This is an amazing story about a father and his unselfish love for his son. It's one of the most uplifting, spiritual stories I've ever known and I thank brother Bill Carr for sending it along.
Now, on with the rest of this true story...
A son asked his father, "Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?"
The father who, despite having a heart condition, says, "Yes".
They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying "Yes" to his son's request of going through the race together.
One day, the son asked his father, "Dad, let's join the Ironman together." To which, his father said, "Yes" too.
For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island. Father and son went on to complete the race together.
The month of October has been traditionally dedicated to the Rosary of Our Blessed Mother. On October 7 we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
Pope Benedict XVI recently in an address said: “The Holy Rosary is not just a pious practice banished to the past, like prayers of other times thought of with nostalgia. Instead the Rosary is experiencing a new springtime. Without a doubt, this is one of the most eloquent signs of love that the faithful can nourish for Jesus and his Mother, Mary.
"In the current world the Rosary helps to put Christ at the centre, as the Virgin did, who meditated within all that was said about her Son, and also about what He did and said. When reciting the Rosary, the important and meaningful events of salvation history are relived. The various steps of Christ’s mission are traced. With Mary the heart is oriented toward the mystery of Jesus.
"Christ is put at the centre of our life, our time, our city, through the contemplation and meditation of his holy mysteries of joy, light, sorrow and glory. May Mary help us to welcome within ourselves the grace emanating from these mysteries so that they may open us to the newness of God.”
The life of Mary, according to the Scriptures, is as humanly true as it can possibly be, but in this human quality it is filled with a mystery of divine communion and love, the depth of which is incomprehensible. The Rosary points in this direction.
October 1, 2008 will be the thirty-seventh anniversary of the Rosary being on the radio every night in the Western Pennsylvania area. It has been my privilege to lead and be the voice of the Rosary for those thirty-seven years. The Rosary is still broadcast every night at 7:00 p.m. on WHKB, 620 on the AM dial.
Over those thirty seven years, the Rosary on the radio has survived many different circumstances, such as several changes in stations as well as increased prices for air time.
As Catholics we were brought up to say the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries of the Rosary. However, a few years ago, Pope John Paul II approved the use of a new mystery of the Rosary, the Luminous Mysteries or Mysteries of the Light. It has been suggested that we recite the Mysteries of the Light on Thursday evenings.
"The Vocation Director of the Diocese of Pittsburgh has suggested that on Thursdays we pray the Mysteries of the Light for the intention of the fostering of religious vocations. Since the AOH is so instrumental in helping religious and seminarians financially with Project St. Patrick, the members can help the religious and seminarian spiritually by offering their Rosary on Thursday for vocations.
"The following are suggested mediations for the recitation of the Mysteries of the Light:
1. Jesus is baptized in the Jordan -- All of us are baptized in the Light of Christ. A Priest celebrates this special sacrament of Baptism and gives new life in the Church.
2. The Wedding Feast of Cana -- Jesus performed his first miracle at Cana. A Priest witnesses the Sacrament of Marriage for the new couple uniting as husband and wife.
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom -- Jesus proclaimed the Good News to the people. A Priest proclaims the Gospel and teaches about the faith to the people of God.
4. The Transfiguration -- Jesus was transfigured on the mountain with Moses and Elijah. At a Priesthood Ordination a man is transfigured into a Priest as the Sacrament of Holy Orders is bestowed upon him.
5. The Institution of the Eucharist -- Jesus is the Body and Blood of Christ. A Priest changes the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ at the Eucharist. This is the center of our faith.
May Christ, the Divine Priest, and Mary his Mother continue to send more laborers for His harvest and help Priests and Religious persevere in their vocations.
With every blessing and best wish, Father Tom O’Donnell, Allegheny County and Penna. State Chaplain
Brother Bill Carr thought this was a good article (Attribution to Father Scott Seethaler) to pass along since the mainstream media so often misrepresents the facts on “Us” Catholics, so here’s a good comeback for you know.
(From an article written by Sam Miller, prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman, who is NOT a Catholic)
"Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States, namely, the Catholic Church?
Do you know that the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at a cost to your Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. Your graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%, all at a cost to you. To the rest of the Americans it's free. The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students. The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people — not just Catholics — in the United States today.
But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.
Let me give you some figures that you as Catholics should know and remember. For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the United Methodist Church, 41.8% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of lay women have been sexually harassed. Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia. 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic Problem.
A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the Church has been receiving.
The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church. You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now.
From,
Father Scott Seethaler O.F.M. Cap. Saint Augustine Friary 221-36th St., Pittsburgh, PA. 15201
P.S.: Walk with your shoulders high and your head higher. Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States. Then remember what Jeremiah said: "Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls." Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions. Be proud that you're a Catholic!"
Thanks to brother Bill Carr for passing this along:
On his April 11 HBO show, “Real Time with Bill Maher,” the comedian went into an extended assault on Pope Benedict XVI and the Catholic Church.
