Queen Elizabeth -100 years old

Queen Elizabeth - her last official photo

Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926, and today she would have turned 100 years old ! She was born two years before all women could vote on equal terms with men. Growing up in a house in Piccadilly, overlooking Green Park, she did not expect to be queen, and she was dismayed to become queen so young. She only became queen because her uncle Edward abdicated to marry an American woman. That meant leaving behind the ordinary pleasures of a happy marriage, out of the public eye. But, as she had said in a remarkable speech in 1947, when she turned 21: “My whole life, whether it be short or long, will be devoted to your service.” As a young teenager and newly-married couple, she lived with her husband Prince Philip in Malta for a few years, as he was stationed on the HMS Magpie in Malta. The barber that cut his hair was also my barber for many years. The house where they lived is being restored at the moment and hopefully it would soon be a Museum to attract many British tourists. 

Queen Elizabeth was actually the fourth longest-serving monarch in the world, after King Louis XIV of France, who reigned for over 72 years. He was followed by Bhumibol Aulyadej of Thailand and King Johann II of Liechtenstein, both of whom reigned for over 70 years each. Queen Elizabeth was known affectionately as Lilybeth, got married in 1947, and had 4 children, Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward. Her reign started on February 6, 1952, when her father died while she was in a Kenya with Prince Philip, and she was officially crowned on June 2, 1953. Visiting every country in the Commonwealth, mostly by her ship Britannia, she kept going until the last day of her life, enduring several sad days because of her children’s mis-behaviors, proclaiming 1992 as the Annus Orribilis. She died on September 8, 2022 at the age of 96, a couple of years after Philip.

You are outstanding !

A young girl wrote this in her diary ‘Every day my mother tells me that I’m outstanding ! I don’t know why. My friend Sarah says that to be truly outstanding you have to have long and beautiful hair like hers. But I surely don’t have it. John tells me that to be outstanding you have to have bright, white and beautiful teeth like his. But certainly mine are not nice looking. Jessica on the other hand tells me that to be outstanding you need to have smooth skin without any spots like the ones I have. Marco claims that to be outstanding you have to be first in class, and I can barely make it to the top 10. Stefan says that to be outstanding one has to tell the best jokes. And I don’t know any  good jokes. On the other hand my friend Laura says that to be outstanding you have to be living in a beautiful mansion with a large swimming pool like the one she lives in, and our house is so simple and poor. Alfred proclaims that to feel outstanding any young person has to wear the brand names of clothing, shoes, jewellery etc. And I definitely cannot afford them. Every evening, at bed time, my mother comes into my room and says to me that I’m outstanding and she loves me very much.' Remember that at every second of our lives, God is hugging us and tells us ‘You are outstanding, and I love you dearly, even though I know many faults you made, and I ignore them all.’

Jesus at your house

As we reflect this Sunday on the beautiful story of the encounter of the Emmaus disciples with Jesus, let us ask ourselves what would we do if Jesus knocked on our door, and asked to stay with us for a day or two........but read on......and sincerely reflect on each verse.

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two –

If he came unexpectedly, I wonder what you’d do. 

Oh, I know you’d give your nicest room to such an honored Guest, 

And all the food you’d serve Him would be the very best, 

And you would keep assuring Him you’re glad to have Him there - 

That serving Him in your home is a joy beyond compare.

But – when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door 

With arms outstretched in welcome to your Heav’nly Visitor?

Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in, 

Or hide some magazines, and put the Bible where they’d been? 

Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn’t heard, 

And wish you hadn’t uttered that last, loud, hasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out? 

Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about? 

And I wonder – if the Savior spent a day or two with you, 

Would you go right on doing the things you always do? 

Would you go right on saying the things you always say? 

Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep its usual pace, 

Or would you find it hard at each meal to say table grace? 

Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books you read, 

And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed? 

Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you’d planned to go, 

Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends, 

Or would you hope they stay away until His visit ends? 

Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on, 

Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone? 

It might be interesting to know the things that you would do, 

If Jesus came in person to spend some time with you.

