Friday, September 30, 2011

The exceeding was happily misleading

The previous post has been deleted because it was misleading.
In the videoclip the Pope held out his hand,
not to be shaken
but to introduce the German President
to the gathered Cardinals and Bishops.

We extend out thanks to those who clarified what was happening in the clip.

If you saw the clip on this blog
I am sorry that you were misled;
we were too.

If it is unfortunate that
everything that glitters is not gold,
it is a blessing when
much that first appear exceeding,
is only misleading.

The misleading clip.

Winner of challenge #174

The winner of the amazing Impression Obsession cover-a-card stamp and acrylic block prize, kindly donated by The Craft Barn is...


Winner has not claimed their prize, new winner drawn

Congratulations hunni!
Please EMAIL ME with your full postal address and the name (or link) of the stamp you'd like to receive along with your acrylic block, so that I can pass this onto Sandy, so that she can then post out your prize to you. Thank You.

Jo xx

Remember, today is FREE DEMO DAY at The Craft Barn, so if any of you lovely crafters have the chance to go visit them, please do... you won't be disappointed!

WELCOME BACK

I hope everyone is eager to begin another sharing session. Your comments have been very encouraging for me. Some had wondered if we would continue with Spiritual Sundays since Ginger quit co-hosting. I plan to keep on as long as possible. Right now I don't see an end in sight. Of course one never knows for sure from one day until the next what tomorrow might bring. I hope the Lord continues to

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

St Gerard Relics


We receive a large number of requests for relics of St Gerard but recently some have not been able to be completed as the requester left something out of their message. Please make sure that your address is clearly given in the email, your name and the number of relics you would like to receive. Please also always be sure to send us your email address with your contact details!

The following good souls have requested relics but we are unable to send them as their details are deficient and they have left no email address for us to contact them and enquire.


M.A.A. and J.P. – no address, cannot send relics.
MCB – Sorry, your address has been bunched together as we received it, could you possibly send again as it is very difficult to decipher with certainly as in a lovely but far away place. Apologies and very good to hear from you, look forward to hearing from you again.
AMB – Contact button scrambled address but relics now on the way. Apologies.
MM – Relic on its way. God bless.
BT – Definite prayers for intention. Relic on its way.

If you are in need of a relic, details can be found here.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Markets - September 26th to October 2nd

SATURDAY 1st OCTOBER
Ballarat Town Hall
Bundoora Park
Daylesford
East Gippsland
Echuca
Golden Plains
Hume Murray
Kingston
Myrtleford
Murrabit
South Gippsland
Spotswood
Sunraysia
Tatong
Veg Out St Kilda
Westerfords Park

SUNDAY 2ND OCTOBER
Castlemaine
Heathmont
Hurtsbridge
Lilydale
Maffra
Melbourne Showgrounds
Mulgrave
North Melbourne
Tallarook

DT call

*Please scroll down for this weeks challenge sponsored by The Craft Barn*

We are looking for 2 new design team members to join Sketch Saturday! :)
Initially on a 3 month trial, with a view to a permanent position we hope.

We can't offer you any freebies as that isn't what we are about, although occasionally a sponsor will give us free images which is wonderful and very much appreciated.
But we can offer you friendship, we have a lovely DT (even if I do say so myself!)

What is required:

You MUST have your own personal blog and be prepared to post each week.

You must be able to make a card each week, and upload it before midnight on the Friday before the challenge goes live.
You will get the sketches well in advance, so you will have plenty of time to create.
You can use any craft materials you like to make your DT work (except copyright protected images of course),
The only *rule* is that you stick as close as possible to the sketch, but of course artisitc licence plays a part and is welcomed, you don't have to be 'spot on' but the sketch design needs to be seen within your work.
You must post about our challenge on your own blog each week, leaving links to SS and to our sponsors on all posts.

You must be prepared to leave comments for challengers, currently 1 challenger in every 10, although you are of course allowed to leave comments for more should you have the time to do so.

You will be expected to take a turn hosting a DT week.
DT weeks are the first Saturday of each month, the DT member is asked to make their own sketch for the challenge, arrange a sponsor, and arrange the guest designer (GD) too. You will be expected to type up the post for this week.
DT week is only for one week, but your GD will be with us for the whole month, so would be expected to make a card for each Saturday in the month you would be DT host. You are responsible for uploading your GD's cards each week before the deadline.
You must also type up the winners post the following week after your DT week, and arrange for your winner to receive their prize from your sponsor.


