Armistice Day – Veterans Day - Remembrance Day

The Cenotaph memorial celebration in London

I share today a reflection on two celebrations being held on both sides of the Atlantic, remembering the thousands of veterans of wars.

Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth of Nations member states since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. The day, specifically designated by King George V on 7 November 1919, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the end of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month." The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem 'In Flanders Fields.' These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red color became a symbol for the blood spilled in the war.

A widow mourns her husband at Arlington Cemetery, Washington, USA

In the USA, Veterans Day is commemorated on November 11 to give tribute to the service of men and women who lost their lives during past wars. In the United States, and some other allied nations, November 11th was formerly known as Armistice Day; in the United States it was given its new name in 1954 at the end of the Korean War to honor all veterans. Parades are held in various towns and villages as living veteran are honored and given tribute for the sacrifice they did to safeguard freedom. We honor them today.....these special people.....

They are not the ones who are loud and boisterous. They are the ones who are quiet.
They are the ones who shivered in the foxhole, trying to keep the enemy at bay.
They are the ones who crawled through sand when the temperature was 126 degrees.
They are the ones who carried their buddy to safety.
They are the ones who sometimes drink too much, trying to keep the memories from haunting them.
They are the ones who carry the flag with the honor and respect it deserves.
They are the ones who wear their military uniform with pride and still have it in their closet 30 some years later.
They are the ones who don't ask you to go out of your way for them.
They are the ones who have gone out of their way for you.
They are the ones who spent many nights awake on guard duty so you didn't have to.
They are the ones who helped keep our shores safe while you played video games.
They are the ones who missed their birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates.
They are the ones who got shot and got sent home, but felt guilty because their buddies were still there.

Important and Unimportant

God, our Father, forgive us that we so often give our best to the wrong things.

Sometimes we put far more enthusiasm and thought and effort into our pleasures and our games and our amusement than we do into our work.

Sometimes we keep our best behavior for strangers and our worst behavior for our own homes; and often we treat our nearest and dearest with a discourtesy and disregard we would never show to strangers.

Sometimes we get irritated and annoyed and angry about things which in our calmer moments we know do not matter.

Sometimes we lose our temper in an argument about trifles.

Sometimes we allow very little things to cause a quarrel with a friend.

Help us to see what is important and what is unimportant, so that we may never forget the things that matter, and so that we may never allow the things which do not matter to matter too much.

St John Lateran

The majestic façade of St. John Lateran Basilica

We commemorate today the dedication of one of the 4 major basilicas of Rome, that of St John the Lateran. This majestic basilica was the first church to be built in Christendom. At the top of the center of the façade stands the Risen Christ, demonstrating that to enter the Church, we must enter into Christ’s body. That is why we as Church are called the “Body of Christ.” Underneath this statue is the Papal balcony, from which the Pope addresses his faithful – this is to mean that the Pope is literally under Christ as his Vicar on earth.

Inside the Lateran Basilica

Directly above the pillars and columns on the façade are 12 bishops of the early Church (known as Doctors) to symbolize that the visible face of the Church is found in the Bishops throughout the east and west. Then each of the foundational pillars of the basilica’s interior contains an enormous marble statue of the 12 Apostles, to symbolize literally that the Church is built on the foundation of the Apostles. They are all similar in style and size, but done by different sculptors. In the back of the Church in the apse is a huge mosaic of Christ the Savior hovering over his Cross. In fact the original name of the Church was “Christ the Savior,” named so by Pope Sylvester, just after it was built by King Constantine, who legalized Christianity. In 313 AD, King Constantine stopped the persecutions and the killing of many innocent martyrs, and he built a Church on a plot of land owned by the Laterani family. It was pillaged and attacked and desecrated over the years, but it survived. However in the 9th century it was destroyed by an earthquake, and Pope Sergius III rebuilt it and dedicated it to St John the Baptist. Later it was also dedicated to St John the Evangelist, and that’s why it is known as the basilica of St John Lateran.

