We are currently getting ready to leave Guam. While in Poland, I will not be blogging. Our focus will be on getting closer to Jesus Christ as we embark on this pilgrimage and see the pope. My computer will be left at home, so there will be no blogging until we return. So, please refrain from making comments until we return. Please pray for us as we pray for you.
God Bless!
Diana
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Carmen Hernandez Passed Away
| Carmen Hernandez seated |
Hernandez, along with Kiko Arguello and Fr. Mario Pezzi, made up the international team responsible for the ecclesial movement, which focuses on post-baptismal adult formation. It is estimated that the movement contains about 1 million members, in some 40,000 parish-based communities around the world.
Over the last year and a half, Hernandez had suffered deteriorating health, although she was never diagnosed with a specific disease.
She was last seen publically March 18 at an audience that Pope Francis granted missionary families of the Neocatechumenal Way.
The Holy Father also spoke to her by phone on July 1, during an audience with Kiko Argüello and Fr. Mario Pezzi.
Co-Founder of NCW dies at 85
Monday, July 18, 2016
Sunday, July 17, 2016
The Family Of God
In any human family, you sometimes see siblings fighting against each other. Even husbands and wives sometimes quarrel with each other. These are normal everyday things that happen in family life. Although arguments and conflicts are common and normal in the human family, reconciliation keeps the family strong. This is also true with God's family. Since the beginning of Church history, we find that even the Apostles have arguments. For example, St. Paul and St. Barnabus had a very serious argument over a trivial thing that they went their separate ways (Acts 15:36-40). However, they later reconciled. God always favors reconciliation that he even instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Therefore, division within the Catholic Church is not new. There have been divisions since the beginning, but reconciliation is what God favors. It is the devil, the father of lies, who sows division within the Church.
In the jungle, Glaucon Jr. stated that a second way a nation came into being was through "experience." According to Glaucon Jr.:
The second way is by common experience of an event that permanently makes the group what it is. When the Patriarch Jacob and his family of 70 or so went down to Egypt, they went to make a life; 400 years later, that life was one of slavery. We all know the story: God sent Moses to lead them out, and they were brought out into the desert, and with them came others—some Egyptians, some Midianites, and some from other tribes and races.But those who were brought out of Egypt weren’t the same as those who emerged from the desert 40 years later. That original generation grumbled against the Lord and complained that the manna he gave them wasn’t good enough. It didn’t meet their expectations. So in that 40 years of purification, they died and were replaced by those born in the wilderness, raised in the wilderness, dependent on God and His lawgiver-prophet at every turn. And when they came out of the desert, they were no longer a bunch of random tribes.They were Israelites. They were the people of God.It was by their shared experience of the Exodus Event that made them Israelites, and that’s why Jews even today celebrate Passover as they do: based on memory and not on blood, it remembers who they are based on the Exodus Event that made them who they are.Christians are Christians in the same way. We share that common experience of the real, actual event of the Incarnation: the conception, birth, life, passion, death, and resurrection of Christ our God. That is what makes us Christians. Life in Christ is the full incorporation into Christ in this world and in Eternity.
Actually, they were Israelites because of the covenant God made to Abraham. The ones who came out of Egypt and the ones who came into the promised land were all descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (whom God named Israel). God had already claimed the descendants of Abraham through Isaac's and Jacob's line "His people" because of the covenant He made with Abraham. As a matter of fact, when God spoke to Moses, He said, I have seen the affliction of MY PEOPLE in Egypt and have heard their cry (Exodus 3:7). He called them "my people" even before He brought them out of slavery from Egypt.
The Israelites who went into the promised land (Canaan) were the children of the old generation who sinned and grumbled against God. These children were still the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The promised land is a prefigurement of God's kingdom. The ones who did not enter the promised land (Canaan) were those who sinned and grumbled against God. This same rule will apply to God's kingdom in Heaven. The covenant that God made with Abraham was circumcision (Genesis 17:10-19).
It was through the covenant of circumcision that the Lord God became the God of Israel and the Israelites "His people". Circumcision was the Old Covenant, and was made in blood. Those who were circumcised belonged to the family of God. Those who were not circumcised did not belong to the family of God.
In the same way, Christians belong to the family of God through a covenant that Christ made with us. Like the Old Covenant, the New Covenant was also made in blood.....the blood of Jesus Christ. Baptism replaced circumcision. According to the Catholic Education Resource Center:
St Paul also confirms that baptism now replaces circumcision as entry into the New Covenant. For example, he says, "In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not administered by hand, by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ. You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him" (Col 2:11-12).And according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (the bold is mine):
CCC 1267 Baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ: "Therefore . . . we are members one of another."72 Baptism incorporates us into the Church. From the baptismal fonts is born the one People of God of the New Covenant, which transcends all the natural or human limits of nations, cultures, races, and sexes: "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body."73
CCC 1268 The baptized have become "living stones" to be "built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood."74 By Baptism they share in the priesthood of Christ, in his prophetic and royal mission. They are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that [they] may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called [them] out of darkness into his marvelous light."75 Baptism gives a share in the common priesthood of all believers.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that through our baptism, we become a HOLY NATION..... God's own people. Our baptism brought us into God's own family.
