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

GOD'S "OPEN HEART" IN THE HIGH DESERT

On the Way of the Cross at our Retreat House in Cortaro AR people put small rocks, and sometimes notes as they pray the way that Christ took to Calvary.  This one has small rocks in the shape of a rock.  I caught the message right away.  DO YOU?  It is the "open heart of God in Christ". Who would bother to make a Way of the Cross or do any kind of prayer if he or she did not believe that, despite the foolish and sinful things we might have done in our lives...God's heart is still "always open" to pardon us and love us.

Car "Washed in the Wash"

I do not know the story of this car which I discovered in a "desert wash" near Cortaro AR.  Washes are places where accumulating water from desert storms high up in the mountains can silently accumulate and suddenly whip across the road carrying whomever and "whatever" to unexpected oblivion.  For this reason the roads approaching where a wash crosses the road on a downgrade usually have signs similar to Railroad Crossings saying something like 'CAREFULL APPROACHING THE WAS".  And one had better!!

HISPANIC MEETING IN TUCSON, AR

My missionary group, the Redemptorists, have a very wonderful Retreat House off Highway 10 on the way from Tucson to Phoenix.  It is called Picture Rocks Retreat House.  Part of the complex, which is right in the Sajuaro National Preserve, is called Desert House of Prayer.  Since 1980 when I spent nearly three months there after my first 8 years in the Dominican Republic I have returned twice:  once in 2002 when I spent two months and last week.  I truly love the dry hot high desert air.  My "friends": the Cactus Wrens, Gambol Quail, Curved Billed Thrashers, Pyrolloxia (which are similar to Northern Cardinals) make it truly a birding paradise.  There are many interesting warblers, finches and sparrows that inhabit the "Washes".  I saw a Gray Warbler that I "think" is called "Gray Cheeked".  And I have still to identify various other birds. Below are some of my shots of the area around Ina Road which forks off  Interstate 10 about 20 miles from downtown Tucson.

'BIRDING WAY OF THE CROSS IN PICTURE ROCKS-CORTARO, AR

DESERT SHRUBS, FLOWERS, CACTUS IN PICTURE ROCKS- CORTARO, AR

Picture Rocks in Cortaro AR--Sajuaro Preserve

Desert Sunset in Arizona

The "Wash" at Picture Rocks Retreat House

MPH Sisters at Hispanic Meeting in Tucson, AR

COMMUNING WITH MY BROCCOLLI

THANKS TO KEVIN MURRAY

Last week my friend Fr.Kevin Murray was here.  Kevin works in Sarnelli House in Philadelphia which is a community of youth volunteers that live in community our Redemptorist life and go out to know, love, learn from and to serve the poor and needy in the Kensington section of Philadelphia near our Parish of the Visitation.  I took advantage of Kevin's presence here to put many marigold in my organic garden.  (We spent a good evening planting them.)  Marigold help keep away insects from the vegetable plants "without" the need for dangerous pesticides and herbicides. Thanks to Kevin I now have two rows of Leaf Lettuce, two of Redina "Red" leaf lettuce, two rows of carrots, two rows of broccolli, 16 nice Tomatoes plants which are a gift of the local Bruderhof community here in Ulster Park at "Maple Ridge".  Also my buddy John Affronti and Marty Roberge are seasoned garderners that have helped me a lot.  Marty suggested this nice sunny spot.  John spent a night helping me put in the fence and posts.  Yesterday John helped me adjust my two sprinklers so that they will cover the 30'  by  20' area that is the "Sylvester Feeley Abundant Life Garden"