America and God?

O God who loves us, on this Independence Day, we pause to thank You for the blessings of liberty, peace, and the pursuit of happiness. We honor the sacrifices of those who secure our freedoms and protect our lives, and we ask that You watch over them.

Guide our nation’s leaders with wisdom and compassion. Heal our divisions, and help us to build a society rooted in justice, unity, and mutual respect for all people. May we use our freedom to serve one another and strive for the common good.

Fourth of July in Cambodia

It’s one hour away from the 4th of July in Phnom Penh (they’re 11 hours ahead of us) and there will be a celebration there! It’s organized by Freedom 250, though, which is the Trump administration organizing group instead of America250, the congressional bipartisan group that started planning for this anniversary in 2016, so it remains to be seen what will be the tone of the Phnom Penh celebration, whether it’s focused on the anniversary of the country or on its current president.

Caring for all of creation

I hope to get out everyday on my bicycle. On the days when I’m not going to mass or to a meeting, I often ride in Louisville’s beautiful Cherokee Park. On the scenic loop around the park I noticed that there are not only water fountains for me but that they incorporate a watering bowl for dogs and other pets. That is really important this Fourth of July week when the U.S. is expecting record temperatures especially east of the Mississippi.

AUSCP Conference

One of the best parts of the conference of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests last week was renewing old friendships and making new ones.

Bishop John Stowe, OFM, bishop of Lexington, Kentucky, and I became acquainted three or four years ago when I contacted him about some of his positions on major issues of social justice. He is one of the bright lights of the U.S. hierarchy, a real Pope Francis bishop.
A new friend I discovered at the conference is Anna Robertson, attending as a presenter for Discerning Deacons, a group advocating for women in ministry, especially as deacons. And she is more than a friend. I learned she is my first cousin twice removed!
Another previous friend at the conference was Sr. Kathy Duffy, SSJ, who presented a commentary on the theology of Fr. Teilhard de Chardin, a French Jesuit whose thought is receiving new interest in the present day. Kathy and I first became acquainted years ago when she was a retreat leader for the Maryknollers who gathered in Hua Hin, Thailand each year.
Bishop Stowe was not the only member of the hierarchy at the conference. The bishop of Rome also made an appearance.

AUSCP Conference

Wednesday-Thursday

[There were Internet problems in St. Louis on Thursday and also in Louisville that night so I was not able to post. Sorry about that!]

Prayer and reflection were a big part of this conference.
Wednesday evening there was a final banquet in which four priests and bishops were honored for their really outstanding pronouncements and actions to promote the church envisioned by Vatican II.
After the banquet, the six of us from Louisville got together to discussion how we could continue advancing ideas that came from this conference.
Thursday morning was given to two colloquium sessions in which a topic or issue was presented and discussed. In my first session Fr. Joe Graffis (L) gave an overview of Pope Leo’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas which has an important message for our times. My second colloquium was with Ms. Anna Robertson, my first cousin twice-removed, who presented on the diaconate and ministry for women.

AUSCP Conference

Tuesday

This was the first full working day of this conference and the focus was on immigration. In the morning tge speaker was Fr. Dan Groody, CSC, a vice president and professor of immigration theology at Notre Dame. He has worked with the United Nations, the US Catholic Bishops conference, the Vatican, and the US.Congress. He gave a lot for the table groups to discuss.
On one of my elevator trips when I was alone, I tried capturing the effect of mirrors on the elevator walls.
In the evening we had a panel on immigration activity in St. Louis. While we were waiting to begin, we had a special visitor who stopped by.
The panel of four was composed of an immigration attorney, a representative of five parishes working together on immigration, a member of a rapid response team, and a minister for another church group. All are part of the Catholic Church’s immigration activity in St. Louis.

AUSCP Conference

Monday
Dr. Damian Zynda, a trainer of spiritual directors, had led prayers and a contemplative process each day. Really excellent!
The men who are at this conference are active priests who take issues of social justice seriously and have strong opinions.
Even in the breaks there is a lot of discussion and planning taking place.
The liturgies have been interesting and engaging, probably because of the activist personalities of the priests here.
The meals here have been excellent also!