#New Zealand Catholic bishops

[beardedmrbean]

A creeper confesses to his bishop. He’s raping his 5-year-old daughter.

For seven years, the bishop tells no one outside his church – remaining silent, as a church lawyer advises him to do – and the abuse continues. Then the creeper starts raping another daughter, just six weeks old.

Last week, a Cochise County judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by several of the creeper's children against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It’s galling, though not surprising, that a judge would decline to hold the church responsible. While Arizona has a mandatory reporting law for teachers and doctors and such, members of the clergy are not required to report a confession that a child is being abused.

What is shocking – stunning, really – is that a key state legislator won’t even consider changing the law to carve out an exemption that might have protected that 5-year-old girl, her sister and God only knows how many other children.

Rapist's rights trump those of his victim

“The seal of confession is a sacred, sacred part of the Catholic church,’’ Rep. Quang Nguyen, who is Catholic, recently told Capitol Media Services' Howard Fischer.

Put another way, a rapist’s sacred religious rights trump a child’s sacred right to be protected from a sexual predator? Really, sir?

This horror story was brought to light last year, the result of an Associated Press investigation into the Mormon church’s handling of child sexual abuse cases.

Paul Adams, of Bisbee, a father of six, admitted during a counseling session with his bishop that he was raping his then-5-year-old daughter.

According to court records, Bishop John Herrod called the church’s help line, which is used by bishops to report child sex abuse to church officials in Salt Lake City, and was advised by attorney not to call the police or alert anyone outside the church. According to the AP, which based its report on court records, attorney Merrill Nelson advised Herrod and his eventual replacement, Bishop Robert "Kim" Mauzy, for more than two years not to report Adams.

So they didn’t – instead trying to persuade Adams to seek help – and the rest, as they say, is horrifying history.

Church's silence let abuse go on for years

The abuse went on until finally in 2017, Adams was arrested. It seems he videoed his perverted attacks of his children and posted them on the internet. Authorities in New Zealand and the United States traced one of the videos to Adams, who later died by suicide in jail while awaiting trial.

Three of Adams’ six children sued the church, the bishops and other church officials in 2021, accusing them of negligence and conspiring to cover up child sex abuse to avoid “costly lawsuits” and protect the church's reputation.

In a Nov. 3 ruling, Cochise County Superior Court Judge Timothy Dickerson threw out the lawsuit, saying the church had no legal duty to report that a child was being raped.

"Church defendants were not required under the Mandatory Reporting Statute to report the abuse of Jane Doe 1 by her father because their knowledge of the abuse came from confidential communications which fall within the clergy-penitent exception," Dickerson wrote.

Arizona legislator thwarts bill for clergy to report abuse

Church officials, who apparently sleep quite well at night, pronounced themselves “pleased” with the decision.

“Contrary to some news reports and exaggerated allegations, the court found that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its clergy handled this matter consistent with Arizona law,” the Mormon church said in a prepared statement.

Which bring us back to Arizona law and the people who make it at the state Capitol.

Rep. Stacey Travers, D-Phoenix, introduced a bill this year to require a member of the clergy to report abuse learned about during a confession or confidential communication if “there is a reasonable suspicion to believe that the abuse is ongoing, will continue or may be a threat to other minors.”

It didn’t even rate a hearing. Didn’t even get assigned to a committee.

His rationale: Victims can turn to others for help

And, apparently, it won’t go anywhere next year either, as Rep. Quang Nguyen, the Prescott Republican who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, says he won’t give the bill a hearing. (He did say he would at least speak to Travers, so I guess there's that.)

Nguyen, in his interview with Capitol Media Services, said he believes that the bill "is an attack on the church," and he questioned why members of the clergy would need to call the police or state Department of Child Safety.

"The victim has the parents, the victim has the teachers, the victim has friends, the victim has relatives that he or she is close to," Nguyen said. "So, it doesn’t need a priest to be able to go to court and testify."

Tell that to the 5-year-old Bisbee girl who would endure seven years of assaults while devout daddy’s bishops stayed silent.

“They just let it keep happening,” the girl told the AP last year. “They just said, ‘Hey, let’s excommunicate her father.’ It didn’t stop. ‘Let’s have them do therapy.’ It didn’t stop. ‘Hey, let’s forgive and forget and all this will go away.’ It didn’t go away.”

For her, it likely never will.

Perhaps Rep. Nguyen can explain to her that her father’s rights were sacred.

“The seal of confession is never to be broken,’’ he said. “And priests will go to jail for it.’’

And children will live in hell because of it.

For shame, Rep. Nguyen.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 10.28

Holidays

Bhai Dooj (India)

Bhai Tika (Nepal)

Children’s Day (Australia)

Chucks-N-Pearls Day

Civil Servants’ Day (Brazil)

Common Fig Day (French Republic)

Cox Plate Day (Australia)

Day of International Concern About Young People and Gun Violence

Engineer’s Day (Venezuela)

Flying Baby Day

Folly Day

Gone-ta-Pott Day [every 28th]

Hari Sumpah Pemuda (Youth Pledge Day; Indonesia)

Honoring the Nation’s First Responders Day

International Animation Day

International Creole Day

Liberation of Ukraine from Nazi Invaders Day (Ukraine)

Milvian Bridge Day

National Caroline Day

National Comprehensive Sex Education Call-In Day

National Cry Yourself to Sleep Day

National Day of Outrage

National First Responders Day

National I Love You Day

National Immigrants Day

National Internal Medicine Day

National Internment Commemoration Day (Canada)

National William Day

Ohi Day (a.k.a. Ochi! Day or Oxi Day; Cyprus, Greece)

Part Your Hair Crooked Just To See If Anyone Will Say Anything About It Day

Plush Animal Lover's Day

Prefectural Earthquake Disaster Prevention Day (Gifu, Japan)

Q Day

Republic Day Eve (Turkey)

Separation of Church and State Day

Stan Lee Day (Los Angeles)

Stargate Day

Statue of Liberty Day

Ticker-Tape Parade Day

Time Day

Twitter Emancipation Day

Ugly Pickup Truck Day

Vote Early Day

World Judo Day

World Tobacco Growers’ Day

Youth Pledge Day (Indonesia)

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Chocolate Day

Wild Foods Day

4th & Last Monday in October

African-American Cotton Pickers’ Day [4th Monday]

Bank Holiday (Ireland) [Last Monday]

Equality Day (Antarctica) [4th Monday]

Green Monday [Monday of Last Full Week]

International School Library Day [4th Monday]

Labour Day (New Zealand) [4th Monday]

La Saoire i mi Dheireadh Fomhair [Last Monday]

Meatless Monday [Last Monday of Each Month]

Meditation Monday [Every Monday]

Monday Musings [Every Monday]

Moody Monday [Last Monday of Each Month]

Motivation Monday [Every Monday]

October Bank Holiday (Ireland) [Last Monday]

School Library Day (Canada) [Last Monday]

Independence & Related Days

Bokonton (Declared; 2007) [unrecognized]

Czechoslovakia (Now the Czech Republic; from Austria-Hungary, 1918)

Erusia (Declared; 2008) [unrecognized]

Foundation Day (Davao Occidental, Philippines)

United Republics of Michigan (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

Weekly Holidays beginning October 28 (Last Week of October)

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week (Hudson Valley, New York) [thru 11.10]

Festivals Beginning October 28, 2024

American Indian Tourism Conference (Marksville, Louisiana) [thru 10.31]

Supply Side West (Las Vegas, Nevada) [thru 10.31]

TechCrunch Disrupt (San Francisco, California) [thru 10.30]

Tokyo International Film Festival (Tokyo, Japan) [thru 11.6]

Feast Days

Abdias of Babylon (Christian; Saint)

Abgar V of Edessa (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Ayad Akhtar (Writerism)

Eadsige (Christian; Saint)

Evelyn Waugh (Writerism)

Extra Kinky Day (Pastafarian)

Faro, Bishop of Meauz (Christian; Saint)

Feast of the Einherjar (Norse)

Feast of the Lord of Miracles (Peru)

Fidelis of Como (Roman Catholic Church)

Firmilian (Christian; Saint)

Francis Bacon (Artology)

Fyribod (a.k.a. Forebode; Norse beginning of Winter)

Godwin of Stavelot (Christian; Saint)

Gumby Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Isis/Osiris Mysteries I (Pagan)

Job of Pochayiv (repose) (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Jude Thaddeus (a.k.a. Jude the Apostle; Western Christianity)

Leibnitz (Positivist; Saint)

Lord of Miracles (Lima; Christian; Saint)

Makoshe’s Holiday (Honoring Mother Earth; Asatru/Pagan Slavic)

Michael Noakes (Artology)

Neot (Christian; Saint)

Paraskrevi of Iconium (Christian; Saint)

Simon the Zealot (a.k.a. Simon the Canaanite; Simon the Apostle; Western Christianity)

The Tortoise (Muppetism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 50 of 60)

Premieres

All Quiet on the Western Front (Film; 2022)

An Alpine Symphony, by Richard Strauss (Tone Poem; 1915)

Barking Dogs Don’t Fite (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1949)

Because I Got High, by Afroman (Song; 2001)

Bee Movie (Animated Film; 2007)

Black Beauty (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1978)

The Blue Danube (MGM Cartoon; 1939)

Breakfast at Tiffany’s, by Truman Capote (Novella; 1958)

Decade, by Neil Young (Compilation Album; 1977)

Decline and Fall, by Evelyn Waugh (Novel; 1928)

The Desperate Showers (George of the Jungle Cartoon; 1967) [#8]

Droopy (Tex Avery Droopy MGM Cartoon; 1955)

Educating Rita (Film; 1983)

The Futurological Congress: From the Memoirs of Ijon Tichy, by Stanis��aw Lem (Novel; 1971)

Gulliver’s Travels, by Jonathan Swift (Novel; 1726)

How Green Was My Valley (Film; 1941)

Inferno (Film; 2016)

Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park (TV movie; 1978)

The Legend of Zorro (Film; 2005)

Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor E. Frankl (Philosophical Book; 1959)

News of the World, by Queen (Album; 1978)

The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, by Ursula K. Le Guin (Short Story; 1973)

The Pet Store (Disney Cartoon; 1933)

Pinterest (Social Media App; 2009)

Pop ‘im Pop! (WB LT Cartoon; 1950)

Puss in Boots (Animated Film; 2011)

Pussy Willie (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1929)

Puttin’ On the Dog (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1944)

The Quail Hunt (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1935)

Richard Pryor … Here and Now (Stand-Up Comedy Film; 1983)

Rotten Hood (Super Chicken Cartoon; 1967) [#18

The Rum Diary (Film; 2011)

Stargate (Film; 1994)

String Along Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1978)

Supermarket Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1978)

Talking Book, by Stevie Wonder (Album; 1972)

Tinker Bell (Animated Film; 2008)

We Can’t Dance, by Genesis (Album; 1991)

Today’s Name Days

Judas, Simon, Thaddeus (Austria)

Juda, Šimun, Siniša, Tadej, Tadija (Croatia)

