Mountain too steep to climb?

“Your proposal is on it’s way but it hasn’t arrived yet…”

When I heard those words at my committee meeting on Wednesday afternoon, my heart sank.  I knew that what would follow this sentence would not bring me good news in spite of having worked so hard on the first three chapters of my dissertation over the last year.   

As the members of my committee dispersed and I cleared the conference room of my materials, old feelings of rejection surfaced as April 24^th felt a lot like a day in early May 2010 on which I received word that I had been denied the Fellowship I had applied for five months prior….it wasn’t until I read the words that I had not been selected, in a cold impersonal email, that I realized how much I had been wanting the opportunity and change at that time.   

As I sat and listened to committee member after committee member dismantle something that was so near and dear to my heart and that I had invested so much of myself into, feelings of "I didn’t measure up" or "I wasn’t good enough" rose up in me.  Fortunately the tears that threatened to fall didn’t come until I was back in the GA Lab as I worked on getting started on the revisions.  

Not only did I feel as though I had let myself, my advisor, and family down but I also felt disappointed for all those who had been eagerly awaiting to hear my news and whether or not I were going to be in PA for data collection for my dissertation study in a few short days.  So many folks had sent encouraging messages/voicemails/well wishes before the meeting from PA to VA to NC and beyond….one even shared that Fr. Vince, my priest, had offered up a prayer during that morning’s mass at the local Catholic high school! 

What a lesson in humility (and patience) in being the first doctoral student in my advisor’s career of serving as a committee member to not pass the proposal defense.  Having never failed a class (albeit I received horrible grades in Math in high school but I never failed a class mind you) before, as of late, in these meetings with my committee, I feel as if I’m on shaky ground.  It’s unsettling being told your hard and long nights efforts are not considered “good enough” but I am grateful for these opportunities to grow, not only as a scholar/researcher but also as a person.   

Would I rather be in the gray safe zone of comfort or do I want to be pushed to the limit and then some into uncharted territory?  Sure, it hurts and will be frustrating at times but the end goal will be so worth it.  As one of my best friends has often said, “If it were easy, everyone would be doing it” so yes, there will be more hard days on the horizon but hopefully as I take the feedback and constructive criticism from Wed. with me into the next couple months as I work to redo my proposal, I will not give in to the anxiety and worry (too much) in trying to still graduate in 4 years and move on to the next step in my journey, wherever that may lead me.   

God does work in mysterious ways and I feel that this mountain that has been placed before me will be used for good in the future somehow.  I may not know the purpose right now but I am willing to trust and believe that it will be served a purpose.

After my meeting, I stayed at the office and worked on a chart outlining revisions to submit to my committee until 10:45pm, putting in a 13 hour work day after having gotten about 5 hours of sleep the night before…..to say I was exhausted by the time I got home at 11:30pm is an understatement.

In reflecting on the events of the sad day last week, the title of my proposed dissertation came from an interaction I had with an instructor during my undergraduate career who abruptly interrupted me in mid conversation to ask if I was “deaf or hard of hearing?  Which do you go by?”….which ended up being a life-changing moment for me.  Ironically, this professor had defended her dissertation twice, while at IUP, and failed, thereby not graduating and not receiving her doctorate.  It wasn’t until she moved from PA to NJ and attended a university there that on her third try, she was successful at defending and moving on to the next phase of her academic career.  I sure hope that this past week’s failure at passing my proposal defense is not an indication of things to come that mirror what happened with that instructor…!  

The next day, as I traveled from NC to Richmond, VA, then onward to York, PA, I tried to keep in mind that each day is a fresh day and a chance to try again.  On Thursday, I spent 12 hours driving from the South to the North (stay away from all highways ending with 9 and 5 people…unless you want to sit in a parking lot on a highway all day : /).  As I listened to Kim Kalman sing “This is the Day the Lord has made, and I will be glad and rejoice in it!”, I tried to think positive thoughts and remain hopeful that after continued hard work and perseverance, that my proposal will eventually be deemed satisfactory in the eyes of my committee.  

 As if that weren’t enough, just as I was enjoying the chorus of the song, "This is the Day", my phone buzzed with an incoming call….from Kim, the singer, herself!  My Mom says God shows up in others to serve as a reminder that we’re not alone and this was certainly evident in the texts, calls, and messages I received from others throughout Wednesday and Thursday.  From a caring secretary who let me fall apart for a few minutes in the kitchen at work to supportive mentors/colleagues weighing in on alternative approaches to best friends willing to listen to bits and pieces of the story even if it doesn’t 100% make sense to them in spite of having to be up 4 hours from then to get ourselves to the airport, God certainly is evident.  I know, in the big picture of this journey we call life, that this proposal rejection will be a blip on the radar but right now, it is hard to see past the here and now and beyond to May 9, 2014.

