Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Wedding Weekend
I'm heading cross country early tomorrow morning for my sister's wedding. It's the first time that I'll be together with all my brothers and sisters since the first time my brother got back from Iraq in October of 2004. It's hard to believe that it's been that long since we've all been together!
Most likely, I won't be posting until after I get back next Tuesday. Have a great holiday weekend.
Most likely, I won't be posting until after I get back next Tuesday. Have a great holiday weekend.
Black Jack controversy
An ordinance in Black Jack, Missouri is causing controversy. The town's definition of a family does not include unmarried couples with more than one child, causing such couples to be in violation of the town's occupancy ordinance.
One unmarried couple with 3 children recently bought a house in Black Jack, and found out about the ordinance when the inspector asked for the children's birth certificates and a marriage license. (The couple has been together for 13 years - what is the problem with getting married?). The town lawyer is saying that the town plans to enforce its laws, so the couple will have to get married or pay a fine.
Local officials told the couple that the fact they were not married and had three children, one from Shelltrack's previous relationship, did not fit the town's definition of "family".
And then, in there's the third to last sentence:
One unmarried couple that owns a house in the mainly Catholic town and that recently had a second child is facing the same fate, Rothert said.
Oh, now it makes sense. It's those Catholics trying to impose their archaic values on everyone again.
Hat Tip to Steve Dillard at Southern Appeal for the story
One unmarried couple with 3 children recently bought a house in Black Jack, and found out about the ordinance when the inspector asked for the children's birth certificates and a marriage license. (The couple has been together for 13 years - what is the problem with getting married?). The town lawyer is saying that the town plans to enforce its laws, so the couple will have to get married or pay a fine.
Local officials told the couple that the fact they were not married and had three children, one from Shelltrack's previous relationship, did not fit the town's definition of "family".
And then, in there's the third to last sentence:
One unmarried couple that owns a house in the mainly Catholic town and that recently had a second child is facing the same fate, Rothert said.
Oh, now it makes sense. It's those Catholics trying to impose their archaic values on everyone again.
Hat Tip to Steve Dillard at Southern Appeal for the story
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Bishop McManus Interview
The Catholic Free Press has an interesting interview with Bishop McManus who just celebrated the 2nd anniversary of his installation as Bishop of Worcester. In the interview, Bishop McManus identifies areas of challenge for the diocese including evangelization and stewardship. Evangelization needs to be done in the politcal sphere, in the classroom and in the parishes.
The church is not a museum. It is faith community that is alive today because the Lord and master is alive today. We need to convince people of that, Bishop McManus said.
“We have to present ourselves in a way that is courageous and without apology. We need to say to people that you may think this (faith) is not important. But we are here to tell you that this vitally important. And sooner or later ... you will find out how important it really is,” he said.
The bishop has no tolerance for those who want to use their leadership roles to advance their own opinions rather than Church teaching.
[Bishop McManus] said religious education teachers are not there “to give their personal opinion or a faulty theology; they’re there to present the teaching of the church as the church wants it presented. I have no tolerance whatsoever for religious education people in the Catholic schools or in our parishes thinking that somehow their personal take on a theological issue or a pastoral issues is as valid as the church’s. They are there in that context as a teacher of the faith to pass on the faith of the church.”
Bishop McManus also addresses the problem of fiscal responsiblity for the diocese, including the need to look at triming diocesan administration. The bishop appreciates the generosity of the laity, again highlighted in the Partners in Charity appeal now being conducted in parishes. Of 58 parishes who began their appeals in Lent, 43 have met or exceeded goals, with all of the remaining 15 parishes over 80% of their goals.
The church is not a museum. It is faith community that is alive today because the Lord and master is alive today. We need to convince people of that, Bishop McManus said.
“We have to present ourselves in a way that is courageous and without apology. We need to say to people that you may think this (faith) is not important. But we are here to tell you that this vitally important. And sooner or later ... you will find out how important it really is,” he said.
The bishop has no tolerance for those who want to use their leadership roles to advance their own opinions rather than Church teaching.
[Bishop McManus] said religious education teachers are not there “to give their personal opinion or a faulty theology; they’re there to present the teaching of the church as the church wants it presented. I have no tolerance whatsoever for religious education people in the Catholic schools or in our parishes thinking that somehow their personal take on a theological issue or a pastoral issues is as valid as the church’s. They are there in that context as a teacher of the faith to pass on the faith of the church.”
Bishop McManus also addresses the problem of fiscal responsiblity for the diocese, including the need to look at triming diocesan administration. The bishop appreciates the generosity of the laity, again highlighted in the Partners in Charity appeal now being conducted in parishes. Of 58 parishes who began their appeals in Lent, 43 have met or exceeded goals, with all of the remaining 15 parishes over 80% of their goals.
Język Polski
Being Polish (and often struggling to pronounce words - with no idea what they mean), I just had to laugh when I found the following on the First Things website:
The language of Poland (.pl). With its strings of four or more consonants, (e.g., the word czczy, meaning `empty') this language is regarded as very difficult to pronounce. When non-Poles try to speak it, Poles who hear them give a slightly pained, indulgent smile. The pain comes from the effort to suppress laughter. They're keeping a secret: the secret is that it's actually impossible to pronounce Polish. Not just for non-Poles. Early in the twelfth century, Polish ceased to be a spoken language. When no foreigners are present, Poles speak in another language, usually !Kung or Welsh.
