One Hundred Sandwiches

 Today I went to take pictures of a group of volunteers at Spirit of Christ Catholic Community. Before Covid, the group would volunteer to go to St. Francis, a homeless shelter, to the Soup Kitchen. Once Covid hit, they down sized to making sandwiches and taking the sandwiches to New Genesis, a homeless shelter for working people and other people in need. 

Volunteers make the sandwiches in their homes, pack the lunch bags with a sandwich, fruit, small bag of potato chips, and a breakfast bar. Once a month, on Monday, they meet to load up a car and drive to 1680 Sherman to deliver the sandwiches. I was surprised to learn about the many places the homeless can go for help and assistance. On the Internet sixteen places came up for Denver and it seems that the homeless number continues to increase!

Volunteers, led by organizer Becky Diaz, will continue doing the sandwiches until Covid is no longer a threat. The group has been doing the transporting of food to those needing help for many years and when I asked how long, Becky said, "forever!"

"He who oppresses the poor

shows contempt for their Maker,

but whoever is kind to the needy

honors God."

Proverbs 14:31

A Creche for Christmas

 At Christmas time, my favorite activity is putting up a Nativity scene. I would spend hours arranging and rearranging the figures as I thought about the birth of Christ. I used to collect the peaceful scene and have about 48 Nativities. I no longer put them all out and this year I used two of them...one from my youth and one of my favorites. The Peruvian ones are up all year in my kitchen hutch!

This year we were treated to a live Nativity at Spirit of Christ Catholic Community that turned out to be a successful and beautiful display. As I drove by the white horse, llamas, goats, sheep, baby pig, donkey a black cow, the costumed three kings, the shepherds and Mary, Joseph with a real live baby as Jesus, I got choked up with the reality of the scene and not my little figures I put up every year. I wanted to get closer and parked my car and walked over to the live scene. What a moving and touching Nativity with  with living, breathing people and animals! Christmas carols made the scene even more beautiful! 

The only thing missing was a camel!

"Between 4BC and 6BC

Christ may have been born.

In the year 2020 a

reenactment of His birth

still brings joy to our hearts!"

E. Moscoso

Christmas Day Mass On Saturday

 One day after Christmas, Saturday 26, 2020, something popped up on Facebook regarding the eight o'clock Christmas morning mass at the Cathedral of St. Frances of Assisi in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I clicked on it and enjoyed listening to the beautiful choir and seeing the outstanding decorations of Poinsettia plants and evergreen trees with white lights. There must have been eight large trees and what looked like fifty red and white plants in gold pots. The wooden manager was simple yet elegant.

The Spanish-English mass began with Vamos Todos A Belen (Let's All Go To Bethlehem) and Archbishop Wester and Father Tim walked in both wearing masks. I found it strange that the Archbishop did not have a helper to take care of his Miter, Lectionary and staff. After blessing the altar with incense, the mass proceeded with the Gloria and the singing of the clear voices seemed to me as if angels were singing. The choir sounded very professional and the acoustics were excellent.

Fr. Tim read the gospel and said the homily about St. Francis of Assisi and the competition of Nativity displays in a small town in Italy. Every year, the Nativities increased in size as more figures were added to the scenes. He thought that the displays were becoming more entertainment than prayer. He arranged all the figures and statues around the Baby Jesus and his joy was so great he picked up the baby and danced around the church. The priest said, "From the moment Christ is born he brings love to all. Jesus came as the light of the world for all and the light would shine forth through his love. We are people of hope and love is a sign of hope. Our hope will be fulfilled when we finally see God!

During the consecration I noticed the biggest chalice I have ever seen. It looked about twelve inches tall! The two celebrants were the only ones to receive the host and I noticed that the choir was not given given communion. I was saddened when I realized mass was for the video watchers and that the church was empty. Joy to the World and Away in a Manger ended the mass. The Archbishop and the priest exited the church. I enjoyed the Christmas mass a day late, yet it also saddened me.

When will we be able to return to how masses used to be celebrated, shake hands or hug at the sign of peace, receive communion without masks and greet friends. No one knows for sure so I continue my devotion from my home watching mass virtually!

"They say a person needs just three things

to be truly happy in this world; someone to love,

something to do and something to hope for."

