St. Simeon Skete, Taylorsville Kentucky USA

With St. Simeon, the God receiver, as our patron, the skete seeks to practice the ideals found in our Rule, The Thousand Day Nazareth. In simplicity and poverty, the skete embraces the struggle of inner life through the practice of the Prayer Rope.

See our website at www.nazarethhouseap.org

Donations should be addressed to: Nazareth House Apostolate, 185 Captains Cove Drive, Taylorsville, Kentucky 40071.

Important Notice: All writings, posts, graphics & photographs in this blog are the copyrighted property of (unless otherwise indicated) Nazareth House Media, a division of Nazareth House Apostolate and cannot be copied, printed or used without written permission from NHA Media, Taylorsville, KY.

Saturday, April 7, 2012


Greetings from James and some of the NHA Students in Kabala:   ©2012 NHA, All Rights Reserved

A friend shared a photo with some African children sitting in a circle, feet touching, the description of the photo read: 
An anthropologist proposed a game to African tribe kids. He put a basket full of fruit near a tree and told them that whoever got there first won the sweet fruits. When he told them to run they all took each others hands and ran together, then sat together enjoying their treats. When he asked them why they had run like that as one could have had all the fruits for himself they said: UBUNTU, how can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad?  
A Unity Circle of the NHA Students, Kabala Sierra Leone  ©2012 NHA, All rights reserved 

James sent a photo of the NHA students poised in the same position, an unbroken circle.  What the anthropologist came to realize is what we at NHA have seen happen over and over many a time in Sierra Leone.  
Like the beads on a rosary, the students side by side, bead by bead make an unbroken chain, a circle of love

The incident that comes to to mind and fills my heart is one that happened several years ago.  It was in the early stages of NHA development.  We only had enough money for a few bags of rice so we called the students together to distribute a few cups (enough for a meal or so for each family).    As the children filed through the line, receiving their rice, to my horror I began to realize there was more children than rice.   There was not going to be enough.  As the last bit of rice was being poured into the last cups, the first children - the ones who had already received rice - without thinking, without blinking an eye, without any coaxing by any adult - automatically turned back around and began to divide into the empty cups a portion of what they had in their cups so that no-one was without.  Everybody went home with rice.   See details of this story from previous blog Click here for blog on Sacred Heart & Empty Cups

Together its easier to share the brunt of being without, represented by the bare feet.   ©2012 NHA

The circle - unbroken - harmony, unity!  looking at these children - no one at the head, no one at the end but side by side as one, together as a whole -  its the picture of love.    A circle with no beginning, no end - endless love - the rosary! 

It is also more joyous to share the times when there is enough, represented in the shoes.  ©2012 NHA

This is what NHA seeks - love, peace and unity for everyone - no in-groups, no out-groups -  but for everyone ...... and why praying the life of Christ in the rosary is so important to us.  

Still connected, hand in hand, the children make their way to their homes.   ©2012 NHA

Nazareth House Apostolate
185 Captains Cove Drive
Taylorsville, KY 40071