NL29

1. This week I am back at St Mary of the Angels, the big and beautiful Church looked after by the priests of Opus Dei not too far from the center of City of Chicago. Even though the area around us is being “gentrified or yuppified” Chicago is still a violent place! The daughter of one of the Parishioners was stabbed to death last week-end. Fr Joe one of the priests who works here said the prayers at the grave side. The girl’s mother was a recent convert. It was a “Baptists” service but quite moving.

2. That leads to an interesting thing about the Religion in the USA compared to Australia. In most country towns and city Parishes you used to find at least three Churches: one Catholic, one Anglican and one of some other Protestant denomination. Here most country places are not like that. In many places there are many small “Baptist” Churches and only one Catholic. And no Anglican (Episcopalian). For example in a couple of studies I carried out in the telephone directories, in a relatively small locality, you might have two Catholic Churches, 20 Baptist Churches and 2 or 3 Methodists! In the US the distribution of “worshippers” is very different than Australia. It is much more homogenous in Australia.

3. I did a funeral on Thursday. There was some “disappointment” when I told them it was my first funeral in the US. I assured them that people die in Australia too, and that there was not much difference among people who are dead! Although here the “Wakes” are a little more formal. The body is usually dressed up and put in a funeral home for a day. Dead people can be made to look very nice. I went to pay my respects and meet the relatives of the deceased. There is nothing quite like praying in front of dead person. The liturgical texts of the prayers move you too! Anyway the funeral ceremony went well. I have another one next Monday!

4. Working in a large Parish is always attractive. It is “vacation time” but there are plenty of kids around. The Parish School has organized a huge “show” to raise money. There is a Merry Go round, “Dodge’em cars, many of other types of rides etc out in the Parking Lot between the Church and the School! Ever since they invented the Ferris Wheel in Chicago, the locals have strived to be world leaders in amusement park type entertainment! There are also lots of performances, even gambling in air conditioned comfort (more than just Bingo). It started yesterday evening. It ads to the noise level. Screaming kids especially! The Parking lot is big, and they have cordoned off a street to use for the “rides”! I hope they make lots of money. Private Schools get no help from the Government here!

5. Some more insight was gained into things last week! I forgot to mention that at the last course that I gave at Lincoln Green, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in the middle of the State of Illinois, I played lots of Volley Ball. I was able to impress them a little with my endurance not my skill though. There were some younger people 30-40. Competition was fierce! What would expect!

6. There were some mixed reactions to the news that I will be staying Chicago for at least another year (as opposed to Boston or Texas, or California or New York or Washington etc). I said: I have heard today that I will probably be in Chicago for at least another year! "You did not sound happy. C'mon it isn't that bad!” AND “Another year in the great city of Chicago!! It is a real man's city. Not plastic or fake like LA, or impossibly expensive and stuck up like New York. People are real and dependable. Almost Australian!” AND “You will have time in Chicago to get acquainted with Mies van der Rohe at I.I.T. and Frank Lloyd Wright”.

7. Some of the other things that received interesting comments. “Your commentary on Sororities et al., reminds me of the unfavorable and even repulsive impression of them given by the movies. They show themselves to be pompous, exclusivist and mean little groupings of people who can't fit in anywhere else in normal university society”. I think they play a valid role in most cases!

8. I am still reading Lincoln’s Virtues and find it very interesting. After a tough day it is something to look forward to in the evening. Abe still impresses me a lot! I realize that he was intelligent and had a strong moral sense which he cultivated all his life! My feelings are very different from one of the correspondents: “I completely agree with the person who wrote that he preferred The South to win. The Civil War never was about slavery. It was about the power of the central government in Washington. The Southern states decided to leave the Union because the federal government had become too intrusive in their affairs and sided mainly with the industrialized Northern states. The agricultural states were put at a disadvantage and were slowly being impoverished. The Civil War is one of the few wars Americans have fought which I consider justified. But unfortunately the wrong side won. Lincoln may have been a good speaker. He also had all the characteristics of a great politician: he was a deceiving, lying, ruthless bastard. He is personally responsible for the tragedy that is the Civil War which changed America forever (to the worse)”. Needless to say I disagree with this. Most people would!

9. Besides slavery was a big problem! The correspondent continues: “The slaves were merely a tool for the North to break the back of the South economically”. It sounds very much like an anarchist rant but still food for thought! On a more theological note: “I think South Versus North was a moral victory for the North! The tragedy of the war could also be seen as a punishment for slavery and other evils. God seems to find a way to "purify" a nation if they treat men (or babies) inhumanly!

10. My comment about “excessive idealism” in the USA and “deficit of idealism” in Australia provoked the following comment. (I do believe that we all need to be inspired!) “I believe is the American tendency to manufacture heroes when or as required i.e. in recent times we saw Jessica Lynch in Iraq and the football heroes killed in Afghanistan and to this list of created heroes I believe you can add John Paul Jones who was considered nothing but a soldier of fortune by the founding fathers and in fact the Title Father of the American Navy was credited too Commodore John Barry ( An Irish Catholic ) by his contemporaries and for well over a hundred years till 1904 when Teddy Roosevelt wishing to build popular support for his " White seas fleet '' arranged with great fan fare to bring the body of John Paul Jones back from its unmarked grave in Paris to the US escorted by three cruisers, the point being that after all that fan fare John Paul Jones politically had to be nominated as father of the navy . In another one hundred years he might be relegated back to being a common pirate again”!

