My Father’s Anniversary…in Heaven!

I recently received this email and couldn’t help but think of my father, whose anniversary of passing is today.  I’m lucky Joe Clair was my father. Here is one of our email exchanges from the last Father’s Day he was alive:

I wrote: Dear Dad, we once had a professor who said that the kids in the class had won the lottery of life because of where and when we were born. I feel like I won the lottery of life, not only because I was born in the greatest country, but because I had the greatest parents. You and Honey (i.e. Mom in my family) are the greatest parents anyone could ask for.

His response – all in caps, just like this:

I CERTAINLY WON THE LOTTERY OF LIFE 17 TIMES…..FIRST OF ALL HONEY
THEN 16 OF THE GREATEST KIDS ANY FATHER COULD ASK FOR. NOT BAD
FOR A MAN WHO ISN’T CONSIDERED LUCKY. I HAVE ALWAYS FELT I WAS
ONE OF GOD’S FAVORITES. DON’T 17 WINS PROVE I WAS RIGHT?

LOVE – - – DAD

The greatest Dad in the world....he thought he was lucky to have had my mom and us. We know the truth - we were lucky to have had him. A funny man, a holy man, a great singer and a lot of fun!

Facts of being Father

When I was 4 Yrs Old: My father was THE BEST

When I was 6 Yrs Old: My father seemed to be perfect person

When I was 10 Yrs Old: My father was excellent but he was short tempered

When I was 12 Yrs Old: My father was nice when I was little

When I was 14 Yrs Old: My father started being too sensitive

When I was 16 Yrs Old: My father couldn’t keep up with modern time

When I was 18 Yrs Old: My father was getting less tolerant as the days passed by

When I was 20 Yrs Old: It was too hard to forgive my father, how could my Mum stand him all these years

When I was 25 Yrs Old: My father seemed to be objecting to everything I did

When I was 30 Yrs Old: It was very difficult to be in agreement with my father, I wondered if my Grandfather was troubled by my father when he was young.

When I was 40 Yrs Old: My father brought me up with a lot of discipline, I must do the same.

When I was 45 Yrs Old: I am puzzled, how did my father manage to raise all of us?

When I was 50 Yrs Old: It’s rather difficult to control my kids, how much did my father suffer for the sake of upbringing and protecting us.

When I was 55 Yrs Old: My father was far looking and had wide plans for us, he was gentle and outstanding..

When I became 60 Yrs Old: My father is THE BEST

‘My father – The Best Father’

I Praise You God…REHEARSAL!

I found this cool video over on youtube.  For those of you who have walked by my office or spent any length of time with me, you know I listened to Danielle Rose for quite some time!  Well, I found this great video of her song, Wonderfully Made (Psalm 139) on Youtube.  Do you know what is so great about it?  She shows us the process music goes through.  Sometimes you forget the words, sometimes you forget the notes, but when it comes down to it, its all about praising God.  God gave you that voice – so don’t be afraid to use it to praise Him!

The Lyrics:
Lord you search me and you know me
When I sit and when I stand
You understand my thoughts from afar
Behind me and before me Your hand is there to guide me
Too wonderful for me this knowledge is beyond my reach
Before a word is on my tongue
You know it all before it has begun

I praise you God that I am fearfully and wonderfully made…

Where can I hide from your presence
Where can I flee from your face
If I fly to the heavens you are there
If I lie in the grave you are there

If I take the wings of the dawn
If I settle on the far side of the sea
Even there your hand will guide me
You right hand will hold me fast
For you night is as the day
For you light and darkness are the same

I praise you God that I am fearfully and wonderfully made…

In secret, as in the depths of the earth,
You formed my inmost being
My very self, my bones were not hidden from you
You knit me in my mother’s womb

I praise you God that I am fearfully and wonderfully made…

The Psalm:

Psalm 139
1
O LORD, you have probed me, you know me:
2
you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar.
3
My travels and my rest you mark; with all my ways you are familiar.
4
Even before a word is on my tongue, LORD, you know it all.
5
Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me.
6
Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for me to reach.
7
Where can I hide from your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee?
8
If I ascend to the heavens, you are there; if I lie down in Sheol, you are there too.
9
3 If I fly with the wings of dawn and alight beyond the sea,
10
Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand hold me fast.
11
If I say, “Surely darkness shall hide me, and night shall be my light” –
12
Darkness is not dark for you, and night shines as the day. Darkness and light are but one.
13
You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb.
14
I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! My very self you knew;
15
my bones were not hidden from you, When I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth.
16
Your eyes foresaw my actions; in your book all are written down; my days were shaped, before one came to be.
17
How precious to me are your designs, O God; how vast the sum of them!
18
Were I to count, they would outnumber the sands; to finish, I would need eternity.
19
If only you would destroy the wicked, O God, and the bloodthirsty would depart from me!
20
Deceitfully they invoke your name; your foes swear faithless oaths.
21
Do I not hate, LORD, those who hate you? Those who rise against you, do I not loathe?
22
With fierce hatred I hate them, enemies I count as my own.
23
Probe me, God, know my heart; try me, know my concerns.
24
See if my way is crooked, then lead me in the ancient paths.

