Letters from Canada 17 October 2014
Father Mark: Quite early in my childhood I learned the importance of bonding with people. First with my parents, then with my sister and brother. From there it was bonding with new friends, teachers, and people in authority. As an adult and a priest, I understand the different levels of intensity that bind people to each other. Between me and Bishop Cornelius our special bond will be tested by my involvement in searching for Mary.
I am certain that Bishop Cornelius who also is a close friend and confidant will not be crazy about my attempts to locate Mary. Even less enthused will He be about my working in close proximity with Susan. Still fresh in His memory are Susan’s attempts to lure me away from my vocation. From His perspective, Susan is anti-Catholic and a disruptive influence on me.
Bishop Cornelius is mindful that all our viewpoint differences cannot be attributed to Susan; but he does hold her responsible for my participation in what Bishop Cornelius refers to as the “University Atheist Club”. It is collection of Academics and Professional people that get together once every two or three months at the University Campus or sometimes off Campus to discuss and debate ideas and concepts in politics, science, philosophy (including religion), medicine, sociology, and psychology. True many of members of this “University Think Tank” do not believe in God and some are antagonistic towards religion, but my participation is both an important learning experience and pastoral training for me.
In the beginning, I was not at all welcome to these seminars. Being a Catholic priest some members referred to me Professor Mythology. Professor Leon, Department Director of Philosophy and Susan, both individuals of a strong faith in God, used their considerable influence to include me in this “University Think Tank”.
Our next seminar topic will dive into “Meaning of Human Life”. It will be off campus due to some of the participants expressed need for access to alcohol during this discussion. This lively deliberation will be featured in a future “Letters from Canada”.
Getting back to the subject at hand my meeting with Bishop Cornelius, He will expect a good explanation of why I am pursing this mission.
As I greeted the Bishop, He sensed my apprehension and quickly put me at ease and then we got down to business.
Bishop Cornelius: Lately, I received more than usual large amounts of email and written letters, plus a flood of phone calls about your activities ranging from hanging out with a mystery woman at Chucks to meddling in the affairs of a prominent parishioner. Please tell me your side of the story. Please skip the looking for lost sheep part of the story.
Father Mark: Williams’s daughter Mary does not like me. It does not always bother me that some people may not like me, but it does bother me if the reason can be attributed to my personal flaws. Mary shared with Linda, that like Her Father I align myself with people that are wealthy, influential and powerful and have no clue what young adults like her are coping with. It would be understandable, if I came up short in comparison to Jesus, but she is comparing me to her father, an arrogant businessman.
Mary is not alone in lumping the clergy with average people that are seeking social status and a life of comfort for themselves. Unfortunately many people, especially young people like Mary believe priests are just interested or care for their own wellbeing. Many of the children that attend church with their parent today will leave the church tomorrow and among them many will not return. They are lost souls - sorry for referring to the sheep story - that need to be reunited with God.
In frank discussion with some of my “University Think Tank” friends who were raised Catholic or Protestant, I gained insight into why some of them left intuitional religion (Some of my insights will be shared in future “Letters”). For now I pray our talks will help them find God.
It is imperative that I do all in my power to help ensure Mary is safe. The prayers and future directional path of Mary’s little brother and many others depend on it. Even though I struggle for the right words to express why I am doing this, to me realizing my destiny as a person working for God also depends on doing everything I can to help Mary. My friend Susan and RCMP Officer Tom will assist me in this task.
Bishop Cornelius: I am trying to understand the importance and urgency of your involvement in finding Mary and I am definitely sympathetic to Mary’s plight, but I don’t want one of my best priest to play Columbo (1970’s TV police detective) on church time. This is a job for Tom and the RCMP police plus the private investigator that William hired. I am very unease about Susan working with you.
In today’s social climate, a story of a Catholic priest searching for a pregnant young girl has scandal written all over it. Add to the story that in this quest the priest will be joined by his former girlfriend and a rival suitor (Tom) and you have Eskimos in the Artic laughing as they read about this on the internet.
What will be your reaction if I oppose you and ask you not to pursue this task?
Father Mark: I will request a leave of absence and move away some distance from here. Don’t know where I will go or what I will do, for I have not given this much thought. After sorting things out and deciding what to do next, I might return to my current responsibilities or I may choose a different career path.
