Taken from Richard Rohr’s Weekly Newsletter from the Center for Action and Contemplation

Author Tiffany Shlain offers a practice she calls a “Technology Sabbath” as a way of reducing our addiction to technology and our personal devices. She writes:  

How often have you looked up from your screen, eyes dazed, and realized you’ve just wasted thirty minutes or an hour or more? You look around and see everyone else with their heads down staring at their screens, too. You worry about how this is affecting you as an individual and society at large. You think you should do something about it, then your phone buzzes, you respond to the text, and you’re pulled back to the screen again. We’ve become ostriches, burying our heads in silicon sand                                                                                                                                     

Researchers have compared the sense of technological dependency—the feeling that we must be accessible and responsive at any time—to that of drugs and alcohol. It’s all because of the hormone dopamine, which is related to mood, attention, and desire. When you find something that feels good, dopamine makes you want more of it.                                      

What brings you joy ?  Think about all the (screen free) activities you enjoy doing that you just don't do enough       

Consider your own tradition or history.  What foods, practices from your childhood,  family , faith or culture would make the day more meaningful for you ?   

Consider your intentions  What qualities do you want to develop ?  What habits do you want to break ?  How do you want to feel when the day is over ? 

How to prepare for 24/6     A little think ahead will help you get more our of the day.

Plan your first Tech Shabbat Look at your calendar and plan what weekend day or (weekday)  you are going to start. Mark down several weeks in a row.  The power and beauty of this practice comes with it's regularity. In time you will look forward to it each week, Look at the list of things you want to do more of. Plan to fill your screen free day with activities from that list.  You can even print the list, post it on your fridge, and reference it throughout the day.  Or fill the day with doing nothing, if that's what you need and want. Invite anyone you want to join you for a meal, an activity, or the whole day. Tell people in your life you are planning to do this.  Don't come from a place of apology, but a place of strength and excitement.  If they express concern or curiosity, invite them to a Tech Sabbath dinner so they can experience it with you.

                                                                                    

KIVA LOANS MADE IN OCTOBER / FOUR INSPIRATIONAL STORIES

 

Rami's story is 43 and lives with his family in Bethlehem, West

Bank in Palestine. He Rami, is a hardworking refugee who tries his utmost to help his family live a decent life. He works in the construction field, which is hard work and requires a lot of effort. He turned to Palestine for Credit and Development FATEN to request a loan to buy construction equipment. This equipment will improve his work and enhance his income. He hopes you will help by funding his loan.

María Magdalena's story .Maria and her family live in the Bajos de Montecristi in Ecaudor A  place that stands out for their crafts made of toquilla straw, wicker, piquigua, and wood, fine toquilla straw hats, recognized around the world as “Panama Hats”, well known throughout the country and abroad.  At home, Maria Magdalena has a small pig farm where she works every day, feeding them and keeping them healthy. When they are grown and have a good weight, she sells them alive to merchants who come to buy them. Her children also have a wooden shop at home.  This loan is to buy small pigs, food, medicines, wood, sandpaper, paint, pay electricity bills, etc.

Sawiyah's story. She is pictured here with her son.   Sawiyah is 41 years old and married with one son and one daughter. She and her husband run a business of handcrafts in Indonesia.  One of her children is still in school. As a mother, Sawiyah is very concerned about the education of her children. She is asking Kiva for support because she wants to pay the school fees which are in arrears, because she thinks that education is the key to a brighter and better future.  So, she has applied for a loan of 1,800,000 Indonesian rupiahs (IDR) from KBMI at Curug Branch to pay for her child's school fees in arrears. Her income is not enough to directly pay these costs, but she will be able to repay the loan received in installments using the profits generated from her business.  Sawiyah is a hardworking mother who always strives for the best for her children to improve their living conditions and provide a bright future for them to pursue their dreams. She is very grateful for the opportunity and wants to thank all the lenders.

Elbia's story  This is Elbia, a micro-businesswoman who is happy to be able to be her own boss. She is also a pillar in her own family. Today, Elbia is the owner of an office supplies shop. Elbia knows about the work these two groups do because in the past they provided her with financial support which helped her fortify herself.  At this time, she is asking for a new Kiva loan through MiCrédito to buy 2 computers and 10 reams of paper. With this valuable investment, she will be able to provide her service to more customers and her profits increased. In addition, in the next few years, she is planning to open another office supplies store.

