If Nominated, I will not ... ?

We have Fraternity elections coming up. I am currently a Councilor. I agreed to that back in 2012 because I was the person with the key to the church building for my parish where we meet, so I had to be at the meetings anyway.

Otherwise, I would have turned the office down.

When they contacted me for nominee suggestions for the upcoming elections I gave a couple of possible slates, and said I would be willing to continue as a Councilor - I'm still the person with the key! - but really wasn't interested in anything else.

One of the people who is running the nominating process contacted me yesterday. She said after surveying other Fraternity members I had been suggested for every single office! And she asked me to pray about it.

My first thought is, boy, I sure must have fooled the other members of the Fraternity. Maybe my beard impressed them.

I don't want any office, period. As I noted, I agreed to be a Councilor only because I had the key to the building. I am too disorganized to be the Secretary. I don't really want to be the Formation Director - it would mean missing parts of the meetings, and there are two people who have been trained in formation.

As for Vice Minister or Minister - I've only been professed 4 years, and, to be honest, I lack the patience those offices require.

I could see Treasurer - I'm good with numbers and it's something I can do behind the scenes. But there is a women who is not currently in any office who would like to be Treasurer, and I'd love to see her desire to be involved honored.

Councilor. I'd prefer to stick with that. I like doing all the service tasks - opening the door, turning on the heat when needed, cleaning up, greeting people at the door and helping those who need it. A porter - like Venerable Solanus Casey.

Can I be elected Porter? Alas, it's not one of the Fraternity offices.

But Father Casey also humbly did whatever he was asked to do, without argument or complaining. I'm trying to do that with my job situation. Should I just say to the nominating committee whatever the Holy Spirit and the Fraternity wills?

Pax et bonum

August 1 - turning the corner

I can't speak for other teachers, but August 1 is often the date I turn the corner on summer.

July, I could put off school related things, be on vacation. But August 1 has me starting to think about what I need to do to prepare for the year.

There are those books I need to read or reread - especially for the new courses. I have four courses this year - one of which I've never taught, two I haven't taught in a while.

There are materials I need to gather. What essays, poems, stories will I have my writing workshop students read as examples? What versions of classic myths might serve my world literature students better? What native American poetry can I add to supplement the Native American pieces in the text? When do I meet with the students for the clubs I moderate?

And then there's Harper Lee's new book sitting next to my bed, waiting, taunting. But, I've been putting it off - Atticus is a bigot????

Plenty to do.

I'm trying to keep positive - I lost my favorite course in part because the principal needed a lure for a new teacher he wanted to hire. Given my tendency to be sarcastic, snarky, I have to be careful what I say. I've been going into the school to water the plants in my room and clean out more old worksheets and papers - including sadly packing up everything related to that course - at times when I know the principal won't be around, just in case. It's been hard to look forward to the year with enthusiasm.

Yeah, I know, not very Franciscan. I've been reading about Venerable Solanus Casey to find a model and inspiration for my words and actions!

Venerable Solanus, pray for me.

Pax et bonum

John Michael Talbot Testimony Part 4: Why Catholic?

Pax et bonum

Women Betrayed Rally in Rochester NY

 

Some images from today's Women Betrayed rally at Planned Parenthood to protest the harvesting of aborted babies' organs for profit, and, of course to support life and women. 125-150 prolifers took part.

 

 

 

The rally included a dramatic dance performance depicting the horrors of an abortion.

There were more there, but they left before this group photo.

Pax et bonum

Another Margaret Sanger one

The eugenic beliefs of Margaret Sanger
appealed to a certain Austrian paper hanger.
If he was still around to see her Planned Parenthood,
he'd likely declare, "Mein Gott, they're good!"

Pax et bonum

Planned Parenthood clerihews

Dr. Mary Gatter
was coy and even joked amid the chatter,
but her haggling over the price of a baby's heart or liver
made me shiver.

Dr. Mary Gatter
treated it as a laughing matter,
but sell enough baby parts, even that teenie,
and you might afford a Lamborghini.

Pax et bonum

A few prolife poems

The recent revelation that Planned Parenthood has been selling aborted baby body parts prompted a number of exchanges on social media - you know I couldn't keep quiet! - and even a couple of bad haiku:

Planned Parenthood has

baby body parts for sale –
Swift sues for a cut

Planned Parenthood has

baby body parts for sale –
zombies lining up

Not good, I know. But topical.

And then there are two clerihews:

Dr. Mary Gatter
was coy and even joked amid the chatter,
but her haggling over the price of a baby's heart or liver
made me shiver.

Dr. Mary Gatter
treated it as a laughing matter,
but sell enough baby parts, even that teenie,
and you might afford a Lamborghini.

And a new one:

Hitler and Stalin
were bawlin'.
It seems abortion doctors had outdone
their best efforts with gas, bomb, and gun.

Those efforts made me wonder about other pro-life poems I've written. A few I recall:

nurse avoids looking

in garbage pail she empties –
abortion clinic

praying pro-lifers –

girl entering the clinic
avoids eye contact

Mass for life –

tearful woman prays for
child she did not have

Holy Saturday –

praying at Planned Parenthood
for the emptied wombs

I'm pretty sure there are more. I will search for them. There's also a couple of songs I wrote for a 40 Days for Life opening rally. I need to find those! 

 

Pax et bonum