On November 4, I was away for about 10 days. I went to Chile! The Franciscan Friars had a conference about issues of social justice and making peace. They call these issues "JPIC issues." There were Franciscan Friars from all over North America and South America. There were people who spoke Spanish, Portuguese and English. Some of the friars have worked for many years in the rainforests of Brasil and South America. As a group, we wanted to find a way to work together.

There is much pain in the world, and God calls Christians to help heal that pain. When we visited Villa Grimaldi we remembered this. At Villa Grimaldi the former dictator of Chile held and tortured people who opposed his government. Our guide, himself, was held there in the 1970's. It was a powerful, moving experience. My visit there inspired me to reflect on how I can challenge injustice in the world.

People's current relationship to the environment is a source of injustice. The conference heard God's call to consider global warming. It affects the whole world. What we do here in the United States also affects the North Pole, India, South America and other places. It is easy to let economic or political systems run the world. Economics and politics are not evil, but we have to use them with love. Sometimes we make decisions based only on how much money we can make. At those times we can forget that other people are involved. Many companies here in the United States and even the government make decisions about resources in South America. Sometimes we think that the world is good because people can use it and its resources. At those times we can forget that it is also good in its own right. We forget that God plans to save all creation and to bring it to fulfillment.

While we were at the conference, we were able to share in our work. But we also shared a lot of fun. We visited Santiago, the capital of Chile. We saw many sites and some of the Franciscan churches. We visited a vineyard and got to try some Chilean wine... VERY GOOD! As good Franciscans we spent some fun time in the evenings singing and chatting.

Kathy Carey has sorted all the candles you all ordered and they are ready to be picked up. I will have them for you all over in the convent this Sunday. Thank you Cheryl Johnston, Anne Folkard, Jason Botelho, Norma Tourangeau, Marge Tucker, Andrew DeFrancesco, Ronald St. Martin, Kathy Carey, Catherine Hanna, and Ms. Desimme. You did a great job. We raised about $600 for the community!

In Christ,

Fr. St. Martin

Wreaths!

Repentant People,

Today the Gospel tells us to repent.  I think of our 200th anniversary in the Archdiocese of Boston.  Sometimes our recient history in the Archdiocese can be leave us discouraged.  Sometimes we might see that in ourselves and we definitely have seen that discouragement in others around us.  This discouragement has contributed to some people's not coming to Church.

One thing that the two hundred year anniversary can help us to do is become more familiar with the bigger picture of our own history.  Did you know that there was a time in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts when it was illegal for a Catholic priest to even be here at all.  If one was discovered he was forced to leave and if he turned up again he could be killed!  Did you know that at first we only had about three priests.  The culture in the beginning of the Archdiocese was against us for sure.  Their used to be annual public protests against the Pope in Boston Common.  If my memory serves, I think it was the first convent, or at least one of the first, that was burned to the ground by anti catholic people and the sisters inside died.

The history of our young 200 year old diocese seems to be one with internal and external problems.  The internal problems are before us all the time now.  What does all this mean?  I find it helpful to look into the longer world history of the Church.  When you look at that you see that from the begging we were plauged by the same kinds of problems. 

We should remember that the Church's struggle with problems both external and internal is nothing new.  In our own lives the same is true.  We are a pilgrim people.  We are in a battle in this life.  This is the ordinary state of things in this world.

Today in the Gospel we need to repent.  We are not called to give up.  We need to set a good example for those who may have fallen by the way side.  We need to strengthen ourselves by standing again without fear before our merciful God and believe in his goodness.  He can help us back from anything.  He is God.  He made us.  He has shown us through his son that he can even bring us back even if we die.

Let us look again at our own sins.  Let us look at our own faults and try again as members of His Church to turn away from all that is bad and learn anew to do good.  Make this Advent a time of renewal for yourselves and you will help others to see the light of God's goodness once again.

Pray for our Catechumen, James Jones, and our confirmation students as they prepare to receive the full outpouring of the Spirit.  With them we will help to make history in such a way that many will be converted and know the love God has shown us in his beloved Son.

In Christ,

Fr. St. Martin

Food for our neighbors in need

Sacred Heart Parish in Newton Center is collecting food items. Please bring in food items for people in need. Sunday, December 9 Sacred Heart Parish will collect food. What do we need?

- Bottle of Cooking Oil

- Bag of Rice

- Box of Spaghetti

- Jar of Spaghetti Sauce

- Box of Cereal

- Jar of Peanut Butter

- Jar of Jam or Jelly

Could you bring one of these things in? If you want, you can bring more than one. Please bring them this coming Sunday, December 9 at Sacred Heart in Newton Center. This Sunday is the last day because the food will need to be delivered soon.