27 September 2010

Thomas More College of Liberal Arts Establishes Catholic Medieval Guilds

A number of students at Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Merrimack, NH, are enrolled in a series of five medieval-style Catholic guilds, a program the college started this fall.

The guilds include ones in woodworking, art, gardening and homestead, art (including Catholic traditions in art and the theological principles behind them), music, and baking.

To access a Nashua Telegraph article about these guilds, please visit:

Nashua Telegraph: Catholic guilds giving students practical skills (23 SEP 10)

Background Information:

Thomas More College: Thomas More College Establishes Catholic Medieval Guilds

26 September 2010

PBS's Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly Looks at Mississippi Delta Health Care

This weekend's edition of PBS's Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly looks at how physical healing and spiritual care go hand in hand at a no-frills health care clinic in Tutwiler, Mississippi - a clinic directed by Dr. Anne Brooks, SNJM, a physician and a Catholic nun (a member of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary).
To view this story (a transcript is also available on the webpage), please visit: 

Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly: Mississippi Delta Health Care (24 SEP 10) 

To view an extended interview with Sister/Dr. Anne Brooks, please visit:

Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly: Dr. Anne Brooks Extended Interview (24 SEP 10)


Background Information:

Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, U.S.-Ontario Province

Tutwiler Clinic

Reflections on Today’s Assigned Readings

Today is the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, and the assigned readings are: Amos 6:1,4-7; 1 Timothy 6:11-16; and Luke 16:19-31.

This Gospel reading is one many are familiar with - the story of Lazarus and the rich man:

Jesus said to the Pharisees: "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day.

And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.

When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.'

Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.'

He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.'

But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.'

He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"

For a few reflections on these readings please visit:

Deacon Greg Kandra: Homily for September 26, 2010: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio: Dives, the Rich Man and Lazarus, the Beggar

Fr. John Kavanaugh, S. J.: Problems with Corporate Wealth

Commentary from John Chrysostom

Archbishop Dolan: “Jesus and the Church are one."

"We are living in an era where people believe in Christ, but not in his Church. They want the king, but not the kingdom; they want to believe without belonging; they want the faith, but not the faithful. But for the committed Catholic, the answer to that is, 'no can do.' Jesus and the Church are one."

This quote is taken from a speech given by the Most Rev. Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York, at a recent Los Angeles Catholic Prayer Breakfast.

For a report on this talk from The Tidings, the weekly newspaper of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, please visit:

The Tidings: 'Jesus and the Church are one,' N.Y. archbishop tells L.A. audience

(Thanks to Father Austin Fleming (Holy Family Parish, Concord, MA) for this tip.)

(The Other) Ron Rivera and Purifying Water

Today’s Three Minutes a Day reflection from The Christophers is entitled “Simple Pottery, Saved Lives,” and it takes a look at Ron Rivera, a potter from the Bronx who worked to help purify water in a number of undeveloped countries:

“Bronx-born inventor and volunteer Ron Rivera likened his ceramic water filters to ‘weapons of biological mass destruction.’ And in a way, that is what they were.

“For 25 years, Rivera went to the poorest villages of Latin America, Africa and Asia teaching local potters to fashion an ingenious water-purifying device out of terra-cotta. A recent study in Cambodia found that Rivera’s filters cut the incidence of diarrhea (the leading cause of death in the third world) in half. Rivera said, ‘you put dirty water in, gray water that many communities still drink, and it comes out crystal clear.’

“Rivera himself died from a dangerous form of malaria while establishing a water-filter factory in Nigeria.

“Service can involve risk, even danger, but mostly it means putting one’s own needs aside so as to help others. How far are you willing to go to serve others in Jesus’ name?

I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink. (Matthew 25:35)”

For more information about Ron Rivera, please visit:

Wikipedia: Ron Rivera (public health)

Potters Without Borders: Ron Rivera

For more information about the filters Rivera worked with, please visit:

Potters for Peace: Filters

Potters for Peace: Ceramic Water Purifier

University of North Carolina: UNC School of Public Health study featured in World Bank's "Field Note" series

25 September 2010

“A voice from the womb you were not meant to hear”

An email I received today referred me to this thought provoking blog post:

ProLifeBlog Post by Lyle Shelton: A voice from the womb you were not meant to hear

Thought Starter from George Washington Carver

“Start where you are with what you have, make something of it, and never be satisfied.” - George Washington Carver

Susan Boyle

Some people who saw videos of Lin Yu Chun singing "I Will Always Love You" remembered Susan Boyle, the Scottish singer who also became an Internet "singing sensation" after she appeared as a contestant on the British talent show, Britain's Got Talent in April 2009. In this appearance, Ms. Boyle sang "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables.

To view a video of this song, please visit:

YouTube: Susan Boyle - Britains Got Talent 2009 Episode 1 - Saturday 11th April

Another song with Susan Boyle:

YouTube: Susan Boyle - Memory from Cats - Britains Got Talent 2009 Semi Final Show 1

Taiwanese Boy, Lin Yu Chun, Becomes Singing Sensation

Today Bob put me on to an Internet "singing sensation": a Taiwanese boy, Lin Yu Chun. He appeared in a Taiwanese talent show, Super Star Avenue (which is similar to American Idol). Although he was eventually eliminated from the competition, videos of his singing have been taking off around the globe.

Here are a couple of Lin Yu Chun's songs:

YouTube: Taiwanese Boy Lin Yu Chun Sings I Will Always Love You

 YouTube: Lin Yu Chun Sings Amazing Grace

24 September 2010

Reflection Starter from Saint Francis de Sales

Today's Daily with De Sales reflection:


“It is necessary not only to combat hate and distaste of one's neighbor, but to abstain from a common but quite harmful defect, namely, to complain and to keep repeating these complaints. This is an evident sign of a stubborn heart that has not even a spark of charity in it. Strong and generous hearts sometimes are saddened when there is a very serious cause, but even then they do not fall into exaggerated anguish. Have courage. The few years that remain to us here below, please God, will be for us the best and most useful for eternity.” – Saint Francis de Sales

(This series of reflections is based on the book Every Day with St. Francis de Sales, by Rev. Francis J. Klauder, a member of the Salesians of Don Bosco. It may be accessed at http://www.oblates.org/spirituality/daily_with_desales/.)