Poland is a kind of experimental theater of nationalism. Poles had already tried the more common experiments, like existing without any territory, so to top it they tried shifting their borders a couple of hundred kilometers west on a moment's notice. (In Transylvanian dance, this is known as the ``Time Warp.'' It is explicated in the documentary ``The Rocky Horror Picture Show.'') Similarly, other countries, like Ireland and India, have already tried having official languages that no more than a minority can speak. Attempting to break new ground, and because virtually all Poles maintain to foreigners that they speak Polish, they have established dialects, so that you can fail to speak Polish in two or three different ways, automatically! In addition to eastern and western alleged pronunciations, there is also a special dialect ``spoken'' in the Gdansk area. Back in the eighties, they tried to get together an army to make the Gdansk dialect a language. This effort broke down, but they ended up forming an independent trade union that eventually led to the first peaceful surrender of power by an established communist government in Europe. All because of linguistics.
The language of Poland (.pl). With its strings of four or more consonants, (e.g., the word czczy, meaning `empty') this language is regarded as very difficult to pronounce. When non-Poles try to speak it, Poles who hear them give a slightly pained, indulgent smile. The pain comes from the effort to suppress laughter. They're keeping a secret: the secret is that it's actually impossible to pronounce Polish. Not just for non-Poles. Early in the twelfth century, Polish ceased to be a spoken language. When no foreigners are present, Poles speak in another language, usually !Kung or Welsh.
Poland is a kind of experimental theater of nationalism. Poles had already tried the more common experiments, like existing without any territory, so to top it they tried shifting their borders a couple of hundred kilometers west on a moment's notice. (In Transylvanian dance, this is known as the ``Time Warp.'' It is explicated in the documentary ``The Rocky Horror Picture Show.'') Similarly, other countries, like Ireland and India, have already tried having official languages that no more than a minority can speak. Attempting to break new ground, and because virtually all Poles maintain to foreigners that they speak Polish, they have established dialects, so that you can fail to speak Polish in two or three different ways, automatically! In addition to eastern and western alleged pronunciations, there is also a special dialect ``spoken'' in the Gdansk area. Back in the eighties, they tried to get together an army to make the Gdansk dialect a language. This effort broke down, but they ended up forming an independent trade union that eventually led to the first peaceful surrender of power by an established communist government in Europe. All because of linguistics.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Impossible cases
Today is the feast day of St. Rita of Cascia, patroness of impossible cases.
PRAYER TO ST. RITA
St. Rita, come to my aid!
Faithful, loving wife and mother,
Humble, prayerful widow and nun,
Because of my need, answer my call.
St. Rita, come to my aid!
Beautiful rose born
from the Savior's thorns,
Lead me far from anger and hate;
Guide my heart on peaceful paths with charity to all.
St. Rita, come to my aid!
Helper, healer, holy friend
Hear my petition (make request).
To Christ take this prayer,
For He is my Lord, my God, my All,
My hope in despair,
My strength when afraid.
St. Rita, come to my aid!
St. Rita, answer my call. Amen
Thursday, May 18, 2006
See you on the other side
Mozart on the Menu II
Thank you to everyone who helped and supported tonight's Mozart on the Menu fundraiser for the Music Festival. Your support enables Cathedral Music in Worcester to provide the best possible concerts at the least possible cost so that everyone can enjoy good music.
I hope that you can make it to some of the wonderful concerts scheduled.
Listening to the perfomers tonight, it struck me again how many wonderful, talented musicians we have in Worcester. Recently, a 30 piece orchestra has been formed with the same goal as Cathedral Music - to bring the best possible musical performances to as many people as possible. The Worcester Collegium, directed by Peter Sulski, will make their debut performance during the Music Festival.
I hope that you can make it to some of the wonderful concerts scheduled.
Listening to the perfomers tonight, it struck me again how many wonderful, talented musicians we have in Worcester. Recently, a 30 piece orchestra has been formed with the same goal as Cathedral Music - to bring the best possible musical performances to as many people as possible. The Worcester Collegium, directed by Peter Sulski, will make their debut performance during the Music Festival.
Labels: choir
I saw a saint at sunset
On John Paul II's birthday, I thought that it was appropriate to post this beautiful excerpt from Peggy Noonan's John Paul the Great: Remembering a Spiritual Father. The excerpt, from the first chapter of the book, talks about seeing John Paul II at the end of his life.
And yet as I watched him, I realized I did not see him as ill and frail. I saw him as encased — trapped in there, in an outer immobility. Outside he is old and frail, but inside he is John Paul, the one who had walked out on the Vatican balcony and dazzled the crowd twenty-four years before. And for the first time I thought: He is a victim soul. His suffering has meaning, it is telling us something. He is giving us something, a parting gift.
