When the lava cools

Last week, Cardinal Tarsiso Bertone, the Vatican's Secretary of State made an official visit to Cuba in the name of the Holy Father. This visit, ten years after the Holy Father John Paul II himself visited the comunist Caribbean island nation has proven to be a very successful venture in the words of Cardinal Bertone himself.

In today's edition of ZENIT, an online bulletin which claims to provide the 'view from Rome', mention is made of a Vatican Radio program and a print media article which is scheduled to be aired and published this weekend. Cardinal Bertone's report about the current state of affairs in Cuba seems to be very hopeful. He makes particular mention of the vibrancy of youth and the promise of future advancements for the good of the people of Cuba.

• Cardinal Bertone discusses visit to Cuba

During his one-week stay, the Cardinal met with a variety of personalities and delivered a number of speeches, most of which are available on the Vatican website in various languages. For those whose curiosity has been peeked, here are a few links to English-language texts of the speeches:

• Cuba commemorates anniversary of John Paul II's visit
• Cuba embargo is unacceptable

After more than fifty years in power, Fidel Castro announced just a few weeks ago that he would not seek re-election. This news was broadcast the world over, and greeted in a variety of manners. Shortly after the announcement of Fidel's 'resignation', the long-time leader's brother Raul Castro took over as leader of the island nation. During his visit, Cardinal Bertone did indeed meet with Raul Castro, and the results of that meeting seem also to be very positive.

Be sure that the Vatican, the Church and many others will be watching with great interest in the coming days, weeks, months ... and years.

Cleaning house

From our earliest days, parents try to teach us to be honest. 'Tell the truth and the truth will set you free.' Why is it then that as we learn, we sometimes spend much too much energy weaving lies and deceptions about ourselves, in the relationships we create wtih other people, and with our God?

Whether we are children or adults, we all need to take time for being honest with ourselves, and with those who are dear to us. Sometimes this means coming clean with the deceptions we may be trying to hide.

The period of Lent which we are currently living is an ideal time to examine the need for each of us to be at peace, to change the parts of our lives that have become entangled or distorted, and for starting anew to live the lives we have always been meant to live. In the Christian tradition, we believe that we must first free ourselves from this 'enslavement' so that we can truly embrace the joy of the resurrection at Easter.

Quenching thirst

For the past three years, I have been asked to participate as a presenter in an annual Lenten series of lectures given to a group of people here in the city. Each year, the focus is a bit different, but it always calls us to deeper understanding of God's presence that sustains us even in times of our deepest need.

Yesterday, I spent the morning with this group, and spoke with them about the upcoming International Eucharistic Congress which is scheduled to take place in Quebec City this June. The theme chosen for this Congress is The Eucharist: God's Gift for the Life of the World so needless to say my presentation focused around the gifts we receive from God, the gifts that give us life. I even tried to teach them the theme song, entitled God's Gift, although I must confess that I sang it at double tempo. It just sounds more alive at that speed.

The older I get, the more I am convinced that nothing in this world happens by coincidence, so when I discovered that the scripture readings proposed for this weekend included the story of the Samaritan woman at Sychar, who met Jesus at the well, I quickly proceeded to focus on the gift that Jesus offered to her: living water to restore life where there was nothing but battle sores and scars. Each of us too needs this living water to remind us of the life that Jesus came to give us.

The text of my reflection and the podcast of my homily are available for your deliberation as always. May they do just a little bit to help lead you to the Master who gives us all the gift of living water.

New understandings

A few days ago, I finished reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, the sequel to The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini.

Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, Mr. Hosseini moved to the United States of America in 1980. He currently lives in California and is involved with the United Nations Refugee Agency. These two books, the first of which has recently been released in movie format, have actually helped many westerners to understand and appreciate the magnitude of the human rights challenges currently facing countless innocent Afghanis.

Whether it's Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East, Darfur or Rwanda, the daily struggles of humanity to achieve the very basics of dignity often go unnoticed and the consequence is that many of our brothers and sisters suffer unjustly.

In contrast to this reality, many first-world citizens are surrounded with abundance, and for the most part, we are lucky enough to live in geographic locations which have never known the ravages of war. It seems almost unimaginable that while some of us are surrounded with such freedom, others struggle daily for the simplest of human dignities.

