|
|
Many years ago, in the days of the videocassette, our audiovisual library possessed a video that I found deeply moving and profoundly disturbing. It was one of those rare documentaries that linger in the memory long after they are over. It was a documentary from our mission office on the work of our Salesians in South America.
This one raised many uncomfortable questions for me: about the kind of world we live in, about the blindness which afflicts us, about human cruelty and human goodness.
The program told the shocking story of children who live in the sewers of Bogotá, in Columbia, and a Salesian lay brother, Jaime who befriends them and tries to rescue them. These children live among the rats and the filth, hidden away from the busy world above except when they surface to scavenge in rubbish-tips. They are children who have fled to the city in desperation, where most people ignore them and the police often ill-treat them. They are exposed to disease and crime, and are sometimes found murdered by the side of the street. And nobody seems to care - except Jaime, and a few others like him.
Jaime goes down into the sewers himself to gain the children's trust. He brings them food, listens to their tales and offers help. He tells them about a home he runs for homeless boys. When they have settled in he tries to get them a job and restore to them a sense of dignity and worth.
Perhaps the most moving moment in the program came during an interview with one of the boys in the home. He was a pleasant youngster, in his early teens, I would guess. He had spent several years in the sewers before being rescued by Jaime. He now had a job and was bright with hope for the future.
During the course of the interview he described life in the sewers: the hunger, the fears, the beatings. Eventually the interviewer asked him if there was anything at all he missed from those days. Speaking through an interpreter, he said without hesitation, 'Yes, I miss the friendship. We cared for each other and protected each other in the sewers. If you woke in the morning and the guy beside you had a crust of bread he'd give half of it to you. We were all like that.'
That image has haunted me ever since: starving, wretched children, condemned to the sewers, sharing a crust of bread with each other, while the uncaring world goes about its business above. Why is it, I keep asking myself, that it is often those who can least afford it who are most generous with what they have? And why is it that wealth and possessions so often make us blind, and callous and cruel? But then Jesus tells us that the mysteries of God are revealed to the little ones of this world, and not to the learned and clever, the wealthy and powerful...
God Bless you!
In Mary Help of Christians,
I remain,
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB
Director
|
|
Think about this
What is the difference between I like you I love you. Beautifully answered by Buddha: Buddha's answer was so simple: "When u like a flower, u just pluck it. But when u love a flower, u water it daily..!
|
|
 The ant and the grasshopper
Original Story:
The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and laying up supplies for the winter. The Grasshopper thinks the Ant is a fool and laughs dances plays the summer away. Come winter, the Ant is warm and well fed. The Grasshopper has no food or shelter so he is dying out in the cold. .......................... An Interpretation: The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and laying up supplies for the winter. The Grasshopper thinks the Ant's a fool and laughs dances plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering Grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the Ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving. CNN, Fox News, BBC, show up to provide pictures of the shivering Grasshopper next to a video of the Ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. The World is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be that this poor Grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Protesters stages demonstrations in front of the Ant's house. Some lawmakers demand that Grasshoppers be relocated to warmer climates during winter . Activists states this as 'injustice' done on Minorities. The Internet is flooded with online petitions seeking support for the Grasshopper Other lawmakers discuss a possible bill preventing Ants from working hard in the heat so as to bring about equality of poverty among Ants and Grasshoppers. Finally, a bill is passed. It is called POG - Protection of Grasshoppers. The Ant is fined for failing to comply with POG and having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, it's home is confiscated and handed over to the Grasshopper in a ceremony covered by CNN and Fox News
Activists calls it 'A Triumph of Justice'. Some lawmakers calls it 'Socialistic Justice'. Others calls it 'Revolutionary Resurgence of Downtrodden' Many years later...
The Ant has since immigrated to another country and set up a multi-billion dollar company. 100s of Grasshoppers still die of starvation despite POG | |
|
|
 Laughter the best medicine
Priest dies & is waiting in line at heavens gate. Ahead of him is a guy, fashionably dressed, in dark sun glasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket & jeans. God to the guy : Who are you? Guy : I am Samuel Lopez, Bus driver. God : Take this gold robe & enter kingdom of heaven. God to the Priest : Who are you? Priest : I am a priest and I spent 40yrs preaching the Good News to people. God : Take this cotton robe and enter heaven. Priest : God, how come that foul mouthed, rash driver gets a gold & I spent all my life preaching good get cotton. God : Results, my son, results. While you preached, people slept, when he drove, people really prayed... ___________________________________________ An engineer was removing the engine parts from a motorcycle when he saw a famous heart surgeon in his shop... He went to him & said.. "Look at this engine... I opened its heart, took the valves out, repaired and put them back"...So why do I get such a small salary? and u get huge sums....! The doctor smiled at the engineer and came close to his ear and said.... "Try the same when the engine is running." ���� classic! Continuation .Engineer. Revenge
The engineer smiled back came close to doctors ear and said I can pick any dead engine and make it alive . . . . . . . But can you ??? |
|
 The Devotion of the Three Hail Marys
The devotion of the THREE HAIL MARYS is a very simple yet most efficacious devotion.
Everyday, recite Three Hail Marys, adding the invocation: "O Mary, My Mother, keep me from mortal sin." Many people recite the Three Hail Marys as part of their morning and night prayers. To practice this devotion in time of danger, stress, special need or temptation, is a sure means to obtain Our Lady's help.
Dearest Mother Mary, thank you for interceding with Jesus. My daughter Caroline received a gift from Jesus after eight years. The baby was normal and healthy and the delivery was safe. Thank you dear Jesus and Mother Mary for this miracle. Percy, FL Thank you Mother Mary for taking my mother under your care and for curing her cough - do continue to take care of her. Rose, NY Thank you Mother for granting me a raise at my job. It seemed impossible. I thank you for the many other favours granted to me and my family. Donald, WA Thank you Mother Mary for giving my friend's husband the job he wanted for granting my nephew a break he'd been asking for in his job and for the many favors received. Joanita, TX | |
|
|
|
|
|
In Closing
Dear devotees of Our Lady and Don Bosco,
If you have received a miracle through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, we would like to hear from you. Email us at MaryShrine@aol.com.
Bookstore hours: Monday - Saturday - 10 am to 5 pm, Sundays: 12 - 4 pm
Weekday Masses: 12 noon. Confessions on weekdays begin at 11.30 am.
Sunday Masses: 11 am and 12.30 pm
Other activities: Day Retreats, Weekend retreats, Don Bosco Summer Camp, Eucharistic Adoration, Friday night Lenten Dinners, 50/50 raffle, 350 club, Rosary Madonna Statue. Rent Lomagno Hall, Rent our Banquet Hall.
MEMORIES
Remember a Loved One: Engrave plaques on Wall of Memories, adopt a Tree, Engrave blocks on Walk of Honor, All Souls, All year Candle lighting, Holiday (Christmas and Easter), Flowers, Schedule a Mass, Bell Chimes.
MASS INTENTIONS
To offer a mass intention, please write to
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB
174 Filors Lane,
Stony Point, NY 10980
mckennasdb@yahoo.com.
|
|
|
|
|
