Champaign-Urbana Deaf Catholic Ministry

Happy Thanksgiving 2011!!!

As I'm writing this, the sun has decided to come out on a chilly Thanksgiving Day.  It's so good to take some time to sit and think about the things for which we are thankful.  God is so good to us!  He gives us everything that we need - even if we don't always see that.  This year, I am thankful for many things.

First, I'm thankful for my health, the fact that I have a job, a house, a car, and food on my table.  So many people do not have these things, right here in the US. I'm thankful that the job comes with people that I enjoy working with - which is good because we are together a lot! 

I am thankful for my family.  We don't get together nearly as much as I think we'd all like.  Our recent family Thanksgiving was very nice and gave me my favorite picture of the year:  my mother with my youngest nephew, Oliver.  We had the "wisest" of the family with the youngest - and it turned out beautifully.  I am also thankful for the lovely way that my mother plays with her grandkids and great-grandkids.  It's so wonderful to see how uninhibited she is as she is playing - she's not afraid to be silly.  I need to be reminded of that more.

I am thankful for my four-legged family, Molly.  She is now 4 3/4 years old and I can't imagine life without her.  She acts as my backup (sometimes primary) alarm clock, makes sure I don't dawdle on our walks, showers me with love and plenty and plenty of licks ("kisses").  She also gives me many hugs when she brings her paws up to my chest - and always lets me know when someone is coming to the door, or to the neighbor's door!  She's a great companion as I travel for work.  I'm also very grateful for the great help that my twin sister gives me with Molly.  Without her help, I would not be able to have Molly and do all the travel that I do for work. 

I am thankful for the many men and women who serve our country - both in the armed forces and as police officers, fire personnel, paramedics, and other first responders.  They put their lives on the line every day to help each and every one of us.  They work 24/7, 365 days a year, including all the holidays we like to be home taking it easy, and I've personally benefited from their help.  So - I am thankful for all that they do. 

I am thankful for our medical care professionals - doctors, nurses, techs, and different therapists (physical, occupational, etc).  This has been a year of several challenges - and God has continually reminded me that HE is the one in control, not me.  I am sure some of those health care professionals have felt at times like I'm a thorn in their side - but I am very grateful for their kindness, skill and generosity in sharing their many gifts with me and others who need them. 

I am thankful for the many spiritual guides that God has placed in my life, from parish priests who recognize that the parish is about helping people become more like the people of God, to religious who teach me about different ways of approaching God, to the "ordinary" men and women who aren't so ordinary and share their lives and faith with me.  I'm not always immediately thankful for their messages - but as I look back in my life, I realize that those were messages that I needed to hear. 

Finally - and last is definitely not least! - I'm thankful beyond words for the great gift that God has been in my life; for his Son Jesus Christ who suffered, died on the cross, and rose so that all of us could have eternal life; and for the Spirit that is sent to inspire and lead us until Christ comes again.  I would not be the person I am without God and I am thankful for His patience with my stumblings, guiding words in times of darkness, and shared joy in times of light.  May He lead me ever more closely to His light and His presence!

My wish for each person that reads this is for a Thanksgiving - and a year - that is filled with a grateful heart.  And now, in the words of an Irish blessing,

May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.

God bless each of you and angels watch over you! 

Wait a Minute - it's not Christmas Yet!

The stores these days are full of Christmas ornaments, Christmas gifts, Christmas specials, and Christmas music.  In the evening, while walking my dog, I'm noticing a few houses that already have their Christmas trees up!  Every time I see this stuff, I keep wanting to go up to their door and very politely, but quite surely, say "It's not Christmas yet!  We haven't even had Thanksgiving yet!"

There are soooo many special days that the Church celebrates before we get to Christmas!  The first, of course, in the US, is Thanksgiving Day, celebrated this Thursday, Nov. 24.  It's a lovely day set aside to gather with friends and family and give thanks for the many, many blessings we have been given this year.  At my parish Thanksgiving Mass, during the presentation of the gifts, we take up nonperishable food for the food pantry.  It's a great tradition.