FROM GLOBAL SISTERS REPORT

 

In the footsteps of the Ukrainian people's Way of the Cross

Link to article below.  Thanks to Jeff Konyar for forwarding this 

https://www.globalsistersreport.org/news/ministry/column/footsteps-ukrainian-peoples-way-cross?utm_source=PANTHEON_STRIPPED&utm_campaign=PANTHEON_STRIPPED&utm_medium=PANTHEON_STRIPPED&utm_term=PANTHEON_STRIPPED

EXAMPLES OF BREATH PRAYERS

 

Minister Adele Ahlberg Calhoun suggests a form of breath prayer that allows us to bring our heart’s deepest longing into our intimate relationship with God:   Breath prayer reminds us that just as we can’t live on one breath of air, we can’t live on one breath of God. God is the oxygen of our soul, and we need to breathe [God] in all day long. After all, it is in [God] that “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Breath prayer reminds us that each breath we are given is God’s gift and that God’s Spirit is nearer to us that our own breath. . . . To practice breath prayer, ponder the nearness of God. Settle deeply into the truth that Christ is in you. Deeply breathe in, repeating any name of God that is dear to you. . . . As you exhale, voice a deep desire of your heart. When you exhale, offer up the desire of your heart. The brevity of the prayer allows it to be repeated over and over throughout the day. Examples of breath prayers are ·         breathe in “Abba,” breathe out “I belong to you.” ·         breathe in “Healer,” breathe out “speak the word and I shall be healed.” ·         breathe in “Shepherd,” breathe out “bring home my lost [ones].” ·         breathe in “Holy One,” breathe out “keep me true.” ·         breathe in “Lord,” breathe out “here I am.” ·         breathe in “Jesus,” breathe out “have mercy on me.”

EYES AND EARS; SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS

                                                    

HELLO,

I think we have a good and valuable Parish Community. We do so many things and we do them well. Some examples; Liturgy,  Music Ministry, Lay Lead Liturgy Team, A Lay Lead Leadership Team, An  Adult Spirituality Team, Hospitality, Social Justice.   We have activities  that impact in so many different areas. 

I have been told by other people within CACINA that we offer the most complete and best example of what a CACINA parish should  be.

We have a lot to offer and the Communications team is asking for your assistance to get the word out .

 Not asking you to join a Ministry Team or an AD HOC Committee.  Asking  to keep your eyes and ears open.   WHY ??

Is there a Festival  in your neighborhood ?  A Community Yard Sale ?  Maybe a Sports Tournament ? Or some type of community event that will be attracting groups of people, a gathering of people in one place at one time or maybe over a period of days.

What I am asking is for you to notify me of these events.  Gather some information and see if this would be appropriate for us to be present..

If you are willing to be a part of our “EYES AND EARS” Group please let me know

 

THANKS

CHARLIE ERNST

 

 

AUGUST TITHING RECIPIENT ORPHAN GRAIN TRAIN

 

ORPHAN GRAIN TRAIN

Mission Statement

In loving response to Christ, the Servant, the Orphan Grain Train movement encourages and enables God's people to share personal and material resources in bringing Christ's name and character to needy people both far and near. Sometimes that character expresses itself as a word well spoken, sometimes as a bandage well applied, and sometimes as a child well fed.

                                                                   What is Orphan Grain Train?         

Orphan Grain Train is a 501c3 Nonprofit Christian volunteer network that shares personal and material resources with needy people in America and around the world. Grain Train volunteers gather donations of clothing, medical supplies, food, Christian literature, and other aid to meet real needs. The Orphan Grain Train movement is a loving response to Jesus Christ’s example as a servant and His love for us.                                                                                             98.2 % of all donations go toward Orphan Grain Train mission projects. Only 1.8% of donations go toward administrative and fundraising expenses!

                                                  Summary of work done by Orphan Grain Train                                                      Orphan Grain Train’s 27 regional locations have delivered more than 50.3 million fortified-rice meals and 4,504 shipments of humanitarian aid to needy people in several states and 71 countries on 5 continents. OGT has delivered more than 16 containers of aid and food into Ukraine since the start of the invasion in 2022.  We have also delivered 20+ containers of aid & food to recipients in surrounding countries which serve their people in need, Ukrainian refugees and take supplies into Ukraine. 