Easter – feast of our salvation

Easter is the big feast of our salvation. Love conquered hatred. Life overcame death, and Light expelled the darkness. Easter eliminated evil, washed away all guilt, gave back innocence to the sinners, turns those who are suffering to joyous people, and promotes peace and harmony. The Risen Christ symbolizes  that the Love of God is stronger than evil and death. It means that God’s love can truly change our lives, while those areas in our hearts which dry up, are suddenly flourishing again.

Our Lady of Agony

A special devotion is held in Portugal every year to Our Lady of Agony. Since the 18th century, the locals at Viana do Castelo, especially the fishermen, have had a special devotion towards this statue which is carried in procession. The families of these fishermen know how dangerous their lives can be when they’re out in the ocean, the vast and endless Atlantic ocean. The people know that Mary herself suffered under the cross as she experienced suffering, cruelty, heartache and abandonment while her Son was dying on the cross. So these fishermen between August 15 and 23 each year carry this statue on a boat, so that she will bless them as they embark on the fishing season. They implore her to remain with them until the end of their lives, as she did with her Son on Calvary.

A Maltese peacock

Some of the largest public gardens in Malta are in the residence of the President of Malta in the town of Attard, and besides trees, flowers, fountains, orange groves, swans and a few other exhibits, parading in front of everyone and showing off his feathers was this peacock who was putting quite a show for tourists and visitors. He knew that people were looking at him, and photographers were snapping away one photo after another, and so he just stood there majestically showing off his priceless possession, his feathers and his deep blue-green face. The male Indian peafowl (peacock) has iridescent blue-green or green-colored plumage. 

The peacock tail ("train") is not the tail quill feathers but the highly elongated upper tail covert feathers. The "eyes" are best seen when the peacock fans its tail. Both species have a crest atop the head. The female Indian peafowl (peahen) has a mixture of dull green, brown, and grey in her plumage. Although she lacks the long upper tail coverts of the male, she has a crest. The female also displays her plumage to ward off female competition or signal danger to her young. Their offspring or babies are called peachicks.

Resurrection

God, give us eyes to see
the beauty of the Spring,
And to behold Your majesty
in every living thing -

And may we see in lacy leaves
and every budding flower
The Hand that rules the universe
with gentleness and power -

And may this Easter grandeur
that Spring lavishly imparts
Awaken faded flowers of faith
lying dormant in our hearts,

And give us ears to hear, dear God,
the Springtime song of birds
With messages more meaningful
than man's often empty words

Telling harried human beings
who are lost in dark despair -
'Be like us and do not worry
for God has you in His care.

Defending Pope Leo

Pope Leo answering questions from journalists on the plane.

The US President, whose name is not worth mentioning, issued a vicious attack on Pope Leo XIV, and the whole world came to the defence of our Supreme Pontiff, whose role it is to speak the truth and defend the defenceless, and of course speak against violence and war.  The pope in his remarks on the plane towards Algeria insisted on his responsibility to speak out against war in his capacity as a peacemaker. ‘"I do not look at my role as being political, a politician. Too many people are suffering in the world today, too many innocent people are being killed, and someone has to stand up and say there's a better way." During the last week, the Pope Leo stressed that his calls for peace, which have recently intensified, "are not meant as attacks on anyone." The President’s threat to kill the entire civilization of Iran is, according to Leo XIV "truly unacceptable," and during a prayer service for peace he decried the "delusion of omnipotence" that has taken hold among world leaders that wage war. ‘"The message of the Gospel is very clear, 'blessed are the peacemakers.' I will not shy away from announcing the message of the Gospel. I am inviting all people to look for ways of building bridges of peace and reconciliation, of looking for ways to avoid war any time that's possible. Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life. And I will continue on with what I believe is the mission of the church in the world today.”

Naming Craters

The Artemis II crew – (from left) Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Pilot Victor Glover, and Commander Reid Wiseman.

