It's time for some more doo wop. Here is a presentation of "A Kiss from Your Lips" by The Flamingos:
31 October 2024
Birthday Blessings, Jamie!!!
Belated birthday greetings to nephew James Fedoras, whose birthday was yesterday!!! May each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
Belated Birthday Blessings, Leslie!!!
Belated birthday greetings to Leslie Ann Ascencao, whose birthday was yesterday!!! May each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
October is being observed as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCASM), the nineteenth year of this annual initiative designed to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. NCSAM is a collaborative effort between government and industry designed to that ensure every American has the resources they need to stay safer and more secure online, while increasing the resiliency of the Nation during cyber-threats.
Resources:
National Cybersecurity Alliance: Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency: National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the creativity You have instilled in Your people, which is manifested in special way during holiday celebrations.
Br. Thaddeus Pistrang, O.P., on Hallowwen and All Saints Day
"Whether you prefer the RSV translation 'I will make it a possession of the hedgehog, and pools of water,' or (perhaps more appropriate for Halloween) the NABRE translation 'I will make it a haunt of hoot owls and a marshland,' we can definitely agree that there's something odd going on in Isaiah 14:23. And as we look outside our windows this week, with October 31 approaching, we can definitely agree that there's something odd going on out there too. Now, while I do not think that Isaiah was writing a prophecy about Halloween decorations when he mentions a maggoty couch and a wormy blanket (Isa 14:11), I do think our celebration of Halloween needs to be informed by the haunt of the hoot owl."
In a recent commentary, Brother Thaddeus Pistrang, O.P., reflected on the relationship between All Hallow's Eve and All Saints Day.
To access Br. Thaddeus' complete post, please visit:
Dominicana: The Haunt of the Hoot Owl (24 OCT 24)
Reflection Starter from Richard Feynman
"If we want to solve a problem that we have never solved before, we must leave the door to the unknown ajar." - Richard Feynman
26 October 2024
Roger Williams: "Autumn Leaves"
As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of Roger Williams presenting "Autumn Leaves":
On Screenless Sundays, Hurricane Milton Aftermath, and Other Catholic-related Topics
A number of articles/posts have recently been published on a variety of Catholic-related subjects worth considering.
To access some of these, please visit:
The Catholic Thing: Where Is the Laughter? (18 MAR 24)
The Coming Home Network: When Fairness to the Church Leads You Home (27 JUN 24)
The Pilot: Echoes. The extraordinary ripple effect of Boston's Good Samaritan. (2 AUG 24)
Rhode Island Catholic: Although behind bars, inmates are not beyond prayers (22 AUG 24)
Aleteia: Scarlett Rose Ford: Screenless Sundays: I have God and a pickpocket to thank (14 SEP 23)
The Catholic Thing: In Today’s Church, Who Is Evangelizing Whom? (7 JAN 24)
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the many ways in which You work through our Blessed Mother as we face the various challenges during these times.
Celebrating the Blessed Mother
October is a wonderful month to celebrate our Blessed Mother. October 7th marks the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and October 13th is the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, two amazing celebrations that bring the Mother of God into focus as the triumphant Queen of Heaven and Earth.
It was on October 7th, 1571, when forces assembled by Pope Pius V, set sail from Messina, Sicily, in 200 warships to meet a fleet of 300 from the Ottoman Navy. It was a desperate battle only undertaken to stem the tide of invasions of Catholic countries by the Ottoman Empire, and the rosary was employed as a last resort to overcome the seemingly insurmountable odds. Christians throughout Europe gathered in their churches to implore Mary's intercession on behalf of soldiers risking their lives to defend them - and soldiers aboard those ships prayed the rosary as they headed into battle. It was the Battle of Lepanto, and the outcome is the stuff of legend as only thirteen of the 300 Ottoman ships survived, handing a decisive victory to those brave soldiers and glory throughout Europe to our Blessed Mother, whose intercession the people unanimously credited for the victory.
