Author: Charles Dittmeier

Fratelli Tutti: Migration & Social Media

43. Digital campaigns of hatred and destruction, for their part, are not – as some would have us believe – a positive form of mutual support, but simply an association of individuals united against a perceived common enemy. “Digital media can also expose people to the risk of addiction, isolation and a gradual loss of contact with concrete reality, blocking the development of authentic interpersonal relationships”. [46] They lack the physical gestures, facial expressions, moments of silence, body language and even the smells, the trembling of hands, the blushes and perspiration that speak to us and are a part of human communication. Digital relationships, which do not demand the slow and gradual cultivation of friendships, stable interaction or the building of a consensus that matures over time, have the appearance of sociability. Yet they do not really build community; instead, they tend to disguise and expand the very individualism that finds expression in xenophobia and in contempt for the vulnerable. Digital connectivity is not enough to build bridges. It is not capable of uniting humanity.

Pope Francis in Fratelli Tutti, §43

Mass of the Air for the Deaf

Almost fifty years ago, Mass of the Air began broadcasting on Louisville television to allow home-bound people to have at least limited access to Sunday mass. Many volunteers have helped to provide this service, including sign language interpreters and prompters. Above, Nancy Reynolds (L) is signing American Sign Language and Peg Darcy is prompting her to make sure the communications are clear and understandable. Both Nancy and Peg have been part of the Catholic deaf community for more than 40 years, serving our deaf brothers and sisters in many ways.

Angela Merici and Holy Cross High Schools

Yesterday the 1978 graduating class of Angela Merici High School gathered at Holy Cross High School to dedicate a room the class had furnished. Holy Cross is the result of a merger between Angela Merici and Bishop David High School. I was invited and it was a great evening with the women who were students when I was at Angela Merici during the 1970s and 1980s. Those were really great years for me.

Buying T-shirts and sweatshirts from their old alma mater.
Reuniting with old friends.

Rosie’s Funeral

Mike is married to my sister Mary and his mother died last week. Rosie is her name, and although not Catholic, she had asked if I would have a funeral service for her. I was most happy to do that and this afternoon we had a gravesite service and then the family gathered at Mike and Mary’s home. We have a wonderful family and it is exactly for events like this with family that I have returned from Cambodia. Here are some photos of some of our family gathered today.

No Kings Day

We don’t have any statistics yet on the two No Kings rallies today in Louisville–and they are still going on on the West Coast, but the Frankfort Avenue rally in Louisville was a great success.

There were several thousands protesters stretched along both sides of Frankfort Avenue.
There was a lot of creativity displayed in the posters and signs and dress and costumes.
The other rally on the Belvedere on the Louisville waterfront probably had more participants but there is little traffic there. Frankfort Avenue is a small but busy thoroughfare and many, many vehicles came through the always increasing crowds and felt the spirit there.
This was the noisiest demonstration I have ever experienced. There was constant car honking with people who didn’t stop but came through prepared to show their support.
Six of us Louisville priests made a group appearance.

I walked up and down the two blocks of demonstrators and it was amazing how many people approached me and thanked us priests for being present. I was thankful THEY were present, but it obviously meant a great deal to them that some of their community leadership were present and validated their own beliefs and feelings.

California Day 7

This morning Jim McLaughlin and I went back to St. Columba Church where the St. Vincent de Paul Society organizes a weekly food distribution for needy and hungry people.

They quickly supplied me with an apron and plastic gloves and put me to work. My first task was bagging potatoes and yams and onions together.
21 volunteers sorted, cleaned, and repackaged a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits and loaves of bread and bags of rice. Food comes from a city food bank and from supermarket chains.

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These volunteers were opening packages of fruit to remove old and discolored pieces, and then repackaging them for insertion into 65 big brown paper bags that were distributed to people lined up at 11:00 AM.
Jim McLaughlin (L) and a colleague broke down the cardboard boxes for recycling. A parishioner collects the bundled boxes and sells them to a recycler to raise money for her grandson’s school expenses.
In addition to the neighborhood’s needs and hunger, there is a fear of the government’s arresting and detaining people who might be coming to the church.