The beautiful notes of Mozart's Coronation Mass truly joined heaven to earth in welcoming His Eminence Christoph Cardinal Schonborn of Vienna to St. Jean Baptiste Church on Tuesday, January 30th. Members of the Love and Responsibility Discussion Group participated in this Mass, where His Eminence Archbishop Renato R. Martino, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, was the main celebrant and where nearly twenty priests co-celebrated a memorial Mass for Chauncey D. Stillman, benefactor and founder of the Homeland Foundation.

As one of the youngest Cardinals, Cardinal Schonborn has been frequently mentioned as a possible future pope. His homily did not disappoint us who were gathered to hear him. Drawing from St. John's Gospel in which Jesus brought the sick girl back to life and commanded, “give her something to eat,” the Cardinal remarked on Jesus' patient attention to the little things and the little ones. He also spoke on the importance of marriage and family at a time when sociologists and leading voices around the world are proclaiming the end of the family. And he cited John Paul II's 22 years of ceaseless effort in calling attention to the “bleeding wounds of marriage and family.” “The future of humanity passes through families,” he said. Families, he added, are like stars in the darkness.

After the Mass, discussion group members enjoyed lively conversation and dinner at a local Indian restaurant, having the good fortune to have one of our members, Raj, order for us a delicious selection of Indian specialties.