Jan. 14, 2014 By Kristina Dean CARTHAGE - Calling himself a “spiritual mutt,” Father Mark R. Reilly encouraged the 40 men at a Men of Faith Advent mini-retreat at St. James Catholic Church to pray the rosary and meditate upon the life of Christ and his mother, Mary. The pastor of St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s Churches in Massena, Father Reilly said he is drawn to many forms of spirituality, specifically mentioning Carmelite, Jesuit, Ignatius, Franciscan, and Dominican aspects. As the men prepared to say the rosary together, Father Reilly spoke to them about pairing scripture readings with praying. He also encouraged them to follow the practice of St. Ignatius of Loyola in using their imagination to place themselves within a specific mystery of the Rosary. He informed the men that they would focus on the Dominican method of praying and meditating on the Rosary while exercising the Ignatius practice of using their imaginations to place themselves within a specific scripture passage. Naming the Dominicans a “great teaching and preaching order,” he said the men of the order, after entering a town and teaching catechism, would pray a decade of the Rosary and meditate. “It’s a beautiful practice, taking something from the life of Christ and the Blessed Mother, and meditating on the life of Christ as a mystery,” he said. “Let’s pray a decade of the Rosary, and ask the Mother of God to help us know her Son, and therefore to know ourselves better.” Father Reilly led the men through praying the Glorious Mysteries, stopping between each decade and sharing personal stories as an example of making the meditations more fruitful and meaningful. He spoke of the John 21:15 scripture passage when Jesus appears to the Apostles on the shore after His resurrection and before His ascension. According to the priest, Christ gave Peter a chance to undo his threefold denial with a threefold profession of love. Father Reilly asked the men to think of a time when they have failed to “tend their flock.” “Brothers, we are all given the task to tend the flock, married or not, in one fashion or another,” he said. “We are like Peter because we are all members of the fallen human race. “We fail at it from time to time,” he said. “In humble, prayerful meditation through our Rosary, it is a good time in a safe place in the presence of Christ, holding the hand of His mother and yours, to think of where you may have denied Him. Think about where His lambs have not been well attended by the shepherd.” When speaking of the third mystery, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Father Reilly encouraged the men to be open to the Holy Spirit and not afraid. “A lot of times I think we’re afraid of those things we don’t want to do, people you don’t want to meet, jobs you don’t want to do,” he said. “These are the things that make you into fathers, shepherds, laborers in His vineyard. It’s the forge that’s refining you. “We need to continually receive that gift anew,” he said. “Mary received it over and over. “Don’t ever get the attitude of ‘been there, done that.’” he said. “We are sieves, and it (the Holy Spirit) continually flows out of us.” The priest said the life force of the Holy Spirit is what makes men the sons of God, helps them to be pleasing to Him and to respond to His call. “Pray for that gift. Pray for every opportunity of expanding the renewing gift of the Holy Spirit,” he said. The Dec. 6 event opened with a Mass concelebrated by Father Reilly and St. James pastor Father George Maroun. Sponsored by local Knights of Columbus Chapter #291 and organized by Grand Knight Michael Sligar, and St. James parishioners Dave Haywood and Robert Renaud, the gathering also provided fellowship in the community room afterward. Father Reilly encouraged the men to continue to gather together, citing the opportunities to attend the IGNITE Men’s Catholic Conference in Syracuse March 21 as well as the annual Rosary Crusade at St. James, organized by Mr. Renaud and scheduled for May 15.
photos by Kristina Dean
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