Isabella is 12, Gabriela is sweet sixteen

Friday, May 29, was a whirlwind day, I was subbing at Bellas school, then we rushed home with her best friend Mary to change and go out to enjoy "Night at the Museum 2". We completed the celebration with pizza and ice cream sundaes before packing the car to drive down to visit Grandma and Grandpa.
On Saturday, we attended a Down syndrome activities day at St Anthony's High School with our Long Island friends. Afterwards I took Christina to a pro-life youth conference at Nassau Community College, where she enjoyed the food, and I tried to enjoy the speeches. We stopped at our friend's home for tea, then home for a big roast beef dinner cooked by Grandpa.

Sunday, after Mass in the parish I grew up in, St Philip Neri, Northport, I walked the girls home down Main Street, the same path I used to take to daily Mass the summers when I was a teenager. I showed them the bushes where I used to pick flowers to put in front of the Blessed Mother's statue, when I felt that I had a religious vocation at 15. Such tender memories were great to share with my girls.

We took my brother Rob's two boys out with Christina to the local farm to visit the animals, something we both did as children. Here is a photo of Bella looking pensive at the farm.

There we had some family time and a great big Baskin Robbins CHOCOLATE cake for both Bella and Gabbi who turned 16 last Tuesday. Please keep my mother Eleanor in your prayers, she is in pain and has surgery scheduled.

On June 2, after school, Gabbi invited two friends to a shopping trip to spend her gift from her grandparents and then to come home and share a meal and her birthday cake. The lively conversations lasted past midnight,


They are such beautiful, intelligent young ladies, with such vivacious senses of humor. I am truly blessed to be their mother. May God grant them a grace-filled joyful, healthy year.

Friendly Blogger Award

My friend Elizabeth at The Divine Gift of Motherhood gave me the Friendly Blogger Award. She gave me credit for helping her get started in blogging. If so, I can take a bow for helping to raise the quality of writing in the blogosphere. She is a dear friend, outstanding mother and superb writer.

Thanks, from Tigger (my sixth grade nickname for my boisterously happy personality) Too bad you can't see me sing "The Wonderful Thing about Tiggers"!

Among Women nominated for Catholic New Media Awards

My friend Pat Gohn's podcast Among Women was nominated for several categories at the Catholic New Media Awards(formerly Catholic Blog Awards). See my review here, then go vote for her!

Small Successes

1. I welcomed my sister and brother-in-law who just emigrated from El Salvador into our home. We got to know one another, and enjoy the natural beauty of our neighborhood.



Here is Francisco with his brother Manuel fishing in the river. We hope Manuel and Milagro will be living in our home, while I teach them English this summer. We might even teach them how to drive, with Gabbi, if I feel brave enough!




2. We brought up a large part of my perennial garden from Long Island, and transplanted it here on our new piece of God's country. I hated to admit feeling nostalgic for my flowers, I tried to be brave and admire everyone else's gardens, but I guess if you are a true gardener, it becomes part of you.
I'm starting to feel like Tasha Tudor.




3. We celebrated Memorial Day in our new home with the solemnity it deserves, at a field mass at the parish cemetery and downtown with a parade. So many times, we forget the meaning of the first long weekend of summer, it was good to remember those who have given all.

See the rest of the posts at Faith and Family Live

Lest we forget

In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD

(1872-1918) Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved,

and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep,

though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

On a positively luminous spring afternoon, the tiny parade in Sprauge wound it's way through the old factory town by the river, while I watched under shady tree near the Veteran's Memorial. It was gratifying to see so many of my new friends in the parade, Christina's friend Tommy(with T21) with the cub scouts,Gabbi's, and Bella's friends on the sidelines, and my pastor, Fr Tito to give the invocation. In only 9 months, we have become part of this tight knit community of faithful Catholics, and Connecticut feels like home.
Here are two of the politicians who spoke at the ceremony:

Connecticut Congressman Joe Courtney, a Democrat, has a 05 pro-life voting record. His speech received moderate applause at the Sprauge Memorial Day service. Fr Tito, my pastor, who read Alex De Touqueville's quote, "America is great, because America is good, when American ceases to be good, it will no longer be great", received much stronger applause. We are in the conservative area of a liberal state.

Connecticut State Represenative Chris Coutu (R dist 47)on the other hand is a Catholic and votes like one. I met him one Saturday in September during his campaign, and he assured me he would think about voting like a Catholic. His HS teacher, Paul Tetrault, whom I met at the polling place, where he held pro-life signs, assured me that he would, or Chris would have to answer to him. He has a distinguished record of military and community service including volunteering in the Special Olympics(unlike our President who only uses it as the butt of jokes).

He voted against the terrible S899 bill legalizing gay marriage in Connecticut, and forcing homosexual agenda on the state's schoolchildren.

We salute you, veteran and proud Catholic in a cowardly Catholic state, Rep Chris Coutu!

St Philip Neri

I have a special affection for St Philip Neri, the name of the parish where I made my First Holy Communion and Confirmation. I always knew about his sense of humor but never heard about his experience of the Holy Spirit.
Please don't forget to pray the Pentecost Novena with me for my mother.