So, it’s with renewed vigor that I tackle this challenge and seek to make my work that much stronger as I can already see it will be through the changes suggested by my committee and the long hours I spent working on my chart of proposed revisions the other night.

On the way home from the office on Wed. night, I made an impromptu visit to see my brother at his store (he works nights).  As I headed home from his work, I impulsively turned down a side street and took a different way home.  Upon doing so, I saw a church sign that said, "When you reach your wit’s end, you’ll find God lives there"....a message I certainly needed to see that night!!

As I fell asleep that evening, I thought to myself how the prayers from those who had sent me well wishes didn’t work but in hindsight, now, a few days later, I think that they did work in a different way!  Instead of focusing on all that wasted time of missing out on trips back home, not being able to participate in family time/gatherings due to working on the proposal over the last year as being all for nothing…I think that perhaps this is all to serve me a lesson in humility and patience yet again.  Plus, the rejection is giving me more time to grow and improve…I just need to keep in mind that all will happen in His will/timing, NOT mine!

:)

A Little Faith

Tonight's Theology on Tap (our final one for this year...boohoo) topic was, "A Little Faith".  Here is the background information on tonight's speaker that I had posted to the Facebook event page for the Young Adults group:

In the words of our fourth and final speaker for this year, Rita, from IHM:

"Obviously a Catholic from birth, I was the 8th child to 40-something parents who finished having children 6 years before. Through parochial school and private Catholic high school, I wondered that my dad sat out when we received the Eucharist (find out why at ToT). In high school, my mother's emphysema and Mount St. Joseph's prayer community molded me into a vessel capable of being filled with tears, joy and prayer, and ready to spill out the same, plus service.

Engineering at Case Western Reserve was mostly guys, where MSJ was all-girls. Whoo hoo! But the rigorous academics, many clubs and teams made focus hard to maintain. Sunday Mass and choir commitments were an anchor for me, and, oddly, made Mike and me realize our relationship might have longevity-despite his not being a baptized Christian. He's rarely missed Mass with me. (I think it was for brunch afterward!)

Mike and I met the first few weeks of college and married after his medical school, my engineering career, and 8 years. Sarah arrived during fellowship, six years later, and I went from polymer engineer to project and accounting manager. As the 3 children have grown, I've taken on service projects dear to each of our hearts. I'll share some with you at ToT.

Flowing beneath all is a love and hope rooted in my faith. Prayer, Mass, and little ways of saying, "Thanks," to God throughout the week sustain me. The theme of my Theology on Tap discussion is, 'A Little Faith'."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had met Rita a couple years ago when the Young Adults group was just getting started at IHM.  While we only chatted for 20 minutes, she had made quite an impression.  I was thrilled to hear that in spite of her busy schedule, she would be our April speaker when I reached out to her last summer.  As luck would have it, she was still available to speak tonight after we had to push ToT back by a week due to a school commitment.

Here are my notes from Rita's talk on living out our faith in the everyday activitities we all participate in...think about it, are there any ways you can bring Jesus into your world throughout your day??

• Sometimes, in life, it takes a little bit of faith to get through...
• The Eucharist is a source of energy.
• There is no one specific way to experience/live out our faith.
• When praying, sometimes words aren't important but rather the prayer is (e.g., the rhythm, the comfort, the peace we gain from saying the prayer).
• What are ways you bring Christ into your world/moment?
• Prayer happens throuhgout the day....it doesn't have to be scheduled or something HUGE.
• Prayer can go elsewhere....let your mind wander as it is happening for a purpose or a reason.
• When feeling spiritual dryness or distance, this can be a result of being too active or busy for God.  Take the time to be silent and to listen.
• In what ways do I take responsibility for my spirtual growth and the growth of others? 
• Prayer doesn't have to be long to be effective...it's a conversation between you and God.