Státní Svátek (Czech Republic)

Judas, Simon (Denmark)

Siim, Siimo, Siimon, Siimu, Simmo, Simmu, Simun (Estonia)

Simo (Finland)

Jude, Simon (France)

Freddy, Simon (Germany)

Evniki, Vili (Greece)

Simon, Szimonetta (Hungary)

Giuda, Simone (Italy)

Antoņina, Ņina, Ninona, Zemgals (Latvia)

Almantė, Gaudrimas, Simas, Simonas, Tadas (Lithuania)

Simen, Simon (Norway)

Juda, Szymon, Tadeusz, Wszeciech (Poland)

Iachint (Romania)

Dobromila (Slovakia)

Judas, Simón (Spain)

Simon, Simone (Sweden)

Nestor (Ukraine)

Dayanara, Eunice, Jonah, Jonas, Jude, Liberty, Simeon, Simon, Simone, Thad, Thaddea, Thaddeus (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 302 of 2024; 64 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 1 of Week 44 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 2 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Jia-Xu), Day 26 (Yi-Chou)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 26 Tishri 5785

Islamic: 24 Rabi II 1446

J Cal: 2 Wood; Oneday [1 of 30]

Julian: 14 October 2024

Moon: 12%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 22 Descartes (11th Month) [Gibbon / Robertson]

Runic Half Month: Wyn (Joy) [Day 6 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 36 of 90)

Week: Last Week of October

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 5 of 30)

[rotgospels]

Is dificult to be a minister in the place you live? Any special plus due to the thing of being a female minister? I'm from a catholic country but i would love to be a priest, or minister,( indk how u call it), but I'm a girl so i'm always just wondering and imagining about being anglican in new Zealand or something like that, but idnk how really acepted is in the end the religious autority or leadership of womens in this places. Or homosexuality, what is your experience or pov? Also do you think an anglican female bishop can be married to another woman and be acepted and practice her spiritual labor without problems in this communitys?

Yes and no - i started in ministry (in a formal, paid role) in the middle of the pandemic so theres a whole lot involved in that which has made it a very weird time to be working for the church. Australia isn't a very religious country, i think its over 50% of people who aren't affiliated with any religion, and the anglican churches here are relatively small in number (especially since covid). I've been lucky to serve in churches with strong female presence, but the reality is that I've only met 3 female priests in all the years I've been attending churches/networking in this space. Although there are female priests and incredible young women being called into ministry here, we still regularly encounter and deal with misogyny, belittlement and sexual harassment from men. 

I do still believe you can always find a community which will be safe and accepting, but it will always be fight to be in leadership as an out lgbt person. If you are being called into this though, listen to that voice and trust in where God will take you. Have faith in the impossible.

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1902 – Death of Thomas William Croke D.D., the second Catholic Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand (1870-1874) and later Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Co Tipperary.

Thomas Croke was born in Castlecor (parish of Kilbrin), Co Cork, in 1824. He became the second Catholic Bishop of Auckland New Zealand before returning to Ireland as Archbishop of Cashel and Emly. He was a strong and public supporter of Irish nationalism aligning himself with the Irish National Land League during the Land War, and with the chairman of the Irish Parliamentary Party, Charles…

[brookston]

Holidays 6.5

Holidays

Apple II Day

Arbor Day (New Zealand)

Atlantis Day

Barricade Day

Blackberry Prophecy Day (If it rains today, it means the blackberries will be small and full of seeds)

Breonna Taylor Day

Elderberry Day (French Republic)

Family Yahtzee Day

Father's Day (Denmark)

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Day

Festival of Popular Delusions

Flag Day (Turkey)

Global Jewish Unity Day

Grundlovsdag (Constitution Day; Denmark, Faroe Islands)

HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day

Hot Air Balloon Day

Indian Arrival Day (Suriname)

International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing

Khordad Movement Day (Iran)

The King’s Birthday (New Zealand, Niue)

Liberation Day (Seychelles)

National Attitude Day

National Cancer Survivors Day

National Coworking Day (UK)

National Janet Day

National Jenny Day

National Joyce Day

National Lincoln Loud Day

National Report Stark Violations Day

National Shut Up Day

National Unity Day (Hungary)

National Women Chiropractors Day

One Plastic Free Day

Pansexual Day

President’s Day (Equatorial Guinea)

Reclamation Day (Azerbaijan)

605 Day

Walt Powell Memorial Day

Wiltshire Day (UK)

World Campaign for the Biosphere Day

World Day Against Speciesism

World Environment Day (UN)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Gingerbread Day

National Gingerbread Cookie Day

National Ketchup Day

National Love Island Day (UK) [1st Monday]

National Veggie Burger Day

Sausage Roll Day

1st Monday in June

Crop Over begins (Barbados) [1st Monday Until 1st Monday in August]

Jefferson Davis Day [1st Monday] (Alabama)

Meitheamh begins (Ireland) [1st Monday]

National Thank God It’s Monday Day [1st Monday; also 1st Monday in January]

Western Australia Day [1st Monday]

World Orthoptic Day [1st Monday]

Independence Days

Constitution Day (Denmark)

Feast Days

André Lhote (Artology)

The Bicycle and Helmet (Muppetism)

Boniface (Roman Catholic Church; Saint) [brewers, German brewers, innkeepers] *

St. Boniface (Positivist; Saint)

Dorotheus the Theban (Christian; Saint)

Dorotheus of Tyre (Christian; Saint)

Doughnut Day (Pastafarian)

Festival for Hercules Custos (Ancient Rome)

Genesius, Count of Clermont (Christian; Saint)

Illidius, Bishop of Auvergne (Christian; Saint)

Media Ver V (Pagan)

Meinwerk (Christian; Blessed)

Nones of June (Ancient Rome)

Whit Monday [50 days after Orthodox Easter] (Orthodox Christian) a.k.a. ... 

Doua Zi de Rusalii (România)

Holy Spirit Monday

Kataklysmos (Cyprus)

Monday of the Holy Spirit

Pentecost Monday

Valeria (Christian; Saint)

Wild Man Fletcher Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [33 of 71]

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [31 of 57]

Premieres

Arctic Antics (Disney Cartoon; 1930)

Away We Go (Film; 2009)

Be-Bop-a-Lula, by Gene Vincent (Song; 1956)

The Comeback (TV Series; 2005)

Come Blow Your Horn (Film; 1963)

For the Birds (Pixar Cartoon; 2000)

The Hangover (Film; 2009)

Harry and the Hendersons (Film; 1987)

Little Boy Boo (WB LT Cartoon; 1954)

Lovestoned, by Justin Timberlake (Song; 2007)

Lush Life, by Zara Larsson (Song; 2015)

Memory Almost Full, by Paul McCartney (Album; 2007)

Mulan (Animated Disney Film; 1998)

Patriot Games (Film; 1992)

Peter Grimes, by Benjamin Britten (Opera; 1945)

Pleading Guilty, by Scott Turow (Novel; 1993)

Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too (Black Mirror TV Episode; 2019)

Rififi (Film; 1956)

Rock of Ages (Film; 2012)

The Sea Wolves (Film; 1981)

Sixkill, by Robert B. Parker (Novel; 2011)

Spy (Film; 2015)

The Truman Show (film; 1998)

Uncle Tom’s Bungalow (WB MM Cartoon; 1937)

Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Novel; 1852)

The Untouchables (Film; 1987)

What's New Pussycat?, by Tom Jones (Song; 1965)

Yankee Doodle Dandy (Film; 1942)

You’ve Got a Friend, by James Taylor (Song; 1971)

Today’s Name Days

Erika, Winfried (Austria)

Bonifacije, Bono, Darinka, Valerija (Croatia)

Dobroslav (Czech Republic)

Bonifacius (Denmark)

Vilimo, Viljar, Viljer, Viljo, Vilju (Estonia)

Sulevi (Finland)

Igor (France)

Bonifatius, Erika, Winifried (Germany)

Apollon, Dorotheos, Kinthia, Nikandros, Ploutarhos, Selene (Greece)

Fatime (Hungary)

Bonifacio, Ferdinando, Igor, Irene (Italy)

Igors, Ingvars, Margods, Margots (Latvia)

Kantautas, Kantvydė, Marcė (Lithuania)

Torben, Torbjørg, Torbjørn (Norway)

Bończa, Bonifacy, Dobrociech, Dobromir, Dobrymir, Nikanor, Waleria, Walter (Poland)

Dorotei (România)

Laura (Slovakia)

Bonifacio (Spain)

Bo (Sweden)

Dora, Dorothea, Dorothy, Ihor (Ukraine)

Boniface, Sancho, Santino, Santos (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 156 of 2024; 209 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 1 of week 23 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Huath (Hawthorn) [Day 22 of 28]

Chinese: Month 4 (Ding-Si), Day 18 (Jia-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 16 Sivan 5783

Islamic: 16 Dhu al-Qada 1444

J Cal: 6 Sol; Sixday [6 of 30]

Julian: 23 May 2023

Moon: 97%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 16 St. Paul (6th Month) [St. Boniface]

Runic Half Month: Odal (Home, Possession) [Day 11 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 77 of 90)

Zodiac: Gemini (Day 15 of 32)

[wikiuntamed]

On this day in Wikipedia: Monday, 5th February

Welcome, velkommen, 欢迎 (huānyíng), tervetuloa 🤗 What does @Wikipedia say about 5th February through the years 🏛️📜🗓️?

5th February 2023 🗓️ : Death - Pervez Musharraf Pervez Musharraf, Pakistani military officer and politician, 10th President of Pakistan (b. 1943) "Pervez Musharraf (11 August 1943 – 5 February 2023) was a Pakistani military officer and politician who served as the tenth president of Pakistan from 2001 to 2008. He also served as the 10th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs from 1998 to 2001 and the 7th Chief of Army Staff from 1998 to 2007. Born in..."

Image licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0? by World Economic Forum

5th February 2019 🗓️ : Event - Pope Francis Pope Francis became the first pope to celebrate a papal Mass in the Arabian Peninsula. "Pope Francis (Latin: Franciscus; Italian: Francesco; Spanish: Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church, the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State. He is the only pope to be a member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), the only one..."

Image by

File:Portrait of Pope Francis (2021).jpg: Presidenza della Repubblica

derivative work: Samuele1607

5th February 2014 🗓️ : Death - Robert Dahl Robert Dahl, American political scientist and academic (b. 1915) "Robert Alan Dahl (; December 17, 1915 – February 5, 2014) was an American political theorist and Sterling Professor of Political Science at Yale University. He established the pluralist theory of democracy—in which political outcomes are enacted through competitive, if unequal, interest groups—and..."

Image by Unknown authorUnknown author

5th February 1974 🗓️ : Birth - Michael Maguire (rugby league) Michael Maguire, Australian rugby league player and coach "Michael Maguire (born 5 February 1974) is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player who last coached New Zealand at international level. He played as a fullback, winger and centre in the 1990s. After a playing career spent mostly at the Canberra Raiders, with a brief..."

