Jubilant Silver Jubilee - {p,h,f,r} style

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter 

for some pretty, happy, funny and real times...

                         ~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

I was able to take a few photos before our guests arrived.  The decor was simple...just the way I like it!  My children planned and organized this celebration and did a grand job!  I am so proud of them!

Silver Jubilee

My last post pictured a nest on my front door.

Both the male and female birds have been working diligently building their home.  Finally, on the morning of our 25th wedding anniversary celebration, I found this gift:

Mandatum

{pretty}

The Latin word for "commandment", is mandatum.

Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment...

"Love one another, as I have loved you."  

~ John 13:34

The Holy Triduum begins on Holy Thursday.  At the Holy Mass of the Lord's Supper, the Washing of the Feet takes place.  The priest will humbly wash and kiss the feet of twelve selected men; these men are representing the twelve disciples.  (I don't know why, but I tear every time I see this...it is so humbling and beautiful and I can just imagine Jesus and His disciples and everything...It is powerful.)

We have just celebrated three pillars of the Church:

1.  The Sacrament of Holy Communion
2.  The Priesthood
3.  The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday ends with the removal of the Body of Christ from the main tabernacle within the church.  The Sacred Host (Communion Hosts) are placed in the Altar of Repose until the Mass of the Pre-sanctified, on Good Friday.  There is no Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Good Friday.  Anywhere.

The Altar is stripped bare.  The bells are now silent.

{real}

Until the Easter Vigil, on Holy Saturday...

Thursday is also when I visit Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment...

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Today is also the quasi-anniversary date of my little blog.  The actual date is April 21st, but it was on a Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday that I wrote my first post...four years ago.

I re-dedicate this blog to Our Mother, Mary and her Son.  May she guide us and protect us always, and may Christ, Our Savior, be glorified now and forever.

A Blessed & Joyful Easter to All!

Twenty-Four Years {p,h,f,r}

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some pretty, happy, funny & real stuff...

My husband and I have just celebrated our Twenty-Fourth Wedding Anniversary.  To celebrate, we flew to New York.  Why New York?  My husband had a business trip to NY planned for the following week, so we decided to take advantage of the travel opportunity.   

It was an absolutely wonderful getaway...

I have been to New York once before.  The first visit was a stop over on our way to Rome.  We ended up having Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral and visiting ground zero and the Empire State Building, among other things.

This trip was also jammed packed with fun...lovely, exquisite dinners; Yankee's Game at Yankee Stadium via Grand Central Station; Horse-drawn carriage ride; NY City World Trade Center Memorial Site; St. Peter's Church; Times Square; and of course, Sunday Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, which was celebrated by Cardinal Dolan.

So without further ado...

{pretty}

It may seem very touristy, but this is the best way to see Central Park.  It is so pretty & BIG.  We had such a blast.  At the end, it started to rain, and the driver pulled over and set up the canopy...IT WAS LOVELY.  It could not have been a more perfect ride.  HAPPY 24TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!!!

{happy}

As a kid, I have always wanted to go to a Yankees game.  It just seems so All-American.  Well, my dream came true...

Funny, so many people asked me if my husband and I were going to the theatre while in NY...to me, this was quite the show.  And we WON!  Happy, happy, happy.
There were also the fun perks of enjoying a 'foot long' and washing it down with an ice cold 'beer here' (imagine saying this, loudly, with a NY accent).

{funny}

I have been to Roma four times...this reminded me of the little cafes and ristorantes that we frequented.   The very large cannoli was unreal!  And the mini ones were delicious! :D 

{real}

Of course, we went to Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral.  The Choir was beautiful (almost as wonderful as our Children's Cathedral Choir).  

His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York celebrated the Holy Mass.  His Homily was inspiring.  At first he began by apologizing for the condition of his church...then he mentioned that one of the con-celebrating priests was visiting from Egypt.  He went on to explain that the priest, also, had a church that was under repair...however, because of vandalism and terrorists.  Cardinal Dolan humbly thanked the visiting priest...

The last time I attended Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, it did not have all the scaffolding.  It is a truly a magnificent Cathedral.  You can read more about the restoration of this beautiful iconic landmark here.

More {REAL}

Honoring the victims of the World Trade Center, September 11, 2001

If you are a new visitor, Welcome!  I hope you find something pretty, happy, funny or real here on my little blog.  For more {phfr} times, visit Like Mother, Like Daughter

~ Welcome Home ~

~ Welcome ~

To my Catholic Family Journal...and journey.

On Saturday, at the Easter Vigil, several men and women will be received into the Church.  This is such an exciting and sacred time - The Easter Triduum.  

We have been preparing for Easter, during this Lenten season.

Today, Good Friday, is the only day we do not celebrate the Holy Mass.  This is a sobering thought.  No Holy Mass.  {{{I shiver}}}.  

Additionally, this time is special to me, because on April 21st, I will celebrate the 3rd Anniversary of my little cyber-journal.  My blog.  Which was dedicated to Our Mother, Mary.  And to Christ, Our Savior and Redeemer.  

As my children and I look back on our posts, we are reminded of all the joys we share together - as a family, and through our Faith.  

For the first year or so, I kept this blog private.  Very private.  I still do...But, after much prayer & time, I opened the door to our little world.  

Sharing a peek into our Catholic home.  I am happy that I have guests that visit us here.  It is not my goal to try and capture hundreds or even thousands of readers.  It is my goal to share my love...my family and my Faith.  As imperfect as we are.

Sharing the Catholic Faith.  The Catholic Church is such a gift.  No one can really explain....It is something that needs to be experienced.  Because even the pain and suffering is all for a greater glory.

