Divine Mercy Sunday at the Shrine was, well, Divine

Divine MercyI spent all morning trying to decide whether to make the trip up to Hanceville for Divine Mercy Sunday Devotions and Mass at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, or stay closer to home and save on gasoline (and energy!). I’m officially glad I spent the time and fuel to go up there. That is one beautiful place–its 13th century architecture alone would make it worth the trip. If it weren’t for the incense which plays havoc with my lungs, I would want to attend Mass there more often. I wonder if they use the incense at the Daily Mass? Maybe just at Benediction? I’ll have to find out.

Tonight I’m only posting a couple of photos from the trip; will post more when I get them edited. The sky was overcast while I was taking these and the only half-decent light lasted a very short while, so I have to edit each one to make it somewhat presentable. And I’m still not happy with the way these look. This all takes more time than I wish it did, but then patience is a virtue. Or so I’ve heard…

Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament

That horse is gonna walk right up and put his nose right on the lens!

Look, it's a horse, er, an alpaca, no, a llama, wait, it's a horse...I think!

The prayer vigil is over; back to our reguarly scheduled programming

Seek First the Kingdom, by Donald Cardinal WuerlSo much has happened in the last few weeks, even the last few days (including the air conditioner in my car konking out yesterday–thank the Lord the dealership was able to repair that this afternoon and for far less money than I’d expected). I’m hoping now to get some work done for the blog, which has been sadly neglected during 40 Days for Life. I started several posts and they’re sitting there in my poor little also-abandoned writing app, waiting, waiting, waiting for me to get back to them and write more than a the barest outline of a draft of a note and get them posted. I’ll be picking up this week where I left off in Cardinal Wuerl’s book, Seek First the Kingdom (see other posts); finishing my write-up for the rally for Religious Freedom (see part one); sharing some thoughts (with photos) on the wonderful pro-life film, October Baby (see other posts, only mentions so far); writing an account (also with some photos) of a trip I took with friends today to the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville; and working on some other projects that are still in the idea stage.

May your observance of Holy Week bring you closer to the Lord and fill your heart and mind with grace upon grace. Peace be with you. See you soon. :)

Leaving Savannah

My doggie and I are leaving Savannah today. I got some photos (click thumbnails below to see larger images) of one of the many parks around town (including a cool raiinbow that appeared amidst a fountain) and of the cathedral in downtown historic Savannah. Continue reading “Leaving Savannah”

Shelter from the storm

Myrtle Beach, January 2010My doggie and I sought shelter from the winter weather during our trip home from the March for Life in DC by hanging out at a beach in South Carolina. I posted a few photos on my Flickr page. I haven’t sorted through them all yet. I’ll post more as I get to them. Right now I’m going to eat another chocolate-covered cream-filled doughnut and call it a night.

I overheard members of the press at the March for Life in DC

I moved through the crowds in Washington DC on Friday, January 22 2010. People streamed up and down both sides of the streets on every block as I searched for a parking place and as I trudged toward the park where the rally was already in progress. Pro-life people were everywhere. Notice I do not call us “anti-abortionists” or “anti-abortion activists”. The pro-life movement is not only about abortion and is not merely a negative “against something”; it is rather a positive “for something”. For life. For many different aspects of life. For the life of every human person. This is a serious cause and deserves serious treatment by the press. But here is what I heard as I reached a street corner and waited for the light to change. A man (wearing a nice fancy camera) walked up to a woman (also wearing a nice fancy camera) and said, “Oh, AP is here!” A second passed before I realized he meant the press, but then I turned and saw that they both wore press passes around their necks along with their cameras. They were discussing how they were going to cover the March. Apparently neither one of them cared much for the assignment (I say this because of the rather dismissive way they both laughed while they talked) and they were going to finish it off as fast as they could. She said she was going to take a few shots, then one of a building and call it quits. The Smithsonian was right next to the park where the rally was held, so that may be the building she was talking about. Well, at least I didn’t hear them call us any names. Could have been worse, I suppose.

Massive turnout for the March for Life in DC

I just finished editing a bunch of photos of the March that took place earlier today. We had freezing rain and sleet this morning but it slacked off as I was heading to the rally. There were pro-life marchers everywhere I looked. I mean everywhere! I uploaded some photos to my Flickr page. I didn’t even try to lug around my Canon Rebel; these were all taken with a little Canon PowerShot SD780 that I bought right before I made the trip. It’s an okay little camera. The main thing I like about it is its size and weight: it’s small enough to fit in my top jacket pocket and fits in the palm of my little bitty hand. :)

A fraction of the crowd at the March for Life in DC I liked the sign this gentleman was carrying
More photos on my Flickr page in my March for Life 2010 DC set.

Continue reading “Massive turnout for the March for Life in DC”

On the road, Washington DC, Days 1 and 2

Cross RoadI had planned to post an update last night before I got some much-needed sleep, but, of course, there was no internet signal in my room with the free Wi-Fi. Today I’ve got a decent signal but I had to buy a day-pass to log on. I know! I couldn’t believe it either. Dang, I haven’t paid for internet in so long, I nearly fainted when I had gotten all my stuff out of my car (who’da thunk so much stuff would fit in there?!), got it all arranged, introduced my dog to the doggie playground area very close to the room—only to find out that internet is offered but not for free. Argh! Well, annoying as that is—and it is, terribly—I’m much too tired to even think of hunting for another place to stay tonight. Tomorrow’s the big day, the reason I’m here, and I have to get ready for it. Have to prepare myself for marching in freezing rain and wind. At least, that’s what the forecast was last time I heard it. Continue reading “On the road, Washington DC, Days 1 and 2”