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Church and Community You are about to read some refreshing articles on religious experience, church and community: mystical phenomena, complex as the dynamics of family interactions. Our endeavor includes the rainbow coalition of immigrants, the egregiously unfair criminal justice system, and reflections on the monastic life. Reaching back to 1997 we reprint an inspirational, meticulously researched article by Tom O’Rourke on his Mother Earth mentor and hero Thomas Berry who died this past June, age 94. Thomas Berry back in the 1980s offered a retreat to CPF at St. Malachy. His immense knowledge of the universe, our Milky Way galaxy and the cosmic Christ, was accompanied by a touching modesty, and transparent goodness. We remember two wonderful (full of wonder) men among the cloud of witnesses. How does one deal with the institution called church? Tom Roberts writing in the NCR (6/12/09) speaks of the emergence of small communities of faith, quoting Robert McClory, who has studied the Dutch experience, always in the vanguard of experimentation. The Dutch are deeply influenced by the great Dominican theologian Edward Schillebeeckx, a powerful influence at Vatican II, now 94 years old. Schillebeeckx sees the need for the two orders, traditional and “other” going along together, not irretrievably split, the church body torn asunder. As for bishops, he cautions one not to expect too much. John Sobrino’s words identify the need, “The Church needs grace in order to know what it must be and what it must do, and it needs grace to make them both real. Therefore it must set its eyes on Jesus.” “Grace and truth come through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17) Stopping at a liturgy while travelling can be disheartening, when the celebration is rote, Spirit-less. In the seminary, sacramental theology emphasized the efficacy of the sacraments; they were grace filled even, for example, if the priest offering absolution in the sacrament of penance was immersed in sin. Your sins were forgiven, grace flows in spite of the interior darkness of the padre’s life. The Latin expression was “ex opere operato.” The celebrant is not an insurmountable obstacle, grace flows to us assuredly; however, the celebration of the Eucharist is a totally different event if the celebrant is a holy person, Spirit filled. The preaching of the Word has a life giving dimension. The people are renewed, even inspired, hearts are moved. Perhaps the agonizing over the priesthood, celibate, married, woman, man needs a return to the early church. Apparently the people picked their leaders, who were charismatic, graced, gifted. After all we desperately need holy people to lead, the other requisites mentioned seem irrelevant by comparison. We also note the 40th anniversary of Catholic Peace Fellowship here in Philadelphia. We will celebrate, hoping for the presence of long missed friends on Saturday, October 3rd with wine and cheese; a bit of fund raiser as well. Like AA members, our continuous, uneven, surprising, ongoing existence is a testimony to grace and some powerful people in our midst. Just a few: Bishop Tom Gumbleton, Daniel Berrigan, Liz McAllister, Thomas Berry, Gordon Zahn, Kathy Kelly, Marc Ellis, Art Laffin, Frida Berrigan and local heroes, House of Grace, and John McNamee. CPF was founded by Dan and Phillip Berrigan, inspired by Dorothy Day, in the 1960s as a part of the Fellowship of Reconciliation a long time pacifist, Protestant group. Finally, a Catholic voice joined the Fellowship’s chorus against war. Locally we were launched in 1968 or 69. We can’t remember, so call it 40. Save the date. Join with us here at St. Malachy’s, a hospitable place to toast the blessings of peace making, and the beat goes on!! Joe Bradley |