As I was making out the check submitting to the Archdiocese your generous response to the Catholic Communications Collection I began reflecting on the dynamic area it addressed in our church and culture. As a young priest, I recall, having to notify my Irish relatives of my impending arrival by telegram. It was expensive and I could not be sure that they had received the wire. Now, I cannot only e-mail them but read the local papers telling me of the happenings of Roosky and its surroundings. How immediate the world seems to be. As a young viewer of Wide Wide World with Dave Garroway I shared his disappointment that we could not receive a live broadcast from Great Britain. How long ago seems that failure! How overwhelmed it is as we remember seeing Americans walking on the Moon, the accomplishments of our Olympic athletes as they happen, and so many other events. The tragedies of famine in Dafur, of tsunami in the Pacific, and of earthquake in Haiti have also been brought into our offices, dens, and living rooms. Our hearts and minds are more informed that ever before.

Besides the delivery of news, we experience the possibility of expanding the horizons of culture in our lives. From our computer we can have a virtual tour of any of the world’s museums; we can take courses in economics, philosophy, history, etc., and we can hear music or view the best of modern film. But modern technology which promotes can also degrade. Gossip can be spread, threats made, and immorality encouraged. The so-called adult entertainment once restricted to the less desirable sections of  urban centers are now found on cable TV and the Internet. Progress is truly a two-edged sword.

As in all other areas of human endeavor we must display an attitude of responsibility. If we see programming which we find unacceptable then we should write to the networks airing such broadcasts and/or to those companies underwriting those programs with their advertising budgets. As adults and especially as parents we should regulate the times and types of technology our young people should be utilizing. Whether it regards ipods or cellphones, texting or tweeting, e-mailing or surfing we must have family policies and perhaps even systematic filtering. The world that communication opens up to the next generation should uplift and not degrade.

In a recent message for World Communications Day Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged: “The development of the new technologies and the larger digital world represents a great resource for humanity as a whole and for every individual, and it can act as a stimulus to encounter and dialogue. But this development likewise represents a great opportunity for believers. No door can or should be closed to those who, in the name of the risen Christ, are committed to drawing near to others…(T)he new media offer ever new and far-reaching pastoral possibilities, encouraging them to embody the universality of the Church’s mission, to build a vast and real fellowship, and to testify in today’s world to the new life which comes from hearing the Gospel of Jesus, the eternal Son who came among us for our salvation.” Our own religious education program, locally, utilizes such tools as Powerpoint to engage the students. Our Archbishop is on Facebook as the Archdiocese runs a channel on Satellite Radio (Sirius 159). Our Holy Father can be seen preaching on Youtube. As they say, “we’ve only just begun.” In our own modest way we have used this very column to communicate Church teachings. As has been said in the past questions to be discussed are most welcome from the parishioners. The following is an example.

Recently a parishioner asked: How long do Eucharistic Ministers serve. I remember hearing that there was a three year term.” When this ministry was first introduced it was thought that so many people would desire to participate in it that it would only be fair to everyone to designate a time limit. However, as time went on it was seen that this concern was unwarranted. Our bishops when speaking of all liturgical ministries stated: “All the baptized need to understand that part of their duty regarding liturgy is to accept some responsibility for the liturgy, to place themselves and their God-given talents at the service of the liturgical community whenever  possible . If liturgy is a duty as well as a right, then part of that duty for those able to undertake these tasks is the responsibility to assume such key roles as those of lector, server or acolyte, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, usher, choir member, etc. whether one brings up the gifts at the Presentation, reads the Word of God, assists with the distribution of Communion and brings the Eucharist to those unable to be present at Mass, serves at the altar, provides music that augments the joy, solemnity and festivity of the celebration or serves the assembled community as an usher, he or she is contributing to the workshop of the community and fulfilling the responsibility that comes with Baptism.”

Another individual asked: “How is  it that laity can distribute communion, when years ago only priests could because their hands are blessed.” This question has two misunderstandings. Many times throughout our history laymen and women were delegated to bring Holy Communion to the faithful. As an altar server we had a patron saint: Tarcisius. We were told that he was a young man who used to bring the Eucharist to Christians in prison. One day he was set upon by a gang. He was martyred because he refused to give up his precious Lord. Second, one’s hands need not be consecrated to touch the Eucharist. After all, we are now permitted to receive in the hand. For centuries deacons and seminarians who were instituted as acolytes could distribute communion and in neither case were their hands blessed or consecrated. The purpose in anointing the newly ordained priest’s hands with chrism is to permit him to confect the sacrament. We must always remember that the One received is far more significant than the one distributing the Eucharist.

Grateful for these questions, I seek more from our parishioners or anyone who reads this column in its hard copy or on-lines. May this week be a source of blessing to all and may we continue  to remember our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

Vivat Jesus

Fr. Brian