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Saturday, November 24, 2018

" Prison? Who Me? “is it I Lord” “Yes” Divine obedience? Civil Disobedience?" by FCM Member Rita Lucey

http://www.fcmblog.org/index.html



For the last several years I dedicate my presence at protests to commemorate Rufina Amaya, a Salvadoran woman, the sole survivor of the massacre at El Mozote perpetrated by graduates of the School of Americas. Away from her village that day she returned to the horror of watching her husband, four children, parents and sibling die in gunfire aimed at the school which the villagers were forced to enter. As a final act the structure was set afire.

In 1996 I read of a documentary film School of Assassins by the Maryknoll Missionaries. Fascinated by the title and the fact that it was nominated for an award I sent for it. The day it arrived I watched it once “My government wouldn’t do that” twice, “Oh, No” and after the third time I called the number at the end and so begins my story....

For many years the United States has maintained a training school for the Latin American military at Ft. Benning. This infamous institution has trained hundreds of Central and South American military conscripts in various types of “warfare” and acts of terrorism. Many of these graduates become the worst human rights abusers in the Western Hemisphere.

At the age of 65, in 1996 I ‘crossed the line’ carrying a makeshift cross bearing the name of Jean Donovan, one of the victims of this violence perpetrated by graduates of this institution. I and 60 others were arrested, and cited with a five year Do Not Return document that is also known as a Bar and Ban.
In the interim I traveled with Witness for Peace and a group called EPIC A to confirm for myself the horrors I had witnessed in the School of Assassins Film. The truths were evident in the sharing by witnesses of these atrocities, and by the work of the UN Truth Commission in El Salvador and Guatemala. They named those guilty of these crimes and the attendance records of the School confirmed their enrollment and the courses studied

How could I not then, ignore the Bar and Ban and once more cross that line! Now the charge or ignoring the Bar and Ban under the U.S. Military Code became criminal trespass subject to six months in prison and a fine of $3000.

Yes, prison, more difficult than I expected, proved to be an eye opener about the injustice of our justice system. The women’s prison of some 500, mostly minorities, under educated, and subjects of poor economic situations, were all sentenced for non violent crimes, mostly drug related though they were not dealers. And to further traumatize these prisoners they nearly all had children under 18. The social implications here cannot be justified considering the harm that happens as a result.

As an advocate for human rights, with a special interest in prison conditions, the Spirit Sophia , not done with me yet, next introduced the plight of asylum seekers. While attending the protests at Ft Benning. , a side trip to a private prison in Lumpkin, Ga, an impoverished rural town, again led to an arrest. This private prison housed over 1700 men under questionable physical and mental conditions. Dressed as the statue of Liberty and holding my torch high the good sheriff handcuffed me in the front as I reminded him of his mother! This gave me he opportunity to hold my cuffed hands out the rear window, torch in hand, on the way to police headquarters..

​The Spirit leads where it will. My personal encounters with civil disobedience are accompanied by and with like minded individuals. We commit to these actions from our different responses to beliefs, cultures, knowledge and experiences. Often our first responsibilities are to family, children, and financial concerns. Only then are we free to consider the possibility of prison, of fines, of the loss of civil rights.
Somehow, in faith we trust that all is evolving as it should to what Teilhard de Chardin called the Omega Point. And we ask “Oh Holy One, is it I?” as we await the response knowing He goes before us always.
May the restlessness of Christ continue to inspire us all.

Rita Lucey is a member of FCM in the Southern Region. She is a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and a Roman Catholic Priest. https://arcwp.org/en/biographies/#L
For information about the School of America Watch…
https://youtu.be/CzeJ4UEdAuE

SOAW video by FCM Member, Jack Wentland. Jack is a member of the Northeast Region.
https://www.facebook.com/jackwent2/videos/10217301289060804/

























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Trauma from a Chaplain's Perspective by FCM Member, Lindsay Butler Staff Chaplain at VA Medical Center in Memphis, TN


10/19/2018


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The definition of trauma can be different for everyone. Trauma is typically a threat to our survival; an experience that affects the body, brain, and soul in ways that are negative and unexpected. Trauma leaves an imprint on those it affects, changing their lives forever; causing them to feel overwhelmed, confused, powerless, and angry.

I encounter many different variations of trauma in patients who are veterans. In my own personal experience, I can say it sometimes can feel so heavy that no words can express it. The pain that comes with it can feel everlasting.

