tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56574122318882636562024-03-13T09:59:47.797-07:00ATL CatholicAll for the Greater Honor and Glory of GodFr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-44529329822930589072015-06-02T15:31:00.000-07:002015-06-02T15:31:15.896-07:00The Final CountdownYesterday was an incredible day. There's nothing like the Holy Trinity to fight off a funk! I had the great privilege of attending Fr. Richard Morrow's Mass of Thanksgiving for 60 years of ordained ministry, celebrated at Christ the King in Buckhead. He is such a bastion of joy and hope, and a solid example of priestly fidelity and service. Not many men live to see their 60th anniversary of anything, but there was a priest of Jesus Christ, celebrating the grace of God active in his life and through his ministry for 6 decades.<br />
<br />
I also took the opportunity to get to confession. Priests need confession, btw, just as much as any Christian. God provided that Msgr. Lopez would process out of the Mass right in front of me, so I took that a sign that he was the one I should ask, and it was completely the right decision.<br />
<br />
Fr. Lopez has a way of getting right to the heart of the matter in the confessional. I imagine it's because of his 40+ years of priesthood. He gets it, he knows the human soul and he knows both the ways that the enemy tries to trip us up and the ways that the Holy Spirit is calling us back to the Heart of the Savior and the love of the Father. Thank you Lord for the gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation!<br />
<br />
Also got a good short ride in yesterday, and it was the first time I've ever used "clipless pedals," which, I feel I need to add, seem to be somewhat of a misnomer, even though I know the historical development foot-fastening functionality. "Clipless pedals" actually have you "clip in" to a bracket on the pedal via a cleat on the bottom of special cycling shoes. They are called "clipless" because, in the old days, there was actually a big clip that one's whole front of the foot would "clip" into. Think of a cage that you slip your foot into and you'll get the idea. Any pedal that lacks this cage clip thing is called "clipless"...even though all pro cyclists (and now novices like myself) "clip" into these newfangled brackets. The benefit, so I'm learning, is that you can take advantage of various pedaling techniques, employing different muscles to make your efforts more efficient.<br />
<br />
I think dad was impressed by how quickly I picked up the rather awkward movements of clipping in and unclipping. So I think I'm going to keep taking smallish rides each day this week to stay loose and get all the more used to these things. Practical wisdom advices that a cyclist not change anything drastic in the week leading up to a major event. We'll see how this goes.<br />
<br />
<br />Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-91146234331378132822015-05-31T07:26:00.000-07:002015-05-31T07:41:55.992-07:00BrokenLast weekend Dad and I were going to attempt our longest ride yet...70+ miles on the "Tour of Faith" near Peachtree City. 48 miles in, I heard a sound I've grown to hate: it's a metallic pop from the rear wheel, the sound of a spoke breaking.<br />
<br />
The wheel goes out of true immediately and the bike becomes unrideable. <br />
<br />
The frustration of the moment was complex and therefore hard to capture all in words. Indulge me while I try.<br />
<br />
Not only had this incident meant that that particular ride was over, it also meant I'd have to either see if the spoke could be replaced or if I'd have to buy a new wheel. This was also the THIRD TIME this has happened. When I bought the bike, I was very transparent with the salesman, letting him know that I weigh more than I look like I weigh, but he said it shouldn't be a problem--these were high quality wheels. True enough, as the front wheel has been a beast and given me no trouble. But I busted spokes on the back wheel twice before I realized I needed something a little more...substantial. More spokes, slightly wider base. And it cost me a pretty penny. Add to this that on the day of that ride, we were exactly two weeks out from THE ride, so any time that the bike would be in the shop meant less miles in training in these crucial last days. Add to this that the likely reason my spokes keep breaking is that I'm simply too heavy...and I don't know anyone who likes sever and repeated reminders that he is overweight. Add to this that I felt like I was letting dad down. Add to this that I began to seriously wonder if we'd be able to complete the ride.<br />
<br />
In a word, I was broken, perhaps even more so than the spoke. Anger, frustration, self-pity, and doubt can wound a heart so much more than unequal distribution of body weight on a rotating rod of aluminum can untrue a bike wheel.<br />
<br />
Getting it fixed proved to be much more difficult than I imagined it could be. My local bike shop had so many repairs lined up before me that they said they wouldn't be able to get to mine until this weekend (May 30th). Unacceptable. So I found a shop in Buford that could get me in. Long story short, they replaced the spoke and suggested that I "stand when I go over rough terrain" to keep the stress off the back wheel.<br />
<br />
So anyway, the call of the moment is to release expectation and rejoice in the successes of the past and to hold on to eager hope for the future. Please keep me and dad in your prayers! Please pray especially for the patients at OLPH Cancer Home! And you can try to cheer me up by <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1IM4CosxJJvj-x47p95pucdj_HjDEjLQZV31HVaL99-8/viewform?usp=send_form" target="_blank">making a donation!!!</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZDdv2pyr50qukXN5QtJumfEUVcFtbW8Juu-jeIRJPPEAogU-ufun0jcDZ_TCqY7OwVjHJIanzkGDxpP6maz-Z8KeTDRp7815LrtrgzdcZA53waI7H1BHZfFqFjgawiUgnFlfOWD4pah6/s1600/Our_Holy_Mother_Of_Perpetual_Succour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZDdv2pyr50qukXN5QtJumfEUVcFtbW8Juu-jeIRJPPEAogU-ufun0jcDZ_TCqY7OwVjHJIanzkGDxpP6maz-Z8KeTDRp7815LrtrgzdcZA53waI7H1BHZfFqFjgawiUgnFlfOWD4pah6/s320/Our_Holy_Mother_Of_Perpetual_Succour.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;">O Mother of Perpetual Help, grant that I may ever invoke your most powerful name, which is the safeguard of the living and the salvation of the dying. O Purest Mary, O Sweetest Mary, let your name henceforth be ever on my lips. Delay not, O Blessed Lady, to help me whenever I call on you, for, in all my needs, in all my temptations I shall never cease to call on you, ever repeating your sacred name, Mary, Mary.</span>Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-87901200702059078292015-05-23T09:11:00.002-07:002015-05-23T09:12:24.303-07:00Tour de ZombieI felt like a zombie this morning...it has been an incredibly hectic past couple of weeks, and, in all honesty, I haven't been taking very good care of myself lately...binge eating, late nights, and very early mornings. It's been emotionally draining as well, with the sadness of the recent deaths in the Pius family juxtaposed to the extreme excitement of both my brothers' graduations (William from high school and Patrick from law school) AND of the seniors from St. Pius... #allthefeels.<br />
<br />
After a great "welcome to the block" party for Fr. Michael Revak, the new Parochial Vicar at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Johns Creek that went to the late hours of the evening, I came down to Peachtree City for the weekend to celebrate William's achievements. As has become my custom when I visit my parents, after a little time of playing Call of Duty with my brother I fell asleep on the floor, and despite everyone's best efforts to get me upstairs, there I remained. <br />
<br />
Dad woke me up with a plate of kiska and eggs and an invitation to ride. Feeling stiff-necked (in many senses) and tired, I begrudgingly accepted. But, as my mother would be very quick to point out, the things I complain the most about doing are generally the things through which there is the most to be gained.<br />
<br />
We only did 18.35 miles, but it was a great 18.35 miles. We took a newish route that brought us down to Senoia, which Walking Dead fans will recognize as the locus of much of the show's filming. Downtown Senoia was used for the Governor's town of Woodbury, and just across the tracks is the walled town of Alexandria where there is active filming for the upcoming season. Dozens of tourists were walking the streets of what used to be a very sleepy southern town. We rode past Alexandria's entrance, which is guarded by a plain-clothed security dude, and then over to a row of fancy trailers, which I assumed are the actors' on-set residences. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIinjHfLlIFDBRSOArF7-cXROoqtYtZOVkv0v0gbxlHDNcydxYNb7dt0rEJ1k0mrQTciFGbpsEDtkBSv9mfFitpDi7wmINWapvDQoCPGkwYNz_wCCWLRG7KBsDpVHnGJdrb8uBsqQk3zn1/s1600/IMG_5848.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIinjHfLlIFDBRSOArF7-cXROoqtYtZOVkv0v0gbxlHDNcydxYNb7dt0rEJ1k0mrQTciFGbpsEDtkBSv9mfFitpDi7wmINWapvDQoCPGkwYNz_wCCWLRG7KBsDpVHnGJdrb8uBsqQk3zn1/s640/IMG_5848.PNG" width="360" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_770487037"></span><span id="goog_770487038"></span><br />
You can see from the map at the left how close my parents live to zombie land. They are at the stop sign and the Senoia set is right at mile marker 10. It's very likely that if a real zombie apocalypse were to break out, my family would be among the first know. I think they'd survive. William, the recent high school grad, is an expert bb gun marksman and is also very handy with a pickax and tactical shovel. <br />
<br />
We're going to do a big ride tomorrow. I'm hoping for something in the 70s range. The ride is two weeks from tomorrow!<br />
<br />
Make a donation if you haven't already! <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1IM4CosxJJvj-x47p95pucdj_HjDEjLQZV31HVaL99-8/viewform?usp=send_form" target="_blank">CLICK HERE to do so</a>! I'm almost to $3000! <br />
<br />
Ride on.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-69957876936577078882015-05-12T19:12:00.002-07:002015-05-12T19:12:22.352-07:00Up the creek without a pedal...Last weekend, dad and I made history...we participated in (and freakin finished!!!) the 25th Annual "Up the Creek Without a Pedal" ride in Rome, GA. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCR4ik10KX-PCJtTsYKsssjoriMWuYxIcrDBuOm3NMfpLD6x7U3Hmd1RMhH_ZI5LyWOTvIrzymt6rOG0-py-X_LQ8h5Rmy8ZXnv4sLYPejaVv2RIREaDfd3mPunDmT8m1nKwlp77tRi1Yw/s1600/IMG_5772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCR4ik10KX-PCJtTsYKsssjoriMWuYxIcrDBuOm3NMfpLD6x7U3Hmd1RMhH_ZI5LyWOTvIrzymt6rOG0-py-X_LQ8h5Rmy8ZXnv4sLYPejaVv2RIREaDfd3mPunDmT8m1nKwlp77tRi1Yw/s200/IMG_5772.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