Tom Bodett

One Day Lost

 The 24th of December was busy with finding gifts on my porch, calling and receiving calls, getting ready to virtually attend midnight mass, zooming with my family and watching them open gifts. In my mind, and don't ask me why, I thought Friday would be a mad house with people returning gifts. My plan was to wait until Saturday to run errands.

This morning I woke up and turned on the news and noticed that the national news was on instead of the local news. Now that was weird. Maybe, I thought, because it is the day after Christmas the stations had gone to a weekend schedule. I never gave it another thought until I got on my computer and noticed that today was the 26th of December.  Where did the 25th go?

Either I am slowly losing my confused mind or God did not want me to dwell on my being alone for Christmas and erased Friday from my mine!

"You think you are losing your mind,

but do keep in mind as long as you may,

that the ability to go on thinking such a

thing means it's not all gone!"

Criss Jami

Creative Santas

Since the pandemic started, I found two surprise gifts at my front door from a secret friend. A few days ago, when I found another package with two books and a small box, I thought the package was left by the same person as the other two surprises. I was wrong! I found out that the gift on my stoop was left by somebody else!  Soon I began to see five other friends on Messenger saying they also had received books. By process of elimination we tried to solve the mystery. Before I figured it out, another gift of a doll and slippers was left hanging on my screen door. UPS and Amazon also left packages by my front door. I loved opening the door and finding a surprise!  Christmas morning I found two more presents at my front door!  Covid 19 had turned people into creative Santas!

Not being to travel to California to see my family, it would have been a very quiet Christmas for me but my wonderful friends helped make it interesting and fun.

I thank God for the gift of thoughtful and good friends! 

"Christmas is doing 

something extra 

for someone."

Charles M. Schulz

Celebrating Alone

 Covid 19 has made my Christmas different than in past years. All the items are in place and all that is missing are people! My Nativity is up, a small tree stands in the corner of the room, I have gifts to open, and Christmas Carols are playing in the background. I have received calls from friends wishing me a  Merry Christmas and I have called a few friends with the same thoughts! I am ready to begin the celebration of Baby Jesus' birth.

I open a box and find 12 mandarin oranges. I wash one, peel it and it is so sweet and juicy; I eat another one. I am so happy with my gift I text my daughter to thank her for her thoughtful and healthy gift! Package number two is well packed and taped it takes me awhile to get the wrapping off. I use scissors, muscle and finally the wrapping loses the battle. Now I can see what I have been sent. Seven individual size packages of cashews; a jar of Gaucho Tano Chimichurri that I can use as a dip for bread, potatoes, vegetables, cooked meat or fish and salad dressing. I am looking forward to trying this Argentine Italian Cowboy sauce; seasoning that has everything but the bagel blend. There is a note that this is my granddaughter's favorite seasoning blend; I find an assorted snack can with honey roasted peanuts, chili lemon corn sticks, honey mustard pretzels, and corn chips with flax seed. There is a note written on the lid "May not be the best for your diet but it looks tasty!"

I gather the wrapping and toss it into trash. The remainder of paper with my name and address I will shred. As I started to shred,  I saw my granddaughter's face looking up at me. Now I remember my daughter texting me and telling me that their Christmas card was on the package. I dug through the trash and salvaged what I could of the card and taped it. If one looks closely, the damaged card can be seen!

Netflix has been paid for me for a year and during the pandemic watching movies and documentaries has kept me sane!  Even though I am not with my family, I am still enjoying Christmas. Later tonight we will Zoom and I will be with them virtually. The ending of Christmas Eve will be my attending, on my laptop, midnight mass. Tomorrow I will try some of the goodies I received!

"It is Christmas every time you let

God love others through you.

Yes, it is Christmas every time you smile

at your brother and offer him your hand."

Mother Teresa

We zoomed from around 8:45 until the audio went out and then we switched and Facetimed until ten as I watched them open gifts and listened to their chatter. Made me feel as if I was with them.

A Picture Full of Memories

 December of 1956 my father took this picture before we attended midnight mass. I hated to have my picture taken and that is clearly shown in the photograph. I was eighteen years old, my brother was nineteen and my little brother was ten years old. He seems to be the only one happy to have his picture taken! I must have been wearing heels because my brother is taller than I am though I look taller in the picture! I remember the color of Mom's olive green dress and my dark tan dress with ivory colored stripes.