However, it is true that we are sinners. We are not perfect. We are not holy. We are not better than anyone else. We are sinners and no better than the inmates at the Department of Correction. Nevertheless, through our baptism.... God is our Father. Mary is our Mother. Jesus Christ is our Brother. Through our baptism, we are the sons and daughters of God.
Do not listen to false prophets who tell you that God's people are born from "experience." This teaching is heresy. We became part of God's famiy through our baptism, and we certainly did not give birth to any Junglewatch nation. The Junglewatch Nation came into existence through their own "experience" exactly as Glaucon Jr. claimed.
As for natural religiousity, here is what Pope Francis has to say about it. The rosary is good and the NCW members pray the rosary. What they say about Kiko or the catechists telling us when to pray the rosary is false. The NCW teaches its members HOW to pray. They teach us that Christ is the center and focus of our prayer, not than the devotion.
Friday, July 15, 2016
Interesting News
An anonymous commenter copied and pasted a comment from the jungle, which was very interesting. According to the commenter:
Based on this comment which Joseph Santos heard from Archbishop Hon, it appears that our Apostolic Administrator has been looking into the case of Father Paul and Monsignor James. He has not reinstated them because there may be some validity to their removal. The reason Archbishop Apuron removed Father Paul was due to disobedience, and the reason for Monsignor James' removal was due to financial mismanagement. Yet for three years, the jungle has been blaming the NCW for their removal.AnonymousJuly 15, 2016 at 8:47 PMSorry that this is off-topic, but this just came from the jungle. I thought it was important to bring it here.
Joseph A. SantosJuly 15, 2016 at 8:10 PM
The last comment from our "pastoral visit" last night in Mongmong was that AB Hon has not reinstated Pale Paul & Mons. James because there may be some validity to their removal. So Hon is moving "cautiously and with prudence". Anyone care to come to their defense?
Patience Is A Virture
Apparently, some people are in a hurry to get Archbishop Hon to fix the problem so there would be unity. Those who are in a hurry do not represent the vast majority of Catholics. They only represent the small group walking the sidewalk in front of the Agana Cathedral. Most people are patient, realizing that Rome is here and will allow Rome to do the job it came to do. The jungle obviously have different ideas of what unity looks like and are very impatient. The division between the clergy and those of the laity are different. The division in the clergy already existed before Father Paul was removed from the Dededo parish. The division of the laity was a result of the jungle.
I am certain that Archbishop Hon is addressing the division between the clergy. The CARA report of 2010 indicated a division between the RMS priests and non-RMS priests. But of course, there are some non-RMS priests who are able to get along with the RMS priests and vice versa. In his interview with Patty Arroyo yesterday, Father Mike said that he feels the clergy is not yet unified, but he is hopeful. While they await for Archbishop Hon to bring peace and unity at the clergy level, this would be an excellent time for the clergy to reflect on their division. Ask themselves why they are oppose to Archbishop Apuron and when did this opposition start. If they did a reflection on this, perhaps they will discover the root of this opposition. We can then discover that the problem is not outside but inside of us.
This is a good time to remind the clergy about holding grudges against their brothers. This is a good time to do a reflection while they patiently wait. The following was emailed to me two years ago and can be found in my blog:
CERTAIN DEACONS’ MISCONCEPTION
Ten year ago, Archbishop suggested/mandated/recommended (it depends to which person you speak) the deacon class of 2003 to go and listen to the catechesis of the Neocatechumenal way. Some deacons claim that Father Adrian ‘threatened’ them that Archbishop will not ordain them deacons if they do not follow this directive.
These catechesis are a fifteen talks-and-celebrations package, that may give way to the birth of a small Neocatechumenal community in a parish. At the end everyone is asked whether he wants to continue or not.
All of them, I believe, went to listen to the initial catechesis. Some opted to continue and are still in the Way. Others selected to continue but desisted after some months or years. Others decided it was not their soup and after the initial convivence, never bothered to stay. All these thirteen men were ordained deacons.
These are the simple facts.
THE AFTERMATH
Some of these deacons are very grateful that the Archbishop insisted that they go and listen to the catechesis. I know, to give one example, that Deacon Ed Borja found the Neocatechumenal community a tremendous help in his battle against the terminal sickness that eventually ended his life.
Other deacons never forgave the Archbishop for this unspeakable sin. ‘What?! Forcing us to go and listen a catechesis!! Making this a condition for diaconal ordination. Unheard of. Canonically unjust. Archbishop is overstepping his authority… ‘
And they are still harping on this after TTTTEEEEEN long years!! When Archbishop Krebs came, apparently they strongly brought it to his attention. Again.
