Gene Monterestelli of APeX and I tease one another about how our speaking travels are ” the lives of rock stars.” We usually use that when some part of traveling has been tough.

(actual drawing of Steve Angrisano circa 2001)

I know I am not a rock star but I had to laugh at two things that happened this week…two minor signs that I have “arrived.”

1–I saw one of my tee shirts on a Goodwill rack here in Lafayette. (Yes, I do shop there!) I am official throw-away gear.

2–I got You Tube-d. There’s a few seconds of me visually (no audio) from the Baltimore Youth Conference in November. Thanks to St. Mary’s in Annapolis.

What a week!

This one is better than anything I could have written…click here.

(Thanks Leslie)

Saints lose to Bears 39-14

Lousiana was pretty jacked up to have our best known professional sports franchise in posistion to go to a Super Bowl.

There was a whole bunch of excitement through the middle of the third quarter. Awesome stuff. From down 16-0 to 16-14 and then the bottom fell out. The dominant Bears defense took over. Gotta give credit where credit is due.

To the Bears. And to the Saints.

Re-read the title of this blog. Interesting title, huh?

Fall from grace? I don’t think so.

It is tough to think about “what might have been” –New Orleans in the Super Bowl. It’s great to think about what was–a season of hope.

Now I could stay just on football thoughts…and there’s enough sentiment in that. I am thinking today though about grace…and where it (free gift from God) is found.

You gotta read my friend Anne Marie Cribbin’s blog entry about a young person’s theory or comparison on grace.

Then you need to MAKE 5 minutes to watch a You Tube video tribute to the Saints but I promise, the ending shows this isn’t just about football. If you can’t watch all of it….watch the last 45 seconds. A stark reminder.

Grace.
God whsipering, smiling, winking, reminding, inviting, encouraging, hoping.
And for some of us… grace wore black and gold.
Thanks God.
Thanks guys.

Back to work.

This was a great 3 days with some wonderful people in a small city in the middle of Mississippi. The DRE/youth minister, Suzie Middleton, did a fantastic job in arranging a wonderful parish GATHERING and celebration. I got the greatest gift basket in my room.

The children of the parish were so nice to me…they’d sit in the front pews of their own accord each night and laugh and encourage me.

I met so many people who knew people I knew and who had stories of cities near home. It really is a small world.

One of the treats of the mission was a cookie cake made for me on the closing night for our dessert/dance celebration at the end of the mission.

(”do the happy dance!”—so cool!)

It was so great to be asked to dance by the children (I like the idea that 5 girls wanted to dance with me at the same time; it erased old high school memories!) and it was so awesome to see a couple in their 70’s dancing to “Sweet Home Alabama.”

It was “home” of sorts…great hospitality…deep faith and holy families coming together as one Catholic parish family in a place where they are the only Catholic parish in Jones county—the only Catholic church among 240 churches. That inspires ME!

Saints 27, Eagles 24

Archie Manning. Tommy Myers. Danny Abramiwicz. Chuck Muncie. Wes Chandler. Guido Merkens. New Orleans Saints, all.

In the late 1970s and early 80s, my Sundays were consumed watching these football players…my heroes. (I even chose 8 as my number in sports because it was Archie’s number.) I got the NFL kids football uniform one Christmas with Archie’s jersey and the helmet, pads and pants. I spent hours rolling around in my yard, throwing passes to myself and imagining winning the Super Bowl.

People used to ask/tease me about the Saints when I would travel and tell them I was from New Orleans. I’d get a look of sympathy and “oh”. (Same thing happens when I say I am a Cubs fan…you just know the look.)

I am not a season ticket holder. I’ve probably been to 20 or so games at the Superdome over the years. That’s not many. But I ‘ve watched them on television every chance I get, even when they broke my heart. And they found some interesting and creative ways to do that over the years.

I had a bad feeling (before Hurricane Katrina) the franchise would be moved to San Antonio or elsewhere. I really believe the team was going to be moved. I am so glad former (NFL) commisioner Paul Tagliabue took a stand early after Katrina that the Saints would stay in New Orleans.

Critics rightfully ask about the money spent to restore the Superdome. A lot of money was spent on that project which could have been allocated elsewhere. (I am not sure of the next fact but I think the Saints may be the biggest revenue generating business in New Orleans. Thats’ another reason it is good that they stay…it is an economic thing.)

