we must be doing something right

I don’t want to give any extra publicity to a local satanic cult that has taken aim at the Church of Oklahoma.  I will simply say that evil is real—and that it seems self-evident that Satan is busy causing havoc and despair, not only in our city, but throughout the world.

That’s why yesterday, for the feast of the Assumption of Mary, Michael and I joined a crowd of over 1,000 Christian believers for a Unity Walk and Prayer Service in downtown Oklahoma City.

The ecumenical Christian event began at the statue named, “And Jesus Wept,” well known as a sign of hope and healing in this Midwest capital city.

The statue is not only on the grounds of St. Joseph Old Cathedral—it is also directly across the street from the Oklahoma City National Memorial, site of the 1995 Murrah Building bombing.

“As we stand here in this particular place we are reminded of what evil has done to our city and the lives that it has destroyed. But we are also aware of the good that rests in every human heart, good that overcomes evil, that seeks healing and community and peace…

And it is why we are gathered here today. To stand together against evil and rely upon the goodness of God in whose image we were created.  He is the source of all that is good and holy. We ask Him to dispel all darkness and evil of every kind in our city, our nation, and the world.”

~ Father William Novak, pastor,

St. Francis Catholic Church, OkC

At the standing-room-only ecumenical Prayer Service that followed the walk, pastors and religious leaders from several different denominations took turns leading the crowd in specific prayer petitions… for the family; for the state of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City; for the government; for education; as well as for racial reconciliation. 

From Father Novak’s prayer for the family:

By your plan you created the family and you desired that it be a place where one finds nourishment, protection, support, and love throughout our lives.  We ask your continued blessing upon all families, that the love of husband and wife may bring forth the gift of new life – that the comfort of mothers and the protection of fathers may be generously given to their children—and that children may honor their parents.  We ask you to watch over families who are separated and experience difficulties and hardships; families that remain divided by hatred, resentments and outside evils. Give to those families, Lord, the help they need to reunite, forgive, and be patient and compassionate with one another.

We ask you to protect families who suffer under poverty, abuse, addictions, neglect, and violence. Give to these families the desire to seek help, the help they require, and ongoing support so that they may flourish and prosper

We ask you to give our city, our nation and the world a deeper respect for the holiness of the family by extending and enacting laws that protect the dignity and the sanctity of all human life, from conception to natural death, the sacred institution of marriage, and the unity of the family that is often under attack from our overly individualistic and materialistic culture. Help us to always rely on you o Father of Mercy, for the grace we need in our own families and with one another, as we work together to build up the family until we are all united, as one family, in your heavenly kingdom, forever and ever, amen.

Two more things to note –

first of all, I believe that the Church of Oklahoma must be doing something right if the forces of evil and darkness repeatedly take aim at Oklahoma City!

and finally, here’s a short video of the enthusiastic crowd singing “Holy, Holy, Holy” during the Unity Prayer Service:

 and a video of Father Novak's prayer... so that you can hear the crowd's reaction:

we will never forget: April 19, 1995

When I first arrived at the site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995, to report on the Oklahoma City bombing for Catholic News Service, police lines and makeshift shelters had already been drawn. Budding spring gardens had instantly succumbed to military tents, hastily erected to serve as temporary morgue, as ATF/FBI evidence gathering sites, and as a canteen for rescue workers. Law enforcement and fully armed military personnel lined the streets.

Breathing masks, bloodied bandages, and much broken glass testified to the human carnage that had taken place there hours before. Thick grey dust covered everything. Northwest of the building, a block-long square area had instantaneously become an international media center, camera crews mixing with fallen debris, van food vendors, and cars demolished by the blast. Overhead, helicopters circled the downtown radius accusingly pointing flood lights at the empty streets. The sounds of sirens, voices, and motors blended effectively with the humming of drilling equipment at the site, where workers used lighted cranes to continue rescue operations around the clock.

On that fateful spring morning, 171 people (counting the unborn) died, and hundreds of survivors were maimed and injured, forever scarred.  The hundreds of rescuers from all over the world that came those first few weeks will be eternally haunted by what they saw at the site: debris, twisted metal, and shards of broken glass mingled with the smell of death and reminders of those who worked there—purses, pieces of clothing, toys, shoes, and grisly body parts.

