Teaching An Older Priest New Tricks

At age 78 it was learning how to use the computer.  Thanks God the nuns in high school prevailed upon me to take a course in typing.  (A special thanks to Sister Wilma, Sister of St. Joseph, Gate of Heaven High School South Boston, Ma.)  So armed with the typing knowledge I muddled through learning the computer, the internet, deleting when I should have not and every few years getting a new computer as technology  grew by leaps and bounds.

Now we are blogging, trying to make Constant Contact work for us, building on our web page NewDivine Mercy.org, (thanks to Bill Woeppel of Wilton Manors guiding us along, )having a video  view of our Sunday Mass uploaded to you tube and reaching out on  Facebook.  And learning how to be sociable  in our social networking . More New Speak. 

Jesus  invited and used fishermen, the uneducated, former prostitutes, the despised,  the rejected and sinners to help him get his message out:  The message of love, acceptance and forgiveness.    No computer stuff for him back then.  Of course his miracles thrown in now and then helped.  But I marvel today how his message travelled all over the world.    In todays world a click of the computer key can be seen eveeerywhere. But yet, with all the magic of today, his message of love, acceptance and forgiveness gets lost .

May this priest in a small mission in Wilton Manors do his best to spread His message.  Love to you all.    A Servant of Divine Mercy, Father John Joseph Reid

God Sends Them

This morning I was favoring a back problem and taking it easy around the house. The dogs start barking and I go to the door and find an older woman standing there, asking if I was a priest ( dressed in my irish rugby shirt, shorts and no shoes..why couldnt you tell?) but saying to her yes, I was. She asked if she could pray in our small chapel. I said certainly, got the key and she and her daughter came in and prayed before the Blessed Sacrament which we keep exposed in front of the painting of Divine Mercy.

She shared with me that she and her daughter were keeping a promise they made to Divine Mercy for prayers being answered and they were making a novena by visiting 21 churches. The Mother then asked if I would bless her other family and four others got put of the car and came into the Chapel, we now have six, two other adults and two young girls.
They all made a general confession and I gave them Holy Communion and we prayed together.

I found out that they were from Canada, of Fillipino descent and very spiritual. Their appearance at 10:30 this morning brought to mind that I am a priest and God sends people from all over to our chapel and they bring blessings to us by their presence. I do not expect to see them ever again, I gave holy cards and my business card as they continued on their way.

Sometimes I wonder what I am doing and who am I really touching. Today was an example that God wants me to be there for whomever he sends. Those who live under the bridges, those who are struggling with mental problems and those pilgrims, like today, who come into our lives along their journey.

Tonight during Mass devoted to Divine Mercy and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, I will pray for all of us in need and thank God for this experience today.

Father John Joseph

PUBLICITY ETC.

Its amazing the numbers of people who have seen our ads in the Pelican and the Blade as well as the pictures and articles in both newspapers and tell us about it. Each time I hear that , I in turn use this as an opportunity invite them to come and worship with us.

We never know. by keeping our name out there, whether in print, by our website or talking to people , what effect it has. We just keep letting people know that our Chapel is a place of love and in God's time, He will lead people to the Chapel door.
\
Of course, you know we are going to have fun at Wicked Manors, Halloween night on Wilton Drive. As I mentioned before, we have been offered space for a table and we are taking the producers up on their generous offer. Now Father Larry, Deacon Gregory and myself will be wearing our usual clerical garb. I hope they dont confuse us with some kind of costume because on Halloween you see lots of Firemen, Nuns with mustaches and oh so pretty (and some not so pretty) "ladies". Heres a good example of us getting out where the people are .... Letting them get to see us and also know us.

Somewhere, and my very dear friend Celeste knows this, there is an old nuns habit, hanging in the back of some closet. Think the Fathers will pass on this though. If you want to borrow it and you wont disrespect it, then you are welcomed to borrow.

Last Sunday I got inspired, guess by the Holy Spirit, to adjust certain prayers in the Mass. For instance just before Communion we asked God's Mercy, Penitential rite, shared The Kiss of Peace right after and then gave Glory to God. We then moved onto to the Liturgy of the Eucharist. At the beginning of the Mass we received the Blessing by the Priest, shared our profession of faith (who we are) prayed our general Intercessions and then were ready for the Liturgy of the Word and Fathers homily. It seemed to flow easier and as we prayerfully moved along in the mood of sacred worshiping We will do that again this Sunday.

I love the beauty and the sanctity of the pre Vatican II Latin Mass, with the Gregorian chants. But I have come around to see also the liturgical music of today with its spirit filled energy. A mixture of the old and new
makes a good fit for the New Catholic Communities.

See you at Church Sunday, 1:30 PM

Father John Joseph