Polish Power!

A unique interpretation of the Polish Falcon. I like this one. Its bold. Its powerful.

Someday, I'd like it hanging over my fireplace.

First, of course, I need a decent fireplace.

"Gettin' jiggy with it" at the Vatican!

Click on the picture or headline. Its quite amusing, but does require a bit of patience to load. When prompted for a media player, I chose to open it using a Realplayer. Quick Time also works. If the link gives you a problem, try going to the site directly at
http://www.circleofwonder.net/movie/breakdance.mov

The Burden of Children?

Take a look at this picture from Mom and Cheryl's birthday party. What do you see? Yes, the little urchins are a lot of work. Yes, they are loud and inconvenient and require constant care and supervision. Yes, they can trash our houses in less than five minutes. Yes, they are attention seeking black holes. Yes, they are very expensive to acquire (hospital bills) and maintain (food, shelter, clothing, hospital bills).

But hey, they teach us how to truly love, bring incredible amounts of joy and hope to the world, and help us to grow daily in virtue. They force us to get over ourselves, avert our eyes from our own navels and fix our gazes upon transcendent realities. They pull us away from our narrow and cramped little self-absorbed worlds.

Sooooo, what's not to like about that?

Despite the cynical comments we with many children always receive, it seems like being open to however many little souls God wants to entrust to our care is essential to being a faithful Christian.

Question: What was the first commandment God ever gave to man?
Answer: "Be fruitful and multiply."

Thanks to "anonymous" for this picture!

Thomas Michael Murphy Baptized

Fr. Dan Scheidt annoints little Thomas Michael at his baptism Sunday at St. Pius X in Granger. Barb Murphy is holding him. She and her husband, Tom, are Thomas' godparents.

Here is the whole crew - Regina, Mike, Cheryl, Jeff, Bonita, Jack, Fr. Dan, Barb, Thomas, and Tom.

Request for prayers

Some of you may know Diana who works at the Exit 96 toll booth by our old house. She just sent me an e-mail informing me that her sister-in-law was buried last week. Surviving are two teenage children and a husband. Its a very sad situation. Please say a prayer for them - it only takes a minute.

Here is an e-mail I received yesterday

It was sent to me by a famous person. Can you guess who sent it?
Hint #1: I'm pretty sure people over thirty would recognize this person.
Hint #2: Its a man.
Hint #3: Very intelligent.
Hint #4: Generally wore a white shirt.
Hint #5: To my knowledge, nobody in our family has ever met him.
Hint #6: An ocean played a large part in his life.
Hint #7: He was not known as R.J. He is better known by another name.
Hint #8: Not a sports figure.
Hint #9: A white transistor radio

"Thank you,Robert for your kind thoughts....please give my best regards to your dear family....R.J."

Answered correctly by Chef Dan (aka d):
Russell Johnson, "The Professor" on Gilligan's Island.

Why did I send the Professor an e-mail? Because I happened across his website, saw the address and dropped him a note of appreciation for all the laughs over the years. You may now start ripping on me for my geekiness, but I'm glad I did it.

Childhood memory

From left to right: Colonel Mustard, Ms. Scarlet, Professor Plumb, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, and Mrs. Peacock.

Inspired by Thursday's comments by Clue characters about the painting in the bathroom, I thought it appropriate to post this nostalgic picture. I loved playing Clue with my siblings as a child.

History of Memorial Day

"Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery." For the full story, click on the headline above.

General John Logan is responsible for getting us a day off. Thanks Jack!

Please pray for the Bergstroms

Some of you know that Uncle Mike Bergstrom had a heart attack last weekend and then quadruple by-pass surgery. He has strong family history of heart disease. I haven't heard an update in a while, so feel free to e-mail me some more info or post a comment below. I do know that Mom was in Grand Rapids last week to help out.

The Feast of Corpus Christi

The Corpus Christi procession at Notre Dame.

The pontificate of John Paul the Great ushered in an era of renewed devotion to the Holy Eucharist. Before he died, he requested that we celebrate this feast with particular care and devotion this year. It was fitting that he died during a year he proclaimed as "The Year of the Eucharist".

It wasn't that long ago - maybe ten years or so - that the idea of honoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament through Eucharistic processions seemed like a pipe dream to those of us seeking to advance John Paul's idea of the "New Evangelization". Lots of Catholics just didn't "get" the importance of the Eucharist. After reading about them sometime after I graduated from college, I myself began to fantasize about large, popular Eucharistic processions and devotions. I know that sounds like a strange fantasy (by the way, I had "normal" fantasies as well), but I became enamored by the potential power of such public displays of Eucharistic piety. The power is not necessarily psychological. Like going to Mass, one can participate and still feel distracted and empty. These processions almost always seem a bit awkward to me, almost embarrassing. They are definitely counter-cultural in 21st century America. The feeling is similar to praying the rosary to end abortion every January 22 at the South Bend federal courthouse. Its uncomfortable, but you know that you are doing the right thing.

The primary benefit of a Corpus Christi procession is not psychological or emotional - the point is not to make you feel "fired up". Eucharistic worship makes a difference in the world, but that difference is often mainly on a level philosophers call ontological. Reality is objectively changed for the better, but the change cannot always be immediately perceived.

In the Kloska family, Lisa and Dad played foundational roles in initiating the now established tradition of a Eucharistic procession down Main Street from St. Thomas to St. Vincent's in Elkhart. Mary was instrumental in initiating Eucharistic Adoration at Notre Dame. Cheryl took a Eucharistic piety to her work with the needy at Catholic Charities in Elkhart. I believe that at some point, Mike, Jeff, Joey, and Johnny have all carried the canopy in the processions. Mom has walked the route on her bad knees. Other siblings have processed with their children. (Sorry if I'm missing other important contributions)

Now St. Matthew's Cathedral has initiated a Eucharistic Procession this year! Lisa, Nick and I cannot take credit for this, but our constant suggestions and input have helped to foster it and we have encouraged our fellow parishoners to attend. We are very excited for our parish and have been "talking it up" whenever we get a chance.

Every January 22 I feel encouraged and edified by seeing many members of the Edward Murphy family walking around the courthouse praying the rosary with the Right to Life group. I've noted the effect their family witness has had on me and know I need to be a similar witness to others at my own parish. We live during a new springtime of faith - Ave verum corpus!