A Poem About the Heroin Plague

I have now heard of three people close to our community who have died from heroin overdoses in the past couple years. All three were young men in their early 20's or 30's. All three were raised in homes with significant advantages, not in poverty-stricken ghettoes. We need to understand this epidemic and respond to it, even if it means taking some chances, revising our laws, trying new approaches. Otherwise we will drown in the flood of sorrow unleashed by these deaths.

The Terrible Plague

This mysterious, terrifying plague,

125 people overdosing every day from heroin—

most young adults, their future ahead of them,

some the losers in this zero-sum society,

others seemingly on top of the heap—

In toilets, in bedrooms, in alleys, they inject the poison

that brings such ecstasy, or such agony,

roll the dice

spin the cylinder of the gun,

this Russian Roulette.

There are things we can do

to offer treatment, hope,

rehabilitation—

or at minimum a safe place to inject this poison

(where we might offer clean needles, have medical people nearby,

Narcan at the ready)--

but we do nothing,

and the ripples of heartbreak

keep spreading out and out until

we are all smeared with

blood, poison, and despair.

[Bob Coughlin / 24 February 2016]

An Incredible Tune Played Last Night in Cleveland: Killian Vallely and "Port na bPucai"

Last night, at the Music Box Supper Club in Cleveland's Flats, Cillian Vallely, the great Irish piper (on the Uilleann Pipes/Elbow Pipes), played the tune "Port na bPukai" (yes, that's how it's spelled in Irish Gaelic!). The name of the tune translated into English is something like "Tune of the Faeries." This is the same tune played at Seamus Heaney's funeral a couple years ago. This particular performance from YouTube was from 2008.



Cillian Vallely plays with the Irish group Lunasa. They put on quite a show last night!

Two of My Old Poems for February

I wrote the following two poems long ago, when I was teaching at Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Kentucky. This was in a county (Knott County) so small in population that in 1978-79 there were no traffic lights (well a blinking yellow light by Carr's Fork Lake). I still love these simple poems.

I love the evocativeness of the word "turtle" in the second poem. The word in the Song of Songs is often translated as "turtledove." But I like to use the word "turtle." Some American Indians called this land we call America "Turtle Island." That gives this poem a nice little twist.

February’s Dream

the snow lies thick upon the earth

the groundhog saw his shadow

the nights are long and bitter cold

but I have watched closely

and have seen some signs:

the morning concert of chirping birds

tree twigs turned a shade of red

silver maples’ pregnant buds

I have felt the quickening

first hope in this hard winter

I look for the crocus

and remember the birth

of a love

(Pippa Passes, Kentucky
February 1979)

Song of the Turtle

“and the song of the turtle is heard

throughout the land.” Song of Songs 2:12

winterwaiting

our spirits hibernating

like our brothers the bear

our sap slow and deep

our thoughts turned in

but what’s this?

a turtle coos victory over death

the earth quickens

sends out magic crocus

forsythia explode

ecstatic mirror of the sun

redbud promise

dogwood dance under the April moon

our sap is running

our love is blooming

our spirits dancing

to the turtle’s magic song

(Pippa Passes, Kentucky
February 1979)

Petitions/Prayer of the Faithful for February 21, 2016

Ellen McHugh has written these petitions for Sunday, February 21, 2016.

Prayer of the Faithful for February 21, 2016

Second Sunday of Lent

Celebrant:   Trusting in the mercy and love of our God who walked among the poor, the vulnerable and the outcast, we voice our own petitions, asking for what we need, and for the needs of our sisters and brothers here and around the world, saying, “Lord, help us to be instruments of your peace.”

·      As we continue our Lenten journey, we pray that our priests who accompany us to the mountain of Christ at every Mass and feed us with His transforming love in the sacraments, will be strengthened in their life and mission.  We pray to the Lord. 

·      For all who live in the Holy Land; that all who draw faith from the witness of Abraham may work to bring forth a lasting and just peace.  We pray to the Lord. 

·      In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, we pray that through the Sacrament of Reconciliation we may set aside the sin and brokenness that divides us and bring peace to our hearts, our homes, and our world. We pray to the Lord.

