The Redemption of ARod

Finally the Yankee season is over. I say "finally" because now life can return to normal for Yankee fans. Thankfully it ended the way that all fans wish their favorite team's season would end. And what a fun season it had been!

There have been many great stories this season revolving around this Yankee team: the change in the clubhouse attitude, going from a stressed group of players who were anxious about losing to a loose, relaxed group that finally had some fun and personality. There were all the new players signed through free agency that were the missing pieces of the proverbial puzzle. There were the phenomenal individual seasons and highlights put together by Derek Jeter and Mark Teixiera.

One story that received much attention, but I believe was never really fully developed was the "conversion and redemption" of Alex Rodriguez.

Firstly, this is not an attempt to canonize ARod. We are all far too familiar with his private life and many of the issues that became public. May God bless him. At the same time, I believe there has been a remarkable change in the man. He went from a player who seemingly needed to be the lead story, the highest paid, the center attraction, the one who enjoyed the controversy, to the humble player who recognized that the team and the game are bigger than himself. Finally, it seemed that Alex simply enjoyed being part of the team and did not need to be the team. It was OK if others played better of got the big hit or had the attention, as long as the team was successful. What a wonderfully Christian attitude! And what a wonderful change (or one might say, "conversion").

I am not certain of ARod's religious affiliation, although I suspect he is Christian and probably a Catholic-Christian at that. His selfless, team-first mentality is certainly a refreshing change for him, but nice to see in the world of professional sports. While perhaps that change in the star player occurred because of maturity, it way have happened as he realized that we can achieve greatness by being sacrificial. This is a more Christian mentality: working as a team, filling in for what is lacking in the team, not being afraid to suffer for the good of others, recognizing that defeat is sometimes part of life and that when we grow from it, we become even more successful. It was great to see him taking delight in the success of others. These are the lessons that Jesus taught to the disciples and were followed by the early Church especially.

I am not quite willing to use Alex Rodriguez as an example of a Christ-figure playing for the Yankees. I am, however, glad to see how his humility and change in attitude and simplicity were wonderful lessons for those who watched the Yankees this year. At the very least, it was a refreshing change to see a selfless attitude in a major sports figure. And that change brought about great success. I hope that he continues to display these virtues as both a Yankee and, more importantly, as a Christian man.


--Fr. Marc A. Vicari

The Engaged Couple

Part of marriage preparation in the Archdiocese of Newark means wither attending a Pre-Cana session (or sessions) which is always a good a practical experience. Important topics such as the need for the sacraments, communications, finances, responsible parenthood and prayer, to name a few are included. These sessions most often are lead by lay couples who are experiences in the ways of marriage and also present often is a priest to give a talk or two and perhaps to lead a prayer service or offer Mass.

An anternative in Newark is the Engaged Encounter weekend retreat. This EE retreat, as it have come to be known is a weekend long, prayerful, spiritual occasion for engaged couples to get away from the world to focus on their future spouses and forthcoming lives together. While Pre-Cana is very good, I think that EE is great! Important topics- many of the same as are included in Pre-Cana, but in EE, the talks are a bit more detailed and witnessed to by the leading couples.

The couples who work the team are either senior couples or junior couples, depending on their marriage experience. This past weekend (October 9-11) was truly a grace-filled weekend, clearly blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit and Our Lord Jesus! The were many couples on this retreat who were so excited about their upcoming weddings and very much interested in preparing for their lives together. It is exciting to see young couples in love and excited about their futures together, seeing it as an adventure together with God! Quite edifying.

Also, hearing the stories of our senior couple: Judy and Al Kendziora and junior couple Paul and Sandy Gerbino gives one a great appreciation for the value of working through the highs and lows and struggles and blessings of married love. Their stories are awe-inspiring! They always do such a wonderful job as a team.

These couples on team are such great assets to the marriage preparation program for the Archdiocese of Newark. they are helping to produce a new breed of spiritual, prayerful, discerning young couples who are the Engaged Couple!

-Fr. Marc Vicari

The Petition

In New Jersey, the Bishops' Initiative to continue to remind and reeducate our faithful about marriage, its elements and its nature has been exceedingly successful thus far. For several weeks the pastors of the dioceses of the state have been asked to make the bishops' documents accessible for their parishioners. Its purpose is for parishioners to understand what makes marriage and how marriage as we know it far outdates governments and civil laws.