For me, this was not only my first organized cycling event, it was also the first time I've ever ridden a bike with more than 3 other people! We got to Rome with about 25 minutes to prep before the ride, pumped up our tires (btw--why do I need to pump my tires EVERY time I ride? I don't recall having to do that on my mountain bike...), got our swag, and joined the masses. We're talking hundreds of cyclists, everything from imitation Under Armour-wearing noobs like me all the way to Lance Armstrong wannabes wearing more latex themselves than a whole Richard Simmons Sweatin' to the Oldies cast combined. They call it "performance wear".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIbY8pdA7eMjfu4XUMGFblC9yGWIj4gcMEiN3m5769gKSB45zu_I94bCpiSvL-24TtPqGNxzz24NrQX5bQwtxotpWolkgG6JWqHL2S-YsIVD_aifVKYGW0wVMo44kDkqsvUsNGFsxfR_V/s1600/IMG_5773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIbY8pdA7eMjfu4XUMGFblC9yGWIj4gcMEiN3m5769gKSB45zu_I94bCpiSvL-24TtPqGNxzz24NrQX5bQwtxotpWolkgG6JWqHL2S-YsIVD_aifVKYGW0wVMo44kDkqsvUsNGFsxfR_V/s400/IMG_5773.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
The ride starts in downtown Rome. We had a police escort for the first three miles, which was pretty cool. Always better to be chasing the police than the other way around. Dad and I were in the back, probably 3/4 of the way back. We set a nice pace and just kept going.<br />
<br />
The event provided a 30, 53, 75, and 100 mile option. We simply couldn't spoil things by going for the century just yet, and 75 miles of hills just kind of seemed a little too intense, and 30 miles was too whimpy (no disrespect to anyone reading this who chose the 30 mile ride), so 53 it was. 53 gorgeous miles, made even more glorious by awesome sag stops -- PB&J, beef jerky, bananas, and the final stop had...wait for it...homemade strawberry ice cream. It makes it so much easier to ride when you know there's some tasty calories and refreshingly cold beverages waiting for you just a few more miles down the road. <br />
<br />
Now, dad and I aren't very speedy...we generally average 10 mph. While this was our best long-distance average at 12.4 mph, we still got passed by all those Euro-Pro "Performance" guys (and a few ladies). There was one guy in a Cookie Monster jersey who, though he took really long breaks enjoying the goodies at the sag stops, always seemed to catch up to us and let us know he was passing...again. It became a source of motivation for me, to stay ahead of Cookie Monster for as long as we could. I'm fairly certain he passed one final time about 2 miles out, but we made it all the way, up some gruelling hills of "the Pocket" (a nestled valley that follows Johns Creek (not the Alpharetta one, a different one), hence the name of the ride, and across the finish line back in downtown Rome. Out there, there were stunning views and powerful perfumes of honeysuckles. It's not quite my vision of Heaven, but it's pretty close. I don't think there will be bike seats in Heaven.<br />
<br />
Last week, my heart was heavy over the loss of that man who passed after complications from his bone marrow transplant. This time, as we cruised past the Richard B. Russell municipal airport and an ultralight came in for a landing right on top of us, my heart went out to the families who lost their loved ones in that tragic plane crash on Atlanta's I-285 the day before. As it turned out, one of the victims and I are connected: the young woman who died is the sister of a man whose wedding I celebrated a few years back. Again, the theme of cherishing each moment with those around us became abundantly clear to me. We will all experience the loss of loved ones. Sometimes it will be foreseen and expected. Other times it will be sudden and tragic. It wont always seem fair and it often doesn't make sense. We will question why God allowed this to happen, and we probably won't get any answers. All we have is the reality of the loss. That, and the Lord's promise that He will be with us always, and that He is victor over sin and death. <br />
<br />
God doesn't promise that those who love Him will be free of sorrow. The Cross has always lead me to believe that Christians will necessarily suffer more than those around us, because we have been called to love. Love hurts. When you pour yourself out for someone, and then that someone is suddenly gone, it truly is like part of your own existence is gone, like part of you dies with them. When the beloved hurts, the lover hurts. Loving guarantees that we will suffer. <br />
<br />
But herein lies the "mystery of faith," that Jesus Christ, eternal Son of the Father, entered into death for us, that He took on our death, that God himself went to the lengths of God-forsakenness for us, to show that He is with us, close to us and not far from us, in suffering. It may not take away the sting, the ache, the deep and never-ending sense of loss we feel when someone we love dies, but, at the very least, hopefully helps us to see we're not up the creek without a paddle, hopelessly being dragged down stream; rather, we're in a boat captained by the Savior, who leads us through the storm.Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-75900708379963078722015-05-12T17:55:00.000-07:002015-05-12T17:55:56.321-07:00SmashedMy old record, that is!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nk9afl0mWKSorBB8ASpUfQLgba6kw_10CLTq2gnAMDHvsR2ONTp0DPi39-vsj8My99MwWnTJLU9xg5iSckv5jL47Eh8Ya9tbMBtK-OmFXcdQ2I2fdHlrybZ4l2tBx6dv0d8a3RS6HIWf/s1600/IMG_5767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nk9afl0mWKSorBB8ASpUfQLgba6kw_10CLTq2gnAMDHvsR2ONTp0DPi39-vsj8My99MwWnTJLU9xg5iSckv5jL47Eh8Ya9tbMBtK-OmFXcdQ2I2fdHlrybZ4l2tBx6dv0d8a3RS6HIWf/s640/IMG_5767.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
On May 3, Dad and I rode the Silver Comet Trail from the trailhead all the way out to Coots Lake near Rockmart, then turned around and came home. All told, it was a 66.55 mile ride, shattering my previous record for longest ride ever by more than 20 miles. In fact, had we not turned back and done all 66 miles heading west, we would have crossed over the state line into Alabama!<br />
<br />
The trail is mostly flat, which you'd think gives the rider an easier ride than road riding...but that's not exactly true. Because it's so flat, you really never stop pedaling. Add to that the fact that there are some longish uphill climbs, and you've got yourself a decent training ride.<br />
<br />
I'm really proud of what Dad and I are accomplishing. We push, we sweat, we rest, and we just keep going. For me the best part of all this is getting to spend time with my dad. 66 miles took just over 6 hours to complete. I can't remember ever in my life having 6 hours to spend with alone with my dad. We talk about stuff...faith, politics, education, life, family. I told him about a man I had visited in the hospital the day before our ride who, very tragically and sadly, lost his battle to cancer. He was in the process of recovering from his bone marrow transplant just two or three doors down the hall from where dad himself recovered from his back in 2010. As a priest, I was there to intercede for the deceased and to be there for the family; as a man, my heart broke for this family whose hopes for their dad's healing were unfulfilled. I have no answers for why some people win their battle with cancer and some people lose. I'll leave that to the doctors and to the Lord who knows the day and hour we will go home to meet Him. But it made me appreciate the fact that the people who are here in our lives now should be loved now, cherished now, not later. Every moment really is a gift. <br />
<br />
These are the kinds of things we get to talk about...when we're not gasping for breath on those long, gradual inclines. Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-68651930548299464982015-04-28T13:17:00.000-07:002015-04-28T13:17:58.844-07:00New Record!<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">40.06 MILES BABY!!!!</span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTqGlp-FPFqToLdRe_4glgo9_YLIKDJEuh70Dxfdqf191NggYeE74YvxOrWRNkuYczRPyKwMGBc6PUxFQsr7dzmmyCoCuGHwLeBYkBu58wDyVKSekNDcgUS0eWXkF4_zCjg9fHVNNaCFy/s1600/40miles.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTqGlp-FPFqToLdRe_4glgo9_YLIKDJEuh70Dxfdqf191NggYeE74YvxOrWRNkuYczRPyKwMGBc6PUxFQsr7dzmmyCoCuGHwLeBYkBu58wDyVKSekNDcgUS0eWXkF4_zCjg9fHVNNaCFy/s1600/40miles.PNG" height="275" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
That's the longest bike ride I've ever made in my life!<br />
<br />
I had three Masses up at St. Benedict's in Duluth, GA, this Sunday and got down to Peachtree City where my folks live right at about 3PM. We grabbed a quick bite and then suited up for what we knew was going to be an endurance ride. Four hours later, we had pounded out just a smidge over 40 miles!<br />
<br />
It's hard being on a bike seat that long. I invested in some quality cycling shorts that have a seat-shaped gel cushion sewn into them. It helps, but after 4 hours, let's just say you're really ready to be out of the saddle.<br />
<br />
This was the first ride I've done where donations were on the line. I've currently only got two pledges, but I kept thinking to myself, "If you hit 40 miles, that's $20 that the Cancer Home gets!" and I keep pedaling away.<br />
<br />
Besides the "saddle sore," I wasn't too exhausted post-ride. If dad would have wanted to go another 10, I probably would have groaned and pushed on. But I need to be able to that 40 mile ride TWICE, plus some. I've got a lot of work to do!<br />
<br />
If you'd like to help me train harder click <a href="http://atlcatholic.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-little-easier.html" target="_blank"><b>this link</b></a> to go to my donations page! Even if you pledge a penny for every mile I train, it will encourage me to push harder!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-23005817939415274282015-04-23T08:29:00.000-07:002015-04-28T13:05:20.070-07:00A little easierPraise the Lord for Google Forms! <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You can now fill out this online form to make donating to my century ride for OLPH Cancer Home all the easier. No need to email me, just fill out the form.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Click <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1IM4CosxJJvj-x47p95pucdj_HjDEjLQZV31HVaL99-8/viewform?usp=send_form" target="_blank">HERE</a> </span>to register your donation!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Your donation goes to support the efforts of the Dominican Sisters who run a cancer home for the terminally ill. They rely on God's providence to support them as most of their patients cannot afford insurance or quality medical care, and I am certain the Lord put them on my heart as worthy recipients of these fundraising efforts. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thanks for supporting the patients, the Sisters, and me and my dad!!! Every mile counts. Every dollar counts.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Peace in Christ,<br />
FrM</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-77419117599830329892015-04-20T16:05:00.001-07:002015-04-20T16:06:39.177-07:00Ride on!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKFp6bkiegxN7C2MT2nbCw0VVLhmGMT4jvydvlayGFUhUqxFGkTXTHSmO0TCpj1Siz_uVH-m6d0YwZwjUcV8Q0JmhCnUA4vl2CvFHPy172gsABbBpa8yetdCcQhVXbU6hvnBaT73LqtB5/s640/blogger-image-1221781497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKFp6bkiegxN7C2MT2nbCw0VVLhmGMT4jvydvlayGFUhUqxFGkTXTHSmO0TCpj1Siz_uVH-m6d0YwZwjUcV8Q0JmhCnUA4vl2CvFHPy172gsABbBpa8yetdCcQhVXbU6hvnBaT73LqtB5/s640/blogger-image-1221781497.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
