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(From Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs, via Wikimedia Commons, used w/o permission.) (Looking for bodies in Chernihiv's secondary school number 18. (March 6, 2022)) I hadn't planned on writing about the mess in Ukraine this soon. But stuff happened. So I'll be writing about Russia's purported military. Also what two alleged generals said, and a whole lot of allegedly-dead Ukrainians. More at A Catholic Citizen in America : Ukraine and genocide claims. The Moskva: pride of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, until it sank. Goals and Fears. And a newfangled idea that makes sense.

The Crucifixion of St Peter Caravaggio [ Web Gallery of Art ] Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.   (John 21:18, today's Gospel). Readings ,  (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings ,  (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel ,  John 21:1-19 [1-14] ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India)    After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.   Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.   Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We w...

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  Fr Patrick Clarke 22 March 1931 - 26 April 2022 Remember in your prayers the soul of Columban Fr Patrick 'Paddy' Clarke who died peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday 26 April. Father Paddy worked for thirty years in Japan and when he came back to Ireland spent eleven years in St Jude's Parish, Templeogue, Dublin, not far from where he grew up. He was much loved there  for his gentleness and kindness and many of the parishioners attended his funeral here in St Columban's, Dalgan Park, this morning. A unique experience for me at Father Paddy's funeral Mass was that he had written the homily himself, based on  Deuteronomy 6:4-7 , the First Reading, and  Mark 12:28-34 , the Gospel, both of which he had chosen for his funeral Mass.  Y ou shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandmen...

Have you ever sought after something you thought you needed, only to be handed something else that turned out to be what you actually needed, something that was better than what you thought you wanted? Many years ago, when I was pregnant, I expected that God would give us a baby like everyone else's.  That is what most parents expect and think.  But for us, that's not the way it turned out.  God gave us a baby that would grow with unique challenges. But within and beyond those challenges, we received a great blessing, a blessing greater than we could have ever  imagined or even known to ask for. I think it is not uncommon for God to surprise us in ways that are outside our expectations. This happened to a man who approached the apostles (Acts Chapter 3:6), asking for money.  Peter's response to the beggar was,  “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, [rise and] walk.” Sure enough, th...

It was about five days after Easter, you know, the day we celebrate the Good News that Jesus rose from the dead, and I found myself mumbling that I could use some "good news."  I laughed out loud at the irony that I could actually be saying that so soon after Easter. How quickly we forget, and go back to our old way of thinking. I guess I am in good company.  My husband was listening to a reflection in which the commentator suggested Peter did the same thing after Jesus death/resurrection.  He simply went back to what he was used to doing--fishing.  You can read about it in the Gospel of John,  Chapter 21 . My husband noted that Peter's reaction to seeing Jesus standing on the shore was like Forrest Gump's reaction when he saw Lieutenant Dan!  Sure enough, when Forrest saw Dan sitting in his wheelchair on the dock, Forrest jumped out of his boat and went swimming towards him.  You can watch the Forrest Gump scene HERE . Scripture puts it t...

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The Incredulity of St Thomas Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings ,  (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)   Readings ,  (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel ,  John 20:19-31 ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India)    On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them,  “Peace be with you.”   When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.   Jesus said to them again,  “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”   And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,  “Receive the Holy Spirit.   If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them...

Sometimes, I guess out of boredom, I change my drive to work.  Maybe I am unconsciously looking for an easier way, with less traffic, lights, etc., I'm not really sure.  Anyway, when you change your normal path, you see things that you would not usually see. For instance, since I changed my route into work, I now see some amazing murals on the sides of buildings.  It makes me wonder about the artists.  There is some serious talent there.  What are they going to do with their talent?  Are they in school?  Will they be able to work their craft into a job? I, personally, cannot begin to imagine how you can create such spectacular paintings when you are like 5 inches from the picture you are creating (if you are hand painting).  Without a birds' eye view, how can you tell if you are in the middle of a face or painting an ear?  There must be a sketched out image before color is added, but still I wonder, how long does it take to creat...