He sang to us a little at the end, like an old man sitting in the sun. Most of us couldn't tell the words or the tune, but he was doing it for us, and there was something so beautiful and moving in it. I turned to a friend. "We are hearing a saint singing," I said. I wanted to put my hands over my ears so I could hold the sound in my head forever.
Throughout all this I would look over now and then at a young woman, a red-haired girl sitting with a Polish choir. She was nineteen or twenty, clean faced, pale. From the moment the pope had entered the room she had not taken her eyes off him. And she had not stopped weeping.
...
His suffering was his witness. Every other leader in the world stands straight and tall; they employ scores of aides who tell them to throw back their shoulders and walk forward looking like the leader of France, or England, or America. These public souls are acutely conscious of their public presentation. But John Paul came out broken and bent, as broken as the Christ on the cross he carried on his crozier.
And yet as I watched him, I realized I did not see him as ill and frail. I saw him as encased — trapped in there, in an outer immobility. Outside he is old and frail, but inside he is John Paul, the one who had walked out on the Vatican balcony and dazzled the crowd twenty-four years before. And for the first time I thought: He is a victim soul. His suffering has meaning, it is telling us something. He is giving us something, a parting gift.
He sang to us a little at the end, like an old man sitting in the sun. Most of us couldn't tell the words or the tune, but he was doing it for us, and there was something so beautiful and moving in it. I turned to a friend. "We are hearing a saint singing," I said. I wanted to put my hands over my ears so I could hold the sound in my head forever.
Throughout all this I would look over now and then at a young woman, a red-haired girl sitting with a Polish choir. She was nineteen or twenty, clean faced, pale. From the moment the pope had entered the room she had not taken her eyes off him. And she had not stopped weeping.
...
His suffering was his witness. Every other leader in the world stands straight and tall; they employ scores of aides who tell them to throw back their shoulders and walk forward looking like the leader of France, or England, or America. These public souls are acutely conscious of their public presentation. But John Paul came out broken and bent, as broken as the Christ on the cross he carried on his crozier.
Welcome Miss Bettinelli!
Congratulations to Dom and Melanie Bettinelli on the birth of their daughter Isabella Marie. What a joy!! And, she gets to share her birthday with Pope John Paul the Great!!
Heros Still
This story in the Boston Globe made me cry. I know, I'm sentimental. But it was more than that. In my family, there is a long history of service the armed forces. My grandfather landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. My mother was an army nurse, serving in Vietnam. My father served in the Navy. I had an uncle in the Coast Guard and another commissioned in the Air Force.
Currently, my brother is a Marine who has served 2 tours of duty in Iraq. And, one of my cousins is in the Navy, serving on a guided missle cruiser in the Gulf during the war in Iraq.
I have always admired, apreciated, and been extremely proud of all the members of my family who have given their time to serve our country. I'm thankful for difficult jobs they have done and continue to do. And, I'm grateful when others recognize their sacrifices on our behalf and find ways of making their own appreciation and respect known.
A group of veterans in the Portsmouth, NH area is doing just that.
During the past year an assortment of Portsmouth-area veterans groups representing all service branches have met about 15 flights and greeted about 1,800 servicemen and women from all branches of the military who served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Not only are these veterans greeting the returning servicemen, they are serving them donuts and coffee and offering them cellphones to call home.
And, the returning Marines appreciate the gesture.
As the 6 a.m. departure time neared, the Marines and veterans assembled for a group photograph to be hung in the terminal. A chaplain said a prayer and the Marines and veterans joined in singing the Marine Corps Hymn.
The elderly veterans formed a reception line by the jetway and shook hands as the Marines boarded.
That's why in my book these veterans are heros still.
Currently, my brother is a Marine who has served 2 tours of duty in Iraq. And, one of my cousins is in the Navy, serving on a guided missle cruiser in the Gulf during the war in Iraq.
I have always admired, apreciated, and been extremely proud of all the members of my family who have given their time to serve our country. I'm thankful for difficult jobs they have done and continue to do. And, I'm grateful when others recognize their sacrifices on our behalf and find ways of making their own appreciation and respect known.
A group of veterans in the Portsmouth, NH area is doing just that.
During the past year an assortment of Portsmouth-area veterans groups representing all service branches have met about 15 flights and greeted about 1,800 servicemen and women from all branches of the military who served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Not only are these veterans greeting the returning servicemen, they are serving them donuts and coffee and offering them cellphones to call home.
And, the returning Marines appreciate the gesture.
As the 6 a.m. departure time neared, the Marines and veterans assembled for a group photograph to be hung in the terminal. A chaplain said a prayer and the Marines and veterans joined in singing the Marine Corps Hymn.
The elderly veterans formed a reception line by the jetway and shook hands as the Marines boarded.
That's why in my book these veterans are heros still.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
D-Day minus 2
It's almost impossible these days to avoid The Da Vinci Code talk. I know, I've tried. This afternoon, for example, I went on the internet and was confronted by this headline Test of Faith, Survey: Many Believe 'Code' Claims. The survey referenced in the headline was conducted in Britian where it was found that readers of The Da Vinci Code hadn't paid attention to the fact that they got the book in the fiction section.