11. Someone pointed out the possible source of a lot of the “noisy and rubbishy” in the interpretation of world history. “Winston Churchill believed that if the Confederacy had prevailed the Union would have split into separate republics i.e. The Mid West, West Coast, North East: the US would not have existed, and hence the first world war would have had a negotiated peace settlement in 1917, following from that the Bolsheviks would not have come to power in Russia, the German Government would not have collapsed and the Nazis would not have had come to power and hence no Second World War”. Just another way to blame the US for everything!

12. Today in Chicago was the beginning of the “Greatest Show on Earth”. I can walk the 2 miles to due East to Lake Michigan from St Mary’s any time. And there it was. I met John Walker, with 4 of his children, (famous Warrane ex-resident living in Chicago) on the way to the Lake. There we watch the “greatest” show for 2 hours or more. What most impresses you is the sheer power of the jets: their vertical acceleration, and maneuverability. And the pure entertainment value of the Thunderbirds: 6 jets flying so closely and flawlessly. It has a decided “militaristic feel” about it. There are war transport planes. From the sources: “The Chicago Air & Water Show is among the most important annual public festivities in the city. Originating in 1958, In 2006, 2,200,000 watched the Chicago Air and Water Show. (…) It is a free event and a favorite of kids and adults alike. There are daredevil pilots, parachute teams, and jets flying in formation, as well as a water-skiing and boat-jumping component for additional thrills. The great thing about this festival is that it's visible from almost everywhere along the Chicago lakefront”. Fortunately for me I had John next to me to enthusiastically explain each of the “planes” and their actions. The Official Show actually starts on the week-end. It was great day! Good weather and good fun close to the edge of the Lake! The latest and best plane in the US military warehouse also made an appearance: the f-22 Raptor. It is better than anything else i.e. F 16 or F 18. A bit expensive though.

13. We had four Masses during the day here at St Mary’s for the Feast of the Assumption. It was a nice day. I am about to go a check out the Rides in the “Amusement Park” on the other side of the parking lot.

14. On a linguistic note I see many frowning faces if I use the word queue instead of line; say torch instead of flashlight, or spell a word with “zed” instead of “zee”.

Regards to all,

NL30

1. It has been another enjoyable week at the Big and Beautiful Church, St Mary of the Angels, Chicago. I will miss this type of work. Future plans will include coming here from “up North” about once a month to say Sunday Mass and spend several hours in the confession. Other news from St Mary’s: I did another funeral in the Parish; could use the previous homily with some small changes as it was a husband not a great aunt who died! There is one next Monday too. My last job here There was another violent death in the family of one of parishioners. A lady of 25 was stabbed to death! There is also some good news! There are more things happening here besides the occasional violent death! Every Sunday evening there is a Mass at 7.15 pm. The “Congregation” is composed mostly of local “yuppies”, indicative of the “demographic changes” happening in the Parish. During that time four priests hear confessions for 2 hours from 6.45 to 8.45 pm.

2. I checked out the new Center, which will be my base of operations for next nine months! It is called Northview Study Center. I will put the address at the bottom of the email as part of the signature. It was a nice neighborhood but it has a drug problem. It is next to Lake Michigan so I will be swimming there the next few months! To encourage my initial “non positive frowning reaction” to the news of the move, I was told that it is the most “integrated” suburb in Chicago. A bit of everything! He said: “It has its fair share of suicides, poor blacks, drugs, noise etc. I will give full report later. It is not that well connected by any means of transport compared to the other Centers of the Opus Dei that I lived in so far!

3. Reflecting on some of the “sociological and historical” aspects that I have written over the last 6 months! I have pretty much just written down what I have picked up in terms of vibes and impressions since I have been here. With regard to the initial perceptions of the “self-focused’ ‘ness” and “lack of a sense of history”, I see no reason to change my mind.

4. I can only compare with what I know: “Australia”. So what do Americans think of Australia. They like us. But they do not know any details about Australia. John Walker (the ex-Warrane resident living in Chicago) gave me a very popular book. It is written by Bill Bryson. He is a well known author because of other books he has authored. The book is called “In a sunburned country”. It confirms what I said about American perceptions of Australia. Apparently it was quite popular too, in Australia when it first appeared. A book like this is useful for knowing what other people think about us. It is a funny, mildly crude, pro-labor book. It has some interesting points to make. He gives some evidence of Australia being unknown, at least as far details go, in the US. He quotes The New York Times Index. It lists the times different topics make the news. Australian appeared 20 times in 1997, Peru, 120 Times, Albania 150. Australia appeared as much as Belarus. That is with respect to countries. In terms of commodities: “Put in the crudest terms, Australia was slightly more important to us (the readers in the US) in 1997 than bananas, but not nearly as important as ice cream”. Actually 1997 was a good year. In 1998 Australia only appeared 6 times in the NY Times Index; in 1996 it was 8! Hopefully WYD will increase these low figures.

5. Some other points that Bill Bryson makes. “It is the only nation that began as a prison”. “Perhaps eighty percent of all that lives in Australia, both plant and animal, exists nowhere else”. He does not like snakes or spiders’ goes on a bit about them. Of the ten deadliest snakes in the world, all ten are in Australia. “One of the effects of paying so little attention to Australia is that it always a pleasant surprise to find it there”!

