Category: My world

Blogs I Know · My world

Rich beyond measure

darcee2 Comments
The Begas Family - Karl Joseph Begas
The Begas Family - Karl Joseph Begas

I came across this a while back by way of Danette .   An article from the Washington Post entitled “Three Kids? You Showoffs”.  As the title indicates it was indeed expressing the thought that having more than the typical two children is seen in some quarters as a status symbol, an aberrant indication of  conspicuous consumption.   I know if you are also the mother of a larger than normal family you probably are rolling your eyes thinking over the times where someone has looked at you in the grocery store as though you just crawled out of the closest ditch or even been bold enough to question your reason, morals or understanding of modern birth control. 

Reading the article is more or less an eye-popping excursion a new world as I find myself constantly wondering  “what planet do these people live on?”  The article speaks in a weird language I am only passingly familiar with, “Birkin bags”, “pieds-à-terre” and what the heck is “eco-decorating”?   Having been a nanny once upon a time I understand the lifestyle that accompanies certain social and career echelons.  I have my share of well-healed friends and my oldest goes to school with more than one designer-child.  But at the same time I find this a staggering example of the differences in our “classless” society.

After reading through the long explanationabout the money the wealthy shell out to hire their nannies, pay for private schools and hedge their bets with Harvard on esoteric sports and oboe lessons I had to take a moment to figure out if I wanted to laugh at their self importance or the futility of those things they felt so necessary.  I know several people who went to Harvard and only a few of them hailed from the “proper nursery school”  through elite prep school background.  So I question the motives that are under the “all the very best” for my little sugar-dumpling  mindset.  Having a third child in order to “show-off”, to add one more designer baby to the SUV is very foreign to me.  Even though I have six children I count my children as my wealth not as a way to display my wealth.

I really am trying to avoid any sort of value judgment here.  I don’t think that anyone has a baby just so that they can “show off”.  Which is part of what bothers me about the article.   As the author is preparing to have a third child it almost seems to be an explanation of why she is doing it.  “Please don’t think I am less “upper class” because I am having another baby, it is all the rage to have lots of children just look and Angelina Jolie.”   What is wrong about having a third (or eighth) baby because you just love having children, because a large family appeals to you, because there is more to life than expensive handbags and trips to the latest fashionable vacation spots? 

Nothing in my mind.  There certainly is no reason to justify having children by claiming that they are some odd status symbol.  Though I might use the “I just have a lot of children to show off how wealthy I am” line the next time someone quips “are they all yours?”

Catholic stuff · In Prayer · My world

Inauguration Day Mass Intentions — 50 States

darcee2 Comments
The Power of the Mass is Christ Himself
The Power of the Mass is Christ Himself

 This just in from Barbara:

I just had to let everyone know, we did it! With God’s help, we have Masses secured for our new president in all 50 states, as well as nine other countries! Thanks to each you for helping in this grassroots effort for the benefit of our nation and the unborn. To date we have 285 Masses being offered on or near Inauguration Day for our new president that he will have a conversion of heart and work to protect the dignity of all human life.

Just a reminder that today (Thursday) is probably the last day you will be able to get a bulletin announcement in at your parish letting people know about the Mass for the President.

If you know of anyone who has secured a Mass and hasn’t let us know ASAP so I can get them on the roster.

Also, if you have been thinking about contacting a priest or a parish about having a Mass said, it isn’t too late. Just today, one of the our local gals called one of the parishes who had wanted to have a Mass but said they were booked. The parish secretary called the pastor and they were able to rearrange the intention schedule and get a Mass on the 20th. Someone else wrote to say that the 20th was the only date available next week, and they were able to secure it. And, if you can’t get the 20th, God does work outside of time, so it can be later on as well.

I will send out an email this weekend with our final tally. Will we surge beyond the 300 mark? We have been averaging between 15 and 25 Masses per day. Maybe we will hit 400! So much good comes from a single Mass offered for a specific intention, I can’t imagine the benefit of this multitude of Masses being offered for the most powerful person in the world. It will be exciting to watch how God works.

I pray that God will bless each of you for your dedication to the unborn and I hope that we will hear good news for their sakes in the coming weeks and months.

