Author: ANTONINO

by Father Bernardino Andrade
(bernardinodandrade@gmail.com)

One of the most powerful and transforming Catholic movements in the USA Catholic Church is the Worldwide Marriage Encounter. It was founded by Fr. Chuck Gallagher and it has been spreading throughout the world. Personally, I have had the privilege of making the Marriage Encounter Weekend for my own benefit and then, along with one other priest and three couples, I had the privilege of conducting a few Marriage Encounter Weekends, especially in Portuguese, that start on a Friday night and end on a Sunday late afternoon. The purpose of this weekend is not to help to save Marriages. For that purpose there is another one called «Retrouvaille Weekend». The Marriage Encounter Weekend’s purpose is to make good couples better couples. The slogan of this so-called «Experience» is: «COUPLE POWER IS GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD».

This «World Marriage Day», which has been promoted by the American Marriage Encounter Movement, is celebrated every year on the second Sunday of February. If I understand well, it is not to compete with «Valentine’s Day» on February 14th, but to tell people that in Marriage there is lots of room for romance. Romance is not only for single couples on Valentine’s Day but it is mainly for couples in permanent relationships. One of my main appeals for couples united by the Sacrament of Marriage is that their Marriage should be visible. It has been very popular the idea that «you don’t need to show your love». According to this belief, «love is inside of you and that is enough». With this belief in mind I have seen many people dying of loneliness because there is no expression of love. According to Dr. Robert Schuller, a bell is not a bell until it is played, a song is not a song until it is sung, love is not love until it is expressed.

EXPRESSING AND RENEWING THEIR LOVE, THEIR COMMITMENT, THEIR MARRIAGE

When last Sunday I invited the couples that were celebrating their Wedding Anniversaries during the month of February to come up for a special blessing, I invited two of them to renew their vows. The first couple said: «I renew my vows of love and fidelity I made to you 50 years ago». The second couple said:«I renew my vows of love and fidelity I made to you last Friday!». Before a clap of hands there was a joyful laughter. We believe that renewing their vows daily is the best and safest way to prepare the 50th anniversary.

Love and Peace,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

by Father Bernadino
(bernardinodandrade@gmail.com)

MERRY CHRISTMAS IN FEBRUARY!

It was on the 7th of January of 2020 that I had the privilege of attending, for the first time, a Christmas Mass in the month of January.

It is the day when the Ukrainian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas Day. I was there.

I don’t know one word of the Ukrainian language; however it didn’t make any difference.

I didn’t understand one word, but I understood the experience of praying, listening and worshipping the same God, and enjoying the presence of my family whatever language they speak.
For many people differences are a problem. For us Christians differences are a blessing.

The People from Puerto Rico end their Christmas Season on the 2nd of February. It is the Feast of the Presentation of the Baby Jesus in the Temple.

Christmas, more than being just one day, is a journey. Christmas is all year. Christmas happens every time the Good News is announced to the poor.

For all of you, here is my Christmas card. Merry Christmas!

Love and Peace,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

by Fr. Bernardino Andrade
(bernardinodandrade@gmail.com)

CORRUPTION IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

I met Father Walter Burghardt in 1984 during my Sabbatical at the University of Notre Dame, State of Illinois, USA. I had heard about him and, after that, I attended one of his workshops on Social Justice. Preaching and Social Justice were his main field. He is the author of many books and articles. During this workshop I asked him about his «Uncommonly Honest Confession». He confessed this was one of his most famous texts. Today I want to share his «Uncommonly Honest Confession» and I want also to confess that I identity myself, one hundred percent, with Father Walter Burghardt.

UNCOMMONLY HONEST CONFESSION

Let me make an uncommonly honest confession.
In the course of a half century, I have seen more Catholic corruption than you have read of. I have tasted it. I have been reasonably corrupt myself, and yet, I joy in this church – this living, pulsing sinning people of God, love it with a crucifying passion. Why? For all the Catholic hate, I experience here a community of love. For all the institutional idiocy, I find here a tradition of reason. For all the individual repressions, I breathe here an air of freedom. For all the fear of sex, I discover here the redemption of my body. In an age so inhuman, I touch here tears of compassion. In a world so grim and humourless, I share here rich joy and earthy laughter. In the midst of death, I hear here an incomparable stress on life. For all the apparent absence of God, I sense here the real presence of Christ. (Fr. Walter Burghart).

Love and Peace,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

Every year, from January 18 to 25, the Christian Churches get together to pray for Christian Unity, to fulfill the dream of Jesus in the Gospel of John 17:21 «That they may be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me».

