Archive for May, 2009
It is Pentecost – British Bishop Releases 1000 Balloons
This picture captures in an eloquent and mysterious way the essence of the little story about stained glass windows in the Pentecost homily by the Bishop of Keewatin-Le Pas. HOMILY. Please spend some time getting to know the people of this Diocese by taking a look around while visiting this website. I recommend the pictures, the Bishop’s new Blog, and of course the homilies. Not too often we get to have a personal visit with our brothers and sisters in the Canadian North, and I very much encourage a little visit.
What is Prayer
More so today, than in the recent past, people discuss and explore ways of praying. Here is a You Tube video-conversation from Loyola Press – by two Christian women: Vinnie Hampton Wright and Alice Camille. In this short video we hear of their personal prayer life: devotional prayer, biblical prayer, liturgical pray, Ignatian Prayer, and about praying always.
VIDEO: A CONVERSATION ABOUT PRAYER
President Obama Speech at Notre Dame – Full Text of Speech
With all the controversy surrounding this speech and event, I thought it would be helpful to read what the President of the United States said at the Graduation at Notre Dame. Snippets here and there on TV and the Web really aren’t very helpful. I bet that a good percentage of those that are speaking or writing on this event have only read snippets and commentaries. Maybe I’m wrong, but when I read what he said, and what others are saying, I don’t sense they have all read his full speech. It’s not easy to live in this big wide world, but if we don’t learn to live and disagree with some sense of love, peacefulness, and dignity, then I think we are all doomed. Yes, he spoke of abortion, but he said so much more about how we have to learn to live with one another.
FULL TEXT OF SPEECH AT NOTRE DAME
BY
Shalom, Salaam, Lord Grant Us Peace – Religious Leaders Sing a Prayer of Peace
This picture says it all as far as I am concerned. This is what we hope and pray for everyday and for one brief moment in Nazareth on May 15th, 2009 God’s peace was celebrated. According to Reuters it was an impromptu moment started by a Rabbi singing, “Shalom, Salaam, Lord Grant us Peace.” Within moments Jews, Christians, and Moslems held hands in a song of joy and peace. John Allen of the NCR describes the event this way: “The setting was an inter-faith meeting among Christians, Muslims, Jews, and Druze in Nazareth. Toward the close of the meeting, a song specially composed for the occasion was performed: "Salam, Shalom, Lord Grant Us Peace." It was a rousing number, and by the end, the religious leaders on stage were singing along, including the notoriously reserved Benedict XVI. For the last stanza, the rabbis, muftis, sheikhs, and bishops, with the pontiff in the middle of the group, stood on the stage and held hands.”
Stand By Me
In a very special way this video movingly captures our common humanity, inter-dependence, and need for one another.
Trillium Carpet of Splendor – Spring In Glengarry
Every year in Ontario the white trillium magically appears replacing a carpet of snow with its stately and dignified presence. Here are a few pictures from Glengarry, Ontario, and a little poem by Milena Matcska celebrating its return.
Pope Begins His Mid-East Tour in Jordan
Pope Benedict XVI, standing next to Jordan’s King Abdullah II, center, is greeted by a Muslim sheikh upon his arrival at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, May 8. (CNS/Reuters)
Read John Allen reflection on this important event at the following link:
