The Community of John XXIII gathered for a Conference call on Sunday, June 29, 2008 in the Presence of: Bob Charpentier, Elaine and Francis McGillicuddy Fred and Terry Quinn, Linda Pinto, Tony Marotta (on Skype computer connection from Italy) Mary and Dick Scaine, and  Allen and Sylvia Moore. We also welcomed Barbara Ryland, our new member from Vermont. We gathered by phone to continue our ongoing conversation.

Linda Pinto gathered and embraced us all in the Spirit with:

Tony Marotta will lead us in prayer. We will then round-robin introductions, especially given our newest member, Barbara. Mary and Dick will share their retreat experience with Diarmuid O'Murchu. We will then consider the following (presented by Mary and Dick): The erotic, creative energy of the divine manifests itself first and foremost in cosmic and planetary creation.

Our cooperation with that flow is called co-creation. It follows, then, that any basic spiritual estrangement is not so much with God, but rather with God's creation. If this is where the alienation is felt most painfully, then this is where the rehabilitation should begin. Spiritually, intellectually, politically and economically, we need to develop whole new ways of relating to creation. In what ways are we implementing our commitments in this regard?

Justice-making? Mutual collaboration? Blessings. Linda

And so we embraced and reflected with each other…..

 Tony Marrotta led us in prayer (from Italy)

 Holy Spirit, we ask You to  look in on us as we are entering a simple conversation. Be with us, please!  We have formed a small community in the name of Pope John XXIII, and we are trying to enrich our spirituality, AND to do this we seek NEW WAYS  of relating to creation. Today, in this prayer, we see how You inspired St. Francis of Assisi.  We see this inspiration in three of the prayers linked to him.. As we take a glance at them, You, who have inspired us so much in the past, please continue to help and guide us in our 21st century circumstances.

The FIRST one is called "The Prayer of St. Francis" (also The Prayer of Peace)

 Lord make me an instrument of your Peace!

Where there is hatred, let me sow love, where there is injury let me bring Pardon,    where there is doubt....faith.......where there is sadness...joy. and on it goes!

There is great clarity and simplicity in this!! Holy Spirit give us some of this clarity and simplicity!!

 The SECOND prayer that comes to mind - is the Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon. It is filled with many references of praise for the God of Creation! Brother Sun, who brings the day, he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Praise be you, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, in heaven you formed them clear and precious and beautiful.

Praise be You through Brother Wind and Sister Water....through Brother Fire and  Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us and who produces varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Holy Spirit..help us to be closer to all of creation as WE HEAR THESE VERY CONCRETE IMAGES!!

HOWEVER, Holy Spirit,  as we look at the THIRD prayer, "The Praise of Virtue" we ask You and St. Francis, to inspire us in a SPECIAL way, because we are trying to implement/ to come to / a modern interpretation of these virtues ( in our case VOWS) as we strive in our own way to co-operate and co-create with God. We see in this prayer so many references to virtues...Wisdom, Lady Poverty, Holy humility, Lady charity, sister Obedience.  He who possesses one of you, without offending the others, possesses all. He who offends one of you lacks all and offends against all.  Holy Wisdom overcomes Satan, Holy Poverty drives out cupidity, avarice and earthly desires, Holy Humility overcomes pride. Holy Obedience drives out carnal desires.  We ask again, O Holy Spirit, to help us accomplish our goal of co-creation, against the background of recent theology. Help us in relatedness, justice making, and mutual collaboration!  AMEN

Tony’s Reflection:

I am quite comfortable with all the ideas expressed by Mary and Dick, and I agree with what Elaine and Francis wrote.

For a long time I have thought that the interaction of the Spirit and/in the people during the Mass is what is key. Living in Europe I have had, sad to say, too few “liturgical" occasions where effective sharing took place. Dick Westley type small faith communities would be a good place to bring in Cosmic Christianity. Specifically regarding the "spirituality" referred to in the prep page Linda sent us before the conf call......what I have been thinking over for the past days is the fact that my life in   Warsaw( where I live in the very center of a huge city on the edge of a beautiful park...) is actually more conducive for me  to be close to nature, and therefore close to the Spirit from this point of view, WHILE when I am back in Vicenza in Italy, a small city of 125000, where I know many of  my neighbors, I am closer to  the Spirit from the point of view of interpersonal relations.

Francis' Reflection:

I was enriched and challenged by our stimulating conversation.  It's at a level one doesn't regularly get, a rarified experience which I greatly value.

Elaine's Reflection:

Bob's account of his Benedictine experience conjured up for me a sense of sacred space.  I also appreciated his point that the lifestyle, (if I understood him correctly) doesn't break through into 21st century "actio."

Pondering Mary & Dick's rich sharing:  1) The "Desire" (Diarmuid's retreat title) is a matter of INTENTION in the ongoing invitation to co-create. (Like that!)  2. Diarmuid's call for myths to yield deeper meaning.  (Makes me want to read which ones he's referring to.)  3) We don't address God, but express God.  When we pray we give a form to that.  It's a release of Spirit already within us.  (Yes!  But I'd add, -- just as it's a human need to give a face to Spirit as Mary said, so also with addressing God.)  4)  Though we appreciate Dick's reason for wanting to drop the consecration, (a calling down of Jesus from on high,)  Francis and I are nevertheless inclined to agree with Allen's suggestion we educate people, (the role of the consecration is a sign of the presence of God, as we all are,) not remove it since it can be misinterpreted.