24.22 miles this morning! It was a nice ride, with a short stop at my former employer, the flight school at Falcon Field airport. I served as fleet crew chief there, basiclly charged with keeping the flight school's planes clean inside and out. Cleaned lots of bug guts off leading edges! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Please visit my previous post (www.atlcatholic.blogspot.com/2015/04/lets-get-it-started.html<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">) to find out how you can support Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home!!!</span></div>
Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-20041859887185597102015-04-19T19:53:00.002-07:002015-04-23T08:57:57.933-07:00Let's Get It Started!Greetings friends!<br />
<br />
After 3 months of basic training, with around 200 miles under my belt, it's finally time to start soliciting your support for the ride. I shared the idea of offering any donations received in support of a century bike ride with Sr. Damien of the Hawthorne Dominicans who staff Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home, and she was enthused and grateful in advance for anything contributed by this little endeavor.<br />
<br />
After a family meeting, it was decided that logistically we can't do Tahoe, so my dad and I are going to ride in the Fletcher Flyer Century in the beautiful hills around Asheville, NC. Same date, Sunday June 7.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://atlcatholic.blogspot.com/2015/01/huge.html" target="_blank">Here's the backstory</a> to the whole ordeal. Do give it a read if you've got the chance!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image result for olph cancer home atlanta" class="rg_i" data-sz="f" jsaction="load:str.tbn" name="rSRd0wTfVSegDM:" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="height: 137px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; width: 368px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home in the shadow of Turner Field, Atlanta.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If you would like to support the Cancer Home with my dad and me, here's how you do it! You've got 3 options. Read through the options then click the link to the Google Form at the end!<br />
<br />
<b>1) Straight-up donation</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Very straight forward...send in a one-time, tax deductible donation to the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>Make a check out to OLPH Cancer Home</i> and mail it to me* at:<br />
<br />
Fr. Michael Silloway<br />
Catholic Center at GA Tech<br />
172 4th St. NW<br />
Atlanta, GA 30313<br />
<br />
You can register your donation on the <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1IM4CosxJJvj-x47p95pucdj_HjDEjLQZV31HVaL99-8/viewform" target="_blank">Google Form.</a><br />
<br />
<b>2) Donation per training mile</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
This is best option, in my humble opinion: make a pledge to give a donation based on how many training miles I pound out from today, April 19, to the ride on June 7. I estimate 300-400 more miles of training, but it may be more. You can pledge anything, $0.10/mile, $0.25 per mile, $1.00/mile, whatever you'd like. You will be kept up-to-date with the training progress through this blog and an email reminder the final week before the century. This will challenge and motivate me to push hard and train with intentionality. Each mile is more money for the patients and Sisters at OLPH, and is tax-deductible.<br />
<br />
You can register your pledge amount on the <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1IM4CosxJJvj-x47p95pucdj_HjDEjLQZV31HVaL99-8/viewform" target="_blank">Google Form</a>. <br />
<br />
<b>3) Sponsor me and my dad</b><br />
<br />
There are a few significant expenses associated with doing a century that would normally be covered by the organization one rides with (or discounted because of participation with a major organization).<br />
<br />
Sponsorships include:<br />
<br />
<strike>a) Registration for the Fletcher Flyer Century Ride for Fr. Michael Silloway $45.00</strike><br />
<strike>b) Registration for the Fletcher Flyer Century Ride for Lyndon Silloway $45.00</strike><br />
<i style="background-color: yellow;">These expenses generously provided by KENT & JEN POLZIN!! THANK YOU!!!</i><br />
c) Lodging in Brevard, NC, 2 rooms for 2 nights $200<br />
<br />
Please send a check <i>made out to me </i>and mail it to:<br />
<br />
Fr. Michael Silloway<br />
Catholic Center at GA Tech<br />
172 4th St. NW<br />
Atlanta, GA 30313<br />
<br />
Sponsorships are <i>not tax-deductible</i>. This would be a gift from you to me.<br />
<br />
You can register your donation on the <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1IM4CosxJJvj-x47p95pucdj_HjDEjLQZV31HVaL99-8/viewform" target="_blank">Google Form.</a><br />
<br />
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for your participation in this endeavor! Whether or not you can give financially, please offer a prayer for the cancer patients in the care of the Dominican Sisters at OLPH, for the Sisters themselves, and for my dad and me!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1IM4CosxJJvj-x47p95pucdj_HjDEjLQZV31HVaL99-8/viewform" target="_blank">Here's the link one more time to access the OLPH Century Donations Google Form!</a><br />
<br />
*Donations to OLPH are mailed to me so that I can account for all of them. Each week, I will make a visit to the Sisters to leave the donations. There will be a running tally here on the blog of fundraising progress.Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-74061063575747379482015-04-01T13:10:00.001-07:002015-04-01T13:10:20.024-07:00An InvitationI just wrote this up for the St. Pius X Catholic High School community, but thought it might be good to post elsewhere. Nothing huge, just a brief explication (oooh...big words!) on the Triduum.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Greetings in the
Lord Jesus Christ! I just wanted to take
this opportunity to highlight the very special nature of these last days of
Lent: so special, in fact, that we even close down the school and start Spring
Break early. Many of you will be
traveling, so I would like to highly encourage you to visit <a href="http://www.masstimes.org/">www.masstimes.org</a> to find the parish
closest to your vacation destination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Have you ever
participated in your parish’s Triduum services?
Please consider the following my strongest recommendation, highest
encouragement, and most sincere invitation!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The liturgical
celebrations of the final three days before Easter Sunday are known as the
Sacred Paschal Triduum (from the Latin <i>tria
</i> “three” and <i>dies</i> “day”), wherein each of the three days follows precisely what
was occurring in Our Lord’s life some 2,000 years ago. The Triduum is one act of worship spread out
over the three days of Our Lord’s Passion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">On the evening
of the first Holy Thursday, Our Lord met with His apostles in the upper room to
celebrate the Passover. He gave them His
greatest commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34) and washed
their feet as a sign of the type of leadership they were to exercise in His
name. Then He gave the greatest gift of
all, Himself as the Eucharist, as He took the unleavened Passover bread and the
chalice of wine for blessing and said, “This is my body which is given for you…This
cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke
22:19-20). He was then betrayed,
arrested, and imprisoned overnight, so the surplus Eucharist consecrated for
Good Friday will be taken out of the main body of the Church and placed at an “altar
of repose” where people will gather to keep vigil with Him before his Passion.
There is no final blessing at the end of Mass…just a procession to the altar of
repose.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Then on the
first Good Friday, the Lord was brought to His trial and punished with death by
crucifixion. The liturgy that day begins
without the sign of the cross as Mass normally does, to signify that we’re
still in the midst of the same prayer we began the day before. The whole Passion narrative from the Gospel
of St. John is recited, and, after the homily, everyone is invited to venerate
the cross. What a profound moment to
show our gratitude to Jesus for sacrifice of love He made for us! It’s perhaps a little awkward to walk up and
kiss the cross, but what the cross of Our Lord shows us is that humility is the
true way of love! Then the Eucharist
consecrated the day before is brought into the Church for the faithful to
receive. This was why He died, that we
might have life. The Commemoration of
the Lord’s Passion ends without a final blessing…Jesus has died, but the event
isn’t over yet…</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after: avoid; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_MzE6MV2MLErSjrPMcW-CjMAsnyj3udrI-wfUWhUUyiaddhZN47lPoIdVbOQGbnN_8J-bFWVMEVzgxrlLzXMNuoEUqprTvxPCoEZc_waep4vyT8l1tOMOdz36sBCQI2i9pxoL30zbdo/s1600/Good+Friday+2010+124.jpg"
style='width:369.75pt;height:246.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\FRSILL~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="Good%2BFriday%2B2010%2B124"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">During the day
on Holy Saturday, nothing happens in the Church. In fact, the altar itself is stripped bare. No Sacraments at all are celebrated, for Our
Lord is in the tomb and we are meant to spiritually go there with Him. Holy Saturday should be a quiet day and a day
of preparation. As the evening draws
near, a fire is lit outside each parish, the “paschal fire” from which the
Easter Candle is lit. This candle,
representing the Christ, the Light of the World, is processed in to the darkened
sanctuary of the Church, and the flame is shared from it to each person in the
Church. And the Easter Vigil begins.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This epic
conclusion to the Triduum is unmatched in beauty, power, and grace. It is the liturgy above all liturgies, the
Mass above all Masses! Special (and more
numerous) readings that highlight the most significant points of Salvation History…Creation,
the sacrifice of Isaac, the crossing of the Red Sea, Ezekiel’s “I will give you
a new heart,” just to name a few will be proclaimed. Then the <i>alleluia</i>,
which we’ve omitted all of Lent, comes back in force as we hear of the empty
tomb and Christ appearing in the flesh and alive. This Vigil is the main Mass in which new
Catholics are made, as people make a profession of faith and join in full communion
with the Church around the altar of the Lord.
