The central message Christianity offers is the mystery through
suffering and death there is the opportunity to new life.
“A light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not
overcome it.” John 1:5
Happy Easter!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Habemus papam!
The conclave of cardinals gathered for only the second day
after the resignation of Pope Benedict VII, and the news came that a pope was
selected, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the cardinal of Buenos Aires, Argentina as
Pope Francis.
It is breath of fresh air for a weary church who has
recently been besieged by scandals the failure of bishops and Rome to protect
children from molesting priests and the
corruption in the Vatican. Many speculate that it was Benedict’s waning
energy to reform the Curia that prompted him to resign.
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| (c) 2013 CNS/Paul Haring |
Pope Francis is the first American. The first from the
Southern Hemisphere. The first Latino pope. The first Jesuit pope. The first
non-European pope in 1200 years. He has take on the name Francis after the
saint from Assisi. Before the crowd who had gathered in St. Peter’s square, he
asked those gathered to pray for him. He is known for living simply, eschewing
the Archbishop’s palace for an apartment, cooking his own meals and taking
public transportation. He has championed the social justice for the poor. While
a Jesuit provincial in Argentina, he appointed Jesuits to take parish positions
rather than live in base communities or be politically active. His response to
the “Dirty War” in Argentina, when so many individuals disappeared is murky.
And it is expected that he will continue the Church’s traditional teaching on
contraception, abortion, women priests, and sexuality. The Church moves slowly.
There is hope, nonetheless, in this Catholic.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
JRDF: Destination India
I have volunteered for the JRDF Royal Ball before, but this
time Maureen and I collaboratively came up with an engaging activity. Together,
we came up with a plan to paint an elephant on canvas and have attending
children paint and decorate the elephant with jewels as is done in India.
When I arrived at the event, the table had 4 high school students attending the activity. Soon enough many children decorated the elephant which allowed Mark and I to enjoy the party. The painting sold for $500. It was fun.
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| before |
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| young painter |
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| after |
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| Mark and I with red bindi marks |
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