THE "BIRDER" ON "MIGRANTS AND THE DREAM ACT"

There is a very clear connection between my love for nature, birds, wildlife and my involvement in "Migrant Ministry" as a Redemptorist Missionary priest. The two yearly bird migrations are SPRING and FALL.  In both cases the neo tropical migrant birds are seeking a place for nesting, nourishment and the creation and protection of their young.  It is very much the same with the many human beings who have come, many with their children, to the North.  They "migrate to live, to nest, to eat...to survive".  One of our recent disappointments who had hopes for the 80,000 or so children of undocumented immigrints was the possibility of the passing in the recent legislative session of the DREAM ACT  which would be a route to documenting the many talented and hard working children who arrived here with their parents.  As a hope for the New Year which we  begin, I present this small video on the DREAM ACT.

(IT IS 4 MINS.)

FROM THE "BIRDER'S FROSTY WINDOW"

This Hudson River Birder, with my Redemptorist community: Frs. Gene, Charlie and my own brother Dan have spent a most layed back and enjoyable Christmas here at The Mount.  The snow came last night, lots of wind and drifting.  It knocked half of a huge spruce at the North End of our building facing the river... And I also shot these "frosty window" pictures through which I look out to the snow-wind swept lawn...Merry and Blessed Christmas time to all.

WORDS IN ENGLISH FOR THE POSADAS OF MEXICO

These are my own translation of the "dialogue" that happens between Mary, Joseph and those of whom they ask for POSADA, that is SHELTER on their journey from Nazaret to Bethlehem.


The Posada Song
(Mary and Joseph seeking  Posada= shelter)

Mary & Joseph :In the name of heaven we ask shelter of you,
because my beloved wife can hardly walk.

Answer:

This is no hotel. Keep moving. I can’t let you have shelter here.
You just might be robbers..

Joseph

Please don’t be inhuman. Have mercy on us.
It is the very God in heaven that you will reward you.

Answer:

You can both go now and not bother us,
because if I get mad I’m capable of clubbing you both.

Joseph:

Mi wife is Mary. She is Queen of Heaven.
She is going to be Mother of the Divine Word.

Answer:
Are you Joseph? Is your wife Mary?
Oh, please enter, travelers. I did not recognize you.

Then All Enter the House Singing:

Come in pilgrims, holy pilgrims, holy pilgrims,
In this nook take your part; Not alone
of my poor dwelling, my poor dwelling,
But take also of my heart.Scatter the candies,
scatter the sweets now, For all the children
are longing to eat now. Candied pineapple!
Chestnuts well roasted! Hit with a stick
all those at the door posted! Come on then,
Lola! Hurry, we ask it! Bring us the peanuts
you have in the basket!Here from this dwelling
we'll go of sadly;They've giv'n us nothing
and treated us badly!

ANOTHER VIDEO ON THE MEXICAN POSADAS WITH THE TRANSLATION ABOVE

THE MEXICAN POSADAS

Tomorrow will be the last time that Mexican familes, both here in the North, as well as back in the land they  had to leave...will be celebrated what are called the POSADAS.  (Here in Ulster County, among my other tasks such as: my work as retreat director here at THE MOUNT, chaplain to our Redemptoristine Sisters, Jail Ministry, I have been working in "Reaping the Harvest" which is a migrant ministry).  The "Posadas" begin on Dec 16th and go for nine days .  And so...tomorrow Christmas Eve will be the last one.  What the posadas celebrate is the journey of Mary, Joseph looking for the need SHELTER for Jesus to be born.   The Spanish word :Posada...SHELTER.  It is what, not only poor Mexicans today seek. It is what the poor of America and the world seeks.  I got sick last Friday, so I won't be able to go to these last two posasas.  But I share this nice Disney video that show what the posadas are.
BLESSED CHRISTMAS FROM
THE HUDSON RIVER BIRDER

SHOOTING BEAUTY...AND MY FRIEND, "FR JACK"

Last year, while watching the documentary, Shooting Beauty that showed the work of some physically challenged photographers and videographers I was surprised to see this photo of my fellow Redemptorist, Fr. Jack Hennessy C.SS.R.  One of the young women working under Director Courtney Bent's direction had shot this nice photo of  Fr. Jack and a woman from our Mission Church Parish in Roxbury MA. (Cathy Culkin, who took the picture is to the right.)
                                                                                        