Image licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0? by https://www.flickr.com/photos/radar286/

5th February 1924 🗓️ : Event - Royal Observatory, Greenwich The Royal Greenwich Observatory begins broadcasting the hourly time signals known as the Greenwich Time Signal. "The Royal Observatory, Greenwich (ROG; known as the Old Royal Observatory from 1957 to 1998, when the working Royal Greenwich Observatory, RGO, temporarily moved south from Greenwich to Herstmonceux) is an observatory situated on a hill in Greenwich Park in south east London, overlooking the River..."

Image licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0?

5th February 1818 🗓️ : Event - Charles XIV John Charles XIV John (pictured) succeeded to the thrones of Sweden and Norway as the first monarch of the House of Bernadotte. "Charles XIV John (Swedish: Karl XIV Johan; 26 January 1763 – 8 March 1844) was King of Sweden and Norway from 1818 until his death in 1844 and the first monarch of the Bernadotte dynasty. In Norway, he is known as Charles III John (Norwegian: Karl III Johan) and before he became royalty in Sweden,..."

Image by

Emile Mascré

5th February 🗓️ : Holiday - Kashmir Solidarity Day (Pakistan) "Kashmir Solidarity Day (Urdu: یوم یکجہتی کشمیر) or Kashmir Day is a national holiday observed in Pakistan on 5 February annually. It is observed to show Pakistan's support and unity with the people of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and Kashmiri separatists' efforts to secede from India, and..."

Image licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0? by Khalid Mahmood

[scobbe]

There’s such a challenging collision of cultural homophobia and the consequences of colonialism happening at the Lambeth Conference. The Anglican Communion is made up for the most part of churches (and by churches I mean whole nation-wide organizations like The Episcopal Church in the US or the Anglican Church of Canada or South Africa, not individual churches) that were planted by English colonizers hundreds of years ago. And in places with large numbers of settlers like the US or Canada or Australia, those Anglican churches maintained the western European culture of the people who settled them. But in the majority of these churches, in Africa and Asia and South America, there were a handful of Anglican missionaries and then it was demanded of the indigenous people to more or less conform to western European culture, along with the the religion itself (New Zealand is an interesting exception - their prayer book is in both English and Maori.)

So now the Western European churches are beginning to decide to marry and ordain gay people (this isn’t universal but it is getting there) and the Global South churches, which are now predominately native African or Asian, etc., are saying, hey wait a second, after all we went through with you bulldozing through our land and our culture, you want us to change again? And they won’t have it. They want to impose sanctions (of some kind??) on The Episcopal Church for marrying and ordaining gay people (it’s always interesting how nobody suggests imposing sanctions for *not* marrying gay people...) and some of their head bishops boycotted the whole conference and many who are there are refusing to receive communion because there are married gay bishops sharing the service with them.

Way back in day, Elizabeth I took the warring Catholics and Protestants of the Church of England and sat them down and said, “You have to stop burning each other at the stake already and learn to pray together,” and that’s really where Anglicanism came from. It is the “middle way” and a place where everybody is supposed to agree to disagree but still come to the same table together. So this action of refusing communion is a very big deal.

And like yeah, gay people should be married and ordained, no question. But how great is the sin, too, of the colonization these countries went through at the hands of the Western European church? Like we in the West absolutely need to listen to them and try to work this out. But it really, really sucks to be gay in the midst of it all, when there is literally nothing you can do but continue to hang in there. 

[srinithyananda]