In Christ’s love and service,
Barb L-

ONGOING ROSTER

285 Masses in 50 States, Washington DC; Rome, Italy; Fatima, Portugal; the Dominican Republic; Haiti; India; United Kingdom; Kenya; Africa; and Canada.

Alabama (AL)
Gulf Shores, AL: retired priest (private Mass)

Alaska (AK)
Anchorage, AK: Holy Family Cathedral 
Anchorage, AK: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s  (April 13) 

Arizona (AZ)
Coolidge, AZ: St. James’

Arkansas (AR)
Cherokee Village, AR: St. Michael’s Church  Fr. Demets, FSSP

California (CA)
El Cajon, CA: St. Ephrem’s
Hawaiian Gardens, CA: St. Peter Chanel Church, Fr. Fernando Cuenca, OMV
Napa, CA: St. Thomas Aquinas (9:00 AM)
Newport, CA: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA: San Francisco Solano’s
San Bernadino, CA: Our Lady of the Assumption
Santa Paula, CA: TAC (St. Thomas Aquinas College), Fr. Rafftery
Tulare, CA: St Rita’s
Vina, CA: Abbey of New Clairvaux, Fr. Schwan, OCSO

Colorado (CO)
Denver, CO: Christ the King Seminary Chapel, Bishop Conley
Littleton, CO: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Littleton, CO: St. Frances Cabrini (Feb. 12)
Pueblo West, CO: St Pius X / St. Paul the Apostle by KC’s of Pueblo West

Connecticut (CT)
(2) West Hartford, CT: St. Thomas the Apostle’s (8 AM and Noon)

Delaware (DE)
Wilmington, DE: St. Hedwig’s (Fri. Jan. 16)

Florida (FL)
Deltona, FL: Our Lady of the Lakes

Jenson Beach, FL: St. Martin de Porres’, Fr. Molgano
Orlando, FL: University of Central Florida–Catholic Campus Ministry
St Petersburg, FL: St. Raphael’s
Sebastian, FL: St. Sebastian’s  (Jan. 23) 
FL: Fr. George Restrepo 

Georgia (GA)
Canton, GA: Our Lady of Lasalette’s 

Hawaii (HI)
Honolulu, HI: Father Damien’s on Aliamanu Military Reservation

Idaho (ID)
Boise, ID:  St. Mark’s
Post Falls, ID: Immaculate Conception 
Fathers of Mercy

Illinois (IL)
Alton, IL: St Mary’s of the Immaculate Conception (6:30 am Mass)
DeKalb, IL: Christ the Teacher Parish (12:05 PM), Northern Illinois University,

Joliet, IL: St. Joseph’s, Fr. Andres O. Carm
Streator, IL: St. Anthony’s .
Westmont, IL: Holy Trinity

Indiana (IN)
Montgomery, IN: St. Peter’s (Jan. 21)

Notre Dame, IN: Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Date TBA)
(2) Washington, IN: Our Lady of Hope (Jan. 18 @ 11 AM and Jan 20)

Iowa (IA)
Iowa City, IA: St. Mary’s

Sioux City, IA: Carmelite Monastery

Kansas (KS)
Atchison, KS: Benedictine College (Noon) Fr. Miller, OSB
Concordia, KS: Our Lady of Perpetual Help  (Jan. 22 @ 7:15 AM)
Dodge City, KS: Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe 
Garden City, KS: St. Dominic’s
Topeka, KS: St. Joseph’s (Jan. 19 @ 6:30 AM-Special Intention) bers
Wichita, KS: Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Jan. 18-Special Intention)

Kentucky (KY)
(2) Auburn, KY: Fathers of Mercy, Fr. Ben Cameron and Fr. Tony Stephens
Hopkinsville, KY: Sts. Peter & Paul 
Morganfield, KY: St. Ann’s
Russellville, KY: Sacred Heart, Fr. Peter

Louisiana (LA)
(2) Baton Rouge, LA: St. Alphonsus of Liguori (Jan. 13 & 20)
Hackberry, LA: St. Peter the Apostle’s (Jan. 19 at 6:15 PM) Fr. Tolentino
New Orleans, LA: Old St. Patrick’s (Noon)

