Wednesday, September 29, 2010

"Truth, Proclamation and Authenticity of Life in the Digital Age"

World Day of Social Communications 2011 coming up...


Last January, during the Year for Priests, I read the message of Pope Benedict XVI for the 44th World Day of Social Communications. The theme for this past year was entitled: "The Priest and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the Service of the Word." The message from last year in its entirety can be found by clicking here. Anyway, our Holy Father's message inspired me to do something new and innovative as a priest. The following words that especially captured my attention included: "To my dear brother priests, then, I renew the invitation to make astute use of the unique possibilities offered by modern communications. May the Lord make all of you enthusiastic heralds of the Gospel in the new "agorà" which the current media are opening up."


So, from this inspiration, I launched a website entitled: www.fatherjoshua.com. I have enjoyed maintaining the website and have used it to help me promote different ministries that I have been involved in throughout this year, including different things going on at my parish of Saint Alphonsus Liguori in Zionsville, IN, a Rome Pilgrimage I led this past July, the Race for Vocations 2010 and 2011, World Youth Day 2011 and Rosary for the Bishop. In upcoming months, I will continue to expand and add even more to www.fatherjoshua.com. Please stay tuned. 


This coming January, the 45th World Day of Social Communications will occur. Pope Benedict XVI will share his message with the theme: "Truth, Proclamation and Authenticity of Life in the Digital Age" which was made known to the world today 29 September 2010. One thing he will certainly reaffirm with us is that as much as people are utilizing the different media possibilities for communication, the heart of these communications must remain just that: PEOPLE. 


The Vatican Information Service published on 29 September some thoughts about the Pope's theme from the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. The theme is "to be understood as focusing on the human person who is at the heart of all communicative processes. Even in an age that is largely dominated, and at times conditioned, by new technologies, the value of personal witness remains essential." "To approach the truth and to take on the task of sharing it requires the 'guarantee' of an authenticity of life from those who work in the media, and especially from Catholic journalists; an authenticity of life that is no less required in a digital age." "Technology, on its own, cannot establish or enhance a communicator's credibility, nor can it serve as a source of the values which guide communication. The truth must remain the firm and unchanging point of reference of new media and the digital world, opening up new horizons of information and knowledge. Ideally, it is the pursuit of truth which constitutes the fundamental objective of all those who work in the media" (source: http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2010/09/theme-for-world-day-of-social.html)


Pope Benedict XVI will share his message about this theme in its entirety on 24 January 2011, the Feast of Saint Francis de Sales (patron saint of journalists). Until then, let us continue to pray for all those who work in the media, including journalists, Pope Benedict XVI, bishops, priests, deacons, religious and laity that they will make good use of the media to bring the message of the Gospel to the entire world. 


There are already many success stories today. This week, I had the privilege of hearing one of these stories. I attended the 28th Annual Indianapolis Celebrate Life Dinner hosted by Right to Life of Indianapolis. The keynote speaker was UCLA activist and founder of LiveAction Lila Rose who has been using this new media to combat the Culture of Death with great progress in building a Culture of Life. If you want to see some of her work for yourselves, please visit her website: http://liveaction.org/. Her message and work are inspiring to say the least. God is doing amazing things through Miss Rose so please pray for her as well. 

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

UPDATE 9/22/10: Father Joshua's Upcoming "Race" for Vocations... The New York City Marathon November 7, 2010

UPDATE 9/22/10: Some have attempted to post a comment in order to share their "prayer pledges" for my upcoming RACE FOR VOCATIONS. If you are unable to do this and would like to still let me know the prayers you will offer, please email them to me at me@fatherjoshua.com. This will make the process easier. I will then be able to tabulate how many prayers will be offered before and during the New York City Marathon on Sunday November 7th, 2010. Thanks so much for your patience... Fr. Joshua




November 1, 2009 was an interesting day to say the least! Why? Well, I found myself in the living room of Saint Alphonsus Liguori's rectory flipping through the channels. Unfortunately, and what I have experienced on numerous occasions, is that there was not a whole lot on TV. But, wait, what was that?! On one of the channels, the New York City Marathon was being televised and I was immediately drawn in to watch this amazing event. This particular marathon is one of the biggest in the world, drawing thousands of runners and walkers. The event started in 1970 with a mere 127 participants who paid $1.00 each to participate. This coming year will include over 44,000 participants.

But, that day, on November 1, 2009, struck a chord within me. I watched the last hour of the race and what moved me the most was the reaction of the winner in the men's division. Meb Keflezighi won the race in 2:09.15. As he crossed the finish line, he kept pointing 
proudly to his running jersey with "USA" on it. He pointed to his jersey excitedly and 
was very proud to be a citizen of this great nation.


