Dear Friends and Followers,
Please transfer your loyalty to the new blog below. This blog will be terminated within the next couple of weeks. Thanks and peace.
www.sonsofphilip.com
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Moving Forward: A New Community
Dear Friends and Supporters,
After a long and fruitful process, Fr. Daniel and I are finally "landing the plane." It is important to understand that these things take time because the Church is testing the call and we humans are often slow to understand! Listening to the movements of the Holy Spirit and perserverance are key elements in this process.
To begin, it is important to know we are continuing to pursue two primary goals (and perhaps a third, more general one) within an overarching goal of the New Evangelization: Helping to sanctify families, working toward a greater respect for human life and sanctifying the culture. Being an evangelizing, a "missionary" community in our own nation is an essential feature of our apostolic goals.
Although we are still pursuing these same goals, the vehicle in which we will accomplish this has changed. Rather than form a whole new religious community of priests and brothers, we have discovered the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. We share with St. Philip and the Oratory their charism (the "inner" life of the community) of living as a family. We have always sought to live as a family in imitation of the Holy Family's love, so as to be able to bring that love to families. We have visited several Oratories and Oratories-in-formation and have taken to them immediately.
We are thankful to Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, for his warm welcome into his diocese. We will moving there May 16, 2012 to begin an Oratory-in-formation, the Sons of St. Philip Neri. It will be formed to be an autonomous house while simultaneously under the guidance of the Congregation of the Oratory in Rome.
What is an Oratory? (The following is taken, in part, from the Brooklyn Oratory's website)
The Congregation of the Oratory is a group of priests and lay brothers living a common life without vows. The Oratorian vocation is unique in the Church where most priests are either secular (diocesan) priests, or religious priests, who normally live in community, and are bound by vows. Blessed John Henry Newman called the Oratorian life a bridge between diocesan and religious life.
An Oratorian lives in his own community, and cannot be moved around from one house to another. Unless he leaves the Oratory, or makes a new foundation, he will spend his entire life as a priest living in the same place.
The Oratory was founded by St Philip Neri in Rome in the sixteenth century. He sent many of his followers to join religious orders, but never himself felt called to it. Instead, he founded an institute where the bond between members is not a formal canonical vow, but a bond of charity. The ideal of St Philip, after which the members of the Oratory strive, is one of community life and priestly service lived in a spirit of prayer, and where obedience is offered out of fraternal love, and not any external compulsion.
Each Oratorian house is fully independent and autonomous. However, since 1944, there has been a loose Confederation of Oratories, whose main purposes are to provide a central point of contact for Oratorians with the Holy See in Rome, and the oversight of new houses seeking to become independent Oratorian Congregations.
We feel as though we have come home. Please keep praying for us. --Fr. JB
After a long and fruitful process, Fr. Daniel and I are finally "landing the plane." It is important to understand that these things take time because the Church is testing the call and we humans are often slow to understand! Listening to the movements of the Holy Spirit and perserverance are key elements in this process.
To begin, it is important to know we are continuing to pursue two primary goals (and perhaps a third, more general one) within an overarching goal of the New Evangelization: Helping to sanctify families, working toward a greater respect for human life and sanctifying the culture. Being an evangelizing, a "missionary" community in our own nation is an essential feature of our apostolic goals.
Although we are still pursuing these same goals, the vehicle in which we will accomplish this has changed. Rather than form a whole new religious community of priests and brothers, we have discovered the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. We share with St. Philip and the Oratory their charism (the "inner" life of the community) of living as a family. We have always sought to live as a family in imitation of the Holy Family's love, so as to be able to bring that love to families. We have visited several Oratories and Oratories-in-formation and have taken to them immediately.
We are thankful to Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, for his warm welcome into his diocese. We will moving there May 16, 2012 to begin an Oratory-in-formation, the Sons of St. Philip Neri. It will be formed to be an autonomous house while simultaneously under the guidance of the Congregation of the Oratory in Rome.
What is an Oratory? (The following is taken, in part, from the Brooklyn Oratory's website)
The Congregation of the Oratory is a group of priests and lay brothers living a common life without vows. The Oratorian vocation is unique in the Church where most priests are either secular (diocesan) priests, or religious priests, who normally live in community, and are bound by vows. Blessed John Henry Newman called the Oratorian life a bridge between diocesan and religious life.