Artemis II has gone to the moon, around the moon for the first time ever, and came back safely. More than 50 years after humans last traveled to the lunar surface, the 10-day mission, designed to test systems for future lunar landings, has taken four astronauts farther from Earth than any crew since the Apollo era. Alongside its technical achievements, the mission has also drawn attention for something less expected: moments of faith, remembrance and a renewed sense of wonder at God’s creation. Those moments came into focus during a broadcast from orbit when the crew proposed naming two lunar craters. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen explained that one would be called “Integrity” after their spacecraft. The second, he said, was “especially meaningful for this crew. We lost a loved one; her name was Carroll, and we would like to name one of the craters for her,” Hansen said, referring to the late wife of mission commander Reid Wiseman. Carroll Wiseman, a neonatal intensive care nurse, died in 2020 at the age of 46 following a five-year battle with cancer. The moment stood out among many during the mission, particularly in the story of Wiseman, who has described himself as “a very proud father” of his two teenage daughters, Ellie and Katherine.  Reid considers his time as an only parent as his greatest challenge and the most rewarding phase of his life. The naming proposal will ultimately be reviewed by the International Astronomical Union, which oversees official names for planetary features. Final approval for a feature usually takes about a month. 

But the idea of naming craters isn’t new. In 1651, Jesuit astronomer Giovanni Battista Riccioli, working with Francesco Grimaldi, published one of the first detailed lunar maps, giving names to craters and regions to people with a wide intellectual tradition, honoring scientists, philosophers and astronomers, including numerous Jesuits. More than 30 lunar craters bear Jesuit names, reflecting the order’s longstanding engagement with scientific discovery. If the name ‘Carroll’ is approved, it will join a lunar landscape shaped by centuries of Jesuit contributions. 

Divine Mercy Sunday

The original by Kazimirowski painted in 1934

The Sunday after Easter will always be known as Divine Mercy Sunday, as people pray the novena handed down to us by St Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun and visionary, who was pushed away by many church authorities in her time and after her death. But Pope St John Paul, a Polish himself, re‑opened her case and authenticated her visions, and even canonized her in the year 2000, precisely on Divine Mercy Sunday. The faithful pray the novena by reciting 50 times "For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world." The image of Jesus with white and red rays coming out of his heart has become a popular image among devout Catholics, after it was being condemned for many years. The original painting was painted by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski in 1934 with Sister Faustina's instructions and before her death in 1938. Another popular version of the painting was done by Adolf Hyła painted in 1943.

Pope Leo to Africa

St Augustine Basilica, Annaba, Algeria

After Lebanon and Turkey, then Monaco, now it’s time for the longest trip of Pope Leo, a four-nation, 11-day trip to Africa that is so dizzying in its complexity it recalls some of the globetrotting odysseys of St. John Paul II in his early years. He will visit Algeria from April 13 to 15, the home of St Augustine, the inspiration of his religious order who lived and died there. Leo will visit Annaba, the modern-day Hippo where the 5th century saint was a bishop. Some of the themes Leo is expected to raise include Christian-Muslim coexistence, the over-exploitation of the region's natural and human resources, corruption and migration. Migration and Christian-Muslim coexistence are expected to be other top themes in Algeria, a former French colony which is a majority Sunni Muslim nation on North Africa’s Mediterranean coast. Leo will pay homage to migrants killed in shipwrecks trying to reach Europe and will visit the Great Mosque in Algiers. From April 15 to 18, Leo will visit Cameroon where he will lead a "peace meeting" in the north-west city of Bamenda on April 16, featuring testimony of a Mankon traditional chief, a Presbyterian moderator, an imam and a Catholic nun. From April 18 to 21 , Pope Leo will be in Angola, where around 58% of the population is Catholic, and he will pray at the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima, a Marian shrine that has become one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in Angola. Angola today is the fourth largest oil producer in Africa and it’s also the world’s third biggest diamond producer and has significant deposits of gold and highly sought after critical minerals. The last country he will visit is to Equatorial Guinea (April 21-23), where the discovery of offshore oil in the mid-1990s transformed its economy virtually overnight, with oil now accounting for almost half of its GDP and more than 90% of exports. However at least 70% of the country’s nearly 2 million people live in poverty. The country’s government also faces rampant accusations of harassment, arrest and intimidation of political opponents, critics and journalists, and these are issues which Leo will certainly have to address in his speeches.