He beat the second runner by about 41 seconds. Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot of Kenya completed 
his 26.2 mile race in 2:09.56. I said to myself seconds after the conclusion of that great event: 
"I think I would like to run in that marathon next year." 

I believe it was in December of 2009 or January of 2010 that I made application to run in 
the 2010 New York City Marathon. I knew I did not have a huge chance to run, but I had 
faith and was entered into a lottery system to be considered for entry into the race. I had to 
wait and wait until April of this year to learn if I was accepted. My prayers were answered! 
I was selected to run my first marathon. 


On another note, I have been part of a ministry these last three years called the 
Race for Vocations in  conjunction with the Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini Marathon. 
You can learn more about this wonderful annual event by visiting this website: 
Anyway, I decided that if I was going to be accepted into the 2010 New York City Marathon, 
I would definitely want to do so for VOCATIONS.  I was accepted, so here I am, 
getting ready for the race of my life.

These past several months, I have been training for the marathon in a few different ways. 
First of all, I have been a volunteer assistant coach with the boys and girls cross country 
teams at Guerin Catholic High School in Noblesville, IN. That has provided me with a 
good amount of motivation as I have trained with these teams during the summer months 
and throughout the fall season. I want to thank Coach Gordon Elston for allowing me to 
be part of this awesome program and the runners for inspiring me and encouraging me to 
keep up with them in their training runs. Additionally, I have had to include longer runs into 
my training to prepare my body for 26.2 miles of running. These past several weeks, I have 
progressed in the longer runs from 10 miles to 12 miles to 15 miles to 18 miles. This coming 
weekend, I will be running 20 miles. Please pray for me! I will have a few more 20 milers 
and at least one 24 miler before the November 7th Marathon in New York City.

I am grateful to so many people supporting me in my "Race for Vocations" coming up in 
less than two months. As I have asked people to support me spiritually in the Indianapolis 
Mini Marathon for the last three years by submitting their prayer pledges, I am asking anyone 
out there (family, friends and anyone else) to please support my "Race for Vocations" this year 
in 2010. Like the Race for Vocations link shares above, you can offer prayers (like an Our Father, 
Hail Mary, Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplets, Holy Hours, etc.) for vocations as I run a difficult 
26.2 mile course through the streets of New York City. For instance, you could offer 26 rosaries 
for vocations as I run 26.2 miles in the New York City Marathon. 
There are many options for you to support me in my "Race for Vocations." 
I would simply ask you to post your prayer commitments into the comments section of 
this blog post so that I can keep track of how many prayers will be offered for vocations.

Well, thanks for hanging with me as I explained this next challenge I will face in less than 
two months. I am very excited for November 7, 2010. Please pray for me and I will 
PRAY FOR VOCATIONS as I am hopeful I will be able to finish this race - 26.2 miles 
on the streets New York City. 

God bless you,
Fr. Joshua M. Janko

Monday, September 13, 2010

Prayers for our Bishop Doherty and other new bishops... as they met with the Holy Father today!

Please keep in your prayers Bishop Timothy L. Doherty (Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana) as he continues his trip in Rome. Today, Bishop Doherty had the opportunity to greet our Holy Father at his summer residence. Another new Bishop, Bishop Paul D. Etienne, who was ordained this past December to shepherd the Diocese of Cheyenne, is on this maiden episcopal voyage as well. I was blessed to travel on a huge white plane containing some wonderful lay men and women, Archbishop Daniel Buchlein and several priests from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, where Bishop Etienne served as a priest for many years. Bishop Etienne's blog post today shares his own thoughts and feelings. Please check that out by clicking here. Also, if you would like to look at some of the pictures from Bishop Etienne's Episcopal Ordination, please visit this website: http://www.fatherjoshua.com/Site/My_Albums/Pages/Bishop_Paul_Etienne_Ordination_Cheyenne,_WY_2009.html.

Bishop Paul Etienne and Father Joshua Janko (12/09)

According to the Holy See Press Office, there were about 120 recently appointed bishops in attendance today as our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI shared with them his address calling them "Custodians of the Church."

Pope Benedict XVI's words today are worthy of reflection for us all. Please click here to read the Holy See Press Office's comments about Pope Benedict's address.

