No more teenagers

Baby Peter in early 1994

It’s a milestone day for our family as my last nephew Peter turns 20 today, and so there will be no more teenagers in my family. He was of course born on January 17, 1994 and I baptized him a few weeks later in his home parish at Birkirkara. Peter grew up to be a very smart, friendly, happy-go-lucky, fairly independent type of person, with a charming personality that endears him with everybody who meets him . 

In 2008, myself, Julian Jr, Peter and my brother Marcel

He looks up to his older brother Julian to such an extent that he will be following the same career, having started medical school last September. And I presume he may be going through some tough exams already at this time, and so there won’t be much time for him to celebrate his passing from a teenager to an adult. And yet another milestone will be reached on January 25 when his father, my brother Marcel will turn 50, and so no more quadragenarians in our family. But such is life. Time waits for no one. Happy Birthday Peter.

Julian and Peter in 2010, both still teenagers

How would you know?

If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I am a Healer?
If you never had to pray, how would you know that I am a Deliverer?
If you never felt sadness, how would you know that I am a Comforter? 
If you never made a mistake, how would you know that I am a forgiver?
If you never were in trouble, how would you know that I will come to your rescue?
If you never were broken, then how would you know that I can make you whole?
If you never had a problem, how would you know that I can solve them?
If you never had any suffering, then how would you know what I went through?
If I gave you all things, how would you appreciate them?
If I never corrected you, how would you know that I love you?
If you had all power, then how would you learn to depend on me?
If your life was perfect, then what would you need me for?
Love, Jesus.

Some curious facts

The first published novel "Tom Sawyer"

 - The first novel ever written on a typewriter: “Tom Sawyer.”
 - Coca-Cola was originally green.
 - Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.
 - The Hawaiian alphabet has 12 letters.
 - Men can read smaller print than women; but women can hear better.
 - The city with the most Rolls Royce's per capita: Hong Kong.
 - State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska.
 - Percentage of Africa that is wilderness:  28%
 - Percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%
 - Cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400
 - Average number of people airborne over the US any given hour:  61,000.
 - Each king in a deck of playing card represents a great king from history.
               Spades - King David,
               Clubs    - Alexander the Great,
               Hearts   - Charlemagne,
               Diamonds - Julius Caesar.

 - If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle; if  the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle; if the horse  has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.
 - Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.
 - The name Jeep came from the abbreviation used in the army for the "General Purpose" vehicle, G.P.
 - The only food that doesn’t spoil is honey.
 
Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter "A"?
A. One thousand

Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers all have in common?
A. All invented by women.

Q. What trivia fact about Mel Blanc (voice of Bugs Bunny) is the most ironic?
A. He was allergic to carrots.

Messages in my room

In my room in our home in Malta, a few years ago

One morning I woke up and I asked myself – what are some of the secrets of success in life? And I found the answer in my own room.
 - I looked at the fan in front of me telling me “Stay cool, don’t get hot under the collar.”
 - I imagined the ceiling telling me “Aim high!”
 - I imagined the window telling me “Open me wide and see the world in front of you.”
 - I imagined the clock telling me “Every minute is precious – don’t lose any of them idling or doing nothing.”
 - I looked at the mirror and she told me “Reflect carefully before making any important decisions.”
 - I imagined the calendar hanging on the wall reminding me ”Stay up-to-date!”
 - I could see the shower informing me “Wash off old stains, guilt feelings and move on, with a clean heart and a better disposition.”
 - I imagined the door challenging me “Push me open and start working, doing the things and projects you had planned to do and never got to doing them.”
 - I looked down at the carpet on the floor and I received the message loud and clear “Get down on your knees and pray!”

19 new Cardinals

Card Loris Capovilla, secretary to Pope John XXIII

Pope Francis named his first batch of Cardinals on Sunday, choosing 19 men from Asia, Africa, Latin America and elsewhere, including the developing nations of Haiti and Burkina Faso, in line with his belief that the church must pay more attention to the poor.
In a sentimental touch in Sunday's selections, one of the Cardinals too old to vote for the next Pope include 98-year-old Monsignor Loris Francesco Capovilla, who had served as personal secretary to Pope John XXIII. That late Pontiff will be made a saint along with John Paul II in a ceremony at the Vatican in April. 