                                                                                                    

CHAT AND CHEW SEPTEMBER 3RD

 

                                                   PARISH LIFE TEAM IS SPONSORING A

CHAT AND CHEW

THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE

 LOTS OF FOLKS HAVE THESE

THIS IS OUR FIRST

   JOIN US AFTER MASS ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2023

DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR OWN BAG LUNCH

 

 

KIVA LOANS FOR JULY 2023

 

LOANS THAT CHANGE LIVES

 

       KIVA LOANS MADE IN JULY 2023

 

In July we loaned a total of $ 350.00 to eight different people in seven different countries.  We had five loans @ $ 25.00 each. Two loans @ $ 50.00 each and One loan for $ 125.00.00 . Six of the loans totaling $ 175.00 are now totally funded. In the KIVA world, having a loan fully funded is a big deal !!  We had a total of  $ 384.06 in the KIVA account available to loan. The guidelines we established allows us to contribute $ 3.75 to KIVA each quarter when we make the loans.  We have a balance of $ 38.71 on hand in our account after these loans were made 

DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS TITHING RECIPIENT FOR JUNE 2023

 

Doctors Without Borders decided to commit to providing help to those who need it, regardless of possible political complications. This led to several situations where the organization was banned from the country or the area, or sometimes even trapped in the conflict itself, as in case of the Rwandan genocide. Given that, Doctors Without Borders received the Peace Nobel Prize in 1999 for their uncompromising humanitarian efforts (via Britannica), but also their role in peacekeeping operations. Their work across 70 countries has been crucial for survival of many displaced, war-stricken, and impoverished communities.

Doctors Without Borders was founded in 1971, in the aftermath of the Biafran famine of the Nigerian Civil War, by a small group of French doctors and journalists who sought to expand accessibility to medical care across national boundaries and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.^[3]    

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) offers medical humanitarian assistance to people based solely on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender, or political affiliation. Our teams of doctors, nurses, logisticians, and other frontline workers are often among the first on the scene when peoples’ lives are upended by conflict, disease outbreaks, or natural or human-made disasters.  The decision to respond is based solely on our independent assessment of medical needs. We work to ensure that our teams can reach people in need without restriction and provide aid directly.

We believe that the principles of impartiality and neutrality are not synonymous with silence. When the world turns its back on crises, we are duty-bound to raise our voices and speak out on behalf of our patients. With over 45,000 staff members of 169 nationalities working in more than 70 countries around the world, we recognize that diversity, equity, and inclusion are inextricably linked to the success of our medical humanitarian mission.

We strive to be as open and transparent as possible when it comes to the work we do and the money we spend.. Our financial independence ensures that the aid we provide is not used to further any government’s political or military goals. Most of our funding comes from small donations.  97.2 percent of the money we raised globally in 2020 came from individual donors and private institutions.

PRIDE PARADE 2023

                  Pictures speak a thousand words.  Hope these pictures capture the spirit of the day .

STUART PITTMAN COMMENTS ON PRIDE PARADE EXPERIENCE

 June 8, 2023

Dear Neighbor,

I didn’t get the whole Pride thing at first. I always opposed discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation, who they love, what they do in their bedrooms, what they wear, whether they take hormones, whether they have surgery. And I always thought it was absurd for the government to restrict marriage to only heterosexual couples. 

Live and let live, right? As long as you’re not hurting anyone.

But I was naive. I haven’t experienced the discrimination myself. I didn’t understand the value of public displays like pride parades.

When Annapolis Pride organized its first parade in 2019, I didn’t attend. I believe I had a scheduling conflict, but I was also conflicted. A part of me wanted to be there to support people who I knew were under attack, but another part of me questioned the image I’d be conveying to older, more socially conservative voters whose votes I’d need in the next election.

By 2022, when the parade returned after COVID, my thinking had evolved. I’d started to understand the movement. I’d gotten to know some of the Annapolis Pride organizers. I’d seen what they were up against, and how carefully they planned their responses. And I’d discovered that pushing back against political wedges, the kind politicians drive between people when they smell distrust and fear, is the essence of leadership. 