“It’s worse than the most horrible Friday the 13^th movie you can imagine—you can’t walk out of this theatre,” told me 25-year-old Steve Mavros from the Oklahoma Canine Search and Rescue out of Tulsa. Mavros and his specially trained dog, Bucephalos, were one of the first deployed to the site to identify the location of humans and human remains. “We would have a hit—a human find—but only find a piece of a body.”

"And Jesus Wept" statue 

across the street from the OKC Memorial site

It is important that we remember April 19^th, 1995.  Remember the lives of those who died, not only where they died. Remember the victims’ families. Remember those who survived and are still struggling to heal. Remember the stories of tireless rescue workers who risked their lives in the still-trembling building to find survivors, and eventually, to bring the dead home.

Remember how there was no looting in that wrecked downtown, and how crime was virtually non-existent for several days in this city of 500,000. Remember the thousands of devoted community volunteers. Remember how the money turned in after the blast from the Federal Employees Credit Union vault housed in the Murrah building exceeded the money originally held in that vault. We will always remember that the stories of human goodness, generosity and compassion overwhelmed and conquered one despicable act of evil.   

"the fence," where people from all over the world have left personal items, 

uniting themselves to the city and those who suffered here

Why I love Catholic Schools #2

Michelle at her first teaching job, 

Lourdes Central Catholic in Nebraska City, 

with her good friend Sally. 

As we celebrate

National Catholic Schools Week 2013

I'm proud to say that this year two of our daughters are teaching Middle School at Catholic schools! 

After two wonderful years at Lourdes Central Catholic in Nebraska City, Michelle is at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School in Oklahoma City, and Anamaría is at Michelle's alma mater, All Saints Catholic School in Norman. 

I have always been surrounded by teachers, all levels, all types of schools -- mother, father, brother, husband, father and mother in-law -- and now daughters and daughter in law! 

Coach Michelle praying with her volleyball team

Lourdes Central Catholic

Seeing first hand the hard work, energy, time-commitment and faithfulness of these family members who are teachers, I've always had a special place in my prayers for all teachers. 

Often underpaid, those who have made teaching their vocation do so because they're answering a special call to serve, and to spread the Gospel through their lives. This goes doubly so for Catholic school teachers, who  work extremely hard, often get paid less, and still go the extra mile for their students.

What does a Catholic School teacher look like? 

well, here's Michelle on "Superhero day"

Catholic Schools Week 2013

I love Catholic schools because of their teachers! 

Two fun videos:

one minute video of a typical day at a Catholic school

Diocese of St. Petersburg

And this one, a 6-minute video on Catholic schools

Diocese of Austin

God be in my head

At the Red Mass this weekend at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral in Oklahoma City, the guest homilist—Bishop James S. Wall from Gallup, New Mexico, gave a stirring homily as he “opened the Word” with us, reflecting on Sunday’s readings [25^th Sunday of Ordinary Time]. Bishop Wall, by the way, has a great blog titled "Be Doers of the Word" (named after his episcopal motto), which I've linked to his name above.

The Red Mass is a tradition dating back to the 13^th Century in Europe when both the bench and bar attended a Mass together at the beginning of each judicial session.

At the Cathedral this weekend, government officials, judges and law professors processed in wearing their robes or academic hoods, and celebrants wore red, signifying the fire of the Holy Spirit's guidance to all who pursue justice in their daily lives.

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley prays over

lawyers, government officials, judges, law students

The phrase that I kept hearing, both directly from and implied in Bishop’s Wall’s words is this: be imitators of Christ.

Even with regard to the saints, such as St. Thomas More, patron of all in the law profession, the Bishop emphasized, we follow them inasmuch as they were imitators of Christ and applied that in their lives.

This understanding is for me, ultimately, a prayer of desire—and it was best brought into my heart at the Red Mass with the offertory song, “God Be in My Head,” a short piece by one of my favorite contemporary composers, John Rutter:

God be in my head and in my understanding.

God be in mine eyes and in my looking.

God be in my mouth and in my speaking.

God be in mine heart and in my thinking.

God be at my end and in my departing.

Youtube video of "God Be in My Head"