The MSNBC segment on  Making a Difference shows how Courtney Bent's Shooting Beauty project is growing around the country.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and

news about the economy

THE BIRDER SLOWS DOWN AS CHRISTMAS APPROACHES

I have not posted in a long time.  I was in Canada and even before that I had pneumonia.  I have had to learn to slow down. There is not much wildlife here at The Mount to photograph.  (Well, we did have a bear for a few nights but "he" or "she" left since our dumpster was not that inviting I guess).  As all of you this HUDSON RIVER BIRDER has to learn to "SLOW DOWN" and see what God has for me to see, do or just observe.  So I found this great Advent segment on YouTube.  Enjoy it!

PLACES, BIRDS AND ENVIRONMENT IN GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALBERTA-CA

I have just finished the first week of a Parish Mission here in the parish of St. Joseph's in Grande Prairie, Alberta, CANADA.  The As I was walking last Sunday along Bear Creek, which is a city park here which goes for miles around the University of  Grand Prairied as well as for miles out towards the countryside, I saw these adventurous magpies fishing in what is now, two days later a frozen lake.

The sunsets here are truly in but "out of this world".  Here is one on Flying  Shot Lake.

Finally, I show you a picture of Luisa, my friend and coordinator of the Spanish speaking mission from last week.  With her are Marvin and myself.  We are in front of the newly constructed St. Joseph Parish Belltower which was rung for the first time last Sunday, Nov. 7th-2010

Finally my loving and faith-filled "hosts"--- Roger and Angel Field who have filled me with faith, love, cinnamon rolls and a great desire to do the famous CAMINO PILGRIMAGE in Spain to the Shrine of  St. James Compostella.  I love these two people as they do me.

 

Bohemian Waxwings in Grande Prairie

These are, I believe, a hearty flock of Bohemian Waxwings  that enjoy the berry trees here in Grande Prairie, Alberta CANADA.

AND HERE IS A BEAUTIFUL PAPER MACHE PICTURE OF THE "SOWER GOING OUT TO SOW THE SEED.  It was created by the children here in St. Joseph's Parish here for this week's parish mission in Grande Prairie, Alberta, CANADA.

IN THE "LAND OF MOOSE AND GROUSE"

Here on Lake "Flying Shot"  just two miles  outside of the town of Grande Prairie I am with Roger and Angel  Field.  Roger, (as was my own dad) is an architect who recently designed the beautiful new bell tower in St. Joseph's Church in Grande Prairie.  Angel has her house full of beautiful water color paintings.  I will send pictures of some later on....Today I just want to show a  great shot of a moose I got yesterday right outside on the lawn.

THE "HUDSON RIVER BIRDER"......FROM GRAND PRAIRIE-ALBERTA, CANADA

I am here in Grand Prairie on a preaching mission with about thirty of my Redemptorists confreres from here in Canada, from the Western Provinces as is this one of Alberta.  There will also be our priests from Brittish Columbia, Quebec, Ontario....And besides we who have come from the eastern US, there are also confreres here from our communities in the Western US.   The mission will be preached in this town of Grand Prairie, ALBERTA and many other smaller towns within a five hour distance of here.  Yesterday I saw a number of TROMPETER SWANS  on the lake where I am staying which is called Flying Shot Lake.   The sunrises and sunsets here are truly marvelous.  Here are some. My new friend and Redemptorist confrere, Fr. Pierre Bach took these.  He is a Redemptorist who works in our shrine of Ste. Anne de Beaupre. 

IN LOVING SOLIDARITY WITH THE FAMILY OF LIAM MURPHY

I have not been placing much new on my  blog for the past few months.  (The work on my "Sylvester Feeley Abundant Life Garden"  really paid off.   One of my "many" mistakes, however, was ripping out my Romaine lettuce and Bush Beans before an actual frost came.  (I was under the "false" impression that 42 degrees represented a frost.  That of course is incorrect.  A frost is a sustained temperature of under 32.6. 
Here is an embedded greeting that we send to all our Manchester England and Donegal cousins in Ireland, most especially for our cousin and dear mother of our deceased Liam Murphy.