To be continued in “Letters from Canada 18”
Father Mark: Quite early in my childhood I learned the importance of bonding with people. First with my parents, then with my sister and brother. From there it was bonding with new friends, teachers, and people in authority. As an adult and a priest, I understand the different levels of intensity that bind people to each other. Between me and Bishop Cornelius our special bond will be tested by my involvement in searching for Mary.
I am certain that Bishop Cornelius who also is a close friend and confidant will not be crazy about my attempts to locate Mary. Even less enthused will He be about my working in close proximity with Susan. Still fresh in His memory are Susan’s attempts to lure me away from my vocation. From His perspective, Susan is anti-Catholic and a disruptive influence on me.
Bishop Cornelius is mindful that all our viewpoint differences cannot be attributed to Susan; but he does hold her responsible for my participation in what Bishop Cornelius refers to as the “University Atheist Club”. It is collection of Academics and Professional people that get together once every two or three months at the University Campus or sometimes off Campus to discuss and debate ideas and concepts in politics, science, philosophy (including religion), medicine, sociology, and psychology. True many of members of this “University Think Tank” do not believe in God and some are antagonistic towards religion, but my participation is both an important learning experience and pastoral training for me.
In the beginning, I was not at all welcome to these seminars. Being a Catholic priest some members referred to me Professor Mythology. Professor Leon, Department Director of Philosophy and Susan, both individuals of a strong faith in God, used their considerable influence to include me in this “University Think Tank”.
Our next seminar topic will dive into “Meaning of Human Life”. It will be off campus due to some of the participants expressed need for access to alcohol during this discussion. This lively deliberation will be featured in a future “Letters from Canada”.
Getting back to the subject at hand my meeting with Bishop Cornelius, He will expect a good explanation of why I am pursing this mission.
As I greeted the Bishop, He sensed my apprehension and quickly put me at ease and then we got down to business.
Bishop Cornelius: Lately, I received more than usual large amounts of email and written letters, plus a flood of phone calls about your activities ranging from hanging out with a mystery woman at Chucks to meddling in the affairs of a prominent parishioner. Please tell me your side of the story. Please skip the looking for lost sheep part of the story.
Father Mark: Williams’s daughter Mary does not like me. It does not always bother me that some people may not like me, but it does bother me if the reason can be attributed to my personal flaws. Mary shared with Linda, that like Her Father I align myself with people that are wealthy, influential and powerful and have no clue what young adults like her are coping with. It would be understandable, if I came up short in comparison to Jesus, but she is comparing me to her father, an arrogant businessman.
Mary is not alone in lumping the clergy with average people that are seeking social status and a life of comfort for themselves. Unfortunately many people, especially young people like Mary believe priests are just interested or care for their own wellbeing. Many of the children that attend church with their parent today will leave the church tomorrow and among them many will not return. They are lost souls - sorry for referring to the sheep story - that need to be reunited with God.
In frank discussion with some of my “University Think Tank” friends who were raised Catholic or Protestant, I gained insight into why some of them left intuitional religion (Some of my insights will be shared in future “Letters”). For now I pray our talks will help them find God.
It is imperative that I do all in my power to help ensure Mary is safe. The prayers and future directional path of Mary’s little brother and many others depend on it. Even though I struggle for the right words to express why I am doing this, to me realizing my destiny as a person working for God also depends on doing everything I can to help Mary. My friend Susan and RCMP Officer Tom will assist me in this task.
Bishop Cornelius: I am trying to understand the importance and urgency of your involvement in finding Mary and I am definitely sympathetic to Mary’s plight, but I don’t want one of my best priest to play Columbo (1970’s TV police detective) on church time. This is a job for Tom and the RCMP police plus the private investigator that William hired. I am very unease about Susan working with you.
In today’s social climate, a story of a Catholic priest searching for a pregnant young girl has scandal written all over it. Add to the story that in this quest the priest will be joined by his former girlfriend and a rival suitor (Tom) and you have Eskimos in the Artic laughing as they read about this on the internet.
What will be your reaction if I oppose you and ask you not to pursue this task?
Father Mark: I will request a leave of absence and move away some distance from here. Don’t know where I will go or what I will do, for I have not given this much thought. After sorting things out and deciding what to do next, I might return to my current responsibilities or I may choose a different career path.
To be continued in “Letters from Canada 18”
