My contributions to our parish's OCIA program

The discussion following Katherine's post about the historical causes of Vatican II has branched into discussion about what is covered in OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, known as RCIA until 2021).  

I don't think I mention it very often, but I'm one of the contributors, or presenters, or facilitators, or whatever the appropriate term is, for our parish's OCIA program.  In case it's of interest, I'm going to describe what I do, and what I've observed of RCIA / OCIA in our parish.

The Precursors to St. John XXIII Calling Vatican II

 Michael Sean Winters had an interesting article in NCR (March 2, 2026) on the lead-up to St. John XXIII calling Vatican II:

What led St. Pope John XXIII to call Vatican II? | National Catholic Reporter

"Vatican II did not drop out of the sky. There were three essential precursors to St. John XXIII's decision in 1959 to announce he was calling an ecumenical council: The first was spiritual and theological; the second was pastoral and existential and the third was personal and historical."

The Relaxation Response

 Anne (and Jean) in a recent post started a discussion of the

 The Relaxation Response Updated and Expanded

The original book was published in 1975, the updated version published in 2000 gives some of the background to Herbert Benson's interest. As a cardiologist he was concerned that his medications were lowering his patient's blood pressure too much causing them to complain of faithing and dizziness. He also noticed that their blood pressures were higher in his office than at home.  The notion that mental stress rather than some physical condition was the cause of high blood pressure was not widely accepted at the time. Bensen turned to basic research to with monkeys to begin to establish they could control their blood pressure if given rewards which were signaled by colored lights. 

The Transcendent Meditation (TM) people claimed to be able to reduce their blood pressure. Initially he was reluctant to study them because of their countercultural status. Finally, he quietly with another researcher on the West coast began to study them. Interesting, their reductions in blood pressure in each individual session were relatively small, but that was because their repeated practice of TM had lowered their resting blood pressures.  

Much of his research then focused on the minimal conditions that are necessary to elicit the response and how these were met by a variety of procedures in addition to TM. They are summarized well in this one- page handout

One Page Relaxation Response Instructions

In a 1985 book Bensons takes the offensive by placing the Relaxation Response in the context of self-help and faith traditions rather than just proposing it as an adjunct to medical care. 

Beyond the Relaxation Response

"I've come to understand that this simple technique combined with the person's deepest beliefs can create other internal environments which that can help individuals to reach enhanced states of health and well-being."

Gregory Norbet and Weston Priory

I got introduced to Weston Priory's music in May of 1980 when I went on a personal directed retreat at a retreat house in Connecticut with some women religious. There was a large room which housed a record player with some of the Weston Priory records. I felt in love with them and began collecting their music first as records, then tapes, and finally CDs. I think I have all of their music, but now most of it is on YouTube. 

I suspect they have about only a dozen monks left. You will find much of their recent history since 2018 here on their blog

The Priory Chronicles

There is not a lot but their most recent five-minute drone view of their monastery with music but no narration gives you a good idea of the setting

 

I have several posts on one of my blogs which has embedded much of their music according to the liturgical year

ADVENT MUSIC FROM WESTON PRIORY

CHRISTMAS SEASON MUSIC FROM WESTON PRIORY

LENT MUSIC FROM WESTON PRIORY

WESTON ORDINARY TIME I

WESTON ORDINARY TIME II

GREGORY NORBET YOUTUBE SITE

GREGORY NORBET WEBSITE

Gregory is married to artist Kathryn Carrington. Her gold-leaf icon paintings hang in many churches and may be seen on her website: 

CARRINGTON SACRED ART.com - Gold-leaf sacred Icons by Kathryn Carrington

See her watercolors, handmade paper, and other paintings, some inspired by the Hubble images on her website: 

Home | Kathryn Carrington Fine Art

 

Gregory Norbet is a respected composer, singer and spiritual leader. His specialty is group spiritual development and renewal, using song, Scripture and the spoken word. 

Return to God

This is my brief reflection for an Ash Wednesday service at which I presided earlier today.  Today's readings are here.

The Superbowl and the halftime show

 Some of you probably watched the Superbowl yesterday. My husband, he  did, he usually does. He didn't have a strong favorite this year, but sort of favored the Seahawks, so was happy with the results.  

I could care less about football, so I didn't watch the game. But I was curious about how Bad Bunny would sound, so I watched the halftime show. Full disclosure, there are very few people as ignorant about pop music and pop culture in general as myself.  My choice to watch Bad Bunny might have had something to do with the fact that Trump dislikes him so intensely. 

I mentioned my intention to watch the halftime show when I was talking with some friends after church. One of them said, "Well, his lyrics are pretty gross if you translate them. He once dressed up as a nun on SNL, and  another time he wore some kind of woman's clothes. He says he's straight but kissed a man on stage after someone basically dared him. He's pretty immoral." All of which sounded to me like he is a bit of a provocateur rather than immoral. 

Anyway I watched Bad Bunny, and for a rocker I thought he wasn't half bad. The show seemed happy and joyful. We need more happy and joyful. And I like Lady Gaga, who also appeared with Bad Bunny. Overall, I give it a good rating.

Salt and light

 This is my homily for yesterday, the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A.  Sunday's readings are here.