Chaplains tend to struggle with secondary trauma, involving the emotional residue of exposure experienced in working with people as we hear their trauma stories. Chaplains become witnesses to the pain, fear, and terror that trauma survivors have endured. How we manage it can affect the quality of the patient care we provide and the self-care we must intentionally practice to thrive in such a challenging, yet meaningful vocation.

Personal wholeness can lead others in trauma to wholeness
As a chaplain, I must be aware of what’s happening when a patient discloses their trauma story. I cannot address the trauma alone, but need the whole of the medical team to address the trauma that’s intertwined within the whole body of the patient. Chaplains provide spiritual care alongside many different disciplines, such as psychology, neurology, social work, and other medical specialties. As one of my C.P.E. supervisors told me, “Butler, you are not Jesus.”

In other words, I cannot do all the work, let alone deliver good quality work to a veteran without the help of other disciplines. Each of us from each discipline have something to offer each other as well as something to offer the veteran. Each of us sees through a different lens, a different clinical paradigm. In order to take care of my whole body I remind myself constantly to be intentional by staying in my lane and calling on others for help when it feels like it is time to “switch lanes.” I also have to intentionally practice my own personal self-care as well: exercising, eating healthy, spiritual community, time in nature, getting good sleep, seeing a therapist, etc. By practicing our own self-care it enables us to give the best care to our patients rather than just good care.

Spirituality is shaken during trauma
Clinically speaking, care providers must settle down the body before looking at the mind. The brain stores trauma in unique ways. If we push, dismiss, or are flippant in our responses, we can actually further the trauma.

Trauma shakes the spirituality of the patient and provider to their very core.
It’s important to note when someone is physically activated when sharing their trauma. By letting the bodies grieve as much as the brain and spirit need to- chaplains embrace the other by simply being present, and knowing when to seek further professional help.

Trauma causes a spiritual awakening and/or a spiritual deconstruction because it leads to asking questions such as: How can I exist in the world now? Where is God? How do I find community, value, purpose, meaning, my identity, and how can I feel safe in the world again?

Many who have experienced trauma have to learn how to embrace a grief that feels endless. They desperately need us to create a safe place for them to share and receive support. We must be patient. Many of us began life with what we would describe as systems of trusted support: family, community, state, God, and church. Combat veterans go to war literally experiencing hell on earth and return home to a place where they feel they no longer fit in or can be understood.

The trauma they experience hurts so much it results in existential shame about who they are and who God is in their life. For them to talk about it again is traumatic in and of itself – to feel the pain again and admit how much it hurts.

We, as a spiritual community, the church at large, and care providers serving in our various roles of ministry can create safe places for our veterans and for civilians to just be human beings returning to wholeness.

Unless we have experienced the trauma, we cannot know the depth of where they are and where they are going, but we, as chaplains, can create safe spaces for them to be who they are and truly say how they feel.

We all are seeking meaning-making; seeking a purpose, value, personhood, and acceptance. We all experience doubts and have hard questions to confront time to time regarding our spirituality. We can help those affected by trauma return to wholeness by creating safe spaces for people to be seen and heard. Rev. Barbra Brown Taylor said it best when she said, “Holiness is simply paying attention.”

​For further guidance in addressing trauma and secondary trauma see the following websites:
http://www.theliturgists.com/podcast/2017/5/16/spiritual-trauma https://www.counseling.org/docs/trauma-disaster/fact-sheet-9---vicarious-trauma.pdf









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Statement of the Executive Committee of the Federation of Christian Ministries (FCM) regarding the Pennsylvania grand jury findings


8/22/2018


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The 900-page grand jury report has left us filled with horror, disgust, and sadness. FCM is not a Roman Catholic community, but our roots of 50 years ago were solidly in the Roman Catholic tradition. The Roman Catholic denomination is still the largest in the United States. The moral catastrophe it is enduring affects all of us who profess the name of Jesus. Believing that FCM also possesses a unique perspective because of our inclusive and ecumenical posture, we suggest several lines of action by which the Roman Catholic church might offer radical corrective measures to help heal its wounded state.

First, we join in the recommendation of others that the entire American cadre of archbishops, bishops and cardinals should tender their resignations to Pope Francis. This would indicate to all an acceptance of accountability and responsibility and a willingness to move ahead in an entirely new way. Pope Francis would then be able to accept the resignations of those with any hint of complicity in the coverups so that a clean slate may be presented to the faithful. This is a radical and common-sense action.

