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Tuesday, October 2, 2007
I'm in Sydney, Nova Scotia this week at a meeting of the National Federation of Presbyteral Councils. The occasion is the annual National Assembly of the NFPC and we're enjoying the hospitality that Cape Breton Island is so famous for.
During the first day of our meetings, we had the great pleasure to spend some time with Dr. Margaret MacDonald, who shared some thoughts about leadership in the very earliest years of the Church and its development as it is spoken of in the biblical letters of Saint Paul and the Gospels.
In the course of her writings, she also quoted extensively from two particular books which I look forward to reading in more depth. I thought that I would share them with you so that you too can explore them if you wish.
A Woman's Place: House Churches in Earliest Christianity
Carolyn Osiek and Margaret MacDonald
(Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2006)
ISBN: 0-8006-3777-1
Stewards, Prophets, Keepers of the Word: Leadership in the Early Church
Ritva H. Williams
(Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2006)
ISBN: 978-1-56563-949-2
Posted by Rev. Anthony Man-Son-Hing at 12:28 PM
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
In the second presentation of the National Assembly, the NFPC heard from Rev. R.B MacDonald, a priest of the Diocese of Antigonish who is eminently qualified and waxes eloquently about the declarations of the Second Vatican Eccumenical Council (1962-1965).
Fr. R.B. as he is known to friends and collegues presented reflections on the priesthood as it was explained in the documents of the Council, especially
Father MacDonald was studying in Rome during the time of the Vatican Council and therefore was afforded a rare opportunity to visit the Council chambers during the deliberations, and to have insights into the behind-the-scenes developments which were otherwise perhaps unknown to much of the wider world. His insights shed a new light on the subject especially for those of us who are not so far along the journey of life.
Having examined the question of priesthood yesterday and today, we will turn our attention tomorrow to the priesthood of the future. In the meanwhile, we are taking advantage of wonderful weather to visit some of the tourist attractions on Cape Breton.
Posted by Rev. Anthony Man-Son-Hing at 9:19 AM
Thursday, October 4, 2007
For the third and final presentation at the annual meeting of the National Federation of Presbyteral Councils, Rev. John Jennings, a priest of the Diocese of Saint John, NB was invited to share some wisdom about how to begin the discussion.
The thesis of Father Jennings' presentation was that change, no matter the context, is always in response to circumstances which precipitate it. Beginning with the Early Church, he outlined how the identification of circumstances such as persecution, the need for definition of terms, establishment of order and other factors have all necessitated change during the history of the Church.
In his article entitled "Vatican Council II: Did Anything Happen?", published in Theological Studies, J.W. O'Maley spoke of the importance of balancing the lived tradition and the tendency to overemphasize the need for change. As such, one of the important roles of the Council was to concentrate on continuities while also recognizing discontinuities which have been effected by change throughout the Church's history.
One thing is certain, there is always change afoot, and when the Church is at its best, it has always been able to absorb and adjust the societies in which it is found, all the better to respond to the changes which are happening around it, and all the better to respond to the needs of the people of God.
Change represents a pivotal point in life. While it is important to be aware of the shifts in realities we face, it is equally imperative that we be aware of the gifts we bring to this moment, gifts which enable us to face the challenge of change head on and to maintain an atmosphere of hope as we look to the future.
The NFPC National Assembly wraps up tomorrow.
Posted by Rev. Anthony Man-Son-Hing at 12:57 PM
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