  Fr Noel Doyle 24 September 1935 - 15 April 2022 Please remember in your prayers the soul of Columban Father Noel Doyle who died peacefully in the early hours of Good Friday and was buried here in St Columban's Cemetery, Dalgan Park, Ireland, yesterday, Easter Monday. Father Noel spent most of his life as a missionary priest in Japan. His obituary is  here . Hamabe no Uta - Song of the Seashore Composer:  Tamezō Narita [The instrument in the middle is an  erhu ] St Columban's Cemetery, Dalgan Park, Ireland

" God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses." (Acts 2:32) It's decision-making time for you and I.  These words of Peter, quoted in the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, force us to acknowledge, or disavow our standing as Christians.  We simply can no longer sit on the fence of Christianity.   We have to face this question:   "Do I believe that Jesus was raised from the dead?" Foundational to that question is the belief that Jesus is God, that he actually lived and died, and that there were people who walked the earth when he did who witnessed all that he said and did.  If you are not sure about all of this, then it is worth your time and effort to begin a serious investigation into these facts.   It is not enough to glide through life uncertain.  You either know it to be true, seek to find out if it is true, or dismiss it altogether. Let's say you conclude that it's all true, that Jesus is God, that he died a...

Something was said, I don't exactly remember what, that led me to this thought on Good Friday . . . There are times when I desperately miss my mom, who died almost three years ago.  I want to talk to her.  I have things to tell her.  I want to hear her voice and hug her.  This ache comes without my solicitation.   So on Good Friday, I wondered, "Why don't I have this same sense of sadness when it comes to Jesus' death?" Did our saints long for him like I long for my mom? Shouldn't I? These questions flooded my head.  I can only think that such a longing must begin with an intimate, personal relationship that is grounded in love. I think the difficulty for us is that we are sensate human beings.  We process everything through our senses.  My mom, for instance, was visible to me every day of my life, a physical presence whom I could hug, whereas I cannot reach out and hug Jesus. But let me back up just a bit.  We can have a pers...

Easter Sunday is a very big deal. It's "the greatest of all Sundays," since it's when we celebrate our Lord's resurrection. Begin celebrating, actually. The Easter season lasts until Pentecost Sunday: not quite two months from now. Maybe "our Lord's resurrection" sounds routine, familiar, two millennia after that post-Passover surprise. But let's remember that the 12 Apostles, make that 11 after Judas Iscariot killed himself, and everyone else close to Jesus expected him to stay dead. More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

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The Resurrection of Christ Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings ,  Easter Vigil   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)   Readings ,  Easter Sunday   (Jerusalem Bible) Readings ,  Easter Vigil   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings ,  Easter Sunday   (New American Bible) Gospel ,  Easter Vigil  Luke 24:1-12  ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India)    On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.   And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,   but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.   While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.   And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek...

A friend just sent me a link about a current petition drive in Michigan to get a vote on our November ballot for an amendment to our constitution which would allow for "an unlimited right to abortion." Please do not be fooled into signing the "Reproductive Freedom for All" petition, which is an attempt to bring abortion back to Michigan, should Roe vs. Wade ever be overturned. As usual, the deceptive naming of the petition drive uses catch phrases like "Reproductive" and "Freedom" to elicit our emotions using highly charged language.  It is the same way so many were duped so many years ago when abortion first became legal. Freedom is something we hold dear, so this kind of language makes us think, "Who wouldn't want freedom?" But God gave us free will to choose good .  The taking of a human life through abortion is a choice that goes against everything we know to be good and true.   There is no question that abortion is a...

  Fr Owen Doyle 28 June 1934 - 13 April 2022 Another Columban priest died peacefully last Sunday afternoon, Fr Owen Doyle. He spent most of his life as a priest in Korea. Please remember him in your prayers. Father Owen's obituary is  here . He was the fifth Columban here in St Columban's, Dalgan Park, to die within 16 days. May they all rest in peace. Please keep our community in your prayers. Grave of Bishop Edward Galvin, Co-founder of the Columbans St Columban's Cemetery, Dalgan Park, Ireland

  The Sacred Paschal Triduum Tréan Naofa na Cásca Thursday of the Lord's Supper Déardaoin Shéire an Tiarna Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples (detail) Tintoretto [ Web Gallery of Art ] Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,   rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it round his waist.   Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped round him   (John 13:3-5, ESVUK).  Ó bhí a fhios ag Íosa go raibh gach uile ní tugtha isteach ina lámha dó, ag an Athair, agus gur ó Dhia a ghabh sé amach, agus gur ar Dhia a bhí a thriall,  d'éirigh sé ón suipéar, agus leag sé uaidh a chuid éadaigh, agus cheangail sé tuáille faoina choim.  Ansin chuir sé uisce sa bháisín agus thosaigh ag ní cosa na ndeisceabal agus á dtiormú leis an tuáille a bhí fa...