First Time Author of a Book

And the winner is ...NOT Hayes

Catholic Update

wins 2 awards right out of the gate. My buddy John Feaster is the editor!

Next Year's Convention

Is in Anaheim California right across the street from DisneyLand. It's a world of laughter....

Who owns the New Catholic Enclyclopedia?

Marc Lombard and I raced to try to find this answer. He ran around the room to find the US Bishop's librarian. I used my my treo to find the info on wikipedia. Marc had the info quickly and also that Thomson-Gale (the alleged company) also owns Scribner. He got sidetracked on his way back to the table and Wiki beat him by about a minute but without the Scribner info.
Our purpose was really to see why it's not available online and Thomson Gale is looking to become the next version of Microfilm but in online form. So they are just buying up everything.
Ah...the interesting things we muse about at the dinner. My steak is now cold BTW.

St Anthony Messenger Press

Surprisingly we have a number of younger people at our table...all who work for the Franciscan organization at St Anthony Messenger Press. Dinner is provided by the Knights of Columbus.

Dinner partners

Marc Lombard and John Feaster are from American Catholic.org a Franciscan site and they will be my dinner partners. I'll weigh in on our other companions soon. Marc and I did a workshop on using new forms of media for Catholic Press Professionals (essentially editors of Catholic Newspapers). Fun time and I think it was useful for those who came.

Mobile Blogging from Catholic Press Awards

I'm going to let you know if Googling God is an award winning book instantly.

Catholic Press Awards Tonight

I'm up for TWO Catholic Press Awards tonight for Googling God--the book! One is for Best Book on Ministry and the other is for Best First Time Author. I hope I can at least place in both but I really want to win first place in at least one of them. We'll see. In the meantime, I am enjoying Toronto once again. I come here often and have Paulist priest friends who always let me crash at their place out of the kindness of their hearts.

I got Barenaked

Barenaked ladies--the band, that is showed up at Fr. Dave's show and since he knows I like those guys he invited me down to meet them. I was so excited and I even snagged a pic.

They have a cool new kids album out--called Snacktime--which is for both kids and adults. "This is just a cool kids album that parents won't want to shoot themselves to if their kids listen to it over and over and over."

Agreed. Get it here

Happy 60th Anniversary to Paulist Fr. Jim Lloyd

Fr. Jim Lloyd who is 60 years a priest today is spunky at the age of 87. Fr. Jim saved my mother's life by being her spiritual guide when she was recovering from surgery and lost the will to live--he surgery was fine but her mental state was less than solid until Fr. Jim began to speak with her.

Happy 60th.

NCCL Panel Audio

Here is the audio from my response to Fr. Gene Lauer's presentation on Common Ground Conversations.

NCCL Panel

Wednesday (today) at 3PM, I'm responding to a panel discussion at the Houston Hyatt. If you're around stop in and maybe you can sneak in. The topic is "Listening to different voices"

I'll try to record the panel discussion and play back later.

Pope Benedict Message

My cousin Peter

My cousin Peter died while I was away at a conference. Peter was only 35 and struggled with a lot of demons in his life: addiction, depression, anger.

I've been beating myself up for not being there for him, not doing enough for him. And then I heard this story.

Peter had been in a rehab center in Albany and was doing well there. He attended daily chapel and was really enjoying his time getting better. His mother and sister visited him the day before he died and they went away happy, rejoicing--at how good he looked. How he was finally going to beat addiction.

It reminds me a lot of the Emmaus story. My cousin Peter too, was able to meet Jesus
on his road to recovery--like those disciples who were leaving Jerusalem who didn't want to stay where their pain was--but retreated to an out of the way place.

Peter died from some kind of rupture--internal bleeding--which happens sometimes with addicts. But his toxicology report came back clean--amazing.

And while it seems cruel that Peter's life here has ended--he also met the Lord at the end and it seemed that his eyes too were opened and even for a short time he was converted by having that experience and meeting Jesus. And his life was never the same after that. His heart was burning in Albany as that bread that we share was broken. He had no need for drugs after that, no need for a drink. Jesus was the only thing that he needed because he recognized him!

