weeklet

AServiceofPaulistEvangelizationMinistries3031FourthStreet,NEWashington,DC20017Let'sTalk!
ACatholicMinistrytoPrisonersVol.
22,No.
1–January/February/March2015LivingtheChristianlifechallengesusall!
Itcallsus—allofus—tolookatourlivesandreflectonhowwearefollowingJesuseachday.
Noneofusshouldthinkitisim-possible.
AndwiththeNewYearuponus,nowisagoodtimetorededicateourselvestoourdailywalkwithJesus.
ListentothewordofGod.
Putitintopractice.
PopeFrancisisgiftedinthewayhehelpsusfocusonwhatisimportant.
LastfallhereflectedonLuke8:19-21,aGospelpassageaboutJesusandhisfam-ily.
PopeFrancissaidthis:"ThesearethetwoconditionsinordertofollowJesus:lis-tentothewordofGod,andtoputitintopractice.
ThisistheChristianlife–nothingmore.
Simple,simple.
Maybewe'vemadeitalittledifficult,withmanyexplanationsthatnooneunderstands,buttheChristianlifeisthus:listeningtothewordofGodandpracticingit.
"Bendyourears.
.
.
PopeFranciswentontosaythat"Thepointisnottohearcasually,buttobendourears–reallytolistentothewordofGod,whichwefindintheGospel–thepagesofwhichneedtobeheard,andheeded,ratherthanmerelyreadbyrote.
"Hecontinued:"ListeningtothewordofGodmeansreadingitandthenasking,'WhatdoesthissaytomeHowdoesthisspeaktomyheartWhatisGodsayingtome,withthisword"Putitintopractice.
PopeFrancissaidadvancingtheKingdomofGodisforallofus.
Hemeansyouinprisonandjailtoo–notjustpopes,priests,religioussisters,(eventhoughtheirworkisvitaltoo!
).
Hesaidthis:"ThereistheKingdomofGod,hidden,intheholinessofdailylife,everydayholi-ness.
BecausetheKingdomofGodisnotfarfromus,itisnear.
.
.
.
Itisclosetouseveryday.
"Lookatyourlife.
WheredoyouneedtolistenandtoputintopracticewhatGodteachesAsPopeFrancissaid:"LettheSpiritcome,changeoursoulandcarryusforwardinsilence,inpeace,intranquility,inclosenesstoGod,toothers,inworshipofGod,withoutspectacle.
"Thinkaboutit.
Goforit.
Especiallynowinprison.
Bendyourear.
Listenandputintopractice.
DearBrothersandSistersinChrist,ANewYearofopportunitiesawaitsus.
Wecanlookatourdaysasoffer-ingusbothpositiveandnegativechallenges.
Let'sgoforthepositive.
Withthatattitudewearelikelytofindopportunitiesforpersonalandspiritualgrowtheachday.
PopeFrancishassaidthat"Goddoesnotwaitforustogotohim,butitishewhomovestowardus.
.
.
.
ThatiswhatGodislike.
Healwaystakesthefirststep;hecomestowardus"(GeneralAudience,March27,2013).
LetusrespondtoGod'scallandinvitationtofollowhim.
Thisisnottosayitwillbeeasy,butitwillbegrace-filled.
Godgivesusallweneedtofollowhim.
ThisNewYearisagoodtimetorededicateourselvestoourdailywalkwithJesus!
Bereadyforsomegreatblessings.
MayGodblessyouandkeepyouinhiscare.
FatherFrankDeSiano,CSPPresidentPaulistEvangelizationMinistriesGrowinginfaithtogetherSpiritualResolutionstohelpyouonyourjourneyInthisNewYear,somethingtokeepinmindisthis:youcanuseyourtimeofincarcera-tionasatimetogrowclosertoJesusandgrowinfaith.
ManypeopleliketolookattheNewYearasatimetomakeresolutionstoimprovetheirlives.