Last season (right after Katrina) was a tough one to endure. 3 wins, 13 losses. That’s bad by any standards but it was even rougher to watch after Katrina.

This football season has been a different story. I think 28 of the 53 players on the Saints roster are new. The head coach is new. New attitude. New Orleans. New day.

This past Saturday I was speaking at a confirmation retreat in Miami. I couldn’t believe I would be speaking when the Saints would be playing the biggest football game in the franchise’s 40-year history!

I snuck to a TV at every possible free moment I had (with permission). It was so rough to pop in and out…and even rougher to listen to the last few minutes on the radio (including the Reggie Bush fumble and Eagles 4th down coversion–later called back because of a penalty). When Deuce McAlister gained a first down in the last two minutes to seal the game, it was amazing…even on the radio. I ran up to my room to watch what I could of the FOX TV coverage. My heart was full. I paced around that hotel room and was “jacked up” like I haven’t been in some time.

That’s a Saints game for you. A rollercoaster of emotions. (I sense my heart is in good shape and I may have even survived my heart attack in 2002 because of all the ups and downs of watching Saints games regularly.)

Now you might think it’s silly to get so emotionally connected to something like a sports team or a game. Let me try to explain.

I read a magazine article many years ago where the author said that many of New Orleans woes were connected with its love affair with the ‘loveable-loser’ Saints. The city’s self-esteem, he opined, was affected by the years and years of being a loser.

You really can tell the mood of the city for the week by what happened with the Saints on any given Sunday. A lot of cities can say that’s true for them, but there is something deep about the Saints in the lifeblood of New Orleans.

This season has been a shot in the arm for the city, region and state. Governor Kathleen Blanco has said so…so has the Archbishop of New Orleans.

In an article from the Associated Press:
Archbishop Alfred Hughes even made a few mentions of the Saints at Mass on Sunday morning. As he chatted with people in Jackson Square afterward, several asked him to pray for the Saints.
‘In a city that has experienced so much devastation, so much loss, so much struggle in the recovery, in many ways, the football team has become a symbol of people’s desire to rise from the devastation…it’s touched the hearts and stirred hope for people that we too can come together and play as a team.’

The symbol or logo of the Saints (and the city of New Orleans) is the Fleur-de-lis. The Easter Lily. The flower of Louis, King of France. In Christian circles, the fleur-de-lis is a symbol of the resurrection. New life. Hope.

I have a few pieces of Saints’ gear and caps. Among my favorites are two tee shirts. One is a white tee…gold lettering…black trim…FAITH (with the fleur-de-lis within the “A”). The other is a fund raiser done by Reebok immediately after Katrina; it’s a black tee, gold lettering with the invitation: “BE A SAINT.”

Yes, I will be wearing those shirts a lot this week. Yes, I will be yelling like a maniac in front of a TV screen somewhere at 2 pm next Sunday when we go to the cold Soldier Field in Chicago. And not just because it’s a ‘feel good’ story.

This has been a LONG time coming…and I will enjoy it. Win or lose. GO SAINTS! And if we go the Super Bowl, the “happy dance” will be in full effect.

(Now I just gotta wait for the Cubs.)

I met some of the teens and the youth ministry leaders of this parish during at Notre Dame Vision this summer. I was flattered to get a call this fall inviting me to speak at their confirmation retreat.

There were 130 freshmen, sophomores, and juniors attending the retreat and 30 peer leaders. I always hold my breath when asked to do confirmation retreats because many teens dread being at a mandatory weekend retreat experience.

This weekend was really a refreshing experience for me. The teens were very open. You can tell that some really good work and relationship building has been done in the faith formation sessions. The peer leaders gave some very solid witnesses on how their faith impacts friendships, choices, family and more.

There were funny skits with talented teens.

(fuzzy picture but a great skit from the weekend!)

There was free time and I got into a great basketball game. The trust walk had a different twist and was a great experience for me.

The retreat even ended with a curtain call for me….well, actually it was for Yogi Bear.

Thanks to Susan Vanderwyden and all the adults and teens for a great experience of a confirmation retreat…oh, and Susan, the little old lady and her dog made it safely to the vet hospital(you HAD to be there).

This poem/prose piece was sent to me by a friend from ND Vision, Nicole Shirilla.

The Work of Christmas
by Howard Thurman

When the star in the sky is gone,
When the Kings and Princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins.