Catholic League president Bill Donohue responded as follows:
“Maher’s obsession with the Catholic Church continues, only this time there isn’t enough material for him to use as a club, so he literally makes things up. His lies include the following statement: ‘When the—when the current pope was in his previous Vatican job as John Paul’s Dick Cheney—he wrote a letter instructing every Catholic bishop to keep the sex abuse of minors secret until the statute of limitations ran out.’
“A similar lie was floated by an angry ex-Catholic bigot, Rosie O’Donnell. The fact is that before he was named pope, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger had absolutely nothing to do with policing allegations of sexual abuse until 2002, after the scandal erupted that January. And he certainly never counseled bishops to keep sexual abuse secret—this is a bald face lie. Indeed, a week before Pope John Paul II died, he addressed the scandal by saying, ‘How much filth there is in the church, even among those who, in the priesthood, should belong entirely’ to God.
“Maher also lied when he said the pope ‘used to be a Nazi.’ Like all young men in Germany at the time, he was conscripted into a German Youth organization (from which he fled as soon as he could). Every responsible Jewish leader has acknowledged this reality and has never sought to brand the pope a Nazi. That job falls to Maher.
“In 2005, after complaining about another bigoted outburst, I was told by Richard Plepler of HBO that ‘it’s a free country, and people are free to say silly things—even on HBO.’ Last year, after another assault, I was told by Jeff Cusson (replying for Time Warner’s CEO Richard Parsons), that Maher’s anti-Catholic remarks were a matter of ‘creative freedom.’ Well, folks, no one has the freedom to libel someone.”
If you'd like to offer a few words, contact HBO CEO Bill Nelson at bill.nelson@hbo.com.
Also, check out the home page of the Diocese of Pittsburgh for some nice family activities too such as some very special Masses and blessings for your children's Easter baskets.
Here is what the Celtic Attic says.
In Ireland, people dance in the streets on Easter Sunday. The dancers compete for the prize of a cake.
In Ireland Easter is a very sacred time of fasting and prayer. On Easter Saturday at church hundreds of small candles are lit off the Paschal candle that has been blessed by the priest. On Easter Sunday a quiet meal is eaten at home. Traditional Easter meal of leek soup and roasted spring lamb.
Little Easter houses are built in some parts of England as well. These are filled with coloured eggs. The eggs are rolled down a hill in a competition before they are eaten.
Irish Easter Customs
Clean house thoroughly Inside and out-whitewash applied.
Obtain New clothes.
Good Friday-do no work on the land just in the house.
Fast More than is Required on Good Friday.
Good Friday- Plant a small amount of crop seed to bring blessing on it all.
Shed no blood on Good Friday, work no wood, hammer no nail .
Maintain quiet on good Friday from Noon till three P.M.
Visit church-take off shoes-good Friday. Visit holy wells and graveyards.
Do not fish with nets or lines on Good Friday no fishing boat puts out to sea alternatively gather bia tragha-shore food-seaweed and shellfish for the Main meal.
Cut your hair on good Friday to prevent headaches in the year to come-trim finger and toe nails.
Water from the holy well will have curative properties on Good Friday.
A child born on Good Friday and baptized on Easter Sunday had gift of healing. (if a boy he should go into the ministry) die on good Friday go right the heaven.
Eggs laid on Good Friday-Mark with cross and each eat one on Easter Sunday. Eggs Hatching on that day will produce healthy chicks.
Easter Saturday
Have Holy water blessed.
Drink three sips of holy water each for health. Sprinkle on everything for good luck.
Bring cinders from the Paschal fire to be blessed.
Easter Sunday
Butchers have mock funeral for a herring symbolizing end to abstinence.-whip the herring, have a procession involving the herring.
Go to church and then herring procession.
Go up at sunrise to view the sun dancing with joy.
View the reflection of the sun in a pail of water and move it so the sun appears to dance.
Do something with eggs. Give them, color them
Have a Cludog or cluideog ritual-children collect and cook eggs and other food in a structure which they make on the edge of the farm-roasted eggs.
Brightly dressed Tobies go from place to place to demand the eggs of Easter Singing, dancing dressed in bright colored rags.
Keep shells of Easter eggs for the May bush. 9.Roll eggs to race them.-may be Presbyterian custom.
Have feast on Easter-Kill a cow if you can-
Take down the Spoilin meith na hlnide-little piece of meat pinned up at lent and burn it giving house a rich smell
Have a Cake Dance. Cake being the prize for best dancer. Easter cake dance-a pruthog.
Go to a "Sunday's" well-have a bonfire.
Irish Pancake Recipe:
Basic Batter Ingredients: 100g flour Pinch salt 1 egg 150ml milk Oil to fry
Method: Sieve the flour and salt into a bowl. Make a well in the centre of the flour and beat in the egg using the back of a wooden spoon. Slowly add the milk and beat in gradually to avoid lumps. Beat for a few minutes to entrap air. Leave in the fridge to chill. Heat a drop of oil on the frying pan, ensure the pan gets really hot. Pour on a little batter to coat the base of the pan. Cook for approx. 2 minutes. Toss the pancake and cook for about 1 minute or until golden brown. The pancakes can be served with lemon, icing sugar, fruit or savoury items.