An Oratorian lives in his own community, and cannot be moved around from one house to another. Unless he leaves the Oratory, or makes a new foundation, he will spend his entire life as a priest living in the same place.
The Oratory was founded by St Philip Neri in Rome in the sixteenth century. He sent many of his followers to join religious orders, but never himself felt called to it. Instead, he founded an institute where the bond between members is not a formal canonical vow, but a bond of charity. The ideal of St Philip, after which the members of the Oratory strive, is one of community life and priestly service lived in a spirit of prayer, and where obedience is offered out of fraternal love, and not any external compulsion.
Each Oratorian house is fully independent and autonomous. However, since 1944, there has been a loose Confederation of Oratories, whose main purposes are to provide a central point of contact for Oratorians with the Holy See in Rome, and the oversight of new houses seeking to become independent Oratorian Congregations.
We feel as though we have come home. Please keep praying for us. --Fr. JB
Monday, April 2, 2012
Who is St. Philip Neri?
Philip
Neri was a sign of contradiction, combining popularity with piety against the
background of a corrupt Rome and a disinterested clergy, the whole
post-Renaissance malaise.
At an early age, he abandoned the chance to become a businessman, moved to Rome from Florence and devoted his life and individuality to God. After three years of philosophy and theology studies, he gave up any thought of ordination. The next 13 years were spent in a vocation unusual at the time—that of a layperson actively engaged in prayer and the apostolate.
As the Council of Trent was reforming the Church on a doctrinal level, Philip’s appealing personality was winning him friends from all levels of society, from beggars to cardinals. He rapidly gathered around himself a group of laypersons won over by his audacious spirituality. Initially they met as an informal prayer and discussion group, and also served poor people in Rome.
At the urging of his confessor, he was ordained a priest and soon became an outstanding confessor, gifted with the knack of piercing the pretenses and illusions of others, though always in a charitable manner and often with a joke. He arranged talks, discussions and prayers for his penitents in a room above the church. He sometimes led “excursions” to other churches, often with music and a picnic on the way.
Some of his followers became priests and lived together in community. This was the beginning of the Oratory, the religious institute he founded. A feature of their life was a daily afternoon service of four informal talks, with vernacular hymns and prayers. Giovanni Palestrina was one of Philip’s followers, and composed music for the services.
The Oratory was finally approved after suffering through a period of accusations of being an assembly of heretics, where laypersons preached and sang vernacular hymns! (Cardinal Newman founded the first English-speaking house of the Oratory three centuries later.)
Philip’s advice was sought by many of the prominent figures of his day. He is one of the influential figures of the Counter-Reformation, mainly for converting to personal holiness many of the influential people within the Church itself. His characteristic virtues were humility and gaiety
--From www.americancatholic.org
At an early age, he abandoned the chance to become a businessman, moved to Rome from Florence and devoted his life and individuality to God. After three years of philosophy and theology studies, he gave up any thought of ordination. The next 13 years were spent in a vocation unusual at the time—that of a layperson actively engaged in prayer and the apostolate.
As the Council of Trent was reforming the Church on a doctrinal level, Philip’s appealing personality was winning him friends from all levels of society, from beggars to cardinals. He rapidly gathered around himself a group of laypersons won over by his audacious spirituality. Initially they met as an informal prayer and discussion group, and also served poor people in Rome.
At the urging of his confessor, he was ordained a priest and soon became an outstanding confessor, gifted with the knack of piercing the pretenses and illusions of others, though always in a charitable manner and often with a joke. He arranged talks, discussions and prayers for his penitents in a room above the church. He sometimes led “excursions” to other churches, often with music and a picnic on the way.
Some of his followers became priests and lived together in community. This was the beginning of the Oratory, the religious institute he founded. A feature of their life was a daily afternoon service of four informal talks, with vernacular hymns and prayers. Giovanni Palestrina was one of Philip’s followers, and composed music for the services.
The Oratory was finally approved after suffering through a period of accusations of being an assembly of heretics, where laypersons preached and sang vernacular hymns! (Cardinal Newman founded the first English-speaking house of the Oratory three centuries later.)
