Giving Thanks

Giving thanks for anything - the best gift ever - to everyone - to anyone.  Thanksgiving Day is not just an excuse to gather with family and friends - to eat and be merry.  Thanksgiving is the one special day - in addition to sharing food and fun with those we care about - to take time to give thanks - quitely - vocally - sharing that which we are thankful for.   Thankful for life - for those with whom we share life - those who make our lives enjoyable - those who challenge us - those who think differently from us - those who listen to us - those who stop us from talking.  The world is filled with so many different people - like the colors of the rainbow - the notes on a musical scale - so different - yet so complimentary - to all the other colors - notes.  Blended together into one beautiful landscape - a concert of notes making such beautiful music.

God created this world as a blank canvas upon which we are asked to paint the stories of our lives - to write a composition of discordant notes - blending into one magnificent beautiful creation.  God created us - each of us - that together - we might create a beautiful world of peace and harmony.  He has done His job - now it is our turn to use our brushes - our pens to compose a work - all will be proud of.

Deacon Dale 

2020 Shrines of Italy 11 Day Pilgrimage

Announcing our newest pilgrimage to Italy.  "Shrines of Italy" starts in Rome with our welcome dinner. The next day we go to Assisi for a full day. The following day is a free day to recover from any jet lag or to take an optional excursion to visit Florence.  The next day we cross the mountains and head towards the Adriatic Sea to Loretto.  From there we travel south to San Giovanni Rotondo to visit the churches of Padre Pio and visit the Grotto of Michael the Archangel. We then cross back to the other side of Italy and head to Pompeii to visit Madonna del Rosario.  Returning north we visit Montecassino then return for our final days in Rome.  In Rome we attend a Papal Audience and visit St Peter's, Mary Major, St John in Lateran just to name a few before returning home.  We will experience the spiritual and cultural sides of Italy with free time to wander on our own both in Assisi and in Rome itself.  To view a promotional video of this pilgrimage click below: 

DeaconTravel Shrines of Italy Pilgrimage

You may also visit our website for registration forms and complete details at:

www.DeaconTravel.org 

For the complete itinerary click the link below:

Shrines of Italy Itinerary

We look forward to having you journey with us on this excellent adventure 

Deacon Dale 

Ireland Pilgrimage Review

I have been gone for a few weeks now - we left October 27th and returned November 4th from our scheduled 8 day Ireland Pilgrimage.  Yes - if you count the days - it comes to 9 days - one day delay in returning due to a missed flight out of Dublin.  Our group of fourteen pilgrims arrived safely in Dublin on Monday October 28th - met our tour director who traveled with us - hopped into our private bus - under the control of "Driver Dawn" - as she calls herself - and immediately began a tour around Dublin to acquaint ourselves with some of the local sights. Day one was departing the Chicago area and Day two marked our arrival in Dublin to pickup our private tour bus.

"Driver Dawn" Our Tour Guide 

Our first stop was Saint Patrick Cathedral erected in 1191- originally a Roman Catholic Cathedral - now an Anglican Church of Ireland. The change came about in 1537 when the King separated from the Roman Catholic Church and began the Church of England - the Anglican Church.

Saint Patrick Cathedral - Dublin 

From there we visited Trinity College where the famous Book of Kells - one of the earliest forms of the Book of Gospels is displayed.

Trinity College - Book of Kells

Having exhausted ourselves we needed a relaxing diversion and proceeded to a visit and self guided tour of the Guinness Storehouse to learn about the history of Guinness and sample a pint for ourselves.

 

Welcome To Guinness

Guinness - The Falling Of The Veil

Our third day began the official pilgrimage with the group heading to Armagh - the spiritual center of Ireland - to visit the Catholic St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Medieval-Byzantine Anglican St. Patrick's Cathedral.

St Patrick Catholic Cathedral - Armagh

From there we continued to Downpatrick and Down Cathedral where St. Patrick is buried along with St. Columbia and St. Brigid.  We returned in the early evening to explore the Temple Bar area which is filled with restaurants and pubs where we would enjoy the local cuisine.  

