We all met at the local train station that morning at 7 to head over to the Cardinal O'Connor Conference at Georgetown University. Georgetown University is annoyingly inaccessible by subway so we ended up in cabs over the rest of the way. My jaw dropped. It was so pretty, stunning buildings covered in a light dusting of snow everywhere. The building we were in was amazing. The main auditorium was like walking into another world, if only everyone was in pantaloons and hoop skirts!
Our opening keynote was given by Archbishop Chaput. He is a very tiny man! I'll give it to him, he doesn't mince words and is a wonderful mix of realism but still holds a vision of something better, a difficult rope to balance. He spoke about the importance of religious liberty, freedom OF religion as opposed to freedom FROM religion. We had a bit of Q&A afterwards and I got up to represent. I asked him for advice around the Australian Political culture and how difficult it is to bring religion into the public square in Australia. His advice: "Get over it." Religious people need to just put it out there because it matters and to hell with the rest of it.
We then had the first workshop. There was a pretty impressive line up of speakers. The first one we decided to go to was Vicki Thorn who's workshop was the Science of Theology of the Body. I really enjoyed it but I wasn't too sure at one or two of the things, I would want to check the research myself but I don't really have the time. We then had lunch which were ginormous sandwiches with lots of sandwich meat on it. Just the way I like it. It was then onto the next workshop. We all split up and I went to a workshop with a Jesuit on Natural Law and abortion. He was also excellent, going through it step by logical step. The Q&A time on the end got sidetracked by a guy talking about the governor of Maryland who he thinks should be excommunicated. Other than that it was good.
It was then back to the auditorium for the panel of Congressmen & women. I have to admit, I fell asleep. I lasted about 15 minutes and I just couldn't keep my eyes open and the seats were comfy and the room was warm and... I dozed in and out until the end... I felt really bad, everything was painfully interesting, but I was so tired. Apparently everyone was also passed out cold asleep too! Ha there! I'm not just rude!
It was then straight to the National Shrine which was where the overnight vigil was being held. When we got there the church was overflowing already! Mass wasn't due to start till 8 pm and it was 6! We just squeezed in seats anywhere we could. I went for a walk around the upper basilica saying a rosary. Every side chapel had a significant Marian theme. It took me quite a while to get around there, there were that many people! I eventually went down into the crypt to find a spot to sit. Mary joined me and while we were waiting for Mass to start we said a rosary. Mass was pretty full on. The entrance procession of all the deacons, priests, bishops and cardinals took 45 minutes! The mass was the full bells and smells shebang. It took a long.... time.... but it was nice to go to a mass like that once in a while.
The vigil at the Basilica would be going all night so we left after mass and headed back on the subway to our homestay at around 10. When we got to west Hyattsville, we were all starving cos we didn't have dinner! So we went to the KFC, and the drive through was thank God still open! So we got KFC and took it back to homestay. I got into a bit of discussion with Anitra and didn't get to sleep till 1:30 am. And we had an early start the next day too!
Showing posts with label pro-life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pro-life. Show all posts
Friday, 10 February 2012
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
On the road... AGAIN
So we had to get up early, I had had a very bad sleep the night before, being up till about 3:30 am and having to get up and be on the bus by 8:30. On the plus side it was snowing! We got a whole couple of inches as we were leaving but we had a 5 hr bus ride ahead. We had a stop over on the outskirts of Delaware and I regret the Burger King... it was bad. We arrived in DC finally straight over to the Catholic Information Centre in the middle of the city. We had a mass in the chapel there with Bishop Peter and it was the feast of St Agnes!
We hung out in the book store for a while before heading over to Starbucks and then the Hyatt Regency hotel for this Youth Rally were were attending. I confess I went a bit nuts in the bookstore. They are a lot cheaper in the States but I managed to moderate myself by buying 4 C.S. Lewis books, one for Mum on the Jewish origins on the Eucharist and a TOB book. We then hung out at Starbucks for a bit because of the free wifi! We also got chatting to bunch of the Occupy people who were in tents across the road. I would have dearly loved to probe them a bit more, but I was not mentally up for the challenge. We had to get to the Hyatt hotel anyway!
