The Family of a Saint-To-Be Celebrates St. Joseph’s Day

March 18, 2009 by Be Holy

March 19th is the Solemnity of St. Joseph. It is the Saint that will once again be the center of attention for the Gallegos Family. According to Senaida Kane, the sister of Bishop Alphonse Gallego, this year’s celebration marks the 75th year that the family will gather in his honor. This tradition was established by Joseph and Caciana Gallegos as they called their family together to pray the Rosary in veneration of the great St. Joseph.

One member of the family will be looking on from the heavenly heights, no doubt. He is Bishop Alphonse Gallegos Member of the Order of Augustinian Recollects and Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento, California, whose cause for beatification and canonization was introduced to the Vatican in Rome in November, 2006.

St. Joseph, pray for us!

Touch Down Africa

March 18, 2009 by Be Holy

Pope Bededict XVI touched down yesterday in Cameroon. According to the AP, this is the Pope’s first trip as pontiff to Africa. “For Benedict, whose only previous stop in Africa was in Kinshasa in 1987 as a cardinal, the continent presents major challenges and opportunities. He is expected to address them in meetings with Muslim representatives, bishops, health workers and women’s advocacy groups.”

This is the first day in his seven day pilgrimage. The Roman Catholic Church is booming and blooming in Africa. “Africa produces priests at a higher rate than anywhere in the world but finds itself in competition with Islam in Cameroon..”

“Benedict said he wants to invigorate the growing church in Africa. ‘I intend to confirm Catholics in their faith,” he said, and ‘proclaim the peace entrusted to the Church” by Jesus. Benedict said that as he sets out for Africa, he has in mind ‘the victims of hunger, disease, injustice, fratricidal conflicts and every form of violence which unfortunately continue to afflict adults and children, without sparing missionaries’ and volunteers working on the continent.”

“The Catholic Church has been one body that has been consistent in the development of the African continent not only spiritually, but in the provision of quality education, health care, caring for the neglected and victims of natural and man made disasters. It has also spoken up against corrupt and inept leaders in a fearless and constructive manner. The Church is only fulfilling its mandate to bring light to a darkened world and needs to continue this mission unceasingly. Africa definitely needs the Church. Osayawe Ogieva, Nigeria”

The Light of the East – “Breathe With Both Lungs”

March 17, 2009 by Be Holy

Pope John Paul II in his encyclical Orientale Lumen, the Light of the East, asserted that “the venerable and ancient tradition of the eastern churches is an integral part of the the heritage of the Catholic Church.” The pope called upon all Catholics to become “fully acquainted with this treasure.”

I checked out ngchase’s recommendation Eastern Christian Media. It looks beautiful and full of promise. Nelson says “there are some wonderful pieces on different aspects of the Eastern Christian faith! It also has a nice video of Fr Moses -of Holy Resurrection Monastery- cooking a nice meal. (I have had his cooking before and its great!)”

Come To The Tea Party – Endorses Gingrich

March 17, 2009 by Be Holy

Newt’s on the bandwagon says Instapundit.

American Solutions for Winning the Future today ” announced their endorsement and support of the Nationwide Tax Day Tea Party, an event spanning the nation in over 150 cities and towns across America on April 15….”

“The American people are fed up with Washington’s irresponsible spending spree,” said Newt Gingrich, General Chairman of American Solutions. “There are better solutions than big government and higher taxes to create jobs and get the economy moving again.”

Leading the Parade – Spirit of St. Patrick, of Course!

March 17, 2009 by Be Holy

The Anchoress will catch this first-hand, but for the rest of us, have a look-see:

Writing for newsday.com, John Valenti says, ” More than 1,100 soldiers from the New York National Guard’s Fighting 69th kicked off Manhattan‘s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade Tuesday morning along Fifth Avenue……With its largest parade contingent ever, the Fighting 69th was led by Ranger Seth Morgulas, 38, of Manhattan, an NYPD mounted contingent, a bagpiper and four formations of troops dressed in Army desert fatigues and black berets adorned with boxwoods — in remembrance of plants worn by unit soldiers for the North back in the Civil War.”

–Click here to see the NYC St. Patrick’s Day parade photos -newsday.com

The 69th, first formed in 1849 as the 9th Regiment of the New York State Militia, is an Irish-heritage unit — and has anchored the nation’s best-known St. Patrick’s Day celebration since 1851. Legend in battle dating to the Civil War, where its soldiers harkened a battle cry of “Fág An Bealach” — Gaelic for “Clear the Way” — the contingent from the Fighting 69th this year included 319 soldiers who returned in January from Afghanistan.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade.com: “The parade marches up 5th Avenue, clan by clan, from 44th to 86th streets starting at 11am on St. Patrick’s Day (Tuesday, March 17th)…..The first official parade in the City was held in 1766 by Irishmen in a military unit recruited to serve in the American colonies.”