6. He continues: “Their cities are safe and clean and nearly always built on water. They have a society that is prosperous, well ordered, and instinctively egalitarian. The food is excellent. The beer is cold. The sun nearly always shines. There is coffee on every corner; Rupert Murdoch no longer lives there”. Obviously he does not like Rupert Murdoch, who very recently bought the Wall Street Journal, probably the best paper of its kind in the World!

7. He says things like the following, to support our failure to appear in American Newspapers. With regard to Harold Holt’s disappearance. ‘This seemed doubly astounding to me – first that Australia could just lose a prime minister (I mean come on) and second that news of this had never reached me”. Also “From time to it sends us useful things – opals, merino wool, Errol Flynn, the boomerang, - but nothing we can’t actually do without. Above all, Australia doesn’t misbehave. It is stable, and peaceful and good”.

NB All this information comes from the first 20 pages of the book! I think that he is somewhat misinformed! Apart from what I said before “the book is a funny, mildly crude, and pro Labor. Australia became much more confident of itself after the Olympics of the year 2000. He also underestimates our economic prowess.

8. During the week there was an “Australian” event. The “Little Sisters of the Poor” are a global organization with Nursing Homes all over the world. I used to visit their Home for retired priests in Randwick and Melbourne quite regularly. Anyway, where I am living at the moment, next to St Mary of the Angels is called the Midtown Center for boys!

9. From the sources: “The center helps youngsters to become better students and better people through after-school and summertime programs that integrate academics with virtues. Since its founding in 1965, thousands of inner-city boys and girls ages 8 to 18 have participated in MEF programs” Anyway the mother of the director of the Center is over 80. She is in a one of the Homes run by the Little Sisters. It is within walking distance. The director told me that a nun was going from there to Australia. He suggested I go and tell her what Australia is like. I phoned and made an appointment. I arrived right in the middle of her going away party. I tried to wait at the back discreetly. But she spotted me. After all, I am noticeable in black! She invited me to address the crowd. I took it upon my self to officially welcome her to Australia. She is lucky enough to be going live in Randwick. I explained about the unfounded fears of crocodiles and giant kangaroos. That was all the previous speaker mentioned! I said that Australians were pretty friendly but unfortunately not too obviously “religious”. In general people in Chicago have more respect for “religion” than Sydney. She is very enthusiastic. I hope that she is not disappointed. Anyway, after meeting lots of people, I am now part of the community of sick and dying and staff of the Nursing Home. Will be returning there soon! It is always a good thing to visit people in a nursing home; for me, especially to have lunch with retired priests.

10. There are more than just Americans in Chicago. As I was running back from the beach a few days ago, (I run most days even though it is bad on the knees), I got the “thumbs up” from a group of sporting looking men. They said something positive about Britain as they put their thumbs in the air! I thought it might be something empathetic although I don’t look particularly British! But I was wearing the Warrane College Football Jersey. Besides making me look tough, the jersey has the College shield on the top left corner. The College shield includes a Lion. Apparently the Lion has been part of the English Coat of Arms, and the UK’s since 1066. It is included in the State of NSW shield and the UNSW Shield. And has even managed to leap into the Warrane College Shield. I was glad to have made a groups of homesick Brits happy with the Lion in Warrane’s Shield, even though the Lion is really quite small! It is another example of the “flow of culture” through the ages.

11. Over twenty five percent of all Catholics in the Chicago area are Spanish speakers so my Spanish should be improving. When I arrived here I thought confessions in Spanish were just going to be a passing thing. Now I realize I have to become quite fluent in Spanish. At times I think in Spanish for the rest of the day after hearing confessions in Spanish for several hours I the morning. I still have along way to go, to be able to say exactly what I want to!

12. People commented immediately on the Bridge collapse last month. It was not that news worthy here, although the inspections of old bridges have become a priority. But have you seen anything in the Australian press about rains, winds and wild thunder storms. We have had several furious thunderstorms recently. A bit of damage, certainly lots of flooded basements including our Church, and broken branches scattered on the streets.

13. There were some interesting comments on the views stated last week about Lincoln. As I read the book, I am page by page more and more impressed with Lincoln. He was very much against the War with Mexico too. Not all “correspondents” share my enthusiasm. One said “I read the news letter-was a bit bored with some of the US stuff rant”. Another said: “I am glad you could quote me!” Someone else said: “The Atlantic magazine had a lengthy article on Abe Lincoln about a year ago that described him as an abiding and chronic depressive”! I will wait till the end of the book Lincoln’s Virtues before commenting on that! I read an article recently that said that “depression” is over diagnosed! I think on Monday Mornings most people are less cheerful than on Friday Mornings!

14. On other aspects of life in Chicago: “The Raptor is an awesome plane. Looks like a fighter but carries the destructive payload probably greater than the Lancaster bomber of WWII”.

15. This next week should be a new adventure in “life in the USA”. New residence and new work! Please keep it in mind.

Regards to all,

NL 31

Hi!

1. My new home, at least until June 2008, is interesting! A Residence for University students! It is quiet place though. Good facilities although bit worn out etc.

2. Some first impressions: It is easy to go for runs. I run to the beach of Lake Michigan about 2 blocks away, and run along the sand; very good for the knees, at least not bad for them. I went for a swim the first day here. I have been spoilt living in Warrane College which is 5 to 10 minutes from some of the best beaches in the world. Lake Michigan is shallow, dirty and wave-less! Someone did ask: “How is the swimming going? I didn't know you liked swimming!” You have your answer.