Some, who were never baptized, receive that great Sacrament alongside those
adults being Confirmed and those receiving their First Holy Communion. The Church celebrates the “new birth” of
these her newest members. As the Mass
draws to a close, we receive for the first time in three days the concluding
blessing, and we’re sent to proclaim Christ risen from the dead to every corner
of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Friends, these next few days are the most
important in our entire year. I invite
you to go to these celebrations if at all possible. The Lord died and rose not only for the world
in general, but also for you in particular, and through these holy
celebrations, I’m quite certain He has graces to give you. So please enjoy your Spring Break, and put
the Lord smack in the middle of it!</span>Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-38063423751573348972015-01-26T09:29:00.000-08:002015-01-26T09:30:32.988-08:00Training Week 2Training is beginning in earnest. <br />
<br />
Two weeks ago I participated in an indoor training event where you attach your bike to a device fittingly called a "trainer," which essentially turns your pavement shredding machine into a stationary bike.<br />
<br />
So there, inside the basement gathering space of an historic Atlanta church, we pounded out not miles, but certainly tons of sweat and calories.<br />
<br />
Having missed an opportunity to do a group ride on Saturday because I was simply exhausted after the March for Life, I went yesterday to the area the group rode and kind of made up my own route.<br />
<br />
Here it is for your viewing pleasure:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLy8ZRWj9Uy8LTiK7mdxqe_ywvyrzYU4Rnm1Q2U7k2oxHvDRYLuLaThhMaJwLQathFmPGvAXjvelOJCvnoLyrk6XC4V0rHvu1S2kNJ86qbQ16aHuQ4MFa5Bz02RxPK3wJDQB7dsOu1f_Ty/s1600/IMG_5266+(1).PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLy8ZRWj9Uy8LTiK7mdxqe_ywvyrzYU4Rnm1Q2U7k2oxHvDRYLuLaThhMaJwLQathFmPGvAXjvelOJCvnoLyrk6XC4V0rHvu1S2kNJ86qbQ16aHuQ4MFa5Bz02RxPK3wJDQB7dsOu1f_Ty/s1600/IMG_5266+(1).PNG" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
That's right! This fat boy tore up Brookhaven's neighborhoods and logged 15 hard-fought miles on this Atlanta suburb's hilly roads. Peachtree-Dunwoody Rd was particularly obnoxious to ride up, but I made it. I tell myself as my legs burn and my heartrate hits 180 "Don't get off this bike! Don't you dare get off this bike!" It works for now...<br />
<br />
The ride took, as you can see on the screenshot, almost an hour and a quarter. Come June, I will need to be able to pull off 6 and 2/3 of those 15-milers to reach a century...also taking into account the ascents around Lake Tahoe and the altitude, most of the ride being well above a mile high, where the air is a good bit thinner and the heart has to work harder to oxygenate the muscles.<br />
<br />
Since I haven't made much progress in the organization of the new team, I don't yet have names of the cancer patients or the sisters who care for them, so I offered the pain and the 4 mph uphills for the intention of the Lord leading the way, that he would, as this plan unfolds, upon up the doors we will need opened, and give us strength to persevere.<br />
<br />
As I think about all that needs to be done, I realize how big an undertaking it will be to make this training and the realization of the event happen. <br />
<br />
At this point in the game, though, my biggest worry is how anyone, no matter how great their endurance, can sit on a bike seat for that long. The heart will calm down, there will be a coming decent to relax the legs, but that seat, that piece of marble covered in thick plastic, is always there...uphill or downhill, coasting or peddling, it's right there ready to bruise and wound and to mock you.<br />
<br />
Pray for this endeavor! Pray for the people of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home! Pray for the Sisters that love and care for them! And, if you can spare a prayer, pray for my bottom!<br />
<br />
I'm off to log some more miles today. Till next time,<br />
<br />
Peace in Christ,<br />
FrMFr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-49760707807939102712015-01-19T16:39:00.001-08:002015-01-19T19:39:17.981-08:00HUGE<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Friends, earlier today I found myself in a HUGE dilemma.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>26</o:Words>
<o:Characters>150</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Archdiocese of Atlanta</o:Company>
<o:Lines>1</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>175</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:16.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After seeing and being inspired by my dad's fight with cancer
through faith, family, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team in Training, I decided to join him and the Team to train for America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride...a century (100 mile) ride around Lake Tahoe in June.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.atlcatholic.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-tnt-post.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the more on the context and reasons for participating.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I recently set up my fundraising page and earlier today sent out the link on Facebook. Within 2 minutes I had donations coming in! I was getting really excited.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then a friend sent me a private message saying that LLS doesn't have the best track record with human life issues. So I did a little research.</span></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; word-spacing: 0px;">It didn't take long to find LLS's connection with (thankfully failed) legislation to promote more funding to embryonic stem cell research (story <a href="http://www.lifenews.com/2007/08/28/nat-3304/" target="_blank">here</a>). Then a Facebook friend lead me to this quote:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-align: justify;">LLS recognizes that medical research must balance risks and benefits. Based on the leading scientific and bioethical advice available, and our mission, The LLS Board of Directors adopted a Policy on Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research in June of 2005. LLS updated the statement of our position in November of 2010. <b><u>LLS supports the use of human ES cells</u></b> for research and the development of therapies whenever the proposed research is judged meritorious by appropriately constituted scientific review committees and the Board of Directors of LLS."</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This unattributed piece of information was then confirmed by a quote from the CEO of the LLS in an email to the American Life League, using the exact same language as above:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"LLS supports the use of human ES cells for research and the development of therapies whenever the proposed research is judged meritorious by appropriately constituted scientific review committees and the board of directors of LLS."</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="background-color: #fefefe;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(<a href="http://www.all.org/charities?page=4#Leukemia_and_Lymphoma_Society" target="_blank">Citation from ALL)</a></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So, that was that. (If you want information on why Christians should be against embryonic stem cell research, check out the <a href="http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/stem-cell-research/" target="_blank">USCCB website</a> where there is a plethora of resources and information).</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I was put on the spot, I had the information and I had to make a decision. Part of me knew that I couldn't support LLS and ask others to do the same. But, in total honesty, another part of me wanted to just ignore the information I had found and say, "well it's not like <i>all </i>the money raised goes to killing embryonic humans...maybe the money I raise won't go to that stuff." </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Rationalization. That's all it was and I knew it. I was trying to justify my participation and to avoid the difficulty of having to back out of the Team and of having to tell my dad who has benefited so much from the camaraderie and possibly even the results of some of the good things that LLS funds. I'll do a post sometime soon about the ADULT stem cell success my dad has had in his cancer treatments.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Then came the fact that I had to contact the two people who had already donated! My Facebook friends have such great hearts! So eager to help, so ready to give and support. I sent them messages and they completely understood why I was backing out and taking the donation page offline. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Then I had to call my dad. I sent him an email first, perhaps, as I thought, to soften the blow of telling him that I wouldn't be training with him and the Team. He responded and told me to call. Oh boy. Here we go. How was he going to take it? He has been through no fewer than 10 century rides with this team...that's 1,000 miles of ride events and many thousands of miles in training with them. The best I expected to hear was, "Michael, I understand, and you are free to do what you need to do."</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">That's not what happened.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As I bumbled over my words and tried to present my backing out of the Team as gently as possible, not wanting to offend but at the same time wanting to present my position firmly, at one point my dad interjected, "And I'm with you."</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I choked back tears. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
And I pitched my idea...</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
What if we formed a team for life? A team that exists to train for the ride and to raise funds, not for research per se, but for actual cancer patients here in the Atlanta area. Money going STRAIGHT to people suffering, without passing through a massive organization with intimate ties to the destruction of embryonic life? What if we could form a team to support Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home here in Atlanta?</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
Read through their <a href="http://olphhome.org/wordpress/" target="_blank">website</a> and <i>you</i> my friend will be the one choking back tears. The Hawthorne Dominicans who run the place are dedicated to giving hospice care to cancer patients of any creed, race, or nationality who can no longer afford treatment. </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
I've celebrated Masses there and visited their residence. The sisters there are simple, holy, joyful women of Christ. Caring for the terminally ill poor is no easy task, yet they do it with such a love as if each patient were Our Lord himself.</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
So what if we still did the ride, still trained our butts off, all the while asking for support for this beautiful mission of the Church? What if we formed a team of cancer survivors and supporters of cancer patients to ride and raise funds for the sisters' mission??</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
I feel the Lord moving here. Deeply. He's up to something HUGE in this heart. </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto;">
But before I go any further, I should probably contact Mother Superior and the priest chaplain there...</div>
Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-84309196759094977792015-01-19T13:53:00.003-08:002015-01-19T13:53:38.123-08:00The TNT Post<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">In 2003, my dad was
diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. At the same time, I was just
transitioning out of the University of Georgia and into seminary as I had
strongly felt the Lord calling me to be a priest.<br /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"> As
I went up to Franciscan University of Steubenville and later to Rome, Italy,
dad went into round after round after round of chemo, radiation, and
biopsies. Ports were put in, lumps were taken out, chemicals flooded his
body, he lost his hair and his appetite. Being so far away from home was
particularly hard. Mom would call and give me updates, and over the
breaks from school I'd get to come home and try my best to love my dad back
into health and, as my seminary experience progressed, even got to begin
to minister our Lord's grace through prayer and the Sacraments of the Church.
Even with Faith, it's hard to see your dad suffer and, as I would find
out, how hard the trial is on the whole family.<br /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">
There were a few things that kept my dad going. He always
first credits the Lord especially through the inspiration of Pope St. John Paul
II who showed the world how to suffer with dignity and Mary, Jesus' mom,
who takes all her Son's disciples as her own and loves them from Heaven.
In a very close second, he always thanks his wife, my mom, for being absolutely
everything for him in his sickness and treatment; she was the mediator between
doctor and patient, she was the chauffeur, she was the primary attending nurse,
she was the nutritionist, she was the emotional support, she offered all of her
strength--physical, spiritual, mental--to ensure that dad made it
through. Then there was my brother who literally shed his blood that our
dad might have life...he donated some of his bone marrow to transplant into our
dad, a procedure that seems to have the cancer in remission for the foreseeable
future.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">
When he found out about TNT and the rides they do to raise funds
for cancer treatment and research, it gave my dad yet another reason to fight,
something to do and a mission to fight for during those long years of
treatment. Despite his severely compromised immune system, he was on a
stationary bike spinning it out even before he was cleared to be around
crowds. He told me how he did it not so much for himself, but for the
people sitting in those lazy-boy recliners holding on to a hope that their chemical
drip therapy would kill their cancer. He told me how he had in mind his
father-in-law, his brother, and a seemingly countless number of family members,
coworkers, and friends who have been stricken with cancers of all types.
He offered the pain of the training for their health and comfort...that
the cross he took on voluntarily through TNT might become a means of support
for those on whom the heavy cross of cancer was placed involuntarily.<br /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">
So he started training.<br /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">
He made new friends, got in great shape, and, over the past 12
years, has raised thousands of dollars for leukemia and lymphoma
research. Each summer since his diagnoses, he has done a 100-mile ride
with Team in Training, building a community of family, friends, and benefactors
to help kick cancer in the face. He has been and is a source of such
inspiration in our family, and I feel the call to join him in this year's
event, to become part of the Team in Training.<br /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">
Friends, in honesty, I have a long way to go. I'm overweight
and I haven't taken good care of my body since getting out college. But I
know that with the same means of support my dad has, I can do this.
Faith, family, purpose. It's going to hurt, it's going to be very
uncomfortable, and it's going to require some significant changes to my
lifestyle, yet I firmly believe that with the Lord all things are
possible.<br /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">
Will you help me on this epic journey? Will you help me to
raise funds to get treatments out to those who need them? Will you say a
quick prayer for the perseverance of those who, even at this moment,
are being pricked and prodded, ported and dosed, especially those who are
loosing hope? Cancer is a battle no one should have to fight on his or her
own. Let's do this as a Team.<br /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">
Thank you!</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fr.