TRANSFORMATIONS ARE THE BREAD OF LIFE

BIRTH OF A BUTTERFLY

I have been preparing a Mission for a place called Grand Praire in Alberta, CANADA.  One of the talks will be on the theme of CONVERSION.  I understand conversion as a change or a transformation of a person so much so that their real inner beauty placed there by God sudden or slowly and surely "becomes visible".  I was thinking the created world (NATURE) has one most awesome example of transformation.  It is that moment when, after beginning as a tiny, humble caterpillar and the hanging in the dark as a cocoon...Well that beauty just bursts out.  So this video that I share with you I hope to use when I do actually preach about Conversion in Grand Prairie beginning this November 5th..  ENJOY THIS!!!

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH--WALK FOR PEACE IN POUGHKEEPSIE, NY

THIS IS PART OF A "BELLS RINGING FOR PEACE WALK" THAT OUR PAX CHRISTI GROUP OF THE HUDSON VALLEY DID ON THE POUGHKEEPSIE "WALKAWAY BRIDGE" ON SATURDAY, SEPT 18, 2010

IT WAS ORGANIZED BY PAX CHRISTI OF THE HUDSON VALLEY, WITH THE EFFORTS OF DOUG AND MARTHA MARTIN AND GILBERTO CINTRON...THIS "HUDSON RIVER BIRDER" WAS THE VIDEOGRAPHER..

ENJOY!!



PEACE BELLS OVER THE HUDSON

"THE MARVELOUS MARTINS PLAYING A PEACE MEDLEY AT THE SEPT 18TH, 2010 "BELLS FOR PEACE WALK ON THE POUGKEEPSIE WALKAWAY BRIDGE"

FALL MIGRATION AND RESPECT AND LOVE FOR OUR WORLD

The Hudson River Birder and niece Jayne Christine at Muir Woods

On the weekend of October 1-3  I have a workshop for birders and nature lovers here at the Mount.  Below is the way I have announced it in our brochure here at Mt. St. Alphonsus:

FALL MIGRATION AND AND RESPECT AND LOVE FOR OUR WORLD

(A weekend for lovers of birds, butterflies, trees flowers etc, etc and nature lovers at “The Mount”)

Oct 1-3, 2010

Saturday Program: (begins at 9 am ). At the height of “Fall Bird Migration” Fr. Tom Martín Deely invites nature and bird enthusiasts to spend a very active weekend walking the length and breadth of Mt. St. Alphonsus´s 412 Hudson River property. Besides indentifying by ear and sight the various migrating birds, butterflies, raptors etc., we will visit some interesting ecological and historical sites on our propery: the old wine cellar, the 18th century Smith Cemetery, an indigenous site, the “Ancient Oak and Purple Beech on the old Pell Farm. As we walk and explore there will be moments of both private and group prayer and reflection . Participants must be prepared to do some good walking. Bring your bird, tree, butterfly books blocker, repellent and your Bible, Koran and reflective journals. Mr. Brian McPhillips, long time Central Park Birder and naturalist and Mr. Rusty Johnson, falconer, Amazon Tour Guide and author “The Twilight of the Wild “ will accompany the group along with Fr. Tom Martín Deely

Sunday Program: . After Sunday Breakfast at 8am, as we “walk, bird, discover and talk” Fr. Deely will share an ecological perspective from the Roman Catholic tradition. Others will be invited to share their perspective on nature and the environment from Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or their own personal perspectives. Also on Sunday Morning just before lunch there will be an interfaith worship and praise service somewhere on the property.

Cost: Full Weekend (including Friday night)= $180

Weekend (minus Friday night) = $140

Saturday/Sunday with lunch (commuters) = $70

Saturday or Sunday with lunch (commuters) = $35

EAGLE'S NEST FALLS AT EMERALD BAY -WEST SHORE OF LAKE TAHOE

Pardon me!  Here at Eagle's Falls on Emerald Bay on the west shore of Lake Tahoe I had gotten two much sun.  And, silly as my look appears, it was my 71st birthday and I wasam experiencing a GREAT JOY and and even greater GRATITUDE for the gift of  MY LIFE and also for the GIFT OF ALL LIFE.  I do hope that all strife, wars, greed, injustice, selfishnesss, ingratitude and all kinds of behaviour that do not reflect the CREATOR'S LOVE FOR US AND GOODNESS IN US come to and end in the near future......I have a ministry in the local jail here in Kingston, NY.   A phrase that came to me  recently, and it is something I share with the inmates when they share with me their sorrow, shame and sadness for the mistakes they have made and the people they have hurt.  I say, Just say this little prayer: LORD, TURN MY SHAME AND REPENTANCE INTO HOPE!