The British survey, released by a group of prominent Catholics, revealed that readers of Dan Brown's blockbuster novel are twice as likely to believe Jesus Christ fathered children and four times as likely to think the conservative Catholic group Opus Dei is a murderous sect.
The movie version of the book is scheduled for release on Friday. Barbara Nicolosi has suggested an othercott over the first weekend of the release. The idea behind the othercott is to support another Hollywood project that has a message more in line with Christian ideals. Therefore, she is urging Christians to go see Over the Hedge distributed by Dreamworks to send a message about the kind of movies we want to see.
Hollywood is really not the monolithic entity that we tend to think. It’s actually a collection of fiercely competitive corporate conglomerates, all jostling for ratings and market share. The only way we Christians are going to have any impact on what ends up on the screens will be if we start strategically supporting the kinds of movies we want to see, and just as strategically avoiding the movies that are offensive to us. In Over the Hedge, Dreamworks has a better movie on May 19th for us and our kids. They deserve to win the weekend over Sony Pictures.
Don't let The Da Vinci Code win at the box office this weekend.
The British survey, released by a group of prominent Catholics, revealed that readers of Dan Brown's blockbuster novel are twice as likely to believe Jesus Christ fathered children and four times as likely to think the conservative Catholic group Opus Dei is a murderous sect.
The movie version of the book is scheduled for release on Friday. Barbara Nicolosi has suggested an othercott over the first weekend of the release. The idea behind the othercott is to support another Hollywood project that has a message more in line with Christian ideals. Therefore, she is urging Christians to go see Over the Hedge distributed by Dreamworks to send a message about the kind of movies we want to see.
Hollywood is really not the monolithic entity that we tend to think. It’s actually a collection of fiercely competitive corporate conglomerates, all jostling for ratings and market share. The only way we Christians are going to have any impact on what ends up on the screens will be if we start strategically supporting the kinds of movies we want to see, and just as strategically avoiding the movies that are offensive to us. In Over the Hedge, Dreamworks has a better movie on May 19th for us and our kids. They deserve to win the weekend over Sony Pictures.
Don't let The Da Vinci Code win at the box office this weekend.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Catholics in Hollywood
This post by Jason at Sirach 40:20 reminded me that I wanted to start blogging on classic movies that have Catholicism running through them, as it were. Not all the movies have an explicily Catholic theme, but they all treat Catholicism with respect.
I always recommend the 1951 version of Angels in the Outfield as an introduction to classic movies, especially for families. It's delightful story, that doesn't feel the need to over sell its point like so many movies today.
The inept Pittsburgh Pirates are managed by 'Guffy' McGovern, a loud mouthed, offensive man, played wonderfully by Paul Douglas. Guffy is offered help for his ailing team by an angel, in exchange for cleaning up his act. The angel tells Guffy, "There are 579 thousand words in the English language. We only ask you to avoid about a dozen. Read Guffy, read." (paraphased quote) Guffy's resultant attempt to use Shakespeare on an umpire is hilarious!
As Guffy changes, he makes friends with an orphan girl, played by Donna Corcoran, who can see the angels (Guffy can only hear one angel), because she's been praying to St. Gabriel for the Pirates, "every morning and every evening and sometimes during arithmetic."
A woman reporter, played by Janet Leigh, makes the angel story a national headline, thereby also catching the attention of Guffy.
The characters are all wonderfully portrayed, with real development in the relationships between the 3 main actors.
The story builds to a climax when Guffy is put on trial before the baseball commissioner for being crazy, talking to angels. The trial features a bit of early ecumenism - a Jewish rabbi, a Protestant minister, and a Catholic priest, united by their belief in angels and their love of baseball.
And it's a treat to see a bit of 1950's baseball in Forbes Field.
I always recommend the 1951 version of Angels in the Outfield as an introduction to classic movies, especially for families. It's delightful story, that doesn't feel the need to over sell its point like so many movies today.
The inept Pittsburgh Pirates are managed by 'Guffy' McGovern, a loud mouthed, offensive man, played wonderfully by Paul Douglas. Guffy is offered help for his ailing team by an angel, in exchange for cleaning up his act. The angel tells Guffy, "There are 579 thousand words in the English language. We only ask you to avoid about a dozen. Read Guffy, read." (paraphased quote) Guffy's resultant attempt to use Shakespeare on an umpire is hilarious!
As Guffy changes, he makes friends with an orphan girl, played by Donna Corcoran, who can see the angels (Guffy can only hear one angel), because she's been praying to St. Gabriel for the Pirates, "every morning and every evening and sometimes during arithmetic."
A woman reporter, played by Janet Leigh, makes the angel story a national headline, thereby also catching the attention of Guffy.
The characters are all wonderfully portrayed, with real development in the relationships between the 3 main actors.
The story builds to a climax when Guffy is put on trial before the baseball commissioner for being crazy, talking to angels. The trial features a bit of early ecumenism - a Jewish rabbi, a Protestant minister, and a Catholic priest, united by their belief in angels and their love of baseball.
And it's a treat to see a bit of 1950's baseball in Forbes Field.
Out of service
Verizon is currently on my bad list.