Michael Silloway</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>669</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3817</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Archdiocese of Atlanta</o:Company>
<o:Lines>31</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>8</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4478</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:16.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-85078608053813974402014-02-11T10:41:00.001-08:002014-02-11T10:42:02.420-08:00Most Urgent Prayer Request EverFriends, there is a situation in dire need of your prayers.<br />
<br />
Long story short, there is a young woman I've come to know in California who is faced with a crisis pregnancy. She is 4 months pregnant but has an appointment for tomorrow to abort the child.<br />
<br />
We have spent hours on the phone and from our conversations it is very clear that she is paralyzed by fear and may simply coast into the abortion because she cannot think or feel because of the stress.<br />
<br />
PLEASE pray. Offer an Our Father. Beg Our Lady of Lourdes to intercede! Offer your daily Mass intention, cut 20 minutes of Olympics watching to offer a Rosary, please storm the gates of Heaven for this young woman, and the countless other women in the same position that never seek help!!! <br />
<br />
<br />Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-54939059087599758052014-02-05T06:16:00.000-08:002014-02-05T06:16:42.781-08:00Powerful words from Flannery O'Connor<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://www.discardedimage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Flannery-OConnor.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">“Push back against the age as hard as it pushes against you. What people don’t realize is how much religion costs. They think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is the cross.”</span></div>
Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-41253253498777206362013-07-29T13:34:00.001-07:002013-07-29T13:34:10.094-07:00The Final Chapter (teasers)Beach Day, gay parade, condom in my face, biggest World Youth Day?, Vigil body-dodging, grace bomb, temporary imprisonment, concelebrating with the Pope, sunset, Pizza Hut again, Sugar Loaf, meat parade.<div><br></div><div>I'll fill it out as I can tonight! It's our last night in Rio, so we're going to live it up!</div>Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-60196330299923872962013-07-27T06:49:00.000-07:002013-07-27T07:45:56.239-07:00The Victory of the Cross<div>Yesterday was all about the Cross, and how fitting for Friday. </div><div><br></div><div>It started off with very little suffering...we took the morning and midday to soak up the first rays of sunshine we've seen since day 1 and chilled on the Copacabana beach. The dudes had a blast getting beaten up in the surf and the ladies held down the fort taking in a little extra vitamin D. I wish I could show you the waves! There were a good couple that were probably in the 15-20 foot category, and man do they pack a punch!</div><div><br></div><div>After a quick shower and change, we went back to Copacabana to greet the Holy Father again. This time I didn't bother with my fancy camera and just used my iPhone. I posted his driveby on my YouTube channel. Here's the link:</div><br>
<a href="http://youtu.be/6-3eLVPXzb0">http://youtu.be/6-3eLVPXzb0</a><br>
<br>I was able to screen capture a front image and a back image as he whipped past us.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfJhFdVagNexUMA-HGgThP-XDlds3v8KvBpCWrwijAyTKbgwp2s3ehP3t8YcTNLlEfVlAdN5fKGHRVCBgMbFDuC_WVmtZZDlg0ulHnAskKKXQ71ONVAv1V8ruVqm6sQmGz55PJqq5QS0R/s640/blogger-image-1377264364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfJhFdVagNexUMA-HGgThP-XDlds3v8KvBpCWrwijAyTKbgwp2s3ehP3t8YcTNLlEfVlAdN5fKGHRVCBgMbFDuC_WVmtZZDlg0ulHnAskKKXQ71ONVAv1V8ruVqm6sQmGz55PJqq5QS0R/s640/blogger-image-1377264364.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEttWswHaRAtVfvh_NpJ_-c1TiKU7J3RYiAJXr7sb3IsFvuvsWcw_Hvq_2BnE5c_5JtDVbDJGeG_o1RkiRbKnE_T90k3AqFPSXWR19koR3Kw0d-AlLSEHUeHJ3g9Lgw3JNq_bRsy9bLRcU/s640/blogger-image--1003138373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEttWswHaRAtVfvh_NpJ_-c1TiKU7J3RYiAJXr7sb3IsFvuvsWcw_Hvq_2BnE5c_5JtDVbDJGeG_o1RkiRbKnE_T90k3AqFPSXWR19koR3Kw0d-AlLSEHUeHJ3g9Lgw3JNq_bRsy9bLRcU/s640/blogger-image--1003138373.jpg"></a></div><br>
Unfortunately, he was favoring the left side again , but still a huge thrill to be so close to the new Pope. I'm reminded of Acts 5:15. Check it out.</div><div><br></div><div>On Fridays during World Youth Day, they always have a specia dramatic portrayal of the Stations of the Cross, and this was by far the most amazing Stations I've ever been to in my life...no joke, no hyperbole. The reflections they had at each station were spot on powerful points to ponder for teens, covering everything from how we treat the poor to breaking our addiction to social media. The music was spectacular (and I'll completely admit to being a snob when it comes to music, especially liturgical music). The Holy Father then had some great words to encourage us all to really examine what the Lord is trying to personally give us through his gift of love on the cross and what we can give the Lord through the crosses that we carry. "No matter how big or small our crosses are, the Lord carries them with us."</div><div><br></div><div>Full text: <span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-wyd-way-of-the-cross-full-text/?frommarfeel=yes</span></div><div><br>This is where things got hairy. </div><div><br></div><div>The girls wanted to stay for the post-concert to see Matt Maher perform, but the guys were tuckered out, so one of the other chaperones and I walked them back to the hotel. Stephen and our videographer Ryan stayed with the ladies. Back at the ranch, I kicked off my sandy Nikes and took a little rest on the couch in my room. We were going to have Mass when everyone returned from the concert, so I couldn't get too comfy.</div><div><br></div><div>As I began to dose, Stephen knocked on the door. I opened the door and noticed immediately something wasn't right. He said "Padre, it's been a terrible night." He was still riding the adrenaline from whatever had just happened. His brow was sweaty and there as a focus in his eyes I've never seen before. </div><div><br></div><div>"Masked protestors stormed the concert. Some had gas masks and others had facial coverings that said 'F*** the Pope'."</div><div><br></div><div>As he caught his breath, he told me how, as Matt was playing, some 200 protestors just rushed the stage. The military police present went on high alert, but the masked morons, as I like to call them, were already into the crowd. Stephen and Ryan grabbed the girls and, by their good instincts, got the heck out of there and brought the girls to safety away from all the commotion.</div><div><br></div><div>Here's the only article I can find that documents last night's incident: <a href="http://www.demotix.com/news/2294789/protesters-crash-world-youth-day-festivities-rio-de-janeiro#media-2294774">http://www.demotix.com/news/2294789/protesters-crash-world-youth-day-festivities-rio-de-janeiro#media-2294774</a></div><div><br></div><div>The girls were pretty shaken, but everyone was OK. We had a relatively silent dinner as we all took in what happened.</div><div><br></div><div>This morning we were able to talk about it a little, having now a little separation form the incident. </div><div><br></div><div>For good news, we have been offered to watch tonight's vigil from a roof top balcony. I think we're going to take it :)</div><div><br></div><div>We're a pretty resilient group, we 2 million Catholics are! We'll certainly play it safe, but no doofus with a mask on is going to take our joy. The faith shines its brightest when it is persecuted, when it stands against ignorance and protest with steadfast hope and perfect charity.</div><div><br></div><div>Please pray for the peace of Bazil. These protestors are angry not at the Church per se, but at their government. May they respond to their civil woes with peaceful protest, leaving us pilgris to worship our Lord and to intercede for the World's Youth.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>
<br>
<br>
<br></div>Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-77029279835498761492013-07-26T07:02:00.001-07:002013-07-26T07:03:36.793-07:00Where we wereYou can't see us, but we're there! Bottom center of shot.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyo7mm4cwwXp9ptK5my88G3V0QC8HHZywzu9v73KO7wFduD5TeiSdLSZDZseDg1kTEvpyQQ2RxZDk-77YbJMrYZqWoMrwnRj7VIW903yv5dA6HvKDUH3almeIlc-KAD45KjXbuEOqIWapX/s640/blogger-image--1049066525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyo7mm4cwwXp9ptK5my88G3V0QC8HHZywzu9v73KO7wFduD5TeiSdLSZDZseDg1kTEvpyQQ2RxZDk-77YbJMrYZqWoMrwnRj7VIW903yv5dA6HvKDUH3almeIlc-KAD45KjXbuEOqIWapX/s640/blogger-image--1049066525.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>This was right at the start of the welcome.</div>Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-33113759767801638602013-07-26T05:05:00.001-07:002013-07-26T05:05:03.356-07:00PopacabanaSorry for no post last night...I was simply too tired. <div><br></div><div>Yesterday was an amazing day. The weather still left much to be desired, but the cold dampness couldn't take away our joy--or the joy of the 1.5 MILLION people who gathered on Copacabana to greet the Holy Father.</div><div><br></div><div>We started the day with Mass in the hotel. Well, it was actually outside on the breakfast terrace. I fear the length of my homily may have exposed the kids to hypothermia, but what can you do? It was the feast of St. James! </div><div><br></div><div>Stephen got word that Pope was to arrive on the beach just two blocks from our hotel, so we walked down the street to stake our claim. There we stood for four hours. You have to be ruthless (or even #fearless) when standing your ground at a papal event. People who randomly walk up 2 minutes before the Pope arrives feel they have just as much a right to be up front as you do, you who have stood in the same spot in the cold rain for 4 hours. It's a matter of justice. Throw some bows.</div><div><br></div><div>Pope Francis arrived just after 5:30 PM. He drove right by us in the open-air popemobile, just 10 feet from where we stood.