Kingdom of Heaven, The Movie

I decided to watch "Kingdom of Heaven" for a few reasons. Being someone who grew up in the Middle East, I was curious to see how the movie would portray one of our most admired leaders Saladin. I wasn't disappointed with his character in this movie.

I also wanted to see Hollywood's take on the subject of the crusades. With Hollywood, you may never know what you get. With this movie, they tried to keep a balanced account of what happened during that time. Of course, they had to insert a love story in the plot to make it more entertaining. That's very Hollywood.

And I wanted to compare this movie to my favorite Arabic movie on the same subject, which is "Al-Nasr Saladin." Comparing the two, I still love the Arabic story more than Hollywood's story.

With that said, I have to say I like the message the movie sends us. The message is that you have to find Kingdom of Heaven in your heart. If you can't find God in your heart, then you may wonder the world all your life without ever finding him.

---

Kingdom of Heaven

Merry Christmas Everyone

Merry Chirstmas everyone. I hope you have a great Christmas with your family and friends. Mark and me are spending Christmas in Beaumont this year. This is probably the least stressful Christmas in my whole life.

The Dallas Morning News did a report about Chaldean Christmas traditions in the DFW area. It's really hard to find Chaldeans in Dallas-Fort Worth area because we blend well with the locals and there aren't many Chaldean families who live in this area.



Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

The Kansas City Southern's Holiday Express train churns out smoke and plays holiday music in Beaumont on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2005. The train will visit and distribute goody bags in 20 communities by Dec. 18.

Tomorrow, I'll post a photo so y'all can see my tree.


Merry Christmas everyone

The Vatican Christmas Tree

Until I read the following report, I never wondered who lights the Vatican Christmas tree. The Associated Press reports:

VATICAN CITY — An 11-year-old Austrian boy who saved the life of a young relative last summer lit a towering Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square on Saturday, giving Vatican City a festive air.

Juergen Lengauer, who last summer saved a 2-year-old relative from drowning in a pool, lit the 100-foot fir from the Upper Austrian town of Eferding. The tree glowed yellow as a choir sang in German just after sunset.

The tree, along with a nativity scene, will be the Vatican's centerpiece for tourists and pilgrims who flock there during the holidays.

Read more...

He's really a hero.
 

Murder of a Nun In The Amazon

ORIGINAL POST Feb. 15, 2005
Last Saturday, Sister Dorothy Stang was killed in the Amazon. The ABC News reported:

Stang, 73, a naturalized Brazilian originally from Dayton, Ohio, was attacked Saturday in a settlement 30 miles from Anapu, where she worked helping some 400 families survive in the rugged jungle.

A witness said that when two gunmen approached her, she pulled out a Bible and began to read. Her killers listened for a moment, took a few steps back and fired, he said. Coroners said she was shot six times at close range by two guns.

"Dorothy's last words were the only words she knew: the word of God," said Mary Alice McCabe, a nun from Connecticut who has lived in Brazil for 34 years.

Read more...

May her soul rest in peace above the Amazon skies, where she lived and worked with the poor for many years.

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UPDATE I - Dec. 16, 2005
The Associated Press reported:

BELEM, Brazil, Dec. 10 (AP) - Two Brazilian men were convicted Saturday of killing an American nun who spent decades trying to save the Amazon rain forest, in a trial many saw as a test of Brazil's commitment to prosecuting land-related killings.

Rayfran das Neves Sales and Clodoaldo Carlos Batista were found guilty of killing Dorothy Stang on Feb. 12 in the heart of the Amazon rain forest.

The seven-member jury sentenced Mr. Sales, who the prosecutor said shot the nun six times with a .38 caliber revolver on a muddy road, to 27 years in prison. Mr. Batista, charged as an accomplice, was sentenced to 17 years. They had faced up to 30 years.

Read more...

I hope these news bring some peace of mind to her family and the people who loved her.

Tom Gibb from BBC News, Braxil has more details about Sr. Dorothy.

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UPDATE II - Apr. 27, 2006
The Associated Press reports:

BELEM, Brazil - An Amazon farmer pleaded guilty Wednesday to hiring the gunmen in the killing of a nun from Ohio and was sentenced to 18 years for the slaying, which he said was ordered by two ranchers.

Amair Feijoli da Cunha, 38, told a jury the ranchers wanted Dorothy Stang killed because of her opposition to their plans to log a disputed patch of rainforest.

Feijoli said he offered money to two gunmen to shoot the 73-year-old nun on Feb. 12, 2005, at the behest of ranchers Vitalmiro Moura and Regivaldo Galvao.

Read more...

Justice feels good.

The Chronicles of Narnia:The Lion, The Witch, and The wardrobe

This weekend, I watched "Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" in the movie theater. The movie was truthful to the book. They didn't change or miss any bit of the book.

Being someone who lived in a war zone, experienced a lot of bombing and had to move to another city when the bombing got too heavy, the first few minutes of the movie got to my emotions. I thought I was over those memories. I guess I was wrong.

The young actors were great. I loved Lucy. The scenes, the other actors, the animals, the graphics, the music and everything else in this movie was excellent. Even my husband, who wasn't motivated to see the movie because of the religious references, wants to see the next movie in the series.

Last week, I finished reading "The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe." I still have the rest of Narnia books to read. I think I fall under the spell of C.S. Lewis. I like his use of short chapters. You don't get bored reading the books. I think that's part of the book's success.

Now, each time I have a bad day, I tell my husband that I want to go to Narnia. He laughs.

---

The Chronicles of Narnia:
The Lion, The Witch, and The wardrobe
The Soundtrack


Chronicles of Narnia
The Books Set

A Sign of Hope In Basra

Basra, my city of birth AND my favorite Iraqi city, suffered a lot from the militias that want to turn the city into a mini-Iran. Lately, many Christian families left the city because of different types of harassment from those militias.

In the middle of this darkness, there's a glimpse of hope in Basra. AsiaNews reports:

Basra (AsiaNews) - The ordination of ten Chaldean Catholics as deacons in Basra last Sunday has given believers hope in the future, this according to Mgr Djibrail Kassab, Archbishop of Basra, who spoke to AsiaNews about his congregationÂ’s expectations vis-à-vis the upcoming elections and Christmas.

Last Sunday, the Archbishop celebrated the closing mass of the Year of the Eucharist. "Two days ago," the prelate said, "we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation according to the Chaldean liturgy." Ten new deacons were ordained on this occasion.

"The church was full. We were about 350," he noted. "We could read happiness on the faces of the faithful and the new deacons."

"These are always moments of great joy," he added.

Read more...

This is really a sign of hope. Mgr Kassab was my church pastor when I lived in Baghdad. He's a very energetic person. I'm not surprised he kept people's faith alive during the last two years. You need to meet him to understand the kind of good person he is.
 

Reflections of a Peacemaker

This week, I read Mattie J.T. Stepanek's book "Reflections of a Peacemaker." The book was published after Mattie's death last year. It's a collection of his thoughts during his short life. It's the best book to buy for children and adults as a gift of love, peace and hope.

While reading the book, I kept wondering how this young boy kept his faith through the death of his older siblings at such a young age -- not to mention his physical suffering. His faith makes put us all to shame. We have less problems and struggles, but seem to lose our faith from time to time.

I still believe Mattie was a real angel sent to brighten our lives. I'm grateful for the day I watched him on the Oprah Winfery Show.

Mattie loved to call himself a "poet, peacemaker and philosopher who played." His best advise was "remember to play after every storm."