Why did the Archbishop do this? I do not know. I am not the Archbishop. I know however that he loves his people and he knows that the Neocatechumenal Way can help certain people who are suffering. So I guess he saw in the Neocatechumenal Way a good pastoral tool to help the people discover their faith in a deeper way. He also saw this Way a good instrument to help former Catholics come back to the Church. This Way was/is producing results. And so Archbishop thought that it is good for these deacons in formation to taste this pastoral instrument.
He also believed that it could help them in their personal life. A deacon (or a priest) is a normal man who needs conversion, who needs a place that can help him face his issues under the light of the Word of God. Obviously the Neocatechumenal Way is not the only place where one can grow in faith, but it is also one valid place. Confirmed by the magisterium of the Church with a good tracking record of many years here in Guam.
‘He had no right to impose it or make it a condition for diaconal ordination’, one may argue. I am not a canonist and so I cannot really answer this objection. However the facts are that he ordained both those who went and continued in the Neo-catechumenal Way and those who did not continue.
One needs to ask oneself whether the archbishop can and should determine certain aspects of the spiritual, academic and personal formation of the candidates, like their willingness to respect and obey the authority of the Church. Ordination is not a right or a privilege.
I believe this was more a pastoral decision than anything else. A friend priest of mine always tells me that the Church is a mother and that the administration of justice in the Church has no other purpose than the salus animarum, the salvation of souls, as laid down in the last canon, 1752, of the Code of Canon Law. Perhaps this is what motivated Archbishop.
What I fail to understand is why some deacons are still harping on this after ten long years. Can’t they forget and let go? Let us say, for the sake of the argument, he made a mistake, can’t they excuse him? Do the Gospel values like forgiveness and lenience have any worth today?
Let us be grateful that we have an Archbishop who cares for souls and is trying to do something...
UPDATE:
It appears that more people were interested in the three Filipino priests rather than the Deacon's ordination. So, I have added an update to this post. These are my opinions. Apparently, these three Filipino priests were borrowed from the Philippines. From what I understand they probably wanted to become incardinated here on Guam so they could remain here as priests for Guam. They were asked by Archbishop Apuron to walk in the Way to help the community and even inspire Guam's youth into the priesthood. If they chose not to walk with a community, they can return to their home countries.
This is what I think they should have done. They should have walked in the Way as the Archbishop ASkED them to do. After walking in the Way, they would become incardinated. Those Filipino priests who would like to continue walking in the Way can continue. Those who chose to opt out can also do so just as some of the deacons did. In either case, they would have been incardinated in Guam and shown their obedience to the Archbishop simply because they chose to do as the Archbishop ASKED.
However, since they chose a different path, then most likely they were not meant to be priests for Guam. It was their choice to begin with.
Many times, we are faced with two choices that we like or two choices that we do not like. Since my son complained so much of taking out the garbage, I gave him a choice between two house chores. He can throw out the garbage or clean the bathroom. He did not like any of those house chores, but he chose one anyway. He decided to throw out the garbage.
UPDATE:
It appears that more people were interested in the three Filipino priests rather than the Deacon's ordination. So, I have added an update to this post. These are my opinions. Apparently, these three Filipino priests were borrowed from the Philippines. From what I understand they probably wanted to become incardinated here on Guam so they could remain here as priests for Guam. They were asked by Archbishop Apuron to walk in the Way to help the community and even inspire Guam's youth into the priesthood. If they chose not to walk with a community, they can return to their home countries.
This is what I think they should have done. They should have walked in the Way as the Archbishop ASkED them to do. After walking in the Way, they would become incardinated. Those Filipino priests who would like to continue walking in the Way can continue. Those who chose to opt out can also do so just as some of the deacons did. In either case, they would have been incardinated in Guam and shown their obedience to the Archbishop simply because they chose to do as the Archbishop ASKED.
However, since they chose a different path, then most likely they were not meant to be priests for Guam. It was their choice to begin with.
Many times, we are faced with two choices that we like or two choices that we do not like. Since my son complained so much of taking out the garbage, I gave him a choice between two house chores. He can throw out the garbage or clean the bathroom. He did not like any of those house chores, but he chose one anyway. He decided to throw out the garbage.
Thursday, July 14, 2016
A Life Full Of Miracles
The following is a very touching story. The couple walks in the Neocatechumenal Way in Australia. When an NCW member is in the hospital, the community comes together to pray for them. That has been also been done here on Guam. This is a story of the couples' baby girl who claimed three miracles during the 8 years of her life. As you read the story, you will see that the couple prayed many prayers including the rosary. The propanganda going around is that the NCW degrades and does not pray the rosary. The rumors only serve to discredit the NCW in order to convince people that the NCW is not Catholic. The Catholic Church is rich in many prayers, and all prayers are cherished.
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GABBY Caldwell can claim at least three miracles over her eight-year life.
The first was her birth on June 18, 2006, an event “very much anticipated and appreciated” by her parents, Kevin and Johanna Caldwell, who weren’t able to have children for eight years.
The second was surviving four days of seizures after contracting gastroenteritis, although at three-and-a-half years Gabby was left with a severe brain injury.