3. Other points of interest! About a mile north there are some of the nicest homes n the US. In Australia you don’t see this kind of thing. Acre after acre of very substantial mansions with manicured gardens. Apparently traffic from December to March is not a problem in that area as the many of the owners go to Florida for the winter. But immediately around our neighborhood, which has seen better days and is bouncing back you see the occasional drug deal! Every five minutes a cop car silent glides past.

4. The actual position adds about 15 minutes too most trips. In previous locations “accommodation” was very close to the Expressway; here it is not the case! As always when you go to a new place, you have to find the dry cleaners, barber etc. One big advantage is that there are at least three“$5.00” barbers within walking distance.

5. I did say a lot about the weather when I first arrived here. What can I say now? It has been hot and humid for a while now. I have come to rely on air-conditioning even to sleep well. What is amazing is the contrast: so cold and snow bound in winter; so hot and humid as the summers drags on. The fall “ the best time in Chicago: begins soon.

6. Another thing: food! There is probably an unhealthy preoccupation with food. Bit like a lady concerned about her weight having a new diet each week. It is the variety that is a little stifling. There ware at least 20 different types of “ordinary bread”. It is even the same with beer. Yesterday I went for a beer at a local place at my new residential quarters. I had just been for a run so looked like an “old” footballer; I said I was from Australia as I ordered two beers. The bar attendant jokingly asked me if I wanted “Fosters in a Can”. I said I would prefer some good American beer (many Australians would say a contradiction in terms) After working our way through a list 20 beers written on a board we came down to 3 good ones. But the names! They all had long names and then also a short names! The short names included phrases such as “Three Kings”, “Mad Hatters” etc. (long name: New Holland Mad Hatter India Pale Ale). I managed to order the beers. I sent my friend back to order the second round. It was a rather trying experience. Drinking beer seemed less challenging Australia. Cold and simple beer! VB please! For many Americans “choice” is the same a freedom or good! It is a little confusing, probably wrong! You have to tip too, and that ads to the challenge! How much? Etc!

7. I have begun watching the News in the new Center. Just a summary. It is the same every night. Iraq! (Some small and ugly incidents); Bush! (Trying to do something “good” but failing; Dow Jones and Nasdaq bouncing up and down each day but meaninglessly. In case you are interested: "The NASDAQ (acronym for National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations system) is an American stock market. It was founded in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), who divested themselves of it in a series of sales in 2000 and 2001. It is owned and operated by The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. the stock of which was listed on its own stock exchange in 2002. NASDAQ is the largest electronic screen-based equity securities market in the United States. With approximately 3,200 companies, it lists more companies and on average trades more shares per day than any other U.S. market". Obviously there is not a lot of world news. We did see some fires in Greece though.

8. A sociological comment. People often joke about American fashion and taste! After being here for almost 8 months (not long I suppose) and not being that fashion conscious, it has to be said that there is some truth to the common negative perception. Many Americans dress very well. But beauty, fashion, tastefulness! “Thomas Aquinas 12254-74, echoing the theory of Aristotle, made a statement in this regard that beautiful things are those that please when seen. Something “beautiful possesses three basic components: unity, order and harmony! Returning to the first book I read about the US Paul Johnson’s History of the American people he refers to a famous book by Mrs. Trollope “Domestic Manners of the Americans”, published in 1832 which was an immediate best seller on both side s of the Atlantic, and made Mrs. Trollope the most hated author in America, and still makes American hackles rise today”. Anyway she has a low opinion of these issues. It seems to me that the more it is worth, the heavier it is; the gaudier it is, the more beautiful it is. Many things lack a certain harmony. It is still early days yet.

9. Did you know that Americans do not travel much and fewer people come to the US than visit France!

10. I often meet a groups of people, when I tell them that I am Australian, there is often amongst the group, one who has something very “inspiring” o say about Australian Military. They are full of admiration of the soldiers they met in WWII, Korea or Vietnam! Among the qualities they most admire: “Australians were very reliable in all areas”. They usually throw in a comment about drinking beer too!

11. After my third funeral at St Mary of the Angels, the Big and Beautiful Church entrusted to the priest of Opus Dei, I had one reflective moment. The three people were all Polish Americans, born here, all over 80 years old. There is so much difference between them and their grandchildren! A bit sad really. But they died a little lonely even though they worked hard and were very patriotic! It is the end of era!

12. Today I had my first day at Northridge Preparatory School. A school that goes from years 6 to12. I will be there one and half days a week t say Mass and looking after the older boys. It is like Redfield except the boys are American. The staff have treated me very well! I was complemented on my accent too by the students. In typical teenage fashion, at the end of a confession I was told several times that my Australian accent was “awesome”! I think I will enjoy talking with the boys!

13. With the now standardized technology a few people have verified where I am “I just goggle earthed your address”. They also pointed out that I am not too far from two cemeteries. Obviously they stand out on an aerial shot of the area!

14. I guess APEC will be a focus soon in Sydney. Again from a correspondent: “We are getting a public holiday on the Friday of the meeting of Bush, Howard etc. I have no idea why! Gives everyone the day off so they can join the protest against Bush!