One can only imagine the overwhelming relief the people of those countries of Christian Europe must have felt, when a time of immense fear over invasion and subjugation was put to rest and peace finally secured. It should hardly surprise Christians after 2,000 years to learn of such stories of Mary's intercession. It's been her role to care for us ever since Jesus, during His crucifixion, said to Mary and to John the apostle, "Woman, behold, your son!" and "Behold, your mother!"
These are the words upon which so much of our theology about Mary is based, and how fitting it is that we should place such weight upon those words spoken from the cross. Catholics throughout the centuries with their backs to the wall have needed only those last words to know that Mary has been given to each and every one of us as our mother to watch over us and protect us in our hour of need.
Fast forward from that dramatic scene in 1571 to October 13th, 1917, in Fatima, Portugal, where tens of thousands of people witnessed the Miracle of the Sun. World War I was raging in Europe, and Portugal had fallen under the spell of an atheistic regime. Portuguese soldiers were dying on the battlefield, people were starving at home, and persecutions had beset the Church, with public expression of religion banned, and priests, monks, and nuns targeted for attacks and sometimes even murdered by anti-Christian groups.
It was into this climate that Mary came to three shepherd children in a series of apparitions that culminated in the miracle that cut through a rainy October day with the sun dancing in the sky and instantaneously drying people's clothing and the ground they stood upon, piercing hearts hardened by struggle and despair.
Fatima remains a reminder to the world that God has not abandoned humanity. He still sends our Blessed Mother to intercede for us in our hour of need and to point us towards Jesus Christ as the answer to our troubles. We need only turn to Him with the utmost trust, and all things can be transformed and made new thanks to His sacrifice for us on the cross.
This essay is a recent "Light One Candle"
column by Father Ed Dougherty, M.M., The Christophers' Board of Directors ; it is one of a series of
weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current
events.
Background information:
The Christophers
Reflection Starter from Oprah Winfrey
"I know for sure that appreciating whatever shows up for you in life changes your personal vibration. You radiate and generate more goodness for yourself when you're aware of all you have and not focusing on your have-nots." - Oprah Winfrey
25 October 2024
Frédéric Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor
It's time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Frédéric Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor (Op. 21), as presented by the Vienna Philharmonic with Lang Lang on piano, conducted by Zubin Mehta:
National School Bus Safety Week
This week, the week of 21-25 October, is National School Bus Safety Week, an observance designed to be an active public education program and a way for parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and other interested parties to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety. This year's theme is "Driving Safely into the Future."
Background information:
NAPT: National School Bus Safety Week
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: School Bus Safety
National Association for Pupil Transportation
National School Transportation Association
Facebook: American School Bus Council
Connecticut School Transportation Association
Maine Association for Pupil Transportation
School Transportation Association of Massachusetts
New Hampshire School Transportation Association
Facebook: Student Transportation of VT
National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services
Birthday Blessings, Chris!!!
Birthday greetings to Christopher Medeiros, husband of Myrna's daughter Mimi, whose birthday is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
Thank You, Lord,
Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of school buses and those who minister as drivers and monitors.
Fr. David Whalen, OSFS, on Avoiding a Shrinking Heart
"I am shrinking, in height that is, not in weight... although that would be nice! But I am definitely shrinking. I notice that my pants should probably be raised a bit and if I ever buy a new pair they should be a half to a full inch shorter. . . .
"What I hope is that even as I shrink in height I will not shrink in heart. It can happen you know. . . ."
In a recent commentary, Father David Whalen,
OSFS, reflected on what it means to have a shrinking heart and on why it is important to avoid such an occurrence.
To access Fr. Whalen's complete post, please visit:
De Sales Weekly: Salesian Reflection: I'm Shrinking (24 OCT 220
Reflection Starter from Seneca
"There is as much greatness of mind in acknowledging a good turn, as in doing it." - Lucius Annaeus Seneca
24 October 2024
Aniversary Blessings, Christopher and Valerie!!!