26 OCTOBER 2020, MONDAY (IST) 9:04 PM SCREEN OPENING. SHAKTI PADA AND SHAKTINI PADA WITH THE LIVE DARSHAN OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM, JAGATGURU MAHASANNIDHANAM, HIS DIVINE HOLINESS BHAGAVAN NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM. FOLLOWING DARSHAN, NITHYANANDA SATSANGH (LIVE ADDRESS), TULABARAM AND PRATYAKSHA PADA PUJA COMMENCED. *10:00 PM - SATSANG STARTS *PARAMASHIVA’S MESSAGE DIRECTLY FROM KAILASA: *HUMAN DNA HAS RIPENED, GROWN. NOW, IT IS CAPABLE OF CREATING A WORMHOLE TO RECEIVE THE DIFFERENT REALITY AND EXISTENCE OF THE HIGHER, SUPERCONSCIOUS DIMENSIONS OF THE UNIVERSE; LIKE A PORTAL, RECEIVE THE KNOWLEDGE, POWERS AND SUPERCONSCIOUS ITSELF FROM THE HIGHER DIMENSION AND RADIATE, MANIFEST. *THESE FOUR MONTHS - CHATURMASYA - THE WORK THAT HAPPENED THROUGH THIS BODY IS DEVELOPING A POWERFUL SPIRITUAL TOOL, MECHANISM, SOFTWARE, ORGANISM (BEST WORD), FOR THE INITIATION TO HAPPEN TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE READY TO RECEIVE. *SO NOW I AM READY WITH THE SPIRITUAL ORGANISM THROUGH WHICH YOUR DNA CAN OPEN AND CREATE A WORMHOLE, RECEIVE THE KNOWLEDGE, POWERS AND SUPERCONSCIOUSNESS FOR HIGHER REALITY - WHAT I CALL KAILASA, PARAMASHIVA. *YOU CAN NOW RECEIVE IT AND MANIFEST IT, RADIATE IT IN YOUR LIFE. *LAST FOUR MONTHS, CHATURMASYA, THIS IS THE WORK PARAMASHIVA DID, THE WORK WHICH WAS HAPPENING THROUGH THIS BODY. *NOW, THIS IS THE GREATEST GIFT FOR THE HUMANITY WHICH IS READY. IN A VERY SIMPLE, EASY, USER FRIENDLY WAY, THIS IS GOING TO BE SHARED WITH YOU ALL. *BY THE GRACE OF GANAPATI, PARAMASHIVA, PARASHAKTI AND ALL THE BEINGS OF KAILASA, MAHAKAILASA IS MANIFESTING HERE. *THE WHOLE ORGANISM HAS HAPPENED IN SUCH A WAY THAT JUST BY INITIATION, THE HUMAN DNA, CAN OPEN UP, CREATE A WORMHOLE AND RECEIVE THE STATE OF PARAMASHIVA, THE SPACE OF PARAMASHIVA, POWERS OF PARAMASHIVA, BEING OF PARAMASHIVA AND SUPERCONSCIOUSNESS OF PARAMASHIVA, MANIFEST KAILASA IN EVERY ONE OF YOU. *YOUR DNA WILL BECOME LITERALLY NOW A PORTAL FOR THE OTHER PLANE, HIGHER DIMENSION, THE SUPERCONSCIOUS SPACE, WHAT I CALL AS KAILASA. *CONSTANTLY, SOMETHING WAS HAPPENING IN THIS BODY TO BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER THE WHOLE INITIATION ORGANISM. *BETTERING THE WORDS OF EXPRESSION, IS THE JOB OF A TEACHER. *BETTERING THE SCIENCE OF INITIATION, IS THE JOB OF THE GURU. *BETTERING THE ORGANISM OF OPENING YOUR DNA AND MAKING YOU MANIFEST EVERYTHING OF KAILASA, IS THE JOB OF PARAMASHIVA, AND HE IS DOING HIS JOB ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFULLY, RIGHTLY, IN THE BESTEST POSSIBLE WAY! *THESE FOUR MONTHS HE HAS DONE IT IN SUCH AN AMAZING WAY. *I CAN SEE CLEARLY, THE GIFTS NOW THAT ARE GOING TO MANIFEST TO ALL OF YOU, TO THE WHOLE WORLD, TO MAKE YOU ALL EXPERIENCE THE STATE, SPACE, POWERS, BEING OF PARAMASHIVA AND MAKE YOUR DNA AS THE WORMHOLE TO RECEIVE THE BEST THINGS FROM KAILASA. *LITERALLY YOU WILL BECOME A PORTAL FOR THE OTHER PLANE, TO RECEIVE ALL THE BEST THINGS INTO THIS WORLD AND RADIATE, MANIFEST IT. *THIS WHOLE CHATURMASYA, PARAMASHIVA WAS PREPARING THIS SPIRITUAL ORGANISM SO BEAUTIFULLY - THE SYSTEM THROUGH WHICH INITIATION CAN BE DONE TO ALL OF YOU SO THAT THROUGH ALL OF YOU, HE CAN MANIFEST. *YOUR DNA CAN BECOME WORMHOLE TO RECEIVE THE HIGHER DIMENSION. *EVEN THE MODERN DAY SCIENTISTS ARE CONFIRMING THAT YOUR DNA HAS THE CAPACITY TO ACT AS A WORMHOLE FOR THE COSMOS TO LAND AND MANIFEST. *THIS CHATURMASYA, LAST FOUR MONTHS I FEEL SUCH DEEP JOB SATISFACTION THAT I HAVE DONE REALLY WHAT I NEED TO DO. *SO MUCH HAPPENED SUPERCONSCIOUSLY. THE RIGHT WORK, THE REAL WORK IS DONE. *THIS IS THE 40TH CHATURMASYA BY THE GRACE OF GANAPATI, PARAMASHIVA AND PARASHAKTI, SUCCESSFULLY WITH THE BLESSINGS AND GRACE OF GURU PARAMPARA I COMPLETED! *WTH THE GRACE OF PARAMASHIVA, 40 CHATURMASYAS ARE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED! *EVEN WHEN MY GURUS SENT ME TO POLYTECHNIC FOR REGULAR EDUCATION, THEY WOULD GET ME BACK FOR THIS CHATURMASYA TO TIRUVANNAMALAI AND MAKE ME OBSERVE THE CHATURMASYA. *IT IS SUCH A JOY TO LIVE THESE FOUR MONTHS EVERY YEAR, INTENSELY, FROM THE TIME I WAS INITIATED. *THE FIRST CHATURMASYA WAS MAYBE AROUND THE AGE OF 2 ½ YEARS WHEN THEY FIRST INITIATED ME AND DID THE CHATURMASYA AND VERY FORTUNATELY WE HAVE THE PHOTOGRAPHER WHO TOOK MY FIRST CHATURMASYA PHOTO. HE IS STILL ALIVE IN TIRUVANNAMALAI. FROM HIS DIRECT WITNESS STATEMENT WE GOT THE EXACT DATES MAPPED - WHEN THE FIRST CHATURMASYA DONE FOR ME BY MY GURUS. *THE FIRST CHATURMASYA, THEY MADE ME SIT ON THEIR LAP AND DID IT, HOLDING MY HAND, BECAUSE I WAS A KID. THEY DID IT ON BEHALF OF ME TILL THE AGE OF SIX. THEY TRAINED ME THROUGH THOSE FOUR MONTHS IN THE TRADITION OF SANYAS AND CHATURMASYA. *ONCE I GREW UP, I MYSELF STARTED DOING. YOU CAN SEE THE PHOTOGRAPH WHEN I WAS GIVEN SANYAS AND THE FIRST CHATURMASYA WAS OBSERVED! *17 JULY 1981 WAS THE DATE THE FIRST CHATURMASYA STARTED AFTER THE SANYAS INITIATION. THE PHOTOGRAPHER TRACKED THE EXACT DATE FROM HIS STUDIO. HE GAVE THE WITNESS STATEMENT WITH THE DATE, TIME AND RITUAL THAT HAPPENED AND WHOEVER HE COULD RECOLLECT AS WAS PRESENT DURING THE INITIATION. *THANKS TO THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE AVATAR TEAM DOING SINCERE HARD WORK, COLLECTING ALL THESE DETAILS FROM MY NATIVE PLACE - TIRUVANNAMALAI. *BY THE GRACE OF GANAPATI, GURU PARAMPARA, PARAMASHIVA HIMSELF, THE 40TH CHATURMASYA IS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED! *THE INTENSE MEMORIES OF THESE 40 YEARS OF CHATURMASYA WENT LIKE A FLASH IN MY INNER SPACE NOW! HOW EVERY CHATURMASYA WAS WONDERFUL… *THIS CHATURMASYA WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE I FEEL I AM HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE. THE BEST THING WHICH NEEDED TO HAPPEN HAPPENED THROUGH ME IN THESE LAST FOUR MONTHS. NOW I AM READY TO SHARE THIS GIFT WITH ALL OF YOU AND TO THE WHOLE WORLD. *WE HAVE MANY PROMINENT RELIGIOUS LEADERS, POLITICAL LEADERS FROM ALL RELIGIONS ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO HAVE GIVEN BEAUTIFUL PROCLAMATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FOR THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THIS 40TH CHATURMASYA. *I WILL READ OUT THE LEADERS’ NAMES. I WILL UPLOAD THE WHOLE THING: *PROCLAMATION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL WHICH CITED HIS DIVINE HOLINESS’ CONTRIBUTION TO SUPERCONSCIOUS EVOLUTION OF HUMANITY BY REVIVING VEDA-AGAMIC TRADITION OF SANATANA HINDU DHARMA VIA THIRD EYE AWAKENING AND MANIFESTING SHAKTIS (EXTRAORDINARY POWERS) (18 OCTOBER 2017) *PROCLAMATION HONOURED BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (PENNSYLVANIA, USA) - MARTYN FLYNN ON 28 AUGUST 2020 *A LETTER OF RECOGNITION HONOURED BY BISHOP OF INDEPENDENT OLD CATHOLIC CHURCH, USA - REV JOE GRIEBOSKI ON 8TH SEPTEMBER 2020 *A LETTER OF RECOGNITION HONOURED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE DIETRICH BONHOEFFER INSTITUTE (WASHINGTON, USA) - REV. DR. ROB SCHENCK ON 9TH SEPTEMBER 2020 *A LETTER OF RECOGNITION HONOURED BY THE CHAPLIN FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CHAPLIN, US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (WASHINGTON, USA) - REV PATRICK J. CONROY, S. J. ON 16TH SEPTEMBER 2020 *A LETTER OF RECOGNITION HONOURED BY THE KAUMATUA (ELDER) OF THE NGATI HURUNGATERANGI INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY (ROTORA, NEW ZEALAND) - JACK MARINO ON 25TH SEPTEMBER 2020 *A LETTER OF RECOGNITION HONOURED BY THE KAUMATUA (ELDER) OF THE NGATI HINEMIHI TE HAPU INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY (ROTORA, NEW ZEALAND) - JACK MARINO ON 25TH SEPTEMBER 2020 *PROCLAMATION BY MP MS. SALMA ZAHID (SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO, CANADA) *PROCLAMATION BY THE CHAPLAIN OF THE ROYAL HOUSE OF KAMAKAHELEI (HAWAII, USA) *A LETTER OF RECOGNITION HONOURED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP NEW YORK STATE CONFERENCE (NEW YORK, USA) - HAZEL N. DUKES ON 24TH OCTOBER 2020 *PROCLAMATION HONOURED BY THE MAYOR OF CITY OF DELAWARE, OHIO, USA - CAROLYN KAY RIGGLE IN 2020. MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/HDH_Nithyananda_Paramashivam *I SINCERELY WANT TO THANK ALL THESE GLOBAL RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL LEADERS FOR GIVING THIS PROCLAMATION, AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU ALL! *I HAVE WONDERFUL GIFTS TO ALL OF YOU WHICH WE WORKED FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS. THIS CHATURMASYA, WE CHURNED THE MILKY OCEAN AND GOT THE NECTAR, CLEANED ALL THE POISON AND GOT THE NECTAR AND WE ARE SHARING THE NECTAR WITH ALL OF YOU. *THESE ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIFTS FOR ALL OF YOU TO MANIFEST THE STATE, SPACE, POWERS, BEING, SUPERCONSCIOUSNESS OF KAILASA AND PARAMASHIVA. *FIRST: KAILASA LMS WHICH IS THE SOURCE FOR ALL THE PROGRAMS, SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS, CLASSES, SESSIONS, EVERYTHING I HAVE OFFERED FOR THE LAST 26 YEARS OF MY PUBLIC LIFE. IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB LED BY AKHIL KODALI. MOHANA’S AND RAMESH RAMANI’S TEAM HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB MAKING THIS KAILASA’S LMS. I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE TEAM FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN. *I WELCOME THE WHOLE WORLD TO BECOME E-CITIZENS OF KAILASA BY LAUNCHING THIS KAILASA LMS. *KAILASA LMS IS A PLATFORM WHICH ORGANISES, MAKES ALL THE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO E-CITIZENS IN ONE PLATFORM. SO I AM THANKING THE WHOLE TEAM WHO MADE THIS E-CITIZENSHIP POSSIBLE FOR THE WHOLE WORLD. *THIS WILL BE LIKE A DOOR FOR KAILASA, “KAILASA DVARA”. *WITH THE GRACE OF GANAPATI, NANDI, PARAMASHIVA, PARASHAKTI AND ALL THE BEINGS OF KAILASA, I INVITE ALL OF YOU TO BE PART OF KAILASA BY BECOMING E-CITIZENS AS THE FIRST STEP. TO APPLY FOR FREE E-PASSPORT, PLEASE VISIT https://kailaasa.org/free-epassport IF YOU ARE ALREADY AN ECITIZEN OF KAILASA, PLEASE ENJOY THE ENLIGHTENMENT ECOSYSTEM OF KAILASA WITH KAILASA LMS AVAILABLE HERE https://join.kailaasa.org/ *NEXT I HAVE A GRAND GIFT TO ALL OF YOU FROM THE NITHYANANDA PEDIA TEAM LED BY MA MUKTHIKA. THIS TEAM HAS DONE AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB OF LITERALLY RECONSTRUCTING DIGITALLY MY LIFE AND CONTRIBUTION OF LAST 42 YEARS ON THE PLANET EARTH. *OF COURSE, STILL LOT MORE TO GO, BUT THEY HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB LAST FOUR MONTHS. I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE MA MUKTHIKA AND THE TEAM AND BLESS THEM AND I AM RELEASING IT ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE SO MUCH HAS BEEN ADDED TO IT. SO I AM OPENING TO THE WORLD, THE NITHYANANDAPEDIA UPDATED VERSION. VISIT https://nithyanandapedia.org/ *NEXT, WE HAVE THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO HINDUISM. WHEN WE MADE THE RESERVE BANK OF KAILASA, WE TOOK THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LAKSHMI FOR THE WHOLE OF HINDUS. NOW, THROUGH THIS PROJECT WHICH I AM LAUNCHING NOW, WE ARE TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SARASWATI FOR THE WHOLE OF HINDUS. WITH THE GRACE OF SARASWATI, FOR THE WHOLE OF HINDUS, THE PROJECT IS CALLED HINDUISMPEDIA. *WIKI HINDUISMPEDIA IS UP AND ALIVE FOR ALL OF YOU TO ENJOY! *MY BLESSINGS TO AKHIL KODALI, AVIMUKTA, RAMANATHANANDA AND THE WHOLE HINDUISM PEDIA TEAM. THIS IS LITERALLY THE GRACE OF VYASA. THE DIGITAL VYASA WORK IS BEING DONE NOW THROUGH THIS HINDUISM PEDIA PROJECT. *HINDUISMPEDIA IS THE SIMPLE, HUMBLE, HARD WORK TO ORGANISE AND PRESENT ALL THE HINDU SCRIPTURES AVAILABLE ON THE PLANET EARTH DIGITALLY IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, WITH AUTHENTIC TRANSLATION AS IT IS WITHOUT ANY MANIPULATION OR INTERPRETATION. *ALL THE HINDU SCRIPTURES FROM VEDAS, AGAMAS, PURANAS, DHARMA SHASTRA, BOOKS BY ACHARYAS, COMMENTARIES, BHASHYAS, TIKAS, VARTIKAS, EVERYTHING AVAILABLE ON THE PLANET EARTH… SOURCE BOOKS OF HINDUISM, COMMENTARIES ON SOURCE BOOKS... EVERYTHING AVAILABLE ON PLANET EARTH AS OF NOW, WE ARE COLLECTING, ORGANISING, TIME CAPSULING, AND MAKING IT AVAILABLE TO THE WHOLE WORLD. *WITH THE GRACE OF GANAPATI, PARAMASHIVA, PARASHAKTI, MAHASARASWATI, VYASA AND GURU PARAMPARA, THE HINDUISM PEDIA IS AVAILABLE TO THE WHOLE WORLD. I AM OFFERING IT AT THE FEET OF PARAMASHIVA AND TO THE WHOLE WORLD. *ALL THE BLESSINGS MY GURUS SHOWERED ON ME, THE SINCERE HARD WORK THEY HAVE DONE ON ME, AND ALL THE SINCERE HARD WORK I HAVE DONE ON MY DISCIPLES, THE WHOLE THING PUT TOGETHER IS THIS GIFT, HINDUISM PEDIA TO ALL OF YOU. IT IS THE FRUIT OF ALL OF IT. IT IS THE GREATEST HAPPENING ON THE PLANET EARTH. *YOU WILL SEE IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, HOW THIS HINDUISM PEDIA IS GOING TO INSPIRE AND INFLUENCE THE WHOLE WORLD THROUGH THE HINDU DIASPORA. BY INFLUENCING AND INSPIRING THE HINDU DIASPORA, IT WILL INSPIRE AND INFLUENCE THE WHOLE WORLD. THIS HINDUISM PEDIA IS GOING TO BE ONE OF MY MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WHOLE WORLD! VISIT HINDUISM PEDIA http://hinduismpedia.org/ *NEXT IS THE NEXT GREAT WORK - KAILASA PEDIA. THIS KAILASA PEDIA IS THE COMPILATION OF THE GLORY OF KAILASA - THE OLDEST, ANCIENT, ENLIGHTENED HINDU CIVILIZATION, AND HOW IT WAS MANIFESTING ON THE PLANET EARTH AND ABOUT THE MULTIPLE HINDU NATIONS, AND THE PERSECUTION WE FACED AND THEIR WHOLE REVIVAL HAPPENING NOW. *THE WHOLE THING IS BEAUTIFULLY GETTING COMPILED. BLESSINGS TO SRI SHIVAJNANA, SANJAY VERMA, MA MUKTIKA, HARIHARAN AND THE WHOLE KAILASAPEDIA TEAM. *IT IS SUCH A WONDERFUL THING HAPPENING. *I AM PRESENTING THE KAILASA PEDIA TO PARAMASHIVA´S FEET AND TO THE WHOLE WORLD AND HUMANITY TO ENJOY. VISIT KAILASA PEDIA https://kailasapedia.org/ *I AM ACTUALLY OVERWHELMED BY THE WORK DONE FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS OF CHATURMASYA BY THE TEAM OF PARAMASHIVA GANAS. *I WANT TO BLESS ALL OF YOU! SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN ME WITH THE SPIRITUAL TAPAS. I AM BLESSING YOU WITH ALL THE SPIRITUAL MERIT DIRECTLY FROM PARAMASHIVA. LET ALL THE AUSPICIOUS THINGS IN THE LIFE, BE SHOWERED BY PARAMASHIVA ON YOU. *NEXT: THE NITHYANANDA HINDU UNIVERSITY IS OFFERING THE SADASHIVOHAM COURSE, LED BY MA PRANAPRIYA , MA MAHAVIDYA AND THE WHOLE TEAM. BLESSINGS TO THE WHOLE TEAM. I AM OFFERING IT TO THE FEET OF PARAMASHIVA AND TO ALL OF YOU. TO REGISTER https://nithyanandahinduuniversity.exphosted.com/learningpage/198/ExpertusONE_1 *NEXT: THE GREAT OFFERING WE HAVE, IS FROM THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE AVATAR TEAM UNDER MA ACHALA - THE GURU GITA COMMENTARY COMPILED. THE FIRST VOLUME IS BEING RELEASED. I AM OFFERING THIS TO PARAMASHIVA´S FEET, WITH HIS BLESSINGS AND THE WHOLE GURU PARAMPARA’S BLESSINGS. *GURU GITA IS WHERE HE TALKS TO HER ABOUT HIM! THE GREAT GURU TATTVA DIRECTLY EXPLAINED BY THE ADI GURU, PARAMAGURU, BY PARAMASHIVA HIMSELF. THIS IS THE OFFERING TO THE WHOLE HUMANITY. TO READ AND AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD: https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/Guru_Gita_(Book) *NEXT: THE SPIRITUAL NAME SERVICES WEBSITE BY SRI AMRITANANDA AND THE TEAM. DROPPING THE OLD IDENTITIES, KARMAS, SINS AND PATTERNS, CUTTING THE ROOT OF DELUSION AND IGNORANCE AND GIVING A NEW SPIRITUAL IDENTITY TO YOURSELF IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GURU. BY GIVING A SPIRITUAL IDENTITY AND SPIRITUAL NAME, THE NEW SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATION IS INITIATED INTO YOUR LIFE. SO THIS SERVICE WILL BE OFFERED THROUGH THIS WEBSITE. BLESSINGS TO SRI AMRITA AND THE TEAM. I AM OFFERING THIS TO PARAMASHIVA AND TO THE WHOLE WORLD. BE AN EKAILASAVASI REGISTERING FOR EPASSPORT https://kailaasa.org/free-epassport , FOLLOWING THAT, REGISTER FOR SPIRITUAL NAME, http://tiny.cc/spiritual-name-signup *SO WONDERFUL TO PRESENT THIS TO ALL OF YOU WITH THE GRACE OF PARAMASHIVA! *THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO OFFER, TO DO. *I HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO SPEAK, SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU. I WILL DO IT THROUGH FURTHER SATSANGS. *NOW IT IS TIME FOR CHANDI HOMA POORNAHUTI, THE VIJAYADASHAMI NAVARATRI CELEBRATIONS, THE 40TH CHATURMASYA RITUALISTIC COMPLETION AND THEN THE PADA PUJA. OFFERINGS FROM GLOBAL KAILASAS: 2953 NAIVEDHYAMS WERE OFFERED TO THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM, JAGATGURU MAHASANNIDHANAM, HIS DIVINE HOLINESS BHAGAVAN NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM. THE CONSECRATED FOOD WAS THEN DISTRIBUTED AS PART OF SHRIKAILASA UNITING NATIONS FOR NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND HUNGER FREE WORLD. *I BLESS YOU ALL. Read the full post here: https://www.facebook.com/138595819561610/posts/4510644559023359/