Our bishops need our prayers. Please continue to pray for them as they shepherd and guide their flocks. One opportunity that is available to us is to pray the rosary for our bishops. One way I have been able to support Bishop Doherty, Bishop Emeritus William L. Higi, as well as Pope Benedict XVI and a few other bishops is through a wonderful ministry called Rosary for the Bishop. This wonderful prayer ministry began in 2005 in Madison, Wisconsin. I am a firm believer in the power of prayer, so please consider praying more for all of our bishops. Maybe Rosary for the Bishop is one way you could do this. Please visit there website http://rosaryforthebishop.org/ to learn more about this great prayer ministry.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary


The above picture is an Oil painting of Our Lady of the Southern Cross by Paul Newton, which was commissioned by Cardinal George Pell for World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008. I had the opportunity to see this picture in the Cathedral in Sydney and it is beautiful. Of all the pictures, images and depictions of Mary, the painting of Our Lady of the Southern Cross is one of my favorites. The prayer on the back of the prayer card is very inspiring. 



Mary, you are the Mother of Jesus, our Lord. Your presence in the upper room inspired the first disciples to trust completely in the promise of the Risen Christ:
I now consecrate myself to you under the title or Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Help of Christians, so that I might be a witness to your Son Jesus in the power of His Spirit.
Mary, teach me to be attentive to the voice of God in silence and to live a life of service in truth, joy and peace.
Amen.



Today, on September 8th, we celebrate the Nativity or Birthday of Mary, the Blessed Virgin and the Mother of God. She is a wonderful example for us of humility, obedience, purity and love. She is the disciple par excellence. I would certainly encourage anyone to begin to develop a relationship with her who was so very close to Jesus. She is a model disciple and is praying for all of us from Heaven.


So, how will you celebrate Mary's birthday today? Mary would want us to turn to her Son Jesus and ask Him once again to come into our lives and into our hearts. As she declared in her Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord," so our souls and our lives should proclaim and magnify the Lord to our neighbors around us. This is the commandment that Jesus has given us : "I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another"(John 13:34-35).


Mary, being the faithful disciple, loves us and even people who may struggle to love. I will pray for you as you strive to live as disciples of Jesus Christ.


To learn more about today's Feast, please click here.


God bless you,
Fr. Joshua

Friday, September 3, 2010

Labor Day Weekend!

I pray you have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend. I love this weekend's civil holiday, because each and everyone of us works. Work is a blessing because we share in the work of God who worked first in His work of creation. Enjoy the breather from your work. I will try to do the same.

In the not so distant past (2006), I wrote one of my last papers in seminary on the Spirituality of Work in my Catholic Social Ethics class. I had as the cover page a beautiful picture of "The Altar of Work" (Der Altar Der Arbeit) by Jed Gibbons. The picture helped to introduce my paper. The explanation of this artwork included these comments:

"Jed Gibbons
(courtesy of John N. and Laura E. Bradford)
page 31

Source: Pontifical College Josephinum, Prayers of St. Joseph, (Columbus: Pontifical College Josephinum, 2006) 31, 37-38.


“The voice of the Lord rends the oak tree” (Ps 29:9)

“If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor.” (Ps 127:1)

John Paul II kneels at his desk, which is his “Altar of Work,” and writes the encyclical, “Laborem Exercens.” As he mediates on the New Testament’s gospel of work, he places himself in the workshop in Nazareth, where Joseph the carpenter is busy at his altar of work, the workbench. Beneath the workbench, among the scraps and wood shavings, are two golden retrievers. Work “is one of the characteristics that distinguish man from the rest of creatures, whose activities for sustaining their lives cannot be called work,” says the Pope.

Joseph and the child Jesus are completing the magnificent oak structure they have crafted from a single oak tree. “The oak is a Christian symbol of longevity, enduring relationships and firmness and faith in God.” Oak foliage flourishes at the top of the structure and from that comes the fruit of the oak, the acorn. The acorn is a symbol of Christ, as “the shell represents His flesh, the cap of the wood represents the cross, and the inner kernel represents His hidden divinity.”

The elaborate oak structure frames the scene of St. Francis before the cross of San Damiano. He is holding a staff made of oak with three gilded oak leaves. In the scene there are two other altars of work: the pulpit of the cross from which Christ continues His saving work in the Church and the actual physical ruins of the church, which St. Francis repairs. Christ commands St. Francis to “rebuild my Church, which you see, is in ruins.” The fallen chalice and the absence of the tabernacle represent the state of spiritual disrepair in the Church today.

On the right side of the oak structure, between the spirals, is an acorn nestles in a heart-shaped lattice surrounded by the tall spirals. This represents the city of God in the third millennium, in which God and man coexist and all places of work can become altars of work."


If you have free time and would like to read the paper "Spirituality of Work," please click here


God bless you and Happy Labor Day!


Fr. Joshua