Poem about the University of Notre Dame in 1966/67

From 1962-66, I attended an all-boys Catholic high school, St. Joe's in Cleveland (2000 boys). And then in 1966 I went on to an all-male Catholic college, the University of Notre Dame (7000 guys, no girls). This is the exotic, strange, and often lonesome environment in which I was educated.

Devil with the Blue Dress On . . .

                                                            (University of Notre Dame, 1966-67)

played over and over at Notre Dame’s Rathskeller,

Basement of the Student Center, Good Golly Miss Molly,

Only place on campus where you might, but probably not,

Meet and dance with a girl, while you’re

Grooving on a Sunday Afternoon,

And smelling their sweet perfume,

Wishing they would dance with you.

Tomorrow will be Monday, Monday,

So Reach Out I’ll Be There—

And I will Cherish you like a thirsty man in the desert cherishes water.

Of course, you will say to me, You Can’t Hurry Love;

I know you’re right, but why not let’s try.

Baby, I Need Somebody to Love, and tonight

We could go Dancing in the Street, down Notre Dame Avenue,

Down to Frankie’s or Louie’s or another juke joint,

And you could Light My Fire . . .

O baby, I’ve been Lonely Too Long,

So Lonesome I Could Cry,

And this is Notre Dame, where you learn loneliness

Along with calculus, geology, and German.

Bob Coughlin / August 16, 2016

Petitions/Prayer of the Faithful for August 21, 2016

Ellen McHugh has written these petitions for Sunday, August 21, 2016:

Prayer of the Faithful for August 21th, 2016

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Celebrant: As people of faith, we pray now for ourselves and for all those throughout the world who are in need of God’s generous mercy.

For our church leaders and for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world—that their work may reflect your will in promoting justice and peace.  We pray to the Lord.

 

For all those suffering in regions devastated by wildfires and floods—and for the men and women who work to alleviate their suffering.  We pray to the Lord. 

For our parish ministries; for those who selflessly volunteer their time and for the people they serve.  Help each one of us to discern Your call to stewardship—may Your presence in our lives be an impetus to “cross the narrow gate” in the service of others.  We pray to the Lord.

For students and teachers beginning this new school year, that the Spirit of God may grant them the gifts of self-discipline, wisdom, and understanding.  We pray to the Lord.  

Today, as we celebrate Mary as our Patroness, may her steadfast presence always serve as a sign of hope and a source of unity and peace for all of us at St. Mary.  We pray to the Lord.

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

With the prayers of Mary, we place our own private intentions in silence before our loving Lord.  [allow for silence. . .].  We pray to the Lord.

Celebrant:  Merciful God, through the power of your Spirit, help us to serve you with faith and fidelity, to be for others what Jesus is for us: pardon and peace, new life and blessing. We ask this in the name of your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen. 

Poem by an Old Friend on the Migrants Who Die in the Sonoran Desert

My friend Dorothy Chao, whom I first knew in Berea, Kentucky, now lives near Tucson, Arizona with her husband Gene. She and some of her friends try to care for the migrants from Mexico, Central America, and South America who risk everything trying to cross the Sonoran Desert. Sometimes they go out into the desert to pray at the graves of the ones who didn't make it. Some of the names of the migrants who die are unknown, "Desconcocida." Here is Dorothy's poem:

DESCONOCIDA

                  By Dorothy Chao

Now—

In the dark

I lie on my mat in the desert—

Beautiful, savage desert.

Blowing wind, rustling mesquite—

What woke me?

Moving in the scrub near our camp

Flashes of light and a night bird cry.

Desconocida—

Found in the desert today

Were  you a daughter, sister, mother, wife?

Did you think of your family when you died?

Did you think of your home

In Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Peru?

Did you see the flowers, the stars

That I did?

Or did the burning thirst,

The heat of the day

The chill of the night

Call forth the savage side of the desert only?

Did the Border Patrol come with the helicopter

Bouncing and buzzing above you like an angry bee,

And scatter your group on the rocky ground below

Like leaves before the dry desert wind?

Were you pulled along through the cactus by another

Till you could go no further

Then sacrificed—

Left behind for the survival of the group?

Did you grieve the separation from the others

Regret words spoken, unspoken,

Did you wish for the physical closeness of another human

As you died?

Did you see the town lights from your hiding place

Here in a desert wash?

Did your terror keep you still

Even as dehydration and exposure did their work?

Restless spirit,

Victim of global forces beyond your control,

Forgive my complicity!

Come sit with me thru the dark of this night.

Baptize me with your spirit,

Help me to carry your voice forward,

Speak through me

So that neither of our lives will be in vain!

Dorothy's poem and the work of "Pilgrimage of Remembrance" (click here for their blog) remind me of the song "Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)," written by Woody Guthrie back in 1948. That song was written partly because the newspapers didn't name the victims--they were all anonymous, unnamed--just deportees. Here's Woody's son Arlo singing that song some 50 years after the "Plane Wreck at Los Gatos":

Petitions/Prayer of the Faithful for August 14, 2016

Ellen McHugh wrote these petitions for St. Mary's church in Painesville, Ohio:

Prayer of the Faithful for August 14th, 2016

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Celebrant: As people of faith, we pray now for ourselves and for all those throughout the world who are in need of God’s generous mercy.

For the universal Church celebrating the Feast of the Assumption: We pray that Our Lady’s intercession may protect us—and all people—from division and discord, and direct our hearts into the ways of peace and justice.  We pray to the Lord. 

For those who govern our nations and make laws: for the wisdom and courage to honor the dignity of all human life from conception until death. We pray to the Lord.

That during this Jubilee Year of Mercy, we recognize mercy as the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to the hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness. We pray to the Lord.

For our parish ministries; for those who selflessly volunteer their time and for the people they serve.  Help each one of us, Lord, to discern your call to stewardship—may the presence of Jesus in our lives be for us, as for Mary, an impetus to help others.  We pray to the Lord.

When our faith falters, help us to be encouraged by St. Paul’s words today, “to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus,” to 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.

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, through the power of your Spirit, help us to serve you faithfully, to be for others what Jesus is for us: pardon and peace, new life and blessing. We ask this in the name of your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen. 

Poem for My New Granddaughter

First Poem for Baby Ava

When Colin, your big brother, let your name slip,

I thought, what a beautiful, simple name!

It reminds me of wings, of butterflies and birds,

Monarchs and robins, swallowtails and cardinals.

And “Ava” hints at “Eve,” earth mother,

Mother of us all.

Little Ava, born into this beautiful family,

We welcome you

                        Into this crazy and wonderful world.

 [Bob Coughlin (Your Grampa) / July 27 and August 4, 2016]

Petitions/Prayer of the Faithful for August 7, 2016

Prayer of the Faithful for August 7th, 2016

19^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Celebrant: As people of faith, we pray now for ourselves and for all those throughout the world who are in need of God’s generous mercy.

For our Holy Father Pope Francis—for our bishops, priests, and deacons to whom you have entrusted with much; inspire and sustain them to be faithful stewards of your will on Earth. We pray to the Lord.

For all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world; that their work may reflect your will in promoting justice and peace.  We pray to the Lord. 

For the sick and for all who suffer—for migrants and refugees and all who are in danger; that they may be relieved and protected.  We pray to the Lord.

For all those 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 all of us at St. Mary—and for our diocesan family: May our joyful and prayerful gathering at the Fest renew our commitment to put our faith and hope in You, to be agents of peace, defenders of life, and advocates of mercy.  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, through the power of your Spirit, help us to serve you faithfully, to be for others what Jesus is for us: pardon and peace, new life and blessing. We ask this in the name of your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen.