New England Celebrates Independence Day

As New England (as well as the rest of the nation) enters the Independence Day weekend, there are a large number of events throughout the region that are planned as part of the celebration of the 235th birthday of the United States of America (and these events are definitely included among New England’s treasures). Independence Day celebrates the day the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress.

Background information:

National Archives: Declaration of Independence

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The Independence Day events in New England include:

• a special 1876 Independence Day ceremony at Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT;

   For more information, please visit:

   The Day: Mystic Seaport celebrates Independence Day, the 1876 way (30 JUN 11)

   Mystic Seaport

• the annual WILI Boom Box Parade in Willimantic, CT (a people’s parade with no real bands - marchers and spectators bring radios and play them while local radio station broadcasts the marching band music);

   For more information, please visit:

   WILI Boom Box Parade

   Charter Community Access TV: 2010 Boom Box Parade

• a public reading of the Declaration of Independence and Independence Day commentary by a living history interpreter at the Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site, Bristol, ME;

   For more information, please visit:

   Friends of Colonial Pemaquid

• the Eastport, ME, Fourth of July Festival, a four-day festival deemed to be the largest Independence Day celebration in Maine;

   For more information, please visit:

   Eastport 4th of July

• the Boston Pops Spectacular (3-4 July) on the Esplanade in Boston, MA (concert by the Boston Pops, including Tchaikovsky’s "1812 Overture," with howitzer cannons, church bells, and fireworks; on the 4th only, the concert is followed by a fireworks display over the Charles River);

   For more information, please visit:

   July 4th Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular

• an 1830’s Independence Day Celebration in Sturbridge, MA (including a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence, a citizens' procession, and a game of early 19th-century base ball);

   For more information, please visit:

   Old Sturbridge Village

• the July 4th Celebration, Center Harbor, NH (which includes the 33rd Annual Road Race And Fun Run, July 4th Parade - "Honoring our Troops - Past and Present", a Center Harbor Town Band concert, and fireworks);

   For more information, please visit:

   Center Harbor Parks & Recreation Calendar of Events

• An American Celebration at Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth, NH (the event includes a children's bike and wagon parade, giant kite fly, potato sack races, kids’ liberty treasure hunt, garden crafts, live music, historic garden tours, costumed role-players, colonial hearth cooking, basket weaving, Island Pond Spinners, and hand-thrown pottery)

   For more information, please visit:

   Strawbery Banke Museum

• the 226th Fourth of July Celebration in Bristol, RI (which includes the 226th Annual Military, Civic and Firemen’s Parade, a drum and bugle Corps competition, and a number of other activities);

   For more information, please visit:

   Bristol Rhode Island's Annual Fourt of July Celebration

• the 85th Annual Ancient and Horribles Parade in Chepachet, RI (which includes a number of spoofs local and national politics);

   For more information, please visit:

   Glocester, RI: Ancient and Horribles Parade

   Providence Journal: Still ancient, still horrible, parade still draws a crowd (5 JUL 09)

• the By the People; Brattleboro Goes Fourth Parade, Brattleboro, VT (the town’s 38th annual July 4 event is designed to honor the community's spirit of cooperation in the face of recent challenge with this year's theme, "Together, We Go Fourth”); and

   For more information, please visit:

   Brattleboro Goes Fourth

   Brattleboro Reformer: Brattleboro event to celebrate community spirit of cooperation 

• an Old Vermont Fourth of July, at the Billings Farm and Museum, Woodstock, VT (events include a reading of the Declaration of Independence, historic debates, wagon rides, making of 1890 flags, a spelling bee, and an egg toss).

   For more information, please visit:

   Billings Farm & Museum

Archbishop Chaput Reflects on the Brown v EMA Decision

In a reflection in the "On the Square" section of First Things, Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Denver, offers some thoughts on the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, Brown v EMA, that struck down a California law banning the sale or rental of violent video games to minors.

To access Archbishop Chaput's complete commentary, please visit:

First Things; On the Square: Violent Video Games and the Rights of Parents (1 JUL 11)

A Reflection on Mary by Saint Lawrence Justinian, Bishop

"While Mary contemplated all she had come to know through reading, listening and observing, she grew in faith, increased in merits, and was more illuminated by wisdom and more consumed by the fire of charity."

Today the Church observes the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Office of Readings contains a reflection on Mary - an excerpt from a sermon by Saint Lawrence Justinian, bishop.

To access the text of this excerpt, as well as an audio presentation of it, please visit:

Catholic Radio Dramas: Mary Stored Up All These Things

Pope Tweets to Announce Launch of Vatican News Site

The Vatican's YouTube Channel recently presented a short video of Pope Benedict sending a tweet to announce the launch of the Vatican's new news website.