FCC Takes Action to Improve Wireless 9-1-1 Services

The Federal Communications Commission recently took action to help strengthen and improve the ability of Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs, or 9-1-1 call centers) to quickly locate wireless 9-1-1 callers and dispatch emergency responders to assist them during emergencies.

More than 240 million 9-1-1 calls, or nearly two-thirds of all calls received by 9-1-1 centers nationwide, are made annually from mobile handheld devices in the United States.  As more and more Americans rely on their mobile handheld devices, such as cell phones and smartphones, the FCC says its new rules are essential to ensuring that wireless carriers are taking the necessary steps to provide more accurate 9-1-1 caller locations.

9-1-1 call centers can readily pinpoint the address of most calls made from landline phones, but up to 40 percent of emergency calls made from mobile devices fail to provide accurate caller location information, known as Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) service.  The Commission unanimously adopted a Second Report and Order that requires wireless carriers to meet the Commission’s wireless location accuracy requirements in more numerous and geographically smaller areas.  As a result, wireless 9-1-1 location information will be reported to PSAPs more accurately in many areas throughout the country.

The order requires wireless carriers to provide reliability data on each 9-1-1 call upon the request of a PSAP, which will improve the ability of public safety personnel to assess the accuracy of location information.  The Commission’s actions are designed to help save lives by enabling emergency response personnel in many places to reach people who call 9-1-1 from mobile devices sooner.

For more information, please visit:

NEC&T: Public Safety Issues: Communications

23 September 2010

A Thought Starter from Joe Namath

“When you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun.  And when you’re having fun, you can do amazing things.” - Joe Namath

22 September 2010

Thought Starter from Saint Thomas à Kempis

“First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.” - Saint Thomas à Kempis

Saturday Is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

On Saturday (25 September), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will be coordinating a collaborative effort with state and local law enforcement agencies (including many agencies throughout New England) to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from medicine cabinets.

Collection activities will take place from 10:00 AM through 2:00 PM at a variety of different sites (e.g., the Berlin, CT, Police Station; the Eliot, ME, Police Station; the Westborough, MA, Department of Public Works; the Claremont, NH, Savings Bank Parking Lot; the Cumberland, RI, Police Station; the Brattleboro, VT, Police Station).

The National Take-Back Day is designed to provide an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications for destruction.  These drugs are a potential source of supply for illegal use and are considered an unacceptable risk to public health and safety.

This one-day effort is designed to bring national focus to the issue of increasing pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse. The program is anonymous, and it focuses on prescription and over the counter solid dosage medications (i.e., tablets and capsules). Intravenous solutions, injectables, and needles will not be accepted. In addition, illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative.

To view a list of collection sites in a specific state, please click on the following link:

National Take Back Initiative Collection Sites


~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Note: the are some communities in New England that has a 24/7 drop-off point for unused prescription drugs. An example is the Winooski, VT, Police Department’s Operation Pill Drop. The department maintains a drop box in the police station lobby for the anonymous disposal of drugs or medication (including illegal street drugs and paraphernalia).

21 September 2010

September is National Civics Awareness Month

September is National Civics Awareness Month, a time designated to promote non-partisan citizen participation in programs, activities, and events related to civic awareness and to encourage continued acknowledgment of historical civic events.

Civics Awareness Month is not widely observed, but there are related activities that occur during this time. These activities include the observance of Constitution Day and Constitution Week and the conducting of voter registration drives in preparation for upcoming elections.

Constitution Day, also called Citizenship Day, is observed on 17 September (unless it falls on a weekend) to celebrate the anniversary of the 1787 signing of the final draft of the U.S. Constitution by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention. As part of this observance, any educational institutions (including colleges) receiving federal funding are required to hold an educational program pertaining to the United States Constitution on 17 September each year (this requirement took effect in 2005).

Naturally, civic awareness should not be limited to one day, one week, or one month. For a while, the study of civics seemed to be pushed aside in many school systems. Civics, a branch of social studies, focuses on the role of citizens and their relationship with their government. This includes studying how the system of government works and encouraging students to get involved.

Fortunately, there is a movement in many states, including here in New England, to focus better on civics instruction. One of the region's strong proponents of civics education is retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter, who resides in New Hampshire.

Encouraging civic awareness, whether for children (our future community leaders and participants) or for our current citizens is important. From our earliest days, this nation has strongly encouraged citizen participation in government. Unfortunately, it is easy to discourage people from contributing their ideas and even their votes. Yet, when people do actively participate, creative ideas to help solve community (and larger) challenges flow.

The National Civic League has observed that “Some communities allow the future to happen to them. Successful communities decide the future is something they can create.” Obviously, there are many factors at work that a community cannot control, but the community, and its members, can control how it responds to these challenges.

Related Resources:

National Civics Awareness Alliance

ICMA: Citizen Engagement: An Outgrowth of Civic Awareness (16 SEP 10)

ICMA: 2010 Municipal Year Book: Citizen Engagement: An Evolving Process

National Civic League

Library of Congress: Documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789

National Constitution Center: Constitution Day

iCivics (web-based education project for students)

Center for Civic Education

Justice David H. Souter (Ret.): Remarks on Civic Education, American Bar Association Opening Assembly, 1 AUG 09

Video of Justice Souter's Remarks on Civic Education

20 September 2010

Westerly, RI, Grease Recycling Program Spreads to Nearby Communities

Project TGIF (Turning Grease into Fuel) is a project that recycles used cooking oil into biofuel to help heat homes of people. An initiative of the Junior Westerly Innovation Network, TGIF operates in Westerly, RI, where team members attend the middle school. In addition, the team has expanded its effort into nearby towns such as Stonington, CT, and Warwick and Narragansett, RI.