The third was cheating death in December last year.
Her father is the first to acknowledge her miraculous life so far.
“Some of the doctors and nurses are saying, ‘Gabby, the miracle girl’,” Mr Caldwell said.
Four months after her birth, Gabby began to have seizures and at two years old was diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome.
“Her seizures kept happening every couple of months if she got a cold or something like that, or rapid change in temperature,” Mr Caldwell said.
“We were hopeful when she continued to bounce back but when she was three-and-a-half, which was December 2009, she had a cluster of seizures – she got a virus – it was gastro – and was in intensive care and had seizures for four days.
“We weren’t sure whether she’d make it through.
“We were praying a lot, and hoping for her to be okay.”
Gabby was put into a medically induced coma, spending three months in intensive care.
The ongoing seizures resulted in a severe brain injury that meant Gabby could no longer walk, talk or eat.
In March 2010 Gabby was discharged from the hospital and “started the road to recovery”.
This road began in Darwin, the place the Caldwells used to call home.
But Gabby’s parents soon realised her level of care in Darwin was not enough to give her a full go at life.
They researched and found a number of therapies available in Brisbane.
In November 2010, the Caldwells travelled to Brisbane for Johanna’s sister-in-law’s wedding, the perfect time to test out their research.
The Caldwells visited a private therapist and, after two sessions, saw remarkable improvements in Gabby’s body movements.
“In two sessions, with prompting and help to get her to turn from her back to her tummy, you could see Gabby initiating,” Mr Caldwell said.
“This was much more than she’d done in 11 months since the brain injury.”
But the family had not planned for moving and lacked the necessary funds to make the move.
“We prayed about it and said, ‘God, if you want a way for this to happen, you make it happen, if this is your will for us to go to Brisbane’,” Mr Caldwell said.
“The first job I applied for I got. That was a bit of a sign.
“We found out from another parent about a one-off Centrelink payment, and that was exactly the right amount of money to allow us to move.
“I felt like God was opening the Red Sea for us in a sense that it was possible to go and do the impossible.”
The couple moved to Brisbane in February 2011.
Mr Caldwell said 2011 was “a year of hope for us”.
Gabby began receiving weekly therapy and for a number of months had many successes. But Mr Caldwell knows the path to recovery “is a long one”, recalling a number of setbacks since the move.
Since Gabby is spastic quadriplegic and has a brain injury, her hips are misaligned because she cannot bear her full body weight on her legs.
To rectify this, Gabby had major bone surgery where doctors cut her femurs to realign her hips in December 2012.
Gabby had heart failure and breathing issues as a result of the long surgery.
Reflecting on that moment, her father paused, holding back a few tears.
“I guess, it was quite a moment,” he said.
Gabby got through this first setback, and her subsequent therapy focused on upper body movement and breathing.
But with her legs “out of action” for almost one year, Gabby needed another long surgery to remove plates and screws from her legs.
For a second time, Gabby had heart failure, but this time, chances of her surviving were slim.
“That was a real test of faith for us because we were prepared for the event of her death,” Mr Caldwell said.
“We were praying, hoping that God would allow her to live through it, naturally, but also recognising that it might not happen.
“She was on the maximum amount of drugs to keep her blood pressure up, and so she could keep breathing.
“We had a lot of support from our Church community (the Neocatechumenal Way), a lot of prayers, and help in practical ways, people bringing us meals and all that.
“People stayed with us in hospital the night she was expected to pass away.
“There was a moment there where we had 12 people praying the Our Father next to Gabby’s bed, and it was one of those moments where I thought, ‘God, You are the author of life, we are at Your mercy, whatever You want to do in this moment, just give us the grace and the courage to accept Your will’.
“It was about 2am when the nurse said she didn’t know if Gabby would make it through the next hour.
“I rang a friend, a priest, and he blessed her, gave her the last rites. By the time he’d arrived, she’d turned the corner.
“He arrived at 3am and stayed with Gabby until 6am, and people were praying by her bedside the whole time.
“There were moments, where I thought, ‘Will she make it from this or not’.
“It was very much an existential moment considering life and death for all of us really.”
Mr Caldwell recalls praying the entire time.
“It’s amazing – I prayed all the Office readings, prayed ‘Jesus, Son of David have mercy on me a sinner’, Hail Marys when I wasn’t doing the Rosary.
“I found the prayer really sustained me, and made me understand that I have no control over this situation.
“The doctors and nurses can only do what they can do, and the rest is God’s will.
“She made it through.
“She’s a miracle. I thank God for every day we have Gabby. It came very close there.
“It’s a moment where we’ve been able to praise God and say thank you for another day.”
More than a month later in January, Gabby went straight back into school at Nursery Road State Special School in Holland Park.
She has had therapy to straighten her legs, and speech therapy has helped her swallow and eat without her normal gastronomy button.
“I was amazed,” her dad said.
“Going from probably not going to live in late December to going back to school in January, it really is a miracle.”