These are the names of the 10 new prelates:
Archbishop Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State (Italy)
Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops (Italy)
Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (Germany)
Archbishop Beniamino Stella, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy (Italy)
Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster (Great Britain)
Archbishop Leopoldo José Brenes Solórzano of Managua (Nicaragua)
Archbishop Gérald Cyprien Lacroix of Québec (Canada)
Archbishop Jean-Pierre Kutwa of Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
Archbishop Orani João Tempesta, O.Cist. of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
Archbishop Gualtiero Bassetti of Perugia-Città della Pieve (Italy)
Archbishop Mario Aurelio Poli of Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Archbishop Andrew Yeom Soo Jung of Seoul (South Korea)
Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati Andrello SDB (Chile)
Archbishop Philippe Nakellentuba Ouédraogo of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)
Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, OMI of Cotabato (Philippines)
Bishop Chibly Langlois of Les Cayes (Haïti)

...and the three cardinals-designate over 80:
Archbishop Loris Francesco Capovilla (Italy)
Archbishop Fernando Sebastián Aguilar, CMF, emeritus of Pamplona (Spain)
Archbishop Kelvin Edward Felix, emeritus of Castries (St Lucia/Dominica)
 

Our Baptism

Ending the Christmas season today we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of Christ, which actually took place when he was 30 years old, at the Jordan River by St John the Baptist. It is an ideal opportunity for us to ask ourselves a few salient questions about our own baptism.
- how proud are we with the decision our parents took for us when they baptized us?
- how faithful have we been to that decision, and did we ever regret it?
- do you know which church you were baptized in?
- do you know the name of the priest who baptized you?
- do you know the date when you were baptized?
- do you know the name of your godparents?
- how close are you to our godparents, if they are still alive?
- do you participate in baptisms in your parish, especially by renewing your baptismal vows?
- do you try to live an unblemished, pure life symbolized by the white baptismal robe you wore on that special day?
- do you follow the light of Christ symbolized by the Paschal candle which was present on that special day?
- do you commemorate your baptism day in any way?

St John's Cathedral, Valletta, Malta

Gossip - nobody's friend - and everybody's enemy

Norman Rockwell's famous painting of gossipers

My name is gossip. I have no respect for justice.
I maim without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives.
I am cunning and malicious and gather strength with age.
The more I am quoted, the more I am believed.
My victims are helpless. They cannot protect themselves against me because I have no name and no face.
To track me down is impossible. The harder you try, the more elusive I become.
I am nobody’s friend.
Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same.
I topple governments and wreck marriages.
I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartaches and indigestion.
I make innocent people cry in their pillows.
Even my name hisses. I am called gossip. I make headlines and headaches.

So, to avoid becoming my next victim, before you repeat a story, ask yourself:
Is it True ?
Is it Helpful ?
Is it Important ?
Is it Necessary?
Is it Kind ?
(That’s an acronym for THINK)
If it isn’t, don’t repeat it !

Hello God

Hello God, I called tonight to talk a little while…
I need a friend who’ll listen to my anxiety and trial…

You see, I can’t quite make it through a day just on my own…
I need your love to guide me, so I’ll never feel alone.

I want to ask you please to keep, my family safe and sound.
Come and fill their lives with confidence for whatever fate they’re bound.

Give me faith, dear God, to face each hour throughout the day,
And not to worry over things I can’t change in any way.

I thank you God, for being home and listening to my call,
For giving me such good advice when I stumble and fall.

Your number, God, is the only one that answers every time.
I never get a busy signal, never had to pay a dime.

So thank you God, for listening to my troubles and my sorrow.
Good night, dear God, I love you too, and I’ll call again tomorrow.

The Monstrance

Our beautiful Monstrance was displayed yesterday for the first time. I used it during our school Mass and in the evening, ending our Faith Formation classes with Adoration and Benediction. I showed the children and youth up close the Monstrance, which was purchased thanks to the generosity of a few parishioners, along with two new chalices.

It has the symbols of the 4 Evangelists, as well as a symbol of the Holy, Spirit, the Lamb of Gd and the Sacred Heart. Underneath it has the Latin words, “Verbum caro factum est” - “And the word was made flesh,” a quote from the Gospel of St. John. The Monstrance will be used for perpetual adoration Monday to Friday at the historic church in downtown Bend, usually from 7:30 AM until 6 PM.