Philip’s advice was sought by many of the prominent figures of his day. He is one of the influential figures of the Counter-Reformation, mainly for converting to personal holiness many of the influential people within the Church itself. His characteristic virtues were humility and gaiety
--From www.americancatholic.org
Sunday, March 25, 2012
The "New Media" and the New Evangelization
Both Popes John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have urged Catholics to utilize the modern means of communications for the work of evangelizing the culture. This includes, of course, the use of the Internet in a multi-faceted way, such as social communications, websites, blogs, etc. Imagine, for instance, if every Christian with a Facebook account utilized it in such a way to advance, even in small ways, the Gospel message. This could include posting a holy picture, using a story of a saint in communicating, supplying wholesome and useful links, even gently correcting wrong and/or immoral ideas and content. Instead of wasting time with these sites, we could make a difference in people's lives and be engaging in the New Evangelization.
To this end, Fr. Daniel and I have launched two new blogs. Fr. Daniel is blogging about family matters at www.whyfamily.com, and I am blogging about human dignity, life and freedom at www.whyhumansmatter.com.
I encourage you, too, to think about how each of you can participate more in the "new media" to advance the Christian message in our culture. May St. Paul, Patron of the media, and Mary, the Star of the New Evangelization help you to this end. --Fr. James
To this end, Fr. Daniel and I have launched two new blogs. Fr. Daniel is blogging about family matters at www.whyfamily.com, and I am blogging about human dignity, life and freedom at www.whyhumansmatter.com.
I encourage you, too, to think about how each of you can participate more in the "new media" to advance the Christian message in our culture. May St. Paul, Patron of the media, and Mary, the Star of the New Evangelization help you to this end. --Fr. James
Friday, March 16, 2012
Door-to-Door Mission in Texas: Success!
A Terrific Mission Trip!
We are immensely grateful to have been blessed to work with the people and pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Raymondville, Texas, and surrounding parishes and mission in a week of evangelization. It was an enriching and inspiring missionary week.
We had three sets of teams: One visited homes, another prayed the Rosary and other prayers through the streets for the door-to-door teams and persons being visited, and the third prayed in the Church for all of us. All three ministries are vitally important to reach hearts and to give Glory to God.
We are immensely grateful to have been blessed to work with the people and pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Raymondville, Texas, and surrounding parishes and mission in a week of evangelization. It was an enriching and inspiring missionary week.
 |
| One of Our Teams Prepares Materials for Door-to-Door Ministry |
Overall, we visited a total of 540 houses, received 275 prayer requests, 12 requests for baptisms for children, 5 people interested in returning to the Church, several wanting help with marriage issues, others wanting their children in religious education, etc. One of our teams even prayed with a gang mourning the death of a relative! We prayed for occupants of every home, whether the residents were home, not home, or pretending not to be home! We left a calling card to let them know that Catholics from the local parish prayed for them.
 |
| A Door-to-Door Team Speaking with a Resident at Dusk |
There are so many people in need in our communities. Most of the time, we never know our neighbor's needs and fears unless we connect with him or her on a personal level. Door-to-Door prayer ministry helps us connect with people in our community and helps them to realize that someone cares about them. It is also very humbling for the ministers. Praise God! Our Lady, Star of the New Evangelization, Pray for us.
--Fr. James
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Door-to-Door Ministry in Raymondville, Texas
Missionaries in Texas
Our missionary team arrived in Texas on Friday night ready to work! We celebrated four Masses and preached at five Masses over the weekend of March 3/4. Sunday night we had a good-sized crowd at our evangelization talk. We had another good-sized crowd at our Monday night door-to-door ministry training session.
A group of parishioners enthusiastically joined us and we began knocking on doors on Tuesday morning, with another group walking through the streets praying the Rosary for us and those we visit and yet another group praying for us in the Church. In the last two days, we have prayed at 253 homes (along with others "passing by!"), have distributed numerous Prayer Time prayer booklets from the Knights of Columbus and have been collecting names and contact information of those who want to return to the Church, have children baptized, who need confirmation, etc.
Although we recognize that the most important ministry we are doing is prayer, we have had a number of moving visits with people who are suffering. The beauty of this ministry is the way it opens us to an encounter with individual people, with specific life experiences, worries, sufferings, etc. These encounters make what we do life-giving.
I will write more soon (with pictures), but I need to get ready to leave for children's Eucharistic adoration tonight, which is being led by Fr. Daniel. We go back on the streets tomorrow morning and night. Please pray for us and the people of Willacy County, Texas. May God bless each of you, especially those who are praying for our mission and those who have contributed financially.