---

Reflections of a Peacemaker:
A Portrait Through Heartsongs

Office Christmas Party

Here's a joke that made me laugh. It was sent to me last year. So, probably some of you have already read it:

MEMO: Office Christmas Party
DATE: December 1
FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: Everyone
RE: Christmas Party

I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23, starting at noon in the banquet room at Luigi's Open Pit Barbecue. No-host bar, but plenty of eggnog! We'll have a small band playing traditional carols...feel free to sing along. And don't be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus!

---

DATE: December 2
FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: Everyone
RE: Christmas Party

In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish Employees. We recognize that Chanukah is an important holiday that often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year. However, from now on we're calling it "Holiday Party." The same policy applies to employees who are celebrating Kwanzaa at this time. Happy now?

---

DATE: December 3
FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: Everyone
RE: Holiday Party

Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table...you didn't sign your name. I'm happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table that reads "AA Only," you wouldn't be anonymous anymore. How do you suggest that I handle this? Somebody? Anybody?

---

DATE: December 7
FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: Everyone
RE: Holiday Party

What a diverse company we are! I had no idea that December 20 begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking during daylight hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees' beliefs. Perhaps Luigi's can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party -- the days are so short this time of year -- or else package everything for take-home in little foil swans. Will that work? Meanwhile, I've arranged for members of Overeaters Anonymous to sit farthest from the dessert buffet and pregnant women will get the table closest to the rest rooms. Did I miss anything?

---

DATE: December 8
FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: Everyone
RE: Holiday Party

So December 22 marks the Winter Solstice -- what do you expect me to do, a tap-dance on your heads? Fire regulations at Luigi's prohibit the request of burning of sage by our "earth-based Goddess-worshipping" employees, but we'll try to accommodate your shamanic drumming circle during the band's breaks. Okay???

---

DATE: December 9
FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: Everyone
RE: Holiday Party

People, people, people, nothing sinister was intended by having our CEO dress up like Santa Claus! Even if the anagram of "Santa" does happen to be "Satan," there is no evil connotation to our own "little man in a red suit." It's a tradition, folks, like sugar shock at Halloween or family feuds over the Thanksgiving turkey or broken hearts on Valentine's Day. Could we lighten up? Please?

---

DATE: December 10
FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: Everyone
RE: Holiday Party

Vegetarians!?!?!? I've had it with you people!!! We're going to keep this party at Luigi's Open Pit Barbecue whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the "grill of death," as you so quaintly put it, and you'll get your #$%^&!*# salad bar, including hydroponic tomatoes...but you know, they have feelings, too. Tomatoes scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream, I'm hearing them scream right now!

---

DATE: December 14
FROM: Teri Bishops, (Acting Human Resources Director)
TO: Everyone
RE: Pat Lewis and Holiday Party

I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Pat Lewis a speedy recovery from her stress-related illness and I'll continue to forward your cards to her at the sanitarium. In the meantime, management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd off.

---

Have a nice Christmas party everyone.
 

The Start of Advent Season

© Mark M. Hancock

I can't believe we're already talking about Advent. This year is going too fast for me.

American Catholic put some good ideas for Advent activities:

Make a paper chain to count the days before Christmas. Write a task on the inside of each link, for example: "Offer the birds a piece of bread or some seed," or "Send a Christmas card to a lonely person." As family members remove links, this not only marks the days but also prepares our hearts for Christmas.

Send a Christmas card. I really need to do that since I didn't send any Christmas cards last year. Let's see how well I do this Advent.
 

Beaumont's Christmas Tree

As most of you know, Beaumont was hit by Hurricane Rita last September. Since we lost too many trees due to the hurricane, finding a proper Christmas tree wasn't an easy task. But, the end of the search for a special Christmas tree had a happy ending.

The Beaumont Enterprise reported:

"As decorating chairman, I was in hopes of seeing downtown really lit up as a thank you to the first responders of our city during Hurricane Rita. We wanted to present the city with a beautiful tree," Neild [chairman of the decorating committee for the Winter Wonderland Parade in Beaumont] said.

She initially looked for a live tree from a tree farm, but the storm had damaged them. Then she started searching for an artificial tree, in the 24- to 30-foot range.

Much to her shock, the bids she received were close to $20,000.

Neild, who then started looking at rentals, found a company in Houston, Party Prop, Inc. She told a sales rep what she needed.

[...]

Neild inquired about a 24-30 foot tree. They didn't have any.

We do, however, the sales rep said, have a 55-foot tree.

Neild was concerned that they'd never be able to afford it, but told her to get additional details.

"The next day she called me back and said, 'We would like to make that tree available to you.' I asked for ballpark figure. Would it be $40,000? No. $30,000. No, no, she said. I'll get back with you. I thought, well, maybe we can raise the money," Neild said.

The sales rep called the next day and said they wanted to make the tree a gift to the city.

Read more...

Thank you Houston for making Beaumont's Christmas a better one.
 

Better Luck Next Time

Here's an example of someone who is really unlucky:

A fugitive being chased by police in southern Italy gave them the slip by running into a church - only to find it occupied by police officers who let him join the service before taking him to jail.

Gilberto Antonio Carnoale, 48, had been wanted for escaping from house arrest.

Read more...

What are the odds of similar arrest circumstances? I guess it depends on someone's luck.
 

Discovery of The Oldest Church

I meant to post this story after I read it two weeks ago. But, things got busy here and I totally forgot about it.

The Associated Press reported:

MEGIDDO PRISON, Israel - Israeli prisoner Ramil Razilo was removing rubble from the planned site of a new prison ward when his shovel uncovered the edge of an elaborate mosaic, unveiling what Israeli archaeologists said Sunday may be the Holy Land’s oldest church.

The discovery of the church in the northern Israeli town of Megiddo, near the biblical Armageddon, was hailed by experts as an important discovery that could reveal details about the development of the early church in the region. Archaeologists said the church dated from the third century, decades before Constantine legalized Christianity across the Byzantine Empire.

[...]

Two mosaics inside the church — one covered with fish, an ancient Christian symbol that predated the widespread use of the cross symbol — tell the story of a Roman officer and a woman named Aketous who donated money to build the church in the memory “of the god, Jesus Christ.”

Pottery remnants from the third century, the style of Greek writing used in the inscriptions, ancient geometric patterns in the mosaics and the depiction of fish rather than the cross indicate that the church was no longer used by the fourth century, Tepper said.

Read more...

This must be an interesting discovery to historians and other folks.
 

To Forgive Someone

Today, the Christian Science Monitor published a good article about forgiveness. Here's an excerpt from the article:

When people don't behave as you'd like or don't come to the same conclusions that you do, or when they actually do something damaging to you, how can you find peace? To me, forgiveness is the only way.

Dr. Fred Luskin of the Forgive for Good project at Stanford University characterizes forgiveness not as condoning what the other person has done, but as releasing resentment from within ourselves. It's only when we are free from resentment and anger that we can determine the next steps - does the person need correction, do we need to leave the relationship, etc.

I find this true with my kids and friends and fellow motorists. It's only when I'm free from anger or hurt that I can effectively decide what to do. And I try to take responsibility for my hurt, rather than blame the other person. They may have taken an action that I didn't like, but I'm the one that let it become a hurt to me. Even in the worst cases, I believe, the person who feels hurt or damaged can deflect those emotions through forgiveness.

Sometimes when I'm gritting my teeth in anger or smarting heartily from hurt feelings, I remember what Jesus said as he was hanging on the cross: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." I sometimes translate this in my thought to, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing." This Christian standard of forgiveness doesn't demand that the other person change, but it helps release the resentment that eats away at us.

Read more...

Over the years, I learned that I can't change people. I learned to accept family and friends the way they are without trying to change them. Whenever I'm hurt by someone, I become angry for a short time. Then, I let go of my anger by forgiving the person who hurt me. I also learned to forgive AND forget. It's the only way I can go on with my life without much pain or anger.
 