If dogs were teachers

IF  A  DOG  TAUGHT  A  CLASS, YOU  WOULD  LEARN  STUFF LIKE  . . .
“ When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
* Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
* Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
* When it's in your best interest - practice obedience.
* Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
* Take naps and stretch before rising.
* Run, romp, and play daily.
* Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
* Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do.
* On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
* On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.
* When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
* No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout...run right back and make friends.
* Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
* Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.  Stop when you have had enough.
* Be loyal.
* Never pretend to be something you're not.
* If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
* When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

The other side

When I was a little boy, my mother used to embroider a great deal. I would sit at her knee and look up from the floor and ask what she was doing. She informed me that she was embroidering. From the underside I watched her work within the boundaries of the little round hoop she held in her hand. I once complained to her that it sure looked messy from where I sat.
She smiled at me, looked down and gently said, "My son, you go about your playing for a while and when I am finished with my embroidering, I will put you on my knee and let you see it from my side."
I wondered why she was using some dark threads along with the bright ones and why they seemed so jumbled from my view. A few minutes passed and then I heard Mother's voice say, "Son, come and sit on my knee." This I did only to be surprised and I thrilled to see a beautiful flower. I could not believe it because from underneath it had looked so messy.
Then my mother said to me, "My son, from underneath it did look messy and jumbled, but you did not realize that there was a set plan on the top. It was a design. I was only following it. Now look at it from my side and you will see what I was doing."

Many times through the years I have looked up to God and asked, "Father, what are You doing?" He has answered, "I am embroidering your life." I say, "But it looks like a mess to me. It seems so jumbled. The threads seem so dark. Why can't they all be bright?"
Finally the Father seems to tell me, "My child, you go about your business of doing My business, and one day I will bring you to Heaven and put you on My knee and you will see the plan from My side.”

Anagrams

An anagram, as you all know, is a word or phrase made by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase. The following are exceptionally clever. Someone out there either has way too much time to waste or is deadly at Scrabble.
 
Word                                      When you rearrange the letters

Dormitory                             Dirty Room
Desperation                          A Rope Ends It
The Morse Code                   Here come Dots
Slot Machines                       Cash Lost in 'em
Animosity                              Is No Amity
Mother-in-law                      Woman Hitler
Snooze Alarms                      Alas! No More Z's
Alec Guinness                       Genuine Class
Semolina                                Is No Meal
The Public Art Galleries      Large Picture Halls, I Bet
A Decimal Point                    I'm a Dot in Place
The Earthquakes                  That Queer Shake
Eleven plus two                     Twelve plus one
Contradiction                         Accord not in it
Astronomer                            Moon Starer

Epiphany traditions

Today the three Kings or Magi arrive in Bethlehem and present Jesus with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. There are two traditions held on this day, both of which come to us from the Eastern European tradition. The first is when families write the names of the Three Kings on doorways of their homes as the head of the house goes around the house saying prayers and chanting various hymns. 

Chalk blessed by the priest on the feast of the Epiphany is given to the faithful to mark their entrance door with the current year and with the inscription C+M+B, the initials of Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, the traditional names of the Magi. The entire phrase would read    20 + C + M + B + 14. In addition to remembering the Magi, the inscription means the Latin phrase Christus Mansionem Benedicat, which means “Christ, bless this home.”

The cross is retrieved from the bottom of the sea

The second tradition is repeated in Greece and Greek communities around the world every January 6 or the feast of the Epiphany when dozens of teenage boys or young men jump into the murky, chilly and sometimes frozen water and dive for a wooden cross tossed in by a priest. The one lucky enough to surface with it earns instant celebrity status, a ride through the streets on the shoulders of his peers and – the Greek-American boys believe – the favor of God in the coming year.

Remembering my father

My father John as a policeman, 1955

It was 12 years ago today that my father left us suddenly - yet his spirit remains in my life and in the life of my siblings and nephews. His example of dedication to his family, his commitment to his faith and everything religious, his hard-working ethic and his devotion to his duty as a policeman and as father, have always been the norm by which I measure my own life. I remember him writing to me one day in New York and telling me that the best thing that ever happened to him was meeting my mother, who became his wife for 54 years.

A family photo from 1963

In this post I share some photos which I never shared before, showing my father and family over the years. May he rest in peace, as he is united with my mother and my brother Paul in their new heavenly home.