Maine (ME)
Lewiston, ME: Fr. Roux @ 9 AM
Sanford, ME: St. Therese of Lisieux Parish

Maryland (MD)
Rockville, MD: St. Mary’s (7 AM)

Massachusetts (MA)
Lowell, MA: Fairhaven Nursing Home, Fr . Casey
Dracut, MA: St. Marguerite D’Youville, Fr . Casey
Millis, MA: St. Thomas the Apostle 
Milford, MA: Sacred Heart of Jesus 

Michigan (MI)
Ann Arbor, MI: Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist
Dearborn, MI: Sacred Heart (Jan. 23 @ 9 AM)
Dearborn Heights, MI: St. Sebastian’s (Jan. 19 @ 6:30 PM)
Livonia, MI: St. Michael’s
Michigan City, MI: St. Stanislaus Kostka’a (7 AM), Father Walter Ciesla
St. Clair, MI: St. Mary’s 
Troy MI: Elizabeth Ann Seton’s
Troy, MI: St Anastasias’ (7 AM)  
Troy, MI: St Thomas Moore’s (9 AM)

Minnesota (MN)
Alexandria, MN: St. Mary’s
Bayport, MN: St. Charles’
Canby, MN: St. Peter’s 
Crookston, MN: Diocese of Crookston Chancery
Crookston, MN:  Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

Crookston, MN: Villa St. Vincent 
Greenbush, MN: Blessed Sacrament 
Jordon, MN: St. Patrick’s (Fri. Jan. 16)
Rochester, MN: Pax Christi
St. Paul, MN: St. Agnes’ (Date TBA) 
South St. Paul, MN: Holy Trinity (Jan. 22)
(2) (Jan. 15 and 22) 

Mississippi (MS)
Greenwood, MS: St. Francis of Assisi’s 
Hernando, MS: Holy Spirit
Kiln, MS: by Annunciation Parish by the Annunciation Intercessors of the Lamb
Picayune, MS: St. Charles Borromeo by the Annunciation Intercessors of the Lamb
Southhaven, MS: Christ the King (Jan. 20, 21, & 26) 

Missouri (MO)
Chesterfield, MO: Ascension (Jan. 22 and 23)

Crestwood, MO: St. Elizabeth of Hungary 
Excelsior Springs, MO: St. Ann’s
Kansas City, MO: Cathedral of the Immaculate (Jan. 21-Special Intention) 
Kansas City, MO: Our Lady of Good Counsel, Msgr Blacet
Palmyra, MO: St. Joseph Parish, Rev. Christopher Smith
St Louis, MO: St. Justin Martyr

Montana (MT)
Belt, MT- St. Mark’s 
Columbus, MT – St. Mary’s 
Great Falls, MT – Our Lady of Lourdes

Great Falls, MT – Blessed Sacrament 
White Sulphur Springs, MT: St. Bartholomew’s

Nebraska (NE)
McCook, NE: St. Patrick Church (8:00 A.M. Elementary School Mass) 
Omaha, NE: St. Margaret Mary’s
Schuyler NE: Benedictine Mission House, Father Volker 

Nevada (NV)
Las Vegas, NV: Guardian Angel Cathedral (Feb. 10 @12:10)

New Hampshire (NH)
Jaffrey, NH: St. Patrick’s by Lorraine Coll
Merrimack, NH, Thomas More College of the Liberal Arts (Noon) requested by the student body.
Warner, NH: Magadalen  College, Fr. Tumwekwase

New Jersey (NJ)
Buena Borough, NJ: Queen of Angels Parish

Medford, NJ: St. Mary of the Lake
Washington, NJ: National Blue Army Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
New Mexico (NM)
Roy, Mosquero, and Wagon Mound, NM: Fr. Imbarrato

New York (NY)
Hartsdale, NY: Mill Hill 
NYC, NY: Church of Notre Dame (Jan. 19) Fr. Andrew Fornal
Niagara Falls, NY: St. Joseph’s 
Tarrytown, NY: The Church of the Transfiguration