Second, since the Catholic hierarchy is a power structure made up only of men, we recommend the immediate deletion of Canon 1024 from the bylaws of the Catholic Church. This is the devastating rule preventing the ordination of women. Following on that deletion we ask Pope Francis to welcome immediately the members of the Roman Catholic Women Priests and the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests into full communion and positions of responsibilities in the Catholic Church. It is inconceivable that the coverups and abuses of power that denied justice to victims would have happened if women were in positions of responsibility in the hierarchy. FCM membership includes many women who have taken the prophetic action of ordination and have endured the pain of excommunication in following out their spirit-given ministry. We know these women, and they can be a leaven for the wounded Catholic Church. The Catholic hierarchy must change, and this is a clear change that would tell the world, “Yes, we are doing business in a new way.”

Third, the legacy of discrimination, condemnation, and marginalization of people of the LGBTQI communities must immediately and formally stop. These scurrilous teachings provide a rationale for blaming gay priests and bishops for these ruthless crimes simply because of their sexual orientation. This blame then deflects attention from the corrupt power structure that has enabled the horrors shown in the grand jury documents to continue over decades. The hierarchs in power deflect blame to scapegoats and to the messengers of the truth when they should have offered leadership immediately to cure instead of acting to cover up.

Finally, the requirement of celibacy for those in priesthood must be modified. Clearly a charism, a gift of God, cannot be legislated. Allow those called to a married priesthood to live that out. And allow those who have the charism of celibacy to live out that inner calling. Each year greater burdens are placed on the declining number of priests. The prayers over decades for more priests have been clearly answered in the negative. This must change and the change must be based on deep reformation.

​We believe that nothing short of radical transformation will lead to a cure, a new paradigm of ministry by the Catholic Church, that gains acceptance by the people. We support this transformation and look forward to its accomplishment. Nothing less will suffice.
Tom Stricker, Chairperson; Thomas Cusack, President; Heidi Tierney, Treasurer; Kathleen Bean, Secretary









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FCM 2018 Honorees at the 50th Anniversary Assembly


7/31/2018


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Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community Liturgy, Cosmic Christ, Nov. 24th, Presiders: Bridget Mary Meehan and Kevin Connelly, Music Minister: Linda Lee Miska




Theme: Celebrate Our Mystical Oneness in the Cosmic Christ
Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP and Kevin Connelly -Presiders


Welcome
Gathering Song: Sing a New Church #413
Verses 1, 3 & 4

Greeting:
Presider: In the name of God our creator, and of Jesus our brother, and of the Holy Spirit our wisdom     ALL:  Amen.
Presider: Every flower and rock illumines divinity 
ALL: On the Altar of the World.

Reconciliation Rite:
(Pause briefly and reflect on the need to grow more in love with others and with creation)
General Absolution by Community: (All raise hands extended in prayer and recite together.)

All: Aware of our oneness with all creation, we express our sorrow for our failures to care for life on earth and pledge our energy to heal our wounded earth.

Gloria:
ALL:  Glory to God, glory, O praise God alleluia, glory to God, glory oh praise and alleluia (Sing 3 times)

Opening Prayer:
All: May, we who are stardust, be filled with awe as we experience our mystical oneness, with all creation in the Heart of Love.  May we cherish every amazing day, conscious of divine presence everywhere. Amen.

Liturgy of the Word:

First Reading: Daniel 7:13-14


Karen Hylen


Responsorial Psalm: #545  Sing to the mountains (substitute God for “Lord”)

Second Reading: Quest for the Cosmic Christ by Pastor Dawn

The Apostle Paul wove the hopes and dreams of his people with the life and teachings of Jesus and declared that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ the one chosen by God to usher in a new age of justice and peace. It makes sense that Paul would have described Jesus in this way. Paul was trying to move this fledging movement beyond the confines of Israel. In the life and teachings of Jesus, Paul saw a new way of being in the world. Paul didn’t want to overthrow the Roman oppressors; Paul wanted to transform them. Paul pointed to Jesus of Nazareth and the Reign of God based not on violence but on Jesus as the way to peace and Paul knew that this would require transforming oppressors into justice-seekers and peacemakers. Not an easy task in a world where might makes right and Caesars hold on to power with violence.

Today, the title has pretty much become a name, as most Christians refer to Jesus Christ as if Christ was Jesus last name. It’s sad, almost tragic that the concept of the Christ has been reduced to a surname; a surname that has had the effect of denying the humanity of Jesus himself who lived and died in ways that encouraged his followers to be more fully human. The conflation of Jesus and the Christ has in many ways diminished Jesus and the Christ. For just as surely as the human Jesus of Nazareth has been lost in Jesus Christ, the Christ has been lost in Jesus. The Apostle Paul teased out from his own religious tradition the notion of the Christ, the one who has existed from the very beginning of time.