In 1983 by the Big Ben in London, en route to New York

July 24, 1998 - their 50th wedding anniversary

In 2001 with my mother and nephews Peter and Julian

A Prayer for Children

We pray for children who give us sticky kisses,
who hop on rocks and chase butterflies,
who stomp in puddles and ruin their math workbooks,  who can never find their shoes.
And we pray for those who stare at photographs from behind barbed wire,
who never squeaked across the floor in new sneakers,
who've never "counted potatoes", who are born in places we wouldn't be caught dead,
who never go to the circus, who live in an X-rated world

We pray for children who bring us fistfuls of dandelions and sing off key,
who have goldfish funerals, build card table forts, who slurp their cereal on purpose,
who put gum in their hair, put sugar in their milk, who spit toothpaste all over the sink,
who hug us for no reason, who bless us each night.
And we pray for those who never get dessert,
who watch their parents watch them die, who have no safe blanket to drag behind,
who can’t find any bread to steal, who don’t have any rooms to clean up,
whose pictures aren’t on anybody's dresser, whose monsters are real.

We pray for those who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,
who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,
who like ghost stories, who shove dirty clothes under the bed and never rinse out the tub,
who get quarters from the tooth fairy, who don't like to be kissed in front of their friends,
who squirm in church and scream when you're on the phone,
whose tears we sometimes laugh at and whose smiles can make us cry.
And we pray for those whose nightmares come in the daytime,
who will eat anything, who have never seen a dentist,
who aren't spoiled by anybody, who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,
who live and move, but have no being.
We pray for children who want to be carried, and for those who must.
For those we never give up on, and for those who don't have a chance.
For those we smother, and for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer.

Something to think about.....

Somebody has well said that there are only two kinds of people in the world. There are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord," and there are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, it's morning."

A father was approached by his small son, who told him proudly, "I know what the Bible means!"  His father smiled and replied, "What do you mean, you 'know' what the Bible means?" The son replied, "I do know!"
"Okay," said his father. "So, Son, what does the Bible mean?"
“That's easy, Daddy. It stands for Basic Information Before Leaving Earth.”

A little boy was attending his first wedding. After the service, his cousin asked him, "How many women can a man marry?"
"Sixteen," the boy responded. His cousin was amazed that he had an answer so quickly. "How do you know that?" "Easy," the little boy said. "All you have to do is add it up, like the Priest said: 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer."

People want the front of the bus, the back of the church and the center of attention.

A New Year - new beginnings

Though even thinking on the subject of time may prove discomforting, it is not a bad idea - especially at the beginning of a new year. As we look into “year” we look at a block of time. We see 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,000 seconds. And all of it is a gift from God. We have done nothing to deserve it, earn it, or purchase it. Like the air we breathe, time comes to us as a part of life. The gift of time is not ours alone. It is given equally to each person. Rich and poor, educated and ignorant, strong and weak—every man, woman and child has the same twenty-four hours every day.
Another important thing about time is that you cannot stop it. There is no way to slow it down, turn it off, or adjust it. Time marches on. And you cannot bring back time. Once it is gone, it is gone. Yesterday is lost forever. If yesterday is lost, tomorrow is uncertain. We may look ahead at a full year’s block of time, but we really have no guarantee that we will experience any of it. Obviously, time is one of our most precious possessions. We can waste it. We can worry over it. We can spend it on ourselves. Or, as good stewards, we can invest it in the kingdom of God. The New Year is full of time. As the seconds tick away, will you be tossing time out the window, or will you make every minute count? Make this simple resolution this year - make every minute count!
I wish all visitors to this blog a healthy, peace-filled, joyous and harmonious New Year!
 

Blessings in 2013

Saying goodbye to the Baker City Cathedral

This is a time for reflection as well as celebration. As you look back on the past year and all that has taken place in your life, remember each experience for the good that has come of it and for the knowledge you have gained. Remember the efforts you have made and the goals you have reached. Remember the love you have shared and the happiness you have brought. Remember the laughter, the joy, the hard work, and the tears. And as you reflect on the past year, also be thinking of the new one to come. Because most importantly, this is a time of new beginnings and the celebration of life.

A new Pope brings new hope to the entire world

It is a time for me personally to thank God and my bishop for trusting me with the leadership of the parish of St Francis of Assisi in Bend. It is time for me and my family to thank God for the graduation as a doctor of my nephew Julian and his mother Maria as a BA in Art History. It is time to honor two living Popes, Benedict XVI and Francis, as we welcome a new Shepherd, the first from Latin America. It is time to look back through so many photos I took over this past year, and continue to appreciate nature and wildlife in all its spectacular beauty. It is time to remember the many friends I left at Baker City, and the many new families and friends I met here in Bend. There are many others whom I’ll meet in the future, presently unknown to me - they are not strangers, but only friends I’ve not yet met. Finally I thank God for the blessings of my priesthood, through which I can share my love of the church, my love of the faith and my love for the people entrusted to my care. Happy New Year!