Terry’s Response:

 Keeping in mind the topics that Mary & Dick asked us to think about, -----  I talked about the energy of prayer and the Spirit alive all around us, impelling us in our daily lives. For me, this can be more activist than contemplative, although there are always elements of both in my day. With, regard to the discussion of the consecration, I spoke of how we, at the Inclusive Community often recite the words of the consecration together. I personally think that the word "consecration" implies some sort of exclusive and almost royal ability to the priest, which for me is not the picture I have of Jesus and his intent at the Last Supper.

Fred’s Reflection:

I talked of my work as a storyteller enriching the commitments in my life, as I relate to the very young and the very old. I concur with Terry's description of consecration and believe that more emphasis should be placed on the spiritual communion and energy we get from being part of the Body of Christ.  

Linda’s Reflection:

 I appreciated Tony Marotta's opening prayer which focused on the spirituality of St. Francis. How gleefully coincidental that our Community's focus on renewing creation was St. Francis' direction back in the fourteenth century. I am so much more aware of my surroundings and how sacred they are because of our Community. It’s as if I stand back at each instance of the day and consider how my actions will reflect the God I believe in.

Barbara’s Reflection: (Our newest member)

What a wonderful, thought-provoking meeting that was yesterday!!

There are many thoughts I have in response-I am fascinated with the energy of a place as well as of a person, community, creation-and how the whole idea of intention factors into this. I am pondering what the Spirit within is calling me -and us as community -to in relation to being a contradiction to today's predominant culture. More inner listening and perhaps drawing the Spirit within as Mary experienced on retreat will assist the process for me at least.

In gratitude,

Barbara

Our next conference call is scheduled for August Sunday August 3rd 2008.

 

 

 

The Community of John XXIII gathered for a Conference call on Sunday, May 18, 2008 in the Presence of: Bob Charpentier, Elaine and Francis McGillicuddy Fred and Terry Quinn, Linda Pinto, Theresa Padovano, George LeBlanc, Tony Marotta (on Skype computer connection from Italy) Mary and Dick Scaine, and with the embracing spiritual presence of Allen and Sylvia Moore we gathered by phone to continue our ongoing conversation.



Bob Charpentier led us in prayer, (a personal reflection)



    Loving Creator God, we ask your blessing on this Trinity Sunday gathering of the Community of John XXIII.  In this Pentecost - Trinity Season pour forth your Spirit into our hearts, that Spirit which is closer to us than our very breath, that our deliberations might benefit your kingdom, that kingdom you have placed at the very core of our being and that same kingdom we are called to minister to,  to serve in one another.  On this feast of Trinity, we make our prayer in your name, God three and one: Creator, Redeemer, and Renewing Spirit.  Amen.



Hi Mary and Dick,



    Things have been a bit hectic.  After a wonderful graduation visit with my daughter and family in Massachusetts, I returned to the Center to prepare for our annual meeting of the Center Board of Directors last Friday.



    From our conversation I am impressed with the number and variety of "spiritualities" that are emerging in our small group.  I'm not really surprised.  I was struck recently with a reading from St. Paul, how God's Spirit operates uniquely in every person. God's Spirit is matched with every individual (every living thing -- even a blade of grass) on the planet and beyond.  So why not talk about spiritualities?



Bob



 





Mary and Dick Scaine contributed the following:



1.    Various descriptions of spirituality have emerged over the centuries. Some take us from the world; some render us more fully alive in the world. What, for you is an adequate description of your spirituality.



        Is it other worldly?

        Is it sensual?

        Is it not only deeply private, but communitarian?

2.    In what ways are we, can we implement the three commitments:

a.    relatedness

b.    justice making

c.    mutual collaboration



Elaine & Frances wrote:



Dear Friends,



Here is Francis' paragraph:   I appreciated the precious opportunity to hear

other members share their personal spiritual journey.  I believe the building of community is enhanced by the sharing of one's personal story.  I hope we will have more of this type of sharing as we go forward.



And mine:



    I really resonated with Theresa's sharing about our being in God's womb, and how this mystery encompasses the whole universe...We are all held in this womb...all this together, living and dying...(like Teilhard's) Divine Milieu...atmosphere of God...all our existence.

   

    Also: Linda's point about LISTENING to events, people, nature..."immersed in sounds and sights, deep sense of presence." And Dick's talk about staying "always open-ended... and taking risks, being cooperative with Rhuah to move on with the lure of new possibilities."





Fred and Terry Quinn wrote:



    We were enriched by listening (operative word) to each person's reflections about her/his spirituality. We are more aware of how creative the spirit is within each of us-but how according to our personalities---we respond to that spirit.  In our own case, Fred's spirituality involves more listening and then telling the stories he hears, often combining them with a bit of whimsy and/or puns and jokes (very often in nursing homes and with dementia groups). Terry is prayerful, but very active in responding to justice needs (especially via the computer) and in teaching children, cooking and literally running around doing what needs to be done.



