My World of Religion, Politics, Entertainment and Social Issues

Dear Blog Visitors: Whenever we focus on a new calendar year, we tend to think about the theme of endings and beginnings. For example, we remember those who died in 2009 and we move ahead in the hope that 2010 will somehow be a better year. In Christianity, we think of life and death in a variety of ways. For example, we celebrate the miracle of birth, which is further enhanced via baptism, as depicted in the photo above (a baby I recently baptized). When Jesus instructed his disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, it served as a reminder for future generations that He died for our sins, and through our baptisms, we have the enhanced opportunity to live good lives in the service of others. As sad as death is to those who experience the loss of a loved one, there is also comfort when one thinks of the departed as entering into a new phase of eternal life. So, as we remember those who were close to us in their earthly lives, they remain with...

Dear Blog Visitors: A few friends have inquired as to whether or not I have intentions of moving to an Eastern Rite church. In retrospect, I can certainly understand why an assumption might be made, considering that many of my Facebook friends are indeed Eastern Rite bishops and priests. In addition, married priests are plentiful in the eastern church, whereas celibacy remains normative in the western church – namely, within Roman Catholicism. At present, I remain a member of Spiritus Christi Church in Rochester, New York. Spiritus Christi, which is independent of the Diocese of Rochester, is known for its inclusiveness and multi-faceted outreach ministries. However, considering that I have very little time to myself, due to my high-pressure secular job and weekend activities that occupy my time, I have been utilizing many Sunday mornings to spend some time alone in spiritual reflection. During this time alone, I often focus on liturgical matters. Whenever I think about what makes...

Dear Blog Visitors: I want to begin by extending my gratitude to the multitudes of people who sent messages of sympathy to me following the death of my father, Sidney Grosswirth, on November 18. My father was born while World War I was in progress. When it came time for America to join its allies in World War II, my father was unable to serve, due to a broken back he suffered in a serious car crash. However, he often talked about his friends who were able to serve. As I listened to two Christmas classics a few days ago, namely "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "White Christmas," I was reminded of the significance these songs had for soldiers and their families during World War II. As I reflected, thoughts of three of my father's friends immediately came to mind: Paul Roxin, Harold Wiesner and Chuck Snyder. As Brenda and I were shopping at Eastview Mall a couple days ago, we noticed that Paul Roxin was autographing copies of a book he recently wrote, entitl...

Dear Blog Visitors: I want to take this opportunity to wish all bloggers in cyberspace the very best of the holiday season. I continue to be mindful of the fact that bloggers don't always agree with each other, particularly when it comes to a contentious issue such as church reform. However, especially at this time of year, it is good to put differences aside and instead embrace the symbolisms of peace and light, which are both characteristic of Hanukkah and Christmas. I have included two photos of Brenda and me. We both extend holiday greetings to all who visit this blog. Let us continue to pray for peace in our world.

Dear Blog Visitors: I want to take this opportunity to wish my Jewish relatives and friends a very blessed Hanukkah. Hanukkah always brings back memories of my childhood, which was a wonderful Judeo-Christian upbringing. I continue to be thankful to my parents for exposing me to all the elements of Judaism and Catholicism. As a young boy, I had the privilege of attending Hebrew School and preparing for my bar mitzvah, while at the same time, celebrating Christian holidays with my mother's side of the family. I often tell people that I am probably a rarity, in that I went through a bar mitzvah, baptism, confirmation, and finally became ordained a married Catholic priest. In honor of my Jewish relatives, I am posting two photos. The first was taken of my father and his siblings around 1927. (My father is pictured on the far right in the first row.) The second photo was taken at my Bar Mitzvah in 1962. Peace to all, Ray

Dear Blog Visitors: I have been taking a break from the busyness of the holiday season to return to one of my passions - namely, researching my family ancestry. If you have never taken the challenge of searching records that pertain to your family history, it is an enterprise I highly recommend, because I find it helps to give your life purpose/meaning. Before beginning my ancestry quest several years ago, all I had was some very basic information. This led me on my quest. Researching my father's side of the family was especially challenging, because it required my looking for long-lost Hungarian data. Researching my mother's side of the family was a little easier, especially with the help of the Dodge Family Association, which has done some remarkable work, such as tracing the origins of Dodge settlers in America and beyond. I thought you might like to see a couple old photos I discovered recently. The first one is of my maternal great-great-grandmother, Maria J. (Lightfoo...

Dear Blog Visitors: I normally try to stay focused on the religious aspects of the holiday season, such as reflecting on the weekly and weekend readings of Advent and Christmas. However, it is especially nostalgic for me this year, as I reflect back on the many holiday celebrations that took place amongst my religiously diverse family. As a child, I felt privileged to celebrate Hanukkah with my father's side of the family and Christmas with my mother's side. (My father was Jewish and my mother was Roman Catholic.) With the recent death of my father, and the fact that both of my siblings live in other states, I am left to my family holiday memories this year, although my wife and I will celebrate the holidays together, in addition to our gathering with friends on Christmas Day. As I reflect back on my Christmas celebrations as a child, I have very fond memories of my maternal grandparents, Franklin and Dorothy (Burke) Dodge. My very first visit with Santa was on the same day ...