St. Paul, one of the 12 marble statues

Now until the 13th century, this Church was the seat of the Pope, his headquarters and his Church government, but then moved to the Vatican, where he still resides, and from where all Church business is conducted. The present facade was completed in 1735, and was done after a competition among Rome’s best architects, the prize and winning design going to Alessandro Galilei.

The top part of the Lateran Basilica façade

A True Hero

Edward Butch O'Hare (1914-1943)

Edward Butch O’Hare was a fighter pilot on an aircraft-carrier in the South Pacific during World War II. One day all of the planes were active and when he took off he realized that he didn’t have enough fuel. His leader told him to go back, but all of a sudden he noticed a group of Japanese kamikaze planes heading towards the American fleet. There was no one to defend them, and Butch decided to single-handedly dive into this group of Japanese pilots and start shooting and hitting them as fiercely as he could, until his own ammunition was completely depleted. But by then the Japs had turned around and left, besides those that were hit and destroyed by Butch. Thankfully he was able to land his own plane safely on the aircraft carrier, slightly damaged but otherwise unharmed. His friends could not believe what he went through to protect his ship and his friends. Butch O’Hare was honored by the highest military honors, and today O’Hare International Airport in Chicago is named after him. 

Joe and Marilyn

Those familiar with baseball have heard of Joe DiMaggio, the New York Yankee star, who has a record 56-game hitting streak, which will probably never be broken. He was one of the Yankee’s most popular stars. Most people have also heard of film actress Marilyn Monroe. Joe played professional baseball from 1936 until 1951 and was beloved by everyone. He is of course a Hall of Famer, inducted in 1955 in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He also fell in love with Marilyn Monroe and were married in January 1954. Even though their marriage lasted 9 months, he loved her until she died and beyond. She died in August 1962, and Joe kept sending her half-dozen red roses delivered to her crypt three times a week for 20 years. He would spend an  hour next to her grave every January 14, the day they got married. He refused to talk about her publicly or otherwise exploit their relationship. He never married again. 

We are so poor.....

One day, the father of a wealthy family took his son to visit a small country town. The father wanted to show his son how some families can live in poverty and still feel happy. So they lived for a few days with a poor family in a small farmhouse. When they returned home, the father asked his son ‘so what do you think of our experience with that family?’

‘Well, it was an excellent experience for me, because I saw how some of the poor families live. For example, we have one dog  they have 4. We have a pool in our garden, while they have a large pond.  We bought those lamps for our garden, while they have stars at night. We have a piece of property on which our house stands while they have many fields. We have servants who help us while they help each other. We buy the food we need, while they grow their own crops and vegetables and fruit. We have high walls and gates to protect us against robbers, while they have their friends who protect them from those who would harm them. So I want to thank you dad, for showing me how poor we really are!’

Everyday Prayers

These prayers can be used as Grace before Meals, one for each day of the week.

Sunday
God our Creator, we thank You for this Sunday.  We thank You for our Church, for our home and for the chance to rest today. We thank You for this meal. As we share it, help us to recognize the presence of Jesus with us, and fill us with the joy of the Holy Spirit.  We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Monday
We thank You, Lord our God, for this new week which we have begun today. We thank You for our schools and for our work, and for all our friends there. Bless this food we share and give us the strength to be patient and kind with one another. Amen.
Tuesday
Dear God, Your Love is like a mother’s gentle hands, and Your care is like a father’s watchful presence. We thank You for always being there for us, and for giving us the gift of each other as a family. During this meal help us to listen to one another and to appreciate each other’s unique gifts. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Wednesday
Generous God, we give You thanks for this food, and for all the good things You have given us. Help us to remember those who are hungry tonight. Teach us how we can help all those who are in need. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thursday
Blessed are you, Lord our God. You made the land and the sea, the sun and the rain. You brought forth this food from nature’s bounty to our table. We thank You for the farmers who grew it, and for many people who brought it from the fields to the factories and supermarkets. And we thank You for (name) who cooked it for us. Amen.
Friday
Loving God, as we come to the end of another week of work and school, we thank You for Your friendship and ask Your forgiveness for our failings. Help us to be more like Jesus who showed us His love on the Cross. And make us grateful for all your gifts and for this meal. Amen.
Saturday
Lord Jesus, You are with us always in our chores and in our play, in what we do together and when we are apart. Help us to grow in love as a family and to be a sign of Your presence to our friends and neighbors. As we pray for world peace, we thank You for this food, for this day, and for this past week. Amen.