So I marched. My office marched. Our police department, health department, firefighters, library staff, and lots of other county employees marched. We marched with faith organizations, businesses, and educational institutions. 

There were thousands and thousands and thousands of people lined up on the streets of Annapolis singing, dancing, and expressing love, solidarity, community, and a bit of defiance. 

I was not embarrassed to be there. I grabbed a huge pride flag and started running circles around our float as the crowds roared their approval. I used a photo of that spectacle as the banner on my campaign Facebook page for months after.  

The experience was so uplifting that I returned on Saturday, for Annapolis Pride Parade and Festival 2023. It was a repeat performance with even more participation, and I spoke to the crowd on the stage at the conclusion of the parade. I said some things about love overcoming fear and thanked everyone for making that happen, but I left some things out.

I believe that the fundamental challenge facing humanity is overcoming fear of one another and learning to embrace one another. It sounds cliche, because it gets said by every religion, every philosopher, and every political movement in one way or another. But we keep letting ourselves slide into the cracks, the cracks of fear and distrust. Leaders seeking to gain or hold power drive wedges into those cracks, opening them wider for us to fall further.

The brave people of Annapolis Pride, just like the brave people of America’s civil rights movement and other movements for justice, are responding to their neighbors’ fear with love. They are inviting us to march with them, to celebrate with them, to party with them. And it’s working.

That’s the part I didn’t get before. I didn’t understand the healing power of a Pride parade. I didn’t understand how good it felt, not just for people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer to be seen and accepted for who they are, but also how healing it is for the rest of us to celebrate with them. 

The celebration is like a coming of age for humanity. It’s a celebration that we have finally arrived at a place where it’s simply our humanity that we celebrate. That regardless of how we choose to live and love, what we look like, or where we’re from, we are celebratory, loving human beings, and just like all the fairy tales say, love wins.

Join us next year. There’s nothing to fear. You’ll be grinning from ear to ear.

 

KIVA LOANS IN APRIL

 SIX LOANS TO SIX PEOPLE FROM SIX COUNTRIES. CHECK OUT THE DIVERSITY OF THE LOANS AND THE COUNTRIES. THANKS TO THE KIVA TEAM FOR THEIR EFFORTS 

Lizandro's story    Lizandro is 20 years old from Bolivia.  He is single and has no children. He lives with his parents in a rural community. Lizandro is a farmer, and he already has three years of experience in country life. During this time, he has succeeded in making alliances with some dealers from the markets, and he says that things aren't going badly for him.  Lizandro wants a loan for the purchase of cattle in order to be able to offer more meat to his business partners.

Hanitriniaina's story  Hanitriniaina is very grateful to all the lenders who supported her business of growing potatoes. She made enough profit to continue to renovate the family home and put away some savings. She is going to continue to put more effort into her greengrocer business, as well as growing potatoes. She is from Madagascar

Vasita's story  Although Vasita’s plot may be only a few hectares, like all farmers she must fertilize it well at planting time. To underpin a good yield, it is essential her crops are protected from disease and pests once they’re growing.  She requests a loan to buy good-quality stems of kava plant, some manure, pesticides and farming tools that will enhance and protect their crops.  She is from Fiji , and she hopes they will get a solid harvest that will at least maintain her family’s subsistence living.

Dorothy's story  Dorothy is a 28 year-old woman who is married with two children. They live in a community in Honiara, capital of Solomon Island.  She runs a small business selling vegetables and cabbages at the market to earn a living. She has been in this business for three years.  Dorothy has requested a loan to pay for additional vegetables and cabbages to assist her in running her business.  She will use her profits to meet her family's financial needs and grow her business.

Merlinda's story  Merlinda is a hardworking entrepreneur with one child. Merlinda runs a business fattening pigs in the Philippines and requested a PHP 30,000 loan through NWTF to buy feed and vitamins to raise her pigs.  Merlinda dreams that one day she will be able to save enough to provide a secure future for her family.