Holy Week from Baker City

Baker City Cathedral at Easter 2011

This is a flashback from  journals, Easter celebrations in 2011, when the Bishop was transferred to Santa Rosa, and I was by myself at the Cathedral...... The Holy Triduum was a hubbub of activity here as I was by myself for the first time, leading all the services instead of Bishop Vasa. I felt like being in Seventh Heaven finally all by myself leading the three holiest days of the liturgical year. On Holy Thursday I did the foot-washing ceremony involving some of the children, and even gave them a small loaf of bread symbolic of the Eucharist. I actually washed 15 pairs of feet instead of the customary 12 as a few extra children wanted to be included. The Good Friday service went well too, with a fairly small crowd attending, but as I promised the people, throughout the three holy days, I will be giving them a running commentary about the symbolism of the liturgy, which I know very well that they all appreciated. Saturday was yet another busy day for me as we had to decorate the altar with Easter lilies and other silk flowers. Preparing my homily took a nice part of the day, as did some extra last minute confessions and the rehearsal with the new converts in the afternoon.  The Easter Vigil celebration was a very emotional Mass for me personally as I welcomed 5 new converts, and in my comments to the congregation I related how one of them, Pat Williamson was nervous about accepting my offer to convert, and told me plainly that she was nervous about facing the Bishop. Even after convincing her that he was a normal human being and that I will also be there with him on the altar at the Easter Vigil, she still was reluctant to join, but she eventually did. I told her that if she was so fearful of the Bishop, she could pray that something may happen so that he won’t be here. And sure enough, he was just transferred to Santa Rosa, and he was not here. The congregation laughed heartily with this story, and told them that Pat has some special connections, and if you want your prayers answered, ask her to storm heaven, and your prayers will be answered.

A nice crowd attended the Mass and everyone had positive compliments about the celebration. A very nice crowd also attended my Easter Mass on Sunday morning, both at the Cathedral as well as at my mission church in Halfway, and when I got back in town, I headed to Bob and Lorene Colton’s house for a quick dinner. I thought it would be a small intimate crowd, but all their relatives were there, all the way from Seattle, Washington and from other neighboring towns. Following dinner, I visited the McCauleys who always welcome me like a dear friend. I also wanted to check with their daughter how to use the new Ipod touch, which came without instructions, and the best way to solve any techy problem is to ask a teenager. And since my nephew Peter is 8000 miles away, Darryn was able to explain to me the many little questions that I had. Surprisingly they were all amazed at my large collection of wildlife photos I had already installed on the Ipod.

Apple is 50 !

April 1st is known for the jokes we play on each other, but it’s also the birthday of something that has revolutionized our world since 1976 when Apple became not just the popular juicy fruit we all love, but it was the name of a company that was the brain-child of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. They actually started this phenomenon in their garage, and transformed the way people use technology in the internet age, while building a company now worth more than $3.6 trillion. The two college drop-outs changed the way people use computers, listen to music, and communicate on the go, giving rise to lifestyles revolving around smartphones. These were Apple’s hit products – the Mac, iPod, iPhone, the Apple watch, the iPad, which were probably all created in that humble garage in Cupertino, California. Since they debuted in 2007, Apple sold more than 3.1 billion iPhone, generating $2.3 trillion in revenue. But in 1984, the two Steves shook up home computing with the Macintosh, which sparked a technological rivalry between them and Bill Gates’ Microsoft. Jobs, who died in 2011 at the age of 56 was renowned for his uncompromising drive to marry technology with design to create products that were intuitive and hassle free. But it was the iPhone’s dominance that has become the most popular gadget that just about everybody on the planet (myself being the exception,) has it almost attached to their bodies, almost like a third hand, an attachment God never gave Adam and Eve when He created them !

Peace !

