More animal photos - part 2

A bald eagle on a tree in Keating, Oregon

A few more photos of animals in the wild, most of them in Central and Eastern Oregon. These include a majestic bald eagle, two sandhill cranes, a group of Clydesdale horses, a chipmunk perched on a rock, and a deer checking out his date. These are all photos I took on some of my trips, some of them between Baker City and Halfway, where I traveled every weekend for 8 years.

Two sandhill cranes in Whitney, between Baker City and John Day

Clydesdale horses in Central Idaho

An inquisitive chipmunk in Crater Lake, Oregon

A male deer looking out for a date, found in Richland, Oregon

Some animal photos - part 1

A blue heron in flight, caught between Baker City and Halfway

As we experience the longest days of the year, I want to go back to my own photo album and share with you some of best animal photos I took over the past few years. They are presented here with no particular order, but since I have quite a few of them, I share them over the next few days. They include a blue heron in flight, a yellow-headed blackbird, a male and female quail, and a family of ducks and ducklings.....more tomorrow.

Yellow-headed blackbrid, caught on the Prineville reservoir

A male and female quail, caught in Richland, Oregon

Ducks on a family outing in Dayville, Oregon

Amazing Grace

There is a story that somehow parallels today’s Gospel reading of the apostles being afraid of the storm at sea, which Jesus calmed down. A man named John Newton had some early religious instruction from his mother, but had never practiced his Christian faith. He was pressed into service in the Royal Navy, and then became involved in the Atlantic Slave Trade. In 1748, a violent storm battered his vessel off the coast of Ireland. He knew he was going to die and he called out to God for mercy, promising that he would change his life, if he was saved. He survived! While his boat was being repaired, he wrote the first verse of what became one of the most popular hymns. He eventually became a Minister in the Church of England and people packed his churches whenever he preached. The hymn he wrote was:                               
“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

Thro' many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”

Let us be aware of God’s presence in our lives. We don’t have to be sinking or drowning to call on Him. He knows what we need way before we ask Him. Just hold on tight to Him, through your prayer life, through the Eucharist, the life-line that always connects us with Him.

Highlights from new Encyclical

These are some highlights of ‘Laudato Si', Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment....on subjects ranging from abortion to consumerism. An encyclical is a long essay written by a Pope every 2 years or so. "Laudato Si" means "Praised be...." the first words of the text, taken from St Francis of Assisi.....“Praise be to you, my Lord.”

On waste
The Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.

On the extinction of species
Because of us, thousands of species will no longer give glory to God by their very existence, nor convey their message to us. We have no such right.

On God’s love
The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, his boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains: everything is, as it were, a caress of God.
 
On climate change
A very solid scientific consensus indicates that we are presently witnessing a disturbing warming of the climatic system...... Humanity is called to recognize the need for changes of lifestyle, production and consumption, in order to combat this warming or at least the human causes which produce or aggravate it.

On the need for action
Doomsday predictions can no longer be met with irony or disdain. We may well be leaving to coming generations debris, desolation and filth. The pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planet’s capacity that our contemporary lifestyle can only precipitate catastrophes. The effects of the present imbalance can only be reduced by our decisive action, here and now.

A nun reading the text of the Encyclical 'Laudato Si."

On consumerism
Less is more.” A constant flood of new consumer goods can baffle the heart and prevent us from cherishing each thing and each moment.
 
On abortion
How can we genuinely teach the importance of concern for other vulnerable beings, however troublesome or inconvenient they may be, if we fail to protect a human embryo, even when its presence is uncomfortable and creates difficulties? “If personal and social sensitivity towards the acceptance of the new life is lost, then other forms of acceptance that are valuable for society also wither away.”

On gender ideology
Also, valuing one’s own body in its femininity or masculinity is necessary if I am going to be able to recognize myself in an encounter with someone who is different. In this way we can joyfully accept the specific gifts of another man or woman, the work of God the Creator, and find mutual enrichment.

On progress
Humanity has changed profoundly, and the accumulation of constant novelties exalts a superficiality which pulls us in one direction. It becomes difficult to pause and recover depth in life. Nobody is suggesting a return to the Stone Age, but we do need to slow down and look at reality in a different way, to appropriate the positive and sustainable progress which has been made, but also to recover the values and the great goals swept away by our unrestrained delusions of grandeur.