I'm thankful for Rita's message tonight and for the fellowship I shared with David, Jim, John, Kevin, and Greg!  Lubrano's Italian Restaurant on Eastchester in High Point was an excellent establishment that hosted us the four months we had our Theology on Tap sessions there; if you go there to enjoy the delicious food, be sure to ask for Kim.  She's the BEST server and tell them I sent ya!  ;)

We were excited we color coordinated and even had matching earrings (that you can't see in this pic) without planning it....why were we excited?  Guess it's a girl thing!  ;)

On the way home, by the way, I was behind a car with a personalized license plate....that said, "MERCYFUL".  What a nice reminder!!

Matters of Love

I stumbled upon this blog posting on a friend's page on Facebook....I wasn't sure what to expect when I saw the title:

It Matters Whom You Marry.

I figured, well, yeah, of course it matters.  Then, as I read the blog posting, I began to think of all the mistakes I have made in previous dating relationships and what my priorities were then compared to what they are now.  I could see through this blog posting, areas where not only had the men I dated fell short but also where I fell short.  However, it's through these experiences in life, that we grow and can do better for next time.  I've said it before and will say it again...I would much rather be single and happy than to be unhappy in a relationship.  As one of the sentences in this blog posting shares, Don’t be so desperate to get married that your marriage is a grief.

In light of a recent conversation with a very dear friend who is hurting right now, I silently cheered in my head as I read this line:  A husband should lead and cherish you, not need your counsel for basic personality or behavior issues.  Amen!!!  How often do we, as women, try to be the hero and nurture the man to be happier/better/good enough/_________.  By instinct, most of us women are caregivers and loving beings so it's easy to get caught up in this web of wanting to help or change the men.  I'm not trying to make sweeping and broad generalizations here but am speaking from what I've experienced through my friends' and my experiences.  If only more women, and men, would realize they are all valuable and worthy & all should be cherished and treated as the beautiful creations we all are, we might be happier in our relationships.

# 2 really made me think about the love of siblings compared to the love of spouses.  Having grown up with boys, I couldn't help but think of how the silly banter back and forth and the teasing/joking around/sarcastic ways among my brothers and me was/is normal for us.  So, when I dated guys in the past who treated me in the same manner but then were unavailable emotionally, to me, it was like a sibling relationship.  I now know that while I do want the camaraderie and best friend in a spouse, there is also the line that shouldn't be crossed in terms of knowing when to provide the support and when to be serious.  As the blogger states, we are not princesses but we do have emotional needs and need to be respected & cared for in that aspect.  The same goes with men because I know there are some of us who are sarcastic and joke along with the best of them!

I've been fortunate enough to personally see the first paragraph under # 3 carried out by own parents in their marriage.  In closing, I leave you with this blog posting to read for your enjoyment.  Congratulations to all you married folks and seriously committed relationshipers out there and keep on setting the positive examples for those of us who aspire to be like you one day!

Music does a soul good

I spent a couple hours tonight with a dear friend, here in NC.  On a whim, I decided to give her my copy of the CD of songs I had created for the Women's Retreat Weekend at OBX 2012.  I had a feeling she needed to hear the words more than I did at this time in her life.  Below is the letter I sent out to the girls who had gone on retreat last summer.  If any of you would like a copy of this CD, please do let me know and I'll happily mail you or deliver in person a copy of this CD.  Pax!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

July 16, 2012

I hope that you are well rested and ready for a new week after our retreat!!  Hopefully, the music on the way home helped to make the drive go a bit quicker for you!

I wanted to share with you an annotated reflection of the songs I chose to include on the Women’s Retreat Weekend at OBX 2012 CD….

The first 11 songs come from one of my favorite Christina artists, Francesca Battistelli.  I find her lyrics to be powerful & that they are able to be applied to so many life situations.  “I’m Letting Go” and “Behind the Scenes” are the ones I best relate to right now.  J

Our God’s Alive:  Let’s try to keep God alive for others by living out the gospel and, as St. Francis of Assisi ecncouraged us long ago, we, as young adult Catholics, should use words only when necessary.

Wind Beneath My Wings:  My take on this song is that we can learn from each other and try to emulate those whom we admire in our lives.  Lisa, from our video on Friday night, is someone I hope to be more like some day.  Aren’t we lucky to have role models and those who help to lift us up in our lives??!

“Livin’ on a Prayer”, “Hallelujah”, and “Keep the Faith” are pretty self explanatory.  With the help of others, prayer, and faith, we can hold on to what we’ve got and keep on keepin’ on in life!