Champion For The Homeless

It looks like we have a mini-Mother Teresa from Phily. The NBC Nightly News reports:

PHILADELPHIA - If you think one person can't really make a difference, just watch the nun who won't take “no” for an answer. Her name is Sister Mary. Twenty years ago, Sister Mary Scullion decided to find everyone living on the streets of Philadelphia a home.

“We can't walk by people on the street and think that's OK,” she says. “It’s not OK. It degrades me as well as the person who's on the street.”

In fact, Project H.O.M.E., the organization she founded, has found shelter for thousands and helped reduce the city's chronic homeless population by half.

“She's unusually genuine,” says Robert Hess, Philadelphia's deputy managing director for special needs housing. “She's the real deal. She's the person who, when you look in the mirror, you want to see.”

Read more...

It's nice to hear stories like this one. It reminds me of Mother Teresa and her care for the homeless.
 

Candy Hearts

A little girl and her mother were on their way to church one Sunday. The child was planning a valentine party for some of her little friends.

She asked, “Mommy, could we stop and get the candy hearts for the party?”

“We’ll do that after Mass,” the mother replied.

At the preface the priest said the usual prayers. When he invited people to “Lift up your hearts,” the little girl cried out, “We can’t, Father, we didn’t get them yet!”


Source: Seven Shifts In The Church
 

Nuns and Motorcycle Riders

This Saturday, Houston Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and the Retreads Motorcycle Club will join forces to raise money to buy Christmas gifts for needy children.

The Galveston County Daily News reports:

The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and the Retreads Motorcycle Club have teamed up to sponsor The Nun Run, a motorcycle ride from Houston to Galveston.

The fund-raiser will help buy Christmas presents for 500 children as well as gift certificates for food for their families.
...
For many of these children, the presents they get at the party are the only gifts they will receive, said Rosanne Popp, a nun who is a physician and the medical director at the clinic.

"“We wanted to do something fun and different to raise money for the presents, and the idea of a motorcycle ride seemed like a lot of fun and very, very different,"” she said.

"The sisters have really gotten behind the event and in fact, there may be some riding along with the bikers."

Read more...

If you live in the Houston-Galveston area, you may want to donate to those children. Not to mention, the event sounds fun and it's definitely different.


UPDATE 11/23/2005
The Galveston County Daily News reported:

The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word Bike Run found the talented Sister Deenan Hubbard doing the logo for the event. She is on the leadership team for the congregation and is big on bikes. Her brother, Ted, is a big time super biker in California and came to join in. Approximately $10,000 was raised for presents for needy children and food for more than 500 families at the Christus Southwest Community Health Center. Along with 50-ish motorcycles in the police-escorted ride from the Villa de Matel to Kathy’s Katerers (and lunch) came about a dozen sisters in sidecars and on their own bikes. Most of the sisters accompanied the bikers in cars that followed the course....

Read more...

It's good to know the fund-raiser was successful.
 

In The Beginning

In the beginning...

God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.

Then using God's great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and Krispy Kreme Donuts And Satan said, "You want chocolate with that?" And Man said, "Yes!" and Woman said, "and as long as you're at it, add some sprinkles." And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled.

And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 14.

So God said, "Try my fresh green salad." And Satan presented 1000 Island Dressing, buttery croutons and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.

God then said, "I have sent you heart-healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them." And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.

God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it "Angel Food Cake," and said, "It is good." Satan then created chocolate cake and named it "Devil's Food Cake."

God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds.

Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds.

God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald's and its 99-cent double cheeseburger. Then said, "You want fries with that?" And Man replied, "Yes! And super size them!" And Satan said, "It is good."

And Man went into cardiac arrest. God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery. Then Satan created HMOs.

-- Author Unknown
 

How Catholics Teach Math

Little Zachary, a Jewish kid, was not doing very well in math. His parents had tried everything: tutors, mentors, flash cards, special learning centers -- in short, everything they could think of to help him learn math. Finally, in a last ditch effort, they took Zachary down and enrolled him in the local Catholic school. After the first day, little Zachary came home with a very serious look on his face. He didn't even kiss his mother hello.

Instead, he went straight to his room and started studying. His mother was amazed. This went on for some time, day after day while the mother tried to understand what made all the difference.

Finally, little Zachary brought home his report card. He quietly laid it on the table, went up to his room, and hit the books. With great trepidation, his mom looked at it, and to her great surprise, little Zachary got an "A" in math. She could no longer hold her curiosity. She went to his room and said, "Son, what was it? Was it the nuns?"

Little Zachary looked at her and shook his head, no. "Well, then," she replied, "was it the books, the discipline, the structure, the uniforms? WHAT was it?''

Little Zachary looked at her and said, ''Well, on the first day of school, when I saw that guy nailed to the plus sign, I knew they weren't messing around.''

Source: ChronWatch
 

Happy Eid Al-Fitr

Sorry for the sudden disappearance. We went to Dallas for a few days. We needed the break after riding out Hurricane Rita.

Happy Eid Al-Fitr to the Muslim world.

Wikipedia defines Eid Al-Fitr as follows:

The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر), often abbreviated as simply Eid, marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. Fitr means to break and therefore symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period and of all evil habits. On the day of the celebration, a typical Muslim family gets up very early and attends special prayers held only for the occasion in big mosques, in large open areas, stadiums or arenas. The festivities and merriment start after the prayers with visits to the homes of friends and relatives and thanking the Creator for all blessings. Eid is a time to come together as a community and to renew friendship and family ties. This is a time for peace for all Muslims in the world to devote to prayers and mutual well-being.

Read more...

I was happy to read The Vatican is following in the footsteps of late Pope John Paul II to build relationship between the Muslim and Catholic worlds. The Vanguard reports:

LAGOS - APPRECIATING the need for "a sincere, profound and constant dialogue between believing Catholics and believing Muslims, from which there can arise a strengthened mutual knowledge and trust," the Catholic Church has pledged to follow the noble footsteps of late Pope John Paul II and improve on its relation with the faith.

In his message to Muslims at the end of the Ramadan fast, the president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Archbishop Michael L. Fitzgerald on behalf of the Vatican, said the words of the late pontiff are still very relevant today.

He said that the only compensation for the loss of Pope John Paul II was to follow in his footsteps and continue to encourage Christian-Muslim relations. According to Archbishop Fitzgerald, "it is for us to strengthen our engagement in building up good relations among people of different religions, to promote cultural dialogue and to work together for greater justice and enduring peace."

He called on Christians and Muslims to show that they can "live together in true fraternity, striving always to do the will of merciful God who created humanity to be one family."

Read more...

I grew up in the Middle East. I really miss the food, sweets and excellent TV shows during the Eid.
 

Three Nuns Praying For The White Sox Team

Three nuns from Chicago are praying for the White Sox to win the World Series. CBS Chicago reported on the 21st:

It’s not what you would expect to find in a convent, but then again, who can resist a World Series that hasn’t come to town in 46 years?

Everyone wants a ticket to the World Series, and Sister Rita Marie with the Sisters of St. Casimir is actually going to Game 1 tomorrow.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be there tomorrow night!” she said.

It’s all thanks to a benefactor from Philadelphia where the good sister was born.

“I'm not from Chicago, but I've been a Sox fan for 50 years,” she said.

It's not the first time the sisters are going to a White Sox game, but they say it's a miracle that they actually got tickets for the World Series. The next miracle, they say, will happen at the end of October and true White Sox fans know exactly what they're talking about.

Read more...

