Sunday Round Up

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Yesterday was a very busy day here in the Village. We celebrated out feast day, actually the day is on Thursday but we always celebrate the Sunday closest to the day itself, although this year we celebrated before. Very confusing try to stay with me on this one.
So we were graced by a visit from His Eminence Archbishop Nicolae of the Romanian Archdiocese. He flew in on Saturday and presided at Vespers. Sunday morning was the usual round of Liturgical celebrations ans then a banquet in the parish hall. The other Orthodox Parish in Southbridge, St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church closed down for the day and came to worship with us. Fr. John served with us at the altar. It is always a pleasure to serve with him. The banquet was very pleasant and many people we do not get to see came by to visit. We finished in time to watch the Pats play the Colts so the day finished on a high note.
Today Fr. Greg and I will be interviewing His Eminence for our Podcast Facing East. The subject of the interview will be the recent election of the new Romanian Patriarch. I will post when that one is ready. Tonight he meets with the parish council and he is on his way back to Chicago on Tuesday morning. It has been nice to have him here.
On a non related note. Fr. Greg and I head to Boston on Thursday to interview Sean Cardinal O’Malley of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston on his recent pilgrimage to Rome, Istanbul, and St. Petersburgh with Metr. Methodious of Boston. Stay tuned for that interview as well.
So busy days ahead.

3 November ~ St. Malachy

Posted on by Fr. Peter
St. Malachy, whose family name was O’Morgair, was born in Armagh in 1094. St. Bernard describes him as of noble birth.

He was baptized Maelmhaedhoc (a name which has been Latinized as Malachy) and was trained under Imhar O’Hagan, subsequently Abbot of Armagh. After a long course of studies he was ordained priest by St. Cellach (Celsus) in 1119. In order to perfect himself in sacred liturgy and theology, he proceeded to Lismore, where he spent nearly two years under St. Malchus. He was then chosen Abbot of Bangor, in 1123. A year later, he was consecrated Bishop of Connor, and, in 1132, he was promoted to the primacy of Armagh.

St. Bernard gives us many interesting anecdotes regarding St. Malachy, and highly praises his zeal for religion both in Connor and Armagh. In 1127 he paid a second visit to Lismore and acted for a time as confessor to Cormac MacCarthy, Prince of Desmond. While Bishop of Connor, he continued to reside at Bangor, and when some of the native princes sacked Connor, he brought the Bangor monks to Iveragh, County Kerry, where they were welcomed by King Cormac. On the death of St. Celsus (who was buried at Lismore in 1129), St. Malachy was appointed Archbishop of Armagh, 1132, which dignity he accepted with great reluctance. Owing to intrigues, he was unable to take possession of his see for two years; even then he had to purchase the Bachal Isu (Staff of Jesus) from Niall, the usurping lay-primate.

During three years at Armagh, as St. Bernard writes, St. Malachy restored the discipline of the Church, grown lax during the intruded rule of a series of lay-abbots, and had the Roman Liturgy adopted.

St. Bernard continues: Having extirpated barbarism and re-established Christian morals, seeing all things tranquil he began to think of his own peace. He therefore resigned Armagh, in 1138, and returned to Connor, dividing the see into Down and Connor, retaining the former. He founded a priory of Austin Canons at Downpatrick, and was unceasing in his episcopal labours.
Early in 1139 he journeyed to Rome, via Scotland, England, and France, visiting St. Bernard at Clairvaux. He petitioned Pope Innocent for palliums for the Sees of Armagh and Cashel, and was appointed legate for Ireland. On his return visit to Clairvaux he obtained five monks for a foundation in Ireland, under Christian, an Irishman, as superior: thus arose the great Abbey of Mellifont in 1142. St. Malachy set out on a second journey to Rome in 1148, but on arriving at Clairvaux he fell sick, and died in the arms of St. Bernard, on 2 November.

Numerous miracles are recorded of him, and he was also endowed with the gift of prophecy. St. Malachy was canonized by Pope Clement (III), on 6 July, 1199, and his feast is celebrated on 3 November, in order not to clash with the Feast of All Souls.

An account of the relics of St. Malachy will be found in Migne, Patrologiae cursus completus, CLXXXV.