</div><div><br></div><div>I got no pictures of the moment. Not because I wanted to take it in and enjoy the moment, but because my Canon T2i, as good a camera as it is, failed me by not being able to focus fast enough in the ever dimming light. I'll see if I can get someone else's photo to post here.</div><div><br></div><div>The best part was how excited the teens were. It's a special moment when you see the Pope in person for the first time. You can see the seeds of faith begin to bud out from its earthy covering. And it makes perfect sense too; the Pope, as the successor of St. Peter takes on the charge the first pope received from Jesus himself: "Peter, I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail, and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:32).</div><div><br></div><div>I'll let him say it in his own words: "<span style="text-align: justify; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Looking out to this sea, the beach and all of you gathered here, I am reminded of the moment when Jesus called the first disciples to follow him by the shores of Lake Tiberias. Today Christ asks each of us again: Do you want to be my disciple? Do you want to be my friend? Do you want to be a witness to my Gospel? In the spirit of The Year of Faith, these questions invite us to renew our commitment as Christians. Your families and local communities have passed on to you the great gift of faith, Christ has grown in you. I have come today to confirm you in this faith, faith in the living Christ who dwells within you, but I have also come to be confirmed by the enthusiasm of your faith!"</span></div><div><span style="text-align: justify; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="text-align: justify; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Full text: </span><span style="font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-prayer-service-with-wyd-pilgrims-full</span></div><div><br></div><div>The Lord is up to something in this Pope Francis! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlVjj2X7DnbwCJl1jEQ2_uy_rCqeLn34NC7XsDB_F8_MMu2hiAhOf5Onkl22teTxRKVPy_f7WNcGCgM_o88JCFNaHCHQf4OweFUkjaiYZAfzDHXyxXt1vuD4jwcuhZVDFL2f9HMF3-HRG/s640/blogger-image-824451205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlVjj2X7DnbwCJl1jEQ2_uy_rCqeLn34NC7XsDB_F8_MMu2hiAhOf5Onkl22teTxRKVPy_f7WNcGCgM_o88JCFNaHCHQf4OweFUkjaiYZAfzDHXyxXt1vuD4jwcuhZVDFL2f9HMF3-HRG/s640/blogger-image-824451205.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-73710982200646106692013-07-24T12:25:00.001-07:002013-07-24T12:25:12.009-07:00Cardinals, and I'm not talking St. LouisThis morning we went to a Catechesis session with...wait for it... Cardinal Dolan from the Archdiocese of New York.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFVtnZ5TlWHai4HeVI3hn1E1YMdHVZSLUYQZ5oZsHckzp5I9WhfoROm6gPEpW3c_SXo5047s7uRxhJxCSyp-Q5BPpRluemGAXIUDxNxKUXRIMHQrVUx3fe3W2Mz8Otc4rWsYCUoFs26kD/s640/blogger-image-457828140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFVtnZ5TlWHai4HeVI3hn1E1YMdHVZSLUYQZ5oZsHckzp5I9WhfoROm6gPEpW3c_SXo5047s7uRxhJxCSyp-Q5BPpRluemGAXIUDxNxKUXRIMHQrVUx3fe3W2Mz8Otc4rWsYCUoFs26kD/s640/blogger-image-457828140.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>He spoke about the virtue of hope and the threats to that hope, and it was awesome. We had the double blessing of getting to attend Mass with him. His homily was a variation on the World Youth Day theme, "Go and Make Disciples," telling us that before you can go, you must first come. Come to the Lord! Find your identity in him and in nothing else.</div><div><br></div><div>At the end, we met Cardinal Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney, Australia.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KRPgUNtC3R7zj2MQx5wZ89_7OwAB2YNgJBEF2lpyua6K-ccxDknNy7qRqdvUO2dWuEYDpQbURZZmg-kQz64NsYrO4V-H73mrNGOD6IztJ4NNAEmR1hyBSykz_qJA2zHnKzwQzxLExYp8/s640/blogger-image--2133218506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KRPgUNtC3R7zj2MQx5wZ89_7OwAB2YNgJBEF2lpyua6K-ccxDknNy7qRqdvUO2dWuEYDpQbURZZmg-kQz64NsYrO4V-H73mrNGOD6IztJ4NNAEmR1hyBSykz_qJA2zHnKzwQzxLExYp8/s640/blogger-image--2133218506.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We had to visit the Cathedral as a group...you can't be on a Catholic pilgrimage and not visit the Church that is the spiritual heart of the place. We got a sweet group shot there too.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGm6gumGu2bsS_0TS4Md35LVRQTEb-XYRGWJRbWm8uJIrV0kHYGnObieL4Q1Y5GvHEsfbclJXjFHDzUFwuhwBcYMX4nxGbS6yshPUzL_eXnJo_8q7GbB8ogKmCGcqQi-IMe5Ok19dZIbik/s640/blogger-image-1232467790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGm6gumGu2bsS_0TS4Md35LVRQTEb-XYRGWJRbWm8uJIrV0kHYGnObieL4Q1Y5GvHEsfbclJXjFHDzUFwuhwBcYMX4nxGbS6yshPUzL_eXnJo_8q7GbB8ogKmCGcqQi-IMe5Ok19dZIbik/s640/blogger-image-1232467790.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Tonight will bring us to Life Teen's XLT event an tomorrow we'll welcome Pope Francis!</div>Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-48188359925759786872013-07-24T04:57:00.001-07:002013-07-24T04:57:49.280-07:00Of Popes and Pizza ConesDay two as been a big day. Please disregard any typos as it is both late and m Bluetooth keyboard seems to have died, so I'm having to rough it with on-screen iPad keyboard. #firstworldproblems<div><br></div><div>If my feet could tell the story of today, they'd cast a rather dim light on what was, overall, an excellent day. My Fitbit tells me I was just shy of 20,000 steps on the day. Too bad it can't take into consideration time you spend standing...</div><div><br></div><div>So this is where the day had its rough spots. Because WYD doesn't want to be responsible for invalid sacraments, every priest had to per register themselves online then show up at the Cathedral (which is a strikingly ugly building; let me cruise Google images and steal one to put here):</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77RgAzcDgHHRryTneAAOXDg6_7o3dJHJqKaqVXTBnpwxGvVgCei-3Qp-bdW9cAx85dE1CMwaD131b9HBFhSwswpBDckwn7EBzlw5XhWAfOzOEwdcOZnNUnrYDUV-WHIJm7Dgh7vS3d8Fe/s640/blogger-image--1349994585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77RgAzcDgHHRryTneAAOXDg6_7o3dJHJqKaqVXTBnpwxGvVgCei-3Qp-bdW9cAx85dE1CMwaD131b9HBFhSwswpBDckwn7EBzlw5XhWAfOzOEwdcOZnNUnrYDUV-WHIJm7Dgh7vS3d8Fe/s640/blogger-image--1349994585.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Maybe some modern artists can find something that glorifies God in that, but all I see is a concrete sand castle. But I'm not here to complain. I'm sure it's beautiful when its full of people praising the Lord. </div><div><br></div><div>But anyway, priests had to go the basement to get their official credentials. And "plethora" wouldn't even begin to describe the number of priests that come to WYD. There were probably 1,000 priests from all over the world present just in the hour and a half it took me to get my priestly street cred.</div><div><br></div><div>Waiting for travel buddy, and having some new-found peace of mind knowing that I was accredited and free to go, I was struck by the day's first moment of grace: the Lord very clearly said to me, "Look at all your brothers! Look at the generosity of heart in these my priests!" And I couldn't help but to start praying. Nowhere else in the world, at I other event, will I ever be surrounded by so many brothers in the Lord's priesthood. It took my breath away for a brief moment. What a joy it is to be thankful!</div><div><br></div><div>Here's a picture of an Italian priest praying Morning Prayer as he waits in line. #fidelity. Pray for this guy. Something didn't square away with his paperwork, so they didn't have his credentials. He was obviously peeved. May they be able to fix the problem and may he have peace. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSuZFPI3q0uNpIf5j0ogKPQIWoPOpQ82N7lWPQyxAj2PdOM8eadB1nn75c7vyvQ8nubn4r9RMYidX5NvGVY59u2SHQjwn6l-OxXWaudcHx-47ldBU9YFddCgo1fQMy15CLWg2OJHbMzqs/s640/blogger-image-112304134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSuZFPI3q0uNpIf5j0ogKPQIWoPOpQ82N7lWPQyxAj2PdOM8eadB1nn75c7vyvQ8nubn4r9RMYidX5NvGVY59u2SHQjwn6l-OxXWaudcHx-47ldBU9YFddCgo1fQMy15CLWg2OJHbMzqs/s640/blogger-image-112304134.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Another grace was that I bumped into two Aussie priest friends from seminary. On the left is Fr. Mark and the small guy in the middle is Fr. Dishan. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWmrTilTrbluqIiaFsrOgpjgRP6aG9XScCy4o2g43pq8VOyJc72eJIvkMUtEeTO9279gv1fujqymt8stJa9KgKM9dMj7uf25pW_qSm6qB4SCyTaOIymgKwSl0RVag5FC7lipu_qt8X0qL/s640/blogger-image--1528333191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWmrTilTrbluqIiaFsrOgpjgRP6aG9XScCy4o2g43pq8VOyJc72eJIvkMUtEeTO9279gv1fujqymt8stJa9KgKM9dMj7uf25pW_qSm6qB4SCyTaOIymgKwSl0RVag5FC7lipu_qt8X0qL/s640/blogger-image--1528333191.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We got out of there and made a move for the Vocations Fair. The kids on our trip had their eyes opened to the bigness of the world today...every 20 seconds they were captivated by another nationality and got a picture with the group. Any parents reading this will find a section of your child's photos absolutely filled with group shots featuring flags representing at least a quarter of the world's nations.</div><div><br></div><div>Then we got hungry ad needed to make a move to get back to Copacabana for the opening Mass. A few stops on the metro landed us at the perfect place to try out what's called a "Kilo restaurant," an ingenious innovation in the dining experience. You grab a plate, put whatever and how much of it in your plate, then pay by the weight.</div><div><br></div><div>I don't think Stephen, the youth minister in charge of our group, understands "rest for the weary," for we were back on our feet finishing the last 1.5 miles to the Mass as pilgrim pedestrians. </div><div><br></div><div>The Mass was on the beach, which was universally decided to be the best location for a WYD Mass perhaps ever. That is, except when the tide came in and soaked all our stuff. I'm sure we'll laugh about it later...</div><div><br></div><div>But what an event!