Sketch Saturday is a challenge blog like any other, we have no problem with our DT members being on other challenge blog DTs too.
We expect ALL of our DT members to treat SS with the same respect as others.
If you are currently on other DTs then please do apply to join us if you want to be a part of our team too, however, if it is going to be a problem for you to make a card for us if you have deadlines from other DTs to keep to, then please do not apply if this means that SS could be pushed to one side because you need to make your card for another challenge blog instead. This would not not fair to the rest of us.
We are equally as important as a challenge blog who gives you freebies to use, and expect all of our members to treat SS with the same respect.
If you are able to make a card for other DTs then you are able to make a card for us too. Fair's fair.


If you would like to join Sketch Saturday, please email myself (Jo) and Jilli with THREE of what you consider to be your favourite cards to date.
Please provide links to just the 3 blog posts of the cards you would like us to see. No more than 3.
DO NOT just give us your blog address, we can look through your blogs anyway, we only want specific posts please.

We want to arrange our new DT members asap, so if you could get your emails to us sometime over the next week, then that would be fab, thank you.

We look forward to receiving your emails! :)


Jo & Jilli xx

#286 - Plan B

Sometimes the best laid plans don't work out.  What do you do then?  Move to Plan B.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

September, The Seventh Month

Today our venerable old rite of the Mass commemorates,
in a unique "hermeneutic of continuity",
the old fasting and feasts of
Yom Kippur and Sukkoth,
the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles.

It is our old rite alone that keeps these commemorations for the entire Church;
as far as I know they are not kept in the East and
in the Latin West
only the old rite keeps the Ember Days.

We must bear in mind that those ancient feasts
kept by Our Lord, Our Lady and St. Joseph until Good Friday
were strictly celebrated by lunar calculations.
The Church commemorates these days only approximately
using the solar calendar where September
(for seven)
represents the seventh month.

Until the modifications made by Blessed Pope John XXIII
the September Ember Days,
began in the week of the 15th September
i.e. the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
following the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross,
(14th September).

Thus, before the modifications of Blessed John XXIII
(when the September Ember Days
were brought to the third week in September)
the Old Testament feast of Tabernacles
was commemorated even more closely than we did it today
since the Ember week literally opened on the 15th day of the seventh month
as did the Feast of Tabernacles.

The Second Lesson of the Mass has:
In those days the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
From the fifteenth day of the seventh month ...
you shall celebrate a feast of the Lord for seven days.
In the seventh month shall you celebrate this feast;
and you shall dwell in bowers seven days:
everyone that is of the race of Israel shall dwell in tabernacles
that your posterity may know
that I made the children of Israel dwell in tabernacles
when I brought them out of the land of Egypt.
I am the Lord your God.
(Lev. 23: 33)

The First Lesson of today's Ember Mass
commemorated the ancient fast of Yom Kippur,
the Day of Atonement,
which was held on the tenth day of the Seventh month.

The Ember Days were considered
by St. Leo the Great
to be of Apostolic origin.

Week #174 - 24th September - Sponsored by The Craft Barn

Hello everyone, it's Saturday morning, so that means it must be time for another Sketch Saturday challenge.
Thank you for joining us last week, not as many entries as we normally get, but that means you have more of a chance of winning! please scroll down to see if it's you :)

But before we do we have some sad news to share, we are saying goodbye to Lisa who has decided to step down from the Design Team :(
Lisa, thank you so much, we will miss your sometimes quirky but always colourful creations, and we all wish you much love and happiness & best wishes for your store, The Crafts Meow xx



So onto our challenge and this week we are sponsored by...

The Craft Barn


"We are a UK based business selling a wide range of craft supplies including stamps, dies and embossing folders, punches, an extensive range of items to alter and decorate and much more for your scrapbooking and card making projects. We are committed to providing the best, most up to date craft products at great prices, coupled with first class service.


Some of the leading companies that we stock include Stamping Bella, Ranger, Tim Holtz, Crafty Individuals, Martha Stewart, Katzelkraft stamps, Nestabilities, Craftwork Cards, Copic Pens, House Mouse, Viva Décor, Eco Green crafts and Cosmic Shimmer to name but a few.