SonowcanbeagoodtimetorededicateourselvestoourdailywalkwithJesus.
Experiencehasprobablyshownusthatgrowinginfaithdoesn'thappenautomatically.
Wehavetodoourpart.
Manyspiritualdirectorsrecommendthatifwewanttogrowspiritually,weneedtodevelopourown"spiritualdiscipline.
"Attheheartofthisisthatwetrytodowhatwecan,notwhatwecan't.
Bythistheymeanthatifyoudon'thaveanhouradayofquietforprayer,don'tattempttoprayanhouradayinquietprayer.
Itwon'thappenandyou'lljustendupfrustrated.
Thus,seektobuildarealisticspirituallifethatsuitsyourpresentcircumstances.
Everyone'scircumstancesdiffer,eveninprisonorjail.
Yourlevelofconfinementandthenumberofothersaroundyouwillaffecttheamountofdistractionsyoufaceandthetimeyougetforsomequiet.
Butevenyourownpersonalitywillimpactwhatyoucanandshouldtrytodo.
Herearesomesuggestionsfor"spiritualresolutions"forthisNewYear.
(YoucanreadmoreabouttheminthePaulistPrisonMinistriespamphlet"ConversionandCommit-menttoChrist.
"Yourchaplainorvolunteermaybeabletogetacopyforyou.
)continuedonpage2Agoodspiritualdisciplineconsistsofseveralparts.
Herearesometoconsider:1)ReadtheWordofGod.
2)Worshipandpray.
3)Bepartofacommunity.
4)Careforandserveothers.
Let'stakealookatthem.
First,theWordofGod.
ReadScripture.
ListentoScripturebeingread.
SinceeveryCatholicMassconsistsoftheLiturgyoftheWordandtheLiturgyoftheEucharist,MassprovidesagoodtimetoheartheWordproclaimed.
Listentoitandtrytopickupsomethingyoucanrememberafterwardtoguideyou.
Itcansometimesbedifficulttoattendreligiousserviceswhileinprisonorjail.
Thus,itisalsogoodtodevelopadailyhabitofreadingsomethingfromtheBible.
YoumightwanttofollowthedailyMassreadings.
OryoumightwanttoworkyourwaythroughbooksoftheBible(startingwiththeNewTestament),andperhapstheentireBibleitself.
ItisimportanttorememberthatreadingScriptureisn'taspeed-readingcontest.
Readslowlyandreflectonwhatyouread.
AsktheHolySpiritforinsightandunderstanding.
Writedowninanotebookifyoucansomethingthatstrikesyou.
(Trytomaintaintheprivacyofyourprayernotes.
)Remember,"AllscriptureisinspiredbyGodandprofitableforteaching,forreproof,forcorrection,andfortraininginrighteousness,thatthemanofGodmaybecomplete,equippedforeverygoodwork"(2Timothy3:16).
Second,worshipandpray.
AttendSundayMassifyoucan.
Ifitisn'tavailableonSunday,attendwhenitisoffered.
TheEucharististhegreatsacramentoflifeandlove.
Participatewithanopenheartandmind,withthedesireofmeetingJesusandlearningfromhim,growinginhim,beinghealedbyhim.
Formostpeople,theliturgyisatmostonceaweekforanhourorless.
Thus,inad-dition,haveatimeofpersonalprayereachday.
SetasideatimeandplacewhenyoucantalkwithGod.
Alittlesuchtimeisbet-terthannone.
Ifpossible,readScriptureduringthistimeaswell.
Ifnoneofthisispossi-ble,taketimeduringthedaytoturnyourmindandhearttoGodandtalkwithhim.
Thisisanexampleof"Prayasyoucan,notasyoucan't.
"Third,bepartofacom-munity.
IfthereisaCatholicfellowshiporchurchatyourprisonorjail,participateinitifyoucan.
(Ifitisagen-eralChristianfellowship,makesurethattheyaren't"Catholicbashers"outtotearyoudown.
