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“Twas the season of joy – of listening to beautiful music, welcoming the Christ Child, visiting family, renewing
friendships, and having fun in the snow.Thank you to all the generous donors of St. John Church in Darien who are helping fourteen children from St. John Bosco Children’s Centre in Kitali, Kenya to attend boarding schools.
Our small group enjoyed singing carols in the homes of elderly church members. They were all so pleased to see us, and we all felt really good about doing something that helped to raise their spirits. Afterwards, we enjoyed a fabulous pot-luck supper – thank you Donna and Greg, for hosting this gathering.
Thank you too, Priscilla and John, for hosting our Gourmand Christmas Brunch. This group started nearly thirty years ago with six couples who got together for dinner once a month during the winter season – and it is still doing that. There are nine in the group now – and only two are original members.
While skiing near Lake Louise, we were reminded of a poem in Greg Mortenson’s ”Stones into Schools” – one verse
of which is “So I am here to listen to the quiet, the water, and the singing trees. This is the sound of peace,
the presence of [God].” We loved this winter wonderland in the Canadian Rockies – where for a few hours of several
days we were alone. Just us, and the mountains, the snow, the sun, the blue sky, the trees – and silence. We felt
no need to talk – we just marveled at God’s awesome creation there.
We drove many miles to six different towns in Alberta to the homes of family members. There are fifty four, including us, in Marilyn’s family, and we spent some time with forty five of them. We attended Christmas Eve Mass, enjoyed delicious meals, went skating and sledding with the young ones and played Sequence with the older ones.
On Solstice Day, the prayer in Upper Room was “Heavenly Father, may the situations and people that break your heart, break our hearts”. Please pray with us, as we pray –
That we may see thee,
A humble heart,
That we may hear thee,
A heart of love
That we may serve thee,
A heart of faith
That we may live thee.
Amen.
~ Maryknoll/Dag Hammarskjold
Vespers in the Chapel
Caroling with Jeanne
Alone in the Wilderness
Mother and Daughter Having Fun