Pope: Day 1
Francis little one the whole wide world is a little weary of big things. Teach us to take the bus to fry an egg to play the charming child before a crowd....
17
Mar
14
Mar
A Jesuit Pope . . . and the Devil’s wearing longjohns.
The day we get a Jesuit Pope, hell will freeze over! So it has been said, perhaps even by me. Well, it must be awfully chilly in the netherworld today because we do indeed have a Jesuit Pope. Francis I, S.J. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think? It's a good thing that I'm not a gambler, because I would waste a whole lot of money. I was so far off on this one. I didn't expect a new pope before Friday. And I was sure, when the decision came so quickly, that it would be someone from inside the Vatican. In fact, I was betting on Cardinal Scola as we raced to the Vatican for the announcement....
13
Mar
A View From Within (6) – Before, Between, and Now
As I put the finishing touches to this blog, white smoke has issued from the world's most-watched chimney ...
12
Mar
Fog, Salt and Father Jim Murphy, SJ
What is the definition of fog? According to Fr. Jim Murphy SJ, fog is "a cloud that touches the Earth". Fr. Jim was born in St. John, New Brunswick in 1914, one of nine children. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1934, and was ordained a priest in 1947. He studied theology in Bogota, Colombia, and did doctoral studies in Toronto. Much of his life was spent in Halifax, where he taught chemistry at St. Mary's University. Fr. Jim was born in St. John, New Brunswick in 1914, one of nine children. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1934, and was ordained a priest in 1947. He studied theology in Bogota, Colombia, and did doctoral studies in Toronto. Much of his life was spent in Halifax, where he taught chemistry at St. Mary's University....
06
Mar
What’s Happening in Calgary? What is a single, senior-aged Jesuit doing there?
When I came here – sent and missioned by the Provincial – in September 2011, the image noted in GC 35 – "to new frontiers" – was an important element of my discernment process. I had spent 5 years in Winnipeg working as the National Ecclesial Assistant (as well as Prairies and Rockies/BC Assistant) of the Christian Life Community in Canada, as well as giving and directing people in the Spiritual Exercises and doing other pastoral ministry....
24
Feb
One Novice’s Long Experiment (Part One)
Novices in the English Canada Province of the Society of Jesus have the opportunity to experience cultures different than their own, oftentimes those outside of Canada, during what is referred to as the novitiate "Long Experiment". The Long Experiment is a 4-5 month assignment that is completed in our second year. It is a critical step in each Jesuit's formation....
21
Feb
On Saying Goodbye and Hello
On one hand, no one should be surprised by Pope Benedict's resignation, but on the other, everyone is stunned! Reality is quite different than theory. For months many had been speculating that his resignation was imminent. The evidence was mounting: a second consistory for the creation of new cardinals in the same calendar year, the ordination to the episcopate of his personal secretary, and most compelling of all his obvious decline in strength....
18
Feb
The Terrible Father Quirk
Students at Loyola College in the early part of the twentieth century found Nicholas A. Quirk, S.J., somewhat eccentric. He was to some extent, yet not to the degree the stories from that era would suggest. Quirk was among the earliest teachers at Loyola College, having been assigned there in 1899....
16
Feb
Now What? Pope Benedict XVI Resigns
On Monday, February 11, I walked into the house chapel for community prayer a little before 1:00 pm Rome time. One of my colleagues leaned over to me and asked if I had heard the news that the Pope had announced his resignation. Given this fellow's reputation for jokes, I was sure he was just pulling my leg. But almost immediately I realized that he was quite serious and that in fact the Pope had just resigned....
12
Feb
I take my tea with sugar and milk.
In Pakistan, where I did secondary school, a cup of tea can sell a carpet or bring two families together to agree on their children's marriage. Sometimes that can take many cups of tea! I'm accustomed to what a cup of tea can say, what it means. It is no different at L'Arche...