‘Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.’ This is the title of a popular song which has more meaning now than ever before.  We don’t know how long it will last, but at least, as of today there will be no unnecessary bombing of bridges, buildings and killing of more innocent victims, as a two-week cease-fire takes effect today. So we continue to pray that the hostilities will stop once and for all.  So far 2,076 people have been killed in U.S. and Israeli attacks cross Iran. 26,500 people have been injured in these confrontations, and 15,000 civilian units were damaged by U.S. and Israeli attacks across Iran. Too much damage has already been done, and even though confrontations are still ongoing in Ukraine and Sudan and other countries, but at least the area of the Middle East and the Gulf area will see a more calm atmosphere, and citizens can breath a sign of relief, which we hope will be permanent. Our prayers are still needed, and may war never be waged again, anywhere, anytime.

The Easter Lily

Just as the poinsettia takes center stage at Christmas time, the Easter Lily does the same at Easter time, adorning our sanctuaries and being used to decorate our altars for the Easter season every year. The Easter Lily was discovered by a missionary priest in the 19th century on Ryukyu Island, off Japan. It is a stem rooting lily, growing up to 3 feet high. It bears a number of trumpet shaped, white, fragrant, and outward facing flowers, with pointed green leaves. Its technical name is Lilium longiflorum. The missionary who found it eventually tried to take some bulbs to England, but was stranded in Bermuda, where they bloomed for the first time on April 16, 1854. They reached Philadelphia in 1876.

From the 1890s to the early 1920s, there was a thriving export trade of bulbs from Bermuda to New York. A disease affected the Bermuda lilies: this was identified by Lawrence Ogilvie. Then most Easter lily bulbs arriving in the United States were imported from Japan before 1940s. The supply of bulbs was suddenly cut off after the attack on Pearl Harbor and Easter lilies became extremely valuable in the United States.

From darkness to Light

The darkness of the Cross leads to the Light of Christ.

I took this picture a few years ago when I was on my way to my mission church in Halfway in Eastern Oregon. It was a cloudy day and sunny intervals, and I noticed that someone had planted a wooden cross on a hill on the side of the road just before the descent into Halfway. Naturally I stopped and took a few good photos with the cross in the foreground and the sun peaking or shining through the clouds. This was very meaningful to me, as I saw the Cross being overwhelmed by the light of the Risen Christ, a beautiful meditation. If there is a title to this photo, it should be “The sufferings of Good Friday give way to the joy and glory of Easter,” or even “The darkness of the Cross leads to the Light of Christ.”

He is Risen

"Why do you search for the living among the dead? He is risen - he is not here!"

May the Easter blessings come upon all of you who visit this blog, and may the joy we experience today, remain with us all year long, especially with those who have suffered so much in their lives. May the Light of Christ illumine their every way, and lead them to happier days ahead.

He is truly Risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
He brings a Prayerful Life to someone searching for meaning and direction.
He brings Peace to those who are always worried and uptight.
He brings Victory out of defeat.
He brings Joy to those who cannot seem to smile anymore.
He brings a Beautiful Baby to her who was premeditating an abortion.
He brings Light to those who are living in darkness.
He brings Enlightenment and Understanding to those couples whose marriage has been more of a struggle than a Joy.
He brings Hope out of despair.
He brings New Life to those worried about dying.
He brings Peace to this world ravaged by war and fighting and oppression.
He brings Love and Reconciliation to those harboring thoughts of revenge and hate.
He brings Optimism in a world tormented by pessimism.

Figolli and Pysanky

A selection of Maltese figolli

Just as Christmas has its special food, like puddings, mince pies, cookies and fruitcake, so does Easter, and in particular, I refer to two places where these special treats are so popular that they deserve a special mention today, the vigil of Easter. I’m referring to Ukraine and its Pysnaky eggs and Malta with its figolli. The Maltese figolli are popular treats made from 2 sheets of dough, filled with almond paste, but the dough is usually cut in shapes of hearts, baskets, rabbits, bears, butterflies, shapes of children or anything imaginative. A chocolate egg is placed on top, after the shape is covered with icing and decorated like any other cake.