"He was twenty-nine years old at the time, and as the feast of Pentecost was approaching, Philip who had always had a special devotion to the Holy Spirit, was praying with extreme earnestness for his gifts and graces, when he seemed to see a globe of fire which entered his mouth and sank down into his heart. At the same time he was pervaded by a fire of love which seemed to be a positive physical heat, so that he had to throw himself on the ground and bare his breast to cool it. When he rose he was seized with a violent trembling, accompanied by an extraordinary sense of joy, and putting his hand to his heart, he felt there a swelling as big as a man's fist. After his death it was discovered that the first two of the false ribs were broken, and the broken ends thrust outwards, never having rejoined or return to the normal position during he fifty remaining years of Philip's life." 9
Fr. V.J. Matthews, Saint Philip Neri (Tan Books: 1984), 9.

Pope2You

I received a message from Fr Paolo Padrini asking me to share Pope2 You. Since I attended the Papal Youth Rally last April, and watched the magic of the Holy Father's interaction with youth in person, I have longed for a way to recapture the magic of their special bond. Pope2You is a vehicle for the Holy Father to keep in touch with the youth of the Church between World Youth Days and other youth gatherings.
"The new media of Facebook, the iPhone, YouTube and Wikipedia are increasingly becoming the new forum where the Catholic Church dialogues with the world. As Pope Benedict XVI noted in his message for the 43rd annual World Communications Day, the Internet is a place where young people need to develop true friendships which spring from an encounter with the Risen Christ. With this awareness and the courage to enter into the world of social networks, the project Pope2You was started with the idea of helping these networks become authentic places of friendship and true dialogue.Pope2You was created in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for Social Communications as an experiment in providing a new forum and channel of communication using the latest platforms. The Pope2You website provides a new way for Pope Benedict XVI to reach out to young people around the world. The site can be viewed in five languages and allows young people to learn more about the Church and Benedict XVI through his own writings, starting with the message for the 43rd World Communications Day. While the site aims to generate the interest of young people, it is also meant for people of all ages. It features news on the Catholic Church and details on the pastoral activities of Benedict XVI incorporating content from the Vatican’s YouTube channel. At the same time, a new application for the iPhone and iPod Touch has been created by the Catholic news agency H2Onews, with plans to add other mobile platforms later.Pope2You also provides a gateway to a parallel world in Facebook with an application where you can create and send to your friends virtual postcards with the Pope’s own words, greetings and excerpts of his writings staring with this year’s World Communications Day message. Also, with the help of the Media Office of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, a special area has been created along the lines of a WIKI with suggestions on how to put into pastoral practice the Pope’s 2009 Message. These new applications highlight the latest example of the Church reaching out in new ways in the world of social networks – a forum where the Church can meet new people, make new friends, dialogue and offer solidarity."

The consequences of playing hookey

Father Norton woke up Sunday morning and realizing it was an exceptionally
beautiful and sunny early spring day, decided he just had to play golf.

So... he told the Associate Pastor that he was feeling sick
and persuaded him to say Mass for him that day.

As soon as the Associate Pastor left the room, Father Norton
headed out of town to a golf course about forty miles away.

This way he knew he wouldn't accidentally meet anyone he knew from his parish.
Setting up on the first tee, he was alone. After all, it was Sunday morning and everyone else was in church!

At about this time, Saint Peter leaned over to the Lord while looking down from the heavens and exclaimed,
"You're not going to let him get away with this, are you?"

The Lord sighed, and said, "No, I guess not."

Just then Father Norton hit the ball and it shot straight towards the pin,
dropping just short of it, rolled up and fell into the hole.

IT WAS A 420 YARD HOLE IN ONE!

St. Peter was astonished. He looked at the Lord and asked, "Why did you let him do that?"

The Lord smiled and replied, "Who's he going to tell?"

Susan Boyle does it again!

This little lady is blooming like a rose, isn't she beautiful?!

Read about her advance (was anyone surprised?)to the finals of "Britain's Got Talent" and the more amazing apology of the incorrigible Simon Cowell at OMG. "After her performance on Sunday, Cowell was moved to apologize to Boyle, saying she had been poorly underestimated.
"You know what, I just want to apologize because of the way we treated you before you sang the first time," he said. "You made me and everyone else look very stupid and I'm very happy for you, very proud for you."
God is with you Susan, you are setting the world on it's ear!

Something for the fashionistas

Campfire Rosary

Tonight was a partly cloudy day with vivid green leaves and interesting skies. My husband's family came to help us plant some of our perennials from our former home into the weed mass that was our garden. Now, many of the weeds (by no means all) are replaced by old friends: Echinachea, Hydrangea bushes, Tiger lilies, Siberian Iris, Archangel, Black-eyed Susans, Forsythia bushes, Laurel, and Hollyhocks (a velvety deep red).

We were tired but grateful when, after dinner we were reluctant to give up the outdoors simply because it was dusk. An alluring sunset inspired us to do a quick search for firewood, and set up chairs. Soon we had a circle of twelve chairs around a roaring campfire, and talk led to praise songs then Marian hymns, which led to a rosary in Spanish for my father-in-law and my mother. What comfort we felt in the cool spring darkness, surrounded by the songs of tree frogs, crickets and the brook, reciting the ancient prayers to Our Blessed Mother, who hears her children's calls for the peace and healing of their loved ones. Who but her children can invoke her name and be instantly wrapped in her mantle of love?

If you have never done so, treat your family to a campfire rosary this summer.