June 19, 1977

Ordination day with my family, June 19, 1977

Today I go back 38 years ago, as I join my classmates in celebrating our anniversary to the priesthood. All of them are now in Malta, a few still pastors, others semi-retired, while others still working at various positions and offices in the church in Malta. We spent 7 glorious years together at the Major Seminary, while studying at the University of Malta. Seminary life was very special to me, and living in a community was very rewarding and enriching. At one time we were close to 100 seminarians at various stages of the priesthood. Nowadays the numbers have dwindled even though vocations for the priesthood and religious life are still fairly healthy. 

My Ordination holy card, front and back

The quote I used for my Ordination holy card was from the first letter of St Peter: "Tend the flock of God in your midst, [overseeing] not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly." (1 Peter 5:2.) I offer my Mass today for the Rectors, Vice-Rectors, Spiritual Director and professors and teachers who taught us over the 7 years we spent together, most of whom have since passed away. I offer my Mass for my parents, brothers and sisters, nephews and relatives and friends in the parishes I served over the past 38 years, St Julian’s, (Malta,) New Hyde Park, Rocky Point, Hicksville, Pleasant Valley (all in New York) and John Day, Baker City and Bend (all in Oregon.)

With my classmates just after the ordination Mass

A Little Town

A little town is where you don’t have to guess who your enemies are. Your friends will tell you.
A little town is the only place on earth where people past middle age are called by their first names when they saunter down the street.
A little town is where a few people can get away with lying about the year they were born. Too many people can remember.
A little town is where people with various ailments can air them properly to sympathetic ears.
A little town is where, when you get a wrong number, you can talk for 15 minutes anyhow.
A little town is where the ratio of good people to bad people is something like 100 to one. That’s nice to remember.
A little town is where it is hard for anybody to walk to work for exercise because it takes too long to stop and explain to people in cars who stop, honk and offer a ride.
A little town is where city folks say there is nothing to do, but those who live there don’t have enough nights in the week to make all the meetings and social functions.
A little town is where everyone becomes a ‘neighbor’ in time of need.
A little town is where businessmen struggle for survival against city stores and shopping centers.
A little town is where those same businesses dig deep many times to help with countless fund-raising projects.
A little town is where it’s nice to be when rearing a family.
A little town is where you don’t have to lock your doors every time you leave the house.
A little town, when all is said and done, is a nice place to live.

How the poor live

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people can be. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.  On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"It was great, Dad."
"Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked.
"Oh Yeah" said the son.
"So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father proudly.
The son answered:
I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. 
We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. 
Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. 
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. 
We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. 
We buy our food, but they grow theirs. 
We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."
With this the boy's father was speechless.
Then his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."
Too many times we forget what we have and concentrate on what we don't have. 
What is one's persons worthless object is another's prize possession. It is all based on one's perspective.
It makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for all the bounty we have instead of worrying about wanting more.
Take joy in what you have and see the treasure in it.

St Anthony quotes

St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231)

Last Saturday June 13 was the liturgical feast of St Anthony. Since it was also the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, unfortunately he got bumped. But today I like to give him some credit by sharing with you three of his quotes:

May your love grow in knowledge and understanding so that you may know how to discern not only between good and evil, but also to distinguish between what is good and what is even better.

We need external peace to live with others; we need internal peace to live with ourselves; and we need eternal peace to live with God.

When the rays of the sun strike crystal, it glitters like sparks of a fire. A faithful Christian, illumined by rays like a crystal, ought to illumine his neighbor with the light of good example, through word and deed.

Truly honest people possess a harmonious and pleasant demeanor; nothing reproachable can be found in their actions, nothing inappropriate in their words, nothing indecent in their manner. Being spontaneous and respectful, their behavior wins the admiration and goodwill of all.

Table Graces

A Norman Rockwell painting - Thanksgiving Dinner

As families gather for dinner, may I suggest some table graces, which can be shared by children, parents and anyone sitting around the dinner table. 

Our Father, we are grateful for this family,
who hand in hand form one unbroken circle.
Help us to do your will,
as caring individuals and as a loving family. Amen.