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSx1jgCc0UOFJasnwg0xTzn1fOiPRe7teUfF2dZrdmnJpOC_KeQKIpINKa8GxbEuSXIq03yiDUo7hdpMk-neimMf2NPF0ecAoK3lvr2zLt1ok0UPEf9ybnm2XmECWtgfHMgv8urmF5zFeW/s640/blogger-image--922661169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSx1jgCc0UOFJasnwg0xTzn1fOiPRe7teUfF2dZrdmnJpOC_KeQKIpINKa8GxbEuSXIq03yiDUo7hdpMk-neimMf2NPF0ecAoK3lvr2zLt1ok0UPEf9ybnm2XmECWtgfHMgv8urmF5zFeW/s640/blogger-image--922661169.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>That was our view of the stage, probably 100 yards away. The wall of humanity was dense, so this shot probably covers several thousand pilgrims...and we were a good 100 yards in front of the midway point of the crown. Here's what was behind us:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33HaxywggV8g7rePRb6YS5FRSmiWLfoqajcsHrcPbyv8Bfs4Y53WgF9YqJxYc_q9bc1x-cBaQ8fkyTemoPelSkJGPfuuxzJOs0fmtVTKMVS8VRzHx36CXmw7TdyiWlLDyhB9InVoYtiLt/s640/blogger-image-837083626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33HaxywggV8g7rePRb6YS5FRSmiWLfoqajcsHrcPbyv8Bfs4Y53WgF9YqJxYc_q9bc1x-cBaQ8fkyTemoPelSkJGPfuuxzJOs0fmtVTKMVS8VRzHx36CXmw7TdyiWlLDyhB9InVoYtiLt/s640/blogger-image-837083626.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Could we possibly have hit a billion??</div><div><br></div><div>Before Mass started we prayed an international rosary. It was cool hearing our teens pipe up when the language they're studying in high school was featured in one of the decades. They prayed loud and proud!</div><div><br></div><div>Like many Catholic events, the official opening Mass started late. And here's one last gripe, last one, I promise. The most of the music left much to be desired. One glaring exception was this young woman who sang the <i>Panis Angelicus</i> post-communion. She gave the angels yet one more thing to be jealous about.</div><div><br></div><div>It rained on and off during the Mass, but we stayed pretty dry. That is until one rogue wave washed ashore bringing ankle-water 20 feet into the crowd. It felt good to be honest, but it also meant that wearing shoes was no longer a possibility. You might be asking, why were you shoes on the beach in the first place? Checkmate. You've got me.</div><div><br></div><div>We decided to walk home since our hotel is smack at the end of Copacabana beach. From where we started, it was probably a good 2 miles. The rain started up again in earnest, and by this time we were chilled to the bone. I asked the girls if they would have come had the sales pitch included standing in huge crowds in a cold rain and walking barefoot several miles. They were honest, but the tension broke and all was well when we found... the pizza cone. We had heard tales of a beach-side restaurant that sells pizza in a cone, and that these mythical munchies could only be found on the Copacabana beach. So, having received the Bread of Life to nourish our souls, we now feasted upon the dough of righteousness. Not a complaint from anyone.</div><div><br></div><div>Pilgrimage can do powerful things in people. Vacations and tours are often experiences over which the participants can exercise much control, but not so with the pilgrimage and the adventure. World Youth Day is both, pilgrimage and adventure. The stress of crowds and public transportation and rain and hurting feet and tidal waves and strange liturgical music would cause a vacationer or a tourist to freak out, feeling that their trip had been compromised, that someone or something had taken from them the full satisfaction of their experience.</div><div><br></div><div>But the pilgrim takes it all in and Ida thankful, thankful just to be there. Thankful to get to Mass, to find treasures like Brazilian pizza cones, to meet all kinds of fascinating children of God from every corner of the world along the way, to have brothers and sisters walking that cold, wet road alongside them. Barefoot.</div><div><br></div></div>Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-73405913827061971202013-07-22T20:14:00.001-07:002013-07-22T20:16:45.209-07:00The Rest...OK, back from an epic dinner. Ate way more than I should have, but knowing what lay ahead, I know that I'll need those calories. There's lots of walking to be done, especially in this heat.<div><br></div><div>Anyway, where were we?</div><div><br></div><div>I did want to share with you the view from the top.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1MltSgIAr7IzApVTP9aCzyVENG5bP29dVriJcn8zhqs8dOelvhYA9kiUlQyeQxMomQJny1HYiBs7yX9GEDyLm-gxUfmqVDz-QBMoTf4Ots_gl9_JWK4Kijljs8iG2rshsP8fIEiCzhN7/s640/blogger-image--1063340386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1MltSgIAr7IzApVTP9aCzyVENG5bP29dVriJcn8zhqs8dOelvhYA9kiUlQyeQxMomQJny1HYiBs7yX9GEDyLm-gxUfmqVDz-QBMoTf4Ots_gl9_JWK4Kijljs8iG2rshsP8fIEiCzhN7/s640/blogger-image--1063340386.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaR3FDi5vMP6PAeIh-j0DaKik379MuD7D5i6rlUaIs-hxY0dIca7_Lpy1rUY63pDCpwJ0Yi2ieM743qGyZcGYu1qD4aTMZcfOJxwDTeC0ChMRzW6u4BVnbsTB_37WJfdC1Lu58TaSen6E0/s640/blogger-image--1596417868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaR3FDi5vMP6PAeIh-j0DaKik379MuD7D5i6rlUaIs-hxY0dIca7_Lpy1rUY63pDCpwJ0Yi2ieM743qGyZcGYu1qD4aTMZcfOJxwDTeC0ChMRzW6u4BVnbsTB_37WJfdC1Lu58TaSen6E0/s640/blogger-image--1596417868.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Simply stunning.</div><div><br></div><div>The next few hours are a total blur. Those who know me know that I have the gift/curse of being able to fall asleep anywhere, just about any time. The cool air from the bus AC and the soothing, motherly voice of our pilgrim guide awakened my narcolepsy. It wouldn't surprise me the slightest bit if there are pictures of the "Drooling Padre" floating around the internet at this very moment.</div><div><br></div><div>We got to our hotel and checked in. It's a nice place (free wifi!) only a giant's stone's throw from Copacabana beach where the opening Mass and the official greeting of Pope Francis will take place in the coming days.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking of Pope Francis...I'm shocked he made it out alive from his whirlwind drive through downtown upon his arrival.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Here's a pic from Vatican TV showing how a lack of proper barricading can lead to significant lapses in one's ability to protect the Papal entourage:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQoLzDKh9LumYU4mXGKgqePxxO2dg0rAOrIKmN64ptY22uTXrssYvDREbWKdYmspWhc2G7VrkGcISPwSCafFpSb15wcz61EdGSOzEqth5OxwX3syS8FWmVsxB2Gd56py-0prU8vGQWMU7/s640/blogger-image--1011333423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQoLzDKh9LumYU4mXGKgqePxxO2dg0rAOrIKmN64ptY22uTXrssYvDREbWKdYmspWhc2G7VrkGcISPwSCafFpSb15wcz61EdGSOzEqth5OxwX3syS8FWmVsxB2Gd56py-0prU8vGQWMU7/s640/blogger-image--1011333423.jpg"></a></div> </div><div><br></div><div>It was like that at several points along the route. Some people even managed to reach inside the papal car. It's been said that Pope Francis got out once during a traffic jam and kissed a baby. He may be Fearless, but I bet he's driving his security team nuts.</div><div><br></div><div>But the excitement around his arrival can't be ignored. Here's a better picture from Getty that shows a much more orderly procession:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFfF2-ElA6WYPHgGGBn65JUIB_fX0j2ZTiq-UlsRstUOeU4DE6K4JBBkv7_DHPCgLruzwu8P5rZ7hZ9EbBubFMenc79etKcjKlPA8dOtp5sHj1oez6PEhLx_fWTPaE-k9vDScvkPzwUH3/s640/blogger-image-594330718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFfF2-ElA6WYPHgGGBn65JUIB_fX0j2ZTiq-UlsRstUOeU4DE6K4JBBkv7_DHPCgLruzwu8P5rZ7hZ9EbBubFMenc79etKcjKlPA8dOtp5sHj1oez6PEhLx_fWTPaE-k9vDScvkPzwUH3/s640/blogger-image-594330718.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>So, glued to the tube in my room, I watched our Holy Father return to his native continent for the first time as Pope. I suppose we could have, or perhaps even should have, been out there on the streets, waving our American flags, hopeful that we could box out the nuns for a two-second flash of white driving by. It would have been worth it, but, considering our lack of sleep and how busy the day already had been, I rest assured that we chose the better part.</div><div><br></div><div>At this point, the troops were getting restless. They attacked the room their youth minister and I are sharing and demanded that we march on the city in search for food.</div><div><br></div><div>As darkness began to envelope us once more, so too did a tropical storm.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSBgs_RuG5EQYdQCvtb-S4oxb7kPRShlyoiwS9qZkCinvCungC9LMZmKA6Yc-vmzEWXR42QEvpFgmlbjvMG213qDke7G0N8PJQCXE3k_RSEdSQh9S_pbzUURfIcKkpHY6wdVs3AX4B8yu/s640/blogger-image--231194643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSBgs_RuG5EQYdQCvtb-S4oxb7kPRShlyoiwS9qZkCinvCungC9LMZmKA6Yc-vmzEWXR42QEvpFgmlbjvMG213qDke7G0N8PJQCXE3k_RSEdSQh9S_pbzUURfIcKkpHY6wdVs3AX4B8yu/s640/blogger-image--231194643.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Some local Brazilian pilgrims pointed us toward a grocery store where we were promised milk and honey, and refuge from the storm. The plan was to get a snack to tide us over till dinner, so we went ahead and followed this gaggle of Rio Thugs into some back alleys. You can do things at World Youth Day with limited concern that you normally wouldn't do under any circumstances.</div><div><br></div><div>Some kids got pizza, the girls got pita and hummus. I settled from some fresh-baked French bread and a wheel of Brie--what country am I in again? The only thing that could have made it better would have been a wide glass of a dark and rich Bordeaux. If only there weren't minors present...</div><div><br></div><div>Back to the hotel we went. As I was halfway through my journaling and blogging, a call came to my room--the phones here sound like air raid sirens--informing me that our group was to meet in the lobby to head out to dinner. We ended up at a churrascaria, the mack daddy of all "buffet" restaurants; a meat parade, as it was called, where succulent roast animal after succulent roast animal is brought out before you and carved on your plate in "Be Our Guest" themed celebration -- "Let us help you we'll keep going...course by course, one by one, till you shout, 'Enough, I'm done'." Anyone? Anyone?</div><div><br></div><div>The youth minister has long legs and a fast walking tempo. He and the nimble teens got a good lead on me, but I didn't mind. It gave me some alone time to think and to pray the Rosary.