15. There was some positive feedback about the widespread ignorance of Australia here: “I agree with your impressions about the general ignorance of Australia in the US. Maybe that is a good thing. Australia is the best country in the world and I would rather keep it that way”

16. Perhaps Warrane should take to heart the following suggestion: “Maybe you should ask Warrane College to send you another jersey as it seems to feature a lot in your stories so I am sure it must be worn out by now”

Regards to all

NL 32

1. Sorry for the delay with this Newsletter! It is probably the latest that I have ever sent out the Newsletter. I must have some kind of reputation for being punctual! Several people asked me, with the 24 hours delay if I was OK. Perhaps the September 11^th date coming up made them think all kinds of unfortunate events. Most enquires were fairly low key. For example: “Haven’t heard from you this week. Hope all is well with you”.

2. The reason for the delay: I was giving a retreat at “Wyncliffe”. “Wyncliffe” is the name of a “private” Conference Center about 2 hours North of Chicago, in the state of Wisconsin, an hour passed the state’s major city of Milwaukee.

3. The State of Wisconsin is famous in the US for cows. We passed many signs referring to the “Dairy land of the US” etc. I saw lots of cows, usually black and white ones. It was interesting that although it was the first time that I had been to this State, next door to Illinois, it was also the first time that the other three occupants of the car had been to Wisconsin too! It doesn’t have a big tourist industry. Also the cows looked contented. But I suspect that cows would be just as contented in Australia or New Zealand.

4. The Conference Center has a history. Mike Wynn, a very successful CEO, decided to apply is organizing talents and his money to a “summer residence” for his large family and grandchildren. He has about 50 grand children. He acquired a property next to Lake Michigan in Wisconsin. It had several old barns and an old house. Over 20 years he has transformed it into a delightful place. It has a small Church, several large accommodation halls, a superb kitchen, and a very large “Gazebo” for eating outside etc. It is very green, has lots of trees. I imagine it is very cold in winter.

5. There were 28 men on the retreat. All interesting people of course. They seem to be particularly interested in what I have to say. I have to be careful. They take notes. Aussie stories fascinate! I have been guilty of exaggerating the size of wombats, kangaroos, etc. Still as my accent won’t change, I can see that I will probably manage to entertain “spiritually” for a very long time.

6. Amongst the clientele there were several bankers. That is people who own banks. There are 1000s of different banks in the US. There are only 6 in Canada, 7 ? in Australia. A group of people with several million can just start their own bank. It is quite regulated but why so many? Historically banks were not allowed to have branches more than a few miles from the main bank. Thus each town had different bank. This began the trend, even though the rules about branches were later changed!

7. Speaking about Canada. The Canadian Geese are migrating at the moment. This was very obvious on the retreat. It was very noise in the mornings. Some farmers don’t like it. It upsets their cows! They actually try to scare the geese way with shotgun blasts. I heard several shot gun blasts. On the way home I became aware that these Canadian Geese may be brilliant flyers and navigators but not that smart. Sometimes several stopped in the middle of an Expressway for a “get-together” with a rather messy result!

8. There was a another group of clientele on the retreat. A group of third generation Italians. There were proud of their Italian heritage. I told them, to impress, that there was an enormous Italian influence in Australia. The coffee culture for example. Starbucks is nothing in Australia. In Melbourne every second shop in some streets is a coffee bar, usually begun by Italians. Australia is much suited to the coffee type culture than the Mid West of the USA!. I said that over 800,000 Italians had come to Australian since 1945. The local Italians here were very surprised at that data. They thought like many Americans that most of us are descended from British convicts, and still look like them. I said that we also have our own Italian Mafia, 24 people were killed over drugs in Melbourne during the three years I was there. An indication of Italian influence was that many people including my parents, think that Lasagna is Australian! For example Italian food was a million times more common than Mexican food. The most important thing that I told them is that I love Italian food! They are all even keener to go to Australia.

9. My accent is still undiminished in strength. Some "penitents" in confession are so distracted by my accent that they forget what I give them for penance. And yesterday even a 9 year old girl called the "accent" cool!. I do try to speak clearly though!

10. Where I am staying there are several Ph D students. They are interesting people to talk to and drink beer with! I also look after the older students at the High School (Northridge Prep). It has been a while since I talked with 18years old and it is enjoyable. They have clear but undeveloped opinions about many things.

11. Speaking of where I am staying it is more interesting than I thought at first. Monday was Labor Day, an official holiday. I went on a long walk, exploring the neighborhood. It has several parks, a couple of cemeteries, some interesting buildings and lots of shops!

We had a huge BBQ on Monday evening as Labor Day marks the end of summer and the beginning of the fall

12. Another sociological comment! How many St Vincent de Paul Stores (Vinnies) and drop off “bins” are there in Sydney? Thousands! When you include other organizations i.e. Salvation Army, Anglicare etc it must run into several thousands. In the entire “Megatropolis of Chicago there are only three stores and about 12 drop off Centers. What does that mean. Many people in Australia manifest their social concern in helping out with these types of activities. They say Americans have social conscience, but it is not manifested in this area. I do not know if they are as generous as they claim to be! I will investigate more!