So far, the White Sox are ahead of the Astros 2-0. That's not good for Astros fans. But, things could change when the games are played in Houston. We'll see.


UPDATE 26/10/2005
The Astros has a nun praying for them. The Associated Press reports:

HOUSTON - Sister Damian Kuhn can be found in Section 116, row 35, seat 31 when the Houston Astros play in Minute Maid Park.

"I'm sitting in what I call my Seventh Heaven," she said Tuesday. "It could not be any better."

A little divine intervention sought by one of their most devout fans certainly couldn't hurt the team, who were in an 0-2 deficit going into Tuesday night's World Series game against Chicago.

"A lot of people are praying on both sides," noted Sister Damian, an 85-year-old Catholic nun who lives across the street from the ball park and faithfully attends Astros games. Her religious order, the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, has operated a school at the site since 1873. Three-hundred girls now attend high school there. "I'm just thanking God I'm part of this."

Sister Damian, as she is known, is a celebrity of sorts at both the school and the ball park, where Astros owner Drayton McLane for several years now has provided her a pair of tickets.

Read more...

Three nuns [White Sox fans] to one nun [Astros fan]. I think the Astros need more prayers as they lost their third game last night. It doesn't look good for the Astros.


UPDATE 10/27/2005
As I predicted, when you have three nuns praying for your team to win, then it'll most likely win. The White Sox won The World Series for the first time in 88 years. Congratulations to the White Sox fans.
 

The Gift of Insults

Here's a good story before the weekend:

A great Samurai warrior, now old, had decided to teach Zen Buddhism to young people. Despite his age, the legend was that he could defeat any adversary.

One afternoon, a young warrior - known for his complete lack of scruples - arrived there. He was famous for using techniques of provocation: he waited until his adversary made the first move and then swiftly counterattacked,

skillfully taking advantage of any slightest mistake his adversary made. He had never lost a fight.

Hearing of the Samurai's reputation, he had come to defeat him, to increase his fame. All the students were against the idea, but the old master accepted the challenge.

All gathered on the town square, and the young man started insulting the old master. He threw a few rocks in his direction, spat in his face, shouted every insult under the sun - he even insulted his ancestors. For hours, he did everything to provoke him, but the old man remained impassive. At the end of the afternoon, by now feeling exhausted and humiliated, the impetuous warrior left.

Disappointed by the fact that the master had received so many insults and provocations, the students asked:

"How could you bear such indignity? Why didn't you use your sword, even knowing you might lose the fight, instead of displaying your cowardice in front of us all?"

"If someone comes to you with a gift, and you do not accept it, to whom does the gift belong?" asked the Samurai.

"To the one who tried to deliver it," replied one of his disciples.

"The same goes for envy, anger and insults," said the master. "When they are not accepted, they continue to belong to the one who brought them."

Doesn't this story remind you of Jesus' teaching?
 

Nuns Adapt To New Living Conditions

When a major hurricane hits an area, life is never the same again. This story is an example:

The 19th-century French convent in the toughest part of New Orleans has always been as sturdy and secure as a fortress...

A National Guard unit took over the convent in the days after Hurricane Katrina, when the nuns had fled and the soldiers needed a place to stay. It was the second time the convent had been occupied by soldiers; the first was during the Civil War.

"We never thought in our wildest dreams we'd ever live in a convent," said Maj. Russell Heaton of Walla Walla, Wash., who heads the unit of 150 Washington state National Guard soldiers based at Holy Angels. "But it's not bad. Our ethics, our structures are fairly similar."
...
The sisters are educated: doctors, nurses and teachers, some of whom work at a Ninth Ward hospital and others who care for AIDS patients and do social work throughout the city.

The holy sisters and the Washington soldiers are growing on each other.

The soldiers have talked about getting T-shirts made, picturing the sisters in traditional habits - they wear civilian clothes nowadays - bearing Army accoutrements, under the slogan "nuns with guns."

"We're a nonviolent order," Kinberger tells them, in a warm Southern drawl. "Maybe we could get something a little more in line with our mission."

Read more...

Nuns and soldiers are two groups that can definitely get along together as long as the soldiers follow orders from the nuns then their commanders.
 

Mother Teresa's Business Card

I came across Mother Teresa's business card while reading "Reaching Out In Love."It's a valuable business card to share with everyone who reads this blog:

The fruit of SILENCE is Prayer.
The fruit of PRAYER is Faith.
The fruit of FAITH is Love.
The fruit of LOVE is Service.
The fruit of SERVICE is Peace.

-- Mother Teresa

No phone number or address were listed. I'm not surprised.

---

Reaching Out In Love
Stories Told By Mother Teresa

 

Explaining Catholicism To Children

This weekend, the Pope met with an estimated 150,000 children, who attended his first youth rally at St. Peter's Square. The Guardian reports:

During a question-and-answer session with a half-dozen children, one boy told the pope that he had been told that Christ was really present in the Eucharist, or Communion.

"But how? I don't see him," the boy said. Benedict chuckled.

"We don't see him, but there are so many things that we don't see that exist and they are essential," Benedict said. "For example, we don't see our reason, but we still have reason. We don't see our intelligence, but we have it... We don't see the electric current, but we still see it works: We see how this microphone works, the lights.

"We don't see the risen Lord with our eyes, but we know that where Jesus is, men change, become better, become a bit more able to have peace and reconciliation."

Read more...

It's always amazing how children can ask the smartest questions. And, adults have to have an answer that would make sense to them.
 

An Attack On Catholics In Indonesia

This was reported in AsiaNews:

Jakarta (AsiaNews) – A group composed of Islamic extremists attacked Catholics praying the rosary on 11 October and threatened to burn down the house they were gathered in. The assailants, who claimed to be part of the Islamic Defender Front (Front Pembela Islam, FPI), invaded the house of one of the Catholic community belonging to the parish of Christ Salvator in western Jakarta.

The men forced the marian prayer to stop immediately, threatening to burn the place down. They forced all those present including the Ketua Lingkungan (informal parish leader - ed. note) to sign a declaration that they will not hold any more rosary gatherings in houses in the area.

Read more...

You never appreciate your freedom of religion until you read stories like the above.

I've been to Jakarta's Airport on my way to Singapore in 1999. The presence of armed military/men/cops or whoever they were surpised me at the time. A very different atmosphere compared to the one at Singapore International Airport.
 

Priests And Priestly Bonus

The following story may be weird. But, it's kind of cute:

Priests, it turns out, are prone to bad habits, like everyone else. Some smoke; others eat too much.

So as old priests die off faster than new ones replace them, and health care costs climb, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York is taking steps to conserve its precious and not-quite-renewable resource: it is offering bonuses of $500 to priests who quit smoking or lose weight.

Such incentive programs are common in the corporate world, but New York's is a Catholic first, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops....

...

Five, so far, out of about 500 priests notified, Sister Walsh said. And the money will not be easy to claim. To get a weight-loss bonus, a priest must trim 10 points from his body-mass index in a year. For a 5-foot-10-inch, 240-pound man, that would mean losing 70 pounds. Smokers must quit for a year.

Read more...

I don't see many priests signing up for this plan to get the bonus. But, it's a nice try.
 

It's About Time For a Joke

Three guys are sitting in the stands at a ballgame, and there are these three nuns sitting in front of them. The guys are getting a little hooted up, so they decide to start messing with the nuns.

The first guy says, "You know, I think I'm going to move to Montana. I know there's only about a hundred nuns there."

The second guy says, "Yeah, I can go to Utah. There are probably only 75 nuns there."

The third guy says, "I think I might go to Wyoming. I know there's only about 10 or 15 nuns there."