·      For our community gathered here—that the prayer and support we give to Rice Bowl and our Mission in Latin America may bring us all into closer communion and fellowship with our sisters and brothers in Christ.  We pray to the Lord.

·      For the hungry and the homeless of our community, for the sick and hospitalized, their families and caregivers; for those needing the strength of the transfiguration in their trials.  We pray to the Lord.

·      And for those for whom this Mass is offered [name them]. We pray to the Lord.

·      Let us pause now and silently offer to the Father our own particular intentions [allow for silence. . .].  We pray to the Lord.

Celebrant: Merciful God, as you answer our prayers, give us the faith and hope we need in this life; help us to be faithful stewards of your mercy; help us to grow in your love which lasts forever.  We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Spending Valentine's Day in a Homeless Shelter

I took the photos below last year when I stayed overnight at the Emergency Warming Shelter at St. Mary's in Painesville, Ohio. It looked about the same last night.

Pope Francis's words pretty much sum up what we try to do. We let our hospitality, our actions, proclaim the message of the Gospel.

Last night we had 14 guests, sleeping on cots around the perimeter of the gym.

My cot, sleeping bag, etc. The same for all the guests.

Outside the emergency shelter. Last night was very cold, windy, and snowy.

Spending Valentine's Day in a Homeless Shelter

I, along with lead volunteer and organizer Kathy Philipps, spent Valentine's Day night at an emergency Warming Center/Homeless Shelter, with fourteen guests. Some of our guests could have died if they had to spend the night in the bitter cold and snow of Painesville, Ohio. The emergency shelter was provided by St. Mary's Parish, and I want to thank the parishioners, staff, and the pastor, Fr. Steve Vellenga, for their huge generosity, a generosity right in the spirit of Pope Francis and, indeed, Jesus, who admonished us to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless.

Our shelter has a minimum of basic rules, and these provide for the safety and well-being of our guests. We know the names and much about the lives of our guests, and we try to treat them as friends. We are not bureaucratic; we don't have endless rules and forms to fill out because we don't have governmental funding (in fact, almost no funding--just small donations and volunteer labor). In many ways we operate along the lines of the Catholic Worker, founded by Dorothy Day about 85 years ago. Dorothy's model was based upon the ancient traditions of hospitality, so central to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

For the most part, the night went well. Linda Coughlin and Dan and Kathy Philipps helped set things up, served a light dinner, and set up the cots, sheets, blankets, etc. They brought in a television/VCR unit and showed a movie, and they talked to the guests until after 9 PM.

Around 10 PM all the lights were extinguished and almost everyone fell asleep. Kathy was awakened in the middle of the night by a guest who was pacing and crying--she seemed to be suffering from anxiety. Her anxiety escalated into loud talking and great distress, and she and her partner left of their own free will around 4 AM. Another woman, suffering from mental distress, also left in the middle of the night. But most guests did fine and slept all night. People woke up around 6 AM, had a light breakfast, cleaned up the gym, and all were back on the street (including Kathy Philipps and me) by around 7:15.

I headed home at that time, having had about 6 hours sleep. Kathy, who slept very little, gathered all the linens into plastic bags and took them home for washing.

The night involved a lot of work, and maybe not enough sleep. But nobody died, nobody froze to death, everyone was offered shelter and food, everyone was treated with respect and kindness--Valentine's Day night was a success. You might say it was a night of love.

Pope Francis in Havana on Who We Should Pray For, Who We Should Love

Pope Francis, who is in Havana, Cuba, said this:

But first, before they sleep, Francis said: "Look at the Virgin and remember these faces: the people who love us, those we love, those we don't love, those who don't love us and those who have done us harm."

This is a great man, one who understands what it means to follow Jesus.

Here's a link to the story in the New York Times: Pope Francis in Cuba

Petitions/Prayer of the Faithful for February 14, 2016

Here are the petitions Ellen McHugh worked up for February 14th for St. Mary's Church in Painesville, Ohio.