Gabby’s parents are now looking into eye gaze technology to help with her communication. She blinks to communicate “yes” and looks away to say “no”.
“She’s very expressive with her eyes,” he said. “She enjoys being loved.”
Gabby’s mum said her daughter had taught her what unconditional love meant.
The last time Gabby told her parents she loved them was December 23, 2009, just before her four-day-long seizures.
“I know she loves me, even if she can’t tell me,” Mrs Caldwell said.
“To be honest, I mourn the way she is, but it’s wonderful how God has a beautiful way of finding glory in this.
“The cross can be a glorious witness.”
Caring for a child with a disability has been a blessing in disguise for Gabby’s parents’ marriage.
“It’s been a moment that’s really brought us together, I would say, solidified our faith,” they said.
“It’s made us pray together and I think we’ve supported each other through some tough times.”
To find out how to support Gabby visit www.teamgabby.com.com. Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Daniel Lifschitz
Daniel Lifschitz was a Jew who converted to Catholicism in 1966. He entered the Neocatechumenal Way in 1974. One wonders if Chuck White speaks of the same Daniel Lifschitz who was interviewed by Diane Weber Bederman. In her magazine article (the bold is mine):
Also, White's blog was incorrect about the date when Lifschitz entered the Way. Chuck White stated that Lifschitz entered the Way in 1973. In his interview with Diane Bederman, however, Daniel Lifschitz said he entered the Way in 1974. Also, the article showed that Lifschitz did not know a Giuseppe Gennarini before he joined the NCW. It stated that he joined the monastic community of Guiseppi Dossetti, who was a priest and founder of the "Piccola Famigilia dell' Annunziata", a community based on silence, prayer, work, and poverty. During his interview with Bederman, Lifschitz indicated that he finally found comfort in the Neocatechumenal Way. You can read the entire article here.
As for the letter written by "a" Daniel Lifshitz found in Chuck White's blog, that letter can also be found in this Anti-Neo website. According to the English translation of this Anti-Neo website (the bold is mine):
In 1997, the Thursday after Ash Wednesday, while praying Lauds with his wife and the priest who accompanied them on the mission, Giorgio suffered unexpectedly and irretrievably a stroke that left him lifeless; He was so ascended to heaven leaving his wife and eleven children (the last of which are still in gestation).
It was the same Giorgio Kiko Arguello, who accompanied with guitar in meetings and eucaristías- who composed the song Shema Israel putting music to the ancient Jewish prayer.
This song has become one of the most important and emotional Neocatechumenal: it is sung in the Easter Vigils del Camino worldwide and every day is sung, in a very special way, at the International Center Domus Galilaeae on Mt. of Beatitudes (Galilee, Israel) stage of an ongoing and fruitful dialogue between Christianity and Judaism.
Yet,wit all the grandeur the square offered,it was a little church that caught our eyes, tucked away by the Porta del Popolo. It is the Basilica di Santa Maria del Popolo, built in 1472-77 at the site of an 11th century chapel.
This elderly man she encountered at the door was none other than the artist himself - Daniel Lifshitz, whom she later learned. According to Chuck White's blog, Kiko Arguello supposedly told Lifschitz that he will not do the exhibition in Rome. Whoever gave him that information was in contradiction to this magazine article saying that it was Lifschitz who did the exhibition in Rome.The church doors were closed. But there was a door open to the right; and it was there that we came upon an exhibit by Daniel Lifschitz, an artist, a painter of pastels. I thought he was Jewish—his name—and that's what attracted me: that here in a beautiful church well known for its Caravaggios was an exhibit by a Jewish artist. It just felt so right.I walked in and was greeted by an elderly, slightly di-shevelled man at a very big desk. He had silver hair, thinning on top, a white beard and mustache, and he was wearing a simple long-sleeved, button-down shirt that was not buttoned down. The desk was filled with books. None in English, to my sorrow. There was also a large sign-in book for comments. The gentleman pointed the way into the exhibit: nocharge—rare in Rome.................Daniel Lifschitz has been creating for more than 60 years with words and pastels. His life journey, physically, emotionally and spiritually is reflected in his labours of love.
Also, White's blog was incorrect about the date when Lifschitz entered the Way. Chuck White stated that Lifschitz entered the Way in 1973. In his interview with Diane Bederman, however, Daniel Lifschitz said he entered the Way in 1974. Also, the article showed that Lifschitz did not know a Giuseppe Gennarini before he joined the NCW. It stated that he joined the monastic community of Guiseppi Dossetti, who was a priest and founder of the "Piccola Famigilia dell' Annunziata", a community based on silence, prayer, work, and poverty. During his interview with Bederman, Lifschitz indicated that he finally found comfort in the Neocatechumenal Way. You can read the entire article here.