Finally, one of the nuns turns around and says to the three guys, "You know, you can go to Hades. I know there's no nuns there."

Lesson learned: Don't mess with nuns because they will mess with you.
 

A Message From Mother Mary

When I visited my family in Michigan two years ago, I noticed many Iraqi homes displayed a statue of Mother Mary in their front or back yards.

A few days ago, I read the following piece of news on Chaldean.org:

Chaldeans in Michigan flock by the thousands to the Pattah home on Fox Hill Drive in Sterling Heights where supposedly a miracle has taken place. The Pattah family has been inundated by pilgrims from all over the world to witness the mysterious occurrence.

After having visions of the Virgin Mary Ghassan had grown increasingly ill. Amira, Ghassan’s mother says that once her son’s condition worsened the statue of Jesus Christ's mother, which sat on the front lawn and was once looking straight ahead, bowed her head and shed tears in sorrow. When Ghassan died in the hospital a number of witnesses claim to have seen the photo of the Virgin Mary weeping. The family and other eye witness also attest to seeing a photograph of Mary blinking and producing a tear and seeing the image of the Virgin Mary appear in a photograph of the deceased Ghassan Pattah. a tear in photographs of her, the family said.

Ghassan Pattah, 39 passed away from what doctors are calling heart failure. Many, including Ghassan’s family are calling it odd since he was in good health, neither a drinker nor smoker, and was initially diagnosed with only a fever. While with the fever Ghassan tells his mother that the Virgin Mary has visited him and to his brother he confides that he will die soon, the family said. “This is a message that we have to change our ways,” said Sal Pattah, Ghassan’s brother.

Read more...

Chaldeans are very attached to Mother Mary. During the Iran-Iraq war, there were similar stories told in Iraq. But, this is the first time I've seen pictures like above.

Whether true or fiction, I hope she brings hope to the hearts of Iraqis. We really need hope during these dark times.
 

St. Anthony Cathedral In Beaumont

Today, I attended the Sunday Mass at my church, St. Anne Catholic Church in Beaumont. Thank God it survived the hurricane.

St. Anthony Cathedral wasn't as lucky. The Beaumont Enterprise reports:


Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Damage from Hurricane Rita is visible at St. Anthony Cathedral in Beaumont on Monday, September 26. Hurricane Rita tore through the area on Saturday, September 24, 2005.

Hurricane Rita's winds blew off the covering atop the St. Anthony Cathedral dome in downtown Beaumont and rain poured into the sanctuary below.

Plastic sheeting and fans were set up inside as cleaning crews worked to dry out earlier this week. The dome had been covered last weekend.

Rita's winds and rain didn't spare historical structures when the Category 3 hurricane battered Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana on Sept. 24.

Crews from the Texas Historical Commission came to the area last week to start documenting the damage to historical spots in Rita's path, Debbi Head, Texas Historical Commission spokeswoman, said by phone.

"Our main intent is to ensure that during the cleaning that historically significant structures aren't further damaged or razed," Head said.

Read more...

During the first mass I attended at the Cathedral, I couldn't stop myself from looking around and absorbing the artwork. It's really gorgeous.


Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Monsignor Richard DeStafano prays over a monstrance blessed by Pope John Paul II during mass at St. Anthony Cathedral in Beaumont on Tuesday, August 23, 2005. The monstrance is on display at the cathedral for 24 hours. It holds the blessed sacrament for communion.

 

An Assault On a Catholic Church

Pebblepie forwarded this story to me:

What would seem to be among the safest places in America came under attack Sunday morning at Annunciation of the Lord Catholic Church on Spring Avenue Southwest.

After communion at the 11 a.m. Mass, a man and woman came forward, screaming.

Then, to the shock and horror of the Rev. Joe Culotta and his congregation, the man turned over the cherished century-old marble altar. It tumbled down the steps and smashed onto the floor, ripping up carpet in front of the first-row pews.

Men from the congregation subdued five people and held them for Decatur police. Detective Todd Walker said no one was injured.

Read more...

The Decatur Daily News has more on this story:

In an interview Monday from the visitation room at the Morgan County Jail, Adam Joseph Turgeon, 27, admitted his act of knocking over a marble altar Sunday, shortly after communion at Annunciation of the Lord, was poor judgment.

Decatur police charged Turgeon, his common-law wife Lisa Marie Wagner, 26, and their roommates Val Eugene Loughman, 20, and Loughman's wife Emily Beth Loughman, 21, with felony criminal mischief, following the outburst at the 11 a.m. Mass.

"I woke up Sunday, went, pulled in and there it was," Turgeon said of why the group chose Annunciation of the Lord. "I had a vision. Lisa and me were tearing a church apart. That's not what I did. I just tore up a table that people saw as an idol, kneeling before it and bowing before an idol."

The group went inside, listened to prayers and watched parishioners take communion before the outburst, Turgeon said.

Read more...

What kind of God would want someone to destroy a church, any church? God is a loving God and will never ask anybody to do something like this. This is an act of man and not God.
 

We're Alive

Sorry for not updating this blog. We survived Hurricane Rita. What an experience!!

Our internet connection is not reliable yet. So, I'm on and off the net. Here's something as a comeback post:

BEAUMONT - The Texas Baptist Men have Bibles. They have chainsaws, too.

A three-man team from the Collin County Chainsaw Ministries of the Texas Baptist Men cleared three pine trees Saturday from a home on Briarcliff Drive, just off Delaware Street.

They didn't come to profit. No exchange of money was involved. They simply came to help Southeast Texas recover from Hurricane Rita. They came to assist, just like they did with a soup line in the post-World War II era when the Texas Baptist Men's aid started.

"It's a ministry for people in need," Robert Clements said. "It's international. Beaumont happens to be the place that needs it."

Read more...

We're so thankful for all the people who are helping us to rebuild our lives.
 

Prayer For The Victims of a Hurricane

This prayer was originally written for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. But, it works for any hurricane. Hurricane Rita is heading our way. So, I thought to publish it on this blog:

O God, we remember when the disciples of Jesus were terrified after a long night on a turbulent sea.

When they cried for help, you stilled the sea and brought them to safety.

We ask now that you comfort and still the hearts of those suffering from the effects of Hurricane [ you name it].

We pray for those who have been displaced and who now must return to homes destroyed or damaged by the storm.

We pray for those who are attempting to offer help and relief to victims.

While we wonder why such devastation can occur, where lives and property can seem held so capriciously in the hand of what is uncontrollable, we know, O God, that you count every hair on our head and that our names are written on the palm of your hand.

Let your loving grace wash over those who must now face damaged lives, homes, and possessions.

Hold them close to yourself until they are sure of the security of your loving embrace.

Calm their hearts and still their souls, O God.

We ask this through your Son, Jesus, who said "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

AMEN.

-- Author Unknown

if the hurricane hits our area, I may be offline for a while. So, I definitely need this prayer.
 

Could This Be True?

EXPATICA news reported:

WIESBADEN, GERMANY - Some 80 Catholic former priests ended a four-day meeting in Germany Monday by issuing an open letter to Pope Benedict XVI calling for an end to Rome's nine-century-old policy that forbids priests to marry.

"We want the practice of the married priest in the Eastern Church to be implemented in the Western Catholic Church," said conference spokesman Heinz-Juergen Vogels.
...
The International Federation of Married Catholic Priests, which met in the central German city of Wiesbaden, claim there are signs of flexibility from Rome.

The federation draws its optimism from a rumoured account of remarks by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in summer 2004, well before his election as pope, when he was prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

He reportedly asked a delegation of U.S. bishops, "What would your people think about a re-introduction of the tradition of married priests?" The Americans were supposed to have been speechless for a moment with surprise.