Please pray for my mother

Yesterday my mother was admitted to the hospital for suspected gallbladder inflammation. Now, after an MRI, it appears much worse. She may have cancer, and the word sends a cold shock of fear into your system when it's said with reference to someone you love.
Please pray for her, her name is Eleanor Crafa.
Please join us in a Pentecost Novena, starting today.
UPDATE 5/22
Mom is home from the hospital resting. She did not have surgery. She will have further testing in Manhattan with a specialist renowned in this field.
Your continued prayers are appreciated.

It's only stuff

The silence on this blog is a result of a minor flood in our house the day after Mother's Day. Our washing machine decided it wanted to make a swimming pool in the basement, two floors down, and left four floors, kitchen countertops, and lots of ceiling space in it's wake. Thankfully I was home in time to mop up water making waves around my ankles in the kitchen while calling Serve Pro. They were wonderful, and between them and the washing machine insurance company, I'm getting help to clean up the mess, as well as replacement floors, ceilings, etc. But meanwhile, things are a bit rough around here, and the stress is getting to me.
Did I mention we're in the middle of sending the book to the publisher who will be deciding whether to publish us?
So, those of you who work for God know that this is a sign that the old man downstairs is not pleased. We hope to save lives and souls with the beautiful stories in Be Not Afraid. So ol' scratch hassles and fusses and tries to make me blow my temper.
Poor thing! Didn't he read the Book of Revelation?
He loses!

A new blog to enjoy

My friend Julie has a blog DRVC Catholic which highlights some of the beautiful churches on Long Island. Take a look at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Southampton.

Her mother's daughter

Sometimes the expression, "you're just like your mother" can be used as less than a compliment, but when I tell you about my mother's day gift, I mean it as high praise.

Growing up we used to make spiritual bouquets for the sick, or for someone like the bishop (what else could we possibly give him?). We adopted this custom when funds were low in our home, which seems to be the case in many homes.

So this morning, as I sat in my easy chair waiting for my morning coffee to energize my tired body, Gabbi came up to me with a small gift bag. On her class trip to Boston, she bought me a hyacinth votive candle with her spending money and wrote out this card with a spiritual bouquet.

I was thrilled, never have I needed one more. Right now, I am trying to make enough money to justify calling myself a full time Catholic writer, beginning by sending my book manuscript off to a Catholic publisher (please join me in prayer for it to be accepted). I know God is calling me to this vocation, yet I am struggling to trust Him to meet my family's financial needs while I give my talents to His service to spead the Gospel of Life.

We spent the morning at Mass, enjoying the lovely innocence of the First Communion children who were receiving their scapulars, and followed this with brunch in a country inn.

May Feelings II

Remember the incredible video last of year, May Feelings which skyrocketed to the top of You Tube? Well they made another, called May Feelings II. Enjoy.

Happy Mother's Day!

A children's book for Mother's Day: Let me Hold You Longer

Karen Kingsbury is the mother of six children. Her book can be purchased on her website.

I'm on the "Among Women" Podcast

Thanks to Pat Gohn, whom I mention meeting for lunch here, with columnist Patrice Fagnant-McArthur, I am on my first podcast at Among Women.

Listen here.

My friend Therese is up for a Cannonball Award

She is an inspiring blogger and wonderful Catholic mom of special needs children. Her blog Aussie Coffee Shop is underappreciated and you can vote for her blog every day right here.

The courage of some mothers really inspire me

I am gaining new followers on Twitter every day, and it fascinates me to learn about each one. One pro-life mom of 5, Elizabeth Esther is a great blogger, and posted this wonderful story about a mom who just wouln't give up on Emmanuelle. These difficult times call for true pro-life heroism. She wrote, "We were adamant that God’s will be done and we knew ending our baby’s life was not our decision. We were told we were naïve, foolish, selfish, thoughtless-“do you think this baby wants to live, you have no idea what this will do to your family.”
Yet she carried her baby to term, and two years later she is surpassing all expectations.
Happy Mother's Day to all you brave women out there who don't listen to doomsday doctors, who put your own life on the line to save your baby.
There is a special reward awaiting you in heaven.

Submit your photos for Times Square Montage

from NDSS
Celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Buddy Walk® by entering the Times Square Video Contest. The video, which showcases individuals with Down syndrome from all over the world, will air on a jumbo screen in the heart of Times Square on September 26, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. The New York City Buddy Walk will immediately follow the video presentation at the Great Hill in Central Park.
Each year, NDSS receives thousands of photo submissions for the Times Square Video Contest. Because the Buddy Walk promotes acceptance and inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome, the winning photographs feature children, teens and adults with Down syndrome working, playing and learning with friends and family.
For more information, or to submit a photo, please click here. The deadline for submitting photos is July 15, 2009.
ONE photo per individual can be submitted to the contest. Please note that this is different than in the past. If you send more than one photo, NDSS will only use the first submission.
Winners will be contacted by a representative from NDSS via email starting the week of August 3, 2009. You will not be contacted if your photo is not selected. Photographs will not be returned.
Click here to view the 2008 Times Square Video.
For further questions about the contest, contact me at timessquarevideo@ndss.org.

Pope Paul VI on Mary: Mense Maio

Throughout this month of May, let us offer our pleas to the Mother of God with greater devotion and confidence, so that we may obtain her favor and her blessings. Even if the grave sins of men provoke God’s justice and merit His just punishments, we must not forget the he is “the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort,” that He has appointed Mary most holy as the generous steward of His merciful gifts.

Special Graces in the month of May

from Mary Vitamin
"One May St. Pio of Pietrelcina wrote his spiritual father, Now at last the month of our beautiful Mother has returned! This dear Mother continues to give me her fond, motherly attention, especially during this month."
Father Stefano Manelli, FI, Devotion to Our Lady, (Academy of the Immaculate), 159.