We are constantly adding new products to our range of craft supplies so be sure to add us to your browser favourites so you can pop back and see us."

The Craft Barn offer a wide range of goodies for all crafters from all things 'Cuttlebug' to grunge paper, from cottage cutz dies to cosmic shimmers, then there's your essentials like cardstock and papers and adhesives.

Not forgetting their HUGE stock of clear and rubber stamps to tantalise you!

There really is something for everyone :)

For all the latest products that have been added to the site PLEASE CLICK HERE,
including the NEW SPECTRUM NOIR marker pens,
the latest Crafty Individuals products,
Crafts Too embossing folders,
& the new LaBlanche silicone stamps.



and here's a date for your diary...

Christmas Card Minifest at The Craft Barn
Saturday, October 1st 2011

A fabulous FREE demo day with loads of ideas and oodles of inspiration for Christmas cards and much more.
Please join Jenny Mayes, Neil Walker, Carol Cockbain, Chris Dark, Helen Meighan, Kathy Byrne & Jane Collman and feel inspired.
The demos are very informal and the demonstrators are always happy to answer any questions you have about things you are finding challenging and to explain techniques and equipment.

If you do have the time to go to any of their FREE demo days, then please do. They are very popular events, and very worthwhile, you may pick up some crafting tips and meet up with fellow crafters too
And of course you will be able to see the full range of wonderful products available from The Craft Barn.


This weeks challenge prize is a corker!

Our lucky winner will receive one Impression Obsession cover-a-card stamp (of their own choice)
These are the best etched stamps ever, and you can stamp what it suggests.. a whole card front or background paper. How fab is that?!

Not only will you get a stamp, but you also get a Mega Mount acrylic block to use with it :)
The acrylic block is a 6" x 6" slightly curved acrylic block with a handle designed by Impression Obsession to fit perfectly with the stamps which measure 5.75" x 5.75"
You can of course also use the block with your unmounted and clear stamps too.
I can see this is going to be a must-have tool!

You can see what The Craft Barn's own DT have made with these stamps and acrylic block by reading the recent posts on their blog.


please note that YOU get to choose the stamp you want, you may want the swirl one shown here, but you do have loads to choose from, please take a look.

This prize package is worth just a smidge under £30... told you it was a corker! ;)
Our thanks, as always, goes to The Craft Barn for this very generous prize xx


Here's this weeks sketch...


Here is the gorgeous, final card by our
guest designer Jessica Fick!
Thank you Jessica for sharing your talent with us throughout September xx


Here are the equally stunning cards made by The Saturdays...

Lisa's final DT card
Thank you Lisa, take care xx




Bente















Thank you so much for joining us again this week.  If you have time to play with us and you want to win this weeks amazing prize, then please leave a DIRECT LINK to your work with MR. Linky below ....


Friday, September 23, 2011

Winner of challenge #173

The winner of a £10 shopping spree, generously donated by Bunny Zoe's Crafts is...

Mo! (Mo's Wunderwelt)

with this beautiful winning card...



Congratulations Mo!
Please EMAIL ME so that I can let Nikki know, and she will contact you with details of how to claim your prize :)
Thank you.

Jo xx

Response to Mr. David O'Neill

Dear Fathers

It has been reported that not all members of your community are in full communion with Rome. This saddened me and I will be grateful if you will comment.


David O'Neill

+

Dear David


All the members of our community are indeed in full communion with the Holy See and are subject to the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.

At the time of our reconciliation, 18 June 2008, and for some time afterwards, we lost several members who would not take the step of reconciliation with us, but these, our separated brethren, could not now be numbered amongst the members of this community of The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer.

In this we are reminded of the words of Our Lord: Do not think that I came to send peace upon earth: I came not to send peace, but the sword. For I came to set a man at variance against his father etc. (Mt. 10:35)

It would be a great grace to have had the reconciliation of our entire community as it was at that time. That seldom happens.

Reconciliation is painful for those who make it and for those who, for whatever reason, will not make it.



In conclusion, if it were not for the obligation of being submitted to Peter, humanly speaking, nobody would make a reconciliation since the price is very, very high. But, by God's grace it has been made now; and by that reconciliation, the lines were clearly drawn; the sword of division cut in such a way that it left our community thoroughly united, one, submitted to Peter, in Full Communion with Rome and the Church.

