A Film about Faith and Struggle is something that Pastoral Center Publishing is suggesting to watch for in January. The film, based on Shūsaku Endō’s celebrated Japanese novel of the same name, raises deep questions related to faith, loneliness, doubt, suffering, and oppression. The story follows Fr. Sebastian Rodrigues, a seventeenth-century Jesuit priest from Portugal who sneaks into Japan at a time when Christians were brutally persecuted there. Here are some interesting notes about the film:

• Scorcese, who briefly studied for the priesthood, worked toward this film adaptation for almost 30 years.
• Pope Francis has read the novel and told Scorcese at a recent Vatican screening that he hopes the film "bears much fruit."
• Actor Andrew Garfield spoke last night about praying through the 30-day Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in preparation for his role as Fr. Rodrigues.
• Fr. James Martin, S.J. served as a consultant to the film.
• The film is a top contender for the Academy Awards, just making it under the wire to be considered for this year.
• VIEW the Trailer to see some of it.

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Associate Christine McMichael reminds us all, in the midst of our hectic Advent lives, to keep our eyes open to see the light as a child does in simple joys.

Second Week of Advent, 2016

I barely got the Advent wreath out in time!

Volunteering to write an Advent reflection is easy. Writing an Advent reflection is a process.

In the past I’ve included Curious George in my Advent reflection, that’s the ‘real’ clue around here that we are beginning to wait for something special. One may think that watching A Very Monkey Christmas on the Friday after Thanksgiving would have prompted digging out at least one of two Advent wreaths! Nope.

We did start singing, Are you ready? Are you ready for Christmastime to come…

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This Advent, Joy Ryan-Bloore offers another set of reflections that fits like a glove with the transformation that seems underway in our wider world at the moment. Many in the world are anxious and seeking simplistic answers that will return stability and certainty to their lives. Joy offers us a decidedly different style of retreat through this series of meditations: "To resist the crass, cultural emphasis on frenzied purchasing, partying and noise and instead foster a time of quiet and contemplation. To step out on a path towards peace and the birth of a new level of human consciousness – which is what the birth of Jesus the Christ called us to 2,000 years ago." ... Brian Coyne, editor See http://www.catholica.com.au /gc4/jrb/032_jrb_291116.php

Advent Resource: Philip Chircop, sj draws from diverse sources in diverse formats to reflect on Advent. www.philipchircop.com

Nina Glinski, CND & Kathy Kelly, Ottawa 

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