We thank you Lord, for happy hearts,
for rain and sunny weather.
We thank you Lord, for this our food,
and that today we are together.

We’re thankful for the many things
Our Heavenly Father sends:
For love and faith and strength and health,
For home and food and friends.

A caricature of the Rockwell painting, which is happening too often

For bright lights and warm fires,
we thank You o Lord.
For good food and the clothes we wear,
we thank You o Lord.
For the care and love of father and mother,
we thank You o Lord.
For friends who come to be our guests,
we thank You o Lord.
For all the things you have given us to enjoy,
we thank You o Lord.
For true happiness which comes when we share,
we thank You o Lord.

For each new morning with its light....
For rest and shelter of the night......
For health and food, for love and friends......
For everything Your goodness sends.....
We thank you Father.

From watercolor to stained-glass

Next to the stained-glass window installed at the Phaneuf residence in Bend, OR

One of our new families in our parish just moved here from Minnesota over the past 6 months. They moved to a house which had a window opening inside and thought of installing a stained-glass window in its place, something to remind them of Oregon. So they discovered some of my watercolor paintings and asked me if I could create something that would fit there. Obviously I was honored they liked my style of painting, which is very simple and amateurish.

The original watercolor used as a base model

Lo and behold, I created a landscape scene and within a few months, they had the painting-turned-stained-glass installed. So this past week, I was asked to visit them again and sign the finished masterpiece. Thanks to Dianne and Pat Phaneuf, I now have a painting that has been transferred into a stained-glass window, which is a faithful reproduction, complete with mountains, cat-tails, rocks, trees and a canoe.

Signing the finished stained-glass window

The stained-glass as seen from the other side

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Following the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, today we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Similar to yesterday's feast, it was St John Eudes who promoted this devotion first in 1648 in the town of Autun, France, and later on in all the French dioceses. In 1799, Pope Pius VI granted the Bishop of Palermo the permission to celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in his diocese. When the revelation of the 'Miraculous Medal" to St Catherine Laboure took place in 1830, the impetus for this devotion was even more obvious. Mary's love for us all is just as powerful and consistent as that of her Son, Jesus. When we feel sad or depressed, let us go to Mary and enjoy her loving embrace given with compassion, devotion and respect.

Feast of the Sacred Heart

The feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus gained much popularity after the visions that St Margaret Mary Alacoque had from Jesus around the year 1675. The church initially had doubts about the authenticity of the visions, but approved them almost 100 years later. The feast was first celebrated in France only but was extended to the universal church in 1856 by Pope Pius IX. The Sacred Heart is often depicted in Christian art as a flaming heart shining with divine light, pierced by a lance, surrounded by a crown of thorns, surmounted by a cross, and bleeding. If we can only comprehend the sacrifices Jesus made for us, and in spite of our weaknesses and shortcomings, He loves us unconditionally, even when we tend to take Him for granted. May our love for Him be just as powerful and intimate. May we appreciate His endless support and care towards our well-being, represented also in the way the church, priests, sisters and other people show their affection towards everything that is Roman Catholic.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to You I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to You , and to do all for Your love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease You. I take You , O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be, O Most Merciful Heart, my justification before God Your  Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited. I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in You, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Your infinite Goodness. Annihilate in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Imprint Your pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget You or be separated from You . I beseech You , through Your infinite Goodness, grant that my name be engraved upon Your Heart, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and to die as one of Your devoted servants. Amen.

James Last

James Last (1929-2015) - a great musician and human being

Many people grew up with the music of Elvis Presley, or the Beatles, or other artists if you were growing up in the 1980s and 1990s. But if you were in Europe in the 1960s and 1970s, the music of James Last literally made your heart and pulse beat faster. The world of music is saddened with the loss of one of their favorite musicians.
James Last (born Hans Last) was born in Bremen, Germany on April 17, 1929 and was the most popular musical arranger and a big band leader. His "happy music" made his numerous albums best-sellers in Germany and the United Kingdom. He began studying the piano at age 10, but his first music teacher felt he lacked any musical talent. Last started playing more actively with his second tutor and switched to the double bass as a teenager.  After the end of the war, he joined Hans Günther Oesterreich's Radio Bremen Dance Orchestra. In 1948, he became the leader of the Last-Becker Ensemble, which performed for seven years. He was voted as the best bassist in the country in a German jazz poll for 1950, 1951 and 1952.

