52 Masses

Last night, the Justice and Peace Commission of St. John the Evangelist welcomed parishioner Rebecca Byrne to speak about her work with Restavek Freedom. The organization is working to end the abhorrent practice of child slavery in Haiti.

As a result of the abject poverty many rural Haitians endure, mothers often will turn over their children to families in Port-au-Prince and other cities, where they end up as indentured servants. Many are abused, both physically and sexually.

Restavek (the name for the practice) Freedom works to buy the children out of slavery, allowing them to attend school. It’s also built learning centers throughout the country, which continues to be beset by chaos in the capital city.

It was a sobering, but important talk, and I salute Rebecca and the rest of the Restavek employees, both Americans and Haitians, as they work to rid the country of this scourge. Their goal, she said, was for the group to become obsolete.

For more information on the organization, visit https://restavekfreedom.org/about/.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, quite naturally, brought a larger number than usual to Mass this afternoon at St. John the Evangelist, my home parish. No photos from there, but it gives me a chance to use another photo from my summer trip to the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in nearby Perryville, Mo. The shrine features a ring of statues of Mary from all around the world.

This is Our Lady of Fatima.

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us.

Bill Tammeus of the National Catholic Reporter was kind enough to review the book for the publication. Here’s a link.

https://www.ncronline.org/culture/book-reviews/52-masses-paints-compelling-picture-us-catholicism

xToday was doubly special at St. John the Evangelist.

Naturally, it was important because we kicked off Advent, when we prepare ourselves for the coming of our Savior.

But we also welcomed a new group of candidates into the RCIA program, who joined the existing Catechumens for a blessing before Mass. And this wasn’t just any group of candidates, but apparently our largest on record. The mass of them encircling Father Scott was a true sight to behold.

We often lament the empty pews or the lack of younger folks or those fellow Catholics who drift into CEO status – Christmas and Easter Only.

But days like today remind you that there remain many young men and women who will be called into the Church. And that, much like Advent itself, is a reason for hope and joy.

This morning brought me to Dover, Indiana and St. John, the second-oldest parish in the state. But Mass itself was outside, as the parish celebrated its All Souls Mass on the adjacent cemetery. It was a typically moving Mass, even if the wind and nearby speeding semi-trucks occasionally made it a challenge to hear all of Father John’s Hollowell’s words.

Alas, I wasn’t the only infrequent visitor, to the St. John campus this morning. Hundreds arrived for a different reason – to exercise their right to vote, with a polling place set up in the parish’s community building behind the 200-year-old worship space.

As I reflected on this situation, I took some solace in the fact that by tomorrow, the ads, the campaigns, the charges, the counter-claims, the namecalling and all that accompanies these increasingly divisive political seasons will be over, at least for a little while.

But at the same time, the opportunity to worship, to pray, to give thanks and to partake in the Eucharist will continue to be available to me every day. We Americans may be as divided as ever, but here in our church, we can and will always be in communion.