The worse the world gets, the better our chances for converting it are because the better our product looks by comparison. 

When someone asks you: “Why are you a Christian?” … our answer should be … “What else is there?”

How will we solve the racial crisis we are facing?

Theologian G.K. Chesterton asks us to consider how God might have created daisies. Did He create them all at once with one swoop of His mighty hand? Or did He create them one-by-one, expressing childlike delight in each new flower? "In the beginning," Chesterton suggests, "God may have created one daisy, and something within Him spontaneously whispered, 'Do it again!'" ...   And daisy number two came into being. And once again God said, "Do it again!" And there was a third, and then a fourth, and then a fifth daisy. And so, He went on creating daisies. Until after a hundred billion trillion daisies, the great Almighty Creator who spun the galaxies into space and created all the animals, that same God is still creating daisies, and with childlike glee, still saying, "Do it again!"

Mother Teresa was once asked, how she was able to accomplish so much good work for the poor. “One by One,” she replied. Have you ever noticed how from seemingly insignificant beginnings movements can grow into a point of awe and wonder? That one by one, small steps can amount to spectacular outcomes?

That is how we will solve the racial crisis we are facing in this moment ...

• one encounter at a time
• one child educated at a time 
• one honest heartfelt conversation at a time.  

Our Novena Starts Today

Today we start our 54-day novena

We picked today as the start date because it is the feast day of Kateri Tekakwitha, informally known as Lily of the Mohawks. Born in present-day New York State, she contracted smallpox in an epidemic; her family died, and her face was scarred. Which makes her the ideal patron saint for what we are all experiencing in our current pandemic. 

As a native American affected by both an epidemic and discrimination, we seek her intercession in these challenging times. Kateri converted to Catholicism at age nineteen. Because of discrimination, she left her village and moved for the remaining five years of her life to the Jesuit mission south of Montreal on the St. Lawrence River in Canada.

Upon her death at the age of 24, witnesses said that minutes later, her scars vanished, and her face appeared radiant and beautiful. 

We start this novena with the prayer in our hearts that the coronavirus will not harm any of us or our family and friends.  We are also praying that an effective vaccine is found soon.   

We will pray the Rosary for 54 consecutive days without missing a day.

We pray in petition the first 27 days asking God to hear our prayers.

Then we will pray in thanksgiving the last 27 days for His answering our prayers.

Education is the answer ...

These are incredibly challenging times. The senseless death of George Floyd has left me shaken, angry, and wondering how yet another black person in America could die in such circumstances. Not since the 1960s have racial and ethnic tensions been so intense. This moment we are in calls for soul-searching, discourse, and action. But what action will make a real difference is the big question. 

If we truly desire to build a more equitable society, an important step is to make sure all children receive a good education regardless of where they live, their race or ethnicity, or their family income. Today, more than half the children attending U.S. public schools qualify for free and reduced-price lunch—the highest percentage ever recorded. The best way to end the cycle of poverty is a good education.

The reason I worked so hard to help bring a Cristo Rey High School to San Diego is because it exclusively serves families of limited economic means, and prepares students for the professional workforce. The school is committed to combating institutional racism to help students overcome poverty and prejudice. At Cristo Rey San Diego, 96% of registered students are students of color, with the average family income of $34,000.

It is essential that we remain people of faith, hope, and love. We must recommit ourselves to creating a society where everyone has the possibility of liberty, prosperity, and justice.

In peace,

 

Deacon Mike Daniels

Board of Directors

CRSD Feasibility Study Co-Chair

54-Day Rosary Novena

A few years ago, I prayed with a group of friends for 54 days seeking God’s guidance.  Those prayers were answered in an impressive way.  That success gave me a desire to pray another 54-Day Rosary Novena for God's protection for our community during this coronavirus outbreak, for healing of all who have been infected with coronavirus and for God to grant wisdom to scientists to find a cure for this deadly virus - quickly.

We will pray the Rosary for 54 consecutive days, without missing a day.
We pray in petition the first 27 days then in thanksgiving the last 27 days.

We have chosen a start date of July 14th because it is the feast day of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, “The Lily of the Mohawks.”  Kateri was a Native American woman born in New York.  She seems the ideal person to call to mind as we launch this novena, we end on September 5 the feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta.

July 14 to August 9 – we offer our petitions to God.

August 10 to September 5 – we offer prayers of thanksgiving for God’s response.