Religious Education Congress-day 0

Having lived in a Seminary for 2 years I almost forgot the feeling of being able to travel around as I used to before entering. I also forgot how much preparation it would take to travel from one corner of the country to the other. Departure point: Latrobe, Pennsylvania, where no commercial airlines have business anymore, and the closest airport, Pittsburgh International, is one hour and thirty minutes away. Destination: Orange County, California, one of the most populated counties in the state.

I left St. Vincent Seminary at 2 pm, and didn’t get to the parking garage until 3:30 pm. I had printed the coupon from home with the deal of $5.00 per day. The shuttle followed me from the gate to where I parked my car, picked me up and took me to the terminal of the air-port which was 5 minutes away. Good service.

Here I was at the airport, still having another hour to kill before boarding. I had planned to do a lot of school work on this trip during the waits or on the flights, because I knew once I arrived at my cousin’s house, I was not going to have the time nor the focus to do any school work. I was disappointed to find out that I forgot the Medieval History Midterm questions in my room. This midterm paper will due one day after I come back from the Congress. So while waiting to board, I sent an email to Bro. Bruno, the instructor of the course, and asked him to send me those questions again. He did the following day.

The flight from Pittsburgh to Dallas Forth Worth took 2 hours and I was able to read the Introduction of the book Christological Controversies. Since I couldn't work on the Medieval Midterm, I continued reading other books. At the end of the flight, I realized I had never read that continuously for a long time. Being on the airplane for 4 hours straight forces you to do so. Dallas Airport is rather new and beautiful, but the food is expectedly expensive. I had to eat there because it would be too late to eat once I arrived to California.

I arrived at John Wayne Airport in Orange County at 10:15 pm local time. After checking out the car from National car rental, I put on the GPS I brought from home and drove straight to my cousin's house, which was only 15 minutes away. I only booked the Economy rate car, but because they ran out of them they gave me a very nice Volkswagen. That thing drives fast on the highway and how I enjoy it.

My cousin had been waiting for me. By the time I arrived at her house, it was almost midnight local time, which was almost 3 am in Pittsburgh. I was too tired to have any long conversation with her, so I went to bed after talking to her for a short while. Her two children had gone to college, so I had one of their rooms for myself for the weekend.

I left St. Vincent Seminary at 2 pm. Here I was, Orange County, California, only after 12 hours. What do you expect for a cheap trip, $230 round-trip from Pitt to Orange County.

Psalm 126: The Lord Has Done Great Things

Chorus:

The Lord has done great things for us

We are filled, we are filled with joy.

Verse 1:

When the Lord of mercy freed us from captivity

Filled with joy, we felt like in a dream.

When the nations said, "Their Lord has done great things for them,"

We are glad: Our God has done great things.

Verse 2:

Like the torrents in the southern desert, hear our prayer

Lord, restore our fortunes, you we trust!

Those who sow in tears will one day reap with laugh of joy

Oh, the happy day God brings us back.

Bridge:

Ai xưa đi gieo vai mang gánh nặng, mắt tuôn lệ rơi

Mùa gặt mai sau, lòng mừng vui mang về lúa chín thơm vàng.

Khi dân lưu đày Si-on trở về thành đô yêu dấu

Tưởng mình trong mơ, miệng cười vui vang câu hát khen.

Last chorus:

Ngài đã ra tay, Chúa vĩ đại thay

Lòng hân hoan, miệng vui ca hát luôn.

The Lord has done great things for us

We are filled, we are filled with joy.

Written for LBT Choir for Le Bon Mang 3/21/2010. Completed on 2/22/2010. Latrobe.

Feast of St. Francis de Sales, Jan 24

An article titled 4 Ways to become Holy by Roger O'Brien in the March 1996 issue of U.S. Catholic was a source for this article. Used with permission -- Ed.

St. John Bosco grew up and was formed in the Piedmont region of Italy, whose capital is Turin,which was permeated with the influence and spirituality of St. Francis De Sales.