Anniversary greetings to nephew Christopher and his wife Valerie, whose wedding anniversary is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year , be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
Women’s Healthcare Declaration for :Life-affrming Healthcare
"A coalition of medical and pro-life groups Oct. 22 launched what they called the Women's Healthcare Declaration, which they said calls on policymakers, medical boards and other health care entities to enact pro-life policies that enhance 'the medical standard of care for pregnant women and women facing miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, an incomplete abortion or any other life-threatening condition related to pregnancy.' . . .
"Concerns about maternal mortality are prevalent. . ."
A recent article in OSV News reported on this initiative and the reasons/concerns that led to it adoption.
To access the complete report, please visit:
Reflection Starter
"1) We believe that management is the effective coordination and utilization of human efforts and material.
"2) This capability should appear in all organizations - profit and nonprofit, private and public - and, as such, is a common denominator from which each may benefit." - U-Haul Management Credo
23 October 2024
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the many blessings you have bestowed on my daughter, Mary, and for the may ways in which You have touched other lives through her.
Birthday Blessings, Mary!!!
Birthday greetings to daughter Mary-Elizabeth, whose birthday is today! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with an outpouring of the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
Reflection Starter from St. JosemarÃa Escrivá
"Don't let your life be sterile. Be useful. Blaze a trail. Shine forth with the light of your faith and your love. With your apostolic life wipe out the slimy and filthy mark left by the impure sowers of hatred. And light up all the ways of the earth with the fire of Christ that you carry in your heart." - Saint JosemarÃa Escrivá (in The Way)
22 October 2024
John Michael Talbot: "Be Not Afraid"
As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of John Michael Talbot presenting "Be Not Afraid":
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
This week, the week of 20-26 October, is being observed as National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. This year's theme is "Bright futures begin lead-free."
Childhood lead poisoning is considered one of the most preventable environmental disease among young children. However, an estimated 250,000 U.S. children have elevated blood-lead levels. A simple blood test can prevent permanent damage that will last a lifetime.
During National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strives to:
- raise awareness about lead poisoning,
- stress the importance of screening the highest risk children younger than six years of age (preferably by ages one and two) if they have not been tested yet,
- highlight efforts to prevent childhood lead poisoning, and
- urge people to take steps to reduce lead exposure.
Background information:
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
CDC: Preventing Childhood Lead Poisoning
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the many good popes through which You graced Your Church over the centuries.
Br. Roland Mary Wakefield, O.P., on the Confidence of a Thief
"'Man is a beggar before God.' These words of the Church's Catechism reveal something of our fundamental dependence on God. This need is perhaps nowhere better exemplified than in St. Luke's account of the good thief. . . .
"Saint Dismas, the good thief, has much to teach us. Dying upon a tree, mocked by the world, and knowing his guilt, Dismas is utterly poor before Jesus. He has no good work to fall back on, no beauty to present, nothing witty to say. He is a man who truly has nothing. And yet . . . "
In a recent commentary, Brother Roland Mary Wakefield, O.P., reflected on St. Dismas and his opening himself up to the grace to acknowledge his own utter unworthiness before God.
To access Br. Roland's complete post, please visit:
Dominicana: The Confidence of a Thief (17 OCT 24)
Reflection Starter from Pope John Paul II
"Prayer can truly change your life. For it turns your attention away from yourself and directs your mind and your heart toward the Lord. If we look only at ourselves, with our own limitations and sins, we quickly give way to sadness and discouragement. But if we keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, then our hearts are filled with hope, our minds are washed n the light of truth, and we come to know the fullness of the Gospel with all is promise and life." - Pope Saint John Paul II, whose memory the Church celebrates today (22 October)
20 October 2024
World Mission Sunday
Today, 20 October, the next-to-last Sunday of October, is being observed as World Mission Sunday. In 1926 Pope Pius XI instituted Mission Sunday for the whole Church with the first worldwide Mission Sunday collection taking place in October 1927. The Mission Sunday collection is always taken on the next to last Sunday during the month of October.
World Mission Day is celebrated in all the local Churches as the feast of catholicity and universal solidarity so Christians the world over will recognize their common responsibility with regard to the evangelization of the world. This year's theme, from Matthew 22:9, is "Go and invite everyone to the banquet."