You KNOW that I just had to have some Bryan Adams songs on the CD.  I started with “Star” because as Bryan so eloquently sings, life is hard sometimes.  He urges us to continue to carry on even if we feel like we just aren’t getting it, whatever ‘it’ entails for each of us. In “You’re Still Beautiful to Me”, I’m reminded of how much God wants to be with us and wants to take care of us.  Let yourself be embraced by the love of God and find some comfort in knowing that no matter what we’re still beautiful to God.  God is love and nothing is going to change that.  Regardless of our sins, He sees us as the beautiful daughters of God we are.  Let’s work a bit harder each day by committing random acts of kindness for those in our lives to try to bring a bit of Heaven down to Earth.  For as we grow in virtue, the more beautiful we are to those around us.

Finally, I decided to include one of my favorite church songs as the final song on the CD.  “Here I Am Lord”, by Carl Herrgesell, reminds me of the importance to remain alert and to be willing to answer God’s call.  This may require more living in the present and remaining in the moment in case God is whispering to us.   

Five days

I had to laugh this morning while working at the Methodist church where I babysit most Sundays. 

Why? 

Well, the children have this game of throwing things in the nursery sometimes (fun right?).  For some reason, this morning, the children chose to toss up puzzle pieces and giggled with delight at where the pieces fell throughout the room.  One particular puzzle is made up of alphabet letters. 

Check out which two letters happened to land in the box near me. 

 

Five short days from now, I will fly to sunny California.  Let's hope I land safely much like these letters did. ;)

Prayers going out to Boston & Watertown!!

My Aunt Maureen and her friends live in Boston and surrounding areas.  More specifically, my Aunt lives in Watertown, MA, which is currently under lockdown due to police searching for the second suspect in Monday's horrific bombings at the Boston Marathon.  I have many happy memories from attending the Boston Marathon as a child when we would go up as a family and spend time with my Aunt and her friends.  Fortunately, all are safe and accounted for but in the words of my Aunt, it's a scary time for our fellow New Englanders.  She shared her thoughts with me, via email: 

Here, we have been struggling with the horrific events of Monday.  Lots of shock, pain and suffering on this end.

People are pulling together.  It is a great city with good people working hard to turn this tragedy around...or at least not let it determine our future...and ...our everyday living.

 

This is bizarre. Everyone is in lockdown. This has gone on all night long. This is so frightening...imagine Meg, if we lived in the Middle East we would be living with this craziness everyday ?
 

Makes us value peace!

This is one of my favorite pictures with Aunt Maureen from our trip to San Francisco a few summers ago.

Meredith, my best friend from high school, and I spent New Year's Eve 2004 in Boston.  This picture was taken outside the Copley Plaza, which has been in the news all week.  When I think back on this trip, I remember it as a fun night that involved running into Meredith's undergraduate Lebanon Valley College friends in downtown Boston, a dinner party at my Aunt's house with Bahstian people (hehe), a comedy club, dining out at a delicious Italian restaurant, a lesson learned that I need to always carry Benadryl with me in case I have a food allergy reaction (ha!), and waking up to news of the devastating tsunami...

 

I remember snapping this picture of the Library downtown because I enjoyed the snowflakes and other artistic lighting on the side of the building....but now, looking at it and seeing the EMT vehicle that was inadvertently captured in the moment, I'm grateful for the first responders who were so quick to respond to disaster on Monday right after the bombings at the Marathon.  Praying for peace, healing, forgiveness, and answers in Boston!!

Aunt Maureen, Julie, Mere & I enjoying our pre New Year's Eve festivities at Aunt Maureen's home in Watertown several years ago.

Laura & Aunt Maureen

Special Saturday afternoon in Santa Fe

After presenting with my colleagues and advisor, some friends from back home, who live in Albuquerque, picked me up from the hotel.  Eric had been my neighbor from 2nd grade through 12th grade and my first memory of Marissa is from when her mom would meet up with mine to give her Marissa's old school uniforms for me to wear since I was a few years younger.  Being the only girl in my family, and on our street, I used to pretend Marissa was a big sister of sorts even though we didn't really interact as we got older.  Thanks to Facebook, we reconnected several  years ago and as luck would have it, my work had me in Santa Fe just blocks away from where she and my former childhood neighbor married a couple years ago!  Small world!!