The cover of one of the 190 albums released by James Last

Last first released albums in the U.S. under the title “The American Patrol” on Warner Brothers around 1964. He also released a series of nine albums in a series called Classics Up To Date vols. 1–9 which served up arrangements of classical melodies with strings, rhythm and wordless chorus from the mid-1960s through the early 1980s. Last released an album, Non-Stop Dancing, in 1965, a recording of brief renditions of popular songs, all tied together by an insistent dance beat and crowd noises. It was a hit and helped make him a major European star. Over the next four decades, Last released over 190 records, including several more volumes of Non-Stop Dancing.  He had married his first wife, Waltraud, in 1955; they had two children, Ronald and Caterina. Waltraud died in 1997. Last divided his time between Florida and Hamburg with his second wife Christine. He gave much credit to Christine and son Ronald, for help with his music. James Last died on 9 June 2015 in Florida at the age of 86.

2015 Parish High School Graduates

Parishioners who graduated from High School this past weekend

Yesterday I showed you the 8th Grade Graduates from our Catholic Parish School. Today I will introduce you to the High School students who are parishioners of St Francis. Unfortunately not all of them were there, but these were the ones who were at the Baccalaureate Mass on Sunday.
From left to right are : Elizabeth Lasilla, Emily Hyde, Mackenzie Halligan, Gabe Wyllie, Teddie Widmer, Rebecca Slough and Macey Connors. Among those who could not be at the Mass were Joseph Schwarz, Alexis Rastovich, Victoria Rastovich, Carol Sanchez, Joel Arker, Shannon Brennan, Cesar Eligio, Jorge Garcia, Michael Hayes, Carmen McBride, Joseph McCance, Ellen Nopp, Ezequiel Rivera, Joseph Theobald, Jasmine Dominguez, Tia Hatton and Dillon Slye. Congratulations to all.

St Francis 2015 Graduation

2015 St Francis Catholic School Graduates - Left to right: Hannah Slye, Marie Mosely, Emily McLean, Stella Hyde, Nicole Gallivan, John Fawcett, Steven Dominguez

7 students graduated yesterday from St Francis Catholic school. These are the last of thousands of students who have graduated from our school since 1936, and I offer to you today the message and homily I shared with them and their parents and teachers during Mass yesterday.

It is a true honor today leading this Mass on the occasion of your Graduation from St Francis. Thousands of students have graduated over the years since 1936. Every time I ask a congregation in church by show of hands how many attended St Francis, there is always a nice group of proud alumni who have great recollections of the years spent in our school. I also know that many of you, with your siblings, have spent 8, 10, even 15 years in our school. But remember that your Graduation today is not the end of the road, but rather a transition stage. As if you’re on a train, and today you’re changing track,  the train itself, maybe even your luggage. Your train will now pick up speed - your studies will be harder and more demanding in High School. And the competition will become more intense.

Let me tell you secret that may shock you - I never graduated, never experienced a graduation ceremony. In Malta, we just study, work hard, get good grades of course and receive a diploma only at the University or College level. In my case it was at my ordination, 38 years ago (when your own parents were toddlers themselves) - the ordination for me was equivalent to my Graduation. And from then on, it was and still is, non-stop work. My diploma is not hanging on wall, framed and turning yellow or brown by now, but is engraved in my heart, molded in my mind, and is evident by what I do with my hands, my feet, my speech, my homilies, talks, my counseling people, visits to hospitals, talking to students and young people, helping couples keep their marriage together. And so much more. And so your success in life will be shown by what you can accomplish after you finish your schooling, and start working, in whatever field you decide to take on.