Regina Caeli (replaces Angelus Prayer in Easter season)

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.

Has risen, as he said, alleluia.

Pray for us to God, alleluia.

Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.

For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.



Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.

Through the same Christ our Lord.

Amen.

He's baaaaack!

Who's back? Why Father Corapi, of course!

I miss his booming voice and the thrill that now that I live in a more traditional diocese, I may be able to come and hear him speak.
He was exhausted and malnourished, and a long rest did him a world of good. Now, he's back on the road, ready to challenge and inspire us with his booming voice and take no prisoners style.
Welcome back, Father, you were missed!
Read about it in the National Catholic Register.


Here's a Marian Meditation from his website
As we enter another month of May we can’t help but turn our thoughts to Mary, the Mother of the Lord and our dear spiritual Mother. For whatever reason some people have difficulty relating to the Blessed Mother. On the other hand, tens of millions of us love her dearly and can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t. I have always thought, “If she’s good enough for Jesus, She’s good enough for you!”We find ourselves caught in a violent spiritual war today. We need all of the help we can get. One of the greatest aids God has given us is the gift of His own Mother. We are foolhardy indeed if we refuse or fail to avail ourselves of this powerful gift.

Pray the Rosary every day. If we do not do this I’m afraid we’ll bear much of the responsibility for the state of the world—which is catastrophic. Can God bless a country that formally and legally embraces such human rights abuses as the genocide of abortion? Can God look fondly on a world that sanctions things such as fetal stem cell research, human cloning, and gay marriage?
These things constitute an assault on life itself, yet the average person is apparently too dull witted or morally blind to see this. At decisive times in human history, when all seemed dark, desperate, and nearly lost, the Church turned to Mary, the Mother of the Lord and our Mother, the Woman Clothed with the Sun. She interceded for poor humanity with her Son and won the day.
We are at such crossroads now and this May let’s not fail to turn to her in all of our needs. Everything we give to her, all of our prayers, go immediately to Jesus, Who gives them to the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit.I strongly urge you to totally consecrate yourself to Jesus through Mary, pray the Rosary every day, and have confidence in her maternal intercession.
Above all love your Mother, for I promise you—your Mother loves you.
God Bless You
Fr. John Corapi

May is the month of Mary

Sometimes I get so distracted, I overlook feast day. However, I continually give thanks to a gracious God who sends me reminders to stay close to Him.

Yesterday, without remembering it was the first of May, I posted about Christina's devotion to the rosary. May is the month of Mary, as my friend at Totus Tuus blog reminds me. I will be joining her in a series of Marian posts this month.

If you want to participate, you may copy this image and link to her blog. And don't forget the Litany of Our Lady of Loreto where you will find the title of this blog, Cause of Our Joy.

Remember this

The girls had a half day today, and are stuck inside together. Bickering.

So, Lord, please help me remember this moment last week, before I intervene.

I was writing on the computer when Christina took my hand to show me something in the living room.
She had lined up puppets and stuffed animals on chairs, with rosaries in front of them. Her little finger is in the photo indicating that they have the rosary.

She's playing family rosary!

Thank you, Lord for these moments of grace to sustain my patience in the trials of everyday mothering.

IDSC for Life to be features on John and Kathy Show

The IDSC For Life will be interviewed on the John and Kathy Show in Pittsburgh, PA. You can catch us on Wednesday, May 6, at 4:14 eastern time. We are very excited about this opportunity to share about the IDSC For Life! You can listen in on their website linked above. We hope to be able to link an audio after the interview.

We hope you can join us!

Bedtime was a nightmare tonight

So I got this link from Jen (Conversion Diary) on Twitter, and now I feel better.

I'm speaking at the Pro-life Coffee House May 9

If you would like to hear me explain how God has blessed us, and particularly what a child with Down syndrome gives to a family, come to the
Pro Life Coffee House
Academy of the Holy Family,
W Main Street
Baltic, CT
on Saturday, May 9 at 7PM.

You will also hear from members of the Smith family, parents of Christy's church buddy, 7 year old Tommy. You will be blessed to hear of his parents' unselfish gifts of their time to take care of Tommy, and the joy he in turn gives to the whole family.

Come and share an evening of the joy of special parenthood!

Seven Quick Takes Friday

Thanks again to Jen at Conversion Diary for hosting 7 Quick Takes this Friday.

1. During Holy Week, Francisco started construction on the bonus room which he's making into a big bedroom for Gabbi. She'll have the best view in the house, and plenty of room for sleepovers.

2. We learned more about country life. The farmer accross the road has a cornfield. The farmer up the hill has cows. They worked out a deal, and what I affectionately call the "Poop Truck" makes several runs down the hill, past my house each week. Only sometimes the road is bumpy and they leave fragrant samples along the road.

Green acres, we are there!

3. Cosmo the kitten had a cold, and once he recovered, he grew 50% and found MORE energy.

Especially at night. ZZZZZZZ

4. We took our girls to Watch Hill, RI on a balmy 70 degree day, and dipped the tips of our toes (YES, the water was COLD!) into the ocean. The teenagers slept while Bella explored and Christina watched. I took photos, naturally.

The ocean was a mixture of aqua and royal blue, sparking in the sunshine. What a wonderful time we had!

.

