This is from the blog, Pray Tell. Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB is the author of this vital on-line source for pastoral and academic liturgy and resources.

Fr. Ronald Raab CSC gave the keynote address on opening days which caused quite a sensation. Everyone here is speaking of his “most moving ever,” “unbelievable,” “life-changing” talk. Fr. Raab is on the staff of Saint Andre Bessette Church in Portland, OR, with a special ministry to the vulnerable and marginalized. He spoke with great conviction of connecting Eucharist to those without enough to eat, connecting God’s free love in the sacraments with those suffering from depression or addiction. I have more to say about the ministry of the Downtown Chapel. Watch this space.

You know, you can have all the “sacred” Latin chant in the world, all the beautiful polyphony, all the resplendent ritual (all of which I happen to like), but without loving outreach to society’s outcasts – the ones Jesus hung around – it’s all empty idolatry.

Choir of the youth for Morning Prayer

I arrived in Pittsburgh on Sunday evening for the 35th convention of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. On Monday afternoon at 1:30pm their meeting was convened and after an hour of introductions and business matters, I was introduced for the keynote address. I am deeply honored to participate in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. My talk centered on the universal call to holiness which came from the call of Vatican II.  However, more than that I hold in prayer the lives of people surviving the issues of urban poverty in our community of Saint Andre Bessette Church. I am only here because I witness among our people a deep and abiding reliance on God and a profound hunger for Eucharist.

I spoke for an hour connecting people to the four parts of the Mass in light of some of the stories and composite stories I know from among our parishioners who struggle to be sober, who battle issues of mental health and who live only a day at a time. I am always at a loss as how to translate their faith into a larger context as well as how to translate my own deepening of faith ministering among people in poverty. The entire address will eventually be on-line.

Alan and Mary Beth from World Library sang the two litanies I used at the end of the talk. They are both friends of mine whom I have known since graduate school and my days at the Office for Divine Worship in Chicago. Alan is my editor at World Library and he recommended me for the talk to the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.

I also offered a workshop and conversation for clergy yesterday afternoon on the new translation of the Roman Missal. The conversation centered on pastoral practice of dealing with the awkward wording of our prayer texts among our people who struggle to be connected in the Eucharist in the first place. Very interesting discussions on grieving and change among priests and how they pray among their communities.

Alan and Mary Beth singing the litanies during the keynote

I leave on Sunday for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the convening of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. On Monday, July 23 at 2:30pm, I will be delivering the keynote address to open the five day convention. The title of my talk is, “The Universal Call to Holiness.” The convention will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. There will be approximately 3,000 people attending the gathering from around the United States. Even though I am not a musician, my context at this conference is connecting sacraments and service. I will speak of our experiences here at the parish and how the Eucharist calls us and challenges us into service among the marginalized.  My talk will be published at some point after the conference.

The following day, I will be offering a workshop for clergy on the spirituality of the new Roman Missal and priestly identity and mission. This workshop will take place at 3:30pm until 4: 45pm.

This is a rare opportunity for me to be a keynote speaker. I am deeply humbled by this invitation and I will write about the experiences next week. Pray for my ability to translate my experiences of our community of prayer and service so that others may benefit.

 Bob Loughery and I traveled to Allegan, Michigan on Saturday to attend the wedding of Kelli Aviles and Charles Redman. Kelli was our first twelve-month intern at the parish five years ago. We met up with Rosanna Violi who served as our first Jesuit Volunteer in that same year. Rosanna traveled from Toledo, Ohio for the event. Kelli and Charley were married on the lawn of Kelli’s grandparents farm.

Kelli and Charley continue to dedicate their lives to people surviving urban poverty in downtown Detroit. Kelli and Charley are Executive Directors of Henry Tula House in Detroit. Their hospitality center is on the front line of racial tensions, extreme poverty and hunger, and unending violence. There wedding seemed to be a quiet, romantic respite for them on a hillside on a sunny, humid afternoon.

I admire their lives devoted to the issues of non-violence and social reform. Of course, what I really admire is their relationship to the people who live these issues every day of their lives.

Bob and I were recognized as the two priests from Kelli’s year in Portland by Kelli’s aunt because we were both wearing black pants and black shoes. Rosanna really got a kick out of that as we enjoyed a lot of reminiscing about our days together and catching up on our new lives in Toledo, South Bend and Portland.

I encourage you to check out Kelli and Charley’s hospitality center and support them in prayer for their news lives as husband and wife and their ministry at Henry Tula House in Detroit.

Photo: Former parish staff: Rosanna, Kelli and Fr. Bob