Thank God always for your health, your talents, your potential, and never take him for granted. Never think that you don’t need God in your life. I’ve seen too many young people go down in the valley of destruction when they felt they could do it by themselves, and then they reached out to God, and changed their lives. You will certainly have many distractions and temptations facing you in HS and College. But persevere and strive for the best. Even the names of your future High Schools can give you the impression of having reached a milestone, but it’s long way ahead. You can only reach the summit of Summit when your grades are close to 4.0. You can get a good look from a Mountain View when the view is clear and sharp and there are no distractions or temptations hindering your focus. You can enjoy being at Bend High and feel you’ve reached the highest peak of your life - but remember that just as you see things up high, you can still come down with a big thump. You can also end up at Trinity up the road and you will be successful as long as you can keep God and Jesus in your life, and let the Holy Spirit inspire every step you take.

In the name of your parents, your teachers and those who have admired you all along, I want to thank you for the inspiration you have been to so many. And even though I’ve been here for less than 2 years, some of you have been an inspiration to me personally.

Stella Hyde – I admire your dedication to your studies, reflected in the cross-county skiing you and your family love so much. You have the drive to reach for higher goals, and your patience, your perseverance, and your utmost dedication to make your dreams come true is an inspiration to me personally.
Steven Dominguez – I will always remember your portrayal of Jesus at the Living Stations, and I thank your family who participate in our Spanish Mass, especially with the music.
Emily McLean – of course you always impressed me by your voice, but especially in being courageous enough to face a large crowd and lead the singing as a Cantor when you were still in 7th grade. Remember that your voice is a gift – use it profitably to inspire other people and our congregation here every Sunday.
Hannah Slye – if you follow your mom’s career, you will be a fine nurse, but please don’t try to become a surgeon, because if you handle patients as you handled that poor frog last week, we’re all in big trouble. The good thing was that he was already dead. And keep that smile which is a special gift that you can share with everyone else.
Marie Mosely – your gentle nature is also an inspiration to me, especially how close you are to your family, and a role-mother to your younger siblings.
Nicole Gallivan – I admire your dedication to your studies, and only last weekend I witnessed personally the discipline in focusing on your studies, especially when all your friends were enjoying the trampoline after your brother’s Confirmation. Studying Latin on a Sunday evening when your siblings and friends were having fun shows character, determination, discipline and a strong motivation to not let extra-curricular activities interfere with your studies.
John Fawcett – the first time I met you (or better yet, heard you play,) I was mesmerized. I had just arrived at St Francis and it was during the Central Oregon Symphony Concert when this young boy came on stage to place Edoard Lalo’s ‘Symphonie Espanol.’ When he finished I looked at the program and found out that this was one of our boys. Ever since I have admired you, followed your career, heard you leading a string quartet, in orchestras, and as a soloist, frequently at some of my weddings. Remember your roots when you play at Carnegie Hall.

A Time Magazine article a few years ago interviewed the Harvard applicants at the prestigious Ivy College, and were asked which were their two priorities - the answer out of 99% was power and money. They may be important for your success in life, but they are not everything. Remember the values that brought you here - and your parents can tell you about sacrifice, love, determination, commitment, loyalty. Remember that your parents and grandparents and teachers survived without the Ipod, Ipad, Iphone, Itunes, but they emphasized other values that are irreplaceable and indestructible, the I love you, I care for you, I miss you, I respect you and I forgive you.

Remember and be proud of the values that were given to you since the time you were born, the values of patience, tolerance, forgiveness, appreciation, respect and the one that you probably didn’t like, but the one that gave you identity and character, that is the value of discipline. Don’t be embarrassed to say that you are Catholic. Contrary to what many young people think, people will not make fun of you if you tell them you go to Church every Sunday. They will admire you, and we will be proud of you. Better yet, bring a friend along, as I see many College students do when they visit their families. This is the one thing that makes me so proud of them.

Remember the Kindergarten teachers as well as your Middle School teachers. Sometimes we forget those who really put a strong foundation, even in our younger grades. Remember older siblings or that baby-sitter who spent hours watching you fall asleep, changed hundreds of messy diapers, and helped you even with school work, your homework and many other projects. Remember that coach who taught you how to swing a bat, throw a football, or learn to swim, snow ski and bicycle.