So, to say I was excited to spend time with this sweet couple and their adorable two little boys, cute Barrett and newborn Anderson, after I finished with work on my last day in Santa Fe was an understatement!!  Upon picking me up, Harv (Eric's nickname) and Marissa had me hop in the front seat as they proceeded to give me the grand tour of Santa Fe and surrounding areas!  I snapped photo after photo as Marissa shared her expertise and knowledge about this beautiful city.  Marissa's background is in archaeology and historic preservation so she sure knew her stuff!  I wish I could remember all that she shared as I took photos to document what she told me so that I could tell you but unfortunately, I can't.  Hopefully you can enjoy the pictures at least!

Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis

I think this was a Catholic elementary school that closed...

Neighborhood street...sure looks different from North Nice Street in Frackville!

I made a comment about the interesting fencing...and wasn't expecting the fact that this fencing is to keep coyotes away....jeepers!

Pretty day for a drive!

What animal do you see out of that rock formation??

About 40 minutes from Santa Fe, we pulled into the parking lot for the Santuario de Chimayo.  I could tell we were in a special place as soon as we arrived.  According to Wikipedia, El Santuario de Chimayó is a Roman Catholic church in Chimayó, New Mexico, USA. (Santuario is Spanish for "sanctuary".) This shrine, a National Historic Landmark, is famous for the story of its founding and as a contemporary pilgrimage site. It receives almost 300,000 visitors per year and has been called "no doubt the most important Catholic pilgrimage center in the United States."

 

 

 

While I was exploring El Santuario de Chimayo with hometown friends, I ran into a new friend I had made at the conference!  Natalie, from Colorado is a Fellow with one of my colleagues and also goes to school with Sharon, a colleague I had met in Florida at last year's conference.  Natalie and Sharon had left the conference one day early to make the drive back to Colorado since a snowstorm was on its way to Santa Fe the next day.  They decided to make a quick stop and check out the grounds which is how we ran into each other!

Frackville reunited!  ;o)

Entrance to the Church

 

I can't imagine going to mass here...the pews were hard and it was drafty and chilly in this unique church but I think it would be a neat experience to have someday!

This small room that branches off from the church is called the "Pocito Room" which means well.  The dirt is considered holy because in this spot the crucifix of Our Lord of Esquipulas was found by Bernardo Abeyta in 1810.  Since then, thousands of pilgrims and visitors have come to El Santuario de Chimayo searching for spiritual, emotional, and physical healing.

After leaving El Santurio de Chimayo, we went to a fabulous restaurant called Rancho de Chimayo. This restaurant is located in a restored century-old adobe home and surrounded by three mountain ranges, the restaurant serves the finest Native New Mexican cuisine! 

The refreshing sangria was plentiful and the guacomole was extra fresh and delish!!

Marissa explained to me that Christmas chile is when you get both red and green chili.  I liked both of them and was surprised to like the red one more than the green since I thought the green would be more like salsa and more what I would enjoy.  Both were delicious though!  I just thought it was funny to say, "I would like the Christmas chile please." 

Oh my, these sopapillas (spelling?) were sooooo good!!!

We lost track of time talking, laughing, and enjoying good company.  In fact, we realized that we needed to hurry up and get our check if I was going to make it to mass on time.  When the server returned to our table, Marissa asked for the check.  She said, "Not to rush you but we need to get Meg back to the Cathedral for mass" to which the server looked at his watch and said, "Hmm, you're going to be cutting it close.  Why not go to St. ________ at 6pm?  It's right down the road."  I love how truly Catholic the whole place was!!  The server knew, without our saying, what time mass was, how long it would take us to get back to the Cathedral, and what a practical alternative might be by suggesting we go to mass elsewhere.  It was so refreshing to be with other practicing Catholics...where they were the norm!

Harv & Marissa drove me to the doorstep of this beautiful church where I made it to mass only 2 minutes late...probably because I stopped to snap this photo of a statue of my patron saint in the setting sun!  You can see a statue of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha in the far right of the photo as well.  She is America's only Native American saint as she was canonized in October 2012.

I was thrilled to see a familiar name in the song book for that night's mass.  Our first Young Adult event back in April 2011 was a Tom Booth concert at a neighboring church in a Greensboro.  When we had our picture taken with Tom after the concert (see below), he joked that he was also a member of the Young Adults group with just a few years added.  As I sat in this beautiful Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis in downtown Santa Fe, NM, reading the words to Tom Booth's song on the page before me, I thought back to the awesome mass held at St. Paul's where Tom sang, spoke, and performed.  It was neat being able to make a connection between NC and NM!