Love and beyond

Brenda Schmitz in a 2010 photo

Here's a warm-hearted story to end this year. This touching story of love was revealed recently from France. A young mother of 4 children, Brenda Schmitz, died of cancer in September 2011. One month before her death, she wrote a letter and sent it to a local radio station in Des Moines, France. The letter was to be kept a secret until a friend of the radio station learned that the woman’s husband, David fell in love with another woman.
David recently got engaged and the station Star 102.5 invited him to visit them so that they can reveal the secret letter. Brenda had written: “In these last few days of my life, I wish that my husband remains courageous. He was a good man and husband, and I know that my loss is going to be tough on him. He will have to take some very important decisions for his children and his future life. I also hope that he will eventually find a woman who loves him dearly and who will help him raise the children well.”
In the letter Brenda also thanked the woman who will marry David, and assured her that she loves her unconditionally. She also insisted that after her death a great party should be organized for her doctors, nurses and care givers. And she also insisted that her family goes on an outrageous vacation. An emotional David said simply that this letter did not surprise him one bit, because over the last 2 years since she died, she was always present in his life, in spite of her physical absence. A truly touching story of love and unselfishness, of loyalty and dedication.

A human Holy Family

"Holy Family" by Le Nain brothers

Today the church celebrates the feast of the Holy Family. Many of the pictures shown of the Holy Family of Nazareth depict them as the perfect couple with Jesus well behaved and obedient, usually playing with a bird, holding a pomegranate, or with John the Baptist. They still had their share of problems and issues to deal with, all through their lives. To start they had to escape into Egypt for 2 years because Herod was trying to kill baby Jesus. Once they settled in Nazareth, Mary and Joseph raised their son in a very simple environment. As a baby, Jesus had to be diaper-changed, he had to be nursed, toilet-trained eventually, learn how to walk, how to talk, and many other things that babies do as they grow and mature. 

"The Holy Family" by Esteban Murillo

This way we can very easily connect with the Holy Family of Nazareth, because they were very much like every American family raising toddlers. They had their hands full, and we don’t even know what tricks Jesus played on his parents. Because whether you’re in Bend, Oregon, Beverly Hills California, Buckingham Palace in London, or Nazareth in the Holy Land, boys will be boys!

Holy Innocents

William Holman Hunt  - "The Triumph of the Innocents"

As we commemorate one of the most heinous crimes in history today, we remember the countless innocent children killed by Herod, in his attempt to destroy Jesus. The Holy Innocents were given a martyr’s crown in the early days after the Savior’s birth. Knowing how precious they are to God and to everyone, we call on them to join in our prayer for an end to abortion and all forms of violence against children:
 - That the President of the United States, all other elected officials and judges may come to acknowledge the humanity of every child in the womb and to enact laws and policies to defend them.
 - That everyone throughout the world may be given the light to see beyond all doubt the full humanity and unique value of every child who has ever been conceived.
 - That all innocent children who suffer the scourges of war, the wrath of abuse, and the pain of neglect may come to know the power of God’s prevailing love and healing mercy.

The above painting by William Holman Hunt shows the Holy Family saving as many children as they could, taking them with them to Egypt, along with baby Jesus.

Also I remember today the beautiful memorial we erected besides the Cathedral in Baker City, in honor of our precious children, born and unborn. Who knows how many people pause as they walk by this Children’s Memorial and say a prayer. May each prayer said save a baby and help a distraught mother give birth to a her precious child.

The 4 Evangelists

Today being the feats of Saint John, the Evangelist and Apostle, I thought it would be a good idea to share with you the meaning of the symbols connected to each of the 4 Evangelists.
In iconography, the evangelists often are represented by 4 symbols, which originate from the four "living creatures" that appears in the vision in the Book of Ezekiel (Chapter 1) reflected in the Book of Revelation (4.6-9ff), though neither source links the creatures to the Evangelists. They are normally, but not invariably, all shown with wings like angels. One might note that these animals may have originally have been seen as representing the highest forms of the various types of animals, i.e., man, the king of creation as the image of the Creator; the lion as the king of beasts of prey (meat eating); the ox as the king of domesticated animals (grass eating) and the eagle as the king of the birds.

