The publication times below are a bit earlier than normal as I am writing from Rome where I arrived last night after a long trip via Frankfurt airport which was coping with a snow storm (about 5 cm).After arriving in at 6:30 after an easy overnight flight from Ottawa, I found my connecting 10am flight to Rome was cancelled along with dozens of others.
I have photos but cannot upload them at the moment due to the limitations of internet access at the Pontifical North American College (the "NAC"): my room connection isn't working at the moment, so I am using one of the Library computers: will try to get photos up today or tomorrow:
The Vox Clara committee started sessions today and are looking toward clearing up our work and awaiting from the Congregation for Divine Worship the final product after everyone's input has been processed by them.
All of us are in fine form, though several are unable to attend for various reasons. Prayers for all my readers from the Eternal City; please pray for us.
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Today, the church recalls two of Paul's fellow workers, St. Timothy (at left) and St. Titus (below).Here are several thoughts that Paul wrote to Titus that I found spoke to me at prayer this morning here in Rome:
For a bishop, as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain; but he must be hospitable, a lover of goodness, prudent, upright, devout, and self-controlled. 9He must have a firm grasp of the word that is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able both to preach with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.
NEWS ON THE GROUND FROM HAITI
A couple of Canadian Jesuit Novices Edmund and Artur arrived in Haiti a few days before the 'quake. Edmund has been blogging about it and sent me a copy of his reflections. This is the latest, dated January 23:
Artur and I had relocated to another Jesuit community- the novitiate, to better aid the relief effort. Sleeping in tents because buildings are unsafe. Artur does things (LOTS of things) around the novitiate, including moving boxes of aid and doing inventory things, while I head out with a team of (mostly) American physicians, firefighters, medics and ex-marines everyday to help in areas where medical attention is needed.
This is called "Team Rubicon" and it is collaborating with the Jesuit Refugee Service. The team chaplain is Br. Jim Boynton, SJ. In 5 days we had been to four refugee camps and helped get the Port-au-Prince general hospital up and running again, while I had learned to (un)dress wounds, been a pharmacist, moved patients back into the hospital, and ran emergency clinic triages. It has been tiring but fulfilling.
Everyday we go to a different place, everyday we face a different situation. Team Rubicon has a blog site: http://blog.teamrubiconhaiti.org/
Today I will be going with a few Mennonites from Canada who are affiliated with L´Arche Canada to visit the L´Arche community near Port-au-Prince to deliver aids and set up tents for them. (As you know, I spent 6 weeks at L´Arche in Gatineau) Also to assess if there is a need for our team to move in and give them a hand on the medical side.
OK, all for now. Love you all and God bless. Yours in Christ, Edmund Lo
I like your reflection on Paul's letters to Titus:For a bishop, as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain; but he must be hospitable, a lover of goodness, prudent, upright, devout, and self-controlled. 9He must have a firm grasp of the word that is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able both to preach with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.
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