)WhenJesusformedabodyoffollowersknownashisdisciples,hewassettinganexampleforus.
Itisimportanttobepartofacommunity.
Acommunitycanprovidefunandfellowshipthatencouragesus,andthatsupportsusinhardtimes.
Otherstherecanbegoodpeopletotalkwithandgrowwith,andprovidepositiverelationships.
Acommunityofbelieversisaplacewhereweliveoutourfaith,soitdoesn'tremainsomethingjustinourheads.
Ithastobeinourheartstoo,andparticipationinacommunitywithotherChristianschallengesustoliveoutourfaith.
Fourth,careforandserveothers.
Thisfollowscloselyonnumberthreeabove.
Ourfaithisn'tjustaboutourselves.
Itisaboutcaringforandservingothersaswell.
SolookforwaysyoucandothatwhileinSpiritualResolutionstohelpyouonyourjourney(continuedfrompage1)PrisonerSaintSt.
PaulMiki(c.
1562–1597)+ThisJapanesesaintwasbornintoawealthyfam-ily,thesonofamilitaryleader.
Fittinghispositioninlife,hereceivedaneducationbytheJesuitsteachinginJapan.
Movedbytheirpreachingandexample,hejoinedtheJesuitsin1580andwaslaterordainedapriest.
Hebecameknownforhispreaching,drawingmanytoChrist.
DuringapersecutionofChristians,Mikiwasarrestedandjailedalongwithothers.
Togethertheymarched600milestoNagasakiwheretheyweremartyredonFebruary5.
Hepreachedhislastsermonhangingfromacross,forgivinghisexecutioners.
PaulMikiandhis25companionswerecanonizedin1862.
FeastDay:February62January/February/March2015PEMPresident:Rev.
FrankDeSiano,CSPEditor:Mr.
AnthonyBosnickLayoutEditor:Mrs.
JoannSullivanArt:Mr.
RonReavesVisitusatwww.
pemdc.
orgPaulistEvangelizationMinistriesAllScripturequotationsaretakenfromtheNewAmericanBible.
Usedwithpermission.
ChangeofAddress:Pleasehelpuskeepourmailinglistaccurate.
Sendallchangesinyournameand/oraddressto:PaulistPrisonMinis-tries;3031FourthStreet,NE;Washington,DC20017;orbyemailto:info@pemdc.
org.
Thankyouforyourhelp.
PMLTH1501January20151Mary,MotherofGod2Sts.
BasiltheGreatandGregoryNazianzen,bishopsanddoctors4EpiphanyoftheLord5St.
JohnNeumann,bishop11BaptismoftheLord17St.
Anthony,abbot18-25WeekofPrayerforChristianUnity18SecondSundayinOrdinaryTime21St.
Agnes,virginandmartyr22DayofPrayerfortheLegalProtectionofUnbornChildren24St.
FrancisdeSales,bishopanddoctor25ThirdSundayinOrdinaryTime26Sts.
TimothyandTitus.
bishops28St.
ThomasAquinas,priestanddoctor31St.
JohnBosco,priestFebruary20151FourthSundayinOrdinaryTime2PresentationoftheLord5St.
Agatha,virginandmartyr6St.
PaulMikiandCompanions,martyrs8FifthSundayinOrdinaryTime10St.
Scholastica,virgin14St.
Cyril,monk&St.
Methodius,bishop15SixthSundayinOrdinaryTime18AshWednesday22FirstSundayofLentMarch20151SecondSundayinLent3St.
KatharineDrexel,virgin7Sts.
PerpetuaandFelicity,martyrs8ThirdSundayinLent15FourthSundayinLent17St.
Patrick,bishop18St.
CyrilofJerusalem,bishop,doctor19St.
Joseph,HusbandofMary22FifthSundayinLent25Annunciation29PalmSundayChurchCalendarcontinuedonpage4Peaches:Deke,doyouknowwhatthisRestor-ativeJusticeprogramisaboutMe:Well,basicallytheseapproachesareaimedat"restoring.
