Guts

08 December 2008: Feast of the Immaculate Conception at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Auckland.

Reminds me of the joke: I've been Catholic since I was conceived...

image from: robertevans_com

Well

06 July 2008: World Youth Day rally at Christ the King Parish welcomes the pilgrims from New Caledonia.

Sr. Deborah of the Beatitudes addresses the pilgrims (in French) and - as usual - I cry (in Spanish). The woman truly knows the meaning of beauty and praise.

Other highlights included the New Caledonians joining hands around the New Zealand residents and singing the Our Father.

And after more prayers and songs, we're left to socialize. I break the ice by examining cultural differences. Do the New Caledonians, like the French, utilize a fourth item in rock-paper-scissors, namely, the well?

After a good amount of translation and laughing. I introduce the pilgrims to bear-ninja-cowboy. Priceless.

image from: not much about something

Second

04 July 2008: An invitation for an American/New Zealand crossover celebration at Kolbe House:

Join us at Kolbe House after mass for a lunch party to celebrate the 4th of July (it's an American thing) and also the 5th anniversary of Fr John's ordination (it's a Catholic thing). There will be plenty of hot dogs, apple pie and some beer.

Dr Peter Field (UC History Dept) will give a short talk on John Adams, 2nd president of the United States and hero of the American Revolution. There will also be a presentation in honour of Fr John Adams.

Upon leaving, I ask Ken for a high five goodbye. I lean in. He laughs, puts up his hand and smashes forward - missing my face by a few inches. We try again, this time connecting far from square.

- Never do that with a blind man.
- We'll practice, Ken.

image from: sullivan-county

Staccato

25 June 2008: First practice of the World Youth Day Cathedral choir.

We're singing for the pilgrims en route to Sydney. I decided not to go to the event, but if I sing to the pilgrims, they'll leave New Zealand for sure...

Our choir director, Ken, reads the sheet music in Braille. Quite fascinating.

image from: wikipedia

Grads

It's a family 3-way graduation party today.

3 sisters have earned degrees: Jennifer (the eldest daughter) in theatre, Jessica (the middle daughter) in international affairs, and me (the youngest daughter) in engineering.

I got to say grace before the meal, which included a reading of my letter to God (returned today).

I could have also read my diploma, but it's written in Latin.

Image from: erik_found

Letter

Dear God:

Mt 6:9-13.


Love always,
Jackie

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Image from: erik_found

Liberal

Bless me father, for I have sinned. It's been...

I told the priest about a few personal difficulties, then I went through my hit-or-miss list of the Ten Commandments.

In response, the priest agreed with my choice to give up flirting for Lent. He then highlighted, above all, that I should go to Confession more often. At least twice a year.

So I said an Act of Contrition, was forgiven my sins, and left.

Now I felt more prepared to embark on my trip, but first I had to call Nina:

- That's it? No Penance?
- That's right, Nina. No Penance.
- At my parish I miss one Sunday Mass and I get a whole Rosary!

Image from: danieldors