Bronx Priest Throws it Down with style for the Diocese of Saint John

This past Friday, May 29th at 10:30 a.m. I interviewed one of the most unique Catholics I've come across in my travels, Fr. Stan Fortuna. Fr. Stan is a founding member of the Franciscans of the Renewal in the Bronx, New York. The year I graduated high school, my Dad and Jim Burnham piled a bunch of Saint Johners into my blue Club Wagon 15 passenger van. We drove across the country to a youth conference taking place in Ohio at Franciscan University of Steubenville. The conference theme was, "Out of the Jungle and into the Life in the Holy Spirit" - I think the title was a riff on AC/DC's song 'Welcome to the Jungle'. In any case, we were treated to a weekend with several hundred other young people hosted by the rapping Franciscan Fr. Stan Fortuna. He was lively, outside-the-box, off-the-cuff and eminently quotable. He was straight outta the Bronx and had the attitude to match. He was authentically himself which was at once refreshing, surprising, and entertaining. Yet for all his fun, he made Jesus the unabashed center of all his presentations - even Church teaching on chastity. He had a message -he had an attitude - and it was hard to ignore. It certainly wasn't boring!


Fast forward twenty years and now I am a Catholic priest. I'm asked to interview Fr. Stan on a Zoom call for the group called Saints in Training. I'm like 'Ok' and I'm thinking, "This shouldn't be hard, Fr. Stan is one of the most spontaneous people on earth - so that means I don't have to prepare...so no sweat!" (I didn't start to panic until the night before!) I was nervous, but when Father Stan mentioned ice cream in his opening remarks I was like, "Thank you Jesus, that is confirmation!" Once I heard that my eyebrows shot up in the air and I was like, "Ok! Game on!" I was able to ask him about his love of ice cream then about more serious questions as the interview went on, and I think it went very well. Fr. Stan is unashamed of Jesus - that's one of the things that makes him really unique. He seems to have a fire within that is wild and yet contained. With his unconventional style and deep love of Catholic doctrine and the saints - Father Stan is certainly a sign and contradiction. He sees love as being the gift at the heart of the Church, the Mass and the adventure of sanctity, the pursuit of holiness - its about love. We hear that kind of thing regularly but it seems vapid most of the time. The call to love comes across differently with Fr. Stan. Perhaps that's because he's not trying to live at the center of his life - he's given that place to Someone else. He's given his heart to Someone else. Fr. Stan Fortuna claims that this has made all the difference. Who am I to argue with a New Yorker from the Bronx? 

- Father Aaron Knox

Mother's Day a la ZOOM

My brother Liam joined us on our Mother's day ZOOM call from his pad in Halifax.  He is as full of life as ever and looking trim.  

My brother Caleb (St. Stephen) pictured here rocking a do-rag and an Irish shirt with headphones...typical Caleb.  He's been learning how to bake bread recently.  He says it's adding to his waistline!  Hey Caleb, you got a long way to go before your waistline catches up with mine.  :(

Caleb Andrew Knox with
Ollie our Silky Terrier

Dad and Mom joined in the ZOOM call from their home in St. Stephen.  Ollie is asleep between them.  They are holding strong in the midst of all this.  Both are still working at the special care home with the disabled.  I'm not sure where they get the energy - except that it comes largely from their faith.  They are like, "Steady as she goes!" and get through it all somehow.  

ZOOM on Mother's day was the first time we all spoke together at the same time since the virus.  No telling how long that will be the norm, with borders closed between our provinces. 

So, what did we discuss?  Nothing too serious.  It was good to just be together. 

And, considering Mom's battle with cancer several years ago, we all feel blessed to have her with us.  

She's the glue.

Mothered

What is it to be mothered?  
To be mothered is to be held in the soul, to be caressed gently with the touch of the soul.  Being mothered changes you.  Being mothered softens the heart.  Being mothered brings peace.  

Cathy Knox, a.k.a. Mom, a.k.a. Momma Bear...thank you for supporting, loving, laughing and listening.  

Happy (belated) Mother's day!  Flowers?  ...maybe next year!

Is it just me...?

I'm prepared to go downstairs and have lunch when I'm struck by feelings of futility.  The run of the mill, the everyday, the routine...when do I break through and find my true self?  Peace that surpasses a troubled heart and mind, come find me. 

Give me courage to face my trials.

Saints in Training

Tomorrow I will speak with young families (virtually) on a Zoom call for a Facebook group called Saints in Training I will be sharing with them a little bit about Saint John Marie Vianney, patron saint of parish priests.  The age range birth to grade six.  That will require some thinking on my feet.  Saint John Marie Vianney, pray for us!

*P.S. the session went really, really well.  I got good feedback from several parents.  This was a blast and certainly a contender for highlight of the week.

Drink the Fire of God

Saint Catherine of Siena
drinking the Sacred Blood
from the side of Christ. 

O Sweet Fire!  

Fire of God come and enliven hearts.  

Lord we need You!  

Good Friday

And my face will hit the floor at the beginning of this holy celebration.  All else will be forgot.  And I will enter in to the sacred sufferings of Jesus, the holy passion of Christ. In the midst of a world in turmoil and a mind on fire - teetering with exhaustion - there I will find my peace. Dressed in red, kneeling beside the Cross of my Friend, there I will contemplate His wounds.