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

1st July >> Fr. Martin’s Gospel Reflections / Homilies on

Matthew 8:28-34 for Wednesday, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: ‘The whole town set out to meet Jesus’

and on

John 10:11-16 for Saint Oliver Plunket, Bishop, Martyr.

Wednesday, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel (Europe, Africa, New Zealand, Australia & Canada)

Matthew 8:28-34

The Gadarene swine

When Jesus reached the country of the Gadarenes on the other side of the lake, two demoniacs came towards him out of the tombs – creatures so fierce that no one could pass that way. They stood there shouting, ‘What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the time?’ Now some distance away there was a large herd of pigs feeding, and the devils pleaded with Jesus, ‘If you cast us out, send us into the herd of pigs.’ And he said to them, ‘Go then’, and they came out and made for the pigs; and at that the whole herd charged down the cliff into the lake and perished in the water. The swineherds ran off and made for the town, where they told the whole story, including what had happened to the demoniacs. At this the whole town set out to meet Jesus; and as soon as they saw him they implored him to leave the neighbourhood.

Gospel (USA)

Matthew 8:28-34

Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?

When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road. They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go then!” They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.

Reflections (4)

(i) Wednesday, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

There is a strange ending to today’s gospel reading. Jesus had just healed two very disturbed people. They were described as so fierce that nobody could pass near them. They address Jesus very aggressively, ‘What do you want with us, Son of God?’ Yet, their fierceness and aggressiveness did not deter Jesus from ministering to them. He released them from the spirit that had left them so disturbed. He restored their humanity. Yet, in response to Jesus’ life-giving work, the whole town implored him to leave their neighbourhood. It seems that the local people were more comfortable with having two very disturbed people about than with a display of God’s healing power. Jesus’ liberating ministry did not always meet with welcome and faith. The same is often true of the ministry of the church. The church’s work on behalf of the well-being of others, especially the most vulnerable, does not always meet with a welcoming response. Sometimes our own efforts to do what is best for the well-being of others does not always meet with a welcoming response either. Our efforts to share in the Lord’s liberating ministry will often leave us exposed to the same negative response as he experienced. Yet, the Lord remained faithful to the good work that God had sent him to do. We, as members of the church, are called to that same faithfulness. We try to keep doing the Lord’s life-giving work, regardless of how it is received by others.

And/Or

(ii) Wednesday, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

In the gospel reading this morning, Jesus comes face to face with aggression. Crossing over to the pagan side of the lake of the Sea of Galilee, he is met by two fiercely disturbed people who aggressively ask him, ‘Why do you want with us, Son of God?’ When people are aggressive towards us we can react in a variety of ways. We can take flight and get as far away from them as possible. We can respond in kind, becoming aggressive ourselves in response to their aggression. Jesus’ response to the aggressive approach of these two people was of a different order. He stayed his ground and he calmed the disturbed aggression of these two men, just as he had earlier calmed the storm on the lake. The gospels suggest that Jesus had a calming influence on disturbance, whether it is to be found in nature or in people. We can find ourselves very disturbed for one reason or another; a storm can be howling within us, whether it is characterized by anger or some other emotion. The gospel reading this morning encourages us to come before the Lord in our disturbed state. We don’t have to wait until we are calm to pray; we can pray out of our disturbance, and the Lord of life will bring calm and peace to our disturbed spirit.

 And/Or

(iii) Wednesday, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

In this morning’s gospel reading Jesus brings two demoniacs to a greater fullness of life. It is striking that after doing this, the people of the region implored him to leave the neighbourhood. It might have been expected that they would have wanted someone who could bring freedom to the enslaved, to stay among them for some time. Surely, there were others in this region who could benefit from the presence of God’s power at work in Jesus. Perhaps the people were nervous of such power for good, fearing that it might make demands on them. We too can be tempted to ask Jesus to leave our neighbourhood, to leave our lives. We sometimes want to keep him at a distance. We sense that his nearness might be very demanding. He might call us to go out towards those who live on the edge of the community, as he himself went out towards the two demoniacs who lived among the tombs. Yet, if we welcome the Lord into our lives, rather than keeping him at a distance, we will discover that he gives us the strength to respond to the challenging call of his presence and in responding to that call we too will find a greater fullness of life.

 And/Or

(iv) Wednesday, Thirteenth week in Ordinary Time

In the gospel reading Jesus is met by two very disturbed people. They were so disturbed that they lived among the tombs and no one would pass that way for fear of them. Jesus, however, was not afraid of them, even though they initially addressed him in a very aggressive way. Undisturbed by their aggression, Jesus went on to heal them and to restore them to themselves and to the community. Jesus’ power to give life was stronger than the power to damage, destroy and disturb. That remains true today. The risen Lord’s life-giving power at work in our lives is stronger than the forces in our world which dehumanize and damage. That is why we need always to be people of hope. The Lord at work among us and through us can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, in the words of Saint Paul. We need to open ourselves to the Lord’s presence so that he can work through us. In contrast to the townspeople in the gospel reading who asked the Lord to leave the neighbourhood, we invite the Lord to use us as his instruments in his healing and life-giving work.

--------------------------------------

Saint Oliver Plunket, Bishop, Martyr 

Gospel 

John 10:11-16

The good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep

Jesus said:

‘I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep.

The hired man, since he is not the shepherd

and the sheep do not belong to him,

abandons the sheep and runs away

as soon as he sees a wolf coming,

and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep;

this is because he is only a hired man

and has no concern for the sheep.

‘I am the good shepherd;

I know my own

and my own know me,

just as the Father knows me

and I know the Father;

and I lay down my life for my sheep.

And there are other sheep I have

that are not of this fold,

and these I have to lead as well.

They too will listen to my voice,

and there will be only one flock,

and one shepherd.

Reflection (1)

(i) Saint Oliver Plunkett

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Oliver Plunkett. He was from Irish nobility and his family supported King Charles I. He was ordained a priest in Rome in the year 1654 and he immediately became professor of theology at the College for the Propagation of the Faith until the year 1669. He was appointed Archbishop of Armagh in that year, 1669. He was forced to conduct his ministry in secret because it was a time in our history when it was illegal to be a Catholic priest. Ten years after becoming Archbishop of Armagh in the year 1679 he was arrested and tried in Dundalk for conspiring against the State. It was seen that Oliver would never be convicted in Ireland, so he was moved to Newgate prison in London. He was found guilty of high treason ‘for promoting the Catholic faith’ and was condemned to a gruesome death. He was martyred on this day, July 1, in the year 1681 at Tyburn in London. He was the last Catholic to die for their faith at Tyburn and the first of the Irish martyrs to be beatified. His head is in Saint Peter’s church in Drogheda and most of his body is in Downside Abbey, England. The first reading we heard this morning suggests that the goodness of a few, as few as ten, can bring mercy to all. Indeed, the goodness of even one person can have a profound effect for good on others. The courageous witness of Oliver and others who died for their faith at that time has had a enormous impact for good on the life of the church in Ireland. The effort any one of us makes to witness to our faith in the Lord by our lives will always impact for good on the lives of others. When any one of us strives to be faithful to the values of Jesus and the gospel it helps everyone else to do the same. We are very interdependent when it comes to the faith. We can build each other up or bring each other down.  We may never be called upon to die for our faith but every day we are called upon to live for our faith, and if we are faithful to that calling the Lord will work through us to touch the lives of others.