To access a Westerly Sun article on this effort, please visit:

Westerly Sun: Westerly’s recycling program spreads to Stonington, Warwick (13 SEP 10)

USFA and IAFF Release Study on Fire Service Respiratory Diseases

The United States Fire Administration, in partnership with the International Association of Fire Fighters, recently announced the release of Respiratory Diseases and the Fire Service, a report discussing the findings of a long-term study intended to examine and improve the occupational health of firefighters.

The goal of this project was to research the long-term effects and post-exposure mitigation of occupational respiratory exposure to firefighters and develop a report based on this research. This effort involved experts in the field of pulmonary medicine. The study is designed to assist in recognizing and quantifying the impact of respiratory exposure, and the development of mitigation strategies and programs for firefighters, their families, and fire departments.

To access this report, please visit:

Respiratory Diseases and the Fire Service

Additional information about USFA's firefighter health and safety projects may be found on the U. S. Fire Administration website:

U.S. Fire Administration: Health and Safety

19 September 2010

Faith and the NFL

“Adoring fans carried star safety Troy Polamalu on their shoulders - passing him off, one to another, as though they could live through his efforts.

“Such adulation during the parade downtown honoring the Steelers after their victory in Super Bowl XL in 2006 might have given someone else a bloated sense of entitlement.

“Polamalu? He flew to Greece, living for four days in a 1,500-year-old monastery with Greek Orthodox monks.

“Polamalu, who is Greek Orthodox, had stepped back to wonder what the victory and accompanying fame meant. He was unimpressed.

"’Oh, OK, I won a Super Bowl,’ he said. ‘So what? I didn't have that fulfillment like what God could provide for me.’”

Thus begins an article in today’s Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about several members of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and others in the National Football League, who make religion and prayer a way of life.

To read this article about these Steelers and the role prayer plays in their lives, please visit:

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: NFL players still turn to religion for solace

Thank you, Deacon Greg Kandra, for the tip.

New Fire Department Starting Up in Goshen, VT

The town of Goshen, VT, has a newly organized, 10-member volunteer fire department. Although it is not answering calls yet because the firefighters are being trained (almost 200 hours of training are required), the members are full of anticipation for the time when they will be able to take on responsibility of providing emergency services to the town.

Goshen (population from 2000 census: 227) is currently served by the Brandon Fire Department. This, naturally, means a built-in delay for Goshen residents when the Brandon department responds to a call in Goshen.

Other area departments have been very supportive, including donating protective gear and even a pumper.

To read an Addison Independent article on this start-up effort, please visit:

Addison Independent: Volunteers answer the call at new Goshen fire department

Background Information:

Town of Goshen Website

Wikipedia: Goshen, VT

Iraqi Nun Leads Boston University Catholic Chaplaincy

The National Catholic Register recently ran an interesting profile of Sister Olga of the Eucharist Yaqob, who is an Iraqi-born archdiocesan hermit in the Boston Archdiocese and is also co-director of the Catholic Center and the Catholic chaplain for Boston University.

She was raised in the Assyrian Church of the East, where she founded its first religious order for women in 700 years. However, her love for the Rosary and daily Mass forced her departure from the order and her country.

To read this article, please visit:

National Catholic Register: Like Abraham, Called From Her Homeland

Reflections on Today's Readings

Today's assigned readings (Amos 8:4-7; Psalm 113:1-2,4-6,7-8; 1 Timothy 2:1-8; Luke 16:1-13) may be found here:

Readings for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Some reflections related to these readings:

Catholic TV: Father Reed

Fr. Austin Fleming: The Unjust Steward: a gospel dilemma

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio: A Lesson in Stewardship

Msgr. Charles Pope: You Must Faithful Over a Few Things to Be Ruler Over Many Things

A Different Take on a Penny

This is a reflection on pennies I received yesterday from Steven and Becca Rapelje (DeerLake Videos):

      Pennies from Heaven

An Alphorn Treat

For a different type of treat, here are a couple of tunes by a trio of alphorn players:

The Alphorn Trio Playing at Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park

Background Information:

American Alphorn Society

Wikipedia: Alphorn

"Do Re Mi" Dance in Central Station, Antwerp

More than 200 dancers were performing their version of "Do Re Mi", in the Central Station of Antwerp, Belgium. They created this stunt with just two rehearsals. This four minute segment started on 23 March 2009 at 8:00 AM. It was a promotional stunt for a Belgian television program, where they were looking for someone to play the leading role in the musical, The Sound of Music. (Thanks to Father Charles Irvin for the tip.)

YouTube: Sound of Music - Central Station Antwerp (Belgium)

Note: Father Charlie, a retired priest in the Diocese of Lansing (Michigan), has his own website:

http://home.catholicweb.com/FrCharlesIrvin/index.cfm

18 September 2010

“Drug Shattered Lives” – Young People and Drug Use

The Cape Cod Times recently ran a good investigative series, “Drug Shattered Lives,” about the growing incidence of drug use among the youth of Cape Cod. This series examines how young people start using drugs, some of the sources of these drugs, and some of the tragic effects of drug usage.