St Patrick Burial Site 

Our fourth day found us leaving Dublin and heading to the Galway area to visit the medieval city of Kilkenny to tour the area and Kilkenny Castle. 

Kilkenny Castle 

 Moving on we went to the Rock of Cashel to visit the Romanesque Comac Chapel and Round Tower.  Checking in to our hotel in Lough Rea we settled in for dinner and relaxation.

Comac Chapel at Rock of Cashel

The fifth day of our pilgrimage found us visiting the 13th century Ballintubber Abbey - an Augustinian Monastery built next to the site where St. Patrick baptized his earliest converts.  Traveling onwards we came to Croagh Patrick - the mountain where St. Patrick fasted for 40 days.  A few of the more energetic members of our group spent the next few hours climbing about half way up the mountain before rejoining the remainder of the group. 

Ballintubber Abbey

Day six we began by observing the Holy Day of All Saints at The Abbey in Loughrea - home of the Discalced Carmelites.  After holy Mass we headed to the coast viewing the Atlantic Ocean through a bit of fog and visiting the Cliffs of Moher and the coastal land line.  We ventured on to see the 12th century Cistercian Corcomroe Abbey and stopped in Galway before ending the day in Lough Rea and a local pub.

Cliffs of Moher

The final day of our pilgrimage - day seven - focused on our journey to Knock - the site of a Marian apparition when in 1879 Mary appeared to 15 adults and children.  Prior to our visit we stopped at a woolen mill where a sister single handedly restarted the mill processing wool into garments and employing at least one person out of every family living in the village and helping to rebuild their lives and the future of the village. 

Woolen Mill 

At the Knock Shrine we visited the five various churches located there and held our farewell luncheon as time would not allow a farewell dinner.

The Apparition Chapel at Knock Shrine

Day eight - our final scheduled day in Ireland found us visiting a few unscheduled sites on our way to  the airport for our late afternoon flight home. 

Lots of Celtic Crosses

All was going well until we had an unexpected issue with the bus - a blown tire - which had us sitting on the road side for about an hour while we waited another bus to pick us up and take us to the airport.  

Looking for 4 Leaf Clovers and a Bus 

Unfortunately - some would say fortunately - we arrived at the airport later than scheduled and were not allowed to board our flight.  The airline apologized for the inconvenience and rescheduled us for the next flight back to Chicago - the next morning.  Bottom line we spent an additional night in Dublin with our family of pilgrims and enjoyed one extra meal and evening with each other. 

Suffering Pilgrims Looking Sad 

 The morning arrived too soon and we were all onboard our return flight and back to our daily lives in Chicago by early evening.

All of the pilgrimages that we have led have all been special in their own way - each group has been special. Now with 11 pilgrimages completed in eight years - not counting years that we did not lead a pilgrimage - we are preparing for pilgrimage number 12 to Italy in November 2020.

2019 Ireland Pilgrims 

The one common thing that we have experienced in all these pilgrimages is sharing our faith among each other - no matter how we worship - when we worship - all would agree that being involved in a pilgrimage has been one of the best memories in their lives - one of the best times when each of us - in one way or another - touched the Divine.

Deacon Dale  

Seeking Faith

It is not surprising when so many people seem to have so much - money - friends - technology - that many feel that they have a large void in their life that needs filling.  Most try to fill that void with the obvious - sports - hiding at work - out side interests - drugs - none filling that void they way they hope.  Finding it difficult to fill that void some turn to things that will only lead to further disappointment.  A few turn their sight heavenward - seeking God in an attempt to see if He can fill that void. 

Many people have found that what they thought was so difficult a task was in reality an easy one.  God is always there - waiting - sending His Holy Spirit upon all.  Not everyone will respond - to those who do - untold peace - joy -  a void perfectly filled.  Seeking faith - not always easy - once done - always rewarding.

Deacon Dale 

Clean Mind Clean Body - Take Your Pick?