Remember that drama, health and music teacher, your mentors and counselors who spent hours trying to figure out what may be troubling you, only to find out that it was a sweetheart who broke your heart because they didn’t return a phone-call. Remember the priests and teachers who taught you here at the Religious Ed program over the years. Remember especially your parents who must have sacrificed so much for your upbringing, your education and your overall well being. You would not be here if it weren’t for them and their love for you. We won’t say Good Bye today, but So Long, and until we meet again. Congratulations. (Father Julian)

A lesson from the Geese

Every spring, we notice a contingent of geese migrating up north to warmer climate, and in the fall, we see them heading south for warmer climates in the winter. It’s such a fascinating sight seeing those hundreds of geese following each other in that breath-taking V-formation. Have you realized how much we can learn from watching these geese fly past us?
 
 - When geese fly in formation, they travel about 70% faster than when they fly alone. (Christians who have a sense of community can travel that way more effectively.)
 - Geese share leadership. When the one in the front gets tired, he rotates back to the wing and another flies forward to take his place. (What does this say about sharing?)
 - Geese honk from behind. Those in the rear honk to urge those in front to keep their speed up. (What can we do to encourage and support our leaders?)

 - Geese keep company with the fallen. When a weak or sick goose drops out of the flight, at least other joins him to help and protect. As God’s people, we are to care for each other on the way “gearing one another’s burdens to fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
- Geese mate for life. You see a male and female together all the time - and they keep the same mate for life. What does this teach us about marriage and fidelity and relationships?
We can learn a lot from geese, can’t we?

The greatest gift - the Eucharist

The Blessed Sacrament at our historic church

Without any doubt, the greatest gift Jesus could have left us was in the Eucharist. He also gave us His mother Mary as our Mother, just before He died on the cross, but a few hours earlier, he gave us His Body and His Blood, literally and figuratively, as our everlasting spiritual food. We are also honored to adore His presence every day. Not only in our own church, but in every church around the world, the Blessed Sacrament is present for Adoration, prayer and private time with the Lord. When people pray in His presence, miracles happen, as many people can tell you. 

The Blessed Sacrament at St Julian's church, Malta

Today’s celebration of Corpus Christi further accentuates the respect and reverence we should all show to the Eucharist. Processions are held in various countries, a tradition started by St Juliana of Liege in the 12th century.

The Blessed Sacrament at Holy Family, Hicksville, NY

The dead duck and the devil

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the sling shot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved! In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his sister watching!

Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes" But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes. Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally just smiled and said, "Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help" She whispered again, "Remember the duck?"

So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."

Remember that whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.)...whatever it is ...You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you. The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness; He not only forgives you, but He forgets. It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved.

An Old Farmer's Advice

These are some clever, funny, yet thoughtful pieces of advice that come from the mouth of an experienced farmer. Anyone who has any experience with ranching and farming can agree how true these little bits of wisdom are!

* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
* Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.
* Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
* Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.
* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
* Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
* It don't take very big person to carry a grudge.
* You cannot unsay a cruel word.
* Every path has a few puddles.
* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

* The best sermons are lived, not preached.
* Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
* Don't judge folks by their relatives.
* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
* Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you.
* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
* The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'."
* Always drink upstream from the herd.
* Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
* Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.
* If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
* Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

Rainbow over Bend

A rainbow behind the new St. Francis of Assisi church in Bend

A spectacular rainbow appeared on Tuesday June 2 over Bend, and as soon as I noticed it, I was running around to take a few photos from different angles, including a few with the St Francis new church in the foreground. Sometimes you have to be in the right spot at the right time. But I don't call it luck, but divine inspiration, a gift of hope from above.

Rainbow over Bend, photo taken from Pilot Butte

St Charles Lwanga and his companions

One of 22 Ugandan martyrs, Charles Lwanga is the patron of youth and Catholic action in most of tropical Africa. He protected his fellow pages (aged 13 to 30) from the homosexual demands of the Bagandan ruler, Mwanga, and encouraged and instructed them in the Catholic faith during their imprisonment for refusing the ruler’s demands.

For his own unwillingness to submit to the immoral acts and his efforts to safeguard the faith of his friends, Charles was burned to death at Namugongo on June 3, 1886, by Mwanga’s order. Charles first learned of Christ’s teachings from two retainers in the court of Chief Mawulugungu. While a catechumen, he entered the royal household as assistant to Joseph Mukaso, head of the court pages.