To access the various articles in this series, please visit:

Cape Cod Times: Pills leading Cape's youth to heroin (12 SEP 10)

Cape Cod Times: Risking everything for drugs (13 SEP 10)

Cape Cod Times: Prescribed: Doctor shopping feeds habits (14 SEP 10)

Cape Cod Times: 'Pill mills' help supply Cape's addicts (14 SEP 10)

Cape Cod Times Video Report on YouTube: Florida's Pill Mills

Cape Cod Times: Andy's Story, Part 1: Craving a high (12 SEP 10)

Cape Cod Times: Andy's Story Part II: In heroin's grasp (13 SEP 10)

Cape Cod Times: Andy's Story: A struggle for sobriety (14 SEP 10)

Cape Cod Times Interactive: Commonly Abused Narcotics

Cape Cod Ties Interactive: Opiates Act on Key Places in the Brain and Nervous System

Cape Cod Times: Winners, losers in drug fight (13 SEP 10)

Retired Firefighter Converts Whaleboat Hull into Steamboat

The Cape Cod Times recently ran an interesting article about Charles Thomae, of Wellfleet (MA), who converted an old 26-foot Navy whaleboat hull into a steamboat. (Thomae is a retired Norton, MA, firefighter.)

To access this article, please visit:

Cape Cod Times: Steaming around Provincetown (12 SEP 10)

Cape Cod Times Photo Gallery: Aboard Wellfleet's Steamboat

CapeCast Video: Age of steam returns in Wellfleet

The Sun Chronicle had previous run an article on his efforts:

Sun Chronicle: Call him Steamboat Charlie (12 OCT 09)

 Background Information:

Wikipedia: Steamboats

Steamship Historical Society of America

16 September 2010

Ex-con Helps Reduce Fights in RI Prison

The Providence Journal recently profiled Salomao Monteiro, who works for the Institute for the Study and Practice of Non-Violence and who has been working in the Maximum Security Unit of Rhode Island’s Adult Correctional Institutions. Mr. Monteiro is part of a program working to decrease the fighting in this unit (much of which has involved the same group of men under age 25).

To access this article, please visit:

     Providence Journal: Ex-con helps reduce prison fights in R.I.

Background Information:

     Institute for the Study and Practice of Non-Violence

     Rhode Island Department of Corrections

14 September 2010

Today is Protect Your Groundwater Day

The National Ground Water Association initiated its first annual Protect Your Groundwater Day today, 14 September 2010. This day is designed to focus on preventing contamination and water conservation as ways to protect groundwater resources.

The association is encouraging the public to prevent contamination by being aware of common household contamination sources, such as cleaning products, fertilizers, and pharmaceuticals, and  to learn how to dispose of them properly. Proper disposal includes (among other actions) not pouring chemicals down the drain or on the ground (taking them to a hazardous waste collection instead), taking used motor oil to a recycling center, and not flushing medications or personal care items down the toilet (alternative: mix with coffee grounds and put in trash).

National Ground Water Association

12 September 2010

School Best Sellers

"School Best Sellers" for all bookworms reading this post:

Walking To School The First Day Back
        by Misty Bus

The Day The Car Pool Forgot Me
        by I. Rhoda Bike

Can't See The Chalkboard
        by Sidney Backrow

Practical Jokes I Played On The First Day Of School
        by Major Crackupp

What I Dislike About  School
        by Mona Lott

Making It Through The First Week Of School
        by Gladys Saturday

Is Life Over When Summer Ends?
        by Midas Welbee

What I Love About Returning To School
        by I. M. Kidding

Will Jimmy Finally Graduate?
        by I. Betty Wont

What Happens When You Get Caught Skipping School

        by Hugh Will Gettitt

A big thank you to John STROADE Shay, Sr., for passing these along. (He also often reminds me to "Exercise daily ..... Walk with the Lord!")

Calendar Author "Hangs Up Manure Fork" at The Old Farmer's Almanac

This weekend, the Brattleboro Reformer ran an article about Castle Freeman, Jr., who is stepping down after thirty years as writer of the "Farmer's Calendar" for The Old Farmer's Almanac. Freeman is a resident of Newfane, VT.

The Old Farmer's Almanac has been published continuously since 1792 and is believed to be the oldest continuously published periodical in the U.S.. It is currently published by Yankee Publishing, Inc., which also publishes Yankee Magazine.

To read the Reformer's article, please visit:

Brattleboro Reformer: The last word (11 SEP 10)

Background Information:

The Old Farmer's Almanac

Reflection Starter on Embracing the Cross

Today's "Daily with De Sales" reflection from the writings of Saint Francis De Sales ("Daily with De Sales" is a ministry of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, Wilmington-Philadelphia Province):

"Let us often have recourse to the holy cross, embracing it in our hearts. Let us rest in the shade of this holy tree! It is impossible that anything can hurt us if we keep to our resolution to belong totally to God. Do not get all upset, therefore, when difficulties come your way. Laugh in your enemy's face; you are in the arms of the Almighty. Therefore, let God be your strength and your love."

11 September 2010

"Bearlieve It or Not," Connecticut Collaboration Uses Bear Presence as Inspiration

Using the area's recent influx of bears as an inspiration, the Northwest Chamber of Commerce (which serves northwestern Connecticut) and LARC (a private not-for-profit organization that provides a variety of services to consumers with a variety of developmental disabilities) are collaborating on an effort to boost tourism in Litchfield County. The venture has been designated as Bearlieve It or Not, and the team has invited artists from throughout northwestern Connecticut to paint blank fiberglass bears.

To read the Register Citizen's account of this venture, please visit:

Register Citizen: Bearlieve It or Not: collaborations to boost tourism in Litchfield County (9 SEP 10)

The Dream 2010

Here is the first release in a series of new commercials by the CatholicVote.org Education Fund. This series is designed to educate, inspire, and mobilize the Catholic vote this November.

Abbot Barnabas Senecal, Photographer Monk

Photography, according to Abbot Barnabas Senecal, O.S.B., of Saint Benedict's Abbey in Atchison, Kansas, is an exercise in monastic mindfulness, and he says his pictures reflect being aware of the presence of God with you and in the world.