This weekend, my sister went to a wedding in Virginia. And, her cell phone was stolen. So, when she got home, she took my phone, called Verizon, and had them suspend service on her phone until she could transfer her number to a new phone. All pretty straight forward,right?
Except that Verizon didn't suspend service on her phone. They suspended service on my phone.
So, no phone service for me until I can convince Verizon to reinstate my phone. I hope that they give me a credit for days out of service!
This weekend, my sister went to a wedding in Virginia. And, her cell phone was stolen. So, when she got home, she took my phone, called Verizon, and had them suspend service on her phone until she could transfer her number to a new phone. All pretty straight forward,right?
Except that Verizon didn't suspend service on her phone. They suspended service on my phone.
So, no phone service for me until I can convince Verizon to reinstate my phone. I hope that they give me a credit for days out of service!
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
What does the sun look like again? Up here in Massachusetts, we've had gray, foggy, cold, rainy weather for a week. We've been promised sun on Wednesday, followed by...more rain. I'm sure glad I'm getting my new car tomorrow with intermittent wipers!
There's not much this weather is good for, but my 5 year-old nephew found something. Yesterday, I took him to Friendly's for lunch. (My sister was out of town for the weekend, so I got to play the doting aunt.) As we left the restaurant, he said, "Let's go home, snuggle up, and watch a movie!"
The perfect thing!
There's not much this weather is good for, but my 5 year-old nephew found something. Yesterday, I took him to Friendly's for lunch. (My sister was out of town for the weekend, so I got to play the doting aunt.) As we left the restaurant, he said, "Let's go home, snuggle up, and watch a movie!"
The perfect thing!
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Happy Mother's Day
Marriage on the mind
My sister is getting married in 2 weeks, friends are getting married next weekend, friends were married this weekend. With that in mind, it seemed the right time to highlight these beautiful reflections on marriage by my friend Dom.
Last August, he reflected on his coming marriage to Melanie. Many of his reflections resonated with me, especially this:
Meanwhile, I realized yesterday at some point that a momentous event had happened. Sometime in the past few months I stopped worrying about my vocation. Mind you, for about the past 20 years I have thought and prayed about my vocation....
Such thoughts tended to eat up my prayer life and my daily thoughts: Will I find someone to love and who will love me? Why can’t I find such a woman? Is this the woman? Why is it so hard to find a devout Catholic woman who interests me and I interest her? And so on. Of course, I kept my faith in the Lord, that He had a plan for my life and for my vocation. Not to say it wasn’t difficult.
Since my daily prayer is taken up largely by the important question of my own vocation, will I find someone to love, why doesn't God send someone to me, what does he want me to do in preparation, I immediately identified with what Dom was saying. I've even thought more than once with some amazement that some day this question may no longer be The Question in my life.
To read more of Dom's musings on his impending marriage see here, here and here.
Yesterday, Dom commented on his nine months of marriage to Melanie and the pending birth of their first child.
And I love her more today and every day. Loving someone more is a difficult concept to grasp. I love Melanie with my whole self. How could I love her more tomorrow? Yet, I know I will because I love her more now than I did a year ago (and I loved her with my whole self last year.)
Last August, he reflected on his coming marriage to Melanie. Many of his reflections resonated with me, especially this:
Meanwhile, I realized yesterday at some point that a momentous event had happened. Sometime in the past few months I stopped worrying about my vocation. Mind you, for about the past 20 years I have thought and prayed about my vocation....
Such thoughts tended to eat up my prayer life and my daily thoughts: Will I find someone to love and who will love me? Why can’t I find such a woman? Is this the woman? Why is it so hard to find a devout Catholic woman who interests me and I interest her? And so on. Of course, I kept my faith in the Lord, that He had a plan for my life and for my vocation. Not to say it wasn’t difficult.
Since my daily prayer is taken up largely by the important question of my own vocation, will I find someone to love, why doesn't God send someone to me, what does he want me to do in preparation, I immediately identified with what Dom was saying. I've even thought more than once with some amazement that some day this question may no longer be The Question in my life.
To read more of Dom's musings on his impending marriage see here, here and here.
Yesterday, Dom commented on his nine months of marriage to Melanie and the pending birth of their first child.
And I love her more today and every day. Loving someone more is a difficult concept to grasp. I love Melanie with my whole self. How could I love her more tomorrow? Yet, I know I will because I love her more now than I did a year ago (and I loved her with my whole self last year.)
Friday, May 12, 2006
Get Well Soon
Up here in Massachusetts we like to beat those Yankees (2 out of 3 ain't bad), and we like things to be a tough on them, but we never want to see a player injured like Matsui was last night. We're praying for him to make a full recovery.
Labels: baseball
Free Beer!
(In really small glasses)
It's the 3rd Annual Spring Beer Festival at Julio's Liquors in Westboro. Sunday, May 21 from 1pm-5pm. I'm going to have to check this out!
Hey Dom, here's something for you!
It's the 3rd Annual Spring Beer Festival at Julio's Liquors in Westboro. Sunday, May 21 from 1pm-5pm. I'm going to have to check this out!
Hey Dom, here's something for you!