Every year, our Christmas mass was celebrated at midnight and it was always packed. I remember having to arrive at the church at least half an hour before the mass would begin. As I look at the picture memories float around in my head. How my mother loved flowers on the wall, in vases filled with colorful plastic flowers, oil cloth table cloth with either fruit or flowers and floral curtains. The star on top of the Christmas tree is one that I still use whenever I put up a tree. After mass my mother would prepare a large breakfast: Pork chops, eggs, fried potatoes, homemade tortillas, beans and green chili. Breakfast would end around four in the morning and then we would open our gifts. In those days it was just one gift per person! I cannot remember what I got but I am guessing clothes. We would go to bed around six and get up around eleven. 

We would get ready to visit my aunt Maria and her husband Casimiro. They lived across town from us and I enjoyed eating the blue corn cheese enchiladas that she prepared and she would give us a couple of jars of peaches that she had canned. Dad and Casimiro enjoyed drinking alcoholic drinks!  I don't know if it was beer, wine or whiskey but my Dad would get high! I do remember that my cousin Mary was not very friendly and she and an adopted cousin, Rosie, would exclude me from their conversations! Before my grandmother had a stroke my aunt Kika, Rosie and my grandmother would also join us at Tia Maria's house. 

"You may not think

you have a good memory,

but

you remember what's

important to you."

Rick Warren

May Our Hearts Be Comforted

 Today was another virtual funeral mass. This time it was for a friend who I would see at the Young At Heart gatherings. I remember that he was always teasing, joking and smiling. He and his wife became friends though I did not see them very often. I was saddened when I heard that he had passed away. Mass was this morning, December 14, 2020 at Spirit of Christ Catholic Community at 11:30 a.m.

His daughter gave a Eulogy that was filled with tender, sad and happy memories. He died at ninety-one years and had lived a full and interesting life. A wooden box held his ashes, one candle flickered beside it, and his picture showed his popular smile! The music and reading chosen by the family touched my heart at the beautiful words. 

Kindness to a father will never be forgotten, from Sirach 3:12-14 made me think of my father and the second reading from Timothy 4:6-8; Time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well, and I have won the race.  I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness  awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance seemed to fit him well.

The Deacon read the Gospel about he who believes in me shall never die, blessed are they who mourn, blessed are the peace makers, etc. ending with rejoice and be glad for your reward will be great in heaven. Fr. Adam gave a wonderful homily regarding Dick's kindness, his joy and a life well lived. He he mentioned the legacy Dick had left behind with his family, his friends and anyone he met. "What will be your legacy," he asked. "What will be said about our lives when we are gone?" Made me delve into my own life!

Hearing the words that Dick had gone ahead and would be waiting on the other side for his loved ones was comforting. Also knowing that God's love is so much more that our love on earth made me feel better about dying. 

Hymns like Make Me A Channel of You Peace, Ave Maria, On Eagle's Wings, Make Me A Sanctuary were beautifully sung throughout the mass. The whole ceremony was intimate and full of love. The final blessing with holy water ended the mass. Below I have put some pictures I virtually took of the mass. 

Pictures I took at the YAH functions show Dick's smile. I wish I had known him better because his life seemed to be filled with lots of activities topped by his love for his family!

DICK MALLORY

MAY HE REST IN PEACE

IN THE ARMS OF OUR LORD.

Mystery Angel of Mercy

 It has been freezing cold lately and there has been some snow. I got out and shoveled the driveway and walks, preparing to go out the next morning. In the morning, my driveway and walks were covered with snow again. Later in the morning I decided I had better go and do some more shoveling. I got all bundled up and opened the front door. My driveway was clear of snow. Some kind soul had cleaned the snow away and I thought it might have been the neighbor across the street. He always clears my walks and the neighbor's sidewalks with his snow blower. But then I noticed that neighbors on either side of me still had their areas full of snow. It was just my area that had been cleared. That made me wonder if it had been someone other than the neighbor across the street.  I think he would have done my neighbor's walks also, yet there was not enough snow to use the blower so it had taken muscle to clear the area of snow!