On the night of Mukaso’s martyrdom for encouraging the African youths to resist Mwanga, Charles requested and received Baptism. Imprisoned with his friends, Charles’s courage and belief in God inspired them to remain chaste and faithful.

When Pope Paul VI canonized these 22 martyrs on October 18, 1964, he referred to the Anglican pages martyred for the same reason. Although the Anglicans could not be canonized, they were named "with the others, also deserving mention" for enduring "death for the name of Christ".The Basilica of the Uganda Martyrs was built at the site of the executions, and serves as their shrine. Their remains are in Kampala. he order known as "The Brothers of St. Charles Lwanga" were founded in 1927 as an indigenous religious congregation of Ugandan men committed to providing education to the youth of their country.

Pope Francis - a candid interview - part 2

According to one cardinal who took part in the 2005 conclave which elected Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Bergoglio had received the second most votes after Joseph Ratzinger. But at the moment of the election, the Pope said that he felt “a great peace.” As they were counting the votes, “I was praying my rosary.” Pope Francis said he doesn't cry in public, but admits that there have been occasions where “I was about to cry and stopped right in time.” One of these instances, he said, occurred when he “was speaking about persecuted Christians.”

The pontiff also added that he’s not afraid of anything. He is “in God’s hands” with regard to any possible attempts against his life. He simply prays that, if it has to be, God will give him grace not to feel physical pain. Pope Francis said he says this prayer because he is a “coward” when it comes to pain. “I can manage the moral pain, but I can't manage the physical pain.” Pope Francis also said that he feels the pressures of daily life like any person who governs. And he admitted that the intensity of his duties is weighing on him. “I am pushing forward an intense rhythm of work,” as if it were the last year of school, he said.

Pope Francis also addressed problems surrounding the media's coverage of him, which he says “takes a word and uses it out of context.” The Pope said he reads only one newspaper – the Italian “La Repubblica” – but even then only for about 10 minutes. He also has not watched television in twenty-five years owing to “a promise I made to the Virgin of Mount Carmel on the night of July 15, 1990.” A supporter of the soccer team San Lorenzo, he does not watch the football matches, and he keeps himself updated on a weekly basis by a Swiss Guard. According to Pope Francis, the worst evils in the world are poverty, corruption and human trafficking. He said that he always asks people to pray for him because he “needs it. It is an internal need.” Pope Francis concluded the interview by saying that he simply wants to be remembered as a good guy.

Pope Francis - a candid interview - part 1

In a recent interview with an Argentine newspaper, Pope Francis said he misses the “tranquility of walking in the streets” and that he's always been “callejero” – a man of the city. The interview was published May 24, and is the result of a 45 minute meeting between the pontiff and a journalist and photographer. Pope Francis said that since being elected Pope, he misses being able to “go out in the streets,” or even “going to a pizzeria to eat a good pizza.” When the journalist told him that he can always order a delivery pizza, he responded: “it is not the same thing.”
“I have always been a 'callejero.' When I was cardinal, I loved walking the streets, and taking buses and the underground,” he said. He noted that “from a psychological point of view, I cannot live without people, I am not useful as a monk.” The Pope said that this is the reason why he chose to live in the Saint Martha residence. There are 210 rooms. We are 40 living there and working for the Holy See, while the rest of people are guests, bishops, priests, lay people who pass and are accommodated here, and I like this a lot. Coming here, eating in the refectory where everybody eats, celebrating Mass there, where four days a week there are people from the outside, from the parish priests. I like it a lot,” he said.

Pope Francis also revealed details surrounding his day-to-day life. “I sleep so profoundly” – he said – “that as soon as I get in bed, I fall asleep. I sleep six hours a day. Normally, I stay in bed from 9 p.m., and read until almost 10 p.m. As soon as one of my eyes waters, I turn off the light and I sleep until 4 a.m., when I wake up by myself, thanks to my biological clock.” During the afternoons, Pope Francis takes a siesta that last from 40 minutes to one hour. “When I don’t take the siesta, I suffer,” he said. Pope Francis also said that he never dreamed of being a Pope, and that he had planned to return to Argentina from the 2013 conclave to live as a simple priest and confessor. (to be continued tomorrow)