The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord invites us to reflect on how God has immersed himself in human life. Manifest in Jesus, God walked into the river of human life and was ritually baptized. God conveyed in the ritual of Baptism that He is one of us and we are in this together, and THIS is life!
Our good friend Terry Nelson-Johnson from Old St. Patrick’s church has helped us to distinguish between two questions. Have you been baptized and ARE you baptized? The first refers to a date that we participated in a ritual. The second refers to how we live the experience of baptism all through life.
The Mass of Rock
I thought that it might be helpful to explain where the idea of the Mass of Rock has come from. As it is with everything, it started with God. God gives us life! Because of that life, from that life, comes a story, and the story of every human being is unique, more powerful, richer, more meaningful and holier than we think
God gave us Jesus Christ. God was manifest in Jesus Christ who instituted celebrations and stories of the sacredness of life, all life. Our Roman Catholic tradition calls these celebrations Sacraments, and they include moments of holiness and sanctity that are both formal and informal, public and personal: Sacrament, with a capital S, and also with a small s.
We do not have a faith tradition or church, beginning with the Old Testament, that tells us what is sacred. Rather we have a legacy of faith that began with life. Our traditions are based on people drawing the sacred out of life and Jesus did that better than anyone. Our Judeo-Christian tradition is based on classic moments, inspired by God that validate how precious life is.
Classic elements of life, inspired by God and told as sacred stories – that is what scripture is. The Bible is a library of books telling classic stories of the divine human enterprise, a sacred partnership between us and God.
So it is with many artistic, dramatic and musical endeavors, and so it is with popular music and Rock ‘n Roll in particular. It is a powerful collection of classic feelings, emotions and creativity that reveal things about the sacred gift of life that God has given us.
I hope that through the Mass of Rock we all will make a greater connection, have more powerful experiences and more joyfully and participatively celebrate God’s presence through Jesus Christ in life. I hope that through this unique Eucharistic experience you will more powerfully connect your musical memory with God who has given you life.
About 15 years ago I began planning a Mass that incorporated two of the most meaningful things in my life – the Eucharist and popular music. My brother Mark and our good friend Jim Savoi (who came up with the name Mass of Rock) began planning, but it has really taken this long to put pieces together and have the resources, such as Gene Garcia’s, talent to actually pull it off.
In short, I want to use the energy, creativity, poetry and power of Rock ‘n Roll to more passionately worship God through the Eucharist that Jesus Christ instituted.
Please join us for the inaugural Mass of Rock on Sunday, January 27 at 4:00 pm. Rock on!
Gretchen Ludwig
It is with great sadness that I share with you that our beloved past principal here at Holy Family Catholic Academy, Dr. Gretchen Ludwig, passed away this past week. She suffered with MSA, a rare autoimmune disease. We will all miss her and let us keep her family in our prayers and hold, with deep gratitude, fond memories of her time with us. Gretchen was our second principal, serving from 2004-2013. Her leadership established a culture of continuous improvement and was the driving force behind the innovative approach to inquiry-based learning that is at the center of our Academy’s curriculum today. A significant amount of the growth of our Academy reflects the faith-based commitment that Gretchen demonstrated herself. She was a passionate educator who always expected the best from her staff and instilled a culture that claimed that failure is not an option.
Dr. Ludwig was both blessed with and worked continuously on her singing voice. She sang in a beautiful and classic way a song that was deep in her heart.
The Gathering
We will be hosting the 7th annual The Gathering which has become the largest gathering of men in the Archdiocese. The day offers sports themed presentations that connect with our spiritual lives. The Gathering will be held on Saturday, February 2 here at Holy Family from 8:30- 3:30. Dads, invite your adult sons. Adult sons, invite your dads.
Holy Family Gala
Mark your calendars for our annual Gala, Saturday evening, February 23, Concord Banquets in Kildeer.