Chilling out in in warm Tampa

These days have been filled quietly with pre-Halloween shopping and then an Air Show at Cocoa Beach next to Cape Canaveral.

Halloween is such big deal in the US and it begins the season of celebrations. I like this pic of Robin and Drew prepping their pumpkins.

After Halloween there is Veterans' Day, then there is Thanksgiving Day which celebrates the foundations of the country from the arrival of the Pilgrims. This day is the fourth Thursday in November and is an important family celebration. After this come the religious holidays of Christmas and Hanukkah, which are capped off by New Year celebrations. Not so different to Oz really except that the military and all religions get more press.

Yesterday Brian, Drew and I went to Cocoa Beach to watch an Air Show. I spent the day looking for Major Tony Nelson and Genie. For those of my vintage this is the home of  'I Dream of Genie', and of course the NASA and all the US space world.

To get there we go through Orlando, the home of Disneyworld. Even the overhead wires are Disney!

I guess the next Blog will have Halloween pics of crazy costumes as everyone wears these costumes to get into the fever. What will I wear?

This page is dedicated to all those who take the time and energy to celebrate the events of their life. I hope that is you.

Hurricane Richard arrives in Tampa, Florida

I begin my time here with a correction to my last Blog by saying the cruise is not in the Caribbean, but rather to Mexico, where this hurricane presently resides. It should all just be wreckage by the time I get there!

Robin and Brian and their three children live in a great American near mansion with a pool. A pool would be essential here as it is very muggy, and this is heading into winter. The Navy provide the housing of course, and they know reality will bite them when they return to Oz next year. Their home is full of the life a busy family with at least one teenager offers. They are great parents considering Brian has to spent time away with the Navy, and being in their company will be very grounding for me as I have lived an 'unreal existence' for the last four months. Some people grizzle about celibacy...it is not so tough!

My plans here are just to spend time with them, relax, long lunches, relax, Cruise a little from Tampa, visit New Orleans, shop vicariously, that is, enjoy watching other people spend their money and, oh yes, relax. Wish me luck.

Halloween is about to begin here and it is huge, rather like these pumpkins. Can you pick which one is me?

This page is dedicated to Robin and Brian, Drew, Rhys and Brooke - my hosts here.

Leaving New York

This has been visit with many surprises. Not the least was meeting Judy from Connecticut as I struggled my way through a map at Columbus Circle yesterday. She was a woman of 60ish years I guessed, very obliging until she offered to take me to her apartment and....!
I am still dumbfounded, amazed, unflattered. I guess the other big surprise for me in this encounter was the fact that I am still as gullible as ever. I am nearly 40 years old now, so when does it stop???
Now that I have your attention....
I have been to NYC several times before but it has been more work involved. It has been a pleasure to visit as a tourist this time, and that is why I spent so much time walking.

On my last day I began with Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral. This pic is of the Atlas statue at the Rockefeller Centre with St Pats behind. I could not help being captivated later by the ice skaters also at the Rock.


The rest of the sunlight hours were spent experiencing an amazing shopping spree up Broadway. Yes the entire Midtown Broadway was a huge market from 1100 till 6pm. Off this area are all the main Broadway shows. Incredible with no traffic and so many stalls and casual people. Judy was not there!

I had to have a break by going to another show - 'Promises, Promises' starring Sean Hayes of  'Will and Grace' fame. I love this city - straight to a live show. When I came out I bumped into some Red Hatters and they so remind me of my Red Hatters at Young. I miss you girls.

Being hungry after the 'Promises', I went to eat in Broadway again. This time another surprise! I met dodgy Sylvia who sells tickets to shows, right next to the main TKT Booth. She had no teeth! She was offering a one only ticket to 'Mamma Mia' for $50. Dilemma...what was I to do on my last night in New York...leave Sylvia in the lurch?  I bought ticket for $40 an had a great time.

Now I leave New York (not by horse and carriage as in Broadway) to visit Robin and Brian, Drew, Rhys and Brooke in Tampa, Florida. Some family time.

Did I tell you that we are booked on a four day Caribbean cruise? Yippee! Oh yes, did I also tell you that there is an hurricane inbound in the Caribbean? It's name is Richard...honestly. Who would call a hurricane 'Richard'? Only in America.

This page is dedicated to all Red Hatters, and those who love them.

Walking New York

I have clocked up some miles these last few days. My feet hurt! I began by walking the Brooklyn Bridge across to, well, Brooklyn. Even though the day was overcast, the sun made its way through.