5. I have been growing things for spring; on the first day I began life as a stay at home mom with kids in school (I was a homeschooling mom) I planted some flowers in my lovely garden window, thinking I'd have plenty of time to garden.


Well. . .they need thinning and transplanting, and I have no time with all the writing assignments I have.

Nice thought though.

6. Over Easter vacation we took in three boarding students from Gabbi's school, girls who were not going home for Easter. That gave us an excuse to go exploring our local environs. We took them to the mall in Providence and came upon this tea party at the Capitol Building.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

7. I almost have my manuscript ready for the publisher. Should be working on it right now.

Asking for research funds from the Stimulus package

Dr. Raynard Kington
Acting Director
National Institutes of Health
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda , Maryland 20892

Dear Dr. Kington:

As members of the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus and on behalf of the 400,000 individuals with Down syndrome and their families, we are writing to request that you allocate additional fiscal year 2009 funds, as well as a portion of the funding provided to NIH as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Public Law 111-5) to meet the short- and long-term objectives of the agency’s strategic plan for Down syndrome.

We support the recommendations of the January 2008 NIH Research Plan for Down Syndrome, and appreciate your agency’s commitment to improving the health of people with Down syndrome. However, we are concerned the resources NIH currently dedicates to Down syndrome research are not sufficient to effectively accomplish the goals set in the plan. In addition, we were hopeful that NIH would include Down syndrome in its documents which listed NIH's "Highest Priority Challenge Topics" for potential grant topics for federal funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, yet it was not.

In fact, NIH funding for research related to Down syndrome has decreased significantly in recent years, from $23 million in 2003 to $17 million in 2008. With nearly 400,000 people with Down syndrome living in the United States today, this means that only $40 is being committed in research dollars for each person with Down syndrome, far less than the amount of research funding allocated to far less common medical conditions. Since Down syndrome occurs in people of all different races and origins, the lack of funding for research on the condition further contributes to significant health care disparities. Therefore, we believe tripling the NIH funds dedicated to Down syndrome research over the next three years is a reasonable goal for achieving the critical objectives outlined in the strategic plan.

With the allocation of additional funding, there is no shortage of promising research projects, including applications currently pending with NIH, which would help meet the near-term goals of the strategic plan. We understand the Trans-NIH Working Group on Down Syndrome received a two-year project list, based on a survey of nearly two dozen researchers, scientists and other medical professionals. Scientists and medical researchers from well recognized institutions Stanford, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Colorado contributed to the list. Areas of research covered by these projects and applications include:
(1) the pathophysiology of Down syndrome and disease progression;
(2) diagnosis, screening and functional measures;
(3) treatment and management;
(4) research infrastructure; and
(5) living with Down syndrome.

Additional NIH funding is also needed to make research mice more affordable and widely available. As you know, a major impediment to the development of new treatments for people with Down syndrome is the high cost of mouse models that exhibit different subsets of Down syndrome phenotypes. At an initial cost of more than $200 per mouse, research expenses can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, thereby discouraging researchers and promising areas of Down syndrome research. We urge NIH to allocate additional funding to offset the cost of such mice.

Increasing funding for Down syndrome research is critically important not only to people with the condition, but to millions of Americans afflicted with many other conditions. Seizure disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, congenital heart disease, leukemia, diabetes, celiac disease and hypothyroidism are just a few of the medical conditions that more commonly occur in people with Down syndrome. By finding research solutions for people with Down syndrome, millions of Americans without Down syndrome will benefit as well. Further, adults with Down syndrome are less likely to develop many types of solid tumor cancers, including breast cancer, lung cancer, and mouth cancers, in comparison to people who do not have Down syndrome. Further research may unlock the mysteries and new therapies for many human cancers.

We recognize the difficulties in the NIH budget, but with the new federal funding, the scientific support, and the NIH Roadmap, we believe now is an ideal time for NIH to act to fully support Down syndrome research. Significant Down syndrome research has been slowed, and, in some cases, halted, because of the recent lack of research funding. This is particularly acute at a time when increased funding by NIH is needed to advance recent important research discoveries through translational research initiatives to develop effective new therapies for children and adults with Down syndrome. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to use fiscal year 2009 funds and resources available in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Public Law 111-5) to put NIH on path toward tripling the amount of funding dedicated to Down syndrome research, necessary to fully implement the short-term goals outlined in the 2008 NIH Research Plan on Down Syndrome.

Thank you in advance for your consideration. We look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

Rep Cathy McMorris Rogers (R, WA)

Song: "I Missed my Chance" Jaime Thiette

Susan Boyle; overcoming the tyranny of low expectations

As a mentally disabled schoolgirl with frizzy hair, Susan was mocked. She was one of 9 children, and lived with her parents caring for them till their deaths, she attended Sunday Mass and sang in the choir.Her life was one of quiet service.
I'd call her a success, just based on that. However, thanks to her triumph at "Britain's Got Talent" the world is calling her a success as well.
Why did they assume that she was a loser just because she doesn't fit the stereotype of a beautiful slim young vocalist?
If you are too loving to have been one of the crowd who laughed at Susan's dream, then this story will make your day, over at Aliens in this World blog.
UPDATE: I have the embedded video!!

The Philippines pray the Divine Mercy Prayer as a nation

Catholic writers meet for lunch in Massachusetts

Two Saturdays ago, at the suggestion of Heidi Hess Saxton, my former editor of Canticle Magazine, a xolumnist at Catholic Mom, and founder of the Extraordinary Moms Network, I had a Catholic writer's luncheon. It was a blast!