Linda Pinto Wrote:



I really enjoyed our sharing which focused on spirituality. I was relieved to hear that most sensed that spirituality is not a singular practice, but embraces all aspects of how one lives. Rather than limiting it to liturgy or religious practice, God is celebrating in every act on every day, if we make ourselves aware of God's presence. I especially liked what Bob said about God being closer to us than the air we breathe. I also proposed that one of our commitments be "holy rage" in response to the injustice and inequity in our world.







Theresa Padovano wrote:



    Like you, Tony, I'm in awe of the spirit at work in our lives.  I wanted to mention too that I couldn't but think of Thomas Merton and his thought as he watched people (I think it was in Louisville)--it was something like, "How can you tell people they are going around shining like the sun?"  I think it is in the marketplace where we are all equal--with no barriers of religion, race or sexual preference.  We are all dependent on each other, whether we are aware of it or not.



I was just outside LISTENING to the chorus of birds outside my door.  

What a delightful song of praise rises from the earth each and every morning and we sometimes don't take the time to join in the song.



Samuel Marotta wrote: (on SKYPE from Italy)



    I am in awe of the spirituality of this group - which I sense comes from deep within. I was specifically struck by 1) the point about LISTENING, 2) God's close presence to us, 3) the marketplace as a setting for witnessing spirituality.  In this regard, this past Thursday when I returned by train to Vicenza from teaching in Verona, the bus from the station passed by the weekly outdoor market and as some of the shoppers got on the bus, I could "feel" the spirit coming on the bus with and in them. A description of my personal spirituality must/should deal with the fact that it has to operate properly in four different worlds at the same time.

(something that might become clearer later) Certainly, one key principle in this must be that “it must be rational and make sense."



    I have ordered the O'Murchu book, "Consecrated Religious Life." Let's hope that I not only read it, but..................try to live it more.



Allen Moore wrote:



Dear Members of John XXIII community,



    Sorry I missed the call last week.  I had intended to check in but fell off to sleep and woke up without any energy, so passed it up.   Linda tells me she shared the latest news of my medical adventures.   I appreciate all the prayers and the concern. I need them for more patience surrounding he rate of recovery.  The surgery apparently went well but the cancer had escaped the prostate and was in the seminal vesicles which were also removed.  The disappointing fact remains that there is no way of knowing if we got it all I'm now on a six month regimen of luperon with monthly testing of the psa.

If in October there is still evidence of the cancer we will go to radiation. So please keep the prayers coming.



    I've been reading a great book - Clericalism: The Death of the Priesthood by George Wilson, SJ.  Fits well with O'Murchu.  What O'Murchu refers to as paradigms, Wilson refers to as cultures.  Both need changing.



    It snowed the other day in Flagstaff - an half an hour drive from us.  It was 95 one day last week and then got down to 44 - but we are in the mountains.  My ray of sunshine is Sylvia!  You had on the agenda for the conference card "relatedness" and I was going to talk about how she has cared for me during and after the surgery - puts a whole new meaning to the celibacy issue - what if I had stayed in my community - who would have been there to change the bags and dressings?  My superior?   I think not.  What gift our spouses are!



Allen and Sylvia (Moore)







 

George Le Blanc wrote:



    I truly resonate with Alan Moore's remarks about "relatedness" because we have all experienced God in the persons we love--especially our spouses.  As we often said to engaged couples: "You will never be closer to God, or know more about God, than when

you are truly in love with another person, especially your spouse."  Everyone who has been blessed to have a spouse or a truly good friend knows about God from experience.  The truly great theologians are those who are in love.



    I don't know much about spirituality--but people sense when someone loves them.  John XXIII was one of those people, like Jesus, whose arms were spread wide and whose smile

warmed our hearts.  I feel "connected" when I meet people like that!  I suppose that is why I sensed a need to be part of the Jn XXIII community where I hope to grow in love and appreciation of this wonderful earth, the universe and especially persons.



CORPUS is a wonderful organization with noble goals.  But it is not enough for me.  I need

more.  I need to pray more, to be challenged more, and to "be" more.  I guess you could say that my "spirituality" is very people oriented.  I am intrigued and impressed by Fred's story-telling ministry.







Peace. 

 

George & Valerie LeBlanc







   

A sampling of quotes from Pope John XXIII reveal the reason why this community is so dedicated to his rich spirit of humility and humor.



Anybody can be Pope; the proof of this is that I have become one.



Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.



If God created shadows it was to better emphasize the light.



The true and solid peace of nations consists not in equality of arms, but in mutual trust alone.



The family is the first essential cell of human society.



It often happens that I wake up at night and begin to think about a serious problem and decide I must tell the Pope about it. Then I wake up completely and remember that I am the Pope.



The feelings of my smallness and my nothingness always keeps me in good company.

Please keep our brother Allen Moore in your prayers as he recovers from prostate cancer surgery.