</div><div><br></div><div>And here I sit, just after midnight, finishing up my post. It's been a great day, a blessed day. And I have a feeling tomorrow will be even greater.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-36636501963019744842013-07-22T16:16:00.001-07:002013-07-22T16:16:48.798-07:00The Pope Has Arrived -- And so have weThe day started off in darkness. Complete, uncomfortable darkness. That is, except for the four UFOs that were flying around the moon. <div><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_3f0_jY7QbEP2Ysx_UZAN6-5GJtbUY_fJu_BpJ4DLaotUNZSNuLFZlvQNrbwP3x-U7hevTYy45rS6Msk7gUFQc_EpZnwcgCsf9GUA0fY18AGElVvFQLdVXL9lQZ9VublL2Bzad0rreQZ/s640/blogger-image-1693918129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_3f0_jY7QbEP2Ysx_UZAN6-5GJtbUY_fJu_BpJ4DLaotUNZSNuLFZlvQNrbwP3x-U7hevTYy45rS6Msk7gUFQc_EpZnwcgCsf9GUA0fY18AGElVvFQLdVXL9lQZ9VublL2Bzad0rreQZ/s640/blogger-image-1693918129.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Our flight from Miami, while crowded to the max with World Youth Day pilgrims all sardined together in a vintage Boeing 767 -- for real, the plane was probably last updated when they used it in the airplane scenes of Home Alone-- was thankfully uneventful. It was a strange overnight flight, though, in that most flights of nine+ hours usually involve a timezone change of six or seven hours. Brazil, or Rio at least, is only one hour ahead of EDST. So whatever sleep you got--or didn't get--was all that you'd be getting that day. </div><div><br></div><div>Chris Dube of Dube Travel met us after Customs and got us on our airconditioned bus, something we were all VERY thankful for, as Brazil, though a Southern Hemisphere nation in the dead of winter, is BLAZING HOT. I'm talking ninety degrees hot. This priest didn't plan for that.</div><div><br></div><div>We went straight away to the part of town where the famous "Christ the Redeemer" statue dramatically overlooks the whole of the city. Having a few hours to kill before our tour time, we marched to the local parish church and inquired about celebrating Mass. I assume it was so easy to accomplish because Rio is in full pilgrimage mode, but it could just be that this fine city has a soft spot for sweat-soaked priests and pilgrim groups.</div><div><br></div><div>As we prepare everything for Mass, a frantic sacristan barged into the vesting room begging us to give way to an Australian bishop who wanted to celebrate Mass before his tour up to the statue.</div><div><br></div><div>How do you say no to a bishop, a successor of the Apostles? You don't.</div><div><br></div><div>So we had Mass with the Bishop of Broken Bay in Sydney.</div><div><br></div><div>Then we got in the little train, and rode our way up the spectacular funicular to the Christ the Redeemer statue.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuN0-2nqXsqWA6y5elN6x3CkBhAOVJjuhBVO9JvnIKQlRMuKykJscHQEm4zb76tTkfSWZZQqu8GqM_6WSBxEhXU1ylOiRYMDIdbS6_n0xh8jyJABrs9i1eGn8RvQRggXh4YbY35sNBl7W9/s640/blogger-image-1782223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuN0-2nqXsqWA6y5elN6x3CkBhAOVJjuhBVO9JvnIKQlRMuKykJscHQEm4zb76tTkfSWZZQqu8GqM_6WSBxEhXU1ylOiRYMDIdbS6_n0xh8jyJABrs9i1eGn8RvQRggXh4YbY35sNBl7W9/s640/blogger-image-1782223.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>It's hard to do the statue justice. It's tremendous, in every meaning of the word. The views from up there are truly heavenly, even as you gaze down upon the bustling city of Rio de Janeiro from above the clouds. There's even a chapel in the pedestal upon which our Lord is standing.</div><div><br></div><div><i>Gotta run. Dinner time. Will finish later.</i></div></div>Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-49173121417296181442013-07-21T11:04:00.001-07:002013-07-21T11:04:21.580-07:00It starts<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here we go! We're all checked in at the Atlanta Airport. Mom's are saying goodbye, lots of love. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFn-__2AHjfpxaduD2m01G3Fyi2BMw3BCegIG6u49fLYzOKc6qAc6-uX2ZYVKU5-UZyslhW5Vft1GiVDB_sm0cKxRdI3WvDzpnvOYvJAPRcevUhM4qwQhXVLYzuBJStDRSEW_JvzKjdGWs/s640/blogger-image-82757459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFn-__2AHjfpxaduD2m01G3Fyi2BMw3BCegIG6u49fLYzOKc6qAc6-uX2ZYVKU5-UZyslhW5Vft1GiVDB_sm0cKxRdI3WvDzpnvOYvJAPRcevUhM4qwQhXVLYzuBJStDRSEW_JvzKjdGWs/s640/blogger-image-82757459.jpg"></a></div>Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657412231888263656.post-27971433431853237062013-07-20T13:41:00.001-07:002013-07-20T13:41:33.029-07:00Some thoughts on World Youth Day, 1 day away<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2_2_VvlQQIG3vAShyphenhyphenjvKvwb0cz0KjeRTOX6FqUARMs035NhHz3I5FUJ-FruENKIQkot_L0T8orJc-oLtAkonGLh3IN-Vtz8H2nyG6vXaix6FBkxaZoWIFKvh-SbDqfecVzAdSZJRu3EC/s1600/wyd-logo2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2_2_VvlQQIG3vAShyphenhyphenjvKvwb0cz0KjeRTOX6FqUARMs035NhHz3I5FUJ-FruENKIQkot_L0T8orJc-oLtAkonGLh3IN-Vtz8H2nyG6vXaix6FBkxaZoWIFKvh-SbDqfecVzAdSZJRu3EC/s320/wyd-logo2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I made a promise to one of the men in formation for the Diaconate that I would blog about World Youth Day. Here's post 1! 24 hours from now, I'll be on an American Airlines flight down to Rio to celebrate the perhaps most epic Catholic event in history, World Youth Day.<br />
<br />
While registrations are said to be low, I imagine that non-registered pilgrims will show up in the hundreds of thousands.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhUBeM0zFtOmxuGfUQGKXj4T64PJ6TWt2pgqX4SqUJF8oRkFNLTRQO-UKqemH6lSSE_H4Ph2sQnxl90-J_ETYWuN0VgaDLrIsnTpF6a_dMVgf85FgZ4dA4ytvDw9Ov58PUMbToSxqvU1l/s1600/2013-05_Events-Convention-RandyRaus-Speaking2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhUBeM0zFtOmxuGfUQGKXj4T64PJ6TWt2pgqX4SqUJF8oRkFNLTRQO-UKqemH6lSSE_H4Ph2sQnxl90-J_ETYWuN0VgaDLrIsnTpF6a_dMVgf85FgZ4dA4ytvDw9Ov58PUMbToSxqvU1l/s200/2013-05_Events-Convention-RandyRaus-Speaking2.jpg" width="200" /></a>I'm fortunate to be traveling and pilgrimaging with a conglomerate group from Atlanta's Cathedral parish and the official Life Teen group. From what I understand, your's truly will be the priest-celebrant for the Life Teen XLT event mid-week with Randy Raus and Matt Maher. Twitter's @SouthrnCatholic is even rumored to be giving a talk. #InThePresenceOfGreatness<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdC9nJZcW6b2XtZhAvpXXW21hicMj6705VxwZKBXfDFPemN4y_gBcMJWDqYaiqPbVlSH3wTZiHaSQ38ztoprGQdm3N5zZ2OIhOstoV1mtA0F9muHoCjOR59Mkw-HZbdFycTgOevEnqcqLI/s1600/imgres.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdC9nJZcW6b2XtZhAvpXXW21hicMj6705VxwZKBXfDFPemN4y_gBcMJWDqYaiqPbVlSH3wTZiHaSQ38ztoprGQdm3N5zZ2OIhOstoV1mtA0F9muHoCjOR59Mkw-HZbdFycTgOevEnqcqLI/s200/imgres.jpeg" width="160" /></a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/SouthrnCatholic" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHau1TRCIimXkEXTacinW2RctxNDB-M_cLv3JTm98S02cpVzxjt_okrjvr_qJH_IolL5-gWQd7THP0Xr4gSozJIcLO_nRmjhJi4f7Y5Xqk_RqSukqWgeeXvHOF3IeGZenqDYChpGhDmOFI/s200/imgres-1.jpeg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHau1TRCIimXkEXTacinW2RctxNDB-M_cLv3JTm98S02cpVzxjt_okrjvr_qJH_IolL5-gWQd7THP0Xr4gSozJIcLO_nRmjhJi4f7Y5Xqk_RqSukqWgeeXvHOF3IeGZenqDYChpGhDmOFI/s1600/imgres-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHau1TRCIimXkEXTacinW2RctxNDB-M_cLv3JTm98S02cpVzxjt_okrjvr_qJH_IolL5-gWQd7THP0Xr4gSozJIcLO_nRmjhJi4f7Y5Xqk_RqSukqWgeeXvHOF3IeGZenqDYChpGhDmOFI/s1600/imgres-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHau1TRCIimXkEXTacinW2RctxNDB-M_cLv3JTm98S02cpVzxjt_okrjvr_qJH_IolL5-gWQd7THP0Xr4gSozJIcLO_nRmjhJi4f7Y5Xqk_RqSukqWgeeXvHOF3IeGZenqDYChpGhDmOFI/s1600/imgres-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><br />
<br />
<i>Sorry for the lame photo placement. Blogger doesn't let you do much and is quite finicky. </i><br />
<br />
There's also been lots of buzz surrounding security concerns. The <a href="http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=113463" target="_blank">Rio police force has even expressed some worry</a> over the event. Apparently, Pope Francis has decided not bring the armored and bullet-proofed popemobile. He'll be riding open air.<br />
<br />
The way I see it, Pope Francis is FEARLESS. Since his election earlier this year, he's taken numerous opportunities to show how little concern he has for typical protocol. He frequently wanders away from his security entourage when in Rome; I imagine he wonders why he should be isolated even more when he's on his home continent. He will not cower in fear when the world's youth want to be close to him, especially at a moment when he can manifest the closeness of the Lord Jesus Christ.<br />
<br />
Yet, might reason dictate he take a more balanced approach? Ought not the visible head of a major world religion and head of state take precautions to ensure his safety? There's also precedent. I can't remember anyone getting upset over Pope Benedict using the special protective popemobile in Sydney or in Spain. After all, if Pope Francis is a beloved pope, shouldn't he want to stick around as long as possible? Depends on one's priorities, I suppose.<br />
<br />
Security is close on my mind. Because of the alertness and concern for well-being and safety I was raised under, I feel I have a heightened awareness, a hyper-sensitivity toward possible danger. Don't get me wrong: I'm confident that World Youth Day is going to be awesome, prayerful, and safe. Yet it would be naive and foolish to disregard the statistics that Brazil is one of the most dangerous countries in the world. If something tragic happens, especially if it's done with express hatred of the Catholic faith or the person of the Holy Father, I'll be happy to go down in history as "and Companions" in the liturgical celebrations of "Pope St. Francis, Martyr, and Companions". <br />
<br />
<b>Please God, don't let it come to that! Keep your children safe, let this be a tremendous outpouring of your grace! Bring your sons and daughters back to your mercy through the Sacraments, through powerful expressions of faith, through an unshakeable hope! Rain down your Spirit of peace upon the people of Brazil. May our witness of the Love of Christ conquer the violence in their hearts. May the joy of your pilgrims bring light to the darkness of broken hearts!</b><br />
<br />
<br />Fr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149886182681165404noreply@blogger.com0