Thursday, May 11, 2006
A question for Hobbs
A sometimes read?
John Paul II, Patron of Single Adults
Marybeth Bonacci has claimed John Paul II as patron for single adults. I think she's on to something.
John Paul II is in many ways a patron for the unmarried. This was a man who knew the experience of living without a family. His mother died when he was nine. He lost his only brother while he was still a teenager, and his father when he was in his early 20s. And so he was alone. He maintained strong relationships with his childhood friends, building up a strong “communion of persons” which lasted throughout his life. He participated in their families’ lives — marrying them, baptizing their children, celebrating their milestones with them.
John Paul loved young people and encouraged them to make the Church their family, where they could, as he put it in Familiaris Consortio: discover the beauty and grandeur of the vocation to love and the service of life.
After John Paul's death last year, I began to pray to him for guidance in choosing a spouse. With his beautiful teachings on marriage, affinity for young people, and strong friendships, I felt sure that he was the best person to pray for me. And, I had fired St. Raphael after my last disasterous relationship. It just wasn't working out! (Don't worry, I soon thought better of it.)
JP II, Pray for us.
John Paul II is in many ways a patron for the unmarried. This was a man who knew the experience of living without a family. His mother died when he was nine. He lost his only brother while he was still a teenager, and his father when he was in his early 20s. And so he was alone. He maintained strong relationships with his childhood friends, building up a strong “communion of persons” which lasted throughout his life. He participated in their families’ lives — marrying them, baptizing their children, celebrating their milestones with them.
John Paul loved young people and encouraged them to make the Church their family, where they could, as he put it in Familiaris Consortio: discover the beauty and grandeur of the vocation to love and the service of life.
After John Paul's death last year, I began to pray to him for guidance in choosing a spouse. With his beautiful teachings on marriage, affinity for young people, and strong friendships, I felt sure that he was the best person to pray for me. And, I had fired St. Raphael after my last disasterous relationship. It just wasn't working out! (Don't worry, I soon thought better of it.)
JP II, Pray for us.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Visiting
On Saturday, I went to visit my friends, Mr. and Mrs. Tags and their 5 children. Poor Mr. Tags was suffering from the flu. He was wrapped in blankets on the couch and the slightest noise bothered him. I hope he's feeling better! Baby Tags was fussy. T. Tags wouldn't eat her dinner sitting at the table and kept getting up to wander around. T. Tags and D. Tags kept fooling around instead of putting on their pajamas, causing a lot of noise, which was hard on Mr. Tags. And, Mr. Tags made me watch the Yankees game (and they weren't playing the Red Sox either).
I'm sure all you married folks with children will identify with a fairly normal day in family life.
I enjoyed my visit with Mr. and Mrs. Tags very much and appreciated that they didn't"sanitize" things for me. Sometimes my friends seem to feel that they need to "clean up", apologizing for dragging me into their little "messes" of family life. They don't believe me when I tell them that I don't mind. In fact, as a single person, I appreciate the time I can spend as part of my friends' families (messes and all). It's all too easy for me to get wrapped up in the concerns of my day to day and become somewhat self-absorbed, forgetting that life is about self gift. Does it sound funny to say that I'm sometimes a little envious of my friends for the sacrifice (gift of self in JP terms) that is inherent in their vocation?
If you are married with a family and have single friends, don't be hesitant in inviting them to join you, even when you're not at your "best". Take it from one single girl - our lives are enriched by your generosity.
(For some good reflections on self sacrifice in married life see Sirach 40:20 and Dom Bettinelli - they're both great, so I just had to work them in!)
I'm sure all you married folks with children will identify with a fairly normal day in family life.
I enjoyed my visit with Mr. and Mrs. Tags very much and appreciated that they didn't"sanitize" things for me. Sometimes my friends seem to feel that they need to "clean up", apologizing for dragging me into their little "messes" of family life. They don't believe me when I tell them that I don't mind. In fact, as a single person, I appreciate the time I can spend as part of my friends' families (messes and all). It's all too easy for me to get wrapped up in the concerns of my day to day and become somewhat self-absorbed, forgetting that life is about self gift. Does it sound funny to say that I'm sometimes a little envious of my friends for the sacrifice (gift of self in JP terms) that is inherent in their vocation?
If you are married with a family and have single friends, don't be hesitant in inviting them to join you, even when you're not at your "best". Take it from one single girl - our lives are enriched by your generosity.
(For some good reflections on self sacrifice in married life see Sirach 40:20 and Dom Bettinelli - they're both great, so I just had to work them in!)
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Does it ever stop?
Have you ever noticed that the weeks that you think you don't have anything to do are the weeks that you're actually the busiest? I don't know about you, but whenever I think "Finally, a nice calm week" it's a sure sign that I won't be home all week.
Smokin'
That's what the Red Sox were doing tonight as they beat the Yankees 14-3.
