Ellen O'Shaughnessy and Bob Padberg

 

Mary O'Sullivan

 

Elaine Coyne

Prayer Class: Honoring Father William Barry, S.J., A Friendship like no Other

To honor the life of Fr. William Barry, S.J., we will read together his book on prayer called, “A Friendship Like No Other.” Classes meet for fourteen weeks on Tuesday mornings from 8:00 to 9:00 by Zoom, and the link is at the bottom of this email. Purchase a copy of the book and join us. If you can’t make every meeting, come when you are able. The book is broken into three parts, and the contents are listed below. Bring a friend or feel free to refer one. Feb. 2 Part 1, Ch. 1: The meaning of friendship Feb. 9 Part 1, Ch. 2: Friendship with God in the Bible Feb. 16 Part 1, Ch. 3: The First Stages: Attractions and Disturbances Feb. 17: Ash Wednesday Feb. 23 Part 1, Ch. 4: Going Deeper; Knowing Jesus as a Friend Feb. 27: Prayer and Poems for Lent Mar. 2 Part 1, Ch. 5: The Spirit and Community of Friends Mar. 9 Part 2, Ch. 6: How could God want my friendship? Mar. 16 Part 2, Ch. 7: A self-centered spirituality? Mar. 17: St Patrick’s Day Mar. 23 Part 2, Ch. 8: Salvation and Friendship Mar. 28: Palm Sunday Mar. 30 Part 2, Ch. 9: Does friendship lead to Compassion Apr. 4: Easter Sunday Apr. 6 Part 2, Ch. 10: Is this a way to treat your friends? Apr. 10: Poems for Easter Triumph Apr. 13 Part 2, Ch. 11: How to Understand God’s Anger and Justice? Apr. 20 Part 2, Ch. 12: God reveals divine inner life to us Apr. 27 Part 3, Ch. 13: How do we experience God? May 4 Part 3, Ch. 14: How do I know I experience God Join Zoom Meeting https://bchigh.zoom.us/j/95340683174?pwd=aGxvU3RJQi9FZ1B4NVk1VUZFQU0ydz09 Meeting ID: 953 4068 3174 Password: 029639

Kathleen Dainton

 

Mary Pearlman

 

Seven online sessions of Compassionate Communications

This ONLINE series of seven Wednesdays, will take place in the first 4 months of 2021: WEDNESDAYS, January 20, February 3 & 17, March 3 & 17, April 7 & 21. The program begins at 6:00 p.m. and ends at 7:00 p.m. 

 We will center ourselves using deep breathing techniques, and then pay attention to our feelings. We will learn techniques to listen meaningfully to our own suffering and to the one who is suffering. As we develop compassion, we learn how to use our words in a way to bring about greater understanding. The sessions will include breakout sessions so that we can support one another. 

 The presentations will last 50 minutes, and then a creativity exercise will be assigned for the following session. No artistic ability is needed. We will do some simple exercises that will help you examine the world reflectively. 

Register for all seven at once, come when you can, drop out when you need to. Send your request to register for this Evening Series to: PredmoreEventWinter2021@CampionCenter.org or call us at (781) 419-1337. 

https://www.campioncenter.org/programs/series-of-guided-wednesday-evenings-of-prayer-the-art-of-communicating-compassion/

Bob Padberg

 

Bernie Ballasty

God embraced in Mary's loving arms 

Mary alert, aware of her surroundings 

Distraction, confusion, chaos 

 Nature, butterflies, beauty 

 Jesus present alight with love 

Love.....Love

I Too Visit (Mary Anne Ernst)

Alma Louise said you would come
This is not exactly a five-star place for my baby, or you as visitor. 

 
You are right 

I see one star, though … and that twisted metal ... 

Maybe, for a moment, let's elevate it to contender for installation art at MoMA. 

I had visitors I did not know 

One brought the opossum 

Another brought these ethereal butterflies 

And a pigeon dropped feathers instead of the usual. 

The butterflies, they remind me of angels 

And look at the airy bits of wind 

I wonder who is blowing it here 

Are you cold ... is that your shirt in which you have swaddled the baby? 

To see him warm … that is warmth for me. 

The baby is a boy then What is his name? 

His name is J! 

I can barely see J's little head but yours, 

your head is halo-ed, and crowned, too. 

I don't think you need a halo much less a crown 

Your Afro is a halo and 

it is the most perfect Afro I have ever seen. 

The extraneous halo does a good deed, though ... it keeps the heavy crown from crushing your Afro. 

Thank you … my Afro is important to me. 

Alma Louise told me to look at your hands. 

With exquisite tenderness they cradle J 

And you have piano fingers, as my mother would say. 