Today let's pray that all our addictions--small and large ones---can be overcome by recognizing the Lord in our lives...by falling in love with our God and converting our hearts so that our lives may not ever be the same again. And let us take comfort in the fact that we need to recognize the Lord in our lives--how Jesus worked to save Peter and then called him home. We are sad today because we miss him--but we also know that we have need to recognize Jesus here as the one who heals not only Peter but ourselves. Let us recognize him in our lives as the one who can heal us from all that keeps us apart from him.

Amen.

If it's Sunday then I must be in Houston

Hey folks--

I will be in Houston all this week speaking at the NACMP and NCCL conference. I'm the keynote at NACMP and then doing two smaller workshop/panel thingies at NCCL.

I also get to see my former roommate, Paul Daly, a Houston native who know works behind the scenes at FOX Sports in the Big H.

Should be fun.

Later this month I'll also be at the National Ministry Summitt (APril 20 - 23)
And then in Toronto from the 23rd -28th.

Reflection on Holy Thursday Gospel

I've always been touched by the gospel on Holy Thursday and as I discern the deaconate, I've been told that the story of the disciples washing the feet of Jesus holds even more special meaning for them. It's always been special to my wife and I because we believe it has been a remarkable symbol in our own marriage.

I'll explain: It is easy to forget. I forget dozens of things: To unload the diswasher, to pick my clothes up off of my chair, to get milk on the way home, to return an email that I said I would to someone struggling with faith.

How people, my wife in particular puts up with me--I'll never know.

But it seems to me that life is all about forgetting. Forgetting that mean comment that a friend said to me, letting go of those old hurts that we all like to hold on to, loving those who are hard to love by forgetting that they are annoying, or smelly and homeless.

John's gospel makes the washing of the feet the central element of the last evening Jesus spends with his friends. He doesn't mention the meal at all but rather that the greatest one of all--the man who was the only one worthy of being called a true friend--gets down and washes the filthy feet of his friends--the feet that walked the dusty and filthy open marketplace that was filled with animals, garbage and dust. Their sandals exposed their feet to all kinds of vile things. But Jesus gets down and washes their feet anyway. In as sense, he forgets about a lot of things here.

He forgets about his own pride, and takes the place of the lowest servant.
He forgets about his own future as he is fully aware of all that will happen to him.
And before it happens he forgets about his friends betrayal--for he knows who will betray him and he knows that the feet he is washing will run away and then fail to move in shame in that upper room.

Jesus forgets.

And like the disciples I forget too. I forget that God cared enough about me to die for me--and yet I often think know a better way to happiness and turn to sin. I forget that great self-gift of God where he ransoms his son for our salvation and I think I deserve praise and adulation for doing so much less for my own friends and family. I forget about my neighbors whose names I often do not even know. I easily forget about those who are hungry even when they are in front of me daily on our city streets.

And to those who are close to me I often forget too. I forget to love my wife--ignoring her needs in favor of my own. Forgetting those household chores that I'd rather that she would do. Or even getting annoyed when she forgets things but not wanting to her her frustrations when I am at fault.

Each year, a parish I've been part of used to have the whole parish participate in the washing of the feet. My wife and I used to wash each other's feet every year and I can think of no greater symbol for a married couple to do together. Married couples know all the little annoying things, all of the faults and weaknesses that their partner has--and yet, they love each other anyway. Eschewing their anger in favor of love.

They wash feet.

They know all the dirty filthiest parts of the other one--and they get down in the muck of it all and scrub away--forgetting about those hurts and moving towards healing, forgiving and serving each others needs. They strengthen each other for the journey of marriage that lies ahead despite the pain of the past--or the future for that matter.

This is the kind of love we all need to feel and to give to and from one another. It is the very love of God who all too often forgets things about us--our sins, our faults and gives us the chance to start over in the great sacrament of reconciliation which we all too easily avoid. We want to hold on to those dirty parts of oursleves because we are ashamed. Like Peter, we don't want anyone to touch the filthiest parts of who we are.

But it is Jesus who gives us the example of love--the example that we need to follow that he reminids our forgetful selves that we must do as he has done. We need to serve the needs of others--to forget nobody. To touch all the dirty filthy parts of our world, of one another, even of our enemies.

