Winter 2009/2010 NEWSLETTER for Friends and Supporters of Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation Inside This Edition
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WINTER 2009/2010 NEWSLETTER For Friends and Supporters of Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation InsidE this Edition YEAR FOR PRIESTS - Get acquainted with nine priests through a summary of their personal vocation BRENDAN COLLINS is a seminarian for the Diocese of Derry, Northern Ireland who spent six weeks interning with Salt + Light Television. Brendan worked with the production team and hosted some episodes of our Zoom program. Brendan tells us his AN EVENING AT THE DEAD SEA story of vocation, his hopes View Highlights from Salt + Light’s for the future and something of his work with Salt + Light Fundraising Gala Television. SALT + LIGHT’S INFLUENCE So, at the age of 20, I went to university to AROUND THE WORLD study Business Management. BLESSED JOURNEYS - Austria & Germany By Brendan Collins, Seminarian and Former The next three years were spent studying while Join Father Thomas Rosica on a journey in Intern, Salt + Light Television also managing a busy grocery store in Belfast the footsteps of Pope Benedict XVI City. The role brought a variety of valuable I am a student at the Irish College in Rome, experiences, most of which were borne out August 15 - 24, 2010 in my second year of theological studies at of meeting and interacting with people on a the Pontifical University of St. Thomas. This professional and personal level. is my fourth year of seminary formation, the first two years were spent at the Diocesan After the death of a close friend and a family Seminary – St. Malachy’s College, Belfast. member I realized the importance of the priest, and while I had considered a priestly vocation, So, why the priesthood? I am from a town I did not feel ready to pursue this path. I called Omagh in Northern Ireland where I became friends with a young priest who was brought up by my parents in a Catholic helped me to see the wonderful gift of the home, with my two brothers and two sisters. priesthood and to understand that it comes as My grandmother lived close to us and was a a gift from God. I recall a quote from Blessed great witness to the faith. I was involved in my Mother Teresa that summed up how I was to parents’ business for several years and decided understand priesthood: “we are the pencil in that this was an area I might pursue. God’s hand,” she said. ... continued on page 3 CEO’S MESSAGE Dear Friends, “The Church as a whole and all her Pastors, like Last June, Pope Benedict inaugurated a “Year for Priests” in Christ, must set out to lead celebration of the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John people out of the desert, Mary Vianney. The Pope also chose a related theme for World Communications Day, 2010: “The priest and pastoral ministry in a towards the place of life, digital world: new media at the service of the Word.” towards friendship with the Son of God, towards This theme is particularly relevant to our work at Salt + Light the One who gives us life, Television, and to all who work in communicating the Good News and life in abundance.” and the story of the Church through multimedia. We are called each Pope Benedict XVI day to engage all people in our efforts to tell the story of Jesus and the Church to the world. At Salt + Light Television, we firmly believe that Jesus Christ is indeed The past weeks and months, I have reflected on the media challenges the Truth, and that its fullness is found in the Catholic Church. But faced by Salt + Light Television and the Church. I hear and read we also embrace our role in seeking out – with humility and in light feedback from our many viewers – both on air and through our of the Gospel – how to respond to the many and varied demands interactive Salt + Light website – who express a desire for us to give of today’s world. We do not impose the Gospel on the world, but new forms of triumphalism, juridicism, and clericalism to the Church propose it as an alternative vision of compelling beauty. We seek to through our network. persuade by grace, truth, beauty, faith and reason through our many television programs and teachings. A triumphalist approach would require us to exercise authority through aggressive condemnation and excommunication, and During the homily of his Installation Mass nearly five years ago at the believes that the Church and its representatives hold the truth but Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI said: “The Church as a whole and all her also the answers to every modern dilemma. Pastors, like Christ, must set out to lead people out of the desert, towards the place of life, towards friendship