On November 27, the Church begins the wonderful season of Advent.  We watch and wait with the people in Jesus' time who were waiting for the coming of the Messiah, and we also watch and wait now for the second coming of Christ, our King.  It's a time to look inside ourselves and ask if we are really ready to meet God face to face, with all our imperfections.

This year, as we start Advent, we are also starting to use the new translation of the Roman Missal.  Most parishes and dioceses have had training sessions for their parishioners to explain the translations.  For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, we have videos available online that explain the reason for the changes and also show some of the common prayers in the Mass (Gloria, Sanctus, etc) in suggested ASL translations.  This is not a REQUIRED translation but something suggested to get started.  The videos can be seen here: ASL Interpreter Training New Missal

December 6 is the feast day for St. Nicholas, of "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" fame.  St. Nicholas was a Greek bishop who was famous for helping the poor and others who needed his help.  His feast day is particularly celebrated in Greece, Italy, Germany and some of the other Slavic countries. His story reminds me to remember those who are less fortunate than me, and help those I can. 

December 8 is the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.  Many, many people ask me how Jesus came to be born 17 days after he was conceived and I say he wasn't - the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord is celebrated on March 25!  This feast celebrates His mother, Mary - and honors the fact that she was born without sin so that she could be a fitting mother for Jesus.  This feast reminds me that God always has a long-term plan, not just a short-term one. 

December 9 is the feast of Blessed Juan Diego, who was visited by the Blessed Virgin Mary in Guadalupe, Mexico.  He was a very poor peasant worker who showed great courage and faith in going to the local bishop to say he had seen the Blessed Mother - and She wanted the bishop to build a church where Blessed Juan Diego had seen her.  When the bishop asked for proof, Blessed Juan Diego went back and asked the Blessed Mother what to do.  He was told to gather roses into his cloak, and take them back to the bishop.  When he unfolded his cloak in front of the bishop, an image of the Blessed Mother that is now known as the Virgin of Guadalupe was seen.  This image can still be seen at the Shrine of Our Lady at Guadalupe in Mexico - many, many years later.  This story helps me to have courage to go against what seems the "in" way to go.

December 13 is the Feast of St. Lucy.  Lucy's name (also Lucia) means "light".  She lived in Roman times and was promised to a pagan bridegroom.  She refused to marry someone who was not Christian and told her widowed mother to give her substantial dowry to the poor.  When he found out, her intended bridegroom denounced her to the Romans.  As a result, she was tortured and suffered a martyr's death.  Many of the Scandinavian countries celebrate this as St. Lucia Day, when the oldest daughter in the house comes down early in the morning with a wreath of candles lit on her head.  It celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. 

December 14 is the feast day of St. John of the Cross.  He was a priest and Spanish mystic who helped reform the Carmelite Order along with St. Teresa of Avila.  His writings are very deep and thoughtful, and he is considered to be a Doctor of the Church (someone who knows very much about theology and the Church).  Even in his 20s, he was helping St. Teresa by establishing monasteries in Spain and helping to protest against their government.  His story helps me to persevere even when it seems everyone is against me. 

FINALLY, after four Sundays of Advent, all of these celebrations and feast days (and a few others I haven't mentioned), we arrive at Christmas - or, as the Church calls it, the Incarnation or Nativity of the Lord!  So - how about if we take a few minutes each day in all of the hustle and bustle of the "Christmas shopping season" and remember the reason we're doing this in the first place - and the people like St. Lucy who have given up their lives for their faith.  God comes down to us to be with us!  What a wonderful day to rejoice, gather and celebrate!

Now, please don't think I'm completely against the lights and Christmas trees.  I, myself, usually put my tree up about mid-December.  However, my nativity scene is not completed until December 25 because Mary and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem, and then Jesus showed up!  The Magi come later, too.  I also have an Advent wreath that I use as part of my prayer during Advent. 

 

Finally, remember that Christmas in the Catholic Church doesn't end at midnight on December 25.  I'll blog about that later (you can see last year's entry too).  We celebrate a lot more after that - so let's get ready for it first.  Let's get ready for the celebration, take our "internal shower", get our spiritual party clothes on, and REALLY get ready for the coming of Christ!

Blessings to each of you during this season!