Marriage historically has been comprised of man and woman. A man compliments a woman perfectly: physically as well as emotionally, as do women for men. This is the natural aspect of marriage and coupling. While same-sex attraction is not new, the attempt to redefine marriage is. No where in history do we have men marrying men and women marrying women. The attempt to call same-sex unions "marriage" is relatively new.

Some of the purposes of educating the faithful of marriage and its covenental nature is to fortify the great institution; to remind couples of what they got into and engaged couples what they are getting into and to help the faithful understand that attempts to redefine what we historically call "marriage" cannot and should not be changed to mean something else.

As a follow-up to the reminder and reeducation of what constitutes marriage, the bishops have asked the faithful to sign petitions that will be presented to local legislators, namely, the state senators and assemblypersons of their districts. The petition simply reminds the legislators that the Civil Union Act of 2006 already gives same-sex couples who enter into a civil union, all the same rights as married couples. Therefore, instead of redefining marriage, legislators who seek to enforce the Act. It is a very simple petition; it is not anti-anyone or anything. it does not speak against homosexuality or the persons. Instead it speaks of upholding marriage as we already know it.

Marriage between a man and a woman that is covenental and enduring is good for the children of that relationship for many reasons both psychologically as well as sociologically. Because marriage is good for the children through simple extension, it is then good for society. Pray that not only is marriage defended, but just as importantly, fortified for the good of society.

-Rev. Marc A. Vicari

The Bishops' Marriage Initiative

Bishops have the fullness of the priesthood of Jesus Christ. We are reminded of this in the Vatican II documents. Part of the office of the bishop is to teach and this is a significant aspect of their office. If they do not teach, how are the faithful to be reminded of the beliefs of our Faith? Sometimes the faithful needed to be reminded often of the elements and often basic elements of our Faith. Cardinal Avery Dulles used to say that we don't need new teachings, we just need to be reminded of what the old teachings are (to paraphrase him).

These past few weekends, the Bishops of the state of New Jersey reminded the faithful of what marriage is. Two weeks ago, they issues a document called the Bishops' Message on Marriage, simply reminding the faithful of the teaching of the Church regarding marriage: how it is good for society; that it is always and only constituted by a male and female; how it is for the good of children in our society and that marriage clearly displays the complementarity of the sexes. Finally, this document reminds us that marriage comes, not from a specific religion or from a government or from laws, but from God. Because God "created them male and female," He is the author of marriage which predates religions, governments and laws.

At the same time, the Bishops of New Jersey are asking the faithful to sign a petition that will be presented to their local legislators, asking them to enforce the Civil Union Act of 2007 which gives all the legal rights to same-sex couples, but not to redefine marriage as something other than that which is between a man and a female.

I am proud of the Bishops. In the eyes of the public, this is a sticky situation, but for those crying out for a better understanding of Catholic church teaching, it is an important and much needed stance. We don't need a new teaching on marriage, we just need to be reminded of the old teaching often.

There will be more on this topic in the next few months.

Just a day at the beach

I think often we take the everyday things in life for granted too often. Flowers, the giggles of children, sunrises, the smell of freshly-cut grass and so many other "ordinary" things. I think that there is nothing as forceful a reminder of the existence of God as a day on the beach. We see God's incredible power in His pushing the waves in and out; the majesty of the birds gliding through the air; feel of the strong, covering sun upon our bodies, as surely this is what God's presence feels like.

I always believed that if and when we enjoy the Beatific Vision of sitting face-to-face with God in Heaven, it would feel something like the sunlight on our skin. The beauty of this is that even if one cannot hear or see or speak while on earth now, we can get a sense of God's presence with the feel of the sun.

So often- and rightly so- the Eternal Banquet has been likened to the celebration of the Eucharist. There will be feasting and joy and togetherness and perfection of souls and utter bliss simply because we are in God's presence. At the beach yesterday, I believe I got a smaller glimpse of the Eternal Banquet by seeing the sun and witnessing God's omnipotence and seeing life enjoying God's wonders and most of all, by feeling God's seemingly divine light shine upon me.