It's all about perceptions?

Being informed by people in the silence of their hearts is where most of my information can get analytical and this might be in front of an Abortion Clinic, where we see the trauma of human beings sometimes fathers and mothers, trying to make hard decisions before the butcher arrives to do his nasty job to slaughter the innocents that by the way have not harmed anybody, they get no chance to live a life the privileged life that we have become used to and for that matter the children we have raised and their own lives, this life is a gift and something we have lost a vision to preserve, hold as holy, and most worthy of protection by the people of this great Country!
We see the parents exiting the death chambers and yes it is as BAD as Nazi Germany yet worse it is done knowingly every day and we let it happen because we have said it's clinical and these people can perform procedures that Courts in some States rule "Lethal Injection Is Too Cruel" for the most hardened criminals! To see the faces of the parents maybe married, maybe not, especially the mothers that walk away ever more traumatized by what just happened at the hands of a murderer who walks away more hardened by the Act of taking a human life made in the image of God, the guy in the Scrubs will not say he is not a Doctor because they already know the oath to preserve life has been torn away by their own hands and the tools used to butcher in their trade, these are the unspoken words we hear and they have made more of an impression on me than viewing a man that has just blown his head off by suicide by his own hand! At least his mother gave him a chance to live until his decision was made yet he might have left a wife and family to grieve after him!
Silence does make a big impression on me and from now on we can only speak for the very ones that have no voice, the ones that by the way are thought less of by our Society that can't quite hear just what the hearts of the traumatized are saying and the very quiet words of God's own Creation that has just been torn asunder to pieces...yes, silence speaks and is heard if their is someone to listen to the story it has to tell!

Hold the Applause, Please

My husband and I are fairly new in the area and the Visitation Church , and are still wondering whether to register as parishioners. The reason?
The applause we have been hearing in church at the Saturday 4 pm Mass, after a cantor's particularly beautiful rendition of a hymn, or after the ending hymn - is not only annoying, but spiritually disturbing. It seems that people's reactions are more in tune with the superficial entertainment aspects, rather than to the real liturgical feeding of their soul, spirit, mind, heart and being.
I wonder if Pastors or Parish Priests discuss this phenomenon as an issue to be dealt with? If they do, it certainly does not appear in Church Bulletins or Newsletters. We never read Bishop's instructions on liturgical rubrics. Perhaps this dumbing down of the laity and decreasing Mass attendance, is due to the failure of recognition and perception of the presence of the Body of Christ in our churches at all times. Children learn from their parents. And if no one is learning, is it because no one is teaching? In the directive "Go and teach all nations," do we need to be away from home to start?
So, my question is, is there an awareness of where the tabernacle is, and whether there is proper respect toward Christ in the tabernacle? It seems to me that some people are viewing the Mass as a source of entertainment. If entertainment is something that gives one diversion or amusement or an exhibition of some kind, then I do not think proper attitude of veneration is afforded during participation in the Mass. Actually, the height of worship can be reached in silence, although the sound of sacred music can aid us in lifting our heart and focusing on God. This is pleasing to the senses, but when the congregation bursts into applause, then it ceases to be an accompaniment to our worship and focuses on our being entertained.
Equally horrendous is the loud conversations in church just before Mass. From the moment we enter church, usually 20 minutes before the start of the Mass - there is constant sound and lack of proper reverence for the tabernacle by some who do not genuflect or bow their head in respect. People in the pews chatter, many with loud voices, as if they were in an auditorium or restaurant. All this noise is distracting and makes me feel as if I am attending a theatre performance, rather than a religious service to revere and pay homage to God.
Unfortunately, passing judgment winds up being as destructive of worship as liturgical abuses. But, I have to express the fact that I want to share myself with Jesus, not be entertained by liturgical abuses with inaccurate renderings of rubrics. Church is for worship, which includes respect, awe and veneration. Going into church requires a transition from our everyday lives with the hypnotic magnetic pull that modern entertainment has upon our minds and hearts. It requires an act of our will prompted by love of God to prepare ourselves mentally and spiritually for Saturday/Sunday worship, and such preparation is exactly what our God deserves. E.S.

Health Care???

A current lobbyist spot on TV shows a patient and a doctor and a guy wearing a suit. The voice over screams "Don't let a bureaucrat come between you and your doctor?" It's kind of funny because the lobbyist for the other side could have made the same spot and said "Don't let an insurance claims adjuster come between you and your doctor?"

It seems that both sides are competing to scare us into an early grave (which I guess is one way to reduce healthcare costs). On the bright side it seems that both sides are beginning to agree about getting rid of killer clauses like Pre Existing Conditions and Unreasonably high prescription prices. Maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Now don't tell me you don't have an opinion about this one. Here's a chance to vent your spleen.