I had a real urge to go to the old World Trade Centre (WTC) site. There is a new World Trade Centre being built of course, but the Memorial at the old site of the 9 September 2001 disaster was a must for me. (New building right). I managed a pic of the start of the new building (left).

I walked all the downtown of Manhattan and then made my way to the Centre. Here is a pic of Wall Street with the famous Trinity Church at the end. Trinity backs onto the WTC site.

I managed a visit to St Patrick's Cathedral before I squeezed in another show. This time "The Screwtape Letters", the famous book by CS Lewis, now a Broadway Play. It was great, but not for the light of faith.

I have topped off my walking of New York by a long visit to the spectacular Central Park. This is a haven amongst the mayhem of the city. These pics capture a little of my joy here, and I need to share them.

New York is not every one's favourite city, but it is in my top five because of its diversity, its modern beauty and because of its great friendliness.

This page is dedicated to those who died in New York,  the Pentagon and Pennsylvania September 9, 2001...and to those who helped and survived.

New York, New York

After a four hour delay leaving Rome, and bumping into Michelle Emmett, I was in the air and fast asleep, that is, until like a battery hen, I was fed. Flying - we wait, we get searched, we get on board, we sit, we eat, we sit, we eat! See, just like a battery hen. It was a good flight and the staff on American were very good. Here is my first day wake up view from my room. A bit different from Rome huh?

I was actually glad of the delay as I was trying to reclaim some VAT $$$ at the airport, and didn't that become a drama. Each layer of Italian Customs do not quite know what each other does, and nor do they know where each office is located within the airport complex. There are signs with good pictures, but when arriving at the said sign, another piece of paper needs to be stamped by someone in another office, which as it turned out for me, was in another part of the airport. I was not going to be defeated. I wanted my $$$. Actually, I needed my $$$, they were mine and I was going to get them back come hell or high water. I caught a train, a bus and another train all around the airport, only to end up one floor below where I started, and one escalator away from the airport train that takes me to the departure gate. I had to get up at 5.00am for all this, without a cup of tea, without knowing where I was going and what I was doing. So the extra four hours came in handy, all for my few $$$. I had victory though.

As soon as I arrived in New York, things went smoothly through Immigration and Customs then onto my hotel.

I began my day, after prayers of course, by walking to the harbourside. I saw a helicopter and yes, I jumped in. Now you know why I needed my $$$. While I have been to NYC before, this is the first time I have ever done anything like this. Fantastic - better than the double decker scenic bus tour! Here are some pics of the obvious, including my first views of Ground Zero or "Ground Hero" as it is called here. The aircraft is the last Concorde alongside the retired USS Intrepid.aircraft carrier.

Then off to a show or two. Bonus! I managed to get a good ticket to Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake. Love this city as a visitor.

This page is dedicated to the hungry and homeless of New York and the world. I stuff my backpack with fruit from the hotel breakfast, to try to make a small difference.

Canonisation and Mass of Thanksgiving

Words do not capture the moment when it comes to describing the Canonisation experience, rather like the small pics do not capture the enormity of this whole experience.  To the right is Jonathan Maloney from Dungog whose grannies, Noel and Mary Maloney are much loved in Young. Michelle Emmett from Young smiled for the camera as well. She has been my Pilgrim Companion during the whole celebrations and I thank God for her.

I would like to sum the time of Canonisation up with the Blessing from the Thanksgiving Mass at the Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls (above left). This Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Pell, 26 Australian and New Zealand bishops and about 150 mainly Aussie priests. There is a pic of my view of the celebration, as well as Sr Rita and companion from Melbourne having a snack. Sr Rita (ice creamer on the right) led us through Mary MacKillop's Pilgrimage walk. She was the best.

Through the example of Mary MacKillop,

may you learn to recognise God's will for you and trust in God's providence.

Amen

May her life of service awaken in you

a deep respect for the poor

and a passion for justice. Amen
 

May you share in her courage,

see with her vision,

and love with her heart.

Amen

This page is dedicated to St Mary MacKillop. Protect me as I leave for New York.

12 hours to the Canonisation

I started my day by visiting St Peter's and finding some Sisters of St Joseph. The first banner of  Blessed Mary MacKillop was hung on the facade. You can see it to the right of the shortest Sister. (Double click the pic). What is happening with the purple hair second from the left? We had a great chat and good laugh. Australian Religious are so grounded - a real blessing in Rome.

With twelve hours to go before the ceremony, tonight we spent in the company of many Sisters of St Joseph from all over the world. There was a Vigil concert and Service just near St Peter's. The gig was put together with the help of the Australian Catholic University and supported by a full house of Australian supporters. See the group leaders trying to organise their people. Organised mayhem. There was a matinee show as well this afternoon and it too was full. Tomorrow will be a flood of Aussies I bet.