Paul was certainly not the only Jew to see in Jesus of Nazareth the embodiment of the Wisdom of God, the Sophia, the one who danced with God at creation.

The writer of the Gospel according to John recorded they hymn to Jesus that we know as the first chapter of John: “In the beginning was the word.” Wisdom, Sophia, Logos, Word, Christ are all ways in which the Hebrew people describe an aspect of the Divine that has all ways been embodied in humanity; nowhere more so than in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. In the conflation of Jesus of Nazareth and the Christ we have lost some of the power and the depth of meaning that our ancestors knew as the Christ. Traces of the Christ have survived, but they have been muted by the church and by our culture. They mystery that is the Christ, the aspect of God which is embodied in Creation since the very beginning has been lost to so many of us who call ourselves Christian. Jesus lived for about 33 years, the Christ has always been

As our understanding of the cosmos is ever evolving, so to our understanding of the Christ, the aspect of Divinity that has always been embodied in creation will evolve. For a long time now theologians have been using the term “cosmic Christ” to express more fully the concept of the One our ancestors have experienced in the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, the One who existed long before the birth of Jesus and who continues to live among us

These are the inspired words of Pastor Dawn.



Gospel acclamation: Alleluia ( Eightfold)

Gospel: John 18:33-37


Homily Starter: Bridget Mary Meehan 




Homily Starter for “ Celebrating our Mystical Oneness in the Cosmic Christ” by Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

On Monday, as I was walking around Big Lots, (a store in Florida), surveying dolls for Christmas gifts for my cousin Elaine’s daughters in Ireland, the large assortment of princess dolls in dazzling, colorful outfits drew my attention. I wondered what is it about the legends of royalty, long ago and in our times that continue to fascinate us. Millions of people around the world watched live coverage of the glamorous wedding of Prince Harry, a member of the British royal family and Meghan Markle, a divorced biracial American actress on May 19, 2018 in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom.  

In the Gospel of John, Jesus is not silent before Pilate. In his exchange with Pilate, scripture scholar Barbara Reid points out that when Pilate asks: Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus deflects the question and explains that his kingdom is not about domination or exploitation of others , but, his disciples are a beloved community of friends who serve one another. Jesus’s message of living our truth transforms all abusive patriarchal power. (Barbara E. Reid, Abiding Word, pp. 124-125)

This is why we prefer the word “kindom” rather than kingdom to illustrate Jesus’ vision of mutuality and connectedness in relationships vs. “kingdom” which reflects a paradigm of domination.  

Today we celebrate our mystical oneness in the Cosmic Christ as a new creation, becoming more loving, more whole, more united in the Holy One.

In her essay, “Evolution toward Personhood”, Sister Ilia Delio OSF explains the difference between the domination paradigm in which the elements are outside one another and  the communion paradigm in which beings as inside one another. "Jesus shares his own life substance and life energy with his friends under the guise of food. Jesus gives himself as nourishment for one another so that life may become more abundant together. This is his love for others and it is a creative love drawing the disciples into a collective consciousness of unity or church… This is what Jesus did by putting himself, under the guise of food, literally into his companions. His substance and energy, his attributes, activities and values were assimilated by them and he lived in them as their own attributes, activities and values. as his many sayings of indwelling indicate:
 “Whoever receives you receives me.” (Matt:10:40);
 “whatever anyone does to my brother or sister is done to me” (Matt 25:20)
 “the works I have done you shall also do ( John 14:12).”
(Ilia Delio, Personal Transformation and the New Creation, pp. 120-121)

Jesus revealed the indwelling of divinity in the community we share with one another and with creation. On this feast day we celebrate our mystical oneness, our communion, in the Cosmic Christ – always new and evolving, forever loving, healing and transforming!

Perhaps, this is the magic that should dazzle us as equal, beautiful and diverse, royal  images of the divine who dwell in communion and who nourish one another each day.


Homily Sharing by Community: 

What are the gifts and challenges of living in a communion paradigm vs. a domination paradigm?

Profession of Faith:  ALL: We believe in the Holy One, the fountain of life, flowing through every being. We believe in Jesus, the Christ, who revealed that God is ever new. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of God in the cosmos, who moves through us as we lovingly serve others without counting the cost. We believe in our global communion with all in the circle of life.  Amen to loving actions on behalf of justice, healing, compassion and equality for all in our world!