J will play the piano and he will be good. 

I believe that ... oh what determination ... look at your face 

I know he will practice ... not like me 

You remind me of Mary of Nazareth ... at a wedding she made sure her son did what she told him 

Her action launched him … her actions always launched him. 

Would you like to hold J 

Please sit in the chair ... I think the opossum needs love, too ... I will cuddle with her … you cuddle with J. 

Me?!

Mary Power

A modern day Madonna, proud, erect, peace-filled, glorious
her willingness to guard and protect the child against war and insurrection
butterflies abound--a rebirth, a freedom from their cocoons
Nature at her finest
her clothing is that of an ordinary woman, an everyday person
a dark and rich complexion
a perfect tint, mixture,
a village, all colors mixed into a glorious hue
a face that radiates light and warmth,
a new day dawns
love and the Peace of Christ.
She is betrothed, one finger displays a ring,
a ring of eternity
a vow of unconditional love
a crown of gold highlights her strength and devotion to her task,

one of a mother, a protector

Paul O’Brien

Madonna and Child 

In the center of the world 

that echoes Picasso’s Guernica 

a woman of strength and determination 

lifts her head in thought 

Resolute 

Proud 

She knows that she holds in her arms 

a Child of Peace 

a Child of Grace 

a Child of Hope 

so absolutely crucial 

in a world 

of darkness, 

suffering 

and blindness. 

With unwavering grit 

She steels herself. 

She will hold and she will guide 

this Child 

until He stands 

and begins 

His journey 

to transform 

our World.

Deborah O'Brien

Proud woman 

Proud black woman 

Jewels of cloth 

Holding that bundle 

a baby 

Lightly? 

No, 

determined 

standing against the intruder at the door 

Even the weasel 

who should not be there 

is baring his teeth 

against …

what? 

Is there a hint of gentleness 

In that face of determination 

Protecting the child 

Yet, something is coming 

The butterflies seem unaware 

in their free flying 

Yet 

They are not so colorful as they might be 

And yet, they do fly free 

Where is this woman and child 

So regal even without the crown 

And a baby that is hidden 

Is this baby so unaware of what is coming? 

Or 

Is this baby 

Comforted by 

Her Strength 

Her Care 

Her Determination 

That he will 

Be.

Judy Del Tredici

 I notice your quiet and fierce confidence, courage, purpose.

Yet I wonder about disturbing elements:

- why are you looking beyond your baby?

- what is that scary, lurking animal?

Then I see hopeful symbols of new life - butterflies, spirals, the new baby - that give light to the darkness of sharp-edged graffiti.

I open my mind and heart to the beauty and power of a different Nativity image...

And realize that you already know, in a way I'm  still learning, you know with a calm no-nonsense assurance:

It's not just about me, you,  and this baby.

It's about looking and reaching outward  beyond self from a strong and holy center  -

open to embracing the paradox of the sometimes-harsh realities of our world, and the tender gifts and love of God.

(with thanks for your Poems of Joy morning)

Eugenie Coakley

A meditation on the Black Madonna and Child

A proud and modern woman with regal bearing.

What is she looking at? Not her child, like the usual painting.

Now I see her hands, strong and beautiful and caressing her Child,

wrapped in a warm blanket.

A Mother watching, wisely seeing, perhaps about to speak.

Blue and white - butterflies, street art, and sunset - Mary's colors, 

too limiting - now her colors include brown, yellow, red-brown.

What of the creature behind the chair? A symbol of good but different, not sheep, animals? Or a symbol of the herods out there? I do not know.

My gaze drifts back to the Golden Crown and I put my trust there. 

Virginia Day

You might be an e-card of 2020 painted on the side of a #6 train to the Bronx

Baby's swaddling clothes the color of Mother Mary's strong arms
The enormous halo and crown the color of the hem of her garment
If we might just touch it and be healed.

Maire Liberace

There was a theme of creation that I noticed, also I love the beginning of John. Having taught Speech Communication for many years - to form words you must have breath which shapes and molds the sounds. Jesus breathed on people to heal and in our lives today people are revived by someone's breath in CPR.

In The Beginning… 

Ruah… 

Breath Shapes 

Logos Creates 

Spirit wind 

Descending. 

Life becomes visible, 

A graceful dance 

Molding Intimacy 

Birthing 

Connections. 

Your Spirit breath 

Becomes one 

With mine, 

Hearts pulse 

In synchronous 

Rhythm, 

Love cascades 

New creations 

Reshaping the world 

Through 

Outstretched arms.

Tim Okamura's Madonna and Child

 https://mymodernmet.com/tim-okamura-portrait-painting/