Victor Hugo’s Prayer

Under a crucifix he had in his room, Victor Hugo, the author of Les Misérables, wrote this prayer:

All you who are crying now, remember that I cried too – so come to me and I will console you.

All you who are suffering now, remember how much I suffered - so come to me, I fully understand you.

All you are fearful right now, remember that I had a lot to be fearful of – so come to me, and I will comfort you.

All you who are nearing death, remember that I endured a harsh death too – so come to me, and we will live forever.

Synod reflections – a synopsis

                  

These are some remarks that I felt are important to share as a brief synopsis of the points issued in the final document last Saturday at the Synod in the Vatican.

A more practical definition of “synodality” is defined as speaking of a mode of being Church that integrates communion, mission, and participation. It is important to many to make liturgical language more accessible to the faithful and more embodied in the diversity of cultures. We need to care for the poor, who ask the Church for “love”, understood as “respect, acceptance, and recognition.”  The poor not only as those who are materially impoverished, but also migrants; indigenous peoples; victims of violence and abuse (especially women), or racism and trafficking; people with addictions; minorities; abandoned elderly people; and exploited workers, the unborn and their mothers.
It is important to engage decisively in education, in the culture of dialogue and encounter, combating racism and xenophobia. Laymen and laywomen, those in consecrated life, and ordained ministers have equal dignity and are indispensable to the mission of the Church. Their charisms must therefore be called forth, recognized and fully appreciated, and not be ignored, underutilized, or ‘clericalised.’ There should be a strong commitment on the part of the Church to accompany and understand women in all aspects of their lives, including pastoral and sacramental ones. There is a desire to promote a Church in which men and women dialogue together… without subordination, exclusion, and competition. Women can participate in decision-making processes and assume roles of responsibility in pastoral care and ministry.... women’s access to theological education and training programmes must be expanded, including promoting the use of inclusive language in liturgical texts and Church documents.
Bishops are called to be “an example of synodality” by exercising “co-responsibility”, understood as the involvement of other actors within the diocese and the clergy, so as to lighten the burden of “administrative and legal commitments” which can hinder their mission. There should also be careful consideration of matters that are controversial within the Church – that is, among other issues, matters “such as those relating to matters of identity and sexuality, the end of life, complicated marital situations, and ethical issues related to artificial intelligence”. An invitation should be made to hear and accompany people who feel marginalized or excluded from the Church because of their marriage status, identity or sexuality. It is up to us to reach today’s culture in all spaces where people seek meaning and love, including the spaces they enter through their cell phones and tablets.... how the Christian community can support families in ensuring that the online space is not only safe but also spiritually life-giving.

All Souls

The celebration of All Souls follows that of All Saints. Today thousands of people visit cemeteries to pay their last respects towards their loved ones. In my home country of Malta in particular, families decorate tombstones with flowers, candles and photos. These photos show one of the old tombstones and an overview of a section of the cemetery, which, as you can see, is very crowded. You can also see one of the small chapels spread out throughout the Addolorata Cemetery, with ornate stonework.  Let us pray especially today for those who have left us this year, and those who died through tragedies, accidents, wars and unfortunate situations.  Eternal rest grant unto them o Lord, and may the perpetual light shine upon them.