Whether or not it was the neighbor from across the street, I am grateful that someone took pity on me and cleaned my walks. May God repay the kind soul.

        

When it snows and I open my front door I see the driveway covered in snow. While I am debating if I should go out to shovel I will hear the snow blower and give thanks to God for my kind neighbor.  This time it was different because the snow had been removed and I never heard a thing! 

Lots of snow galore

from the street to my door.

An Angel of Mercy comes at night

to make my world turn out all right.

Snow is cleared all away,

Making me very happy today!

E. Moscoso

How Is It Possible To Lose a Facemask

 My favorite face mask with llamas has disappeared. I wore it one day and after shopping I took it off and hung it from the radio button in my car. A few days later I got into the car, expecting to find it, but it was not there. I retraced my actions and thought if I did not hang it on the button, what could I have done with it?

Searched jacket pockets, pants pockets, door knobs, on top of every dresser or tables, drawers and the trunk of my car. I slid my car seats back as far as they would go in case it had gotten underneath the seats. The mask was gone. I prayed to St. Anthony, patron saint of lost items, but to no avail. I have not been able to find my mask.

The only conclusion I can come up with is that it was on the sink counter top where I would have placed it to wash and maybe it fell into the trash basket. The trash had been emptied and the trash truck has taken my trash away so if that is what happened I will never see my mask again. I am saddened that my comfortable mask disappeared with out a clue! It is all right because I have five other colorful masks, though I feel bad that my favorite mask is now gone.

Hard to Believe

 

Visiting the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico I have always been amazed at the multitude of people that visit on her Feast Day of December 12. People are body to body in the church, in the plaza, and it is almost frightening to be moved around by the surge of crowds. I have been lucky to have visited the Shrine three different times and when I couldn't be there in person, I watched the festivities on television. 

Last night I began the evening at ten o'clock with Archbishop Jose H. Gomez celebrating a mass in Her honor. EWTN was the only station I could find celebrating her feast day. I still cannot get used to seeing a lone priest with a few attendants, singers and readers with no congregation seated in the church. A mariachi group, wearing masks and social distancing were in the background. In the foreground a large picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe and a smaller picture of San Juan Diego were framed with many roses. Archbishop looked small in the large church and the singer of the mariachi group came down to stand in front of the picture of Our Lady to sing Las Mañanitas.

I frantically searched for a station that would carry the celebration from Mexico City. I hit the jack pot with Univision, Channel 50 and the program was just beginning with Sherlyn, a Mexican actress and singer. She held her small son as she sang all he did was to try and grab the microphone! Other singers were: Victor Garcia, Maria Victoria, (87 year old actress and singer), Pablo Montano and another male singer sang a duet, Guadalupe Pineda and her daughter Marina sang a song she wrote especially to Our Lady, Jose Luis Duval, Carlos Rivera, and Lucero sang love songs facing the picture of Our Lady.  A mariachi group dressed in white, sang Las Mañanitas to Our Lady of Guadalupe. This song is a traditional song for birthdays in Mexico.

A view of the outside plaza filled me sadness. The whole area was devoid of people because of the Coronavirus. So different of when I was there in the past. The buildings were lit  up with Christmas lights but the silence was deafening! 

Mass began with about twenty priests, all wearing masks, and  Cardinal Carlos Aguiar celebrated the mass. He said, "Let's allow the Virgin to visit us in our homes." His remark came after a decision to close the basilica to millions of devotees was announced. The Pope granted indulgences to those who watched from home!  There must have been tons of people disappointed to not be able to visit the basilica this year. It was hard to believe that a virus could disrupt so many traditions!

"We are certain that as long as you

are recognized as Queen Mother,

Mexico and America will be safe."

Pope Pius XII

Zooming Into Serra

On December 2, 2020, I wanted to hear Fr. Greg, a favorite priest of mine, who would be talking about the Serra Club. The only way to see and hear him would be through Zoom. A virtual way for many to participate from their homes. I decided to join the Zoom presentation and after getting a password and identification number for the group, I was ready to join. As I clicked on to Zoom I saw bewildered faces trying to adjust their devices for the upcoming meeting and I had to laugh as I saw the unsmiling, serious and noncommittal faces on my screen. In the background I could hear Fr. Greg saying, "Why so serious, smile!" Zoom does no favors to try to make people look good! Zoom is not the best way to communicate because people spoke over each other, sometimes the voices sounded garbled, and Father's image was not focused and looked kind of faded. The good thing was that his voice came out loud and clear.