We got to the Hyatt and took some seats about mid way down. We were a little late and it seemed that things were already happening. So we sat in and listened. It was an ecumenical gathering and the spirit of unity was quite inspiring, but it was also highly emotive and very firebrand. Lots of political action talk and also lots of testimonials from people working on the 'front lines.' About an hour into it a bunch of people dispersed in the room stood up and started yelling in protest of us. I had a momentary freak out thinking back to Madrid and I was ready to throw punches if I had to. A couple of them were close to our group and I got a good look at their faces and was able to relax, there was no venom like I saw in Madrid, just a little bit of yelling and screaming. Lila Rose took to the stage and some how managed to drown them out with a prayer. They were eventually removed by security.
The rally continued on as if it never happened. I have to say it was very overlong and in such a charged environment it was not the best idea. It was a little too much for me, I'm not sure that it is the right approach. We were so tired as well which didn't help. So at 10 pm we packed it in and headed for our home stay families. Matt and Jollene took Me, Jo, Anitra, and Donabel. They had three little ones, two of whom we met. We chatted for an hour over cookies and then collapsed into bed.
We hung out in the book store for a while before heading over to Starbucks and then the Hyatt Regency hotel for this Youth Rally were were attending. I confess I went a bit nuts in the bookstore. They are a lot cheaper in the States but I managed to moderate myself by buying 4 C.S. Lewis books, one for Mum on the Jewish origins on the Eucharist and a TOB book. We then hung out at Starbucks for a bit because of the free wifi! We also got chatting to bunch of the Occupy people who were in tents across the road. I would have dearly loved to probe them a bit more, but I was not mentally up for the challenge. We had to get to the Hyatt hotel anyway!
We got to the Hyatt and took some seats about mid way down. We were a little late and it seemed that things were already happening. So we sat in and listened. It was an ecumenical gathering and the spirit of unity was quite inspiring, but it was also highly emotive and very firebrand. Lots of political action talk and also lots of testimonials from people working on the 'front lines.' About an hour into it a bunch of people dispersed in the room stood up and started yelling in protest of us. I had a momentary freak out thinking back to Madrid and I was ready to throw punches if I had to. A couple of them were close to our group and I got a good look at their faces and was able to relax, there was no venom like I saw in Madrid, just a little bit of yelling and screaming. Lila Rose took to the stage and some how managed to drown them out with a prayer. They were eventually removed by security.
The rally continued on as if it never happened. I have to say it was very overlong and in such a charged environment it was not the best idea. It was a little too much for me, I'm not sure that it is the right approach. We were so tired as well which didn't help. So at 10 pm we packed it in and headed for our home stay families. Matt and Jollene took Me, Jo, Anitra, and Donabel. They had three little ones, two of whom we met. We chatted for an hour over cookies and then collapsed into bed.
Monday, 30 January 2012
Rest in Conneticut
I woke up for the first time without an alarm at dawn (which is around 7am) after having the best sleep this whole trip! I then got dressed and headed down for morning prayer and Mass which was a lovely way to start the day. The chapel has beautiful stained glass windows that I didn't see lastnight. They only have about 3 colours in it but the effect is very striking.
After mass I headed into the hall way waiting for the breakfast bell and was wondering about the opprotunity to do some laundry. All of a sudden appeared Sister Mary-Karen who said "you look like you want to do laundry." I was a bit stunned and I said "That is just scary! How did you know that?" "Well good! I am designating you 'Head Laundress!' Follow me and I'll show you where it all is." So I was given a tour of the laundry and then eagerly headed for brekkie, which was good, bagels, eggs, all kinds of spreads except vegemite...