We forget all too often...Jesus all too well-knowing of our sinfulness forgets it all over and over.

Perhaps that's all we need to remember...and yet, how often we choose to forget.

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

I'm hitting the road in a big way this month:

1) 2/26: Archdiocese of Louisville- I'm doing an in-service day for diocesan employees.

2) 2/27-3/2 - Los Angeles Religious Education Congress - I'm simply attending but come on by the Paulist Press booth and maybe you'll find me.

3) March 8 - Diocese of Richmond - A retreat day for the Young Adult Ministry at the Diocese of Richmond and the legendary Sr. Diane Guy.

4) March 12 - Diocese of Youngstown - An inservice day on technology.

5) March 29 - Archdiocese of Detroit - I'm the keynote speaker at a retreat day for young adults.

April:

NCCL/NACAMP in Houston

National Ministry Summitt in Orlando

And the Archdiocese of Toronto: Details to follow.

I am proud of my Aunt Theresa

My wife's Aunt Theresa was award the Vincentian Mission Award at St John's University last night. Awesome!

Raleigh

In Raleigh today--I got the distinct thought that I'm travelling way too much. I went to JFK this morning and inverted my airlines switching today's United flight with Monday's American flight. Fortunately I had some time to spare and I got the airtrain from American to United without much of a problem. As I approached the American rep wondering why I wouldn't get my boarding pass I got the embarrassing realization as to what I did. I also nearly got in a fight.

As I ask the American Airlines guy for assistance:

Guy in back of me: Hey a**h**e, we were on line too. (Mind you, I didn't cut him off I just asked the AA guy for help--he could easily have gone around me.)

ME: You talking to ME? (sometimes I get brave)

Woman with guy (who sees I'm a lot bigger than her man-friend): No He's not.
(simultaneously) Guy: Yeah, I am.

Me: Why don't you just go ahead of me jacka**?

Guy goes ahead. I stare him down. Woman looks afraid and hopes I don't flex my muscles (both of them in my big toe).

I get to the United gate where my reservation is immediately recognized by the check in computer. Now I'm running late though. Flight is 2:35P. It's 2:00. Boarding at 2:15.

Computer: "Are you going to Raleigh-Durham?"
ME: (Presses Yes)
Computer: Do you have bags to check?
ME:(NO) I carry everything on.
Computer: Would you like ti use miles to upgrade to 1st class.
Me: AUGH! Just give me my boarding pass! (no)
Computer: Would you like to upgrade to Economy Plus for $28 more?
Me: NONONONONOONO! Give me the boarding pass!
Computer: Are you sure you don't want to upgrade.
ME: (Now shouting at the computer): WHERE THE HELL IS BUTTON FOR PUT ME ON THE BLASTED PLANE! JUST PRINT THE PASS! (NO!)
Computer: Do you want to change these seats?
Me: In a second I'm going to throw this machine down the aisle. NO.

Printing.....


I get to the gate at 2:15 and they board within minutes.

Yikes!

Regardless, I has a lovely dinner at the Cracker Barrell (chicken and dumplings--yum) with Kathleen Kozak from the Diocese of Raleigh who is hosting me. Tomorrow we talk with young adult leaders in the afternoon about their religious longings and how they can better understand each other and hopefully they come away with a plan for ministry events based on their charisms.

Busy January Schedule

Hey folks:

I will be making the rounds to the following cities in January. If you'd like to contact me to speak at your parish or diocese the best way to do that is to email me at mike@bustedhalo.com

Here's the skinny

January 6-9 - Western Province of Dominicans Conference - San Francisco

January 10-12 - Fashion Me a People Conference - Orlando, Florida

January 20 - Paulist Center - Boston, MA

January 22 - Fordham University Campus Ministry- Bronx, NY

January 26 - Diocese of Raleigh - Raleigh, NC

January 27 - Good Shepherd KofC - NY, NY

January 29-31- National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministers Conference - Little Rock Arkansas

And that's just January folks. I've got a lot of open dates in February and in May. April would be real tough at this point but the summer is open as well.

I do charge a reasonable fee for a workshop ($1000 plus expenses) but we can negotiate.