13. I continue to try and get clientele to meet in the City. I have had some more success because of the retreat. I have organized more coffee and beers in the City. I also met an interesting guy this week. I spotted a $5.00 haircut place. The signage was written in both languages, English and Spanish. I expected that the Barber would be Spanish speaking perhaps Mexican. But not he was an Albanian. A very pleasant guy! There are 50,000 Albanians in Chicago. 150,000 in the USA. They are successful migrants. I learned a lot about Albanian, even “googled” it afterwards when I returned home. I was able to tell the barber that Mother Teresa was born there. Her Mother and sister died in jail in Albania. Radical Marxists controlled the Country for over 30 years. To baptize your child was punishable by death. The barber was a Christian. He can cut hair well. I actually gave him a tip. I paid $6.00 instead of $5.00

14. Another observation: I have the impression that there are many more adoptions here as a percentage of children than Australia. Amongst the Catholic families that I have met about 20% have adopted children. Even famous and not so famous sportsmen have adopted kids. I don’t know whether it is simply that they talk about it more i.e. they are more open about it. But at first glance it seems much more common than Australia.

15. In spite of my hint no one has sent a Warrane Jersey, although someone did say: “The jerseys for Warrane this year are very daring- they are white with two red v's.

16. I have referred to appearance of Americans in terms of fashion at times. I received this comment last time. “It would be hard for an American to blend into the crowd in say, for example, Sweden or Italy, where everyone seems to favor black or shades of gray clothing, if you're wearing a gold lamé jacket over a turquoise-blue shirt, with burnt sienna plaid trousers - even when remaining mute and without the blinding jewelry.

17. The same correspondent also added: “In one sense it is a good thing Americans do not travel, as I'm fearful you're giving them a misleading view of the Australian accent. I do not mean, by these comments to disagree in any way with those schoolboys at Northridge Preparatory School who described your accent as "awesome" - it is "truly awesome", but it should be made clear the dialect is limited to Bimbi, Quondong, Quandialla, Piney Range and Grenfell, etc in NSW!”

18. My comments about beer elicited the following response! “Sounds like the yanks think we are all beer guzzlers and you have not done anything to alter that belief.”. I think you are being too hard on me.

19. Again sorry for the delay. I hope APEC is going well! Most Americans know Bush is no t in Washington. But I have not read in the papers or heard or seen where he is!

Looking forward to comments on the Rugby World Cup!

Regards to all,

NL33

NL 33

1. I am back on track as regards sending out Newsletters! Punctual! It has been a busy week. Quite involved in schools run by Opus Dei and confessions in Public Churches. Building up a “reputation” in both places!

2. Actually my references to the cows in Wisconsin provoked the most debate! There was no comment on “my insightful social comment”. Perhaps I should stick to the superficial! As regards cows! “I think you are right about the cows. They would be happy anywhere! You put grass in one end, and awful stuff comes out the other end and they enjoy the rumination in between! So who cares where the grass is?” AND “On cows, I wouldn't mind being one. Quite a contented life really, conducive to contemplation too whilst chewing cud. Away from the madding crowd!

3. I will attempt some social comment. You might have heard me mention in the distant past, when I was chaplain at Warrane College a book: “How the Catholic Church built Western Civilization by Thomas E Woods. It was a book that “enthused”. But I have discovered that the author is an extremist. I found a book, a recently published one, on a shelf in the Center here. It is called “The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History!” He attacks my hero (and just about everybody else’s hero) Abraham Lincoln. I sent off an email to him immediately. He replied saying things like. “Telling the truth about Lincoln in America today is the same as trying to tell the truth about Stalin in the 1930s Soviet Union” His style is similar to some "Fundamentalist Anti Evolutionary Debater!” We exchanged about three or four emails. Quite a lively discussion!

4. There are many “reasonable” extremists in the USA. It is a result of their lack of history!

5. I have had a similar experience with a new addiction: listening to “books” in the car! It is a bit like reading comics! "Audio books" are a very different medium from simply reading books. Audio books are somewhere between videos and books. But probably closer to videos. The emotions have a much bigger role. There is less possibility for intellectual pondering and reflection. The result is that like movies, they are by nature overly dramatic, or the main tool of audio books and movies is their dramatic value.

6. The book I just finished was Lyndon Johnson “Master of the Senate”. I learnt a lot about US politics but I found it unsatisfactory, even frustrating. I still not do know LBJ.

The actual content is contradictory. Johnson did some of the best things for the Blacks and the poor and even reformed the Senate, but he was a horrible bully. I do no think the facts that the author gives supports this. It is the "emotional tone and language" that convince the hearer or reader that he was a horrible bully, not the facts.

7. It is just another step in making me more convinced that most American people who write books on historical topics do not care about history. They just want to shock. They compile a series of incidents, most of them quite dramatic, and selected with bias, designed to shock, interest but not explain things! The result is that most people have no context or criteria for judging events. The brilliant Thomas E Woods (in my opinion) suffers from this as well. It is easy to lose completely any sense of balance!

8. Years ago several Churchmen, Archbishops in fact, complained about American Religious books being overly dramatic. They spoke of the need to “de-psychologise” them!

9. My new drug habit is helped by having a brand new car! It is 2008 Honda Civic, dark blue! I already have an e-tag (they are called an I-pass in the US). The car goes like a charm! It has a CD player to allow occupants to listen to books!

10. Thanks for all the news on the Rugby World Cup. An English priest, here Fr Barry Cole, was very happy that the Poms beat the Americans 28 to 10. Father Barry has lost touch a bit with the real situation! We experts know that the score is significant! That is bad for their team! As the Poms are the defending world champions. Which reminds me of American football. It is easily the most popular sport here. But where I go for a run most days along the beach there is an oval where very junior football grades train. It is a very strange sight. 11-12 year boys with helmets, huge shoulder pads and very skinny legs. They look like Martians out of H. G Wells’ “The War of the Worlds!” In the news sent me about Rugby, Redfield’s result were included. It is not that important! In general I can't exploit Rugby news anyway. In a recent breakfast conversation, someone said: "I had never heard the word Rugby till I was 30 years old”. He is only 39!

