Father Bill's Page
Christmas is considered by people to be one of the most beautiful times of the year. It is, then, obvious that this feast draws many people to Church. In order to make Christmas comfortable and prayerful we once again will have available tickets for Christmas Eve Mass at 4:00 pm. These tickets are FREE and serve only as "crowd control". Please note that having a ticket doesn't guarantee a seat in church. Tickets will be distributed FREE OF CHARGE on Saturday, December 15 at 11:00 am in the Lower Room of the Church. We ask that you limit the number of tickets you request. If your plans change, we ask that you please return the tickets to the rectory office.
The Golden Compass, a fantasy film starring Nicole Kidman that is scheduled to be released into theaters on December 7, 2007, has been drawing fire from concerned Christians. The film is based on Northern Lights (released in the U.S. as The Golden Compass), the first offering in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy of children's books, a series that follows the adventures of a streetwise girl who travels through multiple worlds populated by witches, armor-plated bears, and sinister ecclesiastical assassins to defeat the oppressive forces of a senile God.
Books of the trilogy have sold more than 15 million copies around the world, with Northern Lights winning the Carnegie Medal for Children's Literature in 1995 and in 2007 being awarded the 'Carnegie of Carnegies" for the best children's book of the past 70 years. The Amber Spyglass, the final book of the series, won The Whitbread Prize in 2001, making it the first children's book
to do so.
The series' author, Philip Pullman (who has described himself as both an agnostic and an atheist), as averred that "I don't profess any religion; I don't think it's possible that there is a God; I have the greatest difficulty in understanding what is meant by the words 'spiritual' or 'spirituality'." Critics of Pullman's books point to the strong anti-religion and anti-God themes they incorporate, and although literary works are subject to a variety of interpretations, Pullman left little doubt about his books' intended meanings when he said in a 2003 interview that "My books are about killing God" and in a 2001 interview that he was "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief." (In 2002 conservative British columnist Peter Hitchens labeled Pullman "The Most Dangerous Author in Britain" and described him as the writer "the atheists would have been praying for, if atheists prayed.")
Bill Donohue, president of The Catholic League, has condemned The Golden Compass as a "pernicious" effort to indoctrinate children into anti-Christian beliefs and has produced a 23-page pamphlet titled The Golden Compass: Unmasked in which he maintains that Pullman "sells atheism for kids." Donohoe told interviewer John Gibson on Oct. 9, 2007, why he believes Christians should stay away from the film:
Look, the movie is based on the least offensive of the three books. And they have dumbed down the worst elements in the movie
because they don't want to make Christians angry and they want to make money. our concern is this: unsuspecting Christian
parents may want to take their kids to the movie, (it opens up December 7th), and say, "this wasn't troubling", then they'll buy the
books. So the movie is the bait for the books which are profoundly anti-Catholic and at the same time selling atheism.
Other reviewers, however, have described Pullman's works as being more generally anti-religion rather than specifically anti-Christian or anti-Catholic:
In His Dark Materials, Pullman's criticisms of organized religion come across as anti-authoritarian and anti-ascetic rather than
anti-doctrinal). (Jesus isn't mentioned in any of the books, although Pullman has hinted that He might figure in a forthcoming
sequel, The Book of Dust). His fundamental objection is to ideological tyranny and the rejection of this world in favor of an
idealized afterlife, regardless of creed. As one of the novel's pagan characters puts it, "Every church is the same: control,
destroy, obliterate every good feeling."
Over the next few weeks the parish community of St. Denis will resume our spiritual and educational journey through the world of Total Stewardship, with our annual Stewardship of Prayer campaign. Prayer is the basis of all other facets of stewardship and the firm foundation which makes all things possible in our parish. Prayer is the first step toward establishing and maintaining one's unique relationship with God. Even though so many of our parishioners already have a strong commitment to prayer, studies show us that in some parishes up to 40% of the members do not have a daily commitment to regular prayer. One of the tasks of our parish then should be to assist all of our parishioners to learn how to pray to God in a way that fits their inclinations, capabilities, and lifestyle.