"It'stheoppositeof"retributive"justice.
.
.
Peaches:Easynow,Deacon,notallofuswenttocollege!
Idon'tknowwhatthatis.
Me:(Laughing)Peaches,YOUareanexperton"retributive"justice!
That'swhatthiswholeprisonis!
Peaches:Punishment!
Me:That'swhatretributivejusticeisbasically:Punishmentforharmcausedthatwilldetertheoffenderfromdoingitagain.
Peaches:OK,that'sanotherS.
A.
T.
wordforme!
Sowhat'sthe"diff"Me:Restorativejusticeseekstoputeverythingandeveryonebackintorightrelationship,notjusttopunishtheoffender.
Itwouldinvolveeverybodywhohadastakeinthesituation.
Peaches:Solikethevictim,theirfamily.
.
.
Me:.
.
.
andthecommunity,theoffender,per-hapstheoffender'sfamily—allstakeholders.
Peaches:Sonow,thegoalistogetallthesestakeholders(that's3S.
A.
T.
words!
)togethertomakethingsrightMe:Yes.
Peaches:That'salongwayfromjustpunishingsomeone!
Me:Itis.
Andit'salotmoreworkonevery-body'spartbutwhenyou'redoneeveryoneisabletogoforwardwiththeirlives.
Peaches:SowhatwouldbethepiecesofarestorativejusticeprogramonceyougetallthestakeholdersinvolvedMe:Generally,theycreatedifferentopportuni-tiesfortheoffenderandvictimandfamiliestodiscussthecrimeanditseffects.
Offendersgettodeepentheirrealizationoftheharm,takerealresponsibilityforit,andtrytofindwaystorepairtheharm.
Also,thecommunityfindswaystoassisttheex-offenderingettingbackintosociety.
Peaches:Heavy!
Me:Ohyeah,buthealingforall.
Peaches:KindoflikegoingtoConfession.
Me:VerysimilarbecausethepurposeoftheSacramentofReconciliationistorestorethesinnertocommunion.
Peaches:Andthestepsofowningtheharmofouractionsandhavingrealsorrowarealsointhesacrament.
Me:Asis"givingback"—penance!
Peaches:Wekindofalreadydosomeofthathere.
Wehaveinmateswhogivebackbycleaningthehighways,volunteeringtodocommunityservice,andtrainingdogsfortheblind.
Me:That'spartofrestorativejustice.
JustlikeintheSacramentofReconciliation,sometimes,thepenancecannotbegivenbackdirectlysoit'sdoneforthecommunityingeneral.
Peaches:TheysaythataboutmakingamendsinN.
A.
Me:Well,N.
A.
andtheother12Stepprogramsarealsoaimedatrestorationoftheindividualnotatpunishmentsotheytendtocoveralotofthesameground.
Peaches:Iseewhyyousaidit'smoreworkthanpunishment.
Noteveryonewillwanttogointoallofthatpainfulstuff.
Me:True.
Buttheyarethesamepeoplewhodon'twanttodoallthepainfulstuffatthe12StepmeetingsorinConfessionatthechapel.
Attheendoftheday,weallchoosewhatkindofpersonwearegoingtobeandnoonecandotheworkbutustocreatethatperson.
Peoplecanonlyhelpsetusuptodoit.
Peaches:Maybesomeofusinmatescouldgettogetherandtrytogetmorerestorativestuffgoinghere.
Me:Itmightwork.
Peaches:Doesn'tmatterif"it"works.
ThepointisthatIcanmakeitworkatleastforme.
Icanrestoremeandmylife.
Therestisgravy.
Youknow,itfeelslikeapositiveshiftinmyout-lookwiththisrestorativejusticeidea.
IfeellikeI'musingmytimeinsteadofjustdoingmytime.
ItmakesmefeelliketherestofthisbidcouldbemyprojectinsteadofsomethingIjusthavetosufferthrough!