Prayer of the Faithful for February 14, 2016

First Sunday of Lent

Celebrant:   Trusting in the mercy and love of our God who walked among the poor, the vulnerable and the outcast, we voice our own petitions, asking for what we need, and for the needs of our sisters and brothers here and around the world, saying, “Lord, help us to be instruments of your peace.”

·      As we begin our Lenten journey, may we be inspired by the message of Rice Bowl: that our fasting be a hunger for justice, our almsgiving a making of peace, and our prayers the change of humble and grateful hearts. We pray to the Lord.

·      We ask for God’s help to put our faith into action; we pray for religious and lay ministers  who work to end violations of human dignity, who give voice to those who go unheard, who help those who are most vulnerable.  We pray to the Lord. 

·      For our community gathered here—that the support we give to the Missions today may bring us all into communion and fellowship with our sisters and brothers here and around the world.  We pray to the Lord.

·      With the strength that comes from the Holy Spirit, lead us back to the way of holiness, give us the courage to acknowledge our sinfulness, protecting us from sin that wounds ourselves and others.  We pray to the Lord. 

      We pray that in our daily lives we may experience this Lenten season as peacemakers, quick to hear and listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Let our words always speak your truth with compassion.  We pray to the Lord.

·      And for those for whom this Mass is offered [name them]. We pray to the Lord.

·      Let us pause now and silently offer to the Father our own particular intentions [allow for silence. . .].  We pray to the Lord.

Celebrant: Merciful God, as you answer our prayers, give us the faith and hope we need in this life; help us to be faithful stewards of your mercy; help us to grow in your love which lasts forever.  We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

A Fun Winter Morning with My Grandson Colin

First thing, a class on junco birds at the Children's Schoolhouse Nature Center in Kirtland Hills. Then snowshoeing at Penitentiary Glenn Metropark in Kirtland. Then home, for bubble-blowing and baking blueberry muffins with Nana Linda. What a day for the boys!

Colin, making paper juncos at the Children's Schoolhouse Nature Center facility.

Colin's junco.

The Schoolhouse was built in 1898! The ranger rang the bell as we left the building.

The ranger took us for a short walk around the schoolhouse. We looked for likely junco nest locations.

Colin snowshoeing at Penitentiary Glenn Metropark.

Harder to walk on snowshoes than you'd think!

A cold, snowy day in Kirtland, Ohio.

A short video of Colin on snowshoes.

At Penitentiary Glenn.

Robby and Colin blowing bubbles with Nana Linda.

The boys were really in to this!

Thinking about Ash Wednesday (with two poems)

 To me Ash Wednesday is a day for serious reflection, a day full of memories. Some of those memories are expressed in the poems below. Both poems are based on my own experiences.

Ash Wednesday at St. William’s School

The immaculate

groomed children

play joyfully on the playground--

but odd

anachronism:

scandalous

ashes of death

in the sign

of the cross

on innocent

foreheads

remember

our mortality

the amazing sacrifice.

The marked innocents

forget the strange rite

with wondrous enthusiasm and energy

play like it’s any other day.

The Last Ash Wednesday (February 2003)

After teaching my classes,

I drive over to Kevin’s house

Where Mom now lives after moving from Euclid

Our family home for fifty-one years.

It’s getting harder for her to go out,

So I come to her house,

Burn last year’s palm fronds in the ash tray

And anoint her forehead with the Sign of the Cross.

I find myself unable to utter the ancient words,

“Remember, Woman, from dust thou art,

And unto dust thou shallt return.”

The words are too painful, too real,

The abiding dust

too close.

Then Mom anoints my own forehead,

Again leaving the words unspoken:

No one can ever know . . . .

After the little ceremony,

We both laugh, and Mom says,

“Let’s drink a beer!”

“Not on Ash Wednesday,” I tease.

“The hell with that!” she retorts.

“I’m old enough now to be above the rules!”

We both laugh, and I pop open two beers.

We drink to Mardi Gras and to Lent,

And to the ashes on our foreheads.

                                                             Bob Coughlin

                                                                        February 21, 2007

                                                                        Ash Wednesday