This weekend's edition of PBS's Religion and Ethics NewsWeekly includes a profile of Abbot Senecal and his ministry of photography.

To view the segment and read the related transcript, please visit:

Religion and Ethics NewsWeekly: Photographer Monk

Bonus:

Religion and Ethics NewsWeekly: Abbot Senecal Extended Interview


To view additional photos by Abbott Senecal, please visit:

St. Benedict's Abbey: Photos by Abbot Barnabas Senecal

For background information on Abbott Senecal, please visit:

St. Benedict's Abbey: Abbot Barnabas Senecal

LEED Building Standards and Human Health: A Commentary

John Wargo (professor of environmental policy, risk analysis, and political science at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies) recently wrote about LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, which has emerged as the green standard of approval for new buildings in the United States. In his commentary in Yale Environment 360, Professor Wargo reflects on the criteria being used for determining the ratings, and says that these criteria largely ignore factors relating to human health, particularly the use of potentially toxic building materials.

To read Professor Wargo’s full commentary, please visit:

John Wargo: LEED Building Standards Fail to Protect Human Health

09 September 2010

Being a Voice of God

Being a Voice of God

by Stephanie Raha, Editor-in-Chief of The Christophers

September 6, 2010

I heard Bob Sheppard’s voice long before I heard of him. Growing up in New York, Yankee ballgames on radio and TV were part of the background of my summers. Then, in the early 60’s, my sister and I started going to Yankee Stadium where we heard the public address announcer described by Reggie Jackson and others as “The Voice of God.”

When Sheppard died this past July at 99 years of age, he’d lived a long and amazingly full life. His career with the Yankees began in 1951, Mickey Mantle’s rookie season and Joe DiMaggio’s last, and it didn’t end it until 2007. But it was much more than putting in 56 years on the job that made Sheppard the legend he became: it was the professionalism, style and grace with which he performed his job.  His goal was simple: “Be clear, concise, and correct.”

He never drew attention to himself by doing anything that he considered “colorful, cute or comic,” focusing instead on the ballplayers he introduced. He made a point of checking the pronunciation of each man’s name. He asked the broadcasters for visiting teams about any names he wasn’t sure about, and then went to the player himself if he still had doubts.

Sheppard’s career included far more than spending his summers with the Bronx Bombers. He served in the Navy during World War II commanding a gunnery crew in the Pacific. For years, he announced football games for the New York Giants. He also passed along his knowledge to young people by teaching speech, first at public and parochial high schools and then at St. John’s University, his alma mater.

He also volunteered his talents as a lector at St. Christopher’s, his parish church on Long Island, where he was a daily communicant. He and his wife, Mary, also spoke at Marriage Encounter weekends. “We got so much out of it ourselves and enjoyed seeing other couples benefiting,” he said. “They grow closer to each other.”      

Clearly, his faith was important to him and he encouraged others to express their beliefs as well. Jacqueline Twohie, a friend who was also an associate director for Yankee broadcasts, recalled how Sheppard asked her to be a lector at the Mass held in a locker room at Yankee Stadium on Sundays before afternoon games. She refused because she hated to speak in public. Instead of dropping the subject, he gave her some coaching and Twohie was able to address her fears and become a regular reader.

If you never had the pleasure of hearing Bob Sheppard’s mellifluous voice, it’s not too late. Visit Yankee Stadium and when Derek Jeter comes to the plate, you’ll hear Sheppard say, “Now batting for the Yankees, the shortstop, Number 2, Derek Jeter, Number 2.” Before illness and age sidelined the announcer, Jeter asked to have his introduction recorded and used for every game he will ever play. And so it is.

The Voice of God?

Well, no. But, as someone said at his funeral, he was certainly “a voice of God.” And that can be true for you and me, too, if we live our lives with faith, hope, love – and the passion for being all the Lord asks of us each and everyday.

(This essay is this week's "Light One Candle" column, written by Stephanie Raha, Editor-in-Chief of The Christophers; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.)

Rise in Aid Noted in Maine’s Falmouth

People who are familiar with Falmouth, Maine, often picture fancy homes and cars, perhaps people playing at one of the three local private golf clubs or sailing from the yacht club. While this is one side of Falmouth, there is another side – a side that has been growing. Over the past year, the number of people on assistance has been increasing dramatically.

The Forecaster, the local weekly newspaper, recently took a look at this increase in requests for aid and the needs that have led to these requests. To read the article from The Forecaster, please visit:

The Forecaster: Falmouth's hidden poor: Town sees dramatic increase in demand for aid (2 SEP 10)

Background Information:

Wikipedia: Falmouth, ME

Town of Falmouth

Meeting the Budget Challenges in Education

Many school districts throughout New England having been cutting budget items in a variety of ways in an effort to meet the challenges of the current economy. These cutbacks have included eliminating teaching and support positions, cutting back on maintenance, eliminating subjects and/or other resources and/or extracurricular activities as well. There have also been cuts in salaries and increases in employees’ share of health insurance costs. And the list continues. . . .

A recent Providence Journal article looks at some of the cost-cutting efforts being made by school districts in Rhode Island. To access this article, please visit:

Providence Journal: R.I. school districts cutting to the bone (5 SEP 10)

This Week Is National Suicide Prevention Week

The 36th Annual National Suicide Prevention Week is taking place  this week, the week of 5-11 September.  National Suicide Prevention Week is set aside as a time to focus on the serious health challenge that suicide is and to promote awareness that suicide is a public health problem that is preventable. This year’s theme is “Families, Community Systems and Suicide.”

In 2006, suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for 33,300 deaths. The overall rate was 10.9 suicide deaths per 100,000 people. An estimated 12 to 25 attempted suicides occur per every suicide death.

Suicidal behavior is complex. Some risk factors vary with age, gender, or ethnic group and may occur in combination or change over time.