By God's Grace and the Perseverance won for us by Our Lady, we peacefully maintain this inner and ecclesial unity.



The cost was high; the smarting is over with; we have been given new life by Our Lord and we rejoice in it. 'Behold how good and how pleasant where brethren dwell in unity' (Ps. 132).

Fr. Michael Mary
23 September, 2011

WELCOME FRIENDS

Well that week went by fast. Should be no surprise. They all do. So now it's time to link again for another sharing weekend. Linky Tools (not Mr. Linky) has added some new features. One of them is the grid for the links. I think it makes it easier to visit with each link in its separate little space. I also like that the links are black but after you click on them they turn blue. Makes it easier

Thursday, September 22, 2011

The old Fisherman is out again.

The shiny shoes of the Fisherman.
Simon Peter saith to them: I go a fishing to Germany.
(cf. Jn. 21:3)

The old, gnarled face of our Helmsman at 84.

Thou art Peter.

A Helmsman's tears are concealed by the sea spray.
But he is not alone,
he shares in our time
the sorrows of the Sacred Heart.
Christ through Benedict steers the Ark of Salvation.
Pray for the Helmsman,
hold on for your life,
and thank God that
we who are with him
are in the only unsinkable ship on this wild sea.
And I say to thee: That thou art Peter;
and upon this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
(Mt. 16:18)

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Official Communiqué

Official Communiqué
Concerning the visit to Papa Stronsay
of His Lordship Bishop Hugh, OSB
and Very Reverend Stuart Chalmers
Vicar General
20 - 21 September 2011.

We have enjoyed the visit of the Bishop of Aberdeen and the Vicar General of the diocese, and have had positive discussions which will be taken further with the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei".

Fr. Michael Mary, F.SS.R.
21 September, 2011.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Week #173 - 17th September - Sponsored by Bunny Zoe's Crafts

Happy Saturday everyone, time for another Sketch Saturday challenge! :)

And this week we are sponsored once again by the very lovely Nikki from Bunny Zoe's Crafts

gif maker


SUMMER SALE NOW ON! Please CLICK HERE


And remember... Bunny Zoe's Crafts ship worldwide, and if you live in mainland UK or Northern Ireland and your order is more than £40.00, you get FREE shipping :)


This weeks challenge winner will win a generous £10.00 shopping spree at Bunny Zoe's Crafts :)




Here's this weeks sketch...

Here is the lovely card created
by our Guest Designer Jessica Fick!


Look at what the amazing Design team have made!...

Jilli

(Jo says...I think i'm in love with Jilli's card)


Bente


Cazza


Karita




Terry


Jo

Jeanette:

Lisa

Simonne



Another fantabulous sketch for this weeks challenge.  I hope you have time to play along with us again ... if you do please leave a DIRECT LINK to your creation with Mr. Linky below ...

Friday, September 16, 2011

Winner of challenge #172

Note: Please scroll down to see the NEW winner of #170, the prize is still yet to be claimed!


The winner of last weeks challenge (#172) who wins a fabulous $25 shopping spree at  Simon Says Stamp is...

Coops! (coops cluttered corner)

with this stunning card...


How adorable is that image?.. and beautifully coloured too.

Congratulations Nic! :)
Please EMAIL ME so that I can let you know how you can claim your prize. Thank you.
Happy Shopping!

Jo xx

The approach of winter darkness

Our Lady of Sorrows,
Papa Stronsay.


On Wednesday we celebrated the feast of the
Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Like the Holy Cross and the Mother of Sorrows,
the Gospel of the Mass was also
poignant and veiled.

Ambulate dum lucem habetis...
Walk whilst you have the light...
(Jn. 12:35)

Last night I thought again of these words from the Gospel while
looking across at our little boat moored in the quiet water.
The scene was bathed in spectacular light,
the light of the setting sun;
we approach the eighth day
after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
which is the 21st September
the Equinox
and the winter darkness.
Ambulate dum lucem habetis...
Walk whilst you have the light
that the darkness overtake you not...

So many souls die every night, alone and far from God.
St. Teresa saw innumerable souls falling into hell
like snow flakes.

