"Sing with All the Saints in Glory"

As our Easter celebration continues, I offer "Sing with All the Saints in Glory":



Background information:

CyberHymnal: Sing with All the Saints in Glory

New England’s Fire Service Heritage: Pepperell Fire Department (MA)

Over the past couple of centuries or so, a number of fire companies were established to protect cities, towns, villages, and other districts throughout this region from the dangers of fire. This was a gradual process, and many times it was an action taken after a serious fire had affected the community.

As an example, the Pepperell Fire Department traces its roots back to 1831, when two had tubs were purchased with funds raised via private subscription. The first organized fire company was formed in 1859.

For more information about the Pepperell Fire Department, please visit:

History of the Pepperell Fire Department

New England Treasure: Yankee Magazine

New England is a treasure house filled with many different types of spiritual, cultural, historical, and other resources. Included in this treasure trove are the various cultures and traditions that have come together to make up the fabric of life in this region.

One good chronicle of this region and many of its treasures is Yankee Magazine. Initially published in 1935, Yankee was established to serve as "the expression and perhaps, indirectly, the preservation of [our] great [New England] culture." I have been a subscriber for many years, and I appreciate the way it has worked to live up to this "destiny."

To access the magazine's website, please visit:

Yankee Magazine

Each Person Has His Own Story

On a number of occasions I have heard Barbara Wright, an evangelist at Saint Patrick Parish in Providence (RI), say that everyone has his own story. While I was already very well aware of that, I probably would have phrased it a little differently. However, I've taken to using her description when the subject comes up.

Recently I read an article in Yankee Magazine in which a similar phrase was used. Justin Shatwell wrote an article "The Memory Keeper," which is about Joe Manning, who has been working to find out what happened to the children in photos of child laborers taken by photographer Lewis Hine. In this article, Mr. Shatwell writes "Deep down, everyone has an interesting story to tell, but sometimes it takes a talented listener to draw it out."

There is far more truth to this than most of us are aware. Sometimes, while on the bus, I get little glimpses of a few of these stories as I hear snatches of conversation around me. Stories in the media (such as the one referred to in the previous post about the Southbury high school student with a strong interest in the Civil War) bring to light some of these stories, but most remain hidden - known to the persons themselves and perhaps some associates in the same field of interest.

They are there nonetheless (including countless hidden acts of kindness), and they will eventually come to light - if not in this life, then at the General Judgment, when the Lord will reveal the completed tapestry that He is weaving with all the different threads He is working with in the lives of each of us.

To access "The Memory Keeper" (which is a good article) from Yankee, please visit:

Yankee Magazine: The Memory Keeper (March-April 2011)

Christian Music in New England: The Upper Room, West Warwick, Rhode Island

A number of people throughout the six New England states participate in activities involving Christian music. Many of these are musicians or other artists who primarily serve their local church community. Other artists play at a variety of different venues and special events (as well as possibly playing at their local church).

In addition to Sunday and other church services which include music, other venues host regularly scheduled coffeehouses or other events which include the presentation of Christian music. These presentations may include traditional, contemporary, gospel, Christian rock, or other music of any of a variety of other genres.

One Christian music venue in Rhode Island is The Upper Room, which is located at 1221 Main Street, West Warwick. This coffeehouse is usually held weekly on Saturday evenings.

For more information about The Upper Room, including a schedule of upcoming events, please visit:

 The Artic Mision: The Upper Room Coffeehouse

Our Lady of the Annunciation Cathedral, West Roxbury, Massachusetts

New England is the home of a number of beautiful cathedrals, the cathedrae of the various Roman Catholic dioceses located in this region.

One of these cathedrals is Our Lady of the Annunciation Cathedral in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, seat of the Eparchy of Newton (for Melkites). The Eparchy was established in Newton in 1976, which is where the administrative offices were located at the time. The offices have since moved to the West Roxbury section of Boston.

The parish was initially established in South Boston in 1908. The cathedral itself was built at its new location in 1966.