Your friend,

Tom  Deely

The "Hudson River Birder"

HUDSON RIVER BIRDER ON LAKE TAHOE

Lake Tahoe is 22 miles long & 12 miles wide.  The lake  is the 2nd deepest lake in US @ 1645 ft. with Crater Lake in Oregon the deepest @ 1949 ft.3.  Its average surface elevation is 6225 above sea level.   Its surface area is 191 miles And the highest peak above Lake Tahoe is Freel Peak @ 10891 ft.....

IT IS  75 MILES TO DRIVE AROUND IT. WE VISITED EMERALD FALLS WHERE I MUST HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF THE BEAUTIFUL STELLAR JAY.

THIS HUDSON RIVER BIRDER AND FAMILY AT "MUIR WOODS" CALIFORNIA

DAN AND COLIN WALKING ALONG LAKE TAHOE

APPROACHING LAKE TAHOE

THE HUDSON RIVER "BIRDER'S BROTHERS"

McDermott--Deely Lake Tahoe Walk

The Deely--McDermott Reunion at Lake Tahoe

THE HUDSON RIVER BIRDER AND HIS BROTHER JOHN

THE BERKELEY FLOWERS LOOK AT THE "BERKELEY PEOPLE"

HEY !!!!  IS THAT A "FLOWER CHILD" APPROACHING US??

BERKELEY CA--- SEEN BY THEIR FLOWERS

Berkeley flowers "look at" their city.  I thought that, just as my brothers and I look and enjoy the beautiful trees, shrubs and abundant flowers of this great town (city?) of Berkeley CA, that the flowers themselves enjoy us who are "enjoying them".  So I have been trying to take some pictures of the town from the "flowers' very own point of view".

BERKELEY CA--CITY OF TREES, SHRUBS AND FLOWERS

THE "HUDSON RIVER BIRDER'...WITH THE "MARTINEZ BIRDER"

MY FRIEND PETE

AND I ON A DAY AT POINT REYES

BIRDING IN MARIN COUNTY--"POINT REYES"

Today I spent the entire day with my friend, Pete White, birding at Point Reyes, Bolinas Lagune and Nicasio Reservoir north of San Francisco.  This is the list :

 Common Murre, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Western Grebe, Western Gull, Harlequin Duck, Double Crested Comorant, Brand's Comorant, Pacific Comorant, Long Billed Curlew, Willet, Caspian Tern, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Canada Goose, Pigeon Guillemot, Black Oyster Catcher, Brown Pellican, Pacific Flycatcher, Scrub Jay, Stellar Jay, Wrentit, Bushtit, Spotted Towhee, California Towhee,  Starlings, Savannah Sparrow, White Crowned Sparrow, Swainson Thrush, Berwick Wren, House Finch, House Finch, Purple Finch, Goldfinch, Acorn Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Violet Green Swallow, Red Winged Blackbird,  Chestnut Hooded Chickadee, Black Phoebe, Pine Siskin, Oregon Junco, Black Headed Grosbeack, California Quail, Red Tailed Hawk, Red Shouldered Hawk, White Tailed Kite, Wilson Warbler, Orange Crowned Warbler, ELEPHANT SEAL...Say Sparrow, Allen's Hummingbird, Ana's Hummingbird, Turkey Vulture, Turkey, Common Raven and Warbling Vireo.

   Pete and I spent from 7 am until 5 pm.  Pete told me that the fog tends to stay over the San Francisco Bay area until the sun becomes strong in the early afternoon .  So for this reason we stayed at Nicasio Reservoir and Bolinas Lagoon in the AM.  Then in the afternoon we headed towards the cliffs of Point Reyes which are truly marvelous.  I place here the two species that most impressed me which are the Acorn Woodpecker which truly does have the appearance of a "clown" and the Violet Green Swallow.

Volunteer Work Crews at The Mount

KENNY, DIEDRE AND THE FAMILY HELPING FAITH FORMATION DAY

HISPANIC FAMILIES OF ULSTER COUNTY

"WELCOME TO HISPANIC FAMILIES FROM ULSTER COUNTY

Last Sunday was the Roman Catholic Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.   I had a Day of Faith Formation for Hispanic families from all around Ulster County.  The fact is that, long before I was The Hudson River Birder I have been Padre Tom Martín Deely, a Redemptorist Missionary priest. My love for birds, for wildlife...My desire to protect and care for the world's human and physical life systems is a simple outflow of my love for God and for all that and "all whom" God has made. One of my dreams for our 412 acres here at The Mount would be to see poor Hispanic families who loved to work on their farms and fields in their countries of origin...I would love to see them working small pieces of organic farm lands here on our property.  BUT THIS IS ONLY A DREAM NOW...But we know that "dreams can come true.