Research shows that risk factors for suicide include:

  • depression and other mental disorders, or a substance-abuse disorder (often in combination with other mental disorders),
  • prior suicide attempt,
  • family history of mental disorder or substance abuse,
  • family history of suicide,
  • family violence, including physical or sexual abuse,
  • firearms in the home (the method used in more than half of suicides),
  • incarceration,
  • exposure to the suicidal behavior of others, such as family members, peers, or media figures.

However, suicide and suicidal behavior are not normal responses to stress; many people have these risk factors, but are not suicidal. Research also shows that the risk for suicide is associated with changes in brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, including serotonin. Decreased levels of serotonin have been found in people with depression, impulsive disorders, and a history of suicide attempts, and in the brains of suicide victims.

Experts believe that most suicidal individuals do not want to die. They just want to end the pain they are experiencing. Experts also know that suicidal crises tend to be brief. When suicidal behaviors are detected early, lives can be saved. This year’s National Suicide Prevention Week theme, “Families, Community Systems and Suicide,” is designed to serve as a reminder that there are services available in our communities for the assessment and treatment of suicidal behaviors and their underlying causes.

Some resources related to suicide prevention:

HHS/SAMHSA: National Strategy for Suicide Prevention

American Association of Suicidology

Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Prevention Lifeline

SuicideHotlines

Rhode Island Department of Health: Suicide Prevention Planning

Century-old Hydrants Being Replaced in Baltic, CT

As part of a process to improve the town's water system, the Sprague Water & Sewer Authority is preparing to remove century-old fire hydrants in Baltic, one of the local villages. The original water system was built in 1908.

For news reports on this project, please visit:

Norwich Bulletin: Sprague weeding out unneeded hydrants (6 SEP 10)

WFSB-TV: Century-Old Hydrants In Baltic Being Replaced (7 SEP 10)

WFSB-TV Video: Baltic Hydrants Being Replaced

Background information:

Town of Sprague

Wikipedia: Sprague, CT

Wikipedia: Baltic, CT

Burning the Quran is a Bad Idea and a Sin: A Commentary by Msgr. Charles Pope

"It is a bad idea to burn the Quran, a book considered holy to over a billion people, and it’s a sin. Do I really need to say this to a fellow Christian? But Pastor Terry Jones wants to publicly burn copies of the Quran this Saturday, September 11. . . .

"I know he is trying to illustrate some important things. He is trying illustrate the western value of free speech, usually lacking in the Islamic world. He is trying to illustrate religious freedom here in the west and the lack of it in the Islamic world where Bibles have in fact been burned. He is trying to draw attention to the violent threats that have continued to emerge related to his plans."

In a commentary entitled "Burning the Quran is a Bad Idea and a Sin," Monsignor Charles Pope, pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish in Washington, DC, gives several reasons for his conclusions. To continue reading Msgr. Pope's commentary, please visit:

Msgr. Charles Pope: Burning the Quran is a Bad Idea and a Sin

Tennis Ball Lesson

Pastor Tim Davis of Westside Bible Church, Victoria, British Columbia, offers this thought  starter as an item "well suited for introducing or illuminating a point in a sermon, speech, or devotional":

Tennis Ball Lesson

“A college professor had the mysterious habit of removing a tennis ball from his jacket pocket as he walked into the lecture hall each morning. He would set it on the corner of the podium. After giving the lecture for the day, he would once again pick up the tennis ball, place it into his jacket pocket, and leave the room.

“No one ever understood why he did this, until one day . . .

“A student fell asleep during the lecture. The professor didn't miss a word of his lecture while he walked over to the podium, picked up the tennis ball, and threw it, hitting the sleeping student squarely on the top of the head.

“The next day, the professor walked into the room, reached into his jacket, removed a baseball . . .

“No one ever fell asleep in his class the rest of the semester!”

3-Alarm Fire Hits Strip Mall in Montville, CT

A three-alarm fire destroyed several businesses at Oakdale Plaza, a strip mall at 430 Chapel Hill Road in the Oakdale section of Montville, CT, in the early morning hours of Tuesday, 7 September.

The fire, which was reported at 0112 hours, appeared to originate in the Oakdale Cafe, and spread to other businesses in the mall, which is located next to the Oakdale Fire Company’s station.

Fire companies set up a tanker shuttle to supply two aerial lines and a number of hand lines.

Media Reports:

Norwich Bulletin: Oakdale fire loss put at $1 million (9 SEP 10)

Norwich Bulletin: Arson suspected in Oakdale fire (8 SEP 10)

The Day: Cause of strip mall fire still under investigation (8 SEP 10)

The Day: Montville fire leaves sadness in its wake (8 SEP 10)

The Day: Montville hydrants weren't designed to fight fires (8 SEP 10)

The Day: Oakdale fire destroys several businesses (7 SEP 10)

WTNH-TV: Fire destroys Montville strip mall (7 SEP 10)

WFSB-TV: Oakdale Strip Mall Destroyed By Flames (7 SEP 10)

WVIT-TV: Fire Damages Montville Plaza (8 SEP 10)

WTNH-TV: Piece of history gone in Montville fire (7 SEP 10)

WTNH-TV: Arson suspected in Montville fire (8 SEP 10)

WFSB-TV Slide Show: Strip Mall Destroyed in 3-Alarm Blaze

YouTube: Chapel Hill Road fire

YouTube: Clean up begins at Oakdale Plaza

Background Information:

Oakdale Fire Company

Town of Montville

Wikipedia: Montville, CT

Google Map of 430 Chapel Hill Road, Montville, CT

07 September 2010

Reconsidering Community Needs – A Look at a Recent NH Vote

In a recent editorial, the Valley News (of White River Junction, VT) commended the residents of the town of Unity, NH, who had voted to replace the local school, a building that was filled with a variety of fire safety and other deficiencies.