Many years ago there was a joke going around - "clean mind - clean body - take your pick" - the implication that either your thoughts - speech  could be nice and your body would be vile - nasty or just the opposite.  The reality - you can have both - it is not an either - or - option.  In today's scripture the focus seems to be almost completely on a clean body - that is being cleansed from leprosy - either by bathing in water or through the words of Jesus.  Leprosy was a disease without a cure in the time of Jesus - a disease which could be easily passed from one person to another - thus the need to separate those afflicted with the disease from the remaining community.  It was feared so much that an infected person - when out walking - had to shout "unclean unclean" to warn anyone nearby to pass on the other side - to avoid contamination. Although disease ridden - one could still be a very faithful person - unfortunately cursed by separation from others.  That meant no contact with family - friends - anyone - condemned to isolation from loved ones - unable to earn a living - dependent on the generosity of others.

Today people in the same situation no longer condemned to isolation. Now with better healthcare and information - the need to be isolated no longer necessary.  Today the issue is not coping with a skin - body issue - rather the mistaken idea that one has to be clean - physically - morally - spiritually - before God will welcome you into His home.  The truth is that God - Jesus welcomes you - just as you are - just where you are.  You do not have to wash your face - clean your mind - or anything.  All one needs is to be open and approach Jesus with an expectant heart.  Clean - dirty - Jesus stands there - arms outstretched - waiting for you to come to Him.  Once you ask Jesus into your heart - you will be changed - your life will change - anything that needs improving will get better.  Clean mind - clean body - you will have both.  Jesus stands waiting...

Deacon Dale 

Flame Throwers

A flamethrower is a mechanical incendiary device designed to project a long, controllable stream of fire. First deployed by the Greeks in the 1st century AD, flamethrowers saw use in modern times during World War I, and more widely in World War II.  Those who use flamethrowers are also sometimes referred to as flamethrowers.  Normally a flamethrower is used as a weapon - to either consume a target by aiming the stream of flammable propellant at an object or person - other times used as a defensive weapon to start a controlled fire of flammable objects such as buildings as in warfare - other times when fighting large fires in open areas - to burn a defense line to contain an otherwise out of control forest or brush fire.  Flamethrowers may be considered evil or good depending on their use.  

In today's Scriptures we were told "I remind you, to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands" - to freely share the fire of faith that one receives when they were prayed over and were baptized in the Holy Spirit. A reminder to all of the baptized that your baptism was not a gift from God for only your personal use - rather a gift to be freely shared amongst the people at large.  Jesus urges each of us to become flamethrowers of His Holy Spirit - to use the power of God living inside of each of us - to spread His message of love - forgiveness - acceptance - healing.  Each is called to become a flamethrower.

Deacon Dale 

Leaping Lizards

Walking any path - unobstructed - straight - smooth - easy for most everyone.  Walking a path that crosses a body of water - an open space below - also - easy as long as there is a bridge.  Walking a path that goes from one region over a giant chasm - impossible - unless a giant bridge exists - to allow the journey to continue. Quite often when the open space in the path is small enough - one may leap over - to the other side to safely continue onwards.  Too often - large spaces - too large for leaping lizards - even the most athletically gifted to attempt - a total barrier.  Perhaps one - like the Famous Evil Kenieval - might attempt the crossing on a motorcycle or other vehicle to propel themselves across.  For the majority - time to turn around - go back - attempt failed.

In today's Gospel we heard about the rich man - tormented in Hell - begging Father Abraham to allow poor suffering Lazarus to cross the chasm that separated them - for help.  Unfortunately - his fate sealed by his own selfish actions while alive - Lazarus being rewarded with the gifts of eternal life in Heaven - because he suffered quietly at the rich man's door.  A pointed reminder that how we live our own life will determine if we end up in Heaven or Hell.  For all of us - difficult - so easy to sin - easy to leave others out - to speak an unkind word - to close the door when it should have been opened - to spend a few minutes with the lonely - sick - homebound.  For those of faith - we trust in Jesus - through His Cross - the bridge that enables us to walk over those times - spaces - in our lives when we were not as good as we should have been.  The Wood of His Cross - the Forgiveness that He offers each of us - the Bridge to bring us from wrong to right - from selfishness to sharing the Gift of Faith that we received freely - to share with others among us. For God all things are possible - for all - a leap of faith.

