keepingintouch

Thursday, September 25, 2008

"The Story of Suzanne Aubert"

Suzanne Aubert (1835 - 1926) - Roman Catholic missionary - arrived in New Zealand in 1860.

Braving the opposition of her parents, she was one of hundreds of other young people from the Lyon region (France) throughout the nineteenth century who were inspired to leave home and dedicate their lives to the missions of the Pacific.

But her life story proved to be exceptional in its range and commitment. She nursed, and developed indigenous remedies using her own expertise in chemistry in association with the herbal knowledge of Maori healers.

She taught, studied, wrote and published numerous works of Maori language. Always "on the go", offering relief, love and opportunities to the poor, needy, disabled and disadvantaged ; from new-born babies to the very old. She and her Sisters opened the earliest childcare and disabled care centres in New Zealand, a soup kitchen and a hospital.

These services were open to all, regardless of race or creed. And, these services were free of charge. Such a wide-ranging perspective from an independent, energetic and intelligent woman was not always understood by the more strictly sectarian amongst her church hierarchy. The people, however, recognised, supported and loved her, not only for her values but also for herself.

Suzanne Aubert died in Wellington in 1926, at the age of 91. Inevitably compared with Mother Theresa, or with Charles de Foucault, Suzanne Aubert has become one of New Zealand's acclaimed heroic figures, and her work is continued with love, enterprise and sensitivity by the congregation she founded in 1892 - the Sisters of Compassion.

A beatification process is currently underway in Rome, and she may one day become New Zealand's first saint.

whisperings of nature

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

September 20, 2008, 12:40 am
Naples hails miracle as saint's blood liquifies ©

* Unknown score by Mozart found in FranceA French municipal library has discovered a musical score handwritten by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in its archives.

NAPLES, Italy (Reuters) - Thousands of Neapolitans crowded into the city's cathedral on Friday to witness the miracle of Saint Gennaro -- whose dried blood is said to liquefy twice a year, 17 centuries after his death.
Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, archbishop of Naples, announced the blood turned to liquid at 9:45 a.m. (8:45 a.m.) and the glass phial was paraded to crowds outside, who set off fireworks in celebration.
"It (the saint's blood) is the seed of hope for all of us," Sepe said.
Legend has it that when Gennaro was beheaded by pagan Romans in 305 A.D., a Neapolitan woman soaked up his blood with a sponge and preserved it in a glass phial.
The substance usually turns to liquid twice a year - on September 19, the saint's feast day, and on the first Saturday in May.
The miracle was only first recorded in 1389, more than 1,000 years after Gennaro's martyrdom.
More scientifically minded sceptics say the "miracle" is due to chemicals present in the phial whose viscosity changes when it is stirred or moved.
Some Neapolitans fear disaster may strike the city if the blood of the fourth-century martyr does not turn to liquid.
Disaster has struck at least five times after the blood failed to liquefy, including in November 1980 when some 3,000 people died in a massive earthquake that struck southern Italy.
Naples has endured a difficult year, with the historic port city's image stained by a trash crisis that saw rotting rubbish pile up in city streets.
(Writing by Phil Stewart; editing by Keith Weir)

whisperings of nature

Monday, September 22, 2008

Recall yesterday -21st September, 2008

We went for 8am morning mass, St.Peter's choir on duty. Now choir has 2 new additional conductors, Ann and Matthew. After mass, Sunday school. Last Sunday did quiz with the kids about the birth of Jesus. The minute I step in .....they were so excited and said," We want quiz!"
So told them if there was extra time maybe we will do quiz again......but unfortunately no time for that. The lesson was on Jesus (12 yrs old) went to the temple. After the lesson one of the questions I asked was what problems they faced if any. They were so eager to share......I was very pleased with their respond. Mostly school problems with teachers and friends except for one who allowed everyone to speak first and when it was his turn demanded everyone's attention - his school was haunted and he started to explain the happenings and how he drew a cross on his palm to drive the devil away.
After Sunday School we went for lunch - old town "kai si hor fun" and "yau yee ong choy". Both tasted not nice. Then we went to the new Tesco at station 18.........crazy day to go but Ben insist going so we went nevertheless. We were fortunate to get a parking place near the entrance despite the huge crowd. There's pizza hut, KFC, Shakey ( coming soon -looking forward to that),
expensive laksa speciality -like the one we ate in Penang, to name most of it. Went home after buying veg. and some meat. 3.15pm went back to church for the rcia - I attended till 4pm but Ben stayed till 5pm. 4pm I went to join the choir practise and 5.30 attended mass again. Very Holy day for me.....LOL. After mass attended the SMC thanksgiving dinner at 7pm -organized by the wardens. Entertained by 3 violinists: Benjamin Lew, Kevin Chew and Theresa Fernandez.
Doreen won a lucky draw -a huge hamper but she donated to Sunday school kids. Brian Hills won a bottle of wine -they were among the few lucky ones. People same table with me - Evelyn Lim, Lucy Kok, David Teh , myself from Sunday School -english, Francis -Sunday school -chinese, Christine -chinese kids liturgy, Thomas Choo -Eucharistic ministry and one more guy
( dun know his name but is Esther's uncle). A lot of food left......so some people took them back in plastic bags ......at least not wasted.

whisperings of nature