Prayer Need: Galveston

We need to continue to pray for all the victims of the Hurricanes. Let's pray in a special way for all the victims on the Texas coast these days. The following story comes from Alertnet.
GALVESTON, Texas, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The bridge to Galveston Island is littered with yachts, kitchen tables and a large drowned dog. One couple flees to the Texas mainland on foot, their belongings stuffed into a baby stroller.

Despite living in a place known for a legendary hurricane in 1900 that killed 8,000 people, residents of Galveston are stunned by what Hurricane Ike has done to their lives.

Shunta Celestine rode out the storm with her three children in a brick home that she thought would survive Ike's fury when it made landfall early on Saturday.

It did hold but she lost her two cars and most everything inside the home.

"The water filled up so fast, everyone tried to go to higher ground, but it seemed the higher you got, the higher the water went," said Celestine as tears ran down her face.

"It was hell. We climbed on to the table, deep freezers, anything we could get on and then we prayed."

Block after block of the historic coastal community are flooded with a putrid mix of sewage and sea water.

Andrew Rourke, a firefighter, was on the island during the storm, got off duty at dawn on Sunday and came by his father's house to see how it fared.

"I expected to find some debris in the yard," said Rourke. "But this house is gone."

"The pictures are the only thing we can save, the rest is under water."

It is not known how many of the beach city's 60,000 residents ignored the mandatory evacuation order but thousands are believed to have stayed behind.

Many harked back to their luck in 2005 when Hurricane Rita prompted a large-scale evacuation but spared Galveston, making landfall 100 miles (160 km) to the east.

After Ike, some 2,000 residents have asked to be evacuated from the island, state officials said.

Celestine does not have food or water or power and the children walk around the water-soaked living room in a daze.

Her neighbor Brittney Majors came to the rescue with emergency meals and water. She moved to Galveston just a few months ago and works at Whataburger, a fast-food chain.

"Everything I had is gone," Majors said. "I have the clothes on my back, shoes on my feet. That's what I've got." (Writing by Mary Milliken; Editing by John O'Callaghan)

Pope Benedict in Paris and Lourdes

Updated!

Our Father/Te Deum~Pope Benedict, Paris Vespers 2008 sept.12

September 12 – 15, the Holy Father Benedict XVI will make an Apostolic Journey to France, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes. The first two days, September 12-13, the Pope will spend in Paris, and on the afternoon of the 13th, he will travel to Lourdes, where he will remain until September 15.

To learn more about the Holy Father's apostolic visit to France please click here.
Below you will find the Homily of Pope Benedict for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross from Sunday, September 14 at Lourdes.

George Strait's Troubadour

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Catholic Actors: Making a Difference!

Today, as we remember the Triumph of the Cross, it is good to hear some of the actors from The Passion of the Christ reflect on their experience of film making:

What does it mean for a believing actor to work in the entertainment world today?

What does it mean for a believing actor to work in the entertainment world today? Some actors and actresses discussed the experiences that have impacted them:


"Film, being a medium that reaches a large number of hearts, is a great gift and privilege for communicating with so many people ... and to reflect and think about personal life issues. The cinema as an artistic medium is a great art form, privileged to be able to educate, and in a sense, to open the hearts and eyes of people. "

"To make a different film to erase the negative image of Latinos that Hollywood has tried to perpetuate for the last 40 years. The idea of forming a film production company, called Metanoiafilms, with the mission of producing films that have the potential not only to entertain the audience, but to make a difference in our society by raising, healing and respecting the dignity of human beings, movies that touch the hearts of the audience and raise the minds of the audience toward the good, the beautiful and the true, the excellent. "

Film has also been an opportunity for personal growth:

"We are simply in the hands of an idea that is bigger than we are.
We are like little ants that are at the service of something, especially in what we were doing in the film The Passion of Christ and what we are every day. "

"Do not be afraid to be yourself, to find a personal way to act, not according to fixed models but by making an interior journey, And when there is a genuine search within yourself, you cannot help but also look to God."

Feast of the Triumph of the Cross

The following comes from the Catholic Culture site: This feast was observed in Rome before the end of the seventh century. It commemorates the recovery of the Holy Cross, which had been placed on Mt. Calvary by St. Helena and preserved in Jerusalem, but then had fallen into the hands of Chosroas, King of the Persians. The precious relic was recovered and returned to Jersualem by Emperor Heralius in 629.

The Breviary lessons tells us that Emperor Heraclius carried the Cross back to Jerusalem on his shoulders. He was clothed with costly garments and with ornaments of precious stones. But at the entrance to Mt. Calvary a strange incident occurred. Try as hard as he would, he could not go forward. Zacharias, the Bishop of Jerusalem, then said to the astonished monarch: "Consider, O Emperor, that with these triumphal ornaments you are far from resembling Jesus carrying His Cross." The Emperor then put on a penitential garb and continued the journey.

Salesians in Sudan

The following story from the Salesian News Agency is focused on our Salesian work in Tonj, Sudan. I was so happy to see the photo of my friend Fr. John Peter! He spent the summer with us here in Orange last year as he worked on the mission band. He is a wonderful person and spoke with great affection for his work in Tonj.
(ANS – Tonj) – On 7 September the young people from the Salesian centre in Tonj, Sudan experienced a very significant and important day. In an atmosphere of solemn celebration they officially presented themselves to the people of the parish as an organised Catholic, Salesian group.

The event had been preceded by a long process of preparation undertaken by the young people for eight months accompanied by the Salesian community. After the new peace agreement to bring the fighting to an end, everyday the Salesians began to meet and gather together the youngsters of Tonj providing them with various oratory activities and saying the rosary. A significant step had been the day of recollection in preparation for the Fest of Pentecost after which small groups were formed named “Saint Bakhita”, “Saint Dominic Savio” and “Saint Joseph”.

The efforts of the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in the Tonj area have also led to the setting up of a special formation programme for the children and young people of this region in the south of Sudan. In 2007 as well as the primary school a nursery and secondary school were started thus ensuring that more young people would have the chance of beginning and completing a good basic education. At the end of the month of August, after interviews and entrance exams, 400 new pupils were added to the 800 of the previous year. The high number of pupils and the limited infrastructure with a shortage of classrooms and desks means that the religious and the teachers have to take it in turns during the day.

Quite significant are the efforts are being made to train the teachers and the catechists who are working in the parish and in the villages.

Cub Fans Speak!

It's gonna happen! Fans of all ages talk about the Chicago Cubs, baseball, love, faith...and the long wait. Find out about each of these fans, from every decade, here.