To access Pope Francis' message of World Mission Day, 2023, please visit:
The Vatican: Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for World Mission Day 2024
Reflated commentary:
Vatican News: Mission Sunday: TPMS invites Catholics to hope, faith, action
Aleteia: Philip Kosloski: Why Pius XI instituted World Mission Sunday (21 OCT 23)
The Pilot: Echoes: Maureen Crowley Heil. Living World Mission Sunday (20 OCT 23)
Aleteia: Philip Kosloski: St. John Paul II began his pontificate on World Mission Sunday (21 OCT 23)Birthday Blessings, Charlotte!!!
Birthday greetings to niece Charlotte, whose birthday is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
"Meekness and Majesty"
As we continue our Sunday celebration, I offer this version of Graham Kendrick's "Meekness and Majesty":
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time The assigned readings are Isaiah 53:10-11, Hebrews 4:14-16,
and Mark 10:35-45.The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 33 (Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Responsorial Psalm 29th Sunday in ordinary time
The Gospel reading is as follows:
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?" They answered him, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left." Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" They said to him, "We can." Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared." When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Reflections related to these readings:
Community in Mission: No Cross, No Crown - A Homily for the the 29th Sunday of the Year (19 OCT 24)
Benedictine College: This Sunday, They Drank the Cup; They Got the Glory. Will You? (17 OCT 24)
The Quiet Corner: Authentic commitment to hear, follow and serve Jesus (17 OCT 24)
Word on Fire: What Real Power Looks Like (Cycle B * 29th Week of Ordinary Time)
The Pilot: Echoes: Father Joshua J. Whitfield: Scripture Reflection for Oct. 20, 2024, Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (16 OCT 24)
Marcel LeJeune the Cathoilc Church and Loneliness
"She no longer went to church, yet she told me, 'I don't believe, but I miss having a church community.' She may not have believed any longer, but she still missed the support of a church community and the friendships that came with it. I believe this is not only a problem, but an opportunity."
In a recent Catholic Missionary Disciples commentary,
writer Marcel LeJeune reflected on how the loneliness of people throughout the world is an opportunity for the Church.
To access the complete Catholic Missionary Disciples post, please visit:
Catholic Missionary Disciples: The World's Loneliness Is An Opportunity For The Catholic Church
Reflection Starter from Pope Francis
"True wealth is found in our encounter with God and other people, especially with the weakest who tend to be 'discarded' by a false culture of wellbeing. Together we can build a world in which the dignity of each person is fully recognized and respected." - Pope Francis
19 October 2024
Belated Birthday Blessings, Christopher!!!
Belated birthday greetings to (great) nephew Christopher Kirch, whose birthday was yesterday!! May each day of the coming year be richly blessed!!!
The Duprees: "As Time Goes By"
As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of The Duprees presenting "As Time Goes By":
On Famous Roads in America, Lessons from Rosalynn Carter's Long Marriage, and Other Topics
A number of articles/posts have recently been published on a variety of subjects worth considering.
To access some of these, please visit:
Aleteia: 8 Powerful lessons from Rosalynn Carter's long marriage (20 NOV 23)
Outside: Must-Know Camping Tips from a Lifelong Camper (July 2023)
Money Talks News: Saying 'Hello' to These Folks More Could Make You Happier (16 AUG 23)
The Washington Post: The Great Dechurching looks at why people are leaving churches (15 SEP 23)
Daily Passport: The Most Famous Roads in America, From Route 66 to Pennsylvania Avenue
Granite Geek: Landline phones are annoying, except when they're not (12 MAR 24)
Fr. Jack Kolodziej, OSFS, on St. Margaret Mary Alacoque,
"This week, the Church celebrated the feast day of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, who promoted and popularized devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Margaret Mary was a French nun who was part of the Salesian family. She was a member of the Visitation Sisters of Holy Mary, the order of women religious founded by St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal. In 1672, Christ appeared to Sister Margaret Mary and revealed to her the importance of devotion to His Sacred Heart over a series of visits. Jesus called Margaret Mary 'the Beloved Disciple of the Sacred Heart' and the heiress 'of all its treasures.'"