As for the letter written by "a" Daniel Lifshitz found in Chuck White's blog, that letter can also be found in this Anti-Neo website. According to the English translation of this Anti-Neo website (the bold is mine):
In the 80s, Giorgio Filipucci, a cantor Neocatechumenal, composed "Shema 'Israel" - "Hear O Israel", a beautiful song, which became a "hit" of the way. Twenty-five years ago George died. Today that his beautiful composition has not more 'composed Filipucci, but Kiko Argüello; It makes her pass as his.
Last year I wrote a personal letter to Kiko. Having received no reply, I do now one. "Open Letter"Apparently, Lifshitz accused Kiko of being narcissistic because he believed that Kiko took a song composed by Giorgio Filipucci and passed it on as his own. This is incorrect. According to a news report:
In 1997, the Thursday after Ash Wednesday, while praying Lauds with his wife and the priest who accompanied them on the mission, Giorgio suffered unexpectedly and irretrievably a stroke that left him lifeless; He was so ascended to heaven leaving his wife and eleven children (the last of which are still in gestation).
It was the same Giorgio Kiko Arguello, who accompanied with guitar in meetings and eucaristías- who composed the song Shema Israel putting music to the ancient Jewish prayer.
This song has become one of the most important and emotional Neocatechumenal: it is sung in the Easter Vigils del Camino worldwide and every day is sung, in a very special way, at the International Center Domus Galilaeae on Mt. of Beatitudes (Galilee, Israel) stage of an ongoing and fruitful dialogue between Christianity and Judaism.
Giorgio Filippucci was both the star of a TV show called RAI Salt of the Earth; a program of the eighties in which, accompanied by musicians and singers, Giorgio played songs and psalms of the Neocatechumenal, presenting to the public the Christian reality fruit of Vatican II that in those years, he moved his first steps with enviable fervor .
This news report stated that it was Giorgio Filipucci who composed the song Shema Israel. Kiko never claimed it as his own. However, over time, people began to think that all the songs were composed by Kiko Arguello. So, where did this rumor come from? All rumors came from Anti-Neo websites. Should we believe Chuck White who gets all information from Anti-Neo websites? Perhaps, the junglefolks should start doing their own research on secular unbaised news report rather than swallowing everything one man tells them.
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Trust In God
Place your trust in God and in the Church in Rome, which is the seat of the Apostle Peter. The Lord said, "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church." It was Rome who sent Archbishop Hon; therefore, place your trust in the Bishop sent by Rome. Let your choice be on the side of Rome.
"Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church." These words were written thousands of years ago by St. Ignatius of Antioch. So, let us choose the SIDE of Archbishop Hon, whom Rome has sent. It is clear that the Church built by Christ has sent Archbishop Hon; therefore, let us give our cooperation to Archbishop Hon and Father Nowak. Archbishop Hon has already started reorganizing things in the Archdiocese of Agana. Let us all seek peace through cooperation so that we can all be reconciled.
Do not place your trust on any man whom Rome has NOT sent. Do not place your hope and trust on any man who abandons you. Pope Francis sent a message to the people of Guam, telling us to give him our trust and prayers. So, place your trust on Pope Francis, the Vicar of Christ, and who sent Archbishop Hon in his stead. Place your trust on God, the head of the Catholic Church and who guides the hand of the Pope who sits on Earth as His representative. Remember, God will never abandon us. He will always remain with us in times of joy and in times of troubles.
Monday, July 11, 2016
Amazing Grace
In 2006, I remember reading the story of the Amish community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania who forgave a murderer. This hit the front page of most newspapers including the Pacific Daily News. The headlines read "Amazing Grace." The Amish people are Christians who chose to live simple lives. They distance themselves from the more advanced modern society of American life and worldly influence.
Charles Robert was a milk truck driver who served the local community. He was not Amish. Nine years earlier, his wife gave birth to a baby girl; however, the girl died twenty minutes later. Her death greatly affected him, and he never forgave God for her death. On October 2, 2006, Charles Robert entered a small Amish school. He ordered the adults to leave. He also ordered the boys to leave the building. According to news report:
Roberts had the 10 girls lie down facing the blackboard and he tied their hands and feet. Roberts told the girls he was sorry for what he was about to do, but “I’m angry at God and I need to punish some Christian girls to get even with him.”He shot all ten girls. The age of the girls range from 6-13 years old. Five were killed before he shot himself. In the midst of their sorrow and shocking loss, the Amish community did not cast any blame nor point any fingers. They did not held press conferences with lawyers at their sides. Instead, they reached out with compassion and forgiveness toward the killer's family. This is why the story hit headlines. It is unheard of to forgive the enemy.
However, forcing someone to kneel before you and demanding him to ask forgiveness is only seeking to humiliate. True forgiveness is where healing begins. Forgiveness is not for the other person. It is for ourselves. It is for our healing.
As in the words of Christ, "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do."
Saturday, July 9, 2016
NCW Is Reason For Jungle Opposition?
An anonymous commenter made the following comment under the thread of my last post, which I think is worth listening to. It is something that we can dialogue. According to the comment:
AnonymousJuly 9, 2016 at 1:05 PM
Dear readers,
Tim is doing all of this--whatever this is--not for money, not for admiration, not for pride. I've known him a long time, and I know the man well enough to know that when he speaks plainly, he means what he says. So what does he say? What's at the heart of all of this?