11. I continue my search for better beer! Actually I had a beer yesterday. Millers light, it is a very standard, common beer and very watery! Might just stick to it. Choice is wearing me out!

12. Wal-Mart is seen as marvelous by some. But as the cause of all manufacturing firms moving off shore and the demise of America by others. I will investigate more. The main reason is that their tactics for reducing prices are unfair. They have a branch in every major cit and suburb. Very cheap and supreme variety!

13. It was suggested that comparisons between Vinnies etc in Sydney and Chicago were unfair! “I think your knowledge of Vinnies stores is a bit localized. I understand that from working on their stores that Sydney has the most developed systems of stores in Australia, and Sydney Vincentians have been to other cities to show their confreres how to do it”!

14. My idle comments on my accent provoked various reactions. “The reported comments on your accent are a bit localized. Outback Queenslanders sound the same, but speak much slower, of course”. AND “And don't worry, your accent may have been penance enough for those penitents” AND “Keep hamming up the accent! You could read a cake recipe for a homily and they'd still think it was good! I know that you don't do this of course”. I guess my preaching could improve! And just yesterday I spent a few hours hearing confessions. Someone said: “I can understand you perfectly. I used to be a Beatles fan in the sixties!”

15. The cheap haircut fostered a little envy: “20% tip! Hey big spender! I hope the haircut was worth it. Did you check the rear mirror view?

Please keep the news about the Rugby World Cup coming and also the WYD!

Regards to all

NL 34

1. I have been busy this week. A good thing! Not much tourism! Some though! I feel that I am becoming more and more part of the furniture (furniture designed in Chicago with a small plastic stamp with stars and stripes). I still get the constant positive comments about Australia, as they notice my non Mid West accent!

2. Life is not that busy that there is no time for “entertainment! We had a huge 40^th Birthday party last night. As we all know it is good to celebrate 40^th birthdays. People need to be encouraged and shown appreciation. I think some of the wonderful “talent” on display was looking for a bit of acknowledgement too! The “display” was “louder” than anything I have seen!

3. Fearful that winter will come before I know it, I affected by a local disease here: the need for exercise! So during the week I had my first bike ride here. I used to ride a bike a lot before I was 12, but seem to have used other means of transport since. I went on a long tide: two and half hours! The Mid West is a good place to go “biking” since it is flat for about 1000 miles! Gears also make it “easy” to exert yourself but not to excess! In two and half hours we saw a lot of the area and enjoyed ourselves! I also played my first game of squash here. It is an East Coast sport, almost unknown in the Mid West! The gyms are big here. Most have indoor tennis courts, about 6 in row, an indoor running track and swimming pools. It makes for a big complex.

4. On Monday I saw several people in “downtown” Chicago and later went on a small architectural tour of the city by boat. My client, who was pointing out things, has a brother who is an architect. He knew a bit. An interesting thing: as we got onto the boat, a stranger called Joe insisted on paying for the tour for both of us! I think it was because I looked like a priest! Can’t complain! A sign of faith too. It appears more widespread and deeper here.

5. I gave talk in a “Suburban” setting to a group of men about “Conscience” on Wednesday. In spite of trying to use examples from the US i.e. referring to incidents like landing on the moon and the life of Abraham Lincoln, they spoke seriously when I arrived of having a “translator” available! But he wasn’t used much!

5. Since acquiring the new Honda Civic about 10 days ago I have done over 1000 km. Have also listened to 2.1 books! “Red Badge of Courage”, the original Robinson Crusoe, and the .1 refers to “Iwa Jima!” Seems like a good use of time! I plan to cover a big swag of American history. In the car, there is this little button, which allows me to switch between kmph and mph. I just need one for the temperature. I still think in centigrade.

6. An old drinking partner sent this comment: It is about a quest of sorts! “Don't give up your search for the perfect beer, give that pasteurized Millers Lite stuff a wide berth! If you need some inspiration, just remember the good old days of a pint of Kilkenny on the pub verandah in Surry Hills with the sun setting over the city skyline!” I must say it made me feel that I was missing something. But actually one of my main quests is the quest for culture. The origins of it, manifestations, and of course to acquire it. I picked up a book yesterday on “Culture and Anarchy” by Matthew Arnold. It should make good reading. Culture and Anarchy are opposites. This could explain why “peace, cooperation and harmony” are necessary for the development of rich and lasting culture manifestations.

Speaking of “cultural manifestations etc, other people have “different” impressions of America. I live with several Mexican doing Ph D’s. They are quite pro free market, they see the USA as the land of opportunity and like it. “Recent” people from Europe are different. They like the more “glamorous aspects i.e. New York etc. similar to me etc. But they do not like the American “lifestyle:” Holidays are two short! A lack of culture is bit factor. Even accusing Americans of lacking manners etc. So the “sociological word” this week is culture.

