Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Patches And Painter

The archbishop approved of the idea. Then Jesuit Father E.B. Painter, pastor of The Madeleine, consulted the lay-led councils of the parish. Consensus emerged: Lent would be an ideal time for the spiritual project.
At Masses Sunday, Father Painter presided with one of the patches strung about his neck. He invited parishioners to discern whether they should wear one, too.
“This must be a peaceful choice for you,” he said.
The patches will be available in the back of the church for several weeks.
“There are people who will say, ‘Why should I wear one of these badges? I didn’t do any of this stuff,’” Father Painter told the congregation.
He then related the tale of the Virginia Tech shooter’s sister. She apologized last year on her family’s behalf for her brother’s terrible acts.The priest insisted that it is incumbent on Catholics to show sorrow for abuse done by others in the faith family.
Link to full story (here)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Father Painter died of a massive heart attack on May 16th. He will be deeply missed by those whose lives he touched.