Fr. Martin Hogan, Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin, D03 AO62, Ireland.

Email: sjtbclontarf@eircom.net or  revmartinhogan@gmail.com

Parish Website: www.stjohnsclontarf.ie  Please join us via our webcam.

Twitter: @SJtBClontarfRC.

Facebook: St John the Baptist RC Parish, Clontarf.

Tumblr: Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin.

[rapeculturerealities]

Matias Benitez and Matt Chen are students at Regis High School in New York City, and in February of 2018, the teenagers started HeForShe, the school’s first feminist club. Every week, a dozen or so students gather after school to discuss the treatment of women and topical, sometimes difficult topics, like the Kavanaugh hearing. We talk to Matt and Matias about HeForShe, how they define feminism and what they hope fellow students learn from their club.

In Signs of the Times, following the massacre at Christchurch in New Zealand, Bishop Kevin Doran criticizes “faith-filled” Catholics who demonize Muslims. We discuss the upcoming book by our Vatican correspondent, Gerry O’Connell, on the election of Pope Francis. The founder of Women Church World, Lucetta Scaraffia, resigns as editor in chief of the all women’s magazine. And an archbishop in New Mexico reminds Catholics that “Santa Muerte” goes against church teaching.

read more

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 10.30

Holidays

Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security

Banknote Day (Indonesia)

Beggars Night

Bodybuilders Day

Checklist Day

Chequer Tree Day (French Republic)

Coach Day (Russia)

Covenant of Grace Day

Create a Great Funeral Day

Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions (for Soviet Republics, except Ukraine)

Devil's Night (Michigan)

Frankenstein's Monster Day

Gate Night

GATTiversary

Goosing Night

Haunted Refrigerator Night

International Ghost Shark Day

International Orthopedic Nurses Day

Look in the Back of Your Refrigerator Day

Miggy Night

Mine Rescue Day

Mischief Night

Mizzy Night

National Checklist Day

National Dashiki Day

National Publicist Day

National Sleep-In Day

National Speak Up For Service Day

National Text Your Ex Day

National Treat Your Pet Day

National Wicked Day

Practice Winter Snuggling Night

Punisher Day

Speak Up For Service Day

Try on Your Halloween Costume Early Day

Uplift Someone Day

Vice Presidents Day

Weatherization Day

Wish We Hadn’t Done That Day

World Audio Drama Day

World Day of Bodybuilding

World Hypophosphatasia Day

World Online Networking Day

World Uchinanchu Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Buy a Doughnut Day

Cabbage Night

Egg Night

National Candy Corn Day

Pete’s Wicked Ale Day

Pumpkin Bread Day

Sugar Addiction Awareness Day

Independence & Related Days

Anniversary of the Declaration of the Slovak Nation (Slovakia)

Danland (Declared; 2013) [unrecognized]

Marlborough Province Day (New Zealand)

Sprinskè (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

5th & Last Wednesday in October

Buckle Up Phone Down Day (Missouri) [Last Wednesday]

Global Pink Hijab Day [Last Wednesday]

Hump Day [Every Wednesday]

Senior Health & Fitness Day [Last Wednesday]

Utah Apple Crunch (Utah) [Last Wednesday]

Wacky Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Website Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Whole Grain Wednesday [Last Wednesday of Each Month]

Wishful Wednesday [Last Wednesday of Each Month]

Weekly Holidays beginning October 30 (Last Week of October)

Rhyne Toll (Chetwode Manor, UK) [thru 11.7]

Festivals Beginning October 30, 2024

American Royal World Series of Barbecue (Kansas City, Missouri) [thru 11.3]

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) [thru 11.3]

Lucca Comics & Games (Lucca, Italy) [thru 11.3]

Salon du Chocolat (Paris, France) [thru 11.3]

State Fair of Louisiana (Shreveport, Louisiana) [thru 11.17]

Terlingua International Championship Chili Cookoff (Terlingua, Texas) [thru 11.2]

Yellow Rails & Rice Festival (Jennings, Louisiana) [thru 11.2]

Feast Days

Adam Smith (Positivist; Saint)

Adelaide Anne Procter (Writerism)

Alfred Sisley (Artology)

Alonso Rodriguez (Christian; Saint)

Angelica Kauffman (Artology)

Antoine Bourdelle (Artology)

Artemas (Christian; Saint)

Auserius of Pontus (Christian; Saint)

Dominic Collins, Blessed (Catholic, Ireland, Society of Jesus)

Chat Parwa (Nepal)

Country Joe Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Crow (Muppetism)

Dorothy of Montau (Christian; Saint)

Ethelnoth (Egelnoth) the Good (Christian; Saint)

Ezra Pound (Writerism)

Furry Animal Fondling Day (Pastafarian)

Gerard of Potenza (Christian; Saint)

Germanus, Bishop of Papua (Christian; Saint)

Herbert (Christian; Saint)

Isis/Osiris Mysteries III (Pagan)

John Wycliffe (Episcopal Church (USA))

Lhabab Duechen (Descending Day of Lord Buddha; Buddhism)

Marcellus of Tangier (a.k.a. Marcellus the Centurion; Christian; Saint)

Maria Teresa of St. Joseph (Christian; Blessed)

Paul Valéry (Writerism)

Saturninus of Cagliari (Christian; Saint)

Serapion of Antioch (Christian; Saint)

Talarican (a.k.a. Tarkin; Christian; Saint)

Theonistus (Christian; Saint)

Thevar Jayanthi (Thevar community, India)

Tim Kirk (Artology)

Zenobios and Zenobia (Christian; Saints)

Zoe Akins (Writerism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [59 of 71]

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Appalachian Spring, by Aaron Copland (Orchestral Suite; 1944)

A Battle Royal, featuring Farmer Al Falfa (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1936)

Bucket-Headed Bullwinkle or Pail-Face Moose (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 173; 1962)

Calcutta Adventure (Animated TV Show;Jonny Quest #7; 1964)

Casper’s Halloween Special(Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1979)

The Case of the Stuttering Pig (WB LT Cartoon; 1937)

Chicken Little (Animated Film; 1963)

The City of Gold and Lead, by John Christopher (Novel; 1967) [Tripods #2]

Coat of Many Colors, by Dolly Parton (Song; 1971)

Danger in the Desert or Max Attacks (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 68; 1960)

Doctor Sleep (Film; 2019)

Faith, by George Michael (Album; 1987)

The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Film; 1979)

Forget-Me-Net, Parts 1 & 2 (Underdog Cartoon, S2, Eps. 29 & 30; 1965)

The Halloween Tree, by Ray Bradbury (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1993)

The Hidden (Film; 1987)

Hook and Ladder No. 1 (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1932)

I Heard It Through the Grapevine, by Marvin Gaye (Album; 1968)

The Incredible Journey (Film; 1963)

Joy of Cooking, by Irma S. Rombauer (Cookbook; 1931)

Just Plane Beep (WB MM Cartoon; 1965)

The Lion in Winter (Film; 1968)

Make-Believe Monster or Once Upon a Crime (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 174; 1962)

Meddle, by Pink Floyd (Album; 1971)

Megamind (Animated Film; 2010)

Old Yeller, by Fred Gipson (Novel; 1958)

One Night in the Tropics (Film; 1940) [1st Abbot & Costello Film]

Pac-Man Halloween Special(Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1982)

The Postman Always Rings Twice, by James M. Cain (Novel; 1934)

Professor Tom (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1948)

Quack Shot (WB MM Cartoon; 1954)

Rumble in the Jungle; Muhammed Ali KO’s George Foreman in Zaire (Heavyweight Prize Fight; 1974)

The Train on the Plain or The Overland Express (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 67; 1960)

Tumbleweed Connection, by Elton John (Album; 1970)

The War of the Worlds (Radio Program; 1938)

Winter (Silly Symphony Disney Cartoon; 1930)

Wonderwall, by Oasis (Song; 1995)

Today’s Name Days

Alfons, Angelo, Dieter (Austria)

German, Klaudije, Marcel, Marcijan (Croatia)

Tadeáš (Czech Republic)

Absalon, Elsa (Denmark)

Urmas, Urmet, Urmo (Estonia)

Eila (Finland)

Bienvenue, Maeva (France)

Alfons, Angelo, Dieter, Sabine (Germany)

Apollonia, Asterios, Astero, Kleopas, Kronos, Markianos, Tertios, Zenovia, Zenovios, Zinovia, Zinovios (Greece)

Alfonz (Hungary)

Benvenuta, Germano (Italy)

Algards, Nadīna, Ratne, Ulla, Venera (Latvia)

Darata, Edmundas, Skirgaila, Skirvydė (Lithuania)

Aksel, Ånund, Ove (Norway)

Alfons, Alfonsyna, Angel, Angelus, Edmund, Klaudiusz, Przemysław, Sądosław, Zenobia (Poland)

Zenobia, Zenovie (Romania)

Šimon (Slovakia)

Amparo, Marcelo (Spain)

Elsa, Isabella (Sweden)

Arilda, Xena, Xenia, Ximena, Zena, Zenas, Zenia, Zeno, Zenobia (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 304 of 2024; 62 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of Week 44 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 4 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Jia-Xu), Day 28 (Ding-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 28 Tishri 5785

Islamic: 26 Rabi II 1446

J Cal: 4 Wood; Foursday [4 of 30]

Julian: 17 October 2024

Moon: 3%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 24 Descartes (11th Month) [Fichte / Kant]

Runic Half Month: Wyn (Joy) [Day 8 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 38 of 90)

Week: Last Week of October

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 7 of 30)

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Today in Christian History

Today is Saturday, August 3rd, the 215th day of 2019. There are 150 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

1476: Pope Sixtus IV issues the bull Salvator noster, which claims to extend indulgences to cover purgatory and to allow the merits of the saints, Mary, and Christ to become effective for those suffering there: “The souls, that is, for whose sakes the stated quantity or value of money has been paid in the manner declared.” Many Catholic theologians protest, noting especially the potential for financial abuse.

1492: Friday at dawn the Santa María and its companion caravels commence the historic voyage which will bring Europeans to America. The expedition’s leader, Christopher Columbus, has both missionary and trade ambitions.

1521: An order of the French parliament is published throughout Paris to the sound of trumpets, commanding all booksellers, printers, and others with Luther’s books in their possession, to give them up within eight days or face imprisonment and fine.