Lou Barbuscio

In Vitro Fertilization?

It is my understanding that the Catholic Church's position on In Vetro Fertilization to create a child is that it is an evil act on par with abortion. My son Drew was born 2 months ago and was the result of a successful In Vetro procedure. After a year of unsuccessfully creating a child naturally, my wife and I attempted 4-5 procedures and numerous miscarriages drew was the result of our final try. Adoption was too expensive and my insurance actually covered the infertility procedures. Now I find that the existence of my miracle child is basically condemned by the Catholic Church. I had always planned on having my boy christened but why would I do so when the church is against his existence? I am struggling with all of this and quite honestly very angry about it. Unless visitation for some reason does not share these same views what am I really to do? Can anyone help me understand this? Edward

Why the Pastor shouldn't ask for money

People complain the Pastor is always asking for money and he doesn't appreciate the fact that we are in a deep recession.

In the pastor's State of the Parish homily, a once a year event, he gave us some statistics like 80% of the donations are coming from 20% of the contributors and the vast majority of contributors are putting a dollar or less in the collection.
I started thinking about what you can buy for a dollar. A sign outside of WaWa says "Cigarettes $5.69 Lowest Price allowed by law". If a smoker smoked 3 less cigarettes a day each week they could put $5 in the collection basket on Sunday and still be 69 cents ahead. One dollar will buy you 1/2 gallon of gas. Last year it would only buy a 1/4 gallon. I wonder how many gallons of fuel oil or natural gas it takes to heat the church in the winter? How about downsizing from the large coffee or "Big Gulp" or "Super Size" to Regular at the Fast Food stops?

I do agree on one thing, the pastor should not be asking for money at all. After all, pastors will come and go but the debts and/or assets of the parish remain for those of us who choose to worship here. Our consciences should be speaking to us about our common needs to keep these facilities running for our benefit, comfort and convenience. And when our consciences are dulled or silent then it should be the people of the parish themselves who remind us not the Pastor.

Lou Barbuscio

No Shaking Hands during Peace

I have been against shaking hands with other members of the church since this action started. Over the years, I have heard other people talk (my co-workers) about how they also are against it also. People are always coughing and sneezing into their hands and this is not sanitary.

Some churches (mostly Staten Island) have discontinued this action during the mass. It is the biggest way to spread germs. With people that are prone to illness (mostly people with RA and cancer patients) this is the biggest spread of germs along with shopping basket handles.

I do not shake hands with people sitting next to me, I nod my head and hope that they do not insist on shaking. Can the church look into Stopping this gesture....is it really necessary?????

Why can't we just nod our heads to acknowledge Peace?
R.Kiesche

OUR YOUTH

I FEEL TERRIBLE ABOUT HOW NOT MANY CHILDREN ARE IN CHURCH OR PARTICIPATING, AND I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER. I DO KNOW THAT WHEN I WAS GROWING UP THE CATHOLIC RELIGION WAS EVERYTHING TO ME AND ALL AROUND ME, FAMILY AND FRIENDS. IT WAS SO DIFFERENT , NOT POUNDED INTO US BUT IT WAS ALWAYS WITH US. I BELIEVE IT ALL GOES BACK TO RESPECT, THAT WAS HUGE AND STILL IS. IT IS UP TO THE PARENTS TO START INSTILLING THAT EARLY , FOR RESPECT YOURSELF, YOUR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, SISTERS, BROTHERS TEACHERS, CLERGY, AN ON AND ON. WE HAD ONE NUN FOR FIFTY TO FIFTY FIVE CHILDREN AND SHE HAD CONTROL, NOT BECAUSE SHE BEAT US UP EVERY DAY LIKE MOST PEOPLE LIKE TO BELIEVE, BUT WE WERE TOLD WE HAD BETTER PAY ATTENTION AND DO WHAT WE WERE TOLD. SO IT WASN'T BECAUSE THE NUNS WERE WWE OR WWF WRESTLERS AND WERE KNEW THEY COULD TAKE US
DOWN, IT WAS RESPECT AND EVEN IN HIGH SCHOOL, A PUBLIC SCHOOL, I STILL AND MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY FELT THE SAME. SO WHY CAN'T IT BE LIKE THAT NOW, IT CAN BE. IT ALL STARS AT HOME. SO COME ON PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS LETS GO BACK IN TIME AND START OVER AGAIN. BY THE WAY THERE IS A NICE BLOG FOR YOUTHS BY BRANDON ELLIS, IT NEEDS TO GET OUT TO THE KIDS IF THEY NEED SOMEBODY TO TALK TO . THANK YOU

Maria Ormsby
American Van Equipment
1985 Rutgers University Blvd.
Lakewood NJ 08701