The challenges that face more than two thirds of the world's population are quite possibly present right under our noses, if only we have the eyes to see them ... if only we have the courage to challenge the injustices which are evident in our own milieux.

Companions on the journey

Some people's lives seem to be characterized by what I like to call 'divine interruptions', the unexpected phone calls or arrivals of seemingly random people who knock at the door and invite us to experience moments that turn out to be extremely positive. Strangely enough, or not, these interruptions seem to occur when we are most intently involved in some activity or the other, and they can be seen as major inconveniences, at least at first glance.

Thus it was that the phone rang today, and I was asked to visit with a patient at one of the local retirement homes. The true lesson in this experience came a few moments after I had actually completed the celebration of the Sacrament of the Sick. The patient's daughter, who was alone with him, asked if I could stay for a few moments. I really don't know what made me stop, but I did. We sat on either side of the bed, and spoke about the patient's love for music, his dedication to his family, his accomplishments in life, his loves and his challenges.

At a certain point, he began to cough, and I left the room for a moment to locate some more face cloths. The daughter called out from behind a curtain and asked if I could locate the nurse, and by the time I returned (only about 30 seconds later) I noticed a marked change in the patient's pallor. Within three to four minutes time, he was gone and I knew that I was meant to be there.

After I left, and as I continued to reflect on the experience, I couldn't help thinking that it is believed that even if a patient is not able to communicate verbally, even if all other senses seem to have been immobilized, the hearing is usually the last to go. I wonder how much of the conversation this patient heard. Was he comfortable enough with the fact that I was there, knowing that his daughter would not be alone?

No matter what we accomplish in life, or who we know, or what influence we have, when the final moment comes, and we must leave this world, it's really quite simple for some, and complicated for others. I don't think it's meant to be painful, but sometimes these things happen. When the passage to the afterlife happens peacefully there is a strange, almost eerie moment when I for one am aware that the two worlds are really not that far apart, and I find myself thankful for the experience of helping another soul make the journey.

About being healthy

Today turned out to be one of those wholistic experiences of health and happiness, or at least about becoming whole. Let me explain. I was invited to participate in a web conference today called a Fireside Chat. This is the second in the series of Chats about food insecurity and they are proving to be very informative sessions.

The first Fireside Chat on this subject took place on December 12, 2007 and the second was held today. What's interesting about these sessions is that participants from coast to coast get to hear some of the latest statistics about Canadians who are facing challenges related to such basic realities as finding enough food to feed our families. The statistics should make us sit up and take notice.

After identifying the reality that many Canadians find it difficult to provide stable sources of food for their families because they don't earn enough money (see Fireside Chat on Income Related Food Insecurity), today's session presented some community approaches to dealing with the problem.

Having participated in both these web conferences, I am struck by the vast number of individuals who are struggling with poverty, right in our own backyards. Poverty doesn't always bear the face of television images from far off lands. Often it is masked by smiling faces in our own communities. The challenge is to find a way to allow people to find ways to combat the challenge and to do it in a dignified way.

New beginnings

A few months ago, we began to offer a new pastoral outreach to the city. Known as the Beech Street Community Kitchen, a place for people to prepare meals together, share their stories and celebrate life.

Starting a new venture such as this is always an exciting time. There are lots of possibilities but also lots of challenges. What started out as an idea for a few people to prepare meals together is already turning out to be a great success story on many different levels. From the very beginning, we had to rely on a few other organizations in the city to teach us the ropes about how a community kitchen works. We are extremely grateful for all the wisdom and enthusiasm we have been able to share with our friends at the Jubliee Heritage Family Resources, Better Beginnings, Better Futures and Our Children, Our Future.

Being involved in the Becch Street Community Kitchen teaches us to draw on the strengths of different individuals, while facing challenges together. Speaking of togetherness, one of our partners had a new beginning today. Jubilee opened the doors of the Best Start Hub today. Best Start is a child-care centre located in one of the local schools. Visitors to the grand opening today were treated to tours as well as a variety of activities including yoga classes held with some of the students in the school, and an exhibition of First Nations dancing.

We celebrate with our friends this new beginning which is sure to make a difference in the lives of so many. Congratulations and best wishes for continued success.