He believes that the Neocatechumenal Way is heretical. More to the point, he believes that Kiko Arguello is a heretic and is leading others into heresy and away from Christ. For the purpose at hand, it's not important whether it's true or not; I'm not debating that, and Diana has asked not to go there, so I won't.
That's the heart and soul of all of this. NOW BEFORE YOU SLING YOUR ANGER AND INVECTIVE AT ME, please listen first:
I'm not saying you're heretical. I'm saying HE does. He sees your celebration of the Eucharist as gutting the sacrificial nature from it and leaving only an "agape feast." He sees the reduction of the parish life to smaller communities as a destruction of our faith life. He sees presbyters who cannot answer hard questions of his (and they are challenging, to be sure) as evidence that they are malformed as priests.
In light of this, he knows the Archbishop brought the NCW to Guam, so it's on him. But why the anger? Because despite the good it's done for some, he's seen the darker side too. Blind obedience to authority is troubling. Why should real obedience be for Tim? Among many reasons, because a priests tried to make a move on him, and his bishop did nothing. So he's already loaded for bear where bishops are concerned.
But what really bothers Tim is that if the NCW is heretical, then all these souls on Guam are in the darkness (and for the love of God, I'm not saying your are--I'm saying that's Tim's side of things).
I'm sorry to say it again and again, but I have to since as we've seen above, no one here seems to know how to read and think before responding. And the same goes for the Jungle, where they have mastered the same fault.
What I'm saying is, this is the beef for Tim. This is the core of the man: defense of the Church as the Tradition says.
Just a few comments above my writing this is the comment that the JW people are all conservative traditional Catholics who have been hurt by Apuron. That's not quite true, but even if it were, why the attack on "conservative?" Aren't the NCW attacked as too "conservative" in faith and morals consistently?
My wife asked me a few minutes ago why I'm bothering with this. It's because I care. I want healing on the island. I want each side to see the other's--not to see our commonalities, but to clearly see the differences. Then we can make the peace, not by wishing for unity (God bless Arch Hon for trying) but by saying to ourselves, we cannot resolve differences until we clearly KNOW our differences.
Tim doesn't hate the Church, and yes you mockers, he actually does believe he is doing the right thing. So do you. Laugh all you want with your LMAO at me, it doesn't change the fact one iota that unless you understand your opponent and his REAL motivation, he will always beat you. ALWAYS.
Thank you Diana for your allowing this post. You are most gracious. It is my hope that it spurs a discussion born from charity and reflection. Yes, readers say, but the Jungle is vicious in its attacks. Perhaps so. But I see daily in the attacks that you become steadily like them in not reading, thinking, praying. Just reacting.
I've said it before. Don't just pray. Fast. Offer up your Eucharist for Tim. Even on JW there are comments about how his children should burn in hell. What a terrible cancer is present in our midst.
This is my response:
I do not know Tim Rohr as you obviously do, but I know that the Tim Rohr who wrote in "The Mass Never Ends" is a differnt person than the one who is now writing Junglewatch. When he wrote about the Neocatechumenal Way in "The Mass Never Ends", he was not as obnoxious and highly critical of the Way as he is now. At that time, he never said that the Way was not Catholic. Although he stood against the celebration of the Way, Tim recognized the good it has done. Nevertheless, Tim Rohr helped build up the Neocatechumenal Way on Guam. The Way needed The Jerusalem Bible or the New Jerusalem Bible, the Biblical dictionary, and the Liturgy of the Hours. Tim supplied all these to the Neocatechumenal Way through his bookstore. As the communities grew, he ordered more of the things the Way needed. So, although he believed the Neocatechumenal Way was not following the correct liturgy, he supplied the materials that the Way needed anyway. Archbishop Apuron brought in the Way to Guam, but Tim Rohr helped build it up by supplying the books the NCW needed in their celebrations through his bookstore.
Today, he says the Way is not Catholic and heretical. He resented the Way and severely opposed it ONLY after Monsignor James was removed from the Agana Cathedral. Tim would disagree with many things, but his use of profane words started only after the removal of Monsignor James. This was where the change in Tim Rohr began. That can be seen through his blog. The only time he called for the resignation of the Archbishop was after the removal of Monsignor James. Therefore, I believe the true reason for Rohr's change in behavior is the removal of Monsignor James.
Tim Rohr was already told by the Vatican Delegation last year that there is nothing wrong with the NCW and that it is fine. He kept this information from his followers. See the weblink here. Last year, he was told by the Vatican Delegation that the NCW is fine, so why did he keep this information to himself? Since the Vatican Delegation already said that the NCW is fine, then who should the junglefolks, LFM, and CCOG believe? Should they believe Archbishop Hon who is only second to Pope Francis or Tim Rohr who kept this information to himself?