An old bronze tombstone by Gregorio Zappala

Ornate carving in small chapel in Malta cemetery

All Saints

All Saints by Johann König (click to enlarge)

The church celebrates today the Solemnity of  All Saints.  This painting shows Jesus presiding over a gathering of all those saints, known and unknown.  We recognize Jesus from other representations we have seen of him.  He is Christ of the fair skin, bearded, long haired, cloaked in the red that is a symbol of his resurrection.  He sits in a cloud-filled heaven, surrounded by a halo of soft light shot through with gold, a halo that confirms that he is divine.  His arms reach out toward all those around him.  His feet rest on a blue globe, a symbol of unity and completeness. His mother Mary sits by his feet, a little below him in the hierarchy.  She is dressed in white and blue, colors symbolic of purity and spirituality.  A dove flies in the halo above him, a symbol of the Holy Ghost.  The third halo above them all completes the Christian trinity. The saints are gathered around him, resting on clouds.  Some of the figures are familiar to those who know their stories – like Moses with his tablets, Noah with his ark, King David with his harp. Above them the angels hover.  They hold other symbols – a cross, symbol of Christ’s crucifixion; a column, symbol of Christ’s flagellation; a ladder, symbol of his transcending the human condition. When Johann König painted this luminous work sometime in the early 17th century he was following many of the conventions of his time. We are drawn to the painting by the way it is composed. Our eyes take in the lively figures in the ranks of the saints and angels and follow their looks and gestures toward the figure of Christ and the halo of light around him. His outward gesture leads our gaze back again to look at those around him.  It helps that the figures look natural and full of life, and that the colors have a richness and beauty of their own. Now try to locate your loved ones among those saints. I’m sure they are there, not visible to you, but certainly enjoying the beauty of heaven, for all the work they accomplished on this earth. Let us hope we can join them when we are called to eternal life.

Stories with a message

Once all the villagers decided to pray for rain. On the day of prayer all the people gathered in the village square, close to the local parish church. But only one boy came with an umbrella. That is FAITH.

When you throw babies in the air, they laugh because they know you will catch them. That’s TRUST.

Every night we go to bed with no assurance that we will be alive the next morning. But still we set our alarms to wake us up. That is HOPE.

We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future. That is CONFIDENCE.

We see the world suffering, but we still get married and have children. That is LOVE.

On an old man’s shirt was written a sentence: “I am not 80 years old. I am sweet 16 with 64 years of experience.”

Have a happy day and live your life like these 6 stories. Remember – good friends are the rare jewels of life, difficult to find and impossible to replace.

Foliage at Spencer, Massachusetts

During the 6 month sabbatical I spent in Spencer, Massachusetts between September 2002 and March 2003, I experienced the most beautiful scenery you can expect from the Northeast. The maple trees were all turning their foliage into all kinds of bright colors, from green to brown, yellow, orange and red, as you can see from these few photos I took back then. These were before the digital cameras came around, and so the quality is not the very best, but beautiful nonetheless. The property of the Trappist monks of Spencer, St Joseph’s Abbey spread over a mile by another mile, maybe even more, and the spectacular maple trees, right on time, by mid-October, they turn the whole monastery on fire with one row after another, and tree after tree lining up the roads that lead to the main Abbey and Monastery Chapel. 

However, that means that the zillion leaves had to be swept up and baggaged, and that was one of my duties with a few other monks and lay-brothers. Thankfully they also had a truck that would suck up the leaves after we piled them up. Then everything will turn into mulch and used as fertilizers and also for their heating system, a contraption they devised to heat the entire monastery.

King Charles – Timmy

Let’s get this straight – before King Charles was crowned King this past May, there was only one King Charles, a true pedigree, and his name is Timmy. I’d like to introduce you to a dear friend of mine, an original King Charles who was born on April 2, 2020, just when Covid conquered the world. I remember blessing him when he was a few days old, and he sat obediently listening to my prayer, as you can see from the second photo. As everyone went around with masks for way over a year, Timmy went around making people feel happy. As cute as any dog can be, he is a well-behaved dog. Well, as his owner told me, he can have his moments too. As boys will be boys, so also dogs will be dogs. As I preached about Love this weekend, the main theme of the liturgy, I mentioned a few expression of what children think of when referring to the gift of love. One child said: Love is when your dog waits for you all day, and when you get home, he comes licking your face, to tell you how much he missed you. 

