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September 18, 2003
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This Tuesday night we begin another series of evenings of “inquiry” for people interested in possibly becoming members of the Roman Catholic Church. These evenings are an opportunity for “inquirers” to have a conversation and ask some questions to a Catholic priest (yours truly) and some Catholic people (our Christian Initiation team). As we prepare for this, it occurs to me that those who are already Catholics also have many questions about the Church. We are planning a Fall and Spring series of evenings for adult education in the faith. Both series will be led by Bernard Swain, a lay theologian in the Boston area who comes highly recommended for his work in adult faith formation. This fall (Nov 10, 17, 24 and December 1) we will look at an important reality in Catholic life about which many of us have little grasp: Vatican II. Why did Pope John call this Council to meet? What did the Council do and how did it change Catholic life? What has come of the Council’s renewal? Where do we go from here? I hope you’ll mark your calendars now. This is a series for Catholics who want to understand better and grow in the faith that is theirs.

I’ve just finished reading The DaVinci Code. It is a page turner - although more so in the first half than in the second where one might have expected the intensity to increase. Like much fiction centered on religious themes, this book begins with a few recognizable biblical and ecclesiastical names and stories and then proceeds to mix them (and the reader) in a stew of half-truths, distortions, and fantasies. The story at hand claims that the church has, over centuries, duped its members by twisting the truth to accommodate the advancement of its own ideologies and politics - Dan Brown has duped his audience by twisting the truth to accommodate the advancement of his story line into a best selling novel. A danger in biblical movies and novels is that the whole scriptural story is seldom told, and what is told is shaped for the screen and for broad public consumption. The danger in The DaVinci Code is that the scriptural/ecclesial story is told only in part, with the remainder filled in by the author, at his whim and will. In The DaVinci Code virtually nothing Christian, Catholic or ecclesial escapes Brown’s heavy hand: all are painted as secretly dedicated to keeping Christendom and the world from knowing the truth about Jesus.

You know that I am not slow to criticize the church and so my critique of the Code is not knee-jerk response in apologetics. There are many faults to find in church history (and how the church has recorded it) but the old canard at the heart of this novel is as tired as it is false: see Kazantzakis and Scorsese The DaVinci Code is a fast paced mystery that takes advantage of the average reader’s lack of familiarity with church history and theology. If you need to decide between spending time reading the The DaVinci Code or coming to the Vatican II series mentioned above - choose the series! If you have time for both: read the former with a critical eye and savor the latter for the substance it will offer.

This past Wednesday night I was honored by the St. Boniface Haiti Foundation at their annual fund raising dinner at the Newton Marriott. I am grateful for to the 100+ parishioners who came to the banquet and to all of you who have sent a contribution on this occasion to the Foundation. Please know that I assured all present that I was accepting their award on behalf of the people of Our Lady Parish who have been so generously supportive of our Haiti “connection” with the hospital, parish and school in Fond des Blancs. Let me take this opportunity to invite you to consider traveling to Haiti on a 10 day “working retreat,” beginning just after New Year’s. If you’re interested or have questions, please contact me through email or call me at the Parish Center - no strings attached! On the reverse side of my letter you will find a copy of a letter from Archbishop Sean which he sent to be read at the dinner Wednesday night. I share this with you not because of what it says us but because of what it says about him.

Remembering September 11... Our Lady Parish and West Concord Union Church offered a two part remembrance of 9/11 on the past two Thursday evenings. Time for prayer and discussion after viewing the PBS documentary Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero provided some rich and valuable time for those who participated. Another opportunity to reflect on our memories of 9/11 is provided by the Fitchburg Art Museum. The Witness Project is a multimedia installation exploring and commemorating Ground Zero, New York City. The Witness Project is the work of artist Robin Masi, a member of our parish. Robin’s installation at the Fitchburg museum combines drawings, conceptual costumes, transcripts of interviews and original music by Ken Field to evoke the physical and spiritual environments of Ground Zero. The exhibit runs from September 6 - October 19. For more information go to fitchburgartmuseum.org or call 978 -345-4207.

A Musical Tribute to Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse... Program: Bach, Schumann, Debussy, Barber, Loeffler and Messiaen will be offered by: John Ferrillo (Principal Oboe, Boston Symphony Orchestra); Elita Kang (Asst. Concertmaster, BSO); Elizabeth Ostling (Associate Principal Flute, BSO); Carol Rodland (Professor of Viola, New England Conservatory; and Hugh Hinton (Piano Faculty, Longy School of Music). When: September 28 at 5:00 p.m. ; Where: Edward Pickman Concert Hall, 27 Garden Street, Cambridge (five minute walk from Harvard Square). Cost: No Admission Charge. A free will offering will be taken to benefit: Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).

Sincerely,
Fr. Fleming

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September 12, 2003

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The attorneys for the archdiocese and for the victim- survivors of clergy abuse have agreed upon the details of a settlement of some 550 cases. This is good news indeed. The settlement of these cases was absolutely necessary for the beginning of deeper healing for the survivors and for the ministry of the archdiocese to move forward. Given the history of this problem, it is understandable that many fear that the settlement will tempt the archdiocese to think and work as if everything is tied up neatly: back to business as usual. Indeed, the huge headline on the Boston Herald reporting the settlement read CLO$URE. Well, this is not closure but, rather, an indispensable step in a very long process. Wounds, hurt, memories, questions and issues remain painfully open for all whose lives have been touched by this tragedy.

One can only marvel at the gentle, simple, quiet, way in which Archbishop Sean, in such a short time, has moved all parties towards a settlement. In addition to the $85M, the archdiocese has pledged to pay for counseling and to provide for spiritual direction for the survivors. Also significant is the agreement to include victim-survivors on several archdiocesan boards dealing with the the safety of children and issues concerning abuse by church workers. What we see here is the church beginning to take responsibility for the deep pain suffered at its hands.