1785: Samuel Seabury, having obtained ordination in Scotland, is publicly recognized as Bishop of Connecticut in a convocation at Middletown, Connecticut. He thus becomes the United States’ first Anglican bishop (soon reorganized as the Episcopal Church).

1823: Henry Williams arrives in New Zealand where he will become head of the Church of England’s mission.

1872: Lord Shaftesbury, a notable British philanthropist, lays foundations for a new housing project for the poor.

1897: Death in London of Emily Elizabeth Steele Elliott, hymnwriter. “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” will be her best known hymn.

1898: Leo Tolstoy, Russia’s famous novelist, enters pantheistic and anti-trinitarian sentiments into his diary that are contrary to his nation’s Orthodox Church: “I say that the God who created the world in six days and who sent His son, and also his son himself, are not God, but that God is the one existing, incomparable good, the beginning of everything . . . ”

1902: Gregorio Aglipay founds the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Independent Filipino Church), after the Roman Catholic Church refuses to consecrate any Filipino bishops.

1920: Death of Bishop L. H. Holsey in Atlanta, Ga. He had been one of the first bishops of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church.

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1902 – Death of Thomas William Croke D.D., the second Catholic Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand (1870-1874) and later Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Co Tipperary.

#OTD in 1902 – Death of Thomas William Croke D.D., the second Catholic Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand (1870-1874) and later Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Co Tipperary.

Thomas Croke was born in Castlecor (parish of Kilbrin), Co Cork, in 1824. He became the second Catholic Bishop of Auckland New Zealand before returning to Ireland as Archbishop of Cashel and Emly. He was a strong and public supporter of Irish nationalism aligning himself with the Irish National Land League during the Land War, and with the chairman of the Irish Parliamentary Party, Charles…

[brookston]

Holidays 10.30

Holidays

Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security

Banknote Day (Indonesia)

Beggars Night

Bodybuilders Day

Checklist Day

Chequer Tree Day (French Republic)

Coach Day (Russia)

Covenant of Grace Day

Create a Great Funeral Day

Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions (for Soviet Republics, except Ukraine)

Devil's Night (Michigan)

Frankenstein's Monster Day

Gate Night

GATTiversary

Goosing Night

Haunted Refrigerator Night

International Ghost Shark Day

International Orthopedic Nurses Day

Look in the Back of Your Refrigerator Day

Miggy Night

Mine Rescue Day

Mischief Night

Mizzy Night

National Checklist Day

National Dashiki Day

National Publicist Day

National Sleep-In Day

National Speak Up For Service Day

National Text Your Ex Day

National Treat Your Pet Day

National Wicked Day

Practice Winter Snuggling Night

Punisher Day

Speak Up For Service Day

Try on Your Halloween Costume Early Day

Uplift Someone Day

Vice Presidents Day

Weatherization Day

Wish We Hadn’t Done That Day

World Audio Drama Day

World Day of Bodybuilding

World Hypophosphatasia Day

World Online Networking Day

World Uchinanchu Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Buy a Doughnut Day

Cabbage Night

Egg Night

National Candy Corn Day

Pete’s Wicked Ale Day

Pumpkin Bread Day

Sugar Addiction Awareness Day

Independence & Related Days

Anniversary of the Declaration of the Slovak Nation (Slovakia)

Danland (Declared; 2013) [unrecognized]

Marlborough Province Day (New Zealand)

Sprinskè (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

5th & Last Wednesday in October

Buckle Up Phone Down Day (Missouri) [Last Wednesday]

Global Pink Hijab Day [Last Wednesday]

Hump Day [Every Wednesday]

Senior Health & Fitness Day [Last Wednesday]

Utah Apple Crunch (Utah) [Last Wednesday]

Wacky Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Website Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Whole Grain Wednesday [Last Wednesday of Each Month]

Wishful Wednesday [Last Wednesday of Each Month]

Weekly Holidays beginning October 30 (Last Week of October)

Rhyne Toll (Chetwode Manor, UK) [thru 11.7]

Festivals Beginning October 30, 2024

American Royal World Series of Barbecue (Kansas City, Missouri) [thru 11.3]

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) [thru 11.3]

Lucca Comics & Games (Lucca, Italy) [thru 11.3]

Salon du Chocolat (Paris, France) [thru 11.3]

State Fair of Louisiana (Shreveport, Louisiana) [thru 11.17]

Terlingua International Championship Chili Cookoff (Terlingua, Texas) [thru 11.2]

Yellow Rails & Rice Festival (Jennings, Louisiana) [thru 11.2]

Feast Days

Adam Smith (Positivist; Saint)

Adelaide Anne Procter (Writerism)

Alfred Sisley (Artology)

Alonso Rodriguez (Christian; Saint)

Angelica Kauffman (Artology)

Antoine Bourdelle (Artology)

Artemas (Christian; Saint)

Auserius of Pontus (Christian; Saint)

Dominic Collins, Blessed (Catholic, Ireland, Society of Jesus)

Chat Parwa (Nepal)

Country Joe Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Crow (Muppetism)

Dorothy of Montau (Christian; Saint)

Ethelnoth (Egelnoth) the Good (Christian; Saint)

Ezra Pound (Writerism)

Furry Animal Fondling Day (Pastafarian)

Gerard of Potenza (Christian; Saint)

Germanus, Bishop of Papua (Christian; Saint)

Herbert (Christian; Saint)

Isis/Osiris Mysteries III (Pagan)

John Wycliffe (Episcopal Church (USA))

Lhabab Duechen (Descending Day of Lord Buddha; Buddhism)

Marcellus of Tangier (a.k.a. Marcellus the Centurion; Christian; Saint)

Maria Teresa of St. Joseph (Christian; Blessed)

Paul Valéry (Writerism)

Saturninus of Cagliari (Christian; Saint)

Serapion of Antioch (Christian; Saint)

Talarican (a.k.a. Tarkin; Christian; Saint)

Theonistus (Christian; Saint)

Thevar Jayanthi (Thevar community, India)

Tim Kirk (Artology)

Zenobios and Zenobia (Christian; Saints)

Zoe Akins (Writerism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [59 of 71]

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Appalachian Spring, by Aaron Copland (Orchestral Suite; 1944)

A Battle Royal, featuring Farmer Al Falfa (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1936)

Bucket-Headed Bullwinkle or Pail-Face Moose (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 173; 1962)

Calcutta Adventure (Animated TV Show;Jonny Quest #7; 1964)

Casper’s Halloween Special(Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1979)

The Case of the Stuttering Pig (WB LT Cartoon; 1937)

Chicken Little (Animated Film; 1963)

The City of Gold and Lead, by John Christopher (Novel; 1967) [Tripods #2]

Coat of Many Colors, by Dolly Parton (Song; 1971)

Danger in the Desert or Max Attacks (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 68; 1960)

Doctor Sleep (Film; 2019)

Faith, by George Michael (Album; 1987)

The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Film; 1979)

Forget-Me-Net, Parts 1 & 2 (Underdog Cartoon, S2, Eps. 29 & 30; 1965)

The Halloween Tree, by Ray Bradbury (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1993)

The Hidden (Film; 1987)

Hook and Ladder No. 1 (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1932)

I Heard It Through the Grapevine, by Marvin Gaye (Album; 1968)

The Incredible Journey (Film; 1963)

Joy of Cooking, by Irma S. Rombauer (Cookbook; 1931)

Just Plane Beep (WB MM Cartoon; 1965)

The Lion in Winter (Film; 1968)

Make-Believe Monster or Once Upon a Crime (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 174; 1962)

Meddle, by Pink Floyd (Album; 1971)

Megamind (Animated Film; 2010)

Old Yeller, by Fred Gipson (Novel; 1958)

One Night in the Tropics (Film; 1940) [1st Abbot & Costello Film]

Pac-Man Halloween Special(Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1982)

The Postman Always Rings Twice, by James M. Cain (Novel; 1934)

Professor Tom (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1948)

Quack Shot (WB MM Cartoon; 1954)

Rumble in the Jungle; Muhammed Ali KO’s George Foreman in Zaire (Heavyweight Prize Fight; 1974)

The Train on the Plain or The Overland Express (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 67; 1960)

Tumbleweed Connection, by Elton John (Album; 1970)

The War of the Worlds (Radio Program; 1938)

Winter (Silly Symphony Disney Cartoon; 1930)

Wonderwall, by Oasis (Song; 1995)

Today’s Name Days

Alfons, Angelo, Dieter (Austria)

German, Klaudije, Marcel, Marcijan (Croatia)

Tadeáš (Czech Republic)

Absalon, Elsa (Denmark)

Urmas, Urmet, Urmo (Estonia)

Eila (Finland)

Bienvenue, Maeva (France)

Alfons, Angelo, Dieter, Sabine (Germany)

Apollonia, Asterios, Astero, Kleopas, Kronos, Markianos, Tertios, Zenovia, Zenovios, Zinovia, Zinovios (Greece)

Alfonz (Hungary)

Benvenuta, Germano (Italy)

Algards, Nadīna, Ratne, Ulla, Venera (Latvia)

Darata, Edmundas, Skirgaila, Skirvydė (Lithuania)

Aksel, Ånund, Ove (Norway)

Alfons, Alfonsyna, Angel, Angelus, Edmund, Klaudiusz, Przemysław, Sądosław, Zenobia (Poland)

Zenobia, Zenovie (Romania)

Šimon (Slovakia)

Amparo, Marcelo (Spain)

Elsa, Isabella (Sweden)

Arilda, Xena, Xenia, Ximena, Zena, Zenas, Zenia, Zeno, Zenobia (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 304 of 2024; 62 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of Week 44 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 4 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Jia-Xu), Day 28 (Ding-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 28 Tishri 5785

Islamic: 26 Rabi II 1446

J Cal: 4 Wood; Foursday [4 of 30]

Julian: 17 October 2024

Moon: 3%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 24 Descartes (11th Month) [Fichte / Kant]

Runic Half Month: Wyn (Joy) [Day 8 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 38 of 90)

Week: Last Week of October

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 7 of 30)

[romancatholicreflections]

22nd February >> Fr. Martin's Gospel Reflections / Homilies on Matthew 16:13-19 for Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter: ‘I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven’.

