A Day of Travel

After the Parliament: The Work Continues...

Well I am finally connecting with all of you after the Parliament of the World

s Religions. the Parliament was wonderful and I will catch up. However, this week I need to stay involved with local events. Tonight I attended a vigil for all of the lives lost and inured in Lebanon, Paris, the skies of Egypt, Nigeria, Turkey and Mali. Tomorrow I attend a vigil for Syrian refugees and then Sunday I attend a Mass for all of the mentioned groups. There is much work to be done locally, with the ambassadors and globally. So, the blog/vlog will continue.

A Franciscan Weekend in the Fort

With only 11 days until the 2015 Parliament of the World's Religions it seems appropriate that I am immersed in a Franciscan weekend. In the year leading up to the Parliament I have attended mosques, Gurdwaras, Buddhist Temples, Hindu shrines, and Christian churches. I have participated in interfaith celebrations as well as interfaith vigils marking tragedies. I have presented, planned, and hosted events. So it seems right that with less than two weeks before the Parliament I go back to my roots. I attended a conference on Pope Francis' theology and ecology based on the example of Francis of Assisi. I participated in a Transitus service. I went to a mass marking the Feast of Saint Francis and finally I went to a reception celebrating 125 years of service by the Sisters of Saint Francis of perpetual Adoration. I look forward to celebrating the diversity of faith at the parliament and I will do that grounded in my Catholic-Franciscan tradition. I am ready for Salt lake city and the 2015 Parliament of the World's Religions.  

A Franciscan Weekend in the Fort

With only 11 days until the 2015 parliament of the World's Religions it seems appropriate that I end a year of preparation immersed in Franciscan events. in preparing for the parliament and in working to get the word out I have attended events in Sikh, Buddhist, Muslim and Christian Houses of Worship. I have attended interfaith celebrations and interfaith vigils marking tragedies. it seemed very appropriate that this weekend I attend a conference on the faith and ecology of a pope influenced by the example of St. Francis. I also attend a Transitus service, a Mass  in observation of the Feast of St. Francis and a reception. I feel fortified in my Catholic-Franciscan values as I prepare to go to Salt lake City to meet and celebrate fait with others from so many traditions. It is almost time!

Student Franciscan Pilgrimage: Day Five

Today the students leave Rome and begin an intense focus on the lives and impact of Francis and Clare. They begin, not in Assisi but in Greccio. Greccio is a mountain hermitage outside the village of Greccio in Tuscany. In this little town, in 1223, Francis recreated a living Nativity scene. Francis was a concrete thinker. This concrete thinking appears to function as his launch into activity. In this case it was a way for Francis to demonstrate to others the humility of the creator joining His creations by becoming a helpless infant to a poor family. His demonstration must have been effective because 800 years later living nativity scenes are still popular!


The Christmas Crib of Greccio

The pilgrims will spend time in this mountain hermitage. They will spend time in the places Francis visited and prayed at. They will see displays of crèches made today by the village people of Greccio. The crèches are not of Bethlehem 2000 years ago but of the world today. They demonstrate that Jesus is with us now.

The pilgrims will celebrate Eucharist at Greccio. This is appropriate since Francis was able to get the pope’s permission to have Eucharist celebrated on that Dec. 24th 800 years ago.

The Rieti Valley has a number of Franciscan hermitages. The valley was not always a valley. The ancient Romans came across a large lake. They drained the lake to make a staging area for the Imperial Army. I cannot even comprehend how that is possible. The pilgrims will have a traditional Italian Christian lunch at La Foresta. They will then take a bus ride south to Assisi.

When they arrive in Assisi they will walk past most of the important sites they will get to know over the coming days. They will get their room assignments at Casa Papa Giovani, their pensione. They will then have their first of many meals at Casa Papa’s. They will learn to look forward to the food and the prayers that are song.


Assisi

After dinner they will have a brief orientation and then they will join the city in welcoming in the New Year. They will go to the piazza commune, the town center. This piazza, with its fountain,. Roman Temple, cobblestone and city walls will prove to be the anchor of many of their excursions in the coming days. After the celebrations they will join the New Year in the chapel with Adoration and Praise.

Link to New Vlog

Well, this blog is moving way too slow. It was a nice introduction, for me, to blogging. Now it is time to continue the journey but with a clean slate. So, "alongthepaths" will now be my active/current blog. I will not close this one and from time to time refer back to it.The new blog will focus more on video and will be more of a vlog and a traditional blog.

My Front Yard Community

Well, as I mentioned with the last post, this is a time of catch up! So what do I have first? To start with, just some video of my animal friends who visit our front yard daily. This was last summer. We had made a decision to get rid of the grass. Our yard is all grasses and flowers. Oh, and bird feeders, squirrel feeders and bird baths. Francis would approve! Front Yard Feeding I am especially fond of the Morning Doves and the Woodpeckers. We also get visits from Blue Jays, Cardinals, and finches. We are beginning to develop an impressive little library on birds! A Busy Front Yard I love our squirrels. However, my favorite visitor is this sneaky little chipmunk. If we are in the house he is brave and will eat with the squirrels and birds. However, if we are anywhere near the yard he does the best disappearing act I have ever seen. Chipmunk in My Front Yard Well, now it is winter. Our guests are less spectacular but the one’s who have stayed our loyal. I like our little community.