You've got to love Dennis Eckersley. Quote of the night: "That was a horrible performance" (referring to Randy Johnson, not the Red Sox)
You've got to love Dennis Eckersley. Quote of the night: "That was a horrible performance" (referring to Randy Johnson, not the Red Sox)
500 years of service for the Swiss Guards
I had to link to the celebrations for the 500th anniversary of the Swiss Guards from Dom's site because it's so neat. I love that the Swiss Guard veterans marched from Switzerland to Rome and that special military units from around the world were there, including a company from Massachusetts. I didn't know that the Ancient and Honourable Artillery Company of Massachusetts was the oldest chartered military unit in the Western Hemisphere. How cool is that!
St. Paul's Music Festival
As promised, here is the schedule for the 2006 St. Paul's Music Festival - Celebrating Mozart.
If you can only mark your calendar for 1 or 2 events, check out these:
Saturday, June 10 7:00 p.m. Wine, Cheese, and Mozart
Ian Watson and Friends
CD launch with special guest, Monica Hatch
admission free (as are the wine and cheese)
Sunday, June 11 4:00 p.m. Final Concert: The Glory of Mozart
Mozart Requiem - St. Paul’s Festival Choir and Orchestra, directed by Ian Watson
admission free
St. Paul’s Music Festival 2006CATHEDRAL MUSIC IN WORCESTER presents Celebrating Mozart St Paul's Cathedral, Worcester
Sunday, June 4 7:00 p.m. Young Musicians of Worcester All Saints Church, Worcester, Youth Choirs and Students from Pakachoag Music School
admission free
Monday, June 5 1:00 p.m. Organ Concert Scott Lamleinadmission free
7:00 p.m. The LaBarre Family Singers with Jonathan Clark, trumpet and Ian Watson, piano $10 adults, $5 students, seniors, and children
Tuesday, June 6 1:00 p.m. Organ Concert Joseph Policelli admission free
7:00 p.m. The Beautiful Voice Jane Shivick, soprano and Olga Rogach, piano $10 adults, $5 students, seniors, and children
Wednesday, June 7 1:00 p.m. Sound the Trumpet! Jonathan Clark, trumpet and Ian Watson, organ admission free
7:00 p.m. Mozart Symphonies, Tchaikovsky Serenade Worcester Collegium, directed by Peter Sulski $10 adults, $5 students, seniors, and children
Thursday, June 8 1:00 p.m. Organ Concert Donald Meineke admission free
7:00 p.m. Young Voices of Worcester Master Singers Youth Chorus, directed by Malcolm Halliday admission free
Friday, June 9 1:00 p.m. Organ Concert Sean Redrow admission free
7:30 p.m. Classical Grace: Mozart and Beethoven Quartet X $10 adults, $5 students, seniors, and children
Saturday, June 10 7:00 p.m. Wine, Cheese, and Mozart Ian Watson and Friends CD launch with special guest, Monica Hatch admission free
Sunday, June 11 4:00 p.m. Final Concert: The Glory of Mozart Mozart Requiem - St. Paul’s Festival Choir and Orchestra, directed by Ian Watson admission free
Labels: choir
Charles Rice has his say
In another chapter of the Ave Maria School of Law saga, Fumare is reporting that Professor Charles Rice has sent a letter to Tom Monaghan (chair of the Board of Govenors) and Dean Bernard Dobranski noting the votes of no confidence taken by the faculty, students, and alumni, and proposing an alternate solution to the closing of the current law school in Ann Arbor and opening of a new law school in Florida with ties to Ave Maria Town and Ave Maria University.
The occasion for this letter is the unprecedented concurrence of formal declarations by the AMSL faculty, the AMSL alumni board and the signers of the AMSL student petition, all expressing what amounts to a terminal lack of confidence in Bernie’s leadership of AMSL. That lack of confidence implicitly applies also to Tom because of the reality, as well as the perception, that, contrary to ABA standards, AMSL is, in effect though not by design, governed as a sole proprietorship with Bernie as the resident agent.
The occasion for this letter is the unprecedented concurrence of formal declarations by the AMSL faculty, the AMSL alumni board and the signers of the AMSL student petition, all expressing what amounts to a terminal lack of confidence in Bernie’s leadership of AMSL. That lack of confidence implicitly applies also to Tom because of the reality, as well as the perception, that, contrary to ABA standards, AMSL is, in effect though not by design, governed as a sole proprietorship with Bernie as the resident agent.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Time for a new one
I have a 1990 Geo Prism. It doesn't have air conditioning, a tape player (or CD), or cruise control. The passenger side door does not work at all. The inside door handle on the driver's side is broken, and can only be opened with a piece of wire. The material on the ceiling is falling down, and is held in place by saftey pins. The body is rusting. And, as if all this isn't enough, today the muffler went.
So, definately time for a new car. Here's one I was looking at.
These are my criteria for a car:
1. Under $15,000
2. Manual transmission
3. CD player
4. Drives well (My current car is so light, it's awful to drive when it's windy. And I take a lot of road trips)
5. Good gas mileage (see above)
Power locks, cruise control, intermittent wipers would be nice, but not absolutely necessary.
Suggestions are very welcome.
So, definately time for a new car. Here's one I was looking at.
These are my criteria for a car:
1. Under $15,000
2. Manual transmission
3. CD player
4. Drives well (My current car is so light, it's awful to drive when it's windy. And I take a lot of road trips)
5. Good gas mileage (see above)
Power locks, cruise control, intermittent wipers would be nice, but not absolutely necessary.