North Carolina (NC)
Charlotte, NC: St. Ann, Fr. Reid
Fayetteville, NC: Fr. Ovsak
Gastonia, NC: St. Micheal’s, Fr. Arnsparger

North Dakota (ND)
Beach, ND: St. John’s, Fr. David Richter
Belfield/South Heart, ND: St. Mary’s/St. Bernards, Fr. Lucht
Bismarck, ND: Fr. Richter 
Bismarck, ND: Ascension
(3) Bismarck, ND: Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (both 6:45 and 8 AM), by Julie Ternes 
    and (8 AM on Jan. 22)

Bismarck, ND: Annunciation Monastery by Bonnie Volk
Bismarck, ND: Saint Anne’s, Fr. Wehner
Bismarck, ND: St. Vincent’s Care Center 
Bismarck, ND: Marillac Manor Retirement Place
(4) Bowman, ND: St. Charles’ (Jan. 20) 
  and several more (which will be offered close to 1/20)
Carrington, ND: Sacred Heart, Fr. Syverson
Dickinson, ND: Queen of Peace, Fr. Zwack
Dickinson, ND: St. Joseph’s, Fr. Streifel
Dickinson, ND: St. Patrick’s, Fr. Kreitinger 
Fargo, ND: Sts. Anne and Joachim (12:10 PM), Fr. Gunwall
Fargo, ND: Newman Center 
Fargo, ND: St. Mary’s Cathedral, Fr. Wilhelm
Flasher, ND: St. Lawrence’, Fr. Berg
Glenburn, ND: St. Philomena’s, Fr. Gardner
Grand Forks, ND: UND Newman Center, Fr. Courtright
(2) Grand Forks, ND: St. Mary’s
Hankinson, ND: St. Francis Convent, Fr. Bud Brooks
Hebron, ND: St. Ann’s 
Hettinger, ND: Holy Trinity, Fr. Joseph
Hillsboro, ND: St. Rose of Lima by Jeff and Rita Mootz
Jamestown, ND: St. James Basilica
Karlsruhe, ND: Sts. Peter & Paul, Fr. Gross
Lamoure, ND: Holy Rosary Church (8:30AM) Fr. Callery
Lidgerwood, ND: St. Boniface’s, Fr. Smith
Linton, ND: St. Anthony’s, Fr. Benz
Mandan, ND: Christ the King (8:00 AM), Fr. Waltz
Mandan, ND: (Jan. 19-private Mass) Fr. Joshua Waltz
Mantador, ND: Sts. Peter and Paul, Fr. Anderl
Minot, ND: (Jan. 19-private Mass) Fr. Justin Waltz
Minot, ND: Little Flower, Fr. Harvey
(2) Minot, ND: Our Lady of Grace , Fr. Krebs and another (Date TBA) by Joyce Krebs
Minot, ND: St. Leo’s, Fr. Vetter
Napoleon, ND: St. Philip Neri’s (Jan. 19), Fr.  Leiphon
New England, ND: St. Mary’s, Fr. Basil, OSB
New Rockford, ND: St. John’s, Fr. Pfau
Oakwood, ND: Sacred Heart, Fr. Lauerman
Park River, ND: St. Mary’s, Fr. Unger
Park River, ND: St. Mary’s (Date TBA) 
Parshall, ND: St. Bridgett’s, Fr. Synek
Rhame, ND: St. Mel’s (Jan. 18) 
(2) Richardton, ND: Assumption Abbey, Abbot Brian Wangler, OSB and Fr. Dietlein, OSB
Richardton, ND: Sacred Heart Monastery (Date TBA), Benedictine Sisters
Richardton, ND: St. Mary’s, Fr. Muggli, OSB
Rugby, ND: Little Flower’s, Fr. Graner
Valley City, ND: Maryvale-Sisters of the Presentation Convent, Fr. Seeberger
Valley City, ND: St. Catherine’s
Warsaw, ND: St. Gianna Maternity Home 
Williston, ND: St. Joseph’s, Fr. Schafer
Wilton, ND: St. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Church Fr. George
Ohio (OH)
Dayton, OH: listed as Special Intention
Cincinnati, OH: St. Jude’s in Bridgetown (6:30AM), Fr. Eric Bowman
Columbus, OH: Our Lady of Perpetual Help 

