Teachers of religious education, beware! . . .  Michael Sis and I were ordained together in Austin in 1986. We became close friends and often took our day off (Monday) together each week – swimming at a nearby lake, going canoeing on the San Marcos River, or just chilling out at a retreat center in the hill country. Michael eventually served as pastor of many large parishes, including the Catholic Student Center at Texas A&M University which has produced dozens of religious vocations, both priests and nuns. He takes delight in people, is very well-organized, and is deeply in love with his Catholic faith. This year he was just ordained the new bishop of San Angelo, and I was not at all surprised. Mike will make a wonderful bishop and will faithfully shepherd tens of thousands more people in the faith of Jesus Christ. When interviewed recently, he was asked about important influences in his spiritual journey. He said that it was in fourth or fifth grade religious education class when his teacher, a college student at Texas A&M, “had a tremendous impact on my prayer life and I do not even recall her name. She talked to us about developing a personal friendship with Jesus. I had never thought about this before and it really affected me.” Teachers and catechists, you may be influencing a young person in hidden ways of which you are unaware. You may have a future bishop - or saint! - in your class. - - - Fr. Jim

The book of Psalms is the Church’s prayer book, but it was the Jewish prayer book long before. These 150 prayers were originally sung, or chanted, in the assembly of worship. But they were written about 2500 years ago, and it is understandable that many of the words and imagery of the psalms sound strange to us. For example: “Oppose, Lord, those who oppose me; make war upon those who make war upon me. Take up the shield and the buckler; rise up in my defense. Brandish lance and battle-ax against my pursuers (Psalm 35)”. I suppose this prayer would come in handy if you were one of King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table! Today’s challenges call for a different poetry. Ms. Nan C. Merrill is a laywoman who has taken the psalms and re-translated them with a modern intimacy. Her version of Psalm 35: “Pray on my behalf, O Beloved, for those who fight against me. Forgive on my behalf those who abuse me. Pour forth your strength into my heart, that I might stand strong! Encircle with healing love those who persecute me with fear.” After all, when we are persecuted today, isn’t it most often through fear? Her book is entitled Psalms for Praying. And that is, after all, what the Psalms are for.  - - - Fr. Jim