Spirituality is an aspect and part of every human being. Some have a heightened spirituality, others hardly any, and the majority of us fall somewhere in-between. Simply put, spirituality is the way we contact the Divine and recognize the Divine in the unfolding of our lives. We then respond to the Divine is a variety of ways. There are many "ways" we can do this and we follow in the Catholic-Christian tradition.

Here is a listing of only four of the main ones followed by a fifth-the "Salesian Spirituality." Can you recognize yourself in any of these?

First is the "Path of Intellect" or Thomistic Prayer. About 12% of Catholics follow this method. It uses the syllogistic method of St. Thomas Aquinas known as Scholastic prayer. The main emphasis is on the orderly progression of thought from cause to effect.

People of this prayer type prefer neat, orderly forms of the spiritual life, as opposed to the free-spirit, impulsive attitude of the Franciscan approach. Their spirituality is centered on the earnest pursuit of all the transcendental values: goodness, beauty, unity, love, life and spirit. St. Teresa of Avila is an example of this spirituality.

Those who follow this style of prayer seek total truth and authenticity in their lives and work hard to reach the whole truth about themselves, about God, and about sanctity. In this type of prayer, one takes a virtue or fault or theological truth and studies it from every possible angle.

Change of behavior is an essential part of this prayer--it doesn't stay at the intellectual level. There is generally a bias against this type of prayer today because it was so much in vogue before Vatican II.

The second "way" is the "Path of Devotion" or Augustinian prayer. The majority of saints are of this spiritual temperament, as are 12% of the population [but 50% of those who go on retreats or belong to small faith groups].

We must have the attitude of Jesus Christ. Man, did he have an attitude!

This method uses creative imagination to transpose the world of scripture to our situation today--as if the scripture passage is a personal letter from God addressed to each one of us. The essential element of this spirituality, going back to New testament times, is experiencing a personal relationship with God. Because they read between the lines and catch what is inexpressible and spiritual, those who follow the path of devotion best understand symbols and their use in the liturgy.

This path concentrates on meditations that loosen the feelings and expand the ability to relate to and love others. The stress is on the love of self, others, and God.

Those on this path can follow the four steps of the Lectio divina: listen to what God says in scripture; reflect prayerfully and apply it to today; respond to God's word with personal feelings; remain quiet and stay open to new insights.

The third "way" is the "Path of Service" or Franciscan Prayer. About 38% of the population are this spiritual type-but far fewer of this type come to church regularly.

Like St. Francis of Assisi, those who follow the path must be free, unconfined, and able to do whatever their inner spirit moves them to do. They don't like to be tied down by rules. St. Peter jumping into the water to go to Jesus exemplifies this type.

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Franciscan spirituality leads to acts of loving service, which can be a most effective form of prayer. Franciscan prayer is flexible and free-flowing, making full use of the five senses, and it is spirit-filled prayer. Those on this path can make a meditation on the beauty of a waterfall, flower, meadow, mountain, or ocean-all of God's creation.

There is more stress in prayer on the events of Jesus' life than on his teaching.

The fourth "way" is the "Path of Asceticism" or Ignatian Prayer. More than half of churchgoers practice this type of prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola. It involves imagining oneself as part of a scene in order to draw some practical fruit from it for today.

This spirituality goes back to the Israelite way of praying in 1000 BC, to remember and immerse oneself in an event, thus reliving and participating in the event in a symbolic way.

St. Ignatius' preoccupation with order was aimed at overcoming "disorderly affections, so that the retreatant may make a decision that is in keeping with God's will."

The foregoing summaries in no way exhaust nor completely explain the "ways." Still, one gets the idea and whatever appeals is the way to go. In fact, most readers can identify with one or the other or know others who follow the different ways.

All the above focus in on prayer. They also inspire various approaches to Christian action. The "Salesian" way uses any method of prayer but does not belabor it. It can take distractions and use them to re-focus the heart on God. It also goes beyond prayer itself as an activity or exercise. Rather, it becomes more of an "attitude" in relation to God, self and the world.