I had the pleasure of meet in two Catholic authors whose columns I admire on Catholic Mom: Patrice Fragnant-McArthur who blogs at Spiritual Woman(next to me) and Pat Gohn, who blogs at Write In Between and has started up a podcast called Among Women. Pat Gohn has a background in radio, and worked on Long Island, in two stations close to where I grew up, but transferred to Boston in the 1990's.

We discussed their Master's degrees in Theology (I am considering this but time and finances are limited) being a Catholic writer, and how we hope that our writing help to evangelize the culture. We spent two hours together, and the time flew by. I hope we can get together again sometime soon.

We recorded a podcast right there in 99 Restaurant near Worcester, MA. When it airs, I'll be linking to it here.

One Year Ago Today I met Pope Benedict

I was at the Papal Youth Rally at St Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie, enjoying time with my daughter Gabbi and the youth. I wrote this article about my experience for the National Catholic Register. I also made this montage (below)with some of the photos I took.
What a wonderful time that was, the Pope, the President and the people united in joy.
How I miss that sense of unity now.
Pray for the Divine Mercy of God to heal our nation!

Here is what happened one year ago yesterday. Pope Benedict had a special encounter with a young man with T21.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Divine Mercy Sunday

Jesus I trust in You.
Today we complete our Divine Mercy Novena for our family members, for employment, and for our nation.

Susan Boyle's pastor speaks

She makes me proud on many levels.

She's a holy woman living her faith in a quiet way, giving her vocal talents to God in her home parish of Our Lady of Lourdes. She is learning disabled, having been deprived of oxygen at birth; I can relate to the pain of mockery(actually on behalf of my daughter who has Down syndrome). I can relate to having people expect little of a housewife with a keyboard, when you are dismissed because of your poor hairstyle, frumpy outfit and less than svelte figure.

AND yet, Susan triumphed, despite the mockery.

Enjoy it my dear, and keep close to your pastor, he'll protect you from the damage fame can inflict upon your soul. Thanks for inspiring me.
Her pastor, Fr Clark says, "It is a great opportunity for her and as far as I am concerned she should make the best of it, and if it lasts, it lasts, and if it doesn't, then it's still more than almost any one of us will ever achieve," he added. "It is important in sustaining her and making sure this is all a very, very beneficial experience."He described Boyle as "a woman of great faith" who was often "very gentle and very caring" though she could also be "needy and demanding."
Here's her fan site.
Read the entire story on CNS.
Update: Collette Home at the UK Herald gets it: "She is a gift to Simon Cowell and reality television. Her story is the stuff of Hans Christian Andersen: the woman plucked from obscurity, the buried talent uncovered, the transformation waiting to be wrought.
It is wonderful for her, too, that her stunning voice is now recognised. A bright future beckons. Her dream is becoming reality.
Susan is a reminder that it's time we all looked a little deeper. She has lived an obscure but important life. She has been a companionable and caring daughter. It's people like her who are the unseen glue in society; the ones who day in and day out put themselves last. They make this country civilised and they deserve acknowledgement and respect.
Susan has been forgiven her looks and been given respect because of her talent. She should always have received it because of the calibre of her character."
Well said, Collette.

Read the entire story here.

Our new kitten

Cosmo, as the girls named him, is an overdue Christmas gift. He is packed with energy, especially at night when you want to sleep, but he has won our hearts.

Can you blame us?

Easter at our house

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Holy Thursday

This is my favorite evening of the year. Really, even better than Christmas. It's SO holy and no one has found a way to commercialize Holy Thursday. There are no gifts to buy, or relatives to visit. It's just a beautiful Mass followed by a solemn procession with "Pange Lingua" which stirs me to my toes, and then I get time alone with Jesus at the Altar of Repose. I love to follow the custom of visiting three different churches to be with Jesus on the commemoration of His night in prison before the Crucifixion, but I couldn't bring myself to leave St Mary's.
Tonight He drew me close. I can only describe it as a burning inside my heart, and a reluctance to leave.
Subjects for prayer kept popping into my head, and I ended up praying for all of my extended family, especially those who are away from the sacraments, for my recently deceased cousin Phil, for my work projects, my money problems, my houseguests, my prayer life, my job as a mother to each one of my children, my job as a wife, my happiness at what Jesus has accomplished in my life since I moved to CT, my plans to do more for Him in the future, my failure to lose weight, my success at making this a holier Lent, my plans to finish moving into my home, my book reviews (I ususally write them in front of Jesus, I just type them later) my gratitude for my parents' health, my hopes for Christina to begin to speak more clearly, my love of my family, my love for Jesus, my desire to let Him take over more and more of me. To give Him all my life, my will, my talents. My atttempts to overcome my pride. His attempts to help me overcome my pride. How I was honored to share in some of His sufferings this Lent. How I am grateful that after only 7 months in CT, I know nearly everyone at Mass. How I'm going to go to adoration on a regular basis, since I'm unemployed again, and I need the prayer time. How I'm applying for a job which I feel Jesus calling me to do. How I am amazed at all He's accomplished in my life.
No wonder I was there nearly 2 hours!
Now I understand why the saints loved adoration, it's like sitting in the sun, you radiate His light when you leave.
Thank you, Jesus for the gift of Your Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist. Thank you Jesus for the gift of the priesthood which brings You to us.
Here is a live image of the Holy Eucharist in the monstrance. Here is a link from Catholic Culture for Holy Thursday.

