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Catholic? Bon Jovi concert
Went to the Bon Jovi concert (Circle Tour) at the (Bank Atlantic?) Sunrise Arena. Opened with one of my favorite songs, Blood on Blood. Also closed with an encore of Runaway, Wanted (Dead or Alive) and Livin on a Prayer. Show was great! Our nosebleed seats were eye level with the lighting catwalk, which may be why the audio was vocal audio was so hard to hear, but, otherwise, and great show! I think their show last time in 2008 was better even through we were behind the stage.
Their newer songs seem to be more focused on social justice. I know Bon Jovi is a big campaigner for Democrats (Gore, Kerry and Obama), but I was wondering if he’s still Catholic, especially since he sang Hallelujah solo for 5 minutes.
I found a quote from Parade magazine in 2007:
On his Catholic upbringing:
“I went to Catholic school in and out. I’m what you call a recovering Catholic. I have many major issues with the church.” — Jon Bon Jovi
I know that was 3 years ago, but I hope and pray that his search for truth brings him back home to a faithful Catholic identity. I also noticed Richie Sambora was wearing a St Benedict rosary around his neck. I hope it wasn’t just a fashion statement. I couldn’t find much about his faith background.
Another favorite Bon Jovi song is Keep the Faith.
My favorite part (usually cut off the radio version) is the part after the guitar solo (about 4 minutes) where he says:
I’ve been walking in the footsteps of society’s lies
I don’t like what I see no more
Sometimes I wish that I was blind
Sometimes I wait forever
To stand out in the rain
So no one sees me cryin’
Trying to wash away the painMother father
There’s things I’ve done I can’t erase
Every night we fall from grace
It’s hard with the world in yours face
Trying to hold on, trying to hold on
Leeland songs + poverty
I stumbled upon some great videos by a newer Christian group called Leeland. They’re very deep, passionate and “present.” I also saw them in concert last year at an Aquire the Fire youth conference. I fresh and renewing sound to the Christian mainstream.
The first video/song is Leeland’s “Tears of the Saints“ with a collage of today’s poverty [dedicated to Karl Marx, spokesman for the poor, & Contemporary Philosophy class]. The video (and included lyrics) was put together by a Baptist minister. There are others on YouTube, but I like this one.
The second video/song is Leeland’s “Sound of Melodies“ — simply a great sound.
This last video is Leeland in concert with a moment of Scripture & “How Great Thou Art.” — indeed.
biggest Catholic secret + Modern Day Moses (song)
In Contemporary Philosophy class, our latest discussions have always come back to the treatment of the poor and ignored people in society. Karl Marx‘s Communist Manifesto seems to over-emphasize the poor in his philosophy while Adam Smith‘s The Wealth of Nations seems to minimize them. Fr Santos constantly compared & contrasted Communism with Captitalism with Catholic Social Teaching. He also reminded us of the Catholic Church’s greatest kept secret, the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church that highlights the social teachings of the Church. It’s a great read and good for spiritual reading. [text available on Vatican website here]
As I was seaching YouTube, I also found a video for a song that fits my reflections today. It’s another song by Kendall Payne (one of my favorite Christian vocalist). It’s not that well known, but is probably my favorite of hers to date. It’s off her first album Jordan’s Sister, called “Modern Day Moses.” Here’s the lyrics:
a modern day Moses, waking the streets
with shouts of glory, blistered feet
he’s met the maker, he’s met the reason he’s alive
and he’s on fire inside
a modern day mother, living in the slums
feeding the hungry, making sure the race gets run,
always asking if we fought with steady feet
she fights on her knees
let my people go (4x)
a modern day Martin in a world of civil words exchange
but dreaming bigger, thinks maybe he could make a change
he’s heard the stories, he wants some of his own
and he’s not alone. (no, no, no ...)
[chorus]
(bridge)
the time is not the moments here,
walk in faith or stand in fear
change the course of history,
did you ever think, no one ever though
— who would have believed?
a modern day Me, what have i become, what can i be?
if there is greatness out there to be achieved
i want to be more than someone who just passes through this life
i want to stand up for what is right
[chorus]
The YouTube video (above), featuring Kendall Payne’s song Modern Day Moses, is just a collage of scenes from 7th Heaven of people that the Camden family has helped over the years. I’ve never been a big 7th Heaven fan, but charity is a great running theme for this post, so it’s ok here! 🙂
summer migrant ministry in VA
A speaker from the Office of Migrant Ministry in Richmond, Virginia came to the seminary today to invite us for a summer pastoral ministry position in Virginia. Here are some details from their flyer …
Office of Migrant Ministry works with local parishes to extend the church’s pastoral presence to migrant farm workers and their families particularly on the Eastern Shore and in Southside Virginia. The office networks with local agencies to meet the social service needs of migrant farm workers and advocates for social policies to protect and promote their rights. Phone: (757) 787-7862. PO Box 584, Accomac, VA 23301. Coordinator: Mr. James R. Albright
SUMMER PASTORAL MINISTRY position available: You can serve through Pastoral Outreach amongst farm workers and their families in rural Virginia. An opportunity to be the “welcoming” presence of the local Catholic Church and to be the bridge that connects the migrant farm workers and the local community. Work with parish volunteers to help provide access to liturgies, sacraments and needed social services and advocacy.