In a recent commentary, Father Jack Kolodziej, OSFS, reflected on the life of St. Margaret Mary and on the importance of being inspired to remain faithful, being at peace, and staying close to the Heart of Jesus
To access Fr. Kolodziej's complete post, please visit:De Sales Weekly: Provincial's Reflection: Margaret Mary: A Persistent Heart (17 OCT 24)
Reflection Starter
"Every moment that we share with each other creates a ripple that extends much, much further than we ever paused to consider. Even the briefest encounter has potential to shape a life." - Pastor John in Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas
15 October 2024
Zero8 Chorus: "It Is Well with My Soul"
As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of the Zero8 Chorus presenting "It Is Well with My Soul":
International Infection Prevention Week
This week, the week of 13-19 October, is being observed as International Infection Prevention Week, an observance designed to stress the importance of infection prevention and actions the healthcare community (including EMS providers) can take to improve patient safety. The 2024 theme is "Moving the Needle on Infection Prevention."
Background information:
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology,: Infection Prevention and You
Birthday Blessings, Amy!!!
Birthday greetings to niece Amylynne Moore (brother Richard's daughter), whose birthday is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
Br. Sebastian Vicente, O.P., on Fine Tuning Our Souls
"I never liked Frank Sinatra's song My Way; it doesn't relate to my experience. All he talks about is how everything he has done was according to his will. When was the last time that something went your way? No, think about it. Most of the time, things don't go as we expected. Yet, for those who follow and do God's will everything goes according to their will. How so? Consider this story about a conversation between Saint Teresa of Avila and Jesus."
In a recent commentary, Brother Sebastian Vicente, O.P.,
reflected on the importance of fine-tuning our souls and and living our lives "in tune" with God.
To access Br. Sebastian's complete post, please visit:
Dominicana: "No Wonder You Have so Few Friends!" (15 OCT 24)
Reflection Starter from St. Teresa of Avila
"Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes with which Christ looks out his compassion to the world. Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which he is to bless us now." - Saint Teresa of Avila (a.k.a. Saint Teresa of Jesus), whose memory the Church celebrates today (15 October)
14 October 2024
Fr. Michael Rennieron the Hidden Joy of Jesus
"I've always been intrigued that tears are considered more serious than laughter. In movies, paintings, novels, and television, it's always the dramas and high-toned tragedies that earn the description of 'serious art.' I've always contended that comedy too can also be 'serious art,' and simply because levity and laughter are present doesn't mean we should dismiss it."
In a recent commentary based on the writing of G. K. Chesterton, Father Michael Rennier
reflected on the hidden joy of Jesus.
To access Fr. Rennier's complete post, please visit:
Aleteia: Fr. Michael Rennier: G.K. Chesterton on the one thing God hides from us (13 OCT 24)
Reflection Starter from C. S. Lewis
"God can't give us peace and happiness apart from Himself because there is no such thing." - C. S. Lewis
13 October 2024
Marrila Ness: "To Do Your Will"
Ass we continue our Sunday celebration, I offer this version of Marrila Ness presenting "To Do Your Will":
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time The assigned readings are Wisdom 7:7-11, Hebrews 4:12-13,
and Mark 10:17-30.The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 90 (Psalm 90:12-17).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Spirit & Psalm - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2024 - Year B - Psalm 90 - Angrisano
The Gospel reading is as follows:
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.You know the commandments: 'You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.'" He replied and said to him, "Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, "You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were amazed at his words.So Jesus again said to them in reply,
"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God." Peter began to say to him, "We have given up everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come."
Reflections related to these readings:
Community in Mission: What Does Heaven Cost? A Homily for the 28th Sunday of the Year (12 OCT 24)
Word on Fire: What Do You Ask God For? (Cycle B * 28th Week of Ordinary Time)
The Pilot: Echoes: Scott Hahn: Wisdom and riches (11 OCT 24)
The Pilot: Echoes: Deacon Greg Kandra: Scripture Reflection for Oct. 13, 2024, Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (9 OCT 24)
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