I have no doubt that the rest of my active ministerial life (I will be eligible to retire at age 70 in 2014) will be shadowed by what we have learned about the church in the past two years. This crisis has awakened the people of the church and its priests to a new consciousness of our rights, our roles and the rules by which our church lives and governs. We will not easily go back to sleep with this nightmare so fresh in our minds and hearts. How this awakened people and church leadership will work together remains an open question. While our creed will not change, it is clear that the ways in which we live out our beliefs can and must be reexamined - and appropriate changes made. This needs to happen at the parish level, at the archdiocesan level and universally through the whole church.

How Archbishop Sean will work with us is a question on the minds of many. We have, in a short time, come to experience him as a prayerful, wise, effective minister of the gospel who lives with an evangelical simplicity that puts most of us to shame. We have a lot to learn from our new shepherd, and I believe that he has a lot to learn from us. We are the church of Boston and he is the warmly welcomed newcomer to our corner of the Lord’s vineyard. As the settlement process comes to some resolution, I am sure that we will begin to hear from our new archbishop on a number of issues. I’m particularly interested in how he will handle the “ban” on newly formed Voice Of The Faithful groups meeting on church property. Likewise, I wonder how he will reconstitute the Presbyteral Council and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, and how he will relate to the Boston Priests’ Forum. These are just a few of the many areas where our and Archbishop Sean’s paths will cross.

I believe that the key for the future of our church is a growing desire, willingness and capacity to sit down together at one table (people, priests and bishops) to assume a truly shared responsibility for the work God has entrusted to us. May we stay awake, one and all, and alert to the movement of God’s Spirit among us.

Sincerely,
Fr. Fleming

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August 29, 2003

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

I have a bad case of what I have diagnosed as Fear of Fall. This ailment strikes just before Labor Day and causes many of us, for different reasons, to fear the approach of that season when life returns to normal and our schedules are overloaded, overcrowded and oversubscribed. Parents of school children suffer a particular strain of Fear of Fall. On the one hand, they are relieved that their offspring are back in school a good part of the day. On the other, the reality of their being in school increases dramatically the demands made on family time and energy. Although the parish office has been quite busy all summer, we have also enjoyed a respite from all the meetings of different groups that help keep a parish going. But soon my evening schedule will be chock full of councils, commissions and committees! The Fall I fear also includes returning to our regular Sunday Mass schedule. It will be wonderful to have everyone back from their summer wanderings, but I’ll miss those July and August mornings when, as the song says, Summertime, and the living is easy... Well, there’s no holding time back so I guess I’ll just have to face the calendar and accept that the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer will soon be behind us...

Last weekend’s news (the story of John Geoghan’s murder in prison and the report that 4 more priests have been asked to go on administrative leave) left many, myself included, feeling emotionally depleted. I’m grateful for your words of support and encouragement - and for those simple, silent, extra-strong handshakes as you left church last weekend. Our celebration at the 10:30 Mass was particularly uplifting. The church was packed to SRO and your presence, participation, song and prayer truly lifted up my heart. What can I say except, Thank you! and Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Pray with me this week for students, teachers, and school administrators and staffs who will return to their classrooms and offices, and for college students leaving home for the first time. On the coming weekend (September 6/7) we will have our annual blessing of students and school staff including a gift of a small box of crayons for the little ones and a pencil and notebook for their older brothers and sisters. This blessing is for all students from Kindergarten to post-Doctoral studies!

We are in serious need of catechists (teachers) for our parish religious education program. We will do everything we can to accommodate your schedule. We will train you. We will assist you. You will receive all the materials you will need for teaching your class. Will you help?
Call us at 978-369-2810 - please!

We have a number of fine programs lined up for the weeks and months ahead. Notice of some of these can be found in today’s bulletin and next week’s bulletin will include a special insert.

On the reverse side of this letter you will find two prayers: our prayer for students, and a prayer students can pray themselves. Extra copies will be at the church doors for the next several weeks if you would like to hand this on to others.

Sincerely,

Our Prayer for Students
Dear Lord,
As our children leave for school today, keep them in your loving care.
Send your Holy Spirit to open their minds to all that is true and beautiful and good.
Help them see the gifts you have given them and teach them to use them well.
Help them grow in knowledge and wisdom and to hunger for the truth.
Help them to be kind to others, and let others be kind to them.
Give their teachers patience and understanding
and the wisdom to teach what is true and just.
Help us to accept our children’s limitations as well as their talents.
Send your angels to guard and guide our children, to keep them from all harm.
Open their hearts and minds to your presence and enfold them with your peace.
Hold them in the palm of your hand and, at day’s end,
bring them safely home.
Amen.

A Student’s Prayer
Dear Lord,
Help me remember that you are at my side at school and all day.
Help me be the best student I can be,
using all the gifts and talents you have given me.
Help me study well and study often -
especially when I don’t feel like studying at all!
Help me finish all my homework - on time!
Help me listen to my teachers and coaches: to play fair and to play safely;
to be honest when I’m tempted to cheat; and always to tell the truth.
Help me be kind to everyone at school
and to treat others as I want them to treat me.
Send me good friends and help me be a good friend to others.
Show me how I can help others and how to ask for help when I need it.
Teach me to love and respect my parents,
to trust them and to be honest with them.
Help me remember that you are always with me, Lord.
and that you will never leave my side.
Amen.

Our Lady Help of Christians Parish - West
Concord, MA
www.olhc.org

Father Fleming's Letters