The Vigil was dignified, energetic, informative and at times moving. There was also the essential Australian humour. Kevin Rudd spoke very well and the presentations were wonderful. We heard some beautiful music with many words to match. Loved it.

MARY MACKILLOP PRAYER
God of vision, we thank you for Mary MacKillop
and Julian Tenison Woods who loved this land and its peoples
As we struggle to realise our hopes for a more just country,
May we witness to the meaning of fair play for people and land.
May we value the wisdom of indigenous peoples.
May we act to halt more damage to the earth.
May we live simply, love tenderly and walk humbly.
We ask this in the name of Christ. Amen

Deeper into Rome

Today was not such an early start and was then filled with much of the ancient Church in Rome.
We bgan after mass by visiting the great St John Lateran Basilica, which is the Pope's Cathedral church in Rome. The popes lived here until the 1500's before moving to the Vatican area. Pics inside and out - double click to see bigger.

We then visited the famous baptistry attached to the Basilica before crossing to the most venerated Sancta Scala, or Holy Stairs. These stairs where Christ walked down in Jerusalem during his Passion, were brought to Rome along with relics from the Cross, by St Helena, Emperor Constantine's mother. Since the 4th century pilgrims to Rome scale these stairs only on their knees as a sign of great penance. This is still the case today.

After this we moved to Santa Croce where the relics of the Crucifixion are held, that is a nail, part of the crown of thorns, part of the whip and then a copy of the Shroud of Turin, the alleged entombment cloth that wrapped the crucified Christ's body for burial. I also saw this nun running some kind of business out of the back of her car. Jokes!

After this things became very interesting. Having had a lunch near the Basilica of Mary Major (right) we moved off to explore the Catacombs of Rome. More dead people. Love it!

Our guide was a humorous and very passionate Fr Owen, a Salesian priest from Melbourne, and he led us through the burial sites in an underground dead city outside the walls of ancient Rome. The Roman Law at the time dictated that no one was allowed to be buried within the walls of the eternal City. This is at the time before Christianity became official thanks to Constantine's conversion in the 300's. The Catacombs are amazing and hold so much history, pagan, Jewish and Christian. I got out alive as you can see.

We finished our day by attending a ceremony at the Vatican Museum to celebrate Aboriginal and Indigenous life, as well as the story of Mary Mackillop's own life. My closing pic is an attempted night shot of St Peter's.

This page is dedicated to the Aboriginal people of Australia and those missionaries who continue to work with them with the spirit of Mary Mackillop, St Mary of the Cross.

Footsteps of Mary Mackillop Walk

Today we walked where Mary Mackillop walked in her two years in Rome from 1873. We visited her places of refuge, the churches she used and the significant sites along the way.

There were many surprises, and the first was being able to meet up with Michelle Emmett from Young. 18 year old Michelle has been travelling the globe, alone mainly, and now concludes her travels with this pilgrimage. It was so good to meet with her, walk and talk with her and then have lunch with her. She will be with us for the next few days. Pic with Bishop Mark and Michelle.

The pic above right is the Church of Saint Andrea al Quirinale. Mary frequented here as she was inspired by the young Jesuits, especially St Stanislaus Koska, a 17 year old Jesuit novice who is now entombed here. Pope John Paul 11 used to

do they same.

The Church of St Agata dei Goti (pic left) is another one of her favourite holy haunts. This beautiful church was once attached to the Irish College, which has now moved (see yesterday's Blog). This is where she often met with Monsignor Kirby. He became instrumental in her cause with the Roman clerical hierarchy. Her cause was to get her Rule sanctioned by the Pope.

It took two years and she was an unwell 31 year old Religious woman travelling on her in a foreign land. No wonder she sought the comfort of friends like the Jesuits and several Irish and Australian priests. The Jesuit home Church of Gesu (above right) was also visited and that was followed by a special visit of the Rooms of St Ignatius, who founded the Jesuit Order. (Pic of St Ignatius' place of death with my little Aussie touch. The Jesuits, like the Sisters of St Joseph, are great educators.

I finished my day by receiving a real blessing. This complete stranger came up to me and in the company of an Australian bishop who I went through seminary with, and Michelle, simply looked at me and said: "Thank you Father for becoming a priest". I was speechless and still feel moved. Bless her and all the priests, deacons and seminarians. 

This page is dedicated to Tim and Jono Bear and all those students who just beginning their Higher School Certificates. May your hard work be appropriately rewarded.