Initially the town's voters had, on a number of occasions, rejected any proposal to replace the school. However, after the New Hampshire Board of Education decided to shut the school down, residents began to reconsider all that was happening.  In the minds of many of the local residents, losing the school was like losing the heart of the community, and the voters finally voted overwhelmingly to replace the school.

To read the Valley News editorial, please visit:

Valley News: Unity Gets Together (31 AUG 10)

To read the Valley News article on the vote, please visit:

Valley News: Unity Votes to Build Anew (24 AUG 10)

Background information:

NH Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile of Unity

Wikipedia: Unity, New Hampshire

Country Store Brainstorms with Patrons

It's not very often that a company will ask its customers for ideas. This is especially true when the company is not doing well, and the company is looking for ideas on how to survive, and to begin thriving again. Yet that is what happened recently in northern New England.

The Village Store, in Thetford Center, VT, had done well for a long time, but the store has had a very difficult time for the past couple of years. Part of this can be attributed to work on the nearby Tucker Hill Covered Bridge, and there are also a number of other factors involved.

Believing they still have a potentially viable service to offer, the store owners called together a meeting of store patrons for a brainstorming session. (On a personal note, I think this was a great idea.) The session was an encouraging one for the owners, and it did bring forth a number of suggestions. The event also put a local spotlight on a struggling business and helped residents become more aware of its needs.

For a Valley News report on this meeting, please visit:

     Valley News: In the Market for a Turnaround (2 SEP 10)

Pendragon Performing with Kevin Doyle's Stepdancing

A short video of the local Celtic music group, Pendragon, performing in Waterplace Park, Providence, RI, July 2009, with Irish stepdancer Kevin Doyle:

     YouTube: Pendragon at Waterplace Park, July 24, 2009

06 September 2010

Thoughts of Gratitude as Labor Day Closes

Labor Day is drawing to a close, and, as it does, I am reflecting on how grateful I am for the opportunity to work. I am thinking of my current work, and I am also thinking of the many opportunities I've had over the years.

Each of these positions gave me an opportunity to learn (new skills and a variety of other things - some related to the work at hand and some related to other things), to grow as a person (many different personal attributes were honed to some degree), and to be of service to others (in a variety of different ways - in some cases, the persons were part of the organization and, in other cases, the persons were customers or clients of the organization or members of the greater community).

Whether I was a pharmacy clerk, dishwasher (by hand), construction laborer, encyclopedia salesperson, taxi driver, security guard, aluminum faceplate polisher, janitor, line plater (of electronic parts), printing salesperson, waiter, customer service representative, warehouse worker, teacher, freelance editor/writer/photographer (individually or collectively), or army officer (supply platoon leader, shop officer, or public affairs officer), I was in a position to be of assistance to others and to gain in knowledge and experience.

Each of these positions, as well as others not named, was a good opportunity for me, and I am grateful for any seeds that were planted and/or nurtured in me during these times. I am also grateful for any good I may have done for others, at whatever level during these occasions. (Naturally I am also grateful for the compensation I received and for the opportunity to put that compensation to good use.)

With the Lord's guidance and help, may I continue to serve Him well and serve His people well in whatever work He places before me.

For a more spiritual look at Labor Day, please visit:

      The Lop File: Reflections for Labor Day

Sha Na Na: When the Saints Go Marching In

Time again for a little Sha Na Na. In this clip, they sing "When the Saints Go Marching In":

     Sha-Na-Na: When the Saints Go Marching In

Reflections for Labor Day

As we observe Labor Day today, I offer up a prayer of thanksgiving:

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of work and the opportunity it is. Thank you for calling us to continue Your work of creation through the creative gifts you have given us. Thank you for giving us these gifts and for the many ways You guide us and encourage us in using them to minister to others in a myriad of different ways. Thank you for Your constant presence and for Your kind and loving Providence. Thank you for all Your many blessings, Lord - whether we are aware of them or not.

                    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For further reflection:

Today's first reading (Genesis 2:4-9, 15):

These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created. In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up -- for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground -- then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.


Today's Gospel reading (Matthew 6:31-34):


Therefore do not be anxious, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day."

Saintly quotes that fit Labor Day:
  • "Let your love for one another be constant, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be mutually hospitable without complaining. As generous distributors of God's manifold grace, put your gifts at the service of one another, each in the measure he has received. The one who speaks is to deliver God's message. The one who serves is to do it with the strength provided by God. Thus, in all of you God is to be glorified through Jesus Christ." – from 1 Peter 4
  • "Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ." - Colossians 3:23-24
  • "You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them." - Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus
  • "We must learn what God wants of us, and having learned it, we must try to carry it out, if not generously, at least cheerfully. That is not all. Even if we were destined to look after pigs all our lives, or do the most menial and lowly things in the world, we should love the will of God and the obligations it imposes upon us. No matter what state God places us in, the goal of perfection is the same. This is the goal toward which we all must aim, and whoever comes closest to that goal is the most victorious." - Saint Francis de Sales
  • "Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you." - Saint Augustine
  • "We must never undervalue any person. The workman loves not that his work should be despised in his presence. Now God is present everywhere, and every person is His work." - Saint Francis de Sales
Other quotes that fit Labor Day:
  • "Work joyfully and peacefully, knowing that right thoughts and right efforts will inevitably bring about right results." - James Allen (New Zealand statesman and Minister of Defense)
  • "It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness." - The Christophers
  • "I have offended God and mankind because my work didn't reach the quality it should have." - Leonardo da Vinci
  • "All work is seed sown. It grows and spreads, and sows itself anew." - Thomas Carlyle
  • "God gave man work, not to burden him, but to bless him, and useful work, willingly, cheerfully, effectively done, has always been the finest expression of the human spirit." - Walter R. Courtenay (Professor Emeritus of Zoology, Florida Atlantic University)
  • "There is a real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment." - Rev. Norman Vincent Peale
                    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Prayer for the Spirit of Work (source unknown):

God our Father, Creator and Ruler of the universe, in every age you call us to use and develop our gifts for the good of others. With St. Joseph as our guide, help us to do the work you have asked and come to the rewards you have promised. Please grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

                    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For further reflection:

     Pope John Paul II: On Human Work (Laborem Exercens)

05 September 2010

Father Brown on Christian Forgiveness

As many people know, I love mystery stories - especially stories that are part of a mystery series featuring a specific detective or detective group (e.g., Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Nero Wolf, Spenser, Ellery Queen, Miss Marple).