FAMILY FAITH FORMATION AT "THE MOUNT" FOR HISPANICS

FAITH FORMATION DAY FOR HISPANICS AT "THE MOUNT"

A RAINY DAY AT HOOK MOUNTIAN-MARYDELL

This is a change of pace for the summer.  But I just f inished editing a Video that I created of autumn rains scenes in Marydell Retreat Center at Hook Mountain which is on the Western Shore of the Hudson River right across from Tarrytown and Ossinging NY.  I think you will like it.

DAY FOR HISPANIC FAMILIES AT THE MOUNT

One of my greatest concerns as both the HUDSON RIVER BIRDER and a Roman Catholic missionary priest here in Ulster County is the welfare of our great Hispanic population.  Ulster County has many Hispanic people.  Many have been here for many years and have restaurants, businesses and steady employment.  Others are either Migrant or Temporary Workers who work during the planting and harvest and during the harvest time for grape, apple, peach and other agricultural products.  This weekend one of the groups here at The Mount are the Presentation Sisters of the Eastern USA in their annual assembly.  One of their concerns, which is also mine, is the creation of a more just and practical immigration policy here in the United States.  As one who spent 32 years working outside the US in the Dominican Republic and also as a visitor and student in places like Ecuador and Brazil I am  "pro immigrant".  One of my favorite documentaries is LOS QUE SE QUEDAN ("Those Who Remain") It shows how the Mexican families agonize before the decison of going to work in the USA.  The beauty, simplicity and joy of life in Mexico permeates this movie like the sweetest perfume imaginable.  It is so clear that the choice to come and work in the United States is not a joyful nor easy decision for those "who come" and also for 'THOSE WHO REMAIN BEHIND".  Family life in Mexico is often so very pure, loving and joyous.  It will not be....It NEVER IS...when they come to the States.
And so.....on this weekend when Mexico is challenging Argentina for the World Cup in Soccer we have about 150 families from Ulster, Dutchess and Orange counties coming here for a Day of Family Faith Formation.  They will be greeted and welcomed by the beauty of The Mount: its fields, trees, birds, deer, turkey, its beautiful Hudson River fronting. Hopefully it will remind them of the equal beauties of Mexico, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras....etc, etc that necessity has made them leave.

The Hudson River Birder/Gardener

Garden Work Pays Off at The Mount

DAY ON "JESUS' SAYINGS AND ATTITUDES ON CREATION

Joe, Pat and Sheila joined me, P. Tom Martín Deely, The Hudson River Birder, to spend the day walking much of our 412 acre Hudson River, Mt. St. Alphonsus Spiritual Center.  We used the blue truck to get to some places, walked to others, like the Acre Pond where, reflecting upon what Jesus said and his way of relating to nature, animals and the natural world, we saw and "heard" Kingfishers, Red Winged Blackbirds, saw Great Blue Herons "sailing in" for a soft landing on the pond, saw a harried Red Tailed Hawk spiralling as she (or "he) was attacked by pesky little sparrows.  It was a great day, and we went long beyond 3 pm where we "usually" end our Saturday day programs. Below are some of the ideas and Bible quotes that I shared with Pat, Sheila and Joe.  (Joe is from Mineola LI and has participated in my "Christ and Spring Migration Nature Day".   We even saw nesting eagles which, of course, we are forbidden by the NYS Wildlife Management from telling you where.  The truth is that American Bald Eagles are doing quite well.  I guess it is true that there might just be mean spirited people in the world that would enjoy doing harm to an Eagle´s nest if they knew where it was.  But no people like that come to the Mount.

At the Purple Beech - Jesus' Sayings and Attitudes on Creation

WAY OF CROSS AND "WAY OF CREATION"

TOWARDS THE 200 YEAR PURPLE BEECH

JESUS'S WORDS AND ATTITUDES ON CREATION

Ron on the Rip Van Winkle in front of The Mount--This Birder's Home on Hudson