I am sure that all dog-owners have experienced such a tender, loving moment, and someone like Timmy may rip some papers, chew some cabinet legs and get into trouble while waiting all day long, but when he greets you, you’ll forgive him for any misbehavior. Man’s best friend can really turn a bad day into a cheerful one. And remember that a dog has so many friends simply because he wags his tail, instead of his tongue.

When Mother Teresa was late....

St. Teresa of Calcutta and Pope St. John Paul II met on a few occasions. One year the Pope was in Delhi, India and Mother Teresa was in a car on her way to greet him. At one moment, she noticed a leper on the side of the road, and asked the driver to stop his car. She went over to him, consoled him, spoke to him for a while, gave him some hope and encouragement, and prayed with him with her eyes closed. Because of this stop, she was obviously late for her appointment with the Pope. One of the Cardinals mildly reprimanded her and told her she kept the Pope waiting for her meeting with him. She answered him by simply saying ‘Yes I know I was late, but I met Jesus on the road here.’

I remember so well . . . . .

Priests have many memories they encounter in their lives as priests. Funny situations, anecdotes and stories I’d like to share with you today¼¼¼

I remember a Kindergarten child coming to me one day, telling me his mom was going to have a baby. Then three days later, he came back with a sad look on his face. “Father Julian, remember I told you my mom’s gonna have a baby – well forget it! She ate it!”

I remember visiting a family for dinner one day, and little Jonathan came to the door dressed in a suit and a tie. I felt embarrassed and thought that I had the wrong date, as I thought they were going out. “Oh no !” his mother reassured me, “He wanted to dress up, because you were coming to visit us.”

I remember visiting a family on Christmas Day to have Dinner with them. I told them I’ll be there around 4 PM. When I arrived I was a little late, and as soon as I rang the door bell, little Matthew came to open the door and greeted with these famous words: “Happy Christmas Father Julian, but you’re 19 minutes late !”

I remember little Kathleen who was so proud when she was chosen to take part in the school Christmas play. When I asked her what part she received, she just couldn’t talk, she was speechless and certainly ecstatic. She kept smiling and giggling and smiling more, until I forced it out of her . . “I have the part of Mary !” (see photo)

I remember a young boy, Thomas, possibly 4 years old, who accompanied his parents to church every Sunday. I would always say to Hello to him and his parents after Mass. One day I was on my bike visiting some families, and I passed by his house. Apparently Thomas was looking outside from a window, and he started yelling to his mother. She told me how his outburst went....’Mom....come here quickly, God is outside...and he’s on a bike....and he’s wearing sneakers....and he even has a NewYork Mets baseball cap.’ The following Sunday he said to me 'Hello God, I saw you on your bike!'

The Catholic Church – statistics

Distribution of Catholics over 45 years

Catholics in the world numbered 1,375,852,000 people at the end of 2021, with an overall increase of 16.2 million compared with the previous year. Africa gained 40 million people in the time frame studied, 8.3 million of whom are Catholic. Catholics now amount to 17.7% of the world’s population. The total number of persons per priest in the world increased to 15,556, which is about 3,373 Catholics per priest. Worldwide, the total number of priests dropped by 2,347 to approximately 408,000. Europe suffered the largest drop, with 3,632 fewer priests from the previous year. Africa gained 1,500 more priests, and about 750 in Asia. The Americas lost nearly a thousand priests. Nigeria, Kenya, and Lebanon have the highest proportion of Catholics who attend Mass weekly, Nigeria with 94%, Kenya with 73%, and Lebanon with 69%. In comparison, in Germany, France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, less than 15% say they attend Mass weekly. Permanent Deacons increased by 541 worldwide for a total of 49,176. Male religious dropped worldwide by nearly 800, although there was a gain of 205 religious men in Africa. Women religious now number 609,000 worldwide, a loss of 10,588, 7,800 of them in Europe. However nuns still outnumber priests by 200,000. Lay missionaries and catechists fell dramatically in the Americas by almost 4,000, compared with modest gains in Africa and Europe and a larger gain of nearly 670 in Asia. Only Africa had some gain in seminarians, where they also have the largest number at 34,000. Worldwide seminarians number 110,000. The Church operates more than 74,000 kindergartens, nearly 101,000 Catholic primary schools, and 50,000 secondary schools worldwide. There are about 2.5 million Catholic high school pupils and 4 million students attending Catholic universities. Additionally, the Church runs 5,405 hospitals worldwide, 15,276 homes for the elderly and needy, and 9,703 orphanages, with Asia making up the largest share of those orphanages.