Suggestions are very welcome.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Mozart on the Menu
On May 18th at 7pm, there will be a benefit dinner and concert for the 4th St. Paul's Music Festival celebrating Mozart (the 250th anniversary of his birth is this year). If you are interested in attending, please contact the Cathedral Music office at 508-754-9822.
The benefit should be a fun night with good food, good company, and great music.
The St. Paul's Music Festival is a week of music, usually an organ concert at noon and another a vocal concert in the evening. Many of the concerts are free of charge. This year, the finale of the Festival will be the St. Paul's Cathedral Choir singing Mozart's Requiem. I hope to have a full schedule to post soon.
Labels: choir
Classic Movie Quiz 137
It's been a while since I posted a quiz, so from And You Thought You Knew Classic Movies! By John DiLeo
2 part quiz this time:
Match the Fred Astaire dance number to the woman who was his partner. Then name the film.
1. "Heigh, Ho, the Gang's All Here"
2. "Begin the Beguine"
3. "This Heart of Mine"
4. "It Only Happens When I Dance With You"
5. "I'm Old-Fashioned"
6. "Pick Yourself Up"
7. "Something's Gotta Give"
8. "I Left My Hat in Haiti"
9. "All of You"
10. "He Loves and She Loves"
a. Ginger Rogers
b. Lucille Bremer
c. Eleanor Powell
d. Leslie Caron
e. Audrey Hepburn
f. Joan Crawford
g. Jane Powell
h. Cyd Charisse
i. Rita Hayworth
j. Ann Miller
2 part quiz this time:
Match the Fred Astaire dance number to the woman who was his partner. Then name the film.
1. "Heigh, Ho, the Gang's All Here"
2. "Begin the Beguine"
3. "This Heart of Mine"
4. "It Only Happens When I Dance With You"
5. "I'm Old-Fashioned"
6. "Pick Yourself Up"
7. "Something's Gotta Give"
8. "I Left My Hat in Haiti"
9. "All of You"
10. "He Loves and She Loves"
a. Ginger Rogers
b. Lucille Bremer
c. Eleanor Powell
d. Leslie Caron
e. Audrey Hepburn
f. Joan Crawford
g. Jane Powell
h. Cyd Charisse
i. Rita Hayworth
j. Ann Miller
Labels: movies
Book Meme
Dom has a new meme on his blog. It's funny the things people come up with.
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open it to page 161.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence along with these instructions.
5. Don’t search around and look for the coolest book you can find. Do what’s actually next to you. (Problem is, I'm sitting next to a bookcase!)
“'And the Bolster - I can't say where they got that'”.
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open it to page 161.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence along with these instructions.
5. Don’t search around and look for the coolest book you can find. Do what’s actually next to you. (Problem is, I'm sitting next to a bookcase!)
“'And the Bolster - I can't say where they got that'”.
Monday, May 01, 2006
A good homily
I read so many laments about the state of our clergy these days and how they never talk about sin, etc. that I just had to comment on the homily at yesterday's Mass at St. Paul's Cathedral in Worcester.
Fr. Richard Reidy, rector the Cathedral, gave a great homily about sin...venial sin. He asked us to consider how we became complacent, viewing ourselves as basically good, not committing mortal sins. He spoke of how all sin separates us from Christ, causing dissention, not only within us as a community, but within ourselves as well. He recounted a personal story of when he was in the seminary and reading the works of St. Teresa of Avila. He said that he used to wonder at her works, finding her expressions of love for God and sorrow for sin overdone. But, now that he's grown more in his relationship with Christ, he realizes that she was actually seeing herself more clearly than he sees himself. He noted that after reading St. Teresa, he asked God to be able to see himself as God sees him. As he jokingly said, "Of all the prayers for God to answer!"
I'm blessed to be able to hear Fr. Reidy's homilies on a regular basis at the 10:15 Sunday Mass.
Fr. Richard Reidy, rector the Cathedral, gave a great homily about sin...venial sin. He asked us to consider how we became complacent, viewing ourselves as basically good, not committing mortal sins. He spoke of how all sin separates us from Christ, causing dissention, not only within us as a community, but within ourselves as well. He recounted a personal story of when he was in the seminary and reading the works of St. Teresa of Avila. He said that he used to wonder at her works, finding her expressions of love for God and sorrow for sin overdone. But, now that he's grown more in his relationship with Christ, he realizes that she was actually seeing herself more clearly than he sees himself. He noted that after reading St. Teresa, he asked God to be able to see himself as God sees him. As he jokingly said, "Of all the prayers for God to answer!"
I'm blessed to be able to hear Fr. Reidy's homilies on a regular basis at the 10:15 Sunday Mass.
St. Joseph the Worker
God, our Father,
Creator and ruler of the universe,
in every age You call man
to develop and use his gifts for the good of others.
With Saint Joseph as our example and guide,
help us to do the work you have asked
and come to the rewards you have promised.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Collect for the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker
Labels: Feast Day
Rabbit!!