Nowadays we have all heard expressions like: "What an attitude!"; "He/she's got an attitude;" "cop an attitude;" and so on. Sometimes it is helpful to adapt street parlance to the spiritual life as well. The above examples usually have a negative connotation, but we can also have a "good attitude."

We must have the "attitude" of Jesus Christ. Man, did he have an attitude! Salesian spirituality teaches that the imitation of Christ, central to the entire history of Christian spirituality, does not require withdrawal or flight from the world or human society. The leitmotif found throughout the writings of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane Frances de Chantal, co-founders of the women's order, the Visitation of Holy Mary, is "Live Jesus!"

"Live Jesus" is not the same as "Long Live Jesus," or "Hooray for Jesus," or "Three Cheers for Jesus!" It is the verbal imperative-"[You] Live Jesus!" in the sense of "Be Jesus" or "let Jesus be you." It is the imitation of Christ with an attitude-the attitude that everything one does, everything one thinks and believes, everything one says is Christ alive. We have an agenda of incarnating once again Jesus in our families, our workplaces, our school, our playgrounds, driving the freeway, playing golf, watching TV or going to church.

Our world is searching for love and affection, sometimes in the weirdest places. We are looking for heart. Salesian spirituality is permeated with references to the human heart or the heart of God or of Jesus. Francis says that to "live Jesus" is to have Jesus' name engraved on our heart, viz., in the very core of our being. Affective and endearing language is also characteristic. Francis emphasized LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE as fruits of the Holy Spirit [Gal. 5:22-23]. From a masculine or feminine viewpoint we are all looking for that which touches our inner self in an affectionate, endearing, accepting, unconditional way. Salesian spirituality offers us that.

The cold shower of reality is that human nature is wounded by sin and much discipline and serious formation are required to recover the ability to love purely. To love purely means to model our love on the unconditional love of God for humankind. We have all too often experienced or witnessed the opposite. Love that is selfish, self-serving and self-destructive is really the antithesis of "pure love."

Another characteristic of Salesian spirituality is that our hearts, in the holistic biblical sense, are to be surrendered to the living presence of Christ. Humility is synonymous with truth. We have to recognize God as Creator and ourselves as 'not the creator' but a creature made in God's image and likeness, and endowed with an innate divine dignity and with the capacity for union with God. Thus Salesian spirituality is very much charismatic, finding its source and guidance in the Holy Spirit.

Thus every human being is invited by God to divine union. This invitation is for everyone--layperson or cleric, man or woman, celibate or married, young or old. St. Mary Mazzarello, with St. John Bosco, co-Foundress of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the Salesian Sisters, was an example of living, breathing, praying and writing "Live Jesus!"

Don Bosco spoke about joy, doing one's duties well. To Saint Dominic Savio, one of his students [1857], he directed him to turn his fellow students around-peer ministry. Savio is quoted as saying to a newly arrived boarder, "Here we make holiness consist in being always cheerful."

There is more, but let this suffice for now. The Salesian spirituality lived in authentic fashion becomes a great attraction for others. St. John Bosco so embodied this spiritual way that he was an almost irresistible draw for youngsters of all ages and all walks of life. This spirituality is easy for young people [and old people!] because it does not require long prayers or devotional practices. For youth it is enough to eat well, sleep well, play well, study well, pray well and well, well, well-one gets the idea.

The bottom line is that this spirituality in the Salesian tradition is for all without reservation. Sanctity is for all. One can be holy by living one's life to the fullest in the love of Jesus and doing one's job to the best of one's ability for the love of others. Only one thing remains to be said: "Live Jesus!"

Source: Website of the Salesian Western Province

In one of those sleepless nights

I've been staying up late to study the past weeks that now I can't get back to the regular routines. I guess writing some scattered thoughts down may help emptying my mind so I can go to bed before 3 tonight (this morning).