Prayer to St Joseph for Life

A Prayer to St. Joseph, Defender of Life

Dearest St. Joseph, at the word of an angel, you lovingly took Mary into your home. As God’s humble servant, you guided the Holy Family on the road to Bethlehem, welcomed Jesus as your own son in the shelter of a manger, and fled far from your homeland into Egypt for the safety of both Mother and Child. We praise God that as their faithful protector, you never hesitated to sacrifice yourself for those entrusted to you. May your example inspire us also to welcome, cherish, and safeguard God’s most precious gift of life. Help us to faithfully commit ourselves to the service and defense of human life —especially where it is vulnerable or threatened. Obtain for us the grace to do the will of God in all things. Amen.

The Pope’s appeal

A white dove, symbol of peace flies above the destruction.

Pope Francis last Sunday issued another heart-felt appeal for peace. In his Angelus appeal, he told the people gathered in St. Peter’s square: Dear brothers and sisters,

Once more my thoughts turn to what is happening in Israel and Palestine. I am very concerned, grieved. I pray and I am close to all those who are suffering:  the hostages, the wounded, the victims and their relatives. I think of the serious humanitarian situation in Gaza and I am saddened that the Anglican hospital and the Greek-Orthodox parish have also been hit in recent days. I renew my appeal for spaces to be opened, for humanitarian aid to continue to arrive, and for the hostages to be freed. War, any war that there is in the world – I also think of tormented Ukraine – is a defeat. War is always a defeat; it is a destruction of human fraternity. Brothers, stop! Stop!

(The number of fatalities from this war is up to 6,000 – that is twice the number of victims of September 1, 2001. 2,000 of them are babies and young children!)

God marches with you

The feeling of dread can be all-consuming. You might dread going to the doctors in fear of bad news. You may also have a feeling of trepidation about having to confront someone or say something you’d rather avoid. In fact, dread can fill your life so much that you might feel paralyzed to do what you need to do. But do not fear! While the Bible is filled with wonderful quotes on how to combat fear and anxiety, this one quote from Deuteronomy is perfect for some peace of mind you’ve been searching for.

“Be strong and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Knowing that “God marches with you” is enough to fill anybody with the fortitude they need to face any situation. What’s more, these four words alone are something you can recite as often as you need if dread creeps up on you. By repeating them over and over you’ll soon be able to face absolutely anything.  Of course, while these words can comfort adults, they’re a very concrete way of reassuring children, too. If you teach your children these four wonder words, they can not only remember them, but say them when they need a little extra courage. Don't let Him walk alone, but walk with Him, and you will always be safe.

Bobby Charlton (1937-2023)