The schedule for the day was relaxing. After brekkie and clean up, we headed for the Gibeny room for our first session which was a broad overview of the history of the Pro-life movement in the US which was quite interesting. Unlike Australia, the abortion issue in the US became a huge problem not just because of the immorality of the issue, but almost equally because of the way that it was done. One Supreme Court (High Court is Australian equivalent) ruled that abortion was legal in a court decision that basically over-rode all of the State legislation that were put in place by elected representatives. Before 1973, abortion was only permitted in extreme cases of rape, incest and if the health of the mother was strictly at risk in almost every state. If it's one thing that irks Americans more, it is the Federal Government muscling in on more local State matters. The anti-abortion movement initally, therefore, had a very political emphasis in strategy and was primarily focused on the babies, and the human rights of the babies. Change began to occur towards the end of the 80s when it became apparent that the 'right' to abortion was now entrenced and mainstream. It was also apparent that abortion was terribly wounding for women and decided in situations where there was a real perception of little other options. The anti-abortion movement began to answer its critics that it was anti-women and became much more women focused. Around this time, then Bishop John O'Connor visited Dachau Concentration camp and experienced a mystical call to protect and defend the dignity of all human life and that the battle against this demon could only be won through prayer and fasting. He began the Sisters of Life as a response to this call. The current trend in the pro-life movement is a combination of all these approaches, the rights of the babies, the care and support of mothers and prayer.
We then got to meet and chat with all the postulants who are amazing! There were also two Kiwi postulants and so we all helped teach the Americans cricket because they brought a set. It was a lot of fun, especially watching them try to bowl! I went for a walk exploring the grounds. I saw a couple of squirrels and I found deer tracks as well. I hoped I could see some!
After lunch we had a long talk by Sister Bethany about the Charism of the Sisters of Life. They are truly amazing women. They are a contemplative/active order, meaning they spend half their time in prayer and the other half working with women in crisis pregnancies, running post-abortion healing retreats for men and women and all sorts of other things involving life issues. These women were so in love with Jesus and they just poured it out everywhere and to everyone.
Evening was falling and it was time for rosary, evening prayer and adoration. I bundled up and went for a walk around the grounds instead. I needed to move. I was struggling with myself a bit. I just asked for a sign. Something that would show me he was listening. I was walking and praying and something made me look up. About 100 meters away was a big stag looking straight at me. He had two does by his side. He had caught my scent and stayed another 30 seconds before he turned tail and led his does back into the woods. That was all I needed. I sat under a tree listening to to the soft hoof beats of the deer as they cautiously came backe. I felt some sense of peace that at least I was looking in the right direction and God was there with me. I headed back inside for the rest of Adoration and vespers. I don't think I mentioned that the Sisters sounded like angels! Afterwards was a hearty dinner and fake fireside chats (the fire was fake, that is, not the conversation!) I had a lot on my mind to think about, but I was still very tired, and I was looking foreward to the 5:30 am start tomorrow!
Dear Lord,
Love me and keep me close to your heart where I am safe.
Amen.
After mass I headed into the hall way waiting for the breakfast bell and was wondering about the opprotunity to do some laundry. All of a sudden appeared Sister Mary-Karen who said "you look like you want to do laundry." I was a bit stunned and I said "That is just scary! How did you know that?" "Well good! I am designating you 'Head Laundress!' Follow me and I'll show you where it all is." So I was given a tour of the laundry and then eagerly headed for brekkie, which was good, bagels, eggs, all kinds of spreads except vegemite...
The schedule for the day was relaxing. After brekkie and clean up, we headed for the Gibeny room for our first session which was a broad overview of the history of the Pro-life movement in the US which was quite interesting. Unlike Australia, the abortion issue in the US became a huge problem not just because of the immorality of the issue, but almost equally because of the way that it was done. One Supreme Court (High Court is Australian equivalent) ruled that abortion was legal in a court decision that basically over-rode all of the State legislation that were put in place by elected representatives. Before 1973, abortion was only permitted in extreme cases of rape, incest and if the health of the mother was strictly at risk in almost every state. If it's one thing that irks Americans more, it is the Federal Government muscling in on more local State matters. The anti-abortion movement initally, therefore, had a very political emphasis in strategy and was primarily focused on the babies, and the human rights of the babies. Change began to occur towards the end of the 80s when it became apparent that the 'right' to abortion was now entrenced and mainstream. It was also apparent that abortion was terribly wounding for women and decided in situations where there was a real perception of little other options. The anti-abortion movement began to answer its critics that it was anti-women and became much more women focused. Around this time, then Bishop John O'Connor visited Dachau Concentration camp and experienced a mystical call to protect and defend the dignity of all human life and that the battle against this demon could only be won through prayer and fasting. He began the Sisters of Life as a response to this call. The current trend in the pro-life movement is a combination of all these approaches, the rights of the babies, the care and support of mothers and prayer.