From the Catholic Encyclopedia

Halloween Candy

Posted on by Fr. Peter
When I was a kid I used to go out trick or treating on Halloween just like millions of kids all over the place. In those day you might even get a candy apple or a brownie or something that was not in a wrapper. We all felt safe and we knew everyone and everyone knew you. I remember the first year I was allowed to go on my own.
Now I find this story in the news about some maniac in Leicester, Massachusetts who put a piece of metal in the candy they were passing out. Lucky for the 10 year old girl that found it it did not hurt her and a call went out to all parents to check their candy. Guess what, three more were found. Police set up metal detectors so parents could bring in the candy to have it checked. What a sick world we live in. If there was ever time for a revolution this is the time. We need a moral revolution and we Christians need to rise up. I recall a line from the movie broadcast news from years back. “I’m as mad a hell and I am not going to take it anymore!”

Back to School

Posted on by Fr. Peter
About a year ago I applied for doctoral study at Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj, Romania. They have a very unique program. The doctoral study is done by research. You select a mentor from the faculty that has an interest in the area in which you wish to concentrate, you have to sit for two exams over a two year period and then a defense of your dissertation. This makes this kind of education very accessible to someone who has to work but want to complete an advanced degree. So I selected a mentor, one who also mentors in English, and an area of concentration, Church History. Specifically I will concentrate on American Church History and the Orthodox Churches position in that history. This has been an area of some interest since my seminary days.
I find this whole thing very interesting. I hated school when I was in High School, and if you got a look at my transcripts you would see how that is true. Now I am a doctoral student. It is funny how things work out. I was also a school teacher before going to seminary and have taught college courses and this Spring will teach again at Nichols College. Very strange how God uses us. I am sure I will blog more on this topic as I get into my research. Anyone have any ideas of what I could research?

31 October ~ St. Bega

Posted on by Fr. Peter
A princess of Ireland and hermitess-foundress, also listed as Bee. Bega fled the royal court rather than marry a prince from Norway. Tradition states that she was miraculously transported to Cumberland, in England.There St. Oswald counseled her in a hermitage, and St. Aidan received her vows as a nun. Bega founded St. Bee’s Monastery. She served as abbess there until her death. She is also remembered in the village of Kilbees, in Scotland.

Busy Days

Posted on by Fr. Peter
It has been a few days since my last post so I thought I would just throw some thoughts up here to fill space. It all began last Sunday with the final Red Sox LA game. I like to watch baseball but very rarely watch an entire game. This one was one for the books. I watched the entire game and stayed up way too late.
We had a few days off before they began the series with Colorado. So now we are two games up and I am two days down on sleep. Last night was a night off from baseball but we had a fundraiser here at the church. Large crowd and much fun was had by all. We began with a Spaghetti feed followed by, what we call, the turkey party. Basically you buy a ticket for .50 and we spin a wheel and you win a turkey. This brings people in from all over the town and surrounding towns. It is nice to see people and it is also a social event. We also had some information about the church so maybe people will come to church.
Now Saturday. Bulletin, get the church ready, finish the homily, print tickets for next weeks banquet, edit one podcast and record another one, finish this post… So the fun keeps on going.
Tomorrow after Liturgy I get some rest. The Patriots are playing the late game then the Sox play game four. Maybe, just maybe the last game of the season.

California Fires

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I continue to be concerned with the fires in California. I pray for the people there who have been evacuated as well as those that will care for them. We also should remember those on the front lines. I heard on the news last night that the firefighters on the line have been working for 36 hours without sleep. Try staying awake that long and see how well you function.
I have never been a fan of this concept of Global Warming but I cannot help but wonder if this is the earth saying she has had enough of all the torment we have put her through and she is saying I have had enough? Perhaps there is more to this Global Warming thing than I care to admit. We orthodox have always had strong feelings and opinions on the environment. In 1999 the Ecumenical Patriarch made a statement on the Environment and I think it still holds true today. We need to care for this earth it is the only one we have, and God gave it to us to care for.
Something to think about anyway.

21 October ~ St. Fintan (Munnu) of Taghmon

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Son of Tulchan, an Ulster saint, d. at Taghmon, 636. He founded his celebrated abbey at Taghmon (Teach Munnu) in what is now County Wexford, in 599. He is principally known as the defender of the Irish method of keeping Easter, and, in 630, he attended the Synod of Magh Lene, at which he dissented from the decision to adopt the Roman paschal method. Another synod was held somewhat later at Magh Ailbe, when St. Fintan again upheld his views in opposition to St. Laserian (Mo Laisre). But the views of the University Church prevailed. His feast is observed on 21 October. The beautiful stone cross of “St. Munn” still stands in the churchyard of the village.
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