He explained that the Serra Club, named after Junipero Serra, a Franciscan Friar from California, was a group of lay persons helping to promote vocations to religious life. St. Serra is known for starting missions in California and following in the footsteps of St. Francis. The Serra group originated with retired lay men who were interested in supporting those in religious life. Women were allowed to join the Serra's in 1989. The Serra's pray for vocations and try to promote good priests. Fr. Greg mentioned that if children just hear about the negative things in the newspapers and television about priests, there will be no interest in the priesthood.  

Fr. Greg continued by saying, that after hearing about "bad" priests that it is up to parents to speak of the many good priests. Vocations begin in a family.  "There are many good apples that cannot be ruined by a few bad ones."  It is important to gather with people you like as you form a Serra group. It becomes a social gathering where much good can be done. Zoom is not the best way to have a meeting but it is the best available at this moment with the pandemic raging around us!

Things that can be done for the religious in your community: Write them a note letting them know you appreciate them, that you enjoyed their homily, that you like what has been done at the church, thank them for sanitizing the church, bake them cookies, etc. Show them that they are appreciated. One thing  that hit home for me was that I do not send written notes of thanks. I send my comments via e-mail or Facebook and Father mentioned that one could be a taker and not a giver if notes of thanks aren't written and sent!  Of course that gave me a good Catholic guilty feeling! My thanks are usually sent by phone, text or Facebook. Fr. did say there is nothing like a handwritten note!

One member asked Fr. to speak on Advent. Paraphrasing: Advent is a time of waiting very much as what we are doing during this pandemic. We wait with anticipation for a vaccine and during advent we wait for the birth of Christ. Bake Christmas cookies, decorate your house, put up your tree and be ready to wait for the coming of Christ. Jesus is the greatest experience of grace. Christ is born in our lives and when we see Him in others we are accepting His grace. Prepare to build a better relationship with others. Do good things without expecting something back. Demonstrate your love by reaching out to others, especially your priests, they need to know they are loved also! 

A question regarding fetus or aborted baby stem cells being used for the Covid 19 vaccine should cause us worry and whether we should have the vaccine was interesting.  Fr. said he was not ready to answer whether it was right or wrong.  He did say that at least something good was coming from the aborted fetuses.

Fr. spoke of  watching over his parents and suggested that a seminarian should have to be a care taker for the elderly for at least a year. He has found out much in taking care of his parents and it has helped him be a better priest. His parting words were that he would try to celebrate a Christmas mass for everyone but he would let us know. I sure hope he does. This priest touches my heart when he gives a homily. 

There were twenty-two persons on Zoom but I only saw one at a time, not a screen of all the participants. The meeting ended with once again bewildered looks, eyes looking for keys to push to get out of Zoom, no one smiling, looking very serious and then I signed off! 

I now know more about what the Serra Club is all about and also how to get into Zoom! It was good seeing Fr. Greg, even if it was on a screen!

"On a screen via Zoom, 

we are all in a different room,

 yet we all appear as one,

a disaster or maybe fun!"

E. Moscoso

On His Way To Heaven

 December 1, 2020, was the day for the funeral for an acquaintance of mine. I can't say that he was a friend because I did not know him well and before Covid 19 I would only see him at dinners or lunches at Spirit of Christ Catholic Community.  Only fifty persons could be at the church for the funeral because of Covid 19 and those who attended were relatives and some friends. I watched the mass on my laptop.

The screen, before the mass began, had a picture of a beautiful bouquet of white flowers and I could hear the cantor singing hymns. The Deacon read the Eulogy about the fun loving, energetic, helpful and hard worker who had died on November 19, 2020. He was a man who enjoyed life and was always willing to help. I felt bad for his wife and son who now would have to continue life without a husband and father.