Oklahoma (OK)
Stillwater, OK: St. John the Evangelist

Oregon (OR)
Beaverton, OR: St. John Vianney Retirement Center, Fr. Jacobson
Grants Pass, OR St. Anne’s (Mon. Jan. 26 @ 7:45 AM)
Hillsboro, OR: St. Matthew’s 
Joseph, OR: St. Katherine’s
Junction City, OR: St. Helen’s, Fr. Zach
La Grande, OR: Our Lady of the Valley
Oregon City, OR: St Philip Benizi’s (Jan 23 @ 8 AM)

Portland, OR: (private Mass) Fr. Banfield
Portland, OR: Holy Rosary (Noon)
Sherwood, OR: St. Francis’
Tillamook, OR: Sacred Heart 

Pennsylvania (PA)
Fryburg, PA: St. Michael’s (Date TBA) 
Mars, PA: St. Kilian’s (Jan. 18)
Pittsburg, PA: Seraphic Mass Association

Rhode Island (RI)
North Kingstown, RI: St. Frances de Sales

South Carolina (SC)
Hartsville, SC: St. Mary’s, Fr. Karl
Rock Hill, SC: St. Anne’s
South Dakota (SD)
(2) Aberdeen, SD
Redfield, SN: Sacred Heart
Sioux Falls, SD: Holy Spirit Parish 
Tennessee (TN)
Antioch, TN: St. Ignatius of Antioch (Feb. 28 @ 5:30 PM) 
Nashville, TN: Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia’s

Texas (TX)
Corpus Cristi, TX: Fr. Medley, SOLT
El Paso, TX:
Frisco, TX: St. Francis of Assisi (April 16-Special Intention)
Houston, TX: St Bernadette’s 
Houston, TX: St Clare’s

(2) Houston, TX: St Paul’s (2 on 1/20)
Houston, TX: Holy Rosary 
Houston, TX: Holy Family
Houston, TX: St. Francis of Assisi (2 masses) 
(2) Houston, TX: 2 more parishes
Houston, TX: Fr Sunny Joseph
Rio Grande City: The Benedictine Monastery of the Good Shepherd

Utah (UT)
Salt Lake City, UT: The Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Vermont (VT)
Westfield, VT: Immaculate Heart of Mary, Benedictine Monastery

Virginia (VA)
(2) TBA by Lama
Great Falls, VA: St. Catherine of Siena’s, Fr. Drummond
Norton, VA: St. Anthony’s, Fr. Drake
Virginia Beach, VA: St Luke’s (7:00 AM)

Washington (WA)
Bremerton, WA: Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Fr. Lappe
Camas, WA: St. Thomas Aquinas’
Federal Way, WA: Pasisades Retreat House, Fr. Horan 
Renton, WA: St. Anthony’s (Sunday, Jan. 25, Time TBA) 
Renton, WA: St. Stephen the Martyr (Private Mass), Fr. White 
Renton, WA: St. Stephen the Martyr (TBA), Fr. White
(2) Seattle, WA: Sacred Heart, Fr. Konen 
Vancouver, WA: Holy Redeemer 
Vancouver, WA: St. James’ 

West Virginia (WV)
St. Albans, WV: St. Francis
Wheeling, WV: Cathedral of St. Joseph (Noon) by the Diocese of Sheelig-Charleston

Wisconsin (WI)
Altoona, WI: Augustine-St. Mary’s (8 AM)
Appleton, WI: St. Pius X’s (1/8/09) 
Eau Claire, WI: Regis High School Chapel (7:25 AM) 
Green Bay, WI: St. Joseph Oratory, Extraordinary Rite (8:45 AM) 
Hilbert, WI: St. Mary’s 
Kaukauna, WI: Holy Cross (Jan. 21 @ 7 AM) Church 
Mt. Horeb, WI: St. Ignatius’ (5:30 PM), Fr. Richard Heilman
Pewaukee, WI: Queen of Apostles’ (5 PM)

St. John, WI: St. John’s 
Sherwood, WI: Sacred Heart
Seymour, WI: St. John the Baptist’s, Fr. Kabat