For the last 2 Sundays, Bishop Tom Burns from the Parish of Menevia, Wales, joined us for Mass here at the Chapel. Last Sunday he told us a story about the ecumenical church. I asked him to write it down to share in our newsletter:

AN ECUMENICAL STICKING-POINT

When planning a new town north of London, the authorities are reported to have included a site for a SHARED CHURCH and asked the various faiths and denominations how they would like to use it. Father F, the designated Catholic Parish Priest, consulted his Anglican counterpart and other Church leaders. In an ecumenical spirit of true sharing, they quickly agreed on having ONE altar, ONE lectern, ONE set of candles, ONE presidential chair, and ONE tabernacle for reserving the Blessed Sacrament. Father F and his Anglican colleague then sent their proposals up to their respective Church authorities for approval – and waited expectantly. Back came ONE letter with joint signatures, approving ONE of everything as proposed. However, there were special instructions given about the tabernacle.

It was to have 2 doors and 2 different keys. Inside there were to be two compartments, separated by a fixed screen. Father F accepted this condition, but insisted that the screen should be made of glass. And so it was.
Finally, it is said that he attached a sticker to each side of the screen.

It read: In case of unity, break glass!

It is also said that that same sticker is still there today.

Rt Rev Tom M Burns , SM BA BD,
Bishop Emeritus of Menevia

by Fr. Bernardino Andrade
(bernardinodandrade@gmail.com)

Mr. Johnson, who belonged to an Evangelical Church, died and went to Heaven. God, who was his companion during all his life, welcomed him in heaven with great joy and excitement like a mother welcomes her baby. One of the first things Mr. Johnson did was to enquire about who was in heaven. With that purpose he asked God his first question.

-«Are there any Catholics in heaven?» And God answered: – «No. There are no Catholics in Heaven». – «That’s what I expected», said Mr. Johnson, «Catholics changed the Bible, they worship statues, they think that Mary is the fourth Person of the Holy Trinity. Of course they don’t deserve Heaven. I knew that».

Then another question: «What about Baptists and Methodists? Are there any of them in Heaven?». And God’s answer was the same: – «No! No Baptists and Methodists in Heaven». – «Of course I was also expecting that. They misinterpreted the Bible and did things against the word of God. I knew that they would never get to Heaven».

«And what about Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists and all that confusion of religions»? Right. «No Muslims, no Hindus and no Buddhists in Heaven». – «That is obvious. Jesus is the only Saviour and they are so ignorant that they thought that they could get to Heaven without Jesus. In Heaven there is no room for ignorant people.»

Finally the last question. – «God… what do you have to say about my Evangelical Church?» And God’s answer was the same: «No one with that kind of Church’s name is in Heaven».

Mr. Johnson was breathless. «But my God… We, the members of my Church, frequently read and studied the Bible, we did everything right. Why are there no members of my Church in Heaven? If WE are not in Heaven, then please tell me who is in Heaven? »

And God’s answer was:

«My son… in Heaven I only have sons and daughters. You are the ones who made that mess of religions, not Me. I only created sons and daughters to take care of one another and to come to Heaven together. »

by Fr. Bernardino Andrade
(bernardinodandrade@gmail.com)

It took one year to plan and prepare a trip to the Caribbean Islands. Stan and Joyce, married for 33 years, living in England, had everything well planned to spend quality time together on a cruise of their dreams with a short stop in Madeira Island.

Stan was a retired pilot of the Royal Air Force and Joyce a retired Air Traffic Controller. But something happened that had not been planned. Stan got very sick and we met at the Hospital of Funchal where we became good friends. The first time I met Joyce she was looking for the Hospital’s Chapel. Because I speak English I was the one who had the privilege of being chosen by the hospital’s receptionist to be her guide. This was Saturday and she didn’t want to miss Mass on Sunday. I told her about the English Mass at the Chapel of Penha de França and she immediately decided to be there the following Sunday at 10:00 AM. Before the start of Mass, Joyce volunteered to read the Prayers of the Faithful.

When I asked Stan what was his job and he said that he was a pilot, I immediately replied that he must have many beautiful stories to tell. I don’t know why I am always fascinated by the stories of fishermen and pilots.
When I said that he must have many beautiful stories to tell he looked at his wife with such tenderness in his eyes and said: “She is my best story.”

One morning when I arrived at the Hospital where I was a chaplain, the first thing I saw in the corridor was Joyce, seated on a bench, right in front of the chapel door, drinking a large cup of coffee.

I greeted her as usual. The door of the chapel was wide open. Most of the people, when they want to do something they call «profane» or «not religious» in front of the chapel, they close the door «out of respect and reverence». Joyce did the opposite. She opened the door wide open from where she could see and contemplate the tabernacle while enjoying a delicious cup of coffee. I realized that if Joyce had to choose between «reverence» and «intimacy» for sure she would choose intimacy.

Reverence, sometimes, can mean distance. Intimacy is always closeness.

That day, I learned from Joyce that sometimes, I may plan a trip to the Caribbean Islands and end up in the hospital of a foreign land. Sometimes I may feel dry, without words, without thoughts and even without feelings to pray. Sometimes I may feel like asking God “Why me? Why bad things happen to good people?” I learned that when I feel lost in a foreign world there is nothing better than to just sit down, relax and have a cup of coffee with Jesus.