- There were 3 events that I could have been at last week and this week; instead I've been stuck here wrestling w/ books and papers and tests: Asian Youth Day in the Philippines, National Catholic Youth Conference in Kansas City, and Sa mac Huan Luyen Vien in San Jose. I understand it is my responsibility at this time to learn as much as I can; but seriously, I wish I had been at any of these events.

- I'm used to missing the big youth events in Atlanta: lock-ins, praise and worships, festivals, van nghe, service projects, ... But I still wish I could be around to expand the programs more. By expanding, I don't mean increasing the length of the events, number of activities or number of attendants, but rather incorporating sessions with more in-depth and substantial contents into the existing programs.
* Lock-ins seem to be well developed; however, I do see the need to incorporate the "service" component. There are already "community building" thru fun games and competitions, "learning" through talk/discussion sessions, and "worship" through prayer service/praise and worship. It's time to bring it up a notch- "service." May be we should have a service project attached to every lock-in.
* Service projects: we've been doing them every holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, ... but those projects are usually unrelated and one-time deal. Maybe we should make a more consistent commitment, say: adopting a nursing home, a soup kitchen, a youth shelter, a social service organization, ... and establish a year-round project with them, for all age groups.

- The shift in the training for the up-coming leaders. I may be away for some time but I do sense a great shift in the culture and the capacity range of the up-coming leaders. This is just my perception, it may be right, may be wrong:

* They may be more capable and more focused to learn more substance. We've been neglecting the Scripture component, not because we wanted to but because the conditions have not been right. Many of these younger leaders are very focused, have some good back-ground knowledge (from Catholic schools), and may be more interested.
* The current young leaders: I think it's great to invest 2 things for them, (1) focused topics: training them to be experts in particular areas - games, sports, events, service projects, learning projects, music ministry, liturgy/prayer, ... and (2) TNTT Literacy. After all they will be the next Board members.

- "Teen dramas" - haha, something that is unavoidable for a youth group: break ups, make ups, disagreements in ways of doing things, conflicts with authority figures, pressures from school and family, transition to college, ... I know I won't see the same care-free, fun-loving, innocent group of TNs the next time I see them. But that's OK and that's how it should be happening, right? People grow up. The important thing is we have to realize they need a new kind of guidance in the new phase of their lives. And another equally important thing is not to neglect the up-coming "innocent" bunch.

- World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid. I sincerely hope I could make it this time, and my group from Atlanta could also make it. Though I want TNTT to get involved it this pilgrimage, but it's wise not to have TNTT members organize the trip. We have to make this pilgrimage a project for all young adults of the parish, not just the TNTT members. Money is another issue.

- I know some guys have been working on building more sport programs in the parish, and I'm happy that they finally do that. I mean, it's about time! Hope and pray that they will take off. You guys have to update me what's going guys.

- Most likely I'll be in Mexico this Summer for a Spanish language program. I'm still not sure if I can make it back for Thang's ordination. That also means that I won't make it to Dai Hoi Ve Dat Hua in California on July 4.

- My Christmas break this year is gonna be 1 week shorter. I'm still debating whether I should help out at the Vocation Discernment Retreat for the Archdiocese on Dec 31. I do need time for my family, my friends and my "kids." By the way, any of you guys want to come to this discernment retreat, or any other come-and-see?

- Phuong's wedding in February (right?). I don't think I can make it. *sigh*

- Who is helping Binh get to college or technical college?

- The kids in my old scout troop, now all grown and established, have just found each other. We're trying to have a reunion this Christmas. You guys have to find chi Nhu too.

Who Wins?

Timmy was back home for the Christmas break. That first night, he pulled out the chess board and challenged his dad as he had used to when he was a little kid. Timmy is really good at chess, and he knows it. As far as he remembered, his dad had only won once or twice in the past. "Come on, dad. Let's see if you can beat me after all these years, hehe."

Dad looked at him, smiled and asked, "Any achievement lately?" Not even looking up, Timmy answered, "Well, no one in my hall can beat me yet since I moved in."

