Will You Marry Me?

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Earlier this week Lourdes was severely damaged by a flood:

This video was very difficult to watch:
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Day 2 Continued:

After reaching the Shrine property, we passed the home of the Bishop of Lourdes-Tarbes. Arrived at the priets' residence, picked up the keys to my room. Im on the 3rd floor, right NO elevator. Room #53. INside the room there is a bed, night table, small desk, one chair (which I rarely used since it was straight back and not comfortable, and a sectioned off area with a shower, and sink. Toilets at the end of the hall... ugh! The room was actually nice, very simple, but what else did I really need. Also, a great window (no screen) which looked out on a tree! (good for shade).
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Here is a pic of the building I roomed in. My room iis on the 3rd floor directly behind the the tree. You can't tell from this side of the building but my room is actually 3 flights up (did I say NO elevators????).

Dinner was at 7:30, walked to the dining area which was in a separate building.
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A closer view of the building which held the dining room, the Business office, and other rooms for priests who were ministering here (did I say no elevators!)

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Here is a view of the waiting area , just outside the dining room. We (the English speaking priests)would gather here before meals (lunch and dinner) and chat about how the day was going. We had a terrific time with each other.

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Two other views of the same room:

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And this is our dining room:

Each of the different language groups of priests had their own table for meals.
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Dinner was served at 7:30pm. For my first meal, dinner, we had: beef, potatoes, mixed vegetables, bread, lettuce leaves, water and wine. After dinner an espresso type coffee (nope no liquor inside).
At our dinner table there were 7 of us the first night, One of the priests, Father Michael from England was leaving in the morning. What a great guy, I would miss getting to know him. Others at our table were: Father Brian (Ireland) and Father Paul (South Africa)- (both were assigned here full time by their Order); Father Michael from England, Father Angelo from England, Father Michael from Nigeria and me (they called me "The American!").
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What an exceptional group. And what fun and serious love of Lourdes.
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After dinner, Father Michael, from Nigeria, offered to show me around: the Shrine, the building in which we celebrated Mass and the building where we would hear Confessions, etc etc. We spent a good while together.
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This is Father Michael:

Father Michael went on to his room, I walked to the Shrine where the 9:30pm Marian Processions was about to begin. This was so awesome it's difficult to explain the beauty, the joy and even the sadness of it all. During the procession, thousands participate and the Rosary is recited in about 6 different languages.
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OK, back to my room. I'm dead tired. It's Day 2, Tuesday night at 10:30pm and I have been up since Monday morning at 4:30am. It's time to sleep don't you think.
Night prayers.
Lights out.
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Day 2 Continued

Jean Marie rode the Parish subway just about all over the city of Paris. It certainly felt like it, anyway.
In out final ride, we headed to Orly airport, the other airport in Paris. Orly is for local flights to throughout France.
We stopped off at a few different ticket counters for directions, etc. After receiving what we needed, we looked for a place to grab a bite to eat (lunch). Found an airport restaurant where we could sit and enjoy company and food, finally. Terrific French waiter who became quite attentive and entertaining when Jean Marie told him in French (he knew no English)that I was a priest. The look on his face! (Candid Camera moment). We enjoyed lunch: salad and soda for me, sandwich and beer for Jean Marie.
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After landing in Paris at 5:00am (still awake from yesterday at 4:30am in Pcola), it's about time to head to my departure gate.
Leave time is 4:15pm to Lourdes.
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..... Jean Marie took this pic of me as I was walking to ticketing-baggage inspection.....
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...my flight from Orly (Paris)to Lourdes.
Flight was at 4:15pm. I kept nodding off but no good sleep. Last seat in the rear of the plane and no one nearby. Quiet!
We landed 10 minutes early at 5:25 pm Lourdes time.
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Depart plane and head to baggage claim (although I had no baggage to pick up). The priest from the Shrine who would be my Director would pick me up. By the time I arrived at baggage, Father Brian (Irish priest who was a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, pronounces his name Breean)was heading in. At first he walked up to another man asking if he were me. NOT! When I saw him, I introduced myself to him and off we went.
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Tiny car, really. But zipped along. 30 minute drive to the Shine in Lourdes. We had a great chat driving to the Shrine, etc etc. Keys, room... and dinner would be at 7:30pm.
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You can guess, right?