I was a second year teacher…

Over fifteen years ago I met the Salesian Sisters for the first time in Port Chester, NY. I was in my second year teaching first grade in a Catholic school in Queens, NY. I hadn’t even heard of St. John Bosco, and here were the Sisters only about 45 minutes away!

Sr. Suzanne with her students

I had been discerning with another congregation and was accepted. Then through a couple of “coincidences”, I found some information about the Salesians and decided I’d check them out…

From the first visit, seeing the Sisters at Port Chester with the young people and how they related with each other, something just “clicked”. I visited a couple more times and then spent some time at Camp Auxilium in Newton, NJ. It was there that I decided 0 after much prayer and some struggle – that if I were going to be a sister, it would be a Salesian Sister. It is hard to express the experience of joy I found in being with the Sisters and the young people.

Sr. Suzanne singing for the community

I’ve been a sister for ___ years. In this time, I’ve continued to experience much joy.  There have also been some bumps along the way as well. Looking back, I realize that initial feeling of “something clicked” is that my plans fit with God’s Plan for my life.

Question #6: Why Salesian?

There are so many religious orders out there. Google can’t even answer the question of how many orders there are, because God continues to gift the Church with new charisms, and therefore, new orders continue to be born.

Considering this, I can’t help but wonder how God was good enough to bring me here!

I didn’t know I was joining a religious family that was the largest group of women religious in the world. I didn’t know our brothers were the second largest group of religious men in the world. I didn’t know the Salesians would have over 100 people on their way to becoming saints in just over 150 years. I didn’t know I would get to live with saints. I didn’t know I would learn to play the drums and the guitar. I didn’t know I would do things I thought would be impossible for me. I had no clue. I was 17.

What I did know was that these Sisters loved kids, and that I loved kids. I knew these Sisters were happy, and I was a happy person. I knew that these Sisters loved Jesus deeply and I loved Him too. I knew they were fun to be with and, well, it seemed like a good fit.

All the rest…living with real saints, learning to be a teacher from the greats, having people around me who loved me and wanted what was best for me, learning to play the drums and the guitar, learning to speak another language, learning that I could do other things other people could see in me – all that, was just icing on the cake!

The Alpha and The Omega

I found this online, and couldn’t help of the song, “You are My All in All”.

Jesus is saying He is the A and Z and everything in between.
He is Alpha, Adonai, our Advocate, the Amen, the second Adam, the Almighty, the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
He is the Babe of Bethlehem, the Bridegroom, the Bishop of our Souls, the Branch of Righteousness, the Bread of Life; the Bright and Morning Star; Jesus is the Balm of Gilead.
He is the Christ, the Creator, the Cornerstone, the Counselor, the Comforter, the Chosen One, the Crucified One, the Chief Shepherd of the sheep.
He is the Door, the Daystar, our Delight, our Deliverer, the Desire of all the Nations.
He is Emmanuel; the Exalted One, from Everlasting to Everlasting He is God, Jesus is El Shaddai.
He is the First fruits of the Resurrection, the Fountain of Life, our Forerunner, the Foundation of the Church, the Fullness of the Godhead Bodily, Jesus is the Friend of sinners.
He is God, He is Good, He’s our Governor, our Guide, Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the Great Physician.
He is our Hope, our helper, our healer, the Holy One, the Husband of the church, our High Priest.
He is the great I am; our Inheritance, the Immortal, invisible One.
He is Jesus, He is Jehovah, He’s our judge, He’s our joy, He’s our justifier.
He is the King , and the King of Kings, King of Glory; He’s the Keeper of the Keys of death and Hades.
He is the Lord, He is Life, He is love, He’s the Liberator, the Lawgiver, the Light of the World, the Living Water, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
He’s the Messiah, the Master, the Mediator, God’s Messenger, Jesus is the Man of Sorrows.
He’s the Nazarene, the New wine, the New covenant, the Name that is above every name.
He’s Omega, our Offering for Sin, He’s Omnipotent, Jesus is the Only begotten of the Father.
He’s the Prophet, the Priest, Our Passover, the Propitiation for our sin, He’s the Prince of Peace, Jesus is the Pearl of Great Price.
He’s the Quick and Powerful word of God, He’s the Quieter of the Storms of Life.
Jesus is the Redeemer, our refuge, the refiner, the rose of Sharon, the resurrection and the Life, Jesus is the rock of ages.
He’s the Savior, the Shepherd, the Suffering Servant, our Sinless Substitute, He’s the Son of God, the Son of Man, He’s the Stone which the builders rejected; Jesus is the Sweetest name I know.
Jesus is the Truth, He’s the Teacher, the testator of the Will of God, He’s our Tabernacle.
He is the Unblemished lamb of God, the Unchanging God, He is the Unction of the Spirit.
He is the Vine, He’s the Vicarious sacrifice, He’s the Victor over death and the grave.
He’s the Way, He’s the Word made flesh, He’s the Witness, the Water of Life, His name is Wonderful.
He’s the EXpected Messiah of the Old Testament and EXalted Lord of the New Testament.
He’s our Yokefellow and Yesterday, Today and Forever He’s the same.
Jesus is Zion’s Holy King.
Hallelujah what a Savior!!!  And HE IS ALIVE!