Deacon Dale 

The Root Of All Evil

If I asked you what is the root of all evil - most would say - money.  That would be incorrect.  The root of all evil is the excessive love of anything - money - sports - study - food - gaming - music - art - knowledge.  Anything that is done to an excessive level - anything that takes our attention away from - God - is evil. Evil in the sense that we have allowed ourselves to become obsessed with - things. 

Being focused one hundred percent and more on anything is not good.  Even obsessive attention to God - would not be good - in the sense that in order to live life as intended by Our Creator - we must live life to the fullest.  Our priorities must be in correct order - first God - second our spouse and children - third family - fourth our occupation - fifth the church - and beyond that all the other areas of our lives.  We cannot allow ourselves to become so obsessed with - things - that we fail to pay attention to the others. Focussing obsessively on money - work - sports - takes our attention away from other things in our life.  How many people who are workaholics - moan the loss of their marriage - relationship with children - all because the focused all their energy on work?  How many people who were always at church - attending meetings - worshiping constantly - destroyed the relationship with spouse and children because they were never home?  The key to the wealth laid before us by God is balance.  Balancing all the things in our lives - keeping our priorities in correct order - so that none is ignored - that none becomes the only focus of our lives.  Jesus - God loves all the love and attention they can get - not at the expense in the others gifts He has given you. 

Deacon Dale 

Clean Sweep

A clean sweep in any contest refers to a complete - overwhelming victory.  Doing one's best - going far beyond the expected - winning against all odds - proving to the naysayers that victory is possible.  Clean sweeps are claimed often by sport teams - people running for election - anyone going against the odds.  In some situations - a strong dominant team - person expected to win - hands down.  In others where the competition is not dominated by anyone - clean sweep a sweet victory.

In today's Gospel we hear of the woman with ten coins who lost one - searched diligently - sweeping the floor - until she found it - rejoiced with others over her good fortune.  Also the shepherd who noticed one sheep missing from the flock - desperate to locate the one who was lost - eventually bringing it back to join the flock.  As we celebrated Holy Mass this weekend - our pastor - the leader of our flock - shared a story via an interview with one who had been wandering lost for years - now brought into the flock of believers.  His story as one on the outside - apart from the community of believers - having been invited numerous times to join the flock - finally - through circumstances beyond his control - forced to contemplate his relationship with God - finding in that time - all that had been missing in his life.  Now a member of the community enjoying all the benefits of Christian unity - a clean sweep in his life.  God calls each of us - Jesus - stands at the door of our heart - knocking (Rev 3:20)  - patiently waiting to be invited in.  In time - all will experience the joy of Christian fellowship - the biggest clean sweep - in anyone's life.

Deacon Dale 

Celebrating Life

Life is definitely worth living - living to the fullest - enjoying all that the world has to offer - all that nature offers - all that God offers.  In today's Gospel - it appears that Jesus is telling us to abandon all that we have - even ourselves - in order to follow Him - to become His disciple.  In typical Jewish tradition - what you hear - what is spoken - has to be clearly understood - to get at the real meaning.  Some might call it double speak - saying the opposite of what you mean - answering a question with a question - using misdirection to get others to focus on the real subject at hand. In writing - a literary tool - in speech -  like in magic illusions - making people think outside the box - going deeper - looking at what is not clearly seen.

To die to ourselves - to forget about others - is not dying - not forgetting - rather redirecting our attention - first to what is truly important - our relationship with Jesus - with God.  Once we have refocused on God - we will see that following Jesus as His Disciple - our attention has to be focused on others - their well being - their comfort - helping them before we help ourselves. Our needs can wait - be put on hold - while we help others to see value in their own lives - to bring them closer to God - to appreciate every day of their life.  All too often we only celebrate life after someone has died - the reality - we need to celebrate all lives - everyday - while they - we - are living. 

Deacon Dale