AnonymousJuly 9, 2016 at 1:05 PM
Dear readers,
Tim is doing all of this--whatever this is--not for money, not for admiration, not for pride. I've known him a long time, and I know the man well enough to know that when he speaks plainly, he means what he says. So what does he say? What's at the heart of all of this?
He believes that the Neocatechumenal Way is heretical. More to the point, he believes that Kiko Arguello is a heretic and is leading others into heresy and away from Christ. For the purpose at hand, it's not important whether it's true or not; I'm not debating that, and Diana has asked not to go there, so I won't.
That's the heart and soul of all of this. NOW BEFORE YOU SLING YOUR ANGER AND INVECTIVE AT ME, please listen first:
I'm not saying you're heretical. I'm saying HE does. He sees your celebration of the Eucharist as gutting the sacrificial nature from it and leaving only an "agape feast." He sees the reduction of the parish life to smaller communities as a destruction of our faith life. He sees presbyters who cannot answer hard questions of his (and they are challenging, to be sure) as evidence that they are malformed as priests.
In light of this, he knows the Archbishop brought the NCW to Guam, so it's on him. But why the anger? Because despite the good it's done for some, he's seen the darker side too. Blind obedience to authority is troubling. Why should real obedience be for Tim? Among many reasons, because a priests tried to make a move on him, and his bishop did nothing. So he's already loaded for bear where bishops are concerned.
But what really bothers Tim is that if the NCW is heretical, then all these souls on Guam are in the darkness (and for the love of God, I'm not saying your are--I'm saying that's Tim's side of things).
I'm sorry to say it again and again, but I have to since as we've seen above, no one here seems to know how to read and think before responding. And the same goes for the Jungle, where they have mastered the same fault.
What I'm saying is, this is the beef for Tim. This is the core of the man: defense of the Church as the Tradition says.
Just a few comments above my writing this is the comment that the JW people are all conservative traditional Catholics who have been hurt by Apuron. That's not quite true, but even if it were, why the attack on "conservative?" Aren't the NCW attacked as too "conservative" in faith and morals consistently?
My wife asked me a few minutes ago why I'm bothering with this. It's because I care. I want healing on the island. I want each side to see the other's--not to see our commonalities, but to clearly see the differences. Then we can make the peace, not by wishing for unity (God bless Arch Hon for trying) but by saying to ourselves, we cannot resolve differences until we clearly KNOW our differences.
Tim doesn't hate the Church, and yes you mockers, he actually does believe he is doing the right thing. So do you. Laugh all you want with your LMAO at me, it doesn't change the fact one iota that unless you understand your opponent and his REAL motivation, he will always beat you. ALWAYS.
Thank you Diana for your allowing this post. You are most gracious. It is my hope that it spurs a discussion born from charity and reflection. Yes, readers say, but the Jungle is vicious in its attacks. Perhaps so. But I see daily in the attacks that you become steadily like them in not reading, thinking, praying. Just reacting.
I've said it before. Don't just pray. Fast. Offer up your Eucharist for Tim. Even on JW there are comments about how his children should burn in hell. What a terrible cancer is present in our midst.
This is my response:
I do not know Tim Rohr as you obviously do, but I know that the Tim Rohr who wrote in "The Mass Never Ends" is a differnt person than the one who is now writing Junglewatch. When he wrote about the Neocatechumenal Way in "The Mass Never Ends", he was not as obnoxious and highly critical of the Way as he is now. At that time, he never said that the Way was not Catholic. Although he stood against the celebration of the Way, Tim recognized the good it has done. Nevertheless, Tim Rohr helped build up the Neocatechumenal Way on Guam. The Way needed The Jerusalem Bible or the New Jerusalem Bible, the Biblical dictionary, and the Liturgy of the Hours. Tim supplied all these to the Neocatechumenal Way through his bookstore. As the communities grew, he ordered more of the things the Way needed. So, although he believed the Neocatechumenal Way was not following the correct liturgy, he supplied the materials that the Way needed anyway. Archbishop Apuron brought in the Way to Guam, but Tim Rohr helped build it up by supplying the books the NCW needed in their celebrations through his bookstore.
Today, he says the Way is not Catholic and heretical. He resented the Way and severely opposed it ONLY after Monsignor James was removed from the Agana Cathedral. Tim would disagree with many things, but his use of profane words started only after the removal of Monsignor James. This was where the change in Tim Rohr began. That can be seen through his blog. The only time he called for the resignation of the Archbishop was after the removal of Monsignor James. Therefore, I believe the true reason for Rohr's change in behavior is the removal of Monsignor James.
Tim Rohr was already told by the Vatican Delegation last year that there is nothing wrong with the NCW and that it is fine. He kept this information from his followers. See the weblink here. Last year, he was told by the Vatican Delegation that the NCW is fine, so why did he keep this information to himself? Since the Vatican Delegation already said that the NCW is fine, then who should the junglefolks, LFM, and CCOG believe? Should they believe Archbishop Hon who is only second to Pope Francis or Tim Rohr who kept this information to himself?