Stewardship of Prayer
As we continue on our spiritual and educational journey with our Stewardship of Prayer Campaign, our focus this week is on "How do I pray?" and also to explore the various forms of prayer. When the disciples asked Jesus "Teach us to pray", Jesus gave the gift of the "Our Father" which he taught in the Sermon on the Mount. "For me, prayer is a surging of the heart; it is a simple look towards Heaven; it is a cry of recognition and of love embracing both trial and joy." St. Teresa of Lisieux Prayer is talking to God with mind and heart, and often with the voice. It is a response to God's invitation to seek Him. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." Mt. 11:28 God calls every person to prayer. He wants to engage us in a personal relationship, a conversation. Even if some do not hear His call, or pay no attention to it, God continues His invitation to each human heart. "So that people might seek God, even perhaps grope for Him and find Him, though indeed He is not far from any one of us." Acts 17:27 We learn to pray best by praying, by talking to God from our own heart, "Hear my words, O Lord, Listen to my sighing, Hear my cry for help, My King, my God." Ps 5:1-3 So how should we pray? We should pray with the same sentiments which the Gospels demonstrate: " conversion of heart, " faith, " filial boldness " desire to do God's will " watchfulness " perseverance " patience " humility We will explore what keeps us from responding when deep in our hearts we long to be in relationship with God. The following are different types of prayers that will lead all of us more deeply into the center of our lives, where we find God: Adoration Contrition Thanksgiving Supplication Only when we truly know that God is the focus of our lives are we living a life of prayer.
Stewardship of Prayer Part 2"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest." [Mt 11:28] Through Baptism we are one with Christ and his Church; therefore, all our prayers are offered with His, to the Father, in the Holy Spirit. The Christian tradition comprises three major expressions of the life of prayer: Vocal prayer is prayer of mind, heart and lips. It is prayer spoken audibly, as during Mass, shared prayer with family or at a spiritual retreat. "O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth your praise." [Ps 51:15] Meditation is a mental (unspoken) prayer with quiet reflection. Meditation can lead us to know Jesus better and follow him more closely. "Reflect on the statutes of the Lord, and meditate at all times on his commandments. It is he who will give insight to your mind, and your desire for wisdom will be granted." [Sir 6:37] Contemplative prayer is unspoken prayer in which a person is united to God and ponders his truths, as in scripture reading or visits to the Blessed Sacrament. "Then there are those sown on the good earth, who are the ones who hear the word and welcome it and bear fruit" [Mark 4:20] In all these, we pray through the Holy Spirit. "The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts, knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will." [Rom. 8:26-27] Next week we will ask each member of each family to reflect on their personal prayer life, set goals for the next twelve months and make a private commitment in writing to prayer that will be gratifying and help us to experience peace, joy and a sense of well-being, provide guidance and solace, and to put the problems we face into perspective.
Ask and you shall receive. Have you asked Him recently?
IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN A SMALL GROUP DURING OUR 40 DAYS OF PURPOSE CAMPAIGN, PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
One of the most productive parts of the Purpose Driven Life Campaign was the sharing that occurred in the homes of parishioners throughout the community. Over 310 men and women joined 35 small groups during the campaign, to share what they have discovered about God's divine plan and purpose for their life. We are anxious to hear from you. We hope that many of you will take a few moments to write us and share what the Lord has been revealing to you during this campaign.
Simply e-mail us We hope to make these messages available through our parish web site. It need not be signed.
A NEW WEBSITE--NYPRIEST.COM
A new website or those young men interested in a vocation, as well as for parents, priests and all who might want to check it out! If you are a young man interested in the priesthood, please contact Father Luke Sweeney or Father Luis Saldana at the Archdiocese of New York, Vocation Office, 914-968-1340 or click the link below to see the website.
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