Humoroy's story  This woman's name is Humoroy. She is from the Jomi District. In Tajikistan  Humoroy is 63 years old. She lives with her four children. She decided to take out a loan and concurrently start a new business in the field of livestock breeding.  She wants to raise cattle. Humoroy has all of the conditions for her planned business; she has livestock feed and a cattle barn. However, because she invested a lot of her money in the construction of the barn and the purchase of the livestock feed, she does not have enough money to buy cattle. She is asking that you help her buy a calf so that she can start her business.

TITHING RECIPIENT FOR APRIL 2023

 

Moveable Feast has served as a beacon of light for over thirty years, bringing healthy food and compassion to those struggling with chronic illness. The organization was founded during the height of the AIDS epidemic in 1989, to provide food, hope, and love to those living with HIV/AIDS, many of whom were members of the LGBTQ+ community. Moveable Feast has continued to support underserved and vulnerable communities in Baltimore, while also expanding its reach across Maryland and serving people with illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.  Food is at the heart of what we do, and our work has become even more important as more people in our community face food insecurity 

NEW MASS TIME; MOVING TO 10:00 A.M. ON SUNDAY APRIL 23 RD

 OUR DOORS WILL BE OPENING ONE HOUR SOONER . 

OUR SINGING BOWL WILL BE RUNG ONE HOUR SOONER.

WE ARE MOVING OUR START TIME TO 10:00 A.M. 

LINK TO PARISH DIRECTORY

We have recently updated our Parish Directory.  Below is the link that will allow you to open and view the Directory. 

                 https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Vf1G5HrOTLRIAk5h3FGJBAfdiAoTXkhG

ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS

 

A Reflection for Wednesday in the Octave of Easter By Kevin Clarke Link to todays reading below  https://api-esp.piano.io/-c/197/30749/503409/2778670/550869/1fff37ead80eee111c5750f0cf3d74c1/-1/-1?attrs=0&order=0   Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Lk 24:35)   The days after the worrying events outside the empty tomb must have been a time of confusion and deep anxiety. The hopes of many of the disciples dashed at the crucifixion, they only began to grasp how little they understood about this Messiah they followed and the meaning of that miraculous Passover celebration—their own expectations and ambitions thrown into a heap of frustration and fear.   What kind of messiah was this? What had become of the power he had demonstrated through the miracles he worked? Where was his authority over life and death, surrendered so passively on the cross?   Some thought they followed a Messiah who would come into his reign in their time, a counterforce of shock and awe that would end their humiliation and liberate them from their oppressor. How could they accept this Messiah who meekly accepted his fate?   These disciples on the road to Emmaus loudly pondered the astounding events in Jerusalem. What did it all mean?    Were they on the road to Emmaus to abandon this rabbi and his teaching, to get back to their old lives, casting aside everything they had seen and struggled to understand?   Starting down that road, they did not yet perceive the radical message in the miraculous works and mercy of Jesus. This reign would be ushered into power by revolutions within the heart of each person, not struck into being at the end of a sword.   We are all on a road to Emmaus, following a path that is at points lonely or diverted by apprehension and sorrow. Do we really see the people who travel with us? Do we recognize the miracle of their humanity and a mystical connection that binds us all?   In the simplest acts of hospitality, at a table of fellowship, so much obscured by apprehension and sorrow can be restored in empathy and affection. Jesus walks beside us, waiting for an invitation to break bread and, in mercy and love, to reveal himself.

 

SPRING THEME ARTICLE COMPLIMENTS OF IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY

 

TIME TO PLANT A NEW HABIT

Back when so many of us in this country were farmers, when more of us lived in the country than in cities, we understood in our very bones that spring was the season for planting. Some of us still sense this when the weather warms and the days grow longer. We plant vegetable gardens or create container gardens in our small city spaces. Spring breezes inspire us to dig in the dirt and begin our own little kingdoms of beauty.

Might we apply more broadly this metaphor of planting? Can we allow spring to inspire us to plant habits that can produce good work and well-being later on?

What seeds would you like to plant?

·         More intentional physical activity

·         More cooking from scratch

·         More time with people who are important to you

·         More quiet time for prayers of gratitude

·         More energy on your gifts than on daily trivia

·         More of your talent going outward to help others

·         More giving up what is not important

 

******** Two words that are BLUE highlighted are links that lead to other articles from the archives that are similar themes