May 31st
If we truly follow the way of Christ, we will find the Cross as well
as the Resurrection. The path of Jesus, which we freely choose to
follow, has no trace of glory or honor or pomp. It calls for a
confidence and faith, beyond that. Spirit & Lifestyle
I want to share with you the poem Hank Zyp had his daughters, Theresa
and Michelle, read as he accepted the SAGE Award for Social Justice
and Peace last Wednesday. The SAGE Awards celebrate seniors who
continue to empower and engage others in making our community,
province, nation and world a better place to live and play. For the
story published in the Western Catholic Reporter, go to
www.changeforchildren.org
The Image of God
i saw You on the mountain top
You were dressed in rags
to protect You from the wind
and the weather
and Your nose ran
and Your bare feet
were sore and splayed
and Your toes were
spread wide
from walking the earth
and You cried out to me
for You were hungry
but i could hardly
hear You
above the roar
of the tourist bus
as it groaned up the hill
around the corner
where You were waiting
but i took a picture of You
with my instant camera
to show my friends
that i have seen You
alone on the mountain top
ignored by humanity
plain as day for everyone to see
i just saw a glimpse of You
through my viewfinder
as You ran like a dog
for a crust of bread
thrown out of the window
and then You disappeared
in a cloud of dust
and exhaust fumes
but the image of You remains ...
i've seen the blurred
face of God
on the top of the world
She looks like a
Quecha Indian Woman.
Hank Zyp, 1985, Bolivia. Hank Zyp is a poet and Christian educator
and activist. He lives in Edmonton
Published in World/Mission/Anglican Church of Canada
Friday evening I was also reminded of God's disguises. The Edmonton
Coalition On Housing & Homelessness put on "One Room: A story
connecting us all." The program consisted of photographs and stories
from 25 years ago of persons, mainly older, living in dingy one room
apartments. Four musicians each wrote a song about three of the
persons portrayed. This morning a gentleman sat across from me on the
bus. I read the church bulletin and he noted this - obviously nothing
wrong with his eyesight. We talked about parishes, schools,
courageous young parents. For some reason, he mentioned he didn't
want to be cremated. I said I did because it was the only way to join
my parents, my grandmother, aunt who is now 94 and uncle at the
cemetery in Quebec begun by my great-great grandfather when his wife
died. I guess no Catholic had died in Rock Forest yet. He said he was
90 as he got off at Safeway. I went further and transfered to the LRT
where I met several persons heading to the Legislature to protest
against budget cuts in education. There were children, parents,
teachers, community leaders, seniors, including the Raging Grannies.
I walked part of the way home through the "heritage" district with
Edmonton's first public school, a building that provided housing for
young working ladies and now provides a safe home for homeless women.
Yes, I met God today and she has many different faces.
Cecily
May 24, 2011
We work and live side by side with the people sharing our talents,
friendship and love. This pre-supposes an openness to the needs of
others and the humility to meet them wherever they are at. It calls
for a spirit of confidence and poverty which is ever ready to listen
and respond to others. This spirit of poverty makes itself available
as fertile ground open to whatever fruit the Lord wishes to plant. We
may never see the results of our work. Spirit and Lifestyle
The last sentence reminds me of a saying of Oscar Romero. Saturday,
there was a solidarity pupusa sale put on by the Salvadoran-Canadian
Rodas family and friends to benefit the community "El Despertar" in
San Salvador, El Salvador. Five years ago, for the 25th anniversary
of Romero's death, I went to El Salvador with the Salvadoran-Canadian
group. The three-generational group included as well the director and
some teachers of a new school opening in Edmonton to honour Monsignor
Romero. The name had been selected by the Salvadoran-Canadian janitor
of the future director's former school.
"El Despertar" was the most memorable visit of our two weeks in El
Salvador. An army attack on a retreat centre where dozens of youth
has gathered for the weekend resulted in the death of the priest and
of two boys. The boys were detained with common criminals in crowded
cells for three weeks or more. For many in the delegation this was
their first visit to this rural area on the outskirts of San Salvador
since that fatal day. This year the Salvadoran-Canadian community
again celebrated Romero's 30th in San Salvador. I could not join them
but had the privilege to interpret for a Salvadoran visitor in November.
I took my sister and brother-in-law to eat pupusas. They weren't too
brave but did like them. I think they were rather surprised to see
all the hugging and the Spanish that flowed freely.
Cecily
May 17, 2011
The majority of our world lives in hunger and want deprived of the
most basic necessities to live a decent human life. Impelled and
driven by the Spirit of Christ, we do not stand by unresponsive to
the needs of our brothers and sisters. They must have the tools to
enable them to develop and be free. They need the sills and the
expertise to bring out their own resources and gifts. It is not
simply a matter of handing out money, food or equipment. It calls for
more than that. Our response is to share who we are as well as what
we have. - Spirit and Lifestyle
For today's reflection, I invite you to read the Bridges you have
just received: The Rights of Children by Olivia Amadon, a VM in El
Salvador; our new director's report of his first visit in Guatemala
and El Salvador; Betsy Gonwa's The Story of a Movement (it moves, it
changes but also treasures what doesn't change); the invitation to
attend the Assembly and to give money! In a few years these VMs from
Central America will be with us at the Assembly. Our family keeps on
growing. And we also keep on growing. This Thursday let us keep all
VMs in our prayers.
Cecily
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