According to the federation, this means that Benedict recognizes that priests were often married in the early church. A council of the church imposed the rule of celibacy in 1139, along with the requirement that clergy who marry abandon their priesthood.

Read more...

If this is true, then it brings good news for the priests who want to end this rule and for the ordinary Catholics like myself who appreciate the work done by good Catholic priests and don't mind the married ones.
 

Hands

My friend pebblepie forwarded the following inspirational words to me:

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Mark McGuire's hands is worth $19 million.
It depends on whose hands it's in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Venus Williams' hands is a championship winning.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal.
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A sling shot in my hands is a kid's toy.
A sling shot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it's in.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God's hands will feed thousands.
It depends whose hands it's in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it's in.

As you see now it depends whose hands it's in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands because...

It depends whose hands it's in.

Thank you my friend for the much needed words.
 

Children's Explanation of God

I received the following two stories by e-mail:

Written by Danny Dutton, age 8, from Chula Vista, California,
third grade homework assignment to Explain God.

"One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth.

He doesn't make grown-ups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way, He doesn't have to take up His valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.

God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times besides bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because He hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off. God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting His time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.

Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church. Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of Him preaching to them and they crucified Him. But He was good and kind like His Father and He told His Father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said OK.

His Dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and all His hard work on earth so He told Him He didn't have to go out on the road anymore, He could stay in heaven. So He did.

And now He helps His Dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones He can take care of Himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary only more important.

You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to hear you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the times. You should always go to Church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God. Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong! And, besides, the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.

If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared in the dark or when you can't swim very good and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids. But you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and He can take me back anytime He pleases.

The e-mail also included the following cute story:

Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray Asking God for ice-cream!

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"

As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer. "Really?" my son asked. "Cross my heart," the man replied. Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."

Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already."

I hope reading the above stories made you smile.
 

Disturbing News From Congo

News From Russia reported:

Angry villagers beat an Italian priest to death and abducted three nuns after their vehicle run over and killed a young girl in the north of the Republic of Congo, a government spokesman said Monday.

The accident occurred near the village of Onouengue, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) north of the capital Brazzaville on Monday, when the all-wheel-drive vehicle driven by Father Angelo Radelli ran over and killed a young girl, the AP reports.

"The priest came out of the vehicle to check on the girl and was attacked and beaten to death," Alain Akouala, the Republic of Congo's government spokesman told The Associated Press.

"One scared French nun and another Congolese fled. We have not been able to locate them," Akouala said.

Read more...

I can understand the villagers' anger. But, I don't understand them killing the priest and abducting the three nuns. That's very scary.
 

The Death of Innocents

I'm against the death penalty. In my opinion, it doesn't achieve much. If the person is guilty, then the death penalty wouldn't do much other than give him an easy ride to finish his life instead of spending years in prison reflecting on his crime(s). If an innocent person is sentenced to death, then we have an even bigger problem.

I very much enjoyed watching the movie, "Dead Man Walking."adapted from Sister Helen Prejean's book with the same title. It's actually one of my favorite movies of all times. I salute Sister Helen Prejean for her efforts to abolish the death penalty in America. You probably know that Sister Helen is from New Orleans. She's currently in Baton Rouge as reported by The Gainesville Sun:

Hurricane Katrina forced Sister Helen Prejean and about 60 other nuns to flee their New Orleans Mother House last week and relocate indefinitely to Baton Rouge.

But the catastrophe had an effect on something else to which the woman who has come to be known as "the Death-Penalty Nun" has devoted her life.

"Katrina put a moratorium on the death penalty in Louisiana for at least three years," Prejean, 66, said before her talk Wednesday night at Holy Faith Catholic Church in Gainesville.

She said court buildings in New Orleans were so badly damaged that judges, among other things, won't be reviewing death-penalty cases anytime soon. In effect, Katrina partly did in a day what Prejean has been working more than 20 years to accomplish - abolish the death penalty in the United States.

Read more...

That's probably true, but not for a very long time.

Last December, she published another book titled, "The Death of Innocents : An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions."I haven't read the book yet. But, I intend to read it. I believe in her message, and I hope she succeeds in convincing our politicians to abolish the death penalty.
 

Mother Teresa and Hurricane Katrina

Sorry for the long absence. I couldn't blog for different reasons. The main reason is the tragedy of hurricane Katrina.

Two days ago, the world remembered Mother Teresa's 8th Death Anniversary. Katrina's evacuees made me wonder what would Mother Teresa do for them if she was still alive.

In her book, "Reaching Out In Love, Stories Told By Mother Teresa,"she wrote:

Giving and Receiving

No letter box is big enough to receive all the mail that the postman sometimes brings to the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, so Mother Teresa decided to have a narrow rectangular opening made in the painted brown door at the entrance. The letters are collected in baskets and taken to the small office room on the first floor. Mother Teresa used to read all the letters addressed to her, and tried to reply to them herself, often in her own hand.

On one occasion, as she opened an envelope, three five-dollar bills fell out along with a note by a man who had been bedridden for twenty years. The only part of his body that he could move was his right hand, and his only companions were cigarettes which he enjoyed smoking now and again. The note said: 'I did not smoke for one week, and I send you this money.'

Mother was deeply touched. 'It must have been a terrible sacrifice for him. But see how beautiful it is, see how he shared. And with that money,' she said, 'I bought bread and I gave it to those who are hungry, with a joy on both sides. He was giving and the poor were receiving.'

No matter how little you can give to the people who lost their homes, jobs and loved ones because of hurricane Katrina, just give. If you can't give money, then make a nice meal and take it to a shelter near you. It will mean a lot to those people.
 

You Are So Blessed

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who won't survive the week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world.

If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.

If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare, especially in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can -- but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed -- because you can offer God's healing touch.

If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.

You are so blessed in ways you may never even know.


Source book: Becoming a Community of Salt and Light.
 

The Catholic Church and Married Priests

Australian newspaper, The Age, reported:

JAWS drop when Robyn Edebohls tells people what her husband does. "He's a Catholic priest," she says, and they say: "Sure, what does he really do?"
...
Father Edebohls was formerly the Anglican dean of Ballarat and archdeacon of Italy and Malta before switching to the Church of Rome a few years ago. He spent the past 18 months as assistant priest at St John's, Heidelberg. "It's been a life-long journey," he said yesterday.
...
But Father Edebohls said most could see the difference between a priest who had vowed to be celibate, then had to leave, and the issue of other married priests coming into communion with Rome. By order of the Vatican, he is a "priest in charge" rather than a parish priest, but he said this made no difference to his daily parish ministry.

Nor is his ministry that different from an Anglican one, although, being a hospital chaplain as well, he is busier now.

Read more...

I honestly have no problem with married priests. We have a married priest at the church I attended in Dallas. He is a former Episcopal priest, who became Catholic years ago. We love him A LOT. He's also a hospital chaplain and his stories are very inspiring.

But, those are not the only two married priests in the Catholic church. Here's more from ScienceDaily:

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Jeffrey Hopper is preparing for ordination under a 25-year-old program begun by Pope John Paul II.

Episcopal congregations are also allowed to join the Catholic church while retaining their traditional liturgy and married clergy.
...
About 70 former Episcopal priests are now serving as Catholic priests in the United States.

Once he is a priest, Hopper can administer sacraments and perform other functions. But, as a married man, he is barred from serving as a church's senior pastor.

Read more...

This is fair enough. If a priest DOES NOT want to go up in the food chain, then he should be allowed to marry. It's just an opinion.
 

Mysterious Death

There was this case in the hospital's Intensive Care ward where patients always died in the same bed, on Sunday morning at 11 a.m., regardless of their medical condition.