We then got to meet and chat with all the postulants who are amazing! There were also two Kiwi postulants and so we all helped teach the Americans cricket because they brought a set. It was a lot of fun, especially watching them try to bowl! I went for a walk exploring the grounds. I saw a couple of squirrels and I found deer tracks as well. I hoped I could see some!
After lunch we had a long talk by Sister Bethany about the Charism of the Sisters of Life. They are truly amazing women. They are a contemplative/active order, meaning they spend half their time in prayer and the other half working with women in crisis pregnancies, running post-abortion healing retreats for men and women and all sorts of other things involving life issues. These women were so in love with Jesus and they just poured it out everywhere and to everyone.
Evening was falling and it was time for rosary, evening prayer and adoration. I bundled up and went for a walk around the grounds instead. I needed to move. I was struggling with myself a bit. I just asked for a sign. Something that would show me he was listening. I was walking and praying and something made me look up. About 100 meters away was a big stag looking straight at me. He had two does by his side. He had caught my scent and stayed another 30 seconds before he turned tail and led his does back into the woods. That was all I needed. I sat under a tree listening to to the soft hoof beats of the deer as they cautiously came backe. I felt some sense of peace that at least I was looking in the right direction and God was there with me. I headed back inside for the rest of Adoration and vespers. I don't think I mentioned that the Sisters sounded like angels! Afterwards was a hearty dinner and fake fireside chats (the fire was fake, that is, not the conversation!) I had a lot on my mind to think about, but I was still very tired, and I was looking foreward to the 5:30 am start tomorrow!
Dear Lord,
Love me and keep me close to your heart where I am safe.
Amen.
Saturday, 14 January 2012
Friday 13... TWICE.
So today was Friday the 13th. What could possibly go wrong? That's just a silly superstition anyway.
Fun Fact # 1: The Superstition around the number 13 dates back to the Legal Codes of Hamumbri (I think I spelt that right) around 5000 years ago in Mesopotamia. There must be something to this superstition if it has been around this long.
So to today's events. T'was an early start. I was at the airport and checked in at 6:15 am. I chatted with the new people I was meeting. There is a grand total of 18 of us and after going through security our first stop at Lauren's insistence (not to mention my stomach) at maccas. We boarded our flight to LA at 9 am and we were away! I watched Pussin Boots (not Dreamworks best) and Jane Eyre (also not the greatest) and a bunch of random documentaries. The last hour I got right into the Conspirator (a film about the trial of a supposed conspirator in Abraham Lincolin's Assasination, Mary Sarrat) and much to my dismay, the crucial dialogue was continuously interrupted by landing announcements. We arrived at Seoul around 5pm with 2 hours to kill. I went walking. I had a serious case of hyperactivity given I had slept an hour on the last flight. That is when Friday the 13th started to catch up with us. Our plane was delayed so instead of arriving at 1:30pm, we arrived at 3pm with mass in the Mary of the Angels Cathedral at 3:30. The cathedral was 40 min away and we hadn't got through customs yet! So at 4 pm we all got through but one of the poor girls got pulled up and interrorgated because the idiot at the customs desk stamped her documentation with the wrong date! At this point we were dead exhausted. None of us had a good flight. It was packed and economy sucks. I barely slept a wink and most others didn't either. And we were hungry. At least I was! We then had more delays due to a miscommunication error between the bus company and the travel agent. Another hour later and thanks to the good humored Arnold the bus driver. We set out for the cathedral to this an amazing LA sunset.
Fun Fact #2: the original Name of LA is 'Pueblo de Nuestra Senora de La Renia de Los Angeles del Rio di Porciuncola' which is named for the church built around the origial chapel where St Francis of Assisi started the Franciscan Order.
