A Message from Fr. Charlie:

Dear Tulane Catholic Center community and friends,

Peace be with you! 

The heat and humidity of New Orleans is more than a reminder that the summer season is here in full force.  There are other indications as well, especially the “ghost town” atmosphere of the Tulane campus as very few students are around this time of year.   Summertime is also a time of change for both higher education and the ministries of the Catholic Church, including personnel changes. 

Now is no exception as effective July 1, 2014, I will no longer be the director of the Tulane Catholic Center and Catholic chaplain.  I will be moving on to assume the position of Director of Vocations for the St. Martin de Porres Province of the Dominican Order, which covers the southern region of the United States.  While it was difficult to leave behind missionary service in Ecuador prior to coming to Tulane, my three years here on campus have been a rewarding experience of helping students, faculty, staff and community members discover the closeness of God by deepening their sense of what it means to be Catholic.

I am excited to announce that my successor will be another Dominican priest, Fr. Thomas Schaefgen, O.P.   For Fr. Thomas (Tulane Class of 2006 – Architecture), coming to campus will be more like a homecoming than a ministry assignment! He will be able to preside over the construction of our new Tulane Catholic Center building, which, God willing, should commence around the time fall semester 2014 gets started.  Most importantly, Fr. Thomas will be able to continue the work of bringing the richness of Christ’s presence to campus through his priestly and sacramental ministry, leadership and carrying on the nearly 800-year old tradition of Dominican preaching.   

All times of transition tend to be challenges.  Please remember Fr. Thomas and I in your prayers as we both set out to begin new ministries and continue following the Lord’s path in the manner of our holy patron St. Dominic.    

God bless,

Padre Charlie

Fr. Charles Johnson, O.P.

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Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (June 15, 2015) Readings: Exodus 34: 4b-6, 8-9 <> 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13 <> John 3: 16-18

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (June 15, 2015)

Readings:  Exodus 34: 4b-6, 8-9 <> 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13 <> John 3: 16-18

Years ago, filled with the confidence of recently learned theological insights from my seminary classes, I proceeded to correct my father when he referred to God as the “Supreme Being.”  No, I responded, “God is not that, He is “Being Itself.”  I went on, waxing theologically with the words of my professor, “God is the ground of all being.”  My dad looked over at me with a puzzled and contrary look and responded, “What do you mean?” 

                                   

“Being itself”?  “The Ground of all Being”? Those are rather lofty and impersonal terms for describing God who creates us, redeems us and guides us.  Those are terms that need to be brought down to earth.  For lack of a better manner to say it, those terms need to be ‘fleshed-out’ with love and tenderness. 

Consider the readings from Sacred Scripture selected for today, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.  Notice their brevity: brief, but clear in what is said and understood.  In them there are no lofty terms and concepts about God, but qualities like merciful and gracious, kindness and fidelity. 

  

True, God is not a being in the created sense.  It is more accurate to describe God as the “Ground of all Being.”  However, does that speak of relationship?  Does such obscure terminology move and inspire us?  As today’s Scripture readings teach us, our understanding of God needs to be enriched with the warmth of relationship.  We need to remember qualities like love, tenderness and relationship when we talk about God and seek to understand Him. 

Ancient theologians debated, “Is God more known by his essence or actions?”  St. John’s Gospel surely helps, as in today’s reading Jesus himself describes God, his Heavenly Father, by his actions:  “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son …..”  

God: Almighty? Yes, but obviously very generous.  But, wait a minute, Jesus describing God.  Let’s keep the idea rolling: in the same breath and thought Jesus is describing himself.... of course! 

Noted theologian, Stephen Webb writes that God is “the Giver, the Given and the Giving.”  Now say, “Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”  God, the Heavenly Father’s love is not a concept, but real.  His love is the gift of himself in Christ Jesus. God’s love is given in human and eternal form. 

In the face of the Divine mystery, we also come face to face with our limitations, especially those of an intellectual nature. The good news is that we also come face to face with the love of God that knows no limits.

God is Love.  We say that almost as a “mini-Creed.”  However, it’s true, not only in the mind, but in the heart and body.  As the “Given,” Jesus by his incarnation fleshes out the love of God.  As Jesus breathed on the disciples and said to them, “receive the Holy Spirit,” he made clear that God’s presence is an ongoing gift, a divine “Giving.”  

We have been given a sacred trust, a legacy of teaching on God that seeks to define God’s essence in limited human terms.  The question remains, what is our experience of God?  God seeks to be experienced by who and how he is: through his love and mercy.  God seeks to be known not only by our committing to memory his divine attributes, but more by putting into practice his ways. 

We are not God, but imitating the One who is Given and sharing in the Giving are actions we are fully capable of.  Hopefully, we will remember to thank the Giver. 

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A Message from Fr. Charlie

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Lord,

Peace be with you!  

This time of year carries two major aspects of significance for us at the Tulane Catholic Center:  thanksgiving to God for the eternal gift of Christ's resurrection and the end of yet another academic year here on campus.  

It is my hope that God's eternal gift is constant source of strength and guidance for all of you.  I invite you to reflect on the meaning of the resurrection in your life and consider the words of Pope Francis:  

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​​How often does Love have to tell us: Why do you look for the living among the dead?  Our daily problems and worries can wrap us up in ourselves, in sadness and bitterness ... and that is where death is.  That is not the place to look for the One who is alive!  Let the risen Jesus enter your life, welcome him as a friend, with trust: he is life!" 

​As Pope Francis points out, sometimes there is a temptation to look in the wrong places.  At the same time, he reminds us that the search for true life does not concern a place, but a friend ... and a savior.  

Padre Charlie

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