La Via Crucis

La Via Crucis, the Hispanic Way of the Cross
Many Catholics are familiar with the Stations of the Cross, with 14 sculptures representing events in Christ’s condemnation by Pontius Pilate to his Body being laid in the tomb borrowed from Joseph of Arimethea. You see them on the walls of your parish church, or outdoors at retreat houses or shrine. This is a custom which dates back to the Middle Ages in Europe, when devout Catholics who couldn’t make the pilgrimage to the Holy Land tried to recreate the famous pilgrimage sites from Christ’s Passion, with the faithful walking from one to another, praying and meditating on how painfully our salvation was won. We try to ‘do the stations’ in Lent and Holy Week as a family. We also have been privileged to participate in several Via Crucis with the Hispanic Community, we have never seen the stations the same way again. It’s an unforgettably emotional recreation of Christ’s Passion which will serve as a lesson to your family, deepening your joy at the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
In Central America and Mexico, the entire community prepares for the Via Crucis for weeks, roles are handed out, parts are learned, props are made and costumes are sewn. Then, fourteen family’s homes are selected in the community and given plaques representing one of the fourteen Stations of the Cross. On Good Friday they will proudly display their plaque, decorated with flowers in front of their home, which tells the community that the Via Crucis will stop at their home. At noon, the entire tableau of the Passion of the Christ will be reenacted in living color, with a narrator telling the story, and the priest reading the parts of Jesus while a young man acts out Christ’s Passion. The faithful follow this solemn procession through the streets, as Jesus is carrying the cross, meeting with His mother, consoling the weeping women of Jerusalem, Veronica wiping His face with her veil, His three falls, and finally His crucifixion, death, and burial. They pray the prayers with the priest, and between each Station, they will sing a hymn, like “Perdona Su Pueblo Senor” or “Pardon Your People”. Each participant looks inward at his own soul, begging Jesus pardon for his sins as he participates in the re-enactment of the events of Good Friday.
At the climax of the Via Crucis, the man who plays Christ will be ‘nailed’ to the Cross very dramatically, and spend a long time there while the priest reads “Las Siete Palabras” or the Seven Last Words Christ spoke on the Cross from “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” to “It is finished, into Thy hands I commend my spirit”.
I attended a very moving Via Crucis in Marietta, Georgia, where the ‘dead’ body of Christ, was carried into the Church, and laid in the sanctuary in front of the altar, while the priest gave a homily, and the faithful came forward to kiss the cross. (See the montage below)
There is an air of solemnity around these events which transfer down to the youngest children; they watch at the passion play from their father’s shoulders. This way, the faith is brought down to the next generation in an unforgettable experience. I have long held the theory that the reason Hispanics have such wonderful customs for Good Friday, and fewer customs for Easter Sunday, is because, at this time in history, their lives more closely reflect the crucifixion, and they easily relate to the Lord’s cross. One of the Spanish hymns sung in the Via Crucis ends,”Mas grande son mis culpas, mas grande tu bondad” or “the greater my sins, Lord, the greater your goodness”. Thanks to the Via Crucis, the Hispanic community is able to contemplate the sacrifice the Lord made for us on Good Friday, seeing in His blood and pain to the immeasurable love He has for each one of His children.

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Polish Easter Customs

Swieconka
The blessing of the Easter food or the ‘Swieconka’ is a tradition that is very dear to the heart of every Pole. Grateful to God for all his gifts of nature and grace, and as a token of this gratitude, we have the food sanctified with the hope that when spring comes, the season of the Resurrection, we will also be blessed by God’s goodness and mercy.
Traditions vary from region to region and from family to family. They have changed and evolved with each passing generation. Traditionally, the food is brought to the church in a basket decorated with a colorful ribbon, sprigs of greenery are added, and a linen cover placed over the top. The food is blessed by the parish priest on Holy Saturday morning. If it is absolutely necessary, the food can also be blessed at home. After the blessing, the food is usually set aside until Easter morning when the head of the house shares the blessed egg, symbol of life, with his family and friends. Having exchanged wishes, they all continue to enjoy the rest of the meal.
The foods traditionally blessed by a priest for Easter can be placed in three categories:
• Easter bread and cakes of all kinds, particularly a yeasty cake called babka
• Meat products, ham, veal, suckling pig, sausage, bacon and so on.
• Dairy products, butter, cheese, eggs - some without their shells, others, decorated, called
(Pisanki).
Each of the foods has a deep and symbolic meaning
• Butter - often shaped into a lamb (Baranek Wielkanocny} or into a cross. This reminds us of the good will of Christ that we should have toward all things
• Babka (Easter bread) - a round or long loaf topped with a cross or a fish, symbolic of Jesus, who is the true Bread of Life
• Horseradish with grated red beets ('Chrzan') - symbolizes the Passion of Christ still in our minds but sweetened with some sugar because of the Resurrection
• Eggs (Jajka) and (Pisanki - decorated with symbols of Easter, of life and prosperity.) Eggs are considered a symbol of the resurrection, the emergence of a new life
• Sausage (Kielbasa) - spicy sausage made of pork products, indicative of God's favor and generosity
• Ham (Szynka) - symbolic of great joy and abundance. Some prefer lamb or veal. The lamb also reminds Catholics that the Risen Christ is the 'Lamb of God'.
•Smoked Bacon (Slonina) - a symbol of the abundance of God's mercy and generosity
• Salt (Sol) – a necessary element in our physical life, symbolic of prosperity and justice, to
remind us the people are the flavor, the salt of the earth
• Cheese (Ser) – ball shaped, as the symbol of the moderation Christians should have at all times
• In some regions a candle is also inserted into the basket to represent Christ, the Light of the world.