Easter Dinner
The Easter Sunday dinner is similar to the Christmas meal. It usually consists of a turkey or lamb, along with potatoes and vegetables. Desert can be anything, but usually children stuff their faces with their chocolate Easter eggs!
From February 22 - 24, a group of Hibernians attended a retreat at St. Paul's in Carnegie. Thanks to those who attended and who helped organize the event such as Mickey Abbott, Ed Blank, Pat McCann, Bill Delaney, Bernie Donnelly, Denny Maher, Tim Trant, Brian Walsh and Pat Walsh among others.
On his Friday night HBO program, “Real Time with Bill Maher,” Maher was joined in a discussion about UFO’s with some of the panelists. Here is what Maher had to say:
“But I think it is much more likely that there could be space ships from outer space, than what a lot of things people believe. People still believe, you know, excuse me I know I may inject religion into every show but UFO’s are a lot more likely than a space god flew down bodily and you know who was the Son of God and you know had sex with a Palestinian woman, and um…”
Catholic League president Bill Donohue addressed Maher’s remark today:
“Last week, we registered a complaint with ESPN regarding the offensive comments made by anchorwoman Dana Jacobson at a celebrity roast; after I had a conversation with ESPN officials, the issue was satisfactorily settled by the end of the week. Moreover, Jacobson made another apology today, her first day back from her suspension. It is worth comparing Jacobson to Maher on several counts."“Jacobson was drunk, made her first and only bigoted comment in public, apologized twice for her behavior and was punished by her station. By contrast, Maher was sober, made his umpteenth Christian-bashing remark, did not apologize—he never does—and suffered no consequences. In short, Jacobson’s outburst was an anomaly; Maher’s was not. She is a first-time offender and he is a recidivist."“There is no bigger bigot in America today than Bill Maher. His serial insults are tolerated on HBO and on late-night television shows because the producers are not outraged by what he says. How else can we explain his ability to offend with impunity?”
If enraged like me, contact the Chairman and CEO of HBO, Bill Nelson at: Bill.Nelson@HBO.com
Old St. Patrick's Windows a Gift of True Christian Charity
Through the kind generosity of the Allegheny County Ancient Order of Hibernians and spearheaded by AOH 32, our two year crusade to gift windows to Old St. Patrick’s Church in Pittsburgh's Strip District (on the corner of Liberty Avenue and 17th Street) was accomplished and the AOH’s honorable tradition of gifting windows to Catholic churches will continue to inspire future generations of Irish Catholic faithful.
The new stained glass windows of Saint Brigid of Kildare and Saint Patrick of Ireland - designed and crafted by Nick Parrendo of the Hunt Stained Glass Studios - were blessed by Bishop Bradley of the Diocese of Pittsburgh on Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17th 2006.
The media loved our story. KDKA-TV, WTAE-TV and WPXI-TV covered the Mass along with front page/main section stories in the Pittsburgh Catholic, Pittsburgh Tribune Review and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Here is a brief backgrounder about the symbolism of the windows.
Saint Patrick of Ireland Born: 387 at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland Died: March 17, 493 at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland (460 or 461 by other sources). Canonized: pre-congregation. Buried in Downpatrick, Ireland.
Patron of Ireland, and as represented in the window, bishop holding the shamrock used to explain the mystery of the Blessed Trinity. To Saint Patrick’s right is a representation of Saint Patrick enslaved as a shepherd in Ireland and instructed by the Angels to flee his enslavement.
Below both Saint Brigid and Saint Patrick are representations of stone posts and lintels -symbolic of the darkness and oppression of the people through the druid influence. Above them is a Celtic Cross symbolic of the liberation that the Catholic faith brings to the people of Ireland and the world. Saint Patrick stands atop a globe symbolic of his being one of the Saints universally recognized around the world. The likeness of Saint Patrick in the window is that of Fran Walsh, who for decades represented Saint Patrick in Pittsburgh’s annual Saint Patrick's Day parade. May he rest in peace!
Saint Brigid of Kildare Born: 453 at Faughart, County Louty, Ireland. Died: February 1, 523 at Kildare, Ireland Canonized: pre-congregation. Buried with Saint Patrick and Saint Columba in Downpatrick, Ireland.
Patroness of Ireland, and as represented in the window Saint Brigid is holding a cross she wove out of rushes from the floor to explain the love of Christ in His Passion.
To Saint Brigid's left are students holding manuscripts -as Saint Brigid founded a school of art (Illuminations). Also to the left is a ship representing Saint Patrick coming to Ireland as slave.
All of God’s Blessings to members of AOH 32, LAOH 32 and the AOH 32 Junior Division who unselfishly gave of themselves to support our holy crusade for Old St. Patrick's Church, for witnessing the great things we can do together in true Christian Charity!
Glory to God in the Highest
Glory to God in the Highest