Whilst you have the light believe in the light,
that you may be the children of the light.
These word goad us to look at ourselves.
The light of our lives is fast fading,
perhaps death is closer than we think.
How do I stand with God?
How long since I last made a good Confession?
The Holy Gospel and all creation,
the sun and the seasons and the years
cry out to me:
O Child of God
born from the side of the Saviour
O Child of Mary
received at the foot of the Cross:

Ambulate dum lucem habetis...
Walk whilst you have the light
that the darkness overtake you not...

Remember your life is fading
... one day soon it will be too late.
Do what you have to do,
while you are still able.

On the 21st September,
the Equinox will herald the taxcollector's conversion
and the Gospel of the Mass will conclude with the words:
Non enim veni vocare iustos, sed peccatores.
For I am not come to call the just, but sinners.
(Mt. 9:13)

What joy is given to the Heart of Jesus
when a person hears His voice and returns to Him;
He came for us
He died for us
He wants us
He wants me
and
He wants you before it is too late.

Brothers on their way to Night Prayers.

The Infant Jesus
looks out in expectation
to see who's coming home.
Confession with sorrow for sins gives joy to His Heart.

May the beautiful light of the Holy Gospels
shine upon us as Winter darkness covers the earth.



Work continued on the chapel today.
We are hoping for the work to be finished
before the weather is too rough.

One side was finished before the wind got up.
The summer is not quite over...

St. Alphonsus:
The greater number of men still say to God:
Lord we will not serve Thee;
we would rather be slaves of the devil,
and condemned to Hell, than be Thy servants.
Alas! The greatest number, my Jesus
- we may say nearly all -
not only do not love Thee,
but offend Thee and despise Thee.

Ambulate dum lucem habetis...
Walk whilst you have the light
that the darkness overtake you not...

CHANGES

If you did not visit Spiritual Sundays last weekend, I hope you will go back and read Ginger's post explaining why she will no longer be co-hosting this blog. Perhaps if her circumstances change some time in the future she will resume co-hosting. We will all miss her input as she has been a vital part of this ministry since we began it over three years ago. I want to publicly say "thank you" to

REDRAWN (AGAIN!!): Winner of challenge #170

Hi everyone
Please remember to check our winners posts to see if it is you who wins a prize!
Otherwise you could miss out on getting your hands on some fantastic craft stash :(
The original winner of challenge #170 didn't come forward, so I went back to Random.org and got another winners name, unfortunately for them, this person hasn't claimed the prize either!

so hopefully, third time lucky... here is the winner of challenge #170...

Francesca! (Kraftylady Cards)

and here is her winning card...



I hope that Francesca sees this post and claims her prize.

Francesca, please take a look at the Crafts Too embossing folders that are available at The Craft Barn and choose 3 of them that you would like :)

Then please EMAIL ME with your choice of 3, giving me your full postal address so that I can let Sandy know.
Thank you, have fun choosing!

Jo xx

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Stronsay chapel receives its four bells

It is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows
the week before the Equinox.
These days any grey day is a good one.
And the sea is calm now.

The monastery boat 'Charnetsky' lies quietly at its mooring
while a carefree Comorant comes in close by.

On the other side of the pier
Mr. De Burger is sailing his clinker yacht in the gentle breeze.

At the southern end of the pier can be seen
Our Lady's chapel on the left.
In the middle is our Stronsay house, named St. Magnus,
where a priest and brother stay during rough weather
to ensure daily Mass on Stronsay.
Across the road from St. Magnus,
to the right in the photograph and painted white,
is the Stronsay Hotel.

The renovation of the exterior of the chapel
is coming towards a high note...
the scafolding is being adjusted
for the addition of the chapel bells.

The bell team:
Mr. Paul Williams, Br. Xavier Maria and Br. Magdala Maria.

Of course they begins with the Asperges.
And plenty of it.
Br. Xavier preparing the mix.

The bell mix.

For an even note.
The bell is formed on the wall by creating a gentle slope
so that when the wood is removed
the remaining bell shaped cement
(called in the trade 'the bell')
will direct rainwater away from the wall
and onto the ground below.

Thanks from us all
to the bell team.

Thanks be to God and to Mary
for the fine grey day
and for the gentle, grey sea breezes.