Keep up the good work

I also have a Spanish blog in http://www.parishworld.net

I am a guatemalan priest serving in California in two parishes and in Catholic Radio and TV El Sembrador in http://www.elsembrador.org

In the Most Holy Trinity:
FR. Roberto Mena, S.T.

Did you also experience a deep sadness at the news which came from Rome the day before Christmas – that the Vicariate of Rome had refused a Catholic funeral service to Signor Welby – an Italian man who had suffered daily for over 20 years and was kept alive only by three machines. Sr. Welby could move only his eyes to communicate his wishes. It has always been my understanding that the Church does not require that one go to extraordinary means to sustain life – but that nature should take its normal course. (Even Pius XII confirmed this point!) Twenty years of artificial life-support can in no way be considered natural.

How sad it is that the Church in Rome could not extend the hand of Christian charity and comfort this poor man’s family at his loss. They have suffered for years and, in the end, the Church added to their suffering. From the general negative reaction of thousands of Italians in the piazza for Welby’s “civil” funeral, I fear that the Roman Vicariate has once again turned many good people against their Church. The damage done to future generations of Italians – and others – cannot be imagined.

Remember these unbending clerics in your prayers, Eminence, that the Lord will grant them the ability to dispense charity in the name of Christ.

Six prisoners escaped, huh? It’s probably a good thing your homily wasn’t about redemptive suffering !!!

May the Lord give you peace !!!

I would have thought that the church would denouce violence at the very least. A man has no business putting his hands on a woman out of anger, don’t you agree? Mr. Cirignano is the leader of the Catholic Ctizenship Group; should he not be held accountable for his actions by the church? The church is supposed to give us guidance on the tough issues we face. Where do we turn when it fails to answer?

Happy And Holy Christmas to you

What a fine blog you have here! All members of the clergy–now matter what their denomination should have a blog and podcast to their parishoners. Without trying to be funny about it, I can easily imagine St. Paul, where he around and about today, using this technology to preach the Gospel.It’s good to see that somebody in the upper levels of the Roman Catholic church in Boston finally understand how useful this technology can be to solve many problems.

A few suggestions. How about starting an OpenSourceWare seminary online just as M.I.T. has it own courses online for free. No, you can’t get an M.I.T. diploma that way but otherwise, you have access to the same course material as anyone matriculating there. Also, as I did in Milwaukee, WI and Columbia, SC years ago, start a Resources for the Homeless site for Boston’s homeless so that all resources for the poor in Boston–including where to find meals, shelter, free medical help, showers, and bus schedules–are online so that anyone in a library or who knows someone with an internet connection can have access to instant information to receive help. Get local businesses to help sponsor this or ask one of the convents or monasteries to take this on as a special obedience. It’s just a thought. Others should do the same in their cities. The poor surely do use the world wide web. Also, with Wi-Fi networks springing up and PDA’s coming down in price–used ones–this information can be nearly Omnipresent. The poor will always be with us but that doesn’t mean that they do not have instant access to information regarding where to find help immediately in a wired society.

In His Merciful Heart,
Erica

PS: Do Not Be Afraid

The meaning of
Eucharist in a podcast
was in time for
Christmas Morn.

I agree with the fact that the church needs to use the tools at our disposal to reach out to the communities and the world around us. Keep up this good work, it is the next generation of ministry. God bless and a merry Christmas.

We really like this web site and all it has to offer.
Thanks for everything that you have done for all the people of the Archdiocese of Boston.
You are always in our prayers.
We wish you a happy, healthy,holy and successful new year!

Just popped into the library to catch your blog – once again it is a “beautiful read” and a great reminder of the many people whose Christmas and daily lives involve more than average struggle. Thank you for sharing your own funny experience with prison ministry and for not letting us forget those in our state prisons or the handicapped or Palestinian Catholics.

I like reading the comments as well – that’s where I picked up the http://www.jesuit.ie/prayer site and it is great resource when unable to attend daily church or find a quiet place to feel God’s presence.

As we celebrate Christmas and the new liturgical and calendar year, I sincerely wish you God’s blessings. He has certainly blessed us here by your presence and commitment and involvement to our Archdiocese. You are our healing rod.

Elaine – Brookline

This is Dr. Shirley Canniff and Dr. Jeffrey Canniff, we had the luxury of meeting you at the 14th Annual Black Catholic Bishop Healy Awards Dinner. Both my husband , Dr. Jeff Canniff and myself had introduced ourselves to you in the hallway.
We spoke to you briefly about the ecumenical work that we are doing with our protestant brother’s and sister’s as well as our Jewish brother’s and sisters, regarding ” Christians United For Israel” concerning the media. I had stumbled over a few of my words because of the awesome humility that you present when you are among the people, it is astounding. As Catholic Christians, we need to more than ever, unite with our protestant brother’s and sisters and take a stand to stand by Israel with prayer and support. We need to become more aware of establishing a better a relationship with our Jewish Brothers and sister’s both messianic, reform, conservative, and orthodoxed as we come to understand why we as christian/catholics we need to pray continuously for the “Peace of Jerusalem” as written by King David in Psalm 122…This will bring the true peace into our families. We gave you a packet at Lombardo’s that evening. We hope you found it interesting. We appreciate how you as an individual and a leader of the church are already reaching out to the christian families of Bethelem. Thankyou for your sensitivity and thankyou for your support. We enjoyed the presentation given to us at our Church by Gabriel. Our church is : Immaculate Conception Church in Stoughton. You can find out more about us below.
We also sent you an invitation to join our monthly Judeo Christian Multi-Media Group on the internet. We would love to put up your blog as a link for people to go to. We filmed a presentation at LaSallete Shrine in Attelboro, regarding “The Festival of Lights”, here is the link that we had aired on “You Tube”: http://tinymce.moxiecode.cp/mce_temp_url

An Invitation:

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year to everyone…At the start of the New Year we encourage all of you to become a member of the new and upcoming Judeo-Christian Multi-Media Networking Group of Greater Boston, we have launched a Christian Internet Broadcasting Network on You Tube – WSTK-ICTV – Seek The Kingdom Internet Broadcasting Network. We are currently looking for managers to manage individual channels relating to WSTK-ICTV Networks mission and vision. We also have available a freelance media registry for those of you needing legitimate press passes as freelancers in journalism, producers for public access and the internet (television & Radio) through Janet Aldrich’s Comflm freelance Media Registry. For more information please call Janet at: 1-978-388-2457. For more information regarding our broadcasting network, you can also reach us through our station directly @: http://www.seekchristianradiowsciro.org/id13.html. E-mail us@:
canniffseek@verizon.net and/or JCMulti-MediaNetworkofBoston-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

And your story about your prison sermon is priceless!

Merry Christmas!

I often look forward to reading about your ministry that you perform and all that you do. I especially liked you Christmas message this year. I Want to wish you a blessed Christmas and continue to look forward to reading your blog.

Phil Pochatko (seminarian)
Erie, PA

I enjoy reading each week your weekly posts.
Perhaps you can suggest our own Cardinal to do the same here in the Archdiocese of Westminster, England.

Wishing you a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

Pax et Bonum, Graham Lake

London, England

Ben

Thank you for having shared many truly beautiful and edifying
moments. Your concern for the imprisoned is magnificent.

Wishing you heartfelt peace, joy, and love through Jesus, Mary, and Saint Joseph.

Kindest regards,
Peter Crumley
Illinois

God Bless you!
Michelle