Me:.
.
.
anddon'tforgetyoualsohaveallthosenewS.
A.
T.
wordstobreakoff!
Peaches:Oh,Deacon,chowhallconversationisgoingtosparkletonight—trust!
DeaconDennisDolanrecentlyretiredaschaplainatYorkCorrectionalInstitutioninConnecticut.
HecontinueshisworkwithandforprisonersthroughhiswritingashediscernswhereGodiscallinghiminservice.
BuildingabettermebyDeaconDennisDolanPopeFrancis'PrayerRequestsforJanuary/February/MarchJanuaryUniversal.
Peace:Thatthosefromdiversereligioustraditionsandallpeopleofgoodwillmayworktogetherforpeace.
Evangelization.
Consecratedlife:Thatinthisyeardedicatedtocon-secratedlife,religiousmenandwomenmayrediscoverthejoyoffollowingChristandstrivetoservethepoorwithzeal.
FebruaryUniversal.
Prisoners:Thatprisoners,especiallytheyoung,maybeabletorebuildlivesofdignity.
Evangelization.
Separatedspouses:ThatmarriedpeoplewhoareseparatedmayfindwelcomeandsupportintheChristiancommunity.
MarchUniversal.
Scientists:Thatthoseinvolvedinscientificresearchmayservethewell-beingofthewholehumanperson.
Evangelization.
Contributionofwomen:Thattheuniquecontribu-tionofwomentothelifeoftheChurchmayberecognizedalways.
PopeFrancisinvitesyoutojoinhiminprayingfortheseintentions.
January/February/March201534January/February/March2015TheSevenDeadlySins,Part4AngerisashortmadnessPrayforourbenefactorsLet'sTalk!
anditsSpanishtranslationHablemos!
aresupportedbydonations.
TheyaregivenfreeofchargetoprisonchaplainsfordistributiontoinmatesbyPaulistPrisonMinistries.
Pleaseprayforourbenefactors.
Tohelpsupportthisministry,pleasesendyourdonationtotheaddressonpage2ofthisnewsletter.
ReallyIsn'tthisoverstatingitabitaboutangerWhatdoesgettingalittlehotunderthecollarhavetodowithmadnessWell,theRomanpoetHorace(wholivedinthefirstcenturybeforeChrist)—whosawangerasashortmadness—describeditthiswaybecauseangerinvolveslossofcontrolofone'ssenses,whichislikeashort-termmadness.
Hewentontosay,"socontrolyourpassionoritwillcontrolyou.
"Thosecontrolledbyanger,whentheycometotheirsenses,willlikelywanttoundowhattheirtempercausedthemtodo(Horace,Letters,1.
2).
Adeadlysin.
Angercanbecomesuchastrongpassioninusthatitleadstoallsortsofothersins.
Churchtraditionandancientwisdomseeangerasadeadlysin.
Jesusspokesomestrongwordsagainstanger.
"Whoeverisangrywithhisbrotherwillbeliabletojudgment,andwhoeversaystohisbrother'Raqa'willbeanswer-abletotheSanhedrin,andwhoeversays,'Youfool,'willbeliabletofieryGehenna"(Matthew5:22).
"Raqa"istheAramaicwordmeaning"imbecile"or"blockhead,"whichofcourseareinsultingwordsofabuse.
Angerwillsubjectyoutojudgmentbyalocalcouncil;worseangertotrialbeforetheSanhedrin,andevenworseangertopunishmentinGehenna(areferencetohell,orahell-likeplace).
Soangerisprettyserious.
Jesus,ofcourse,displayedarighteousangerattimes(Matthew21:12-13;Mark3:5).
Thisisseenas"righteous"becauseitwasaimedagainstthedefamationoftheholytempleandatthepeople'sunbelief.
ThisangerwasanaffrontagainstGod,notaimedattearingdownothers.
WhyisangerdeadlyInthefirstplace,angertearsusdown.