I am so thankful for the gift that my parents gave me...The Catholic Faith.  So rich.  So full.  So home...thank you for your visit.  You are welcome to come over...anytime!

WELCOME HOME

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Sharing with Catholic Bloggers Network

~ Celebrating your Saint ~

This month we celebrated Butterfly's Confirmation saint....

Butterfly's patron saint

SAINT KATERI TEKAKWITHA

 

Flower of the Algonguins
Lily of the Mohawks
1656-1680

Here in the United States we recently celebrated her feast day, which is July 14th.

In Canada, St. Kateri's feast day is celebrated on the 17th of April...I guess we will just have to celebrate twice!  :o) 

I spotted this tapestry of her image while walking in Rome...I was so excited and bought it for my girl.  I framed it to keep it dust free...
Butterfly chose to hang it above her bed.  It's lovely.

Tapestry portrait of St. Kateri from Rome, Italy

Here is an oil painting of St. Kateri which was painted by Fr. Chauchetière. 

One of the oldest portraits of St. Kateri from

Like Jesus, St. Kateri suffered much.

She was orphaned, disfigured and partially blinded by smallpox...and she was treated cruelly, and made an outcast in her village.  She was ostracized by her own people, neighbors & children...

When she converted to Catholicism, she was shunned and endured great ridicule.  Stones were thrown at her as she walked to daily Mass.

Through all this hostility, she remained with a charitable heart.  She is described as having virtues of piety, industry, purity, and fortitude.

Little Lamb made a special cake to help celebrate Butterfly's patron saint.

You can see the rest, HERE.

I always bring out the *guardian angel* candle holder for special feast days & anniversaries:  Baptism, First Holy Communion and (now) Confirmation.   Even if I don't have time to create a special dessert (like the one above) or even a special meal to commemorate the day, the candle alone sets the occasion and we are reminded to give thanks...and to pray.

 

Celebrating your child's saint, (or your saint), can be that simple...

O God, who, among the many marvels of Your Grace in the New World, did cause to blossom on the banks of the Mohawk and of the St. Lawrence, the pure and tender Lily.  Kateri Tekakwitha, grant we beseech You, the favor we beg through the intercession that this young lover of Jesus and of His Cross may soon be counted among the saints of Holy Mother Church, and that our hearts may be enkindled with a stronger desire to imitate her innocence and faith.  Through the same Christ Our Lord.  Amen

Linking up to Catholic Bloggers Network:  2013 Monthly Link-Up Blitz

~ Liturgical Calendar ~

www.catholicbloggersnetwork.com

and
Arma Dei ~ Equipping Catholic Families
Saints Cele-LINKY
July 2013

 

~ 90 Yrs of Thanks ~

This month, Our parish celebrated its 90th anniversary of its founding.  The first Mass was said in 1922...compared to most churches, she is just a *baby*.  But, nevertheless, as young as she is, we are thankful for the years of sacraments and beautiful liturgies. 

I planned a simple celebratory reception...since we just recently celebrated the occasion of the church's building, dedication of shrines and pastoral visitation.  Whew. 

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” 

~ Leonardo da Vinci

 

 

 

Simple details...

“Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.” ~ Plato

 

 

Many wonderful hands making simple delectables...













Where details and simplicity come together...

I used cream colors, with sheer gold runners and single red roses to give a tiny splash of color. 

 

The food was colorful enough.

 

 At our reception, we were graced with one brother, one deacon, seven priests and one bishop...

 

Simply one thing left to say...

 

 

 Giving thanks to God for graces received.

Deo Gratias!

~ Heavenly Anniversary ~

Six years ago, Butterfly received her First Holy Communion...surrounded by the angels and saints in heaven...in a spiritual sodality here on earth.

So, out I bring the Communion candle, which we light at each meal. 

Over the many years, I've tried to stress this and to teach this simple acknowledgement to my First Communion students - to continue to celebrate the occasion of their First Holy Communion Anniversaries.  It is, at least, as special as a birthday.

First Holy Communion is such a beautiful and sacred event.  It's ONE of the seven sacraments!

celebratory cookies on vintage plate, given to me from my mother
(the plate, not the cookies) :o)

We celebrate our wedding anniversaries...and our ordinations...we should also celebrate (or at least graciously acknowledge in some way) our baptismal anniversaries; when we become a child of God. How special is that!?

As always, we start the celebration with Holy Mass.  Fitting, yes?

celestial occasion calls for a celestial offering...

 

Happy Heavenly Anniversary, Butterfly...

~ Still Back-Blogged ~

Well, May has come and gone and I have sooo many things that I want to share here...

I think I will do a monthly blog, and just combine ALL the activities that go on around here.  Maybe next month...?

Today is our 22nd  Wedding Anniversary AND in just two days - On the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity - Conductor will be sealed with the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT during a Confirmation Mass.  Call me crazy but I'm organizing a small reception (most likely 150+ people) for our parish and then a family reception back at my home...while working on a few other projects (film on Adoration for our Diocese, programs for our upcoming Confirmation...) while major construction is going on outside the front entrance of our home...So, we are going to take a rain-check on tonights anniversary celebrations.  :o)

A quick peek at my First Holy Communion class cakes.  Love those cake toppers which I have used for the past several years.

Conductor made this cake topper for my First Communion children's cake - it's made of chocolate from a mold

Asparagus on the grill for the (post reception) BBQ gathering of some of the First Holy Communion children & their families - fun.fun.fun.  Played us some Corn Hole. 

BBQ Reception


OK.  Break's over.  Back to work!