Wyoming (WY)
Cody, WY: St. Anthony of Padua 
Evanston, WY: St. Mary Magdalen’s
Kemmerer, WY: St. Patrick’s
Thermopolis, WY: St. Francis’, Father Blotsky, OSB

Washington D.C.
Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Date TBA)
(Private Mass) Fr. Jim Steffes, STL, Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations @ USCCB

Outside the USA
Dominican Republic
Calgary, AB, Canada; St. James’ (7 PM)
Haiti; Missionaries of Charity, Fr. Wayne Sattler
Bangalore, India (3) Holy Ghost Church, Redemptorist Father’s chapel, Catholic Center Church
Bangalore, India: Frs. Vailatt and Edayodil, 
Bangalore, India: Fr Arulanandam Selsus 
Colaba, Mumbai, India: St Joseph’s Catholic Church
Rome, Italy: North American College 
Rome, Italy: 
Fatima, Portugal: Parish Church of the Seers of Fatima (7 PM)
Franciscan Mission Associates (5) (TBA) 
United Kingdom by Fr. Barry Ku
Meru, Kenya 
10 Masses (Jan. 29)

1 Mass
Djibouti, Africa: Camp Lemonier,US military base 

 

Blogs I Know · My world

Seven thoughts

darcee2 Comments

Jen at Conversion Diary has been doing this and every week I have been tempted and then got side tracked or something.  There is a first time for everything.

1

I think I would very much enjoy Valkyrie, but why oh why does Tom Cruise have to be in it?

 2

Children go to sleep really easily when you wake them up a little earlier and run them hard and happy all day.

3

Yes, I was very cranky about my ex-sister-in-law and the picture thing a couple weeks ago.  After my ex forwarded her email to me I went ahead and sent her the picture.  I am sort of weird that way I guess.

4

I love getting emails from people I haven’t heard from in a long while.  Today I got one that made me laugh, so many half forgotten things shared silliness about tea-cozies and my strange way of being a little to starch-collared for my own good.

5

Blizzard adding the achievement system in World of Warcraft has been a really bad time sink for me.

6 

I enjoy having friends hang out at my house with me, but the thought of company visiting send me into near panic attacks. 

7

I find it really interesting that I see things in pictures that I don’t see in real life.  If I am looking at a picture of my house I will see everything that is out of place, but if I am just walking through I don’t see it.  Same goes with the children.  If I take a picture I will see the messed hair, holes in clothing, smudgy faces, but in real life I just don’t catch all that.

Faith in Action · In Prayer · My world

Inauguration Day Mass Intentions Update

darcee1 Comment
obama
no cause is lost until we surrender

This is from Barbara who is corridinating this great effort:

January 6, 2009

Greetings on the Feast of Blessed Andre Bessette. May his example of doing little things for the greater glory of God be our inspiration for our Mass Intention efforts this day.

We currently have 109 Masses being offered in 31 States and Washington, DC. We also have six more Masses secured in Italy, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, India, Portugal and Canada.

It has been exciting to see the Mass list grow and encouraging to read the enthusiastic responses from people throughout the country. Some people have evan been able to secure Masses in several parishes in their cities.

Next week, we will send out an e-mail inviting Catholics around the country to attend a Mass in their local area. So, it would be great to secure more Masses in all states so that more people would have the opportunity to attend a Mass locally.

Time is of the essence. It is getting more difficult to secure Mass Intentions for the specific date: 1/20/09. But there are still options. You can either ask for the closest date available or if you know your pastor to be zealously pro-life, you can talk to him directly and he may be willing to change the intention schedule, if at all possible.

Also, consider that the following places are not booked as early: convents, abbeys, monasteries, retirement homes for priests and nuns, hospitals, nursing homes, and college campuses. (The main campus churches are probably already booked, but the dorm Mass intentions are generally more available and flexible.). But even parishes are still making room for our intention in their schedules, so don’t hesitate to ask. Again, I have had good success sending out e-mails to specific priests that I know to be ardently pro-life. I also have had wonderful responses from convents this past week.

