"SOUNDS OF KINDNESS (BEN'S BELLS) IN TUCSCON

With all the snow I really can't find any interesting birds or nature scenes to share with you.  (Well, I "could" have shown you the men out there on a Coast Guard cutter right in front of The Mount.  They had all their lights on last night, probably measuring the depth of the frozen channel waters of the Hudson right in front of us North of "Esopus Island".  My guess was that they were like a "moveable Lighthouse" marking the channel for the large Ice Cutter that broke out the channel early this morning.  After that they cut themselves into that channel and headed south...I guess for a nice warm visit to their homes...
Anyway I share this embedded piece on what MSNBC calls "The Sounds of Kindness in Tucson".  It is an interesting project making comfort and peace bells.  ENJOY!

A "FROSTY MEADOW" AT MT. ST. ALPHONSUS--"THE MOUNT'

SNOWY SUNRISE FROM THE BIRDER'S WINDOW

A SHORT VIDEO ON THE "BIRDER'S REDEMPTORIST FAMILY"

Long before I became intensely interested in birds, nature, the environment I was intensely interested in ANY way that I could love God and the poor and needy...That is how I became a Redemptorist Missionary priest and worked for 32 years in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic before I came to Esopus and became...ALSO...THE HUDSON RIVER BIRDER.
Please enjoy this short video on us Redemptorists.

THE DEC 26TH BLIZZARD IN NEW YORK CITY

I have to say that one of the first things that came to mind as I watched Jamie Stuart's excellent little 3 min. video of the Dec. 26th blizzard in NYC was, What were the people thinking as they worked and Jamie just filmed them?.  Anway it may evoke painful memories for some of us and joyful  ones for others.  Me...I just loved it...both up here in Esopus where, even though I had the flu I just enjoyed it.  Then later after Dec. 27th when I went snow shoeing in Alley Pond Park and an elderly couple, trodding through the Union Turnpike  Secret Path as my niece and nephew used to call it, the couple asked me,  What are they? And I said, They're snowshoes.  Then the gentleman asked, How much do they cost.  And I replied, About $125.  He said..."Too much!."  But they were "well worth it"  for me.  Enjoy Jamie's neat mini documentary of the blizzard.

FAMILIES OF PROMISE

Othen than "lots of snow" there is not too much of Nature, Birds or Wildlife for this Hudson River Birder to share here..
Well, the truth is that my blog ..."is evolving"..  One of my main guiding principles about nature, (creation) is the "interconnectedness" and the "needed communion" among ALL God's creatures.. Long before I became interested in nature, wildlife and birds I was a "human being interested in human beings".  The 8 minute mini documentary I embedded below was done by 7th grade students at St. John Vianney School in Kailua, Hawaii on a project to deal with homelessness.  The documentary won the award of the United States Bishops Human Development Campaign just this last December 10th. It is very good. Despite all that has been said about the problem of depleted habitats birds make out pretty good.  The Artic Term, for example is able to migrate from the North Pole to the South Pole each year to find food, nest and care for its youngs.  Unfortunatlely..HUMAN BEINGS DON'T HAVE THOSE OPTIONS.

PRESENTATION PARTY IN THE BRONX THAT THE BIRDER DID

A few years ago I was still in the South Bronx, in Immaculate Conception Parish.  Today and tomorrow the various Mexican communities cut what they call LA ROSCA.  The ROSCA is a very tasty, very delicious pastry.  Within it are hidden small, tiny white plastic images of the Baby Jesus.  If when you get your piece of the ROSCA there is one of those tiny white plastic Jesus's then for Feb 2nd, when the Catholic Church celebrates the PRESENTATION OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE, there will be a very nice party and YOU will have to bring something.  It could simply be the plastic plates, knives or forks.  Or you could bring the meat, the tamales, beans, soda or something for the party.  During the party each person who has received a tiny white plastic Jesus has to make their own, creative image of the child Jesus in the Crib.  Then there is an award ceremony to see whose image is the most beautiful...
And so, a few years ago I filmed our Presentation party in Immaculate Conception Parish in the Bronx.  It was one of my better YouTubes, and still "moves me" when I see the joy, the fun, the food and all those people I have come to love so much...Enjoy!!

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!!!