For more information about Our Lady of the Annunciation Cathedral, please visit:

Annunciation Melkite Catholic Cathedral

Wikipedia: Annunciation Melkite Catholic Cathedral (Roslindale, Massachusetts)

Background information:

Eparchy of Newton (Melkites)

Wikipedia: Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton

Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for May

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for May is: "That those working in communication media may respect the truth, solidarity, and dignity of all people."

His mission intention is: "That the Lord may help the Church in China persevere in fidelity to the Gospel and grow in unity."

Southbury, CT, Student Shares His Civil War Knowledge

The News-Times of Danbury, CT, recently ran a short profile about a Pomperaug High School (Southbury, CT) student who collects Civil War memorabilia.

Andrew Bleidner (who is also an Eagle Scout) doesn't just collect the material. He also gives talks about the Civil War and his collection at local schools. In addition, he recently placed part of his collection on display at Western Connecticut State University as part of a program commemorating the 150th anniversary of the start of the war.

To access this News-Times article, please visit:

News-Times: Southbury teen has an eye for history (30 APR 11)

Th article also include the following quote from Andrew: "You have to learn from past mistakes and triumphs, who we are and where we came from, if we want to continue to develop as a country. I think we're losing that as Americans."

Pope John Paul II and the Divine Mercy

Today (Divine Mercy Sunday) Pope John Paul II is being beatified. This day was chosen because of his strong connection to and promotion of the Divine Mercy message (not the least of which was the canonization of Saint Faustina Kowalska).

"The Message of Divine Mercy has always been near and dear to me . . . which I took with me to the See of Peter and which it in a sense forms the image of this Pontificate." – Pope John Paul II (speaking on his Pontificate)

Additional information:

USCCB: The Beatification of Pope John Paul II

Rome Reports: John Paul II and Divine Mercy, the devotion that guided his pontificate (16 APR 11)

Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M.: Pope John Paul II - The Great Mercy Pope

Pope John Paul II Encyclical: Dives in Misericordia (Rich in Mercy)

Apostles of Divine Mercy: Pope John Paul II's Homily on the first universal celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday, 2001

Divine Mercy Sunday

In his homily at the canonization of Saint Faustina on 30 April 2000, Pope John Paul II declared: "It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on this Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the Church, will be called ‘Divine Mercy Sunday.'"

As noted the previous post, the Gospel reading for today focuses on Jesus giving His apostles (the first priests and bishops) the power to act in His place and forgive sins (and sending them to do so) – what Sister Grace Coffey (who formerly taught at Saint Patrick School in Providence, RI, and is now at the Shrine of the Little Flower in Nasonville, RI) calls Jesus’ Easter gift to us.

As noted in the following resources, this ties in perfectly with the message of Divine Mercy.

For more information:

Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M.: What is Divine Mercy Sunday?

Video: Fr. Seraphim on The Octave of Easter - Why Divine Mercy Sunday?

Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M.: The Divine Mercy

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio: Divine Mercy Sunday and the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Friar Blog: Divine Mercy Sunday: Fr. Keller, O.P., on Relevant Radio (28 APR 11)

Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday

Today is Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday. The assigned readings are Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 1:3-9, and John 20:19-31. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 118 (Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24).

Today’s Gospel reading is as follows:

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

Reflections on these readings:

The Deacon's Bench: Homily for May 1, 2011: 2nd Sunday of Easter (30 APR 11)

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio: Divine Mercy Sunday and the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Dr. Scott Hahn: May 1st, 2011 - Divine Mercy Sunday

Msgr. Charles Pope: Don’t Block Your Blessings – A Meditation on the Gospel for the Second Sunday of Easter (30 APR 11)

The Word Embodied: The Trying of Faith

Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary: Cyril of Alexandria

Reflection Starter from Blessed John Paul II

"There is nothing more man needs than Divine Mercy - that love which is benevolent, which is compassionate, which raises man above his weakness to the infinite heights to the holiness of God." - Blessed John Paul II (at the Shrine of Divine Mercy, Cracow, Poland, 7 June 1997)