the Feast of Christmas! Advent was established in 590 as a time of preparation, penance and renewal. Basically it is the liturgical equivalent of New Years! The Catechism teaches that, “When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior’s first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming” (CCC 524). The most well known Advent tradition, is the lighting of the four candles within an evergreen wreath. Although wreaths have become much more simple over the centuries, original symbols includedlaurel which signifies victory over persecution and suffering; pine, holly, and yew, which signify immortality; and cedar which represents strength and healing.
Ever Ancient Ever New Reviving the Rich Traditions of the Church Living by the Liturgical Calendar
Advent & Christmas
The circle symbolizes God’s eternity, and immortality of the soul. The four candles, three purple and one rose, represent the four weeks of Advent. The purple candles symbolize hope, preparation, and love while the rose candle, lit on the third Sunday, represents joy. The flame signifies Christ, the Light of the world. This Advent, prepare for the Christmas season by readying your heart to receive Jesus, both in the manger and at the Last Judgment. •Make a New Year’s resolution Forget January 1st, the first Sunday of Advent marks the start of a new liturgical year. Since the Church’s year begins with a season of penitential expectation, popping the cork on a bottle of cham-
pagne on Sunday, December 2 won’t be the best way to celebrate. Instead, take time to set a goal that will help you grow in holiness over the next year, identify a virtue that you need to cultivate or select a saint to study and model throughout the year. Whatever your “resolution” may be, commit to stretching yourself spiritually. •Create a sense of anticipation Despite what the mainstream media might have us believe, the Christmas season doesn’t actually start until sundown on December 24th. While it may be challenging, strive to save Christmas joys and treats until the liturgical season of Christmas begins so that you can fully take advantage of Advent. Hold off on decorating (or at least lighting) your Christmas tree; leave your crèche/nativity empty, making the figures in your Nativity scene “travel” around your home until it’s the appropriate time for them to make an entrance; and delay playing your favorite Christmas music. By reserving these traditions until dusk on the 24th, you’ll find that your excitement for the Christmas season will build. •Light candles on an Advent Wreath One of the most popular symbols of the season, a simple Advent wreath consists of fresh evergreen boughs encircling four candles, three violet and one rose, symbolizing the four weeks of Advent. On the first Sunday of Advent, the first candle is lit, with an additional candle being lit each Sunday thereafter; the rose candle is saved for the third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday. Regardless of whether you purchase or make your own Advent wreath, set a ritual for lighting the candles each night. You might consider reading the daily Gospel, praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, or singing an Advent carol. •Pray or chant the O Antiphons Beginning on December 1st through December 23, the Evening Prayer of the Divine Office includes an antiphon highlighting a prophetic title for Christ. You’ll
recognize these titles from the popular hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”: O Sapientia (O Wisdom), O Adonai (O Lord of Israel), O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (O Key of David), O Oriens (O Dayspring), O Rex Gentium (O King of all Nations), and O Emmanuel (O God with us). By reciting the O Antiphons and reading the relevant scripture passages from which the titles come, you’ll be incorporating beautiful and ancient prayers of the Church into your Advent celebration. •Observe Advent Embertide Officially prescribed for the Church by Pope Gregory VII in the 11th century, Ember Days were set aside as times to thank God for the gifts of His creation. A set of Ember Days occurred at the start of each of the four natural seasons and was marked by prayer, fasting and partial abstinence. In winter, the Ember Days fell on the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday following the third Sunday of Advent. Since the Second Vatican Council, Catholics are no longer obliged to fast and abstain on Ember Days, but the voluntary practice serves as an appropriate way to observe the penitential aspect of Advent. •Decorate a Jesse tree Named for Jesse, the father of the biblical King David, the Jesse tree is an Advent tradition that brings the story of salvation history to life in the Christian home. The prophet Isaiah foretold the lineage of the Messiah saying, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots” (Isaiah 11:1). To make your own Jesse tree, you’ll need to create ornaments – one for each day of Advent – depicting symbols of Jesus’ ancestry; for example, you could make a knife for Abraham, a harp for David, and carpenters’ tools for Joseph. Throughout Advent, as you hang your ornaments on a small tree, either real or symbolic, take time to read the scriptures and meditate on the foretelling of the Savior through the ages. by John & Liz Boring