Matthew the Evangelist, the author of the first gospel account is symbolized by a winged man, or angel. Matthew's gospel starts with Jesus' genealogy from Abraham; it represents Jesus' Incarnation, and so Christ's human nature. This signifies that Christians should use their reason for salvation.
Mark the Evangelist, the author of the second gospel account is symbolized by a winged lion – a figure of courage and monarchy. Mark has John the Baptist preaching "like a lion roaring" at the beginning of his Gospel. It also represents Jesus' Resurrection (because lions were believed to sleep with open eyes, a comparison with Christ in the tomb), and Christ as king. This signifies that Christians should be courageous on the path of salvation.

Luke the Evangelist, the author of the third gospel account (and the Acts of the Apostles) is symbolized by a winged ox or bull – a figure of sacrifice, service and strength. Luke's account begins with the duties of Zacharias in the temple; it represents Jesus' sacrifice in His Passion and Crucifixion, as well as Christ being High priest (this also represents Mary's obedience). The ox signifies that Christians should be prepared to sacrifice themselves in following Christ.
John the Evangelist, the author of the fourth gospel account is symbolized by an eagle – a figure of the sky, and believed to be able to look straight into the sun. John starts with an eternal overview of Jesus the Logos (Word) and goes on to describe many things with a "higher" level than the other three (synoptic) gospels; it represents Jesus' Ascension, and Christ's divine nature. This represents that Christians should look on eternity without flinching as they journey towards their goal of union with God.

When surrounding Christ, the figure of the man is usually at top left – above Christ's right hand, with the lion above Christ's left arm. Underneath the man is the ox and underneath the lion is the eagle. This both reflects the medieval idea of the order of "nobility" of nature of the beasts (man, lion, ox, eagle) and the text of Ezekiel 1.10.

Historic church in Bend

After showing you what the new church of St Francis in Bend looks like, I share with you just two photos of the historic church, built in 1920, dressed up for Christmas. The red poinsettias dominate the reredos behind the main altar, while the nativity is placed in front of the altar, shadowed with white poinsettias. 

 We celebrate an afternoon Mass here every Sunday, which is always very crowded, while we celebrate weekday Masses here at 7 AM and 12:15 PM. Moreover the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held here Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM till 6 PM, with Benediction given at 12 noon. Soon I will show you the new Monstrance which we just bought, through the generosity of the parishioners. We will start using it sometime in early January.

From my home to your home

The sanctuary at St Francis of Assisi church, Bend

From my new parish, St Francis of Assisi in Bend, Oregon, I wish you all a most Blessed Christmas. I offer all my Masses for your intentions as I remember you all in my prayers and thoughts. And for all my friends, far and wide, I share greetings in different languages

Arabic: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Argentine: Feliz Navidad
Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Basque: Zorionak eta Urte Berri On
Croatian: Sretan Bozic
Danish: Glædelig Jul
Dutch: Zalig Kerstfeast
English: Merry Christmas
Esperanto: Gajan Kristnaskon
Finnish: Hyvaa joulua
French: Joyeux Noel
Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr
German: Froehliche Weihnachten
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Hindi: Christmas Mubarak Ho
Hungarian: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket
Icelandic: Gledileg Jol
Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal

Iraqi: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Italian: Buon Natale
Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Latin: Descendit de coelis Salvator mundi. Gaudeamus
Lithuanian: Linksmu Kaledu
Maltese: Il-Milied it-Tajjeb u s-Sena l-Gdida mimlija risq u hena
Norwegian: Gledelig Jul 
Peru: Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo
Philipines: Maligayan Pasko at Manibagong Bagong Taon
Polish: Wesotych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
Portuguese: Feliz Natal
Rumanian: Sarbatori vesele
Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
Slovakian: Vesele vanoce
Spanish: Feliz Navidad
Swahili: Heri kwa noeli na baraka nyingi kwa mwaka mpya
Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai
Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Vietnamese: Chung Mung Giang Sinh
Welsh: Nadolig Llawen

Christmas in Bend

St Francis of Assisi new church in Bend

Wishing all visitors to this blog a very Blessed Christmas and a Healthy and Peace-filled New Year, I share with you today a few images from my new home in Bend, two of them from my church, the other from the neighborhood.

Nativity set up at the entrance of St Francis Parish Center

Christmas Nativity in the neighborhood of the historic church

It will be a busy 2 days for me, but happy to share the message of Christmas with my new parishioners and many friends I've not yet met. This is the 700th post on this blog, with close to 80,000 visitors and celebrating my second year on January 5, 2014. All the best.