The word pysanka (plural pysanky) refers specifically to an egg decorated with traditional Ukrainian folk designs. Artists go into incredible detail as they decorate these eggs with beautiful colored designs, each color is symbolic of a virtue or a positive trait. With the advent of Christianity, the symbolism of the egg was changed to represent, not nature's rebirth, but the rebirth of man. Christians embraced the egg symbol and likened it to the tomb from which Christ rose. With the acceptance of Christianity in 988, the decorated pysanka, in time, was adapted to play an important role in Ukrainian rituals of the new religion. Many symbols of the old sun worship survived and were adapted to represent Easter and Christ's Resurrection. Let us remember the Ukrainian people who have suffered so much over the last 3 years.

Good Friday procession

                               
As we meditate on the passion and death of Our Lord Jesus Christ, I invite you to enjoy two special videos of processions held in Malta today. The first one is from 2018, filmed in the parish church of Zebbug, including many highlights of this colorful and dramatic procession held through the streets of the town, complete with full size statues of various scenes from the passion, besides many Biblical characters, children with various symbols, many Roman soldiers, including on on a horse-driven chariot, marching bands, boys scouts, etc. This kind of procession is held in 15 other parishes in the early evening, both in Malta and Gozo, somewhere between 5 PM and 9 PM.

The second video shows a different kind of procession held at Vittoriosa, known as the Black procession, held this year a few days earlier, where most of the characters are dressed in black, a very sombre and haunting scene, which is the first time I watched it, and is not held in all the parishes.

Foot-washing

Foot-washing for children in Bend, Oregon

Holy Thursday is a special day for all priests. This day celebrates the institution of the Eucharist and the institution of the Priesthood, both of which were done during the Last Supper. During the Last Supper Jesus also gave us an important lesson about service. The foot-washing ceremony that takes place during the evening Mass on Holy Thursday is very significant in the life of every priest. It’s a humbling experience that I treasure and look forward to every year, even in my chapel at Hilltop Gardens. It’s interesting to note that the foot-washing was considered a sacrament in the early years of the church, a sacrament of service. 

Foot-washing in my chapel at Hilltop Gardens

It would have been our 8th sacrament if the church were to keep it. It won’t surprise me one day if Pope Leo were to re-introduce it as a sacrament of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis especially was very fond of this humble gesture as he visited prisons, hospitals and rehabilitation places to lead this humble service on Holy Thursday. In the USA, I also introduced this custom at weddings and quite a few couples appreciated this gesture as they commit themselves to a life of equality and service towards each other. And I always made a special service for children which they all enjoyed having their feet washed and receiving a small loaf of bread to symbolize the Eucharist. And Jesus gave the apostles an order, to do to others what He did to them, to wash their feet and serve them unconditionally and whole-heartedly.

The beautiful Altar of Repose at Naxxar parish

Holy Week

Holy Week is here, Lord.

In some ways, it will be an ordinary week:
I'll still have to go to work, to school, to the store.
I'll still need to care for my family and friends.
I'll still have to do laundry and take out the trash.
I'll still have to deal with life's everyday problems:
    my responsibilities won't diminish or take a break...

And I'll do all this in a world that largely ignores the names we give this week's special days:
                        Palm Sunday, 
                            Holy Thursday
                               Good Friday
                                  Holy Saturday
                                     Easter Sunday
So I ask you to help me, Lord, to make and keep this week holy...

I hope and pray this week will be peaceful - in spite of all I have to do...in spite of the ongoing news of bombs falling, buildings destroyed, leaders of nations still wanting to fight and hate and feel they’re indestructible.
I hope and pray these days for a change will be prayerful: that I'll make some time to spend with you alone and time to go to church on these holy days...
I hope and pray that in my mind and heart these days will be different from any others, in how I see and experience the world around me, in how I plan and spend my time...in setting some special time to really reflect on the symbolism of these days.
Help me know and live these days as set apart, some solemn and some joyful:
      a time to grow in faith, and hope and love,
      a time to grow in my relationship with you...

Let this week not be like all the others, Lord - but let this week and all its days be truly holy.