We are still missing the following states, so if you have contacts in these states, please let them know about this project:

Alaska (AK)
Colorado (CO)
Connecticut (CT)
Delaware (DE)
Idaho (ID)
Louisiana (LA)
Maine (ME)
Massachusetts (MA)
Mississippi (MS)
Missouri (MO)
Nevada (NV)
New Hampshire (NH)
New Jersey (NJ)  
New York (NY)
North Carolina (NC)
Oklahoma (OK)
Tennessee (TN)
Virginia (VA)
West Virginia (WV)

May God bless our efforts, may He hear and answer our prayers according to His Divine Will, and may we hear good news in the coming year for the sake of the unborn and most vulnerable among us.

My world

Ripples

darcee2 Comments
Wooded River Landscape - Henri Biva
Wooded River Landscape - Henri Biva

When I was in high school we live on the Mazzarn River near Hot Springs, Arkansas. I was a painfully awkward teen who looked forward to each summer escaping from school to spend my days in the river swimming. Each spring I would wait for the weather to change, the days to lengthen, and the water to warm. The dogwood tree would drop its pink blossoms into the river making perfect circular ripples. The ripples would bump into each other cause small distortions they would flow downstream and vanish.

Sometimes, writing online feels like dropping a small petal into a huge river. I know that this small little blog doesn’t reach a huge audience or make a big difference in anyone’s world. But every once in a while I hear from someone else out there and it makes it all worth while.

Blogs I Know · My world

Portland is a little weird.

darceeLeave a comment

I know that goes without saying but to think that this billboard would be controversial considering the season….

God is with us
God is with us

H/T to both Happy Catholic and The Curt Jester. 

Now, this happens to also be a time where a new abortion mill is going up a handful of blocks from my parish (where the sign originally was) and just to our north Washington State voted last month on assisted suicide.  So I can see where there can be some “politics” viewed there.  But this is first and foremost a religious statement.  The fact that the incarnation can be viewed politically at all is simply evidence of how entrenched and hostile the culture of death is.  When a pregnant Mary, full of life, is seen as a statement against the political status quo the political status quo is pretty dismal.  I suspect an ultrasound image of a baby in utero would have been viewed similarly.
You can read the Oregon Live story here.  I agree with Julie at Happy Catholic.  This quote is sort of weird:
“Images of an obviously pregnant Mary are rare, said Jane Kristof, professor emeritus of art history at Portland State University.

“Generally, it was considered undignified,” she said. “The same is true of Mary nursing.” Artists instead rendered Mary gesturing toward her stomach to suggest that she was pregnant, Kristof said. “

The Virgin round with child is a standard in medieval and renaissance art.  Pregnancy in the plague years especially was viewed as highly beautiful.  Do  quick search on the Madonna of the good milk or the Virgin Mother and you will have more images of breast feeding and pregnant Marys than you can shake a stick at.  Now maybe Ms Kristof is talking about modern art… or maybe she is stuck in some weird alternate universe that hates pregnant woman… but I am not seeing the undignified thing she is thinking she sees.   But then again this IS Portland we are talking about and as the oft seen bumper stickers reminds us — we keep it weird.

My world

Ash falling like snow

darceeLeave a comment

 

Ash from a volvanic eruption fills the sky
Ash from a volvanic eruption fills the sky

 

 

In 1980 when I was 11 years old I woke up to a very strange site. Grey dust covered the cars, the grass, the rooftops – everything. It was like an unseasonable frost or a covering of very light snow. It was ash. Mt st Helens had erupted the day before spewing a fine ash into the atmosphere; the winds carried it north, east and south. My little town, though hundreds of miles away, was dusted with the ash. To us the eruption was nothing, a mere inconvenience that ruined a few too-fussy-for-ranch-land auto-finishes and otherwise was harmlessly washed away. Near the epicenter it had been a pyroclastic nightmare that had leveled trees, filled lakes and killed everything it touched. 