 

O Holy Night (And Gifts that are Given)

A friend of mine sent this to me.  It is one of my favorite songs, and I especially love when Sr. Suzanne Dauwalter sings it.  Sr. Suzanne is our Provincial Economer, and her voice is simply God’s gift.  She has never been trained, but her voice has the character and quality of these women, who have had years of training, I’m sure.  Sr. Suzanne will often sing at our events in the province.  She is usually very nervous before singing, and often downplays the great gift that has been given to her…but her willingness to share it and to sing for us and to praise God is always there.

As we come to the end of Advent, and the beginning of the amazing season of Christmas, I cannot help but thank God for His many gifts.  He is lavish in what He has given to me, and in what He has shared with others.  During this time, I hope that you will be able to sit and recognize His gifts to you, and to think about how you can use these gifts to further His glory and to help those around you.

This Christmas, on this “Holy Night,” think about these talents, these gifts, and give them back.  Share them with the people around you – your loved ones, friends, and neighbors.  You may think little of what you have received, but I can guarantee that what you share will benefit those who are recipients.

Italian…”italiano”

I learned Italian.  It never seemed I would be able to learn a foreign language.  When I was a kid, and spoke the little bit of Spanish, I remember wondering what good the phrase, “the pen is red” would do for me in real life and how this knowledge would help me to communicate in a foreign language….like what do I do – go up to someone and say, “hola, the pen is red.” 

My method of learning Italian, though, was mostly through music.  Below I’ve posted one of my favorite songs – it’s really not new, nor was it new when I learned it.  I just love the first line.  “You are my life.  I have no other.” 

 

In the end, that is what it all boils down to, isn’t it?  He is (or should be) our life!  Here are the words with the English translation…

Tu sei la mia vita altro io non ho

You are my life, I have no other
Tu sei la mia strada, la mia verita’

You are my way, my truth

Nella tua parola io camminero’
In your word, I will walk

Finche’ avro’ respiro fino a quando tu vorrai
For as long as I breathe, as long as you want

Non avro’ paura sai, se tu sei con me
I won’t be afraid, you know, if you are with me

io ti prego resta con ma

I ask you to remain with me

Credo in te Signore nato da Maria
I believe in you, Lord, born of Mary

Figlio eterno e santo, uomo come noi
Eternal and Holy Son, a man like us

Morto per amore, vivo in mezzo a noi
You died for love, living in our midst

Una cosa sola con il Padre e con i tuoi
You are one with the Father and those who belong to you

Fino a quando, io lo so, tu ritornerai
I know it, until you will return

Per aprirci il regno di Dio
To open the Kingdom of God to us

Tu sei la mia forza, altro io non ho
You are my strength, I have no other

Tu sei la mia pace, la mia liberta’
You are my peace, my freedom

Niente nella vita ci separera’

Nothing in life will ever separate us

So che la tua mano forte non mi lascera’
I know that your strong hand will not leave me

So che da ogni male tu mi libererai
I know you will free me from every evil

E nel tuo perdono vivro’
And in your forgiveness I will live

Padre della vita noi crediamo in te
Father of life we believe in you

Figlio Salvatore, noi speriamo in te
Son and Savior, we hope in you

Spirito d’Amore vieni in mezzo a noi
Spirit of Love, come among us

tu da mille strade ci raduni in unita’
From our thousands of paths, you gather us in unity

e da mille strade poi, dove tu vorrai
And from thousands of streets, where you want us

noi saremo il seme di Dio

We will be the seeds of God