Webecomelessthanwhatwearecalledtobe.
Inouranger,wefocusinonourselves,perhapsonwhatwewantbutdidn'tgetoronwhatwethinkwasaninjustice.
Itcanmakeusclamupandholdthingstoourselves.
Wecanevenbecomeirrationalandnotbeabletothinkthingsthroughclearly.
Welosetheabilitytocommunicateandtobefriendswithothers.
Whenthishappens,ourangerturnsoutfromusandlandsonothers.
Itthusbreaksdownfamilyties,andrelationshipswithothers.
Itcanmakeusmeanandunabletorespondtoothers.
Ourangercanalsomakeothersnotwanttorespondtous,tobreakofftieswithothersandfriendships.
Angermakeslifemiserableforothersandtheywantnothingtodowithus.
Atitsworst,angercanmakeusstrikeoutatothers,andevenharmorkillthem.
Whenangerisdirectedinwardlyatour-selvesoroutwardlytowardothers,orboth,itbreaksourpeaceandcanevenmakeussick.
Thinkofwhatangerhasdonetoyou.
Nowperhapswecanseewhyangerisadeadlysin.
Beyondangertonewlife.
Scriptureguidesuswithverypracticaladvice.
WereadinEphesians:"Beangry,butdonotsin;donotletthesunsetonyourangeranddonotleaveroomforthedevil"(4:26-27).
Thisissayingifwedogetangry,tobereconciledbytheendoftheday(4:26-27).
InColossiansweread:"Butnowyoumustputthemallaway:anger,fury,malice,slander,andobscenelanguageoutofyourmouths"(3:8).
Thereissomethingbetterthananger:thefruitoftheSpirit,whichis"love,joy,peace,patience,kindness,generosity,faith-fulness,gentleness,self-control"(Galatians5:22-23).
Seekthatfruitforahappylife.
Graceisgreaterthansin.
St.
Paul'sgreathopeisthatallpeoplewouldknowlifeinChrist.
LifeisinChrist;deathisinsin.
"Ifdeathbeganitsreignthroughonemanbecauseofhisoffense,muchmoreshallthosewhoreceivetheoverflowinggraceandgiftofjusticeliveandreignthroughtheonemanJesusChrist"(Romans5:17).
Asyoulookatyourlife,donotgiveupwhenyouseeanger.
Rather,beinspiredbyPaul'swordstousaswefollowJesus:"despitetheincreaseofsin,gracehasfarsurpassedit"(Romans5:20).
Or,toputitanotherway,"graceisgreaterthansin.
"Jesusiswithusonourlife-longpilgrimage.
Wemaynotchangeovernight,butifweinviteJesustowalkwithus,wewillseevictory!
~AnthonyBosnick2015CalendarsNew2015calendarsareavailable,alsothebooklet"PrayersforAddictedPersonsandTheirLovedOnes.
"Andabookmark.
InEnglishandSpanish,allfromtheNationalCatholicCouncilonAlcoholismandRelatedDrugProblems.
Torequestthismaterial,sendyournameandaddressto:NCCA1601JoslynRoadLakeOrion,MI48360prisonorjail.
Ofcourse,beprudentanddon'tgetentangledwithpeoplewhowilluseand/orabuseyou.
Thatiswhycommunityissoimportant.
WhentwoorthreearegatheredtogetherChristiswithyouandyoucanbetterknowwhentobeinvolvedwithanotherandwhennotto.
APersonalEncounterwithChrist.
Attheheartofthesespiritualresolutionsthatyoucanmakepartofyourspiritualdisciplineisa"personalencounterwithChrist.
"AllofthesethingshelpyoutoencounterChrist,andwhenthathappensyouwillgrowspiritually.
Maythisyearbeatimeofspecialblessingforyouonyourjourney.
TheSevenDeadlySinsPrideLustEnvyGluttonyAngerGreedSlothSpiritualResolutionstohelpyouonyourjourney(continuedfrompage2)