This puzzled the doctors and some even thought that it had something to do with the supernatural. Why the death? So the doctors decide to go down to the ward to investigate the cause of the incidents. So on the next Sunday morning few minutes before 11 a.m., all doctors and nurses nervously wait outside the ward to see for themselves what the terrible phenomenon was all about.

Some were holding wooden crosses, prayer books and other holy objects to ward off the evil. Just when the clock struck 11, the part-time Sunday sweeper, entered the ward and unplugged the life support system so that he could use the vacuum cleaner.


Source: Comedy Central
 

The Matrix and Vocations Recruitment

Does this poster remind of Keanu Reeves from The Matrix?Well yes it does.

Catholic Online reported:

The poster, which is modeled after an advertisement for the movie "The Matrix," is the brainchild of Father Meyer. It features a priest in full cassock -- and the requisite Roman collar -- holding a cross in one hand and a rosary in the other. And he is wearing sunglasses.

That simple juxtaposition provides the mood Father Meyer said he was aiming for when creating the poster -- he wanted to say something about today's seminarian.

"Today's seminarian," he said, "is engaged with the world but is also committed to orthodoxy, like (Pope) John Paul II."

Read more...

The Washington Times reported on Aug. 11th:

An edgy poster showing a somber Catholic priest in full black cassock and sunglasses posed like "The Matrix" star Keanu Reeves is proving so popular that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has snapped up 5,000 of them.
...
"If we can get high-school youth to hang a picture of a priest in their room, that's huge in helping young men to answer the call to the priesthood," the cleric said. "Anyone who is a 'Matrix' guru looks at the picture and automatically gets it."

Crucifix in hand, Father Meyer posed for the poster, rated R for "restricted to those radically in love with Jesus Christ." Running time is "all eternity," and its title reads, "The Catholic priesthood: The answer is out there ... and it's calling you."

Read more...

This may actually work. I need to get this poster for my nephew.
 

The Murder of Brother Roger

I should have reported this earlier. But, I got busy with other things. The Associated Press reported:

PARIS -- A Romanian woman suspected of killing the 90-year-old founder of an ecumenical Christian community was placed under formal investigation, a step short of being charged, prosecutor Jean-Louis Coste said Thursday.
...
Witnesses allege that the woman slipped into a choir of singing monks during an evening prayer service at the church and fatally slit Brother Roger's throat.
...
The woman had bought the knife the previous day, he said. But she "has not for now admitted to dealing the fatal blow," Coste added.

"She has maintained her initial explanation: 'I simply wanted to attract his attention and if there was such a serious blow, it's not me,'" the prosecutor quoted the suspect as saying.

A preliminary psychiatric exam concluded she suffered paranoiac delusions, Coste said.

Read more...

Attract his attention by slitting his throat? How cruel is that?

Brother Roger is the founder of Taize' Ecumenical Community. Here's a little bit about the community:

Taizé, in the south of Burgundy, France, is the home of an international, ecumenical community, founded there in 1940 by Brother Roger. The brothers are committed for their whole life to material and spiritual sharing, to celibacy, and to a great simplicity of life. Today, the community is made up of over a hundred brothers, Catholics and from various Protestant backgrounds, from more than twenty-five nations.

Read more...

This wasn't a good week for the Catholic church.


UPDATE 08/22/2005
Well, I guess the woman was really crazy. The Belfast Telegraph reported:

A Romanian woman accused of murdering the founder of a celebrated Christian community suffered from paranoid delusions and had been turned away by several convents.

Romanian officials and acquaintances of Luminita Solcan, 36, said she was a highly intelligent woman who had plunged into paranoia and religious mania after the death of her father seven years ago.
...
In recent years, according to Romanian officials, Ms Solcan has made several attempts to join a convent, first in Romania, then in other countries. "We knew that she was under psychiatric surveillance and we could not accept her," said Fr Cornel Cadar, spokesman for the diocese of Iasi, Ms Solcan's home town. After being turned away by convents in France, Egypt and Switzerland, she approached members of the Taizé community.

Read more...

Why do they let psycho people roam the streets?
 

A Catholic Priest Killed In Columbia

On Tuesday, I posted about the murder of two Catholic priests in Columbia. Yesterday, another Catholic priest was killed in Columbia. That brings the number of murdered Catholic priests in Columbia to three in one week.

The Associated Press reported:

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- Gunmen dragged a Catholic priest out of a classroom in rural Colombia Thursday and shot him to death, bringing to three the number of clergy killed in the South American nation this week, officials said.

The Rev. Jesus Adrian Sanchez, 32, was teaching a high school religion class in Chaparral county, about 130 miles southwest of Bogota, when he was seized by gunmen, said parish priest Lizardo Monroy.

Monroy said he knew of no threats against Sanchez, whom he described as a good-humored priest who often rode his motorcycle to villages to celebrate Mass.

Tolima state police chief Col. Luis Ramirez said it was too early to say who may have killed Sanchez.

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Rest in peace Fr. Sanchez.
 

Prayer of St. Bonaventure To Mother Mary

When we follow her we do not lose the way;
when we pray to her we do not despair;
when we think of her we do not go astray.

When she holds us we do not fall;
when she guides us we do not grow weary.

O Mary,
your maternal heart embraces sinners
despised by the whole world
and does not abandon them
till they are reconciled
to their Judge.

Source: 101 Inspirational Stories of The Rosary


To be honest with you, this is the first time I've heard of St. Bonaventure. So, I googled his name and found the following information on Catholic Online:

St. Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Feast day-July 15)

St. Bonaventure, known as "the seraphic doctor," was born at Bagnorea in Tuscany, in 1221. He received the name of Bonaventure in consequence of an exclamation of St. Francis of Assisi, when, in response to the pleading of the child's mother, the saint prayed for John's recovery from a dangerous illness, and, foreseeing the future greatness of the little John, cried out "O Buona ventura"-O good fortune!

Read more...

Catholic Encyclopedia has different information:

Nothing is known of Bonaventure's parents save their names: Giovanni di Fidanza and Maria Ritella. How his baptismal name of John came to be changed to that of Bonaventure is not clear. An attempt has been made to trace the latter name to the exclamation of St. Francis, O buona ventura, when Bonaventure was brought as an infant to him to be cured of a dangerous illness. This derivation is highly improbable; it seems based on a late fifteenth-century legend. Bonaventure himself tells us (Legenda S. Francisci Prolog.) that while yet a child he was preserved from death through the intercession of St. Francis, but there is no evidence that this cure took place during the lifetime of St. Francis or that the name Bonaventure originated in any prophetical words of St. Francis. It was certainly borne by others before the Seraphic Doctor.

Read more...

I like his prayer very much.
 

The Da Vinci Code

The debate over "The Da Vinci Code"book has reached the United Kingdom. The Associated Press reported:

The novel's premise that Jesus Christ fathered a child with Mary Magdalene has drawn strong protests from the Catholic Church, and the movie version has fanned whispers of discontent in the cathedral city of Lincoln in central England, where Tom Hanks and the crew were filming Tuesday.

"To a believer, any believer, what is happening is blasphemous," said Sister Mary Michael, who held a solo prayer vigil outside the medieval cathedral.

The head of Lincoln's Anglican cathedral, the Very Rev. Alec Knight, conceded that the novel was "far-fetched and heretical," but he defended the decision to allow filming. The cathedral accepted a reported $180,000 to double as Westminster Abbey in the Ron Howard-directed film.

"It has clearly touched the public imagination, and the church needs to open up a debate about it rather than throw one's hands up and walk away from it," Knight said.

Read more...