Oh yes, Christmas, the time of year in which we celebrate the great flight of Santa and the Christmas reindeer from their home at the North Pole. It is the time of year when Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer grace our home television screens, and it is the time to go shopping to the tune of “Holly Jolly Christmas.” Actually, Christmas is none of these things, even if our culture tells us they are all necessary to the celebration of what has been aptly termed: X-mas. Without Christ, there is no purpose that fills the heart of winter with hope during this season. We know something is not quite right when the Knights of Columbus have found it necessary to pour thousands of dollars into signs reminding us to: “Keep Christ in Christmas.” So we must ask ourselves, as faithful Catholics in a secularized world: how do we celebrate Christmas in a way that brings us closer to Christ, rather than decking the halls with mounds of presents? There are some very practical ways to prepare our hearts and souls for this holy time of year. Several books have been written in recent years about Christmas and its proper celebration in the Christian home. The Servant of God Catherine de Hueck Doherty wrote a book entitled: Donkey Bells. It is a wonderful little read and offers profound reflections on the importance of the seasons of both Advent and Christmas. Some of them are sure to bring you to tears and should be read aloud to the whole family. Another book entitled Cooking for Christ: Your Kitchen Prayer Book by Florence Berger, is a cookbook that helps the kitchen echo the sounds of the liturgical year. It offers wonderful recipes to highlight each feast day during the Advent and Christmas seasons. It was put out in the 50’s by the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, but was recently put back into print. These books and others like them will be a wonderful start in integrating the liturgical
THE WATCHMAN Finding Christmas by Kevin Ford
aspects of the season into our homes. It is not to be forgotten that Advent is a season of penitence, and thus some additions or subtractions from everyday life should be considered. This penitential aspect of the season is essential for proper spiritual preparation for Christmas. As a family, we try to avoid Christmas parties during Advent. After all, the Christmas season comes after Advent. Encouraging your work or school to follow suit could have a profound impact on how we celebrate Christmas as Catholics. The lighting of the Advent wreath or addition of ornaments to the Jesse tree each and every day will help the days before Christmas to accumulate in a meaningful way for you and your children. The celebration of the feasts and, later, the recitation of the “O Antiphons”, are beautiful ornamentations for a natural season that tends to be cold and somewhat bleak. Both Advent and Christmas are rich in family traditions, whether in food or in activities, and there is a plethora of ways to celebrate Jesus’ birth. It is essential, however, to instill in children the importance of giving in relation to the season. A family could very easily bake cookies for their neighbors and gift them to them. If possible they should especially focus on the poor or lonely to remind them of the poverty of Jesus’ birth and His immense love for the poor. As a family, we have relegated Santa Claus to his traditional feast day: December 6th. No imaginary Santa Claus comes to our house on Christmas Eve; rather we put out shoes on the eve of December 5th in honor of the Holy Saint and Bishop, and of course they are filled with goodies the next morning. We read the story of St. Nicholas, but we don’t put ideas into our children’s heads about reindeer and the North Pole. We believe the traditional Catholic way of celebrating
this Saint is best in order to leave Christmas to Christ and the Holy Family. This idea may be anathema to many today, but we find it much easier for our children to focus on Jesus when they aren’t anticipating Santa Claus. Gifts at Christmas come from people our children know and love, and they are taught gratitude in a more profound way. Of course today the question arises for families: what should we do about all the presents? Many of us now find ourselves in families that are rather apathetic towards their faith or even hostile towards the faith. Yet, it never fails that with Christmas all the stops are pulled out with regard to generosity, and inevitably we leave grandmother’s house piled to the hilt with toys and toys and toys, and sometimes some Christmas underwear just for good measure. We have begun to put a limit on the number of toys our children can have at any given time. For us, the addition of new toys means the subtraction of old toys. We sit down with our daughters and sit all the toys out in front of them and they get to choose what they will keep, and what they will give to children who otherwise wouldn’t have toys. These days are days of great pride for us as parents. The generosity of our oldest daughter, who is four, has at times astounded us. Last time we dropped off two and a half garbage bags full of toys at the local Goodwill. It is a beautiful way to help your children detach from worldly things and to cling to that which is above. With regard to remaining frugal at Christmas for families, it is a great tradition to give items that can be made by the parents themselves. I am a good woodworker, so last year I created a puppet show for our girls. I expect this to last for many decades and eventually become an heirloom for our children to hand down. It is not a plush or plastic toy made in China that is broken or forgotten about in a week or two. Rather we seek to give that which will be meaningful for many years to come. Think
long and hard on gifts that will help your children to grow both as human persons and as children of God reborn through Baptism in Christ. A simple gift well-made is better than a thousand plastic or electronically noisy toys that cost much more. In closing I’d like to give a simple list of things a family can do to celebrate Christmas in a meaningful and authentically Catholic way. In other words, if you want to find Christmas again, try doing some of the following. * Buy and read some books that focus on the Advent and Christmas season. * Implement Advent and Christmas activities: Advent Wreath, Jesse Tree, Christmas baking. * Give Santa his due: Celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas on December 6th. * Cook for the Season. Celebrate the liturgical calendar in the kitchen and at the table. * Keep Advent penitential. Simple penance done as a family will bear great fruit. * Gift excess toys to those who truly do not have much. * Keep gifts simple, but meaningful. These are best when personally made.