 

This morning I was reading about the potential of the FOCA being passed and how this might well create a crisis in Catholic Hospitals which are currently exempted from having to perform abortions by various conscience provisions. Our Bishops have shown almost uncharacteristic zeal on this issue. There is a real fire burning in Baltimore. I read Auxiliary Bishop Robert Hermann’s magnificent statement that “any one of us would consider it a privilege to die tomorrow — to die tomorrow — to bring about the end of abortion“, there is a thrill in my heart. Our Bishops, American Bishops are saying something like this? It is almost beyond belief. But there it is. After reading Melinda Henneberger’s excellent article at Slate I am convinced, as she is that FOCA is a real threat to Catholic health care. The threat is not from the Bishops, they are simply stating the obvious. If faced with the choice to perform abortions or not take federal funds they will stop taking federal funds. If they stop taking federal funds they won’t be able to cover operating expenses and will have to close. 

 

The outrage from the pro-Obama quarter is as incendiary as you would expect. The Big Horrible Catholic Hierarchy is trying to force the Poor Permanent Victim Class of Woman into the back-alley to obtain their Fundamental Reproductive Rights. But I think rightly viewed the Bishops are neither blustering nor threatening per say. What they are doing is stating firmly that they can not, and will not, do immoral things no matter the consequence. If there is an attempt to force them to do evil they will opt out entirely. The media will certainly frame this as the Church being horrible, medieval or intolerant, but public opinion really can’t come into play here. The Church is at her worst when she plays to public opinion and at her best when she says what is true boldly and honestly with no care to the world’s view of her. But I am concerned that this has the potential for getting really seriously bad for Catholics, Christians in general maybe, but certainly for Catholics.

 

It seems a fine haze of ash is filling the air. Is it from the dead wood burning away leaving out Bishops with a clear sense of purpose and mission? Is it the remains of personal liberty and the ability of institutions and even individuals to act in a manner consistent with the consciences? Maybe it is all that or even more. Only time will tell, it is our job to wait and pray.

 

My world · Simplicity

The Simple Woman’s Daybook – November 17, 2008

darceeLeave a comment

 
The Simple Woman’s Daybook
is hosted by Peggy at the Simple Woman.
Thank you Peggy.

 FOR TODAY : November 17, 2008
After the fog lifted this morning it was a really nice day.

 Outside my Window – It is dark and damp.  Saw Venus on the way home this evening 

I am thinking – The children went to bed remarkably easy tonight.  

From the learning rooms – The ant farm is neat.

I am thankful for- Fun friends.  I enjoy having some really interesting ladies to talk to, with, at… depending on my mood.

From the kitchen – Comes the sounds of the dishwasher, very quiet thrumming.

I am wearing – My plum sweater and brown pants.

I am reading – Something new.

I am hoping –  That the children cooperate tomorrow for pictures.

I am creating – Christmas cards.

I am hearing –  Ash getting out of the shower.

Around the house – All is quiet and calm.

One of my favorite things – A glass of red wine.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week – Picture time for the younger children, daddy getting home on Saturday, hopefully the butterflies come in this week. 

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you – 

joshdentist
Josh got the “Good Brush” award at the dentist. 
So we went to pick up his gift card and get his picture taken.

 

Blogs I Know · My world · Simplicity

The Simple Woman’s Daybook – October 27, 2008

darceeLeave a comment

 


The Simple Woman’s Daybook
is hosted by Peggy at the Simple Woman.
Thank you Peggy.

 

 

FOR TODAY : October 27, 2008
A lovely fall day, clear blue, cool and a bit of a wind.  All the fall colors are showing.

 Outside my Window – The sky is stunningly clear and blue just like yesterday. 

I am thinking –I about sewing and all the fun Halloweeen plans. 

From the learning rooms – The children are watching a Greek history video.  We are working on our civics unit study this week and finishing off the first research papers.

I am thankful for– Klye being home!  Just so nice.

From the kitchen –My coffee.  We are making turkey soup with dumplings for dinner.

I am wearing – My brown slacks and a purple sweater.

I am reading – C.S. Lewis – Four Loves.

I am hoping – That I can stay on task today.  I have so much to do.

I am creating – Halloween costumes.

I am hearing –  Liam Nesson narrating the Greek video.

Around the house – I am going to start twitching if I think about this too much — seriously.

One of my favorite things – The colors of the season.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week – Lots of sewing, little bit of work, crazy time. 

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you – 

pumpkin picture soon