And the Journeys continue.

Yesterday at St. Simeon Skete, we decided to take a few of the pilgrims on The Rosary Pilgrimage following the journey we take during our Annual Nazareth House Rosary Convocation started in 1996, (this year will be our 16th Annual Convocation). The Rosary Convocation pilgrimage takes place every October on the Saturday nearest to October 7th, the Feast Day of the Rosary.   

It was an unseasonably warm day, almost more like Summer than Spring while technically we are still in the Winter Season.    The Pilgrimage takes us on a journey, praying the Life of Christ along the way.

"The succession of holy words, the telling of beads, the moments of silence, all these form the background upon which the mysteries unfold within our mind, heart and life."-S+    

We began the Rosary by saying the Introit Prayers at the first stop of the Pilgrimage, overlooking the Ohio River. 

Next we journeyed through country roads and beautiful scenery, arriving at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Leopold, Indiana.  

"The mysteries are ever expanding to cover the wide range of human experience and emotion. These universal mysteries become intensely localized in the Rosary." -S+

Here we prayed the first set of Mysteries of the Rosary, The Joyful Mysteries.

"The first five (mysteries) concern a woman who gives birth for the salvation of the world..."

Linda & Anna from St. Augustine of Chico, California at St. Augustine, Leopold, Indiana

 From St. Augustine's Parish we journey on to St. Meinrad, Indiana to St. Joseph's Shrine

"...the second five (mysteries) concern a man, the son she borne, as the revealing light to a separated world; ..." -S+

At St. Joseph's Shrine, we prayed the second set, the Luminous Mysteries.

 and the journey continued...

 Reaching the Shrine of Our Lady of Monte Cassino, we began the third set, The Sorrowful Mysteries.

"..the third group (of mysteries) concern the man who dies for the salvation of the world;..." -S+ 

This chapel is one of our favorite places to pray.  

After a time of prayer, we took in the beauty and quaintness of the chapel.

and the facilities around us 

It was a simply gorgeous Lenten day...

 The Crucifixion and Resurrection were reflected in the Spring bulbs blooming

 amidst the starkness of the leafless Winter trees.

 After a light picnic lunch, we ...

washed up and traveled the final leg of the pilgrimage to St. Meinrad's Archabbey and Theological Seminary.

 Here we said the Glorious Mysteries.  "...the fourth group (of mysteries) concerns the reunion of the separated in the accomplishment of that salvation." -S+

 There is a statue at the Archabbey that always makes me smile.

The whimsically posed 'turned in' toes as he "walks",  the swinging arm...

 were made all the more charming today by the addition of the mockingbird on the head.

 

As you drive up to St. Meinrad you instantly feel as though you are in Europe. 

While we were in Indiana, James was in Sierra Leone making his own journey.

 The One Hut Village recovering from losing their huts last year are now preparing

 the bush, clearing it to plant a rice crop and other vegetables.

 NHA will provide the seeds for them

 which will help them provide food and sustenance for the village.

 A hard days work

 with little rest in hot African sun...

 There is a lot more to do, lots of brush to remove.  But the village teams up together, young and old and make it happen.

James, with the villagers at One Hut Village send their love and greetings, wishing you all a good week.   

Christmastide: Day 11

As usual, the Nazareth House Apostolate supporters, workers, and recipients; both children and adults, do what they do so well - and teamed up to demonstrate what LOVE is all about.  

It is always amazing to watch people come together to make things happen.  

People from one side of a country to another, from one side of an ocean to another, all walks of life, all capabilities... all blended together to hold each other up.   

Its all about love, and when love is truly orchestrating our actions - astonishingly wonderful things can happen. 

At the time that the Sunday School Class in Portland, Oregon was preparing candy canes and greetings for the children in Kabala, 

the Anglican Church Women of St. Augustine's Anglican Church in Chico, California were sending medications and extra funds for the work of Nazareth House in Kabala. 

And while they were doing that, down South in the Carolinas, The C.S. Lewis Center and St. Theodore's Anglican Chapel were Fasting for Africa as a fundraiser for the work of NHA.  

 ...and all the while individuals and families are donating.  

In Kabala, everything came in at the right time - money, necessities and Christmas Candy Canes.  Once we, in America, ship over to James in Kabala, then its time for them to what they do so well - distribute to those in need. 

And with love and the same abundant zeal that began in USA... the work is done.  

By the time the candy canes had arrived, the NHA School had already closed for the Christmas Vacation - (yes, in Sierra Leone it is still called Christmas Vacation and not Winter Vacation). 

 No problem!, James knew exactly what to do.  He thought of the Blind School.  

Candy canes are a gift that do not have to be seen - 

they are a gift for many of the senses -and with someone to help you remove the wrapper its even better.  

 So James packed up the medications from Chico, 

as well as supplies bought from funding from Columbia, South Carolina along with the candy canes from Portland, Oregon 

and headed out to the School for the Blind.   

He was also equipped with the means (from donations) to provide needs depending on their necessity to those at the Blind School.  

And back at the NHA School in Kabala, if you look closely at the little guy holding up the thank you sign for the candy canes, 

you'll notice it is ROO.   

Another bit of team work accomplished, Roo was critically anemic just last month, however, fast action sending vitamins and IRON from our headquarters in Kentucky has proved effective and we see that energetic smiling Roo once again.

As you can see, 

TEAM NAZARETH has managed to spread the love again.   

So on this eleventh day of Christmas, 

we give you love - lots of it - from all of us at NHA.