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter

Gospel (Europe, Africa, New Zealand, Australia & Canada)

Matthew 16:13-19

You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’

Gospel (USA)

Matthew 16:13-19

You are Peter. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Reflections (3)

(i)  Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter

In every cathedral of the worldwide church, there is to be found a special chair where the bishop or archbishop of the Diocese sits when he is celebrating the liturgy. The chair is a symbol of the teaching authority of the bishop. In Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome behind the main altar at the very back of the Basilica in a very elevated position is an ancient wooden chair encased in bronze. It is traditionally understood to be the chair of Saint Peter. He was recognized as having a special teaching authority among the faithful from the very beginning of the church. That teaching authority was based on the gospel reading for today’s feast. Jesus is portrayed as giving Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Keys are a symbol of authority. It is clear that teaching authority is involved from Jesus’ subsequent reference to binding and losing. It is a Jewish expression which relates to the teaching authority of the experts in the Jewish Law. They could bind and lose the Law, determining which elements of God’s Law were binding and which could be interpreted more loosely. Peter is being asked to interpret not the Jewish Law but Jesus’ own teaching for the other members of the church. In this way, he is to watch over the flock of God, in the words of today’s first reading. The Catholic Church has always recognized that this teaching role that Jesus assigned to Peter resided in a special way with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, who is understood to be Peter’s successor in this regard. We look to Pope Francis, and to each Pope, to proclaim the teaching of Jesus in a way that speaks to the issues and concerns of our times. Jesus was aware that his words, his teaching, would need to be re-interpreted continually for every age. Today we ask for the grace to listen to Pope Francis who, we believe, is especially inspired to interpret the teaching of Jesus for us for this age.

And/Or

(ii) Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter

Today’s feast celebrates the teaching authority of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope of the universal church. When Jesus declares to Peter in the gospel reading that whatever he binds on earth shall be considered bound in heaven and whatever he loses on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven, he is using terminology that was associated with teaching authority in the Jewish world of the time. Part of the teaching role of the teachers of the Jewish law was to determine which aspects of the law were binding and which could be interpreted more loosely. Jesus is portrayed in the gospel reading as giving to Peter the role of determining which aspects of the teaching of Jesus were binding and which elements could be interpreted more loosely. Jesus himself in the course of his ministry was a teacher in this sense, declaring some parts of the Jewish Law binding and showing that other parts could be interpreted more loosely. Jesus wants Peter to continue his own teaching role into the future. As Catholics, we believe that this same teaching role resides with the Bishop of Rome today, whom we recognize as the successor of Peter. In that sense our church is a teaching church and that teaching finds expression in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This teaching is given as a resource to help us to understand what we believe in and to guide us in the living out of that faith. Apart from the Catechism, each Pope also gives his own distinctive understanding of the faith in his personal teaching.  Today we thank God for Pope Francis whose teachings in their various forms have been an inspiration not only to people of faith within the Catholic church but to people of faith in other churches, in other religious traditions, and to those of no particular religious faith. We pray that we ourselves would be attentive to what this particular successor of Peter is saying to us today.

And/Or

(iii) Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter

Today’s feast, ‘The Chair of St Peter’ is an ancient feast that has been kept at Rome since the fourth century; it celebrates the role of the Bishop of Rome as a symbol of unity for all Christians. In the gospel reading, Simon Peter is singled out as the Rock on which Jesus wants to build his church. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul identifies Jesus as the foundation on which the church is built, and he declares that no one can lay any other foundation. Yet, here in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus identifies Peter as the rock, the foundation, on which the church is built. How can Matthew and Paul be reconciled? In the gospel reading, although Jesus singles out Peter as the rock on which the church is built, Jesus refers to the church as ‘my church’. The church is the church of Jesus; it is not the church of Peter or of anybody else. If Peter is the rock on which Jesus’ church is built, he is so as the representative of Jesus, the true rock. His calling is to represent Jesus, to embody Jesus, in a unique way, to provide for Jesus’ church. That is the special calling of every bishop of Rome, every Pope, since the time of Peter. Anyone who knows anything about church history will be aware that not every Pope has lived up to that very special and challenging calling. Indeed, Peter himself was far from perfect, denying Jesus three times. Yet, the gospels show that after rising from the dead Jesus kept faith with Peter. It seems that Jesus is content to entrust great responsibility for his church to those who are prone to failure. Our present Pope Francis has a deep sense of himself as a loved and forgiven sinner. That is true of all of us. As loved sinners, we each have a vital role to play in the Lord’s church.

Fr. Martin Hogan, Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin, D03 AO62, Ireland.

Email: sjtbclontarf@eircom.net or  frmartinhogan@gmail.com

Parish Website: www.stjohnsclontarf.ie  Please join us via our webcam.

Twitter: @SJtBClontarfRC.

Facebook: St John the Baptist RC Parish, Clontarf.

Tumblr: Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin

[parramattasmsf]

All About Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral in Parramatta

Located in the heart of Parramatta, the Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral is a beautiful and historic church that has played a major role in the history of the city and region. From its beginnings to its present day development, the church has been a centre of faith, spirituality and community for many years. Whether you are looking to learn about the history of the church, visit the church for a service or just enjoy a coffee with friends, you will find that there is something for everyone at the Cathedral.

History

Located in Harris Park, Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral is one of the busiest parishes in Sydney. It is home to more than 30,000 parishioners, and is also the largest Maronite Catholic Parish in Australia. The church has undergone many internal refurbishments, and plans to add Sunday Masses in English, as well as daily Masses for the younger generation.

The church's foundation stone was laid by Cardinal Gilroy on 22 March 1970. It was one of the first Maronite churches in Australia. It served the local Maronites for 70 years. Its first pastor was Abdallah Assaf.

The community began to grow, and new churches were built. In the late '70s, local Maronites established a monastic order, and the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family set up their own school in Redfern. In 1988, the Maronite Sisters purchased the Carmelite Convent in Dulwich Hill.

In 2005, Our Lady of Lebanon in Wollongong opened a new church. It is the only Maronite Catholic Church in the state, and is currently serving an estimated 160,000 members. It has also added Sunday Masses, and will have extra priests to serve the community.

Maronites have a tight-knit community. They are committed to maintaining Lebanese culture and language. They also have a network of institutions that cater to the needs of the community. Some of these include schools, churches, and child care facilities. These institutions have been built by the community with simple resources, and have become a source of support and identity for the Maronite community in Sydney.

In 2000, Prime Minister John Howard visited Our Lady of Lebanon College. He was joined by NSW Parliamentary John Brogden. The Premier was given a tour of the site, and was able to attend mass with more than 100 staff.

Clergy

Located in the western part of Sydney, Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral is one of the oldest Catholic churches in Australia. It was founded in 1820 by Father John Therry. It was attended by boys and girls from all parts of western Sydney.

Parramatta was also the site of the first purpose-built orphanage for Catholic children. The Roman Catholic Orphan School in Parramatta was opened in 1844 and was funded by the New South Wales Government. The school was operated by a committee and housed 320 children at a time. In 1859 the school became a Catholic industrial school for girls, known as the Parramatta Industrial School for Girls.

The Maroun Eparchy of Sydney has expanded beyond New South Wales and into New Zealand and Oceania. Pope 204/2019 announced the expansion of the Eparchy to include the countries of the Pacific. In addition, Pope John Paul II named Bishop Mansour as the third bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn. In 2004, he was installed as Bishop in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lebanon. His installation was followed by a Thanksgiving Mass on the eighth anniversary of his episcopal ordination. He presided over the Mass.

The aforementioned Wesleyan and Presbyterian schools in Parramatta were amongst thirteen private schools that were established in the area. The most famous of these schools was the Dr. William Woolls school, which was later relocated to the Newlands area of Sydney. The National School in Parramatta was conducted in a building that had been used as a church for the previous century.

The Roman Catholic Orphan School in Parramatta also boasted the largest number of sacraments. Its most important contribution was the first Confirmation in Australia.

Choirboys

Having a good choir is not an easy task. This is particularly true for young males who are not exactly a hive mind. But that's not to say that a choir is not an important part of the parish.

The cathedral has its own music department. This includes the aforementioned organist, a cantor and an assistant, and has a small team of musicians whose services are often contracted for weddings and other special occasions.

There are also numerous committees and subcommittees that make up the fabric of the parish. The most notable are the ones that are responsible for maintaining the church and enhancing its offerings to the community. And in keeping with the spirit of the Maronite Church, the community is encouraged to grow.

The choir has a number of scholarship schemes to reward the hardy souls who persevere. Those in the know know that the cathedral has a plethora of talented musicians.

The cathedral is home to a good-sized organ, which is the primary instrument for cathedral liturgies. The 1898 Norman & Beard is a work of art. The cathedral has a number of excellent organists. And it's one of the few places in Australia where you can get your sins washed.

Amongst the myriad of music gurus at the cathedral are Tim McLaughlin, who is an attorney and solicitor and organ scholar at St Patrick's Cathedral in Parramatta. He has played the church organ for most of his life and does the unmentionable in other roles in the cathedral. And the cathedral is no stranger to the burgeoning music scene in the western suburbs.

Impacts of development on historic district

Among the many impacts of development on the historic district of Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral in Parramatta is the construction of new residential towers. This is a massive redevelopment that is threatening to overshadow the Collingwood Cathedral. This plan is opposed by a number of local organisations and custodians of early-colonial historic sites.

One of the main concerns is the impact on the parish's worship community. The height of the residential towers will affect the light that enters the Church. Another concern is the noise from the apartments.

There is also opposition from the nearby aged care home. The Parramatta and District Historical Society also opposes the development. Its current building was built in the 1890s. The Roman Catholic Church also opposes the project.

The Church is the largest Maronite Catholic parish in Australia. The parish's population grew from 10,000 to 30,000 in 40 years. The church also helped encourage growth in the Maronite community.

The church's history is tied to Parramatta. It was here that Governor Phillip befriended a young Darug boy called Baludarri. He traded fish with the settlers and acted as a translator to Governor Phillip. He was buried in Phillip's garden in Sydney.

During the first decades of the colony, the British government tested the limits of administrative and moral governance. The convict settlement proved the economic viability of the colony. During the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the British government also built a range of institutions, from asylums to factories. Among the convicts were Afro-Americans, rebellious slaves from the West Indies, insurrectionists from Canada, trade unionists from Europe, and military prisoners from India.

Planning application

Whether or not you believe the proposed development of a new residential tower and aged care facility next to Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral in Parramatta is an "opportunity", there is a lot to consider. This development will bring noise, traffic and disruption to the area. It also has the potential to reduce the community of worshippers in the area.

The plan is being opposed by the Marramatta and District Historical Society, the National Trust and Sydney Living Museums. They say the apartment plans are excessive. They argue the height of the residential apartments will hinder activities in the parish and impact on the light entering the Church. Similarly, they worry the balconies and roof gardens will be a site for mass gatherings.

Other stakeholders include the Roman Catholic Church and the nearby Mercy Health Home for the Aged. The aged care facility will be built over four levels and have a rooftop patio. It will include a chapel, day-care and wellness centre for the elderly. It will be located just behind the co-cathedral and will be managed by Mercy Health. The home will offer 85 private rooms with ensuites. The house will also provide a fresh approach to residential aged care.

The project will also involve a state-of-the-art aquatic center in the Green Square urban renewal area. It will feature a striking architectural design. The center will have a rooftop patio that will allow the residents to enjoy views of the Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral and the Elizabeth Farm estate.

The project is also slated for a new primary school. This is part of a more significant proposal by School Infrastructure NSW, which will form part of the Sports and Education sub-precinct.

Member Spotlight

SMSF Australia - Specialist SMSF Accountants

Suite 19/103 George St, Parramatta NSW 2150, Australia

+61 2 8246 7257

Get Map Direction