Day 2 Continued:

Next we visited Sacre Coeur: Sacred Heart
... no pictures or talking allowed inside (strictly observed). Sacre Coeur is built on the steepest hill in Paris. Easiest was to reach the Church is by a tram which is located between a set of steeps stairs (the tram really helps, esp when you have a carry on and a back pack with you). Building started in 1875 and completed in 1914.
Some pics of Sacre Coeur:



Now to the Arc de Triomphe, built in 1806:

This is my "tour guide": Jean Marie Broutin, some of you may recognize from Sunday, 11:00am Mass (and, of course, Patty Broutin's husband):

Some pictures of Notre Dame

This Cathedral was built in the year 1168 and this year is celebrating its 850th anniversary. There is usually an expansive field in front of the Cathedral but with the celebrations this year it is congested with all types of bleachers to sit and watch presentations, wait for visitors inside the Cathedral and there is a huge tent for young children to experience a bread-making process.

Lourdes Experience: Day 2

I am calling this day 2 since it is now Tuesday in Paris.
I went through Passport check, a breeze. All I have with me is a carry on and a backpack. Makes travelling simple, let me tell ya!
Followed the exit signs (Sortie) till I made it to the train station (Gare). The train station actually goes into Charles DeGaulle Airport, on lower level. I waited there to meet Jean Marie Broutin, a parishiioner from St Joseph's who also lives in France but not in the city. His train was a little late, maybe 20 minutes. The is when we began an unusual but full tour of some terrific sights in Paris (I was only in Paris for about 5 hours).
First we purchased our train tickets, boarded the train (full), made many, many stops, and after a slow ride arrived in center of Paris.
We headed to Notre Dame Cathedral:

Lourdes Experience: Day 1

Monday, May 13
Picked up at the rectory at 7am by Sunnie.
Arrived at the airport @ 7:25 for a 9:15 flight from Pcola to ATL.
This is my plane leaving Pcola:




Arrived in ATL 11:03am Eastern Time and went to F Terminal, Gate 8. Phone conversation with Patty re meeting her husband in Paris.
The plane for Paris left ATL at 3:10pm. on time and I was in seat 19E. Aisle seat. Great seat actually. I read, listened to the album "Angels and Saints at Ephesus" by cloisterd Benedictine Sisters which I had downloaded onto my iPad (great music), a remixed version of a song by Peter Frampton (a favorite of mine), watched 3 movies (cant remember the names but one was about the young man with the tiger on the ocean). Had a glass of red wine before dinner (tortellini, salad, roll, cheese, brownie for dessert). Did I have a second glass of wine? (hey, it was free!) Stood, walked abit. A great flight. We arrived in Paris, 5:00am local time... we were early).

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Tip for Your Marriage:

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“Everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine.” (John 17:9) Although Jesus was addressing his Father with these words, they also apply to married couples. Are there any possessions that you are reluctant to share with your beloved?

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A Marriage Tip for today:

What’s the difference between constructive criticism and nagging? Repetition. Unless your spouse is hard of hearing, trust that saying your criticism once (or at most twice) is enough.

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Video 3 ... final in series)

Video 2: Second in a series

Do yourself a favor: watch this ... (Video 1)

it's a little over 22 minutes long but worth every second...
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btw: This young man died on May 20, 2013.


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Pope Francis' Holy Hour Today, Sunday:

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The Holy Father's TWO intentions for this Holy Hour today:

1.For the Church spread throughout the world and united today in the adoration of the Most Holy Eucharist as a sign of unity. May the Lord make her ever more obedient to hearing his Word in order to stand before the world ‘ever more beautiful, without stain or blemish, but holy and blameless.’ That through her faithful announcement, the Word that saves may still resonate as the bearer of mercy and may increase love to give full meaning to pain and suffering, giving back joy and serenity.

2.For those around the world who still suffer slavery and who are victims of war, human trafficking, drug running, and slave labor. For the children and women who are suffering from every type of violence. May their silent scream for help be heard by a vigilant Church so that, gazing upon the crucified Christ, she may not forget the many brothers and sisters who are left at the mercy of violence. Also, for all those who find themselves in economically precarious situations, above all for the unemployed, the elderly, migrants, the homeless, prisoners, and those who experience marginalization. That the Church’s prayer and its active nearness give them comfort and assistance in hope and strength and courage in defending human dignity.

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