with the Son of God, The juridicism approach searches out laws – new or old – to justify towards the One who gives us life, and life in abundance.” personal positions or ideologies in the Church. Juridicists delight in focusing on liturgical practices, which often result in hoops through That is our mission at Salt + Light Television. Thank you for your which people must jump. generosity, prayerful support and financial assistance. Thank you for supporting priests in this special year of thanksgiving for priestly The clericalist approach exaggerates the authority of the priest or ministry in the church. bishop, creating a new authoritarianism. The clericalist operates as if ordained ministers are entitled to special status and privilege in the The world needs Salt + Light Television now more than ever. We Church and in society. Clericalists give little merit to collaboration need the flavour of the Gospel to permeate the tasteless elements of with the laity and their involvement in endeavours like Salt + Light the culture that surrounds us and the light of Christ to penetrate the Television. This position contents itself with a series of “talking head” darkness that encircles us. priests, sisters and Church leaders who simply “talk at people” rather than engaging them in a living creating dialogue. May the Lord bless you and your loved ones abundantly during these days of patience longing and joyful waiting of the Emmanuel, God The ordained priest, consecrated religious and leaders of the Church, truly with us. especially when acting as part of a public ministry, represent Christ the Head and Good Shepherd of the Church. When religious Sincerely yours in Christ, broadcasting and media are manipulated by or become instruments of groups that move the Church toward such forms of triumphalism, juridicism, and clericalism, we fail in our mission of helping people to grow into a dynamic, breathing, hopeful Church. Father Thomas Rosica, CSB CEO, Salt + Light Television 2 • LAMPSTAND SALT + LIGHT’S INFLUENCE AROUND THE WORLD from page 1 God makes the decision, and it is our duty diocese agreed to the placement and I spent to grow to accept it. The will of God will not six weeks working at Salt + Light. As I look always be easy, however, when we encounter back I cannot recall a “settling-in period.” I wonderful people to share in our experiences felt part of the team from the beginning. I they make the journey worthwhile. had a job and a purpose. I have been fortunate to spend the past two I loved how the Salt + Light staff were at summers in different continents as part of the centre of the network. The entire team my pastoral placements. I attended World worked together whether it was writing Youth Day in Sydney, Australia in 2008 as a material, hosting programs or eating lunch. delegate of the International Liturgy Group, The presence of the Blessed Sacrament, where I also had the opportunity to serve reserved in the chapel, ensured a spiritual Pope Benedict XVI. presence and a focus for our work. During my time in Australia I met Father During my time at Salt + Light, I learned Thomas Rosica, CSB, and he spoke to me much about media and the Church. Salt + Light Television has contributed to my about Salt + Light Television. I kept in contact Thankfully, people such as Father Rosica learning experiences and has given me hope with Father Rosica and the opportunity to and the team at Salt + Light make it their for the future. May we all continue to bring spend a summer interning for Salt + Light vocation each day to build up the Church and Jesus into the lives of those whom we meet became possible. I had no background in to be people of God showing others the gifts daily. media, but I felt the experience would be of God in the light of the Holy Spirit. invaluable. Thankfully, the Bishop of my PORTRAIT of A Priest Called by Pope Benedict XVI for June 2009 - 2010, this Year for Priests provides us with the occasion to rediscover the importance of priests in our midst. They are called to be exemplars of Christ’s love and shepherds leading us closer to Christ. Salt + Light asked a few priests about their personal calling. Sprinkled through this edition are their vocation stories. We hope you will be inspired by their messages. Fr. Nicolas Tumbelaka, Associate Pastor Fr. Timothy Harrison, Pastor St. Ann Parish, Abbottsford, BC St. John Bosco Parish, Brockville, ON Ordained June 2006 Ordained August 1990 From the time I was seven years old, I It doesn’t matter if one has a successful imagined being a priest one day. When I grew business career, great social and prayer life, up I realized that this vocation comes with unlimited future plans or all kinds of material great responsibility and so, I became a little possessions.