To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry
To release to the prisoner,
To teach all the nations,
To bring Christ to all,
To make music in the heart.

+++++++++++++++++++++++
My pastor, (Fr. Rex) gave a good homily yesterday. He used the feat of the Epiphany to talk about the visitors, the Magi. He then talked about Jesus and whether we treat him like a Christmas visitor. Some visitors (family and friends) give great joy when they are coming but it is a lot of work to host them and get the house ready. There is even a sense of relief when they are gone (since you don’t have to have everything “just so” or entertain them).

Fr. Rex reminded us that things aren’t the same once Jesus comes in. He wants to stay. He doesn’t want to be “just” a visitor.

The Christmas season is over. The Incarnation is not. Can people tell…from my life? From yours?

[St. Benedict Academy (at Auburndale), Memphis]

Sometimes God invites me to certain places. And instead of trusting, I resist. (I do have some “Jonah-like” qualities in me—reluctantly going where I think I am called to go.)

I had received a call last year from a parent and then a campus minister from a Catholic high school outside of Memphis. They wanted me to come and do a morning of reflection for the faculty and a talk for the student body—right after New Year’s Day.

I have to admit I tried to get them to move the date since it would still be in my holiday (non-travel) season. Their school calendar wouldn’t allow for such a change. So I agreed. But as the joy of my Christmas “vacation” settled in, I wasn’t looking forward to packing up and hitting the road again—especially with some college football bowl games still left! (I watched LSU thump my beloved Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl from the relatively safe environment of a hotel room.)

I am embarrassed to admit that I didn’t want to go because I was touched so much by 2 days at St. Benedict’s.

First, I enjoyed my day with the faculty. I can only imagine that if I wasn’t eager to get back to my routine, the teachers and staff must not have exactly been tickled to come back to school early(before the students returned) to hear me. I was really impressed as I heard them talk about what they felt they should be giving to their students. They talked about compassion, being role models, a clear sense of Christian values, faith and more. They are a very committed group of educators. They are the strength of that school. That’s impressive to me—even more than their new, state-of-the-art $23 million dollar facility.

The next day I spoke to the student body, which is about 900 students . The talk went well; the students were very receptive. I got to drop into some of the theology classes and chat with students about the idea of a relationship with God. I enjoyed hanging out with some students who wanted to chat a little more.

My biggest treat came when I met some students from the Sister Ruth Ann Center. The center is for “transitional high school experience for exceptional children.” Some of the students have Down’s syndrome, others have other learning situations. Students in the program spend the day learning in their own classroom and attending classes with traditional students at St. Benedict’s (SBA). They have gym class, computer, Spanish, and other classes at the SBA campus. Senior students from SBA help out with getting the students where they need to be during the day.

I was sought out by one of the students from the Sr. Ruth Ann Center–Kenny (who, I am convinced, should be in politics). He introduced me to almost everyone in the school, starting with his classmates and then to the cafeteria and maintenance personnel. I think he knew everyone and everyone knows Kenny. He made sure I was okay in the awesome lunch line (some great school food and choices there!).

What impressed me most about this graduating senior was his love of God and how it showed in ordinary ways. He was so welcoming to me and making sure I was taken care of and treated like one of the family. He introduced me not as the guest speaker but as his new friend. Whether Kenny knows it or not, (and something tells me he would know this), he is modeling today the VERY SAME spirit of the school’s founder, St. Benedict. Benedict told the porter (door keeper) at his monastery that to welcome the stranger at the door was to welcome Christ himself. Kenny did this for me.

The purest, most touching gesture came when Kenny asked me where I would be going after I finished at the school. I told him I would be flying home. He didn’t hesitate a second and then said, “Well, you need a blessing.” And he proceeded, unashamedly, naturally, confidently to pray with me.

Okay, that’s the kind of faith I want to have. It just brimmed from this young man.

I enjoyed lunch with his classmates. We talked about things we liked and our favorite foods, cartoons, movies and Bible stories and holidays.

I am so glad I went to St. Benedict’s. Jesus had some pretty important friends of his he wanted me to meet…and learn from.

I want to thank George Valadie, principal; Mary Lou Stauffer, director of spiritual affairs; Michelle Spears, Sr. Ruth Ann Center; and Cindy Hailey, speaker coordinator for their hospitality.

And to Kenny and the students of the Sr. Ruth Ann Center…thank you for making my New Year start on a good note!