PRE-REQUISITES:
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Be a practicing Catholic, possessing knowledge, understanding and positive regard for the Faith
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Be a Spanish speaker
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Possess a valid driver’s license & good driving record
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Have interpersonal, organizational and good communication skills
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Be self-motivated and successful at college level responsibilities
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Be able to work as a team and work with volunteers
TIME COMMITMENT: from 9 to 12 weeks (depending on one’s availability & ministry needs) beginning after mid-May and running through mid-August. A significant amount of time will be spent visiting people at their homes in the evening. One is expected to minister at least five days (about 20 hours) and six evenings (about 18 hours) per week.
FINANCIAL & SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS: the following will be provided: (may vary — call for details)
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vehicle & travel expenses for ministry related travel
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local housing and parish office support
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a weekly stipend (~$300)
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airfare to Virginia
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(not provided) workers are expected to buy & prepare their own food
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(not provided) workers must maintain their own medical insurance for medical needs not related to employment
— I would probably be interested if my Spanish was better
Covenant House
I finally filled out the volunteer application for Covenant House, a Catholic shelter for homeless teens (under age 21) on Ft. Lauderdale beach. They’ve been looking to fill a “Pastoral Minister” position for years, but only recently found someone for the last couple of months. They organize spiritual activities like prayer services, council, Bible study, and take kids to church (of various faiths). It sounds like a difficult, but very necessary service for these teens.
After last months YES Retreat, which had a speaker from Covenant House, I decided to see if I could volunteer some time on the weekends, especially since our youth group is no longer active. While trying to get to the place today, the police had 2 blocks around the building blocked off — I thought it was a hostage standoff. Apparently, a dump truck driver knocked over some electrical poles and cause a major power outage. Of all days that I pick to go!
Just to top things off, I found out the new “Pastoral Minister” is leaving in a couple of weeks. — These kids just can’t get a break!
Pope, drugs & Brazil
I read an article in the Miami Herald today on Pope Benedict XVI in Brazil saying “Drug dealers face God’s wrath”on the front page. Americans (especially non-believers) must see that (like I did) and say “Duh! — the Pope just discovered drugs are bad?” I think it’s because most Americans forget how many Latin American countries have government officials so influenced by drug dealers (like special interests in our country), that they’ve been numbed to any promises of changes. A fresh outside voice may jump-start the hard work that needs to be done to bring healing. With nearly half of the world’s 1.1 billion Catholics in Latin America, the churches are experiencing an “exodus” of the faithful, like in Europe:
”People only go to church to ask for a favor, and when they get it, they go away.” …”People don’t know what church they belong to anymore, and they’re trying out everything.”
Surveys show that although Brazil remains the world’s largest Roman Catholic country, Catholics are now only 64% of the population, down from 89% in 1980. Those calling themselves evangelical Protestants rose to 15% from 7%.
What’s going on? I can’t say I’m surprised about the numbers. What’s always surprised me is how most Latin Americans can be Catholic in the first place. They have such an extremely patriarchal culture, where woman are expected to ignore “modesty” and ignore their men’s extra-extramarital affairs as a by-product of being over-sexualized. I understand that our response to our Catholic faith differs dependent on our culture, but this kind of culture make Catholicism so superficial that it justify the exodus. I hope and pray that the Latin American and Caribbean bishops’ conference finds some practical ways to awaken a “purified” fruitful response, and not just a paper mission statement. If they don’t, ministry to Latin Americans, especially in south Florida, will continue to be an uphill battle that the church can’t ignore.
Kermit? Anyone?
SJVCS Seminary Life Album
July '09 -- hospital chaplains @ IPF
Easter '09 -- Miami SJVCS friends
the Son always finds a break in let the clouds
Feb '09 -- school vocation talks @ AMHS
Feb '09 -- cold breakfast with brothers (Matias, Fenly & Randy), now at SVDP and Imad (at SJVCS)
Superbowl '09 -- eating great @ SJVCS
Sept '08 -- Worklist Coordinators?
St Raphael Chapel mural @ SJVCS
Sept '08 -- retreats @ SJVCS
"It's not easy being green"
Catholic Kermit 
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