Here we are at St. Paul's in Greensboro from April 2011 hanging out with fellow "young adult" Tom Booth after the mass he helped with and the concert he and his two other bandmates provided us!  ;)

 

Saint Relics!

 

 

 

Known as the "Lily of the Mohawks", and the "Genevieve of New France" an Indian virgin of the Mohawk tribe, born according to some authorities at the Turtle Castle of Ossernenon, according to others at the village of Gandaouge, in 1656; died at Caughnawaga, Canada, 17 April, 1680. Her mother was a Christian Algonquin who had been captured by the Iroquois and saved from a captive's fate by the father of Tekakwitha, to whom she also bore a son. When Tekakwitha was about four years old, her parents and brother died of small-pox, and the child was adopted by her aunts and a uncle who had become chief of the Turtle clan. Although small-pox had marked her face and seriously impaired her eyesight and her manner was reserved and shrinking, her aunts began when she was yet very young to form marriage projects for her, from which, as she grew older, she shrank with great aversion. In 1667 the Jesuit missionaries Fremin, Bruyas, and Pierron, accompanying the Mohawk deputies who had been to Quebec to conclude peace with the French, spent three days in the lodge of Tekakwitha's uncle. From them she received her first knowledge of Christianity, but although she forthwith eagerly accepted it in her heart she did not at that time ask to be baptized. Some time later the Turtle clan moved to the north bank of the Mohawk River, the "castle" being built above what is now the town of Fonda. Here in the midst of scenes of carnage, debauchery, and idolatrous frency Tekakwitha lived a life of remarkable virtue, at heart not only a Christian but a Christian virgin, for she firmly and often, with great risk to herself, resisted all efforts to induce her to marry. When she was eighteen, Father Jacques de Lamberville arrived to take charge of the mission which included the Turtle clan, and from him, at her earnest request, Tekakwitha received baptism. Thenceforth she practiced her religion unflinchingly in the face of almost unbearable opposition, till finally her uncle's lodge ceased to be a place of protection to her and she was assisted by some Christian Indians to escape to Caughnawaga on the St. Laurence. Here she lived in the cabin of Anastasia Tegonhatsihonga, a Christian Indian woman, her extraordinary sanctity impressing not only her own people but the French and the missionaries. Her mortifications were extreme, and Chauchtiere says that she had attained the most perfect union with God in prayer. Upon her death devotion to her began immediately to be manifested by her people. Many pilgrims visit her grave in Caughnawaga where a monument to her memory was erected by the Rev. Clarence Walworth in 1884; and Councils of Baltimore and Quebec have petitioned for her canonization.  Source:  Kelly, B.M. (1912). Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved April 19, 2013 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14471a.htm

A statue of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, a Catholic American Indian who became known as the Lily of the Mohawks, has been erected in front of Cathedral Church of St. Francis of Asissi in Santa Fe.
The new statue will join one of Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy, which is currently the only statue that stands outside the cathedral.

Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan chose Estella Loretto, a Jemez Pueblo sculptor, to create the bronze statue. It was unveiled for the cathedral's 150th anniversary.

A painting of Tekakwitha joins a number of other saints on the church's altar screen.

"The Archbishop would like a statue (of Kateri Tekakwitha) to honor the Native American spirit," Father Jerome Martinez said.

Tekakwitha, born in 1656, was brought up in the Mohawk community of Ossernenon, now Auriesville, N.Y. A part of the turtle clan, she was orphaned at age 4 when both parents and a brother died in a small pox epidemic. The disease affected her eyesight and her health. Her name, Tekakwitha, means "putting things in order."

She was baptized in 1676, when she was 20 and died four years later. After her death, Tekakwitha became known as the "Lily of the Mohawks".

On Jan. 3, 1943, Pope Pius XII declared her venerable, and Pope John Paul II beatified her in 1980. Pope John Paul II also designated Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha as the patroness for World Youth Day 2002 in Canada.  Source:  http://www.estellaloretto.com/gallery/blessedkateri_history.html

After mass, I spent some time walking the grounds and taking in the beautiful statues and peaceful scenery.  I also talked to my Mom for quite some time reading some of the scripture and sayings that were inscribed on the plaques and statues so was able to share a little bit of Santa Fe with her via phone.

View across the street from the Cathedral

These were inscribed on one of the most unique statues of St. France I've seen called St. Francis of Assisi Dancing on Water.  I wish they sold tiny replicas of this statue as I would  have loved to have one for my office a

We need to hear this message....especially today when we're all dealing with the sadness in Boston as we await the news of the whereabouts of the second suspect after learning the first suspect has been killed during the night.