Sir Bobby Charlton, an English soccer icon who survived a plane crash that decimated a Manchester United team destined for greatness to become the heartbeat of his country's 1966 World Cup-winning team, has died. He was 86.An extravagantly gifted midfielder with a ferocious shot, Charlton was the leading scorer for both United (249 goals) and England (49 goals) for more than 40 years until being overtaken by Wayne Rooney. Sir Bobby was a hero to millions, not just in Manchester, or the United Kingdom, but wherever football is played around the world. Charlton was also renowned for his humility, discipline and sportsmanship. He was never sent off in 758 appearances for United from 1956-73 or 106 internationals for England from 1958-70. Charlton played with George Best and Denis Law in the so-called “Trinity” that led United to the 1968 European Cup after surviving the 1958 Munich crash that wiped out the celebrated “Busby Babes” team. He won three English league titles at United, and one FA Cup. Charlton’s England scoring record stood for 45 years until Rooney scored his 50th goal for the national team in September 2015. Three of his England goals came in the World Cup in 1966, during which Charlton played every minute for the team and stood out especially in the semi-finals when he scored twice against Portugal to lead England to a first major final. England beat West Germany 4-2 after extra time in the final.  After retiring in 1973, Charlton went into coaching and founded a youth scheme that included David Beckham, a future United and England great, among its participants. After brief spells in charge of Preston, Wigan and Irish side Waterford, Charlton returned to United in 1984 as a director and persuaded the board in 1986 to appoint Ferguson, who delivered 38 trophies during nearly 27 years in charge. Knighted in 1994 by Queen Elizabeth II, Charlton remains a mainstay at Old Trafford, featuring alongside Best and Law on a statue outside United’s stadium. 

Bobby Charlton lifting the World Cup in 1966

Bobby Charlton was born Oct. 11, 1937, in the coal-mining town of Ashington, northeast England, and his talent was obvious from a young age. “We realized Bobby was going to be a bit special as a player when he was about 5 years old,” said older brother Jack, who played for Leeds and won the World Cup alongside him. Charlton’s playing career began far from home in Manchester after leaving school at 15. Within two years, tragedy struck the tight-knit group of United players whose relationship was forged as trainees in austere conditions. The team was still celebrating winning at Red Star Belgrade to secure a place in the European Cup semi-finals when their plane caught fire on its third attempt to take off in heavy snow after a refueling stop in Germany. Charlton miraculously emerged from the smoldering wreckage with only light head injuries and picked his way through the wreckage to help survivors. Spotting manager Matt Busby groaning in agony on the smoke-shrouded runway, Charlton rushed to help the father-figure who had promoted him to the first team. But eight members of the “Busby Babes” team packed with bright prospects were among the 21 fatalities. Busby rebuilt his team around Charlton, adding the 1965 and 1967 English league titles to the championship they won in 1957. The biggest prize of his club career arrived in 1968 as United became the first English club to become champion of Europe. Charlton scored twice in a 4-1 extra-time win over a Benfica team containing Portugal great Eusebio. He is survived by his wife, Norma, whom he married in 1961, and his two daughters.

Oregon Trees

Logging truck going through the town of John Day, OR.

Over the 13 glorious years I spent in Oregon parishes, I came across a few trees that were new to me and to anyone who now lives in Europe. So I share with you today five photos of trees I encountered. The first one is probably the most famous scenes on an Eastern Oregon road, a truck full of lumber going to deliver them to be made into planks of wood. Most of the time these were ponderosa trees, recognizable because of the reddish-brownish look on the bark. The others are birch trees and the famous redwoods, so popular in Northern California on the Pacific coast. 

The bark of the Ponderosa Tree.

Birch trees recognizable by their greyish texture.

Redwoods in Northern California, very tall and quite old.

The last one is a photo of juniper trees just cut and ready to be made into decorative items, like tables, table-top designs and other ornaments. They grow wild among the sage brush in the high desert. Juniper trees do not grow very tall, but are used to produce Gin, with little blue berries smaller than blueberries.

Juniper trees ready to be made into decorative items.

Houses

Houses in Hong Kong

This is how some people live in unconventional houses. We think that everyone lives in a safe, comfortable environment with the minimum of luxuries. There are of curse the millionaires who have huge mansions and exotic homes, complete with all the luxuries you can ever dream of. But the majority of the people live very simply, humbly and still are very happy. These are just three places, the first one apartments in Hong Kong. Click on the photo, and notice how every apartment has the air conditioner unit outside. The second one shows rows of pre-fabricated homes in Nicaragua, sponsored by the Chinese Government. The third one shows rows of homes in the town of Arkhangelsk in Russia on a snowy day.

Pre-fabricated houses in Nicaragua

Homes in Arkhangelsk, Russia