I don't know what to say about the $180,000 the cathedral received from the movie producers. But, I do agree with his statement that the church should be open for debate.

I read the book. I didn't take it seriously. Here's why:

1. I got angry reading the writer's claims.


2. When I reached the part about Jesus' public display of affection with Mary Magdalene, I started to laugh. I told my husband:
   

   
   If this is true, I want to go back 2000 years in time and live in THAT Middle East. The 20th century Middle East where I grew up was very different.
   

   
   That's when I stopped taking the book seriously. I actually thought the book was hilarious.


3. When I reached the last 100 pages, I got really bored with the book. By that time, I already figured who was behind the killings and the book started to feel like a slow thriller movie.

If you haven't read the book yet or already heard the conspiracy theories regarding Mary Magdalene, then you probably want to wait for the movie. Tom Hanks may turn the book to a very entertaining movie.


UPDATE Mar. 24, 2006
The Catholic church started a Web site called "Jesus Decoded." as an answer to the Dan Brown's fiction book.
 

Two Catholic Priests Killed In Columbia

The Associated Press reported:

BOGOTA, Colombia – Suspected rebels killed two Catholic priests Monday, ambushing their car with gunfire and explosives as they drove down a country road in northeast Colombia, police said.

Two laborers in the vehicle were also killed in the attack near Teorama, 260 miles northeast of Bogota, Norte de Santander state police chief Gen. Hipolito Herrera told RCN television.
...
The Catholic Church has played an active role in mediation efforts during Colombia's war, which pits the FARC and another leftist rebel group against right-wing paramilitary factions and government forces.

But the clergy's peace efforts have come at a heavy price. An archbishop, a bishop, more than 50 priests and three nuns have been killed by suspected rebels or paramilitary fighters over the past 20 years, according government figures.

Read more...

Columbia is a scary place to live in.


UPDATE 08/19/2005
A third Catholic priest was killed in Columbia on Thursday. Click here for details.


UPDATE 08/22/2005
This is very interesting:

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- The smaller of Colombia's two leftist rebel groups acknowledged Saturday that its fighters killed two Catholic priests earlier this week but said it was a mistake and vowed to punish the perpetrators.

"We are aware of the irreparable damage that this act has caused," the National Liberation Army, known by its Spanish acronym ELN, said in a statement sent to several local media. "We regret it deeply and ask for forgiveness."
...
But church leader Monsignor Hector Fabio Henao said the rebel apology was insufficient.

"I think the ELN should pay for their mistake not just by asking for forgiveness, but by opening a peace dialogue," Henao, who often mediated in peace efforts during Colombia's 41-year-old civil war, told The Associated Press

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Well, at least theyacknowledgedd their mistake. Yep, it's time to open a peacedialoguee. But, I don't see that happening very soon.
 

Best Beer In The World

I prefer to drink red wine over beer. But, this story is very cute:

The abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren in western Belgium is home to some 30 Cistercian and Trappist monks who lead a life of seclusion, prayer, manual labour - and brewing.

An online survey of thousands of beer enthusiasts from 65 countries in June rated the Westvleteren 12 beer as the world's best.

But the abbey only has a limited brewing capacity, and was unable to cope with the beer's sudden popularity.

"Our shop is closed because all our beer has been sold out," said a message on the abbey's answering machine.
...
"We are not brewers, we are monks. We brew beer to be able to afford being monks," the father abbot said on the abbey's website.

Read more...

Click here for more information on how to order this award winning beer from the abbey.
 

Biblical Pool of Siloam Uncovered In Jerusalem

The Los Angeles Times reported:

Workers repairing a sewage pipe in the Old City of Jerusalem have discovered the biblical Pool of Siloam, a freshwater reservoir that was a major gathering place for ancient Jews making religious pilgrimages to the city and the reputed site where Jesus cured a man blind from birth, according to the Gospel of John.

The pool was fed by the now famous Hezekiah's Tunnel and is "a much grander affair" than archaeologists previously believed, with three tiers of stone stairs allowing easy access to the water, said Hershel Shanks, editor of the Biblical Archaeology Review, which reported the find Monday.

"Scholars have said that there wasn't a Pool of Siloam and that John was using a religious conceit" to illustrate a point, said New Testament scholar James H. Charlesworth of the Princeton Theological Seminary. "Now we have found the Pool of Siloam...exactly where John said it was."

A gospel that was thought to be "pure theology is now shown to be grounded in history," he said.

Religious law required ancient Jews to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem at least once a year, said archeologist Ronny Reich of the University of Haifa, who excavated the pool. "Jesus was just another pilgrim coming to Jerusalem," he said. "It would be natural to find him there."

Read more...

It will be very interesting to know what the other archaeologistss and scholars think of this new discovery.

If you need a login and password to access the article, then visit www.bugmenot.com

Nuns' Ministry To Circus Workers

I had no idea there were Catholic nuns' who minister to the circus workers and travel with the circus. The Houston chronicle reported:

"I felt something super special, something very special for me when I received the host," said Dominguez, a performer for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Her tears were for her mother and her family who could not share her spiritual moment deep inside Reliant Stadium.

"Always I saw the pictures of my mom making First Communion, and I wanted to do it, too," Dominguez said.

But like circus performers around the world, Dominguez lives on the road and works long hours on weekends, leaving little time for church services or religious instruction.

That's why Sisters Dorothy Fabritze and Bernard Overkamp live on the road and work diligently to bring the touch of God to the "Greatest Show on Earth."

But the two Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus do more than spread the word of God. They're also part of the circus: Sister Fabritze opens and closes the curtains during the two-hour shows; Sister Overkamp tends to the performers' wardrobes.

When they're not on circus duty, they spend hours teaching religious-instruction classes for Catholics and non-Catholics, as well as counseling and listening to the problems and joys of the circus workers.

"Our theory is that we need to be the living, breathing presence of Jesus Christ among these people all the time," said Sister Fabritze, 57. That means the sister act trucks across the nation hauling a trailer they call home. They converted one bedroom into a small chapel, and they sleep on bunk beds in the other.

Read more...

The report states:

1. The ministry to circuses in the U.S. Catholic Church began in 1929.


2. Five nuns travel full-time with circuses.


3. About 100 priests throughout the country minister to circuses and carnivals when they arrive in their cities.


4. An estimated 50 to 60 circuses and 300 to 400 carnivals traveling across the United States employ about 300,000 people, of which about 40 percent are Catholic.

This is very cool.
 

I'm Going To Ordain You

I read a very cool story today. It's the story of the man who taught Pope John Paul II English many years ago. The man became a priest twenty years ago. When he was young, he had other plans. Obviously, God prepared other plans for him. Here's the story:

...Fletcher, who studied clinical psychology in college, never intended to go into the ministry, but a man he affectionately called "Wujek," or uncle in Polish, predicted he would take that path more than a decade before he was ordained.

That man was Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, who later became Pope John Paul II. Fletcher met him while studying psychology in Poland in 1974. The country had a communist government at the time and Fletcher and other Christian students at Jagiellonian University, where he was on scholarship, dared to challenge the repressive regime.

"I was tear-gassed three times and the glands of my eyes were bursting with water," Fletcher said of the turbulent time there. "I was unable to close my eyes because they were so puffed up."
Wojtyla, who was the Archbishop of Krakow at the time, led Fletcher and some other students in prayer to encourage them.

In 1975, Fletcher became closer to Wojtyla when a nun who had been helping the then-archbishop improve his English asked Fletcher to take over the lessons. He tutored him one-on-one in Wojtyla's apartment for three years.

Read more...

The story gets better from there.

I learned over the years that Pope John Paul II had a great sense of humor. I miss him a lot.