Two hours later, Timmy was not the same confident man. They had played four matches, and Timmy had not won even once. He looked at his dad, surprised and confused. He finally asked, "Have you played a lot lately? You just become ... so good at this"

Dad looked at him calmly, "I haven't played since the last time we played." Timmy became more confused, "But you sucked back then. I always won."

Dad just looked at Timmy silently. All of a sudden, Timmy understood everything. He remembered the night he came back from the first chess club meeting. He lost his confidence because the kids in the club were just too good. It was his dad who encouraged him to stay on, and offered to play with him every night for him to practice. “Foolish me, all this time I thought I was better than my dad.” He thought to himself, then finally asked his dad, “Why do you decide to show your true skill today?”

Putting the chess board away, dad answered, "Does it matter that you knew my skills back then or you know my skills now?" Timmy snapped, "Of course, dad. I thought I was good"

Dad slowly said, "Timmy, you are good because I am good. I was good back then as I am good now. But what matters more is I have always loved you. I loved you when you felt good about yourself, and I still love you the same when you feel like a loser"

Timmy answered impatiently, "Whatever, dad. What are you talking about?"

Dad continued, "Don't you feel like a loser now?" Timmy didn't answer though he knew that's how he was feeling. Dad said in a soft voice, "Aren't you also convinced now that I love you so much to let you win all these years?

Timmy and dad looked at each other. They had never been closer to each other.

Mercy

I come

Before you, helpless

No prayer can be said

No promise to be made

Have mercy on me

Lord, my God.

I come

So do the ones in my heart

They have their crosses

Just like I do mine

Before you, we are helpless

Little thing could be done

Solutions? I find none.

Have mercy on us

Lord, our God.

And I trust.

And we trust.

Song: Take Me To Your Heart

translated from Chinese
performed by Michael Learns to Rock


Hiding from the rain and snow
Trying to forget but I won't let go
Looking at a crowded street
Listening to my own heart beat

So many people all around the world
Tell me where do I find someone like you girl

(Chorus)
Take me to your heart take me to your soul
Give me your hand before I'm old
Show me what love is - haven't got a clue
Show me that wonders can be true

They say nothing lasts forever
We're only here today
Love is now or never
Bring me far away

Take me to your heart take me to your soul
Give me your hand and hold me
Show me what love is - be my guiding star
It's easy take me to your heart

Standing on a mountain high
Looking at the moon through a clear blue sky
I should go and see some friends
But they don't really comprehend

Don't need too much talking without saying anything
All I need is someone who makes me wanna sing.




This is my own Viet translation (there is already one out there but I don't like it), with a specific arrangement:


Chôn cô đơn trong mưa với gió
Vùi thật sâu thật sâu, mà lòng sao khó quên.
Nhìn dòng người chiều nay xuống phố
Nghe con tim đau nỗi buồn tênh.

Này người trên thế giới, người gần xa có biết
Rằng tìm người tôi yêu mến ở nơi phương trời nao?

(Chorus)
Take me to your heart take me to your soul
Give me your hand before I'm old
Show me what love is - haven't got a clue
Show me that wonders can be true

They say nothing lasts forever
We're only here today
Love is now or never
Bring me far away

Take me to your heart take me to your soul
Give me your hand and hold me
Show me what love is - be my guiding star
It's easy take me to your heart




Standing on a mountain high
Looking at the moon through a clear blue sky
I should go and see some friends
But they don't really comprehend

Don't need too much talking without saying anything
All I need is someone who makes me wanna sing.


Điệp khúc:
Đừng vội chê tình yêu, đời trôi thoáng theo gió
Đừng để tâm hồn cô đơn không xuyến xao.
Buồn vui bao ngày qua, tình yêu vẫn chưa có
Người hãy nói tình yêu thần tiên biết bao.

Đời trôi qua không chi kiên vững luôn
Chỉ có hôm nay, người hỡi
Không yêu mai sẽ xót xa
Tiếc đời mình vút qua.

Take me to your heart take me to your soul
Give me your hand and hold me
Show me what love is - be my guiding star
It's easy take me to your heart