It’s Catholic day for the rabbi.
I spent a few hours earlier today among the religious dignitaries at the Installation Mass for the new Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno, Armando Xavier Ochoa. A diverse collection of clergy attended. I sat next to my friend Rev. Bryan Jessup of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno and saw several other friends from the interfaith community including Muslim and Hindu leaders as well as Christians from different denominations. I also met leaders I had not yet had the opportunity of getting to know including those from the Armenian and Greek Orthodox churches. What a great assembly.
The Catholics are good at majesty. The service was spectacular, with plenty of pomp and circumstance. We processed in toward the beginning followed by robed deacons, priests, bishops, at least one arch bishop, retired Cardinal Mahoney and a bishop representing the Vatican. It was definitely the place to be.
Catholic ritual is impressive but, don’t worry, it’s not for me. I can definitely pass on the incense. I burned my share in the ’70’s, but my throat appreciates minimizing the smoke. (Yeah, really, incense… not the other aromatic smoke… not into that.)
Those bishop hats are awfully impressive but the red yarmulkas they wear underneath are not my style. Red’s not my color.
I was quite impressed with Bishop Ochoa’s voice. He’s got a great, radio announcer type of voice, deep and warm. He also has a warm smile and what seemed like a nice spark of humor.
I learned soon after arriving in town about the pioneering interfaith work of Rabbi Greenberg here in the region and I’m grateful to have opportunities to carry on the tradition. Rabbi Greenberg began a radio show together with the Catholic Monsignor James Dowling and the Episcopal Reverend Dean James Malloch.
After the Mass, I ran out to the Diocesan center in Fresno to teach the last class of three a three session unit on Torah and Judaism for a group of Catholic students here in Fresno and satellite classrooms in Merced, Visalia and Bakersfield. So, this was a very Catholic day for this rabbi.
I hope, in some small measure, our participation in these local interfaith opportunities helps bring people closer together.
Now it’s time to get ready for Shabbat and back to the Jewish world.
Having grown up Catholic and converting to Judaism as an adult, the process of discovering the sameness of faith was life changing. If we could come together to celebrate that sameness and allow the differences to truly melt away, the world would have less war and more peace. By the way, saw that you were in New Orleans to help out with the recovery. Sorry that Neil and I were not aware that you were here. We would have loved to have seen you again. Hard to believe that it's been nearly 6 years since you officiated at our marriage in Pleasanton. My daughter is no longer living in Fresno, Neil's Mom passed away and his sister retired and is traveling a lot so we don't get to California much these days. Annie would have enjoyed your rabbinic presence there in Fresno. She and her husband are now back in New Orleans since 2009. Make today great! Thank you for the happy memories! Janie
Posted by: Janie Soslow | March 04, 2012 at 09:51 AM