General Intercessions:

Presider: Mindful of your bountiful presence in the universe, we recognize your loving presence in all who hunger, thirst and serve the needs of all

After each prayer, Response is: O Holy One, we are your hands and feet.

Presider: We affirm our planetary oneness on the altar of the world as we celebrate our communion with all creation.
ALL:  Amen

Preparation of the Gifts:
Presider(s) (raise bread and wine):  Ever gentle God, as co-creators of our planet, we bring gifts of bread, wine and our lives. We celebrate our oneness with all creatures great and small in the family of God. All:  Amen

(Please gather around the table.  As all gather, we sing:  refrain Alle, Alle, Alleluia. #565)

Presider: My sisters and brothers we are one in the Cosmic Christ.   

ALL:  We are gathered as a community to celebrate the gift of life pulsating around us in the glories of Nature everywhere.

Eucharistic Prayer:
Presider: Our Birthing God, who stirred the waters of creation, dwells on earth,
ALL: And in every living being.
Presider: Lift up your hearts.
ALL:  We lift them up  with joy.
Presider: Let us give thanks as Co-creators of life and beauty
ALL: We give thanks for the Cosmic Christ present everywhere and in everything.

ALL:  Sung: We are holy, holy, holy (Karen Drucker)

Voice One: We are filled with reverence for divinity enfolding us everywhere in creatures great and small

(All Extend Hands)  ALL: On the night before he died, while at supper with his friends, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to them saying, “Take this, all of you, and eat. Do this in memory of me.”  (Pause)   In the same way, Jesus took the cup of wine. He said the blessing, gave the cup to his friends and said, “Take this all of you and drink. Do this in memory of me.” 

The Mystery of Faith:  ALL: This bread is you, this bread is me. We are one body, a reflection of the Cosmic Christ, in communion with all creation.

Voice Two: We rejoice that there are 18 galaxies for every person, that our bodies are made of stardust and that every place we turn, we see your face. You call us, “beloved” and invite us to join the dance of creation in a mystical celebration of our oneness with all living things in your divine love. We rejoice that You, who are More than we can imagine or dream of, dwell in Mystery beyond all comprehension everywhere.  

Voice Three: We remember that it was Jesus, who said: “Anything I have done in the name of the Creator, you can do, too…and even more.”  So, we remember all within our world and church who are working for environmental healing, human rights and justice for all.

Voice Four: We remember Mary, mother of Jesus, faithful disciple and St. Francis who sang canticles to brother sun and sister moon.  We remember our beloved family, friends and all in the great cloud of witnesses who have cared for us and for earth’s creatures. (pause/mention names, if you wish).

Great Amen:
ALL: In the Cosmic Christ, through the Cosmic Christ, with the Cosmic Christ we break down walls of hate and build bridges of love each day.
Sing: Amen, Amen, Amen

ALL: Prayer of Jesus (“Our Father and Mother”)

Sign of Peace: (Group joins hands in circle in symbolic  “hug” that goes out to the all creatures and all people as they sing this song of peace. )   “Peace is flowing like a river… Love joy is flowing like a river.”

Litany for the Breaking of the Bread:
Presider:  Christ of the Cosmos,
All: We live our oneness with you and all creation. 
Presider: Christ of the Cosmos,
All: We work for healing of the earth. 
Presider: Christ of the Cosmos,
All: We celebrate justice rising up in a global communion of every race and creed throughout the world.

Communion:
Presider: This is the Cosmic Christ in whom all creation lives and moves and has its being. All are invited to partake in this banquet of love in a Church for all.
ALL: We are the Body of the Cosmic Christ.

Communion Meditation: Instrumental Music

Prayer after Communion:
Presider:   We rejoice that the good news of the revelation of Jesus is that God is ever new and when we are one with God, we are forever evolving, growing more whole and loving. We are filled with awe as we contemplate your extravagant love flowing through all living things in the beauty of nature that surrounds us each day. ALL: Amen

Anointing of the Sick:

Concluding Rite:
Presider:  Christ of the Cosmos lives in us and
ALL: And loves through us, making all things new



Blessing:
(with hands extended in prayer):
ALL: We bless all gathered here in the name of the Creator, in the name of Mary’s child, and in the name of the Spirit as we serve one another and care for the Earth.

Presider: Go in the peace of the Cosmic Christ, let the service continue!   ALL: Thanks be to God.

Recessional:
 “We have the whole world in our hands” to tune of “He has the whole world in his hands.”(3 times)

Liturgy: Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP
Association of Roman Catholic Woman Priests
                 http://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/
            https://arcwp.org