 

Such a serene night with the full moon and quiet benches that allowed for reflection and talking with my Mom on the phone.

 

Can you tell I LOVED this depiction of St. Francis?!

For those who might not be familiar with this story of St. Francis: 
A long time ago the town of Gubbio was being harassed a vicious wolf. It all started when a few sheep began to disappear late at night. Then the wolf grew bolder and started stealing sheep in broad daylight. The wolf grew fearless. Hounds and hunters were useless. The wolf grew so bold it began to creep into the village late at night. Some say it devoured a few small children who did not come home when their mothers called them, but maybe that is just something mothers told their unruly children.
This much I know to be true: People were afraid to leave the city walls at night, others were afraid to leave their children playing in the fields at dusk.Saint Francis was already well known; most folks knew about St. Francis and the doves, his sermon to the forest creatures, and his love for all things wild and free. Someone heard he was near Gubbio, so messengers were sent to see if he could help.“
I’ll make no promises,” he said, “but I will see what I can do.”
When Saint Francis arrived in the piazza, a crowd soon gathered. Francis asked, “Who has seen the wolf?” Several nodded. “Who knows where he lives?” At first, no one responded. One timid hand went up in the back of the crowd.
A young woman said, “While tending my sheep, I thought I saw a cave were the wolf took my lamb...” Her voice trailed off.“Please, take me to this cave,”  St .Francis asked.“
Y – Y- you w-want me to t-take you t-to the cave?” stammered the young woman.“
Yes, please,” he pleaded, “You seem to be the only one who knows.” Because St. Francis had faith in her, she took a deep breath and seemed to find the courage in herself. She led the way. Francis followed. The rest of the village followed the two of them… at a safe distance.

 She paused and said, “Over there, that larger cave,” pointing to the foot of the mountain.
Saint Francis led the way, she followed, and the rest of the village, well, they could see just fine from where they were. Suddenly, the wolf rushed out of the cave growling, howling and foaming at the mouth. Francis crossed himself, thinking he might die, but with the sign of the cross the wolf stopped short, growling and bearing his teeth.
Saint Francis plucked up his courage and began to scold the wolf, “How dare you scare me like that!” The wolf cowered, tucked his tail between his legs and whimpered.
Francis immediately had a change of heart. “OH, brother wolf,” he apologized, “Who am I to scold you, one of God’s creatures. You are only doing as you were made to do. When you are hungry you must eat. You live by the laws of God, the laws of nature.”
Divine inspiration intercede .Saint Francis’ face lit up. He said to the wolf, “I will make a deal with you! The people of Gubbio will feed you so you will never be hungry again, therefore you shall not harm the people of this village.” He added, “And in exchange, you shall protect these kind people, watching over their village at night.”
Though at first they were not sure of this bargain Francis was making for them, when they saw the wolf wag his tail like a puppy and place his paw into the hand of Saint Francis, as if he wanted to shake on it, everyone heartily agreed. From that day forward the people of Gubbio fed their scraps to the wolf and the wolf patrolled the village at night. Not only did Francis save the village and save the wolf, but still to this day, in the piazza of Gubbio is a statue of Saint Francis and the Wolf, there to remind us of this small miracle, proof of God’s promise that there is room for redemption in every heart!
*This traditional story is based on the medieval book, “The Little Flowers of Saint Francis” and is retold by Brian “Fox” Ellis, author and storyteller. © 2008 All rights reserved. www.foxtalesint.com

What talent the sculptors of these beautiful sculptures had/have...!

 

Parking garage art

I loved how the store windows showed fashion in one window then religious art in the other!

 

I appreciated this St. Anthony of Padua picture

This was where Sharon and I had lunch on the first day of the conference...yum!  If you go here, be sure to have cash on hand as they don't take cards.

I bought my souvenir from this jewelry shop thanks to my Aunt from Boston!

My Mom's beautiful gift came from this adorable shop. 

The Plaza across from the hotel at night

One can't go to New Mexico and not have a margarita with sugar on the rim!

The bar in the hotel had ceiling art!

 

Rachel, from California, has been fun to work with and taught me a lot about coding in helping her with her HUGE project!  I look forward to our time in San Francisco when we present at my last conference for this academic year!  I'm so thankful for the opportunities she has shared with me!!