Peace. --Fr. JB
Our missionary team arrived in Texas on Friday night ready to work! We celebrated four Masses and preached at five Masses over the weekend of March 3/4. Sunday night we had a good-sized crowd at our evangelization talk. We had another good-sized crowd at our Monday night door-to-door ministry training session.
A group of parishioners enthusiastically joined us and we began knocking on doors on Tuesday morning, with another group walking through the streets praying the Rosary for us and those we visit and yet another group praying for us in the Church. In the last two days, we have prayed at 253 homes (along with others "passing by!"), have distributed numerous Prayer Time prayer booklets from the Knights of Columbus and have been collecting names and contact information of those who want to return to the Church, have children baptized, who need confirmation, etc.
Although we recognize that the most important ministry we are doing is prayer, we have had a number of moving visits with people who are suffering. The beauty of this ministry is the way it opens us to an encounter with individual people, with specific life experiences, worries, sufferings, etc. These encounters make what we do life-giving.
I will write more soon (with pictures), but I need to get ready to leave for children's Eucharistic adoration tonight, which is being led by Fr. Daniel. We go back on the streets tomorrow morning and night. Please pray for us and the people of Willacy County, Texas. May God bless each of you, especially those who are praying for our mission and those who have contributed financially.
Peace. --Fr. JB
Monday, February 6, 2012
Defining the Issue: Religious Freedom
Obama's War on Catholics is Our Opportunity
In the current battle now raging between the Obama Administration and the Catholic Church, it is crucial early on, and throughout the battle, for the Catholic Church to carefully and frequently define the issue for which we are fighting: religious freedom for all people of faith and their institutions. It is not only Catholic bishops and priests who can use their voices here, but the entire lay faithful. The lay faithful, through their many business and social contacts, through electronic communication and other means have the ability to really make a difference. We also have an opportunity to teach.
The Obama Administration and his liberal supporters are already trying to define this battle as being principally about women's health, when this is, in fact, not the main issue on the table. They are, in effect, arguing that because the health issues of women, even families, regarding contraception are at stake, the conscience rights (religious liberty) of Catholic institutions (and others) can be set aside for what they are claiming is a greater, more pressing, government interest. The main issue that needs to be well-defined by Catholic leaders and laity is this: first, the government is trying to remove religious liberties, the most sacrosanct right of Americans, and second, preserving religious liberty in this case will not put women's health at risk.
Catholics speaking about this issue should courageously speak about it for what it is: the Obama Administration declaring war on religious freedoms. It is important, too, to speak about it widely and often, especially as opportunities present themselves. What a great opportunity we Catholics have of educating, or deepening the knowledge of, the American people about religious freedom, conscience, truth and conscience rights, not to mention about the Church's teaching on contraception, sterilization and the abortion risk posed by certain forms of contraception, as well as the health dangers of contraception. Yes, this indeed is a fight, but let's not miss a great opportunity for education, as well. --Fr. JB
In the current battle now raging between the Obama Administration and the Catholic Church, it is crucial early on, and throughout the battle, for the Catholic Church to carefully and frequently define the issue for which we are fighting: religious freedom for all people of faith and their institutions. It is not only Catholic bishops and priests who can use their voices here, but the entire lay faithful. The lay faithful, through their many business and social contacts, through electronic communication and other means have the ability to really make a difference. We also have an opportunity to teach.
The Obama Administration and his liberal supporters are already trying to define this battle as being principally about women's health, when this is, in fact, not the main issue on the table. They are, in effect, arguing that because the health issues of women, even families, regarding contraception are at stake, the conscience rights (religious liberty) of Catholic institutions (and others) can be set aside for what they are claiming is a greater, more pressing, government interest. The main issue that needs to be well-defined by Catholic leaders and laity is this: first, the government is trying to remove religious liberties, the most sacrosanct right of Americans, and second, preserving religious liberty in this case will not put women's health at risk.
Catholics speaking about this issue should courageously speak about it for what it is: the Obama Administration declaring war on religious freedoms. It is important, too, to speak about it widely and often, especially as opportunities present themselves. What a great opportunity we Catholics have of educating, or deepening the knowledge of, the American people about religious freedom, conscience, truth and conscience rights, not to mention about the Church's teaching on contraception, sterilization and the abortion risk posed by certain forms of contraception, as well as the health dangers of contraception. Yes, this indeed is a fight, but let's not miss a great opportunity for education, as well. --Fr. JB
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