Amazing Grace was sung as the casket, wrapped in a tan cloth (Pall) with quarter moons and a crucifix centered on top was rolled to the front of the altar. The reading was one of my favorites from Ecclesiastes:

There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens, a time to be born, and a time to die; etc. God has made everything appropriate to His time and we will know each season when God feels it is the right time. The Responsorial Hymn I like is The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want. The homily was given by the priest and some of the phrases I liked were: He who believes in me shall never die. Do not let your hearts be troubled. No one comes to the Father except through me. God gives us time, yet we do not know the length of our days. Use your time to the best of your ability. We will meet those who have gone ahead when death is destroyed.

"Nick suffered on his last days, shared God's suffering and is destined to be with God. We pray for Nick's departed soul that it is hastened into heaven and for family and friends to be consoled in their grief" said the priest.  Hymns picked by the family; Holy Mother, Ave Maria, Taste and See the Goodness of the Lord. The priest and the deacon then blessed the covered casket with incense while praying, "Open the gates of heaven to welcome our brother." The ending hymn was On Eagle's Wings.

I knew Nick belonged to a group at the church called Caring Hearts and that he would go out to visit homebound people. One man who was visited told me, "I enjoyed his visit and we talked about fishing." I realized that Nick was a kind-hearted soul willing to help others in any way he could.

The funeral concluded at Olinger Crown Cemetery and due to Covid 19, there was no reception.

Nick Sedillo

Oct 20,1940 - Nov 19, 2020

Rest In Peace

English Is My Second Language

 I grew up listening to my parents, grandmother, and aunts speaking Spanish and their English was very limited. My father spoke English with an accent, yet I do not remember having any problems when I entered kindergarten. I do know that if I wasn't sure on how to pronounce a word I would find a substitute word. To this day "physician" is difficult for me to say so I use the word "doctor." In the 5th grade I was to speak on Columbus and his three ships, the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. My report was fine except that I pronounced ships like chips. The whole class laughed and I left the room in tears. I practiced the ch and sh words until I pronunce them correctly, but I noticed that my father continued to say share for chair. There are still words I do not say correctly in English. 

It was embarrassing to speak Spanish because I spoke Spanglish and if I spoke with someone who was fluent in Spanish, they would correct me. When I worked at Motor Vehicle, I was given most of the Spanish speaking people and somehow I was able to overcome my fear of speaking Spanish. No matter where I worked, I was called to interpret for foreigners. Once I was asked to translate for a Russian family and what a joke that was! At Legal Aid I went to court a few times to interpret for those that could not speak English and I found it to be nerve racking because I had to bring the legal words to my level and understanding and that was not easy. I also would be called to speak with the Spanish speaking clients. My position at the Archdiocese of Denver, my supervisor was from Spain and the majority of people that came to the office were Spanish speaking. There I learned more Spanish, lost my fear of speaking the language and knew I could hold my own.

Traveling to Spain, Mexico, Peru and Guatemala, I  could communicate with the people. My travels in those countries was more rewarding because I could talk with the people. I was complimented on how well I spoke Spanish and was told it sounded as if I was from a Latin country. That made me feel proud.  I felt fortunate that I knew two languages, Spanish and English. Volunteering in Mexico also improved my Spanish. Once I retired, I began to lose the ease of speaking in Spanish. Language has to be used daily or it can be forgotten.

When a Peruvian friend asked me to type some of his writings, I agreed. I struggled copying his writing but managed to get his work done. Words he used, I had never heard and had no idea what they meant.  The hard part of writing in Spanish are the accent, question/exclamation and quotation marks. When he asked if I would translate his writing into English I thought it would be an easy thing to do. It isn't. I had a dictionary next to me where I looked up what the Spanish word meant and then I would replace it with the English word. I can tell I am getting better at translating and enjoy doing it more. Words like acosa (harassments), sueles (usually), destierro (banished), vaiven (swaying), fenecidos, (died or ending), repasas (review) and many, many more words I had to look up because I had never heard them.

A Mexican friend of mine told me that I could speak Spanish at around 90% and write it at about 50%. Who knows, but after all the translating, I may have moved those percentages up a little bit more! 

"Todos nuestro sueños se pueden

hacer realidad si tenemos el

coraje de perseguir los."

Walt Disney

("All our dreams can come true

if we have the courage to 

pursue them.")