What exactly is so hard about sending Word attachments?

I wish this was a sarcastic question, but it really isn't and is a reflection of the frustration I am feeling at Church. I must grant the scheduler of the various ministries has a tough job, but why on earth should we go back at least five years technologically and start mailing (by "snail mail") the schedules? While I am more than willing to empathize with the relatively new scheduler, because she doesn't have a lot of computer experience, I really don't get why this is such a problem given the fact various people have offered to assist with the more technological side of things such as attaching the attachment and sending it out. Anyway, in the modern era, should we have someone capable of basic modern communications handling such an important task?

The most frustrating thing for me is that I am viewed as petty or my frustration is taken personally when I say I cannot chase a piece of paper or wait by the mailbox with expectation at this point in my life. The important things in my life are saved on my laptop and PDA so that I have instant access to them in the event of an emergency -- and unfortunately this happens more often than not nowadays. To me, nothing is more important than ensuring I am present when I am scheduled to as a Lector or EMHC, but I cannot ensure I always have a schedule -- on paper -- with me at all times so that I can ensure my presence or arrange proper coverage in the event of an emergency.

Does my attitude toward the ministries need improvement? Towards the ministries as a service to Christ and His Church, I don't think so. However, I am not sure I am willing to change my opinion about chasing paper schedules in the modern age. Heck, there are parishes that have their schedules online and my parish is having to mail everything. Isn't this also a major waste of the money given to the money in the way of the time it takes to stuff envelopes and the postage? Does my attitude towards the church need at least slight improvement, may... just maybe... because I honestly believe the church should be doing what is needed to ensure the most effective communication takes place instead of sitting back idling acting as if the parishioners who are busy are at their beck and call.

Serra International

Is there a Serra International near you? If not, check into the possibility of bringing this organization that promotes and supports religious life and the priesthood to your area.

Modern Sacred Music Not So Sacred?

According to Monsignor Valentín Miserachs Grau, director of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, modern sacred music has had greater deviations than any other area touched by the Second Vatican Counsel.

It is a great error, Monsignor Miserachs said, to think that people "should find in the temple the same nonsense given to them outside," since "the liturgy, even in the music, should educate all people -- including youth and children.""Much music written today, or put in circulation, nevertheless ignores not only the grammar, but even the basic ABC's of musical art," he continued. "Due to general ignorance, especially in certain sectors of the clergy," certain media act as loudspeakers for "products that, devoid of the indispensable characteristics of sacred music -- sanctity, true art, universality -- can never procure the authentic good of the Church." Source

Any person who sits in the pews of a Mass according to the ordinary form knows, truer words have not been spoken regarding modern liturgical music. Given the musical history of the Church, there is no reason for modern music to be the sad shape it is in.

Upcoming National Elections

Local elections for 2007 are finished and now the race to the absurdly early 2008 primaries begins. I say this tongue-in-cheek, because the 2008 race began a year ago. Honestly, I'm not a happy with any of the candidates on either side of the aisle. I don't consider myself a Republican, much less a Democrate. I am an independant thinker with federalist leanings although it seems like I vote solidly Republican.

As I continue to research the candidates -- Republican and Democrate alike -- I will blog about my findings, opinions, and continue to search for the lesser of evils, because, so far, I have found one candidate that truly stands for everything I believe in and has the potential to win on a national level.

So, what do I look for in a candidate. For starters, I look for a solidly pro-life candidate who is openly pro-marriage. If we can begin to protect the unborn and families, then we can look to the other issues such as the "war on terror", social security, immigration, and healthcare. If we cannot protect the most defenseless of society, then we cannot combat the other evils of modern society.

Frankly, most politicians talk in circles and never really say anything of meaning. One can only look at voting records, their personal lives, and those they associate with to even begin to know where they stand on issues. Talk in cheap in our daily lives and polician talk is worth almost nothing. Action is what matters. Does this mean a politician cannot have a conversion moment? No, I believe it is possible, but I remain skeptical until a solid voting history exists. Few of us ever really change; those of us that do change, change because Christ has touched their lives deeply, intimately, and personally.

So, does this mean I will only vote for a Christian politician. No. I will vote for the person who is most likely to promote a pro-life and pro-marriage agenda while truly standing for the principles outlined in the Constitution of the United States of America. We cannot have an agenda driven President and Vice President who will promote their personal agenda without regard for the people and freedoms of the United States.

I can be somewhat idealistic and expect a our President and Supreme Court Justices to uphold the Constitution regardless of what a vocal minority wants. Our right to free speach grants each one of us the right to voice our opinions without repercussions, but this does not mean the minority, albeit a growing minority, should be able to repress the true freedoms of religion and speech granted to each citizen of the United States.

It will be interesting to see where this election goes. I truly hope we do not windup with Clinton or Obama as our next president. God help us all!

Catholics and Holy Scripture

What does Holy Scripture mean to Catholics? This is an especially important question for us as individual Catholics, because we are often targeted as "those people" who do not accept scripture and/or add to what Scripture tells us. Given the nature of these misperceptions, we are obligated to know our faith and Scripture so that we can refute these perceptions and defend our faith. This means our faith and Scripture need to be personal. We cannot be satisfied with a mediocre or hand-me-down faith.

So, let's hear what our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has to say about this:

Sacred Scripture isn't merely a text written in the past, but rather the word of God that has within it a personal message directed to each individual Christian.

Above all I think it is this: to love the word of God in sacred Scripture. St. Jerome said, 'To ignore Scripture is to ignore Christ.' That is why it is important that every Christian live in contact and in personal dialogue with the word of God, given to us in sacred Scripture.

We must also keep in mind that the word of God is given to us in order to build communion, to unite us in the truth along our way to God.

Therefore, despite the fact that it is always a personal word, it is also a word that builds community, and that builds the Church itself. Therefore, we should read it in communion with the living Church. Source