We arrived at the cathedral. The original church dated back to the 1800s but it was destroyed beyond repair in a 91 earthquake and rebuilt on its current site in downtown LA. Now it is a very modern Cathedral, and modern cathedrals can go horribly wrong. Not this one. It's huge! The windows are white alablaster abd the buidling's color evokes the desert and mountains that surround LA. There is beautiful timber and polished marble. The most amazing was the tapestries on the wall. They all were hand made and the depict he communion of saints, all the church calendar and the American saints too. There are also 12 unnamed people ther amongst them representing the unrecognized saints and the future saints. We had Mass in the crypt and it was lovely. A good way to begin the pilgrimage despite the dramas. It turns out we have Peter Comensoli to thank for the trouble. Jackie Francois did the music for us. We then finally arrived at the Hoilday Inn back at the airport and I finally got some dinner! A beautiful salmon and salad. I love America because you don't get charged for sides! Funny. I forgot all about how hungry I was whilst in the cathedral. We have a 6 am flight to Mexico City tomorrow. The best thing is it will no longer be Friday the 13th!
Today's prayer intention:
For all the men, women and children who have suffered at the hands of the culture of death. Lord, show them your Love and infinite mercy. Lead them to healing and show them that you can forgive, even if they themselves can't.
Amen.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of life, pray for us.
Fun Fact # 1: The Superstition around the number 13 dates back to the Legal Codes of Hamumbri (I think I spelt that right) around 5000 years ago in Mesopotamia. There must be something to this superstition if it has been around this long.
So to today's events. T'was an early start. I was at the airport and checked in at 6:15 am. I chatted with the new people I was meeting. There is a grand total of 18 of us and after going through security our first stop at Lauren's insistence (not to mention my stomach) at maccas. We boarded our flight to LA at 9 am and we were away! I watched Pussin Boots (not Dreamworks best) and Jane Eyre (also not the greatest) and a bunch of random documentaries. The last hour I got right into the Conspirator (a film about the trial of a supposed conspirator in Abraham Lincolin's Assasination, Mary Sarrat) and much to my dismay, the crucial dialogue was continuously interrupted by landing announcements. We arrived at Seoul around 5pm with 2 hours to kill. I went walking. I had a serious case of hyperactivity given I had slept an hour on the last flight. That is when Friday the 13th started to catch up with us. Our plane was delayed so instead of arriving at 1:30pm, we arrived at 3pm with mass in the Mary of the Angels Cathedral at 3:30. The cathedral was 40 min away and we hadn't got through customs yet! So at 4 pm we all got through but one of the poor girls got pulled up and interrorgated because the idiot at the customs desk stamped her documentation with the wrong date! At this point we were dead exhausted. None of us had a good flight. It was packed and economy sucks. I barely slept a wink and most others didn't either. And we were hungry. At least I was! We then had more delays due to a miscommunication error between the bus company and the travel agent. Another hour later and thanks to the good humored Arnold the bus driver. We set out for the cathedral to this an amazing LA sunset.
Fun Fact #2: the original Name of LA is 'Pueblo de Nuestra Senora de La Renia de Los Angeles del Rio di Porciuncola' which is named for the church built around the origial chapel where St Francis of Assisi started the Franciscan Order.
We arrived at the cathedral. The original church dated back to the 1800s but it was destroyed beyond repair in a 91 earthquake and rebuilt on its current site in downtown LA. Now it is a very modern Cathedral, and modern cathedrals can go horribly wrong. Not this one. It's huge! The windows are white alablaster abd the buidling's color evokes the desert and mountains that surround LA. There is beautiful timber and polished marble. The most amazing was the tapestries on the wall. They all were hand made and the depict he communion of saints, all the church calendar and the American saints too. There are also 12 unnamed people ther amongst them representing the unrecognized saints and the future saints. We had Mass in the crypt and it was lovely. A good way to begin the pilgrimage despite the dramas. It turns out we have Peter Comensoli to thank for the trouble. Jackie Francois did the music for us. We then finally arrived at the Hoilday Inn back at the airport and I finally got some dinner! A beautiful salmon and salad. I love America because you don't get charged for sides! Funny. I forgot all about how hungry I was whilst in the cathedral. We have a 6 am flight to Mexico City tomorrow. The best thing is it will no longer be Friday the 13th!
Today's prayer intention:
For all the men, women and children who have suffered at the hands of the culture of death. Lord, show them your Love and infinite mercy. Lead them to healing and show them that you can forgive, even if they themselves can't.
Amen.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of life, pray for us.
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