One mystery series was written by G. K. Chesterton. Often thought of as a writer on serious subjects (e.g.,philosophy and Christian apologetics), he also wrote a variety of other forms of literature, including mystery stories. Chesterton wrote 52 short stories featuring a Roman Catholic priest, Father J. Brown, as the detective called upon to solve a mystery. In the course of shedding light on the problem, Father Brown, often described as short and stumpy, with shapeless clothes and a large umbrella, would also bring forth some truths related to Catholicism in particular or to Christianity in general.

Today I read "The Chief Mourner of Marne," one of these Father Brown stories. In this story, Father Brown explains the difference between human charity and Christian charity when it comes to forgiveness, especially forgiveness of those persons who do things considered really indefensible, people who often really need consolation.

To read this story, please visit:

     G. K. Chesterton: The Chief Mourner of Marne

Kathryn Jean Lopez on the Restoring Honor Rally

Kathryn Jean Lopez, a nationally syndicated columnist and an editor at National Review (online and print editions), has written a column on the recent recent Restoring Honor rally on the National Mall.

Although many of the media reports on this rally focused on the participation of Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin, Ms. Lopez focused on the theme of the rally itself, and what it means for the United States.

This rally was designed to be a non-political event to pay tribute to United States service personnel and other upstanding citizens who embody the nation’s founding principles of integrity, truth, and honor.

One of the comments Ms. Lopez made was that "What was best about the Honor rally was also what made it incomplete. It was great civics, but it only went so far. Where do we go from here? Back to our churches, this was clear, and back to our political engagement, too."

She encourages us, the people of the United States, to be involved in elections with "a spirit of seriousness and even love."

To read her complete commentary, please visit:

      Kathryn Lopez: The Great Restoration

Commentary on John Henry Cardinal Newman

In a recent post in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Media Blog, Sister Mary Ann Walsh, RSM, (Director of Media Relations for USCCB) writes about the upcoming beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman.

"The beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman on September 19 in Birmingham, England, may not draw much media attention, but it is still noteworthy." After this introduction, Sr. Mary Ann writes about the internal struggles John Newman faced before converting to Catholicism from Anglicanism. She also writes about the challenges he faced after his conversion.

Sr. Mary Ann includes his poem (a prayer, really), “The Pillar of Cloud,”one that I have run across a number of times over the years, a prayer which contains an attitude, a spirit, appropriate for anyone facing serious challenges, for anyone living the adventure we call life:

     Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
     Lead Thou me on!
     The night is dark, and I am far from home –
     Lead Thou me on!
     Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
     The distant scene, -- one step enough for me,
     I was not ever thus, nor pray’d that Thou
     Shouldst lead me on.
     I loved to choose and see my path; but now
     Lead Thou me on!
     I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
     Pride ruled my will; remember not past years.
     So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
     Will lead me on,
     O’er moon and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
     The night is gone;
     And with the morn those angel faces smile
     Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

To read Sister Mary Ann's complete post, please visit:

Sr. Mary Ann Walsh, RSM: John Henry Newman: Heart Speaks to Heart

For more information about John Henry Newman, please visit:

National Institute for Newman Studies: Newman Reader

04 September 2010

Bishop's Labor Day Statement Calls for New Social Contract for ‘New Things’ in Today’s Economy

With millions unemployed and U.S. workers experiencing tragedies such as mining deaths in West Virginia and the oil rig explosion and subsequent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Americans "must seek to protect the life and dignity of each worker in a renewed and robust economy," said Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York. Bishop Murphy addressed these issues in the 2010 Labor Day Statement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, entitled "A New 'Social Contract' for Today's 'New Things.'"

Bishop Murphy, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, compared the challenges faced by today's workers to the changing society of the Industrial Revolution addressed by Pope Leo XIII in the 1891 encyclical, Rerum Novarum (Of New Things).

"America is undergoing a rare economic transformation, shedding jobs and testing safety nets as the nation searches for new ways to govern and grow our economy," said Bishop Murphy. "Workers need a new 'social contract.'" Bishop Murphy said that creating new jobs would require new investments, initiative, and creativity in the economy. He also drew on the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI, which call for placing the human person at the center of economic life and emphasize the role of civil society and mediating institutions such as unions in pursing the common good.

"Workers need to have a real voice and effective protections in economic life," said Bishop Murphy. "The market, the state, and civil society, unions and employers all have roles to play and they must be exercised in creative and fruitful interrelationships. Private action and public policies that strengthen families and reduce poverty are needed. New jobs with just wages and benefits must be created so that all workers can express their dignity through the dignity of work and are able to fulfill God's call to us all to be co-creators. A new social contract, which begins by honoring work and workers, must be forged that ultimately focuses on the common good of the entire human family."

To read the the Labor Day statement in its entirety, please visit:

Bishop Murphy/USCCB: A New "Social Contract" for Today's "New Things"

03 September 2010

A Skit with Tim Conway & Harvey Korman on The Carol Burnett Show

Pastor Tim (from the Westside Bible Church, Victoria, British Columbia) recently sent this out.  It is something he had previously posted in his blog with the comment, "Here is proof that you don't have to be dirty or offensive to be funny."

      Tim Conway on The Carol Burnett Show