To access this presentation, please visit:

YouTube: Vatican Channel: Pope writes: "Dear Friends, I just launched http://news.va" (28 JUN 11)

To access the Vatican's new news site, please visit:

The Vatican Today

Reflection Starter from Saint Teresa of Avila

"God has been very good to me, for I never dwell upon anything wrong which a person has done, so as to remember it afterwards. If I do remember it, I always see some other virtue in that person." - Saint Teresa of Jesus (Teresa of Avila)

Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for July

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for July is: "That Christ may ease the physical and spiritual sufferings of those who are sick with AIDS, especially in the poorest countries".

His mission intention is: "That religious women in mission territories may be witnesses of the joy of the Gospel and living signs of the love of Christ".

NRDC Annual Beach Report: Closing and Advisory Days Hit Second-Highest Level in Decades

Pollution from stormwater runoff and sewage overflows continue to plague America’s beaches, which saw the second-highest number of closing and advisory days in more than two decades last year, according to the 21st annual beachwater quality report recently released by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

In its 21st year, NRDC’s annual report, Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches, analyzes government data on beachwater testing results from 2010 at more than 3,000 beach testing locations nationwide. In this report, NRDC advises that the nation’s beachwater continued to suffer from serious contamination - including oil as well as human and animal waste - and that a concerted effort to control future pollution is required.

“Clean beachwater is not only good for public health, it supports healthy coastal economies that generate billions of dollars and support millions of American jobs,” said David Beckman, Director of NRDC’s Water Program in a prepared statement. “By taking steps to stop the biggest sources of pollution in the waves, we can help keep trips to beach carefree, and support our lucrative tourism industries nationwide.”

Testing the Waters focuses primarily on bacteria-related beach water quality concerns. Nearly three-quarters of the 2010 beach closings and advisories were issued because water quality monitoring revealed bacteria levels exceeding health and safety standards. Across the country, aging and poorly designed sewage treatment systems and contaminated stormwater are often to blame for beachwater pollution.

The report also provides a 5-star rating guide to 200 of the nation’s most popular beaches, evaluating them for water quality and best practices for testing and public notification. For the first time this year, NRDC awarded top performers “Superstar” status. NRDC also highlighted the top 10 “Repeat Offender” beaches with persistently poor water quality year after year. New Hampshire’s Hampton Beach State Park was included in the list of Superstars, and no New England beaches were listed in the top 10 Repeat Offenders.

To access the complete NRDC report, please visit:

NRDC: Testing the Waters 2011

Colchester, CT, Man Works to Update Collection of Connecticut Cemetery Records

One of the best treasures of New England is its people, past and present, each of whom add his/her little touches to make this region what it is. One such person is Ed Laput of Colchester, Connecticut, who is working to update the Charles R. Hale Collection of Connecticut Cemetery Inscriptions and Records.

To access a Hartford Courant profile of Ed and his project, please visit:

Hartford Courant: Colchester Man Updating Records Of Who's Buried Where In Connecticut (30 JUN 11)

Background information:

Charles R. Hale Collection of Connecticut Cemetery Inscriptions and Records

Godfrey Memorial Library

Rachmaninoff : "Bless the Lord, O My Soul"

As our celebration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus continues, I offer Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Bless the Lord, O My Soul":



Lyric Translation:

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
blessed art Thou, O Lord.
O Lord my God, Thou art very great.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
Thou are clothed with honor and majesty.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord.
The waters stand upon the mountains.
Marvelous are Thy works, O Lord
The waters flow between the hills.
Marvelous are Thy works, O Lord.
In wisdom hast Thou made all things.
Glory to Thee, O Lord, who hast created all!

Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

During His apparitions to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Jesus made a number of promises to souls devoted to His Sacred Heart. The twelve promises often referred to are:

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life. 
2. I will give peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.
5. I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.
9. I will bless those places wherein the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.
10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
11. Persons who propagate this devotion shall have their names eternally written in my Heart. 
12. In the excess of the mercy of my Heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The assigned readings are Deuteronomy 7:6-11, 1 John 4:7-16, and Matthew 11:25-30.The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 103 (Psalm 103:1-4, 6-8, 10).

Today's Gospel reading is as follows:

At that time Jesus exclaimed: "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

Reflection on the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

YouTube: Fr. James Kubicki on the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Background information:

Annun Sacrum: Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII on Consecration to the Sacred Heart

Haurietis Aquas: Encyclical of Pope Pius XII on Devotion to the Sacred Heart

Reflection Starter from Saint Josemaría Escrivá

"'I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled' (Luke 12:29). We have approached the fire of the love of God. Let us allow that fire to burn our lives. Let us feed the desire to spread that divine fire throughout the world, making it known to all the people around us. They too can experience the peace of Christ and find happiness there. A Christian who lives united to Christ's heart can have no goals but these: peace in society, peace in the Church, peace in his soul, the peace of God which will reach its climax when his kingdom comes." - Saint Josemaría Escrivá

Background information:

Opus Dei: Writings of the Founder