Triduum at the Friary in Griswold

TRIDIUUM SCHEDULE FOR HOLY WEEK OF
APR 05TH - APR 11TH:

HOLY THURSDAY APR 09
Holy Mass (5.30pm)

GOOD FRIDAY APR 10
Passion of the Christ Movie (12.00pm)
Passion and Communion Service (3.00pm)
Stations of the Cross (5.00pm)

HOLY SATURDAY APR 11TH
Hour of the Mother (12.00pm)
Holy Mass (9.30pm)

Lumina Retreat

I always try and provide support for those facing a poor prenatal diagnosis, by encouraging them to continue their pregnancy and give life to their special needs baby. But if you aborted your baby, do NOT despair! There is forgiveness for you!
The Catholic church provides help and healing through a ministry called Lumina. Here is an upcoming retreat in the New York City area on April 25, with a compassionate priest from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, Fr Mariusz Koch.
Click here for more information.

Palm Sunday Procession at the Friary

The solemn procession began witht the blessing of palms in St Joseph's chapel, wound round the grounds and into the main church where a beautiful Missa Cantata followed.

An auspicious beginning to a blessed week.

Choose life Hillary!

Over at Cottage Blessings, Alice has commented an article by my pro-life hero, Rep Christopher Smith. He has commented on two of Madame Secretary of State's trips: to the Planned Parenthood to receive the Margaret Sanger award and to see the miraculous tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe( only to embarass herself by asking, "who painted it?")

Only a devout Catholic like Chris Smith would notice the irony in the juxtapostion of those events:

"On the one hand, the miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe has for five centuries brought a message of hope, faith, peace, reconciliation and protection for the weakest, most vulnerable among us. On the other hand, each year, Margaret Sanger's Planned Parenthood kills approximately 300,000 unborn baby girls and boys in their abortion clinics scattered throughout the United States."

Thank you Chris Smith for showing great moral leadership in a time when it is sorely needed, and for reminding the world what a racist eugenist Margaret Sanger was.

I included Rep Smith in my article for Canticle Magazine on outstanding Catholic politicians. His wife Marie told me that he was elected in a mostly pro-abortion district in southern New Jersey but has kept his seat because of his integrity. This photo was taken at the Family Research Council Blogs for Life January 22, 2008

In honor of Rep Smith's important speech, I'm giving away an autographed Congressional Calendar from his office which I received when I gave him a pro-life award this year at the March for Life, leave a comment below, saying you want it, and I will mail it to you.

Read the entire story at CNS.

Kurt Kondrich: Chloe's Dad

Tonight, in an attempt to get in touch with my natural habitat, I attended a nature workshop at my local library on vernal pools. Those are temporary bodies of water which appear in spring giving frogs and salamanders a place to lay eggs and the tadpoles a place to grow legs before they take up lives as forest creatures. I think that God's wonderful plan for nature is awesome, however the evening soured for me as the presenters described new federal grant monies to study rare salamanders and toads.
In this time of recession, we have millions to study humble amphibians, yet when Dr Mobley discussed his promising research to provide a medication to normalize the cognition of people with Down syndrome, he couldn't raise the $5 million dollars to develop the drugs from the government. Nearly half a million people with Down syndrome are in the USA (should be 5 million if they weren't aborted at a rate of 90%). These people can't get funding for drugs which would make them able to live independent lives, go to college, have fulfilling jobs, marry and live just like we do.
Salamanders. Phooey!
Kurt Kondrich(creator of the lovely video posted below) had the same reaction I did when he learned about the millions used to study the Kangaroo Rat from satellites. This shows a sad sense of priorities in this nation. Why don't people come before toads and rats?!

Read the entire story in the National Right to Life News and Views.

Lifted up by Down syndrome

Good Counsel Homes to open affiliate in Norwich CT

I have had the pleasure of meeting Joan and Chris Bell and their beautiful children twice. The latest was walking downtown Yonkers, NY from the Papal Youth Rally where I first recognized his son Emilio. Chris and Joan have lived exemplary Catholic lives fully devoted to the prolife cause in precisely the ways the Vortex video below challenges us. Please help him with his work at Good Counsel Homes. The Right to Life group I belong to here in Norwich voted to join his network, trusting that his experience and reputation will guide our work.
Read the article in Catholic New York which describes his work.
Here's a personal note from Chris Bell,

Would you kindly consider passing this article around to all your friends, family, anyone and ask if any can send any support our way now -- no gift is too large or too small -- it will help the dozens of moms and babies with us today, and those calling tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. We really need help now.

Thanks. God bless you greatly. Hope to see you soon.

Peace,
Christopher Bell +

Good Counsel homes
http://www.goodcounselhomes.org/
24/7 Helpline:
1.800.723.8331

P. 201-795-0637

Good Counsel
P.O. Box 6068
Hoboken, NJ
07030
Good Counsel's Lumina program
Lumina - Hope and Healing After Abortion
offers hope and healing after an abortion
http://www.postabortionhelp.org/
1.877.LUMINA1 (1.877.586.4621)

Every mother and child deserves love and support
from the moment of conception.