They say, that although the US. has the biggest middle class in the world it lacks culture! When I say it is the biggest, I mean in absolute terms and probably as a percentage of the population. But many of the people who came to the USA were the clever and poor people of Europe. Most did not have a lot of education. But they quickly became more or less middle class, better than off financially than their “peers” in Europe. But they seem in many respects to have kept many of the values they had, wholesome ones but perhaps not too “intellectual”. Their aspirations were and still are for the same values as “hobbits” in the Lord of the Rings! The US common culture is certainly tainted with materialism and consumerism. Is it more consumeristic that European countries? You could argue that since people have less children in Europe they consume more on themselves. "Fewer children" is probably a sign of lack of hope too. Then again what is culture? Culture is to appreciate and be enriched by the great achievements of mankind! It also depends on the education system. Australians who went to school in the 1930-60's probably have more culture than Australians who went to school between 1970 and 2000! It is still very much an open question for me.

7. I am still trying to work on the best way to handle the homeless who approach me. I try not to look annoyed but it is hard! They are so persistent. It gives you an idea of the social welfare system here! They think priests must be inherently generous with their money. One approached me on Monday. I began with the usual bit about I only give away food, not money! As we were close to the entrance to the “the L” i.e. the inner city railway, he asked for a ticket to take his son to hospital. I went down with him and bought him a ticket, or put $5.00 on a train card! He looked happy enough. Still cost $5.00 though

8. More envious comments have been arriving, for example: “You have a pretty good life. In summary, I have noticed that you have a new cell phone, a new car, and new set of clothes. You give generous tips and have plenty of time for reading books, drinking beers and traveling all over the USA!

9. Having been at Universities since 1971, and since I receive the occasional comments on universities I could make one comment. In the US Catholic Universities do not have the same reputation that they had years ago! There needs to be someone to come along and help them justify their existence. They seem lost! It seems that as their “Catholic identify vanishes, their prestige, reputation etc also vanishes! Catholic Universities should stand for something worthwhile!

10. Thanks for the all news about the Rugby world up! Even though Rugby is supposed to be “unknown” here, on three separate occasions this week I have had conversations with passionate American Rugby Fans. Unfortunately though, they think that one of the best things about Rugby is the All Blacks “Hakka”! There is more to life than Rugby though. There is Rugby League! Quoting from correspondence: “Manly are doing well, they are in the semi-final this weekend end against Nth Qld. The other semi is Parramatta and Melbourne. If there is any justice in league, Melbourne will play Manly in the final (and Melbourne will win)”. I hope Manly will win!

11. I received some bad news about the Warrane Jersey! “As it stands there are no Warrane jerseys available to send you, unfortunately. Maybe someone will leave one here over the summer break” Doesn’t Warrane want students from the USA? Think of all the free advertising! Speaking about people going to Australia, I was asked to go with a group to the WYD in July 2008. But I don not think I am ready to return for a visit yet!

12. Several people were concerned with Thomas E Woods. I would not worry too much! Although it is like quoting Martin Luther on Our Lady. He has some nice quotes, but you can use other quotes too!

13. Several people, “I was disappointed a country boy like you would describe what were probably Friesians only as "black and white cows". I was writing for less a sophisticated audience: thus black and white cows! My parents would be surprised too!

14. Will be away giving a Course this week. I hope I can capture enough new impressions to write the next Newsletter.

Regards to all,

Nl 35

1. As predicted my Course in “Shellbourne Conference Center” is in a quiet spot! Hence it will be a shorter Newsletter than usual! Here, there are not the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, rather flat, in fact. No deer, skunks, beavers or bears! No hills to climb. I have still managed to run though. With new addiction to audio tapes, it is tempting to just to drive around anyway. So I am doing a bit of that.

2. At present I am listening to “Flags of Our Fathers”. It is about the capture of Iwu Jima! It was the costliest battle that the US Marines have ever been involved in. To take a small island 7000 Americans were killed. At the time the Japanese were the enemy! The book is interesting because it talks about the lives of the 6 flag raisers. That “innocence”, now lost, of growing up in the US in the 1930’s. The 6 soldiers were about 19 years old. Reading about the similar period in Australia would be very interesting too. What generated those wonderful virtues of the soldiers of the WW II. Reading “our” history is the way to know and understand ourselves!

3. Close to the beginning of the book the author, the son of one of the flag raisers makes the following point. Mike Strang is the leader of the band of six warriors. He came to the US when he was 4 years old, passing by the until then most known icon of the US, the Statue of Liberty. He is destined to become part of the most famous icon of the US: the “image” of the 6 soldiers raising the flag on Iwu Jima”. The “image’ has surpassed the Statue of Liberty in iconic value! Quite poignant, I thought!

4. Teaching a Course again is interesting. The clientele is interested in Australia so I can use “Aussie examples” to make the classes more interesting i.e. Kangaroos, Wombats, Frank Sheed, Peter Singer, Mel Gibson, Russell Crowe and other Australian fauna and flora. I am using more and more examples from the US though. For instance the virtues of their great men especially Lincoln!

5. We had an interesting discussion at Northridge Prep the other day. This is the High School where I look after grades 10, 11 and 12. I have to get used to calling them Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors. (I still say years 10, 11 and 12 which causes confusion). But anyway in the staff room one of the teachers quite honestly and firmly said: “Everyone of my generation, (he is in his 30’s) thinks that Australians are like Crocodile Dundee”: cool knife carrying crocodile hunters! As I have previously pointed out Americans know nothing much about Australia. They assume that we are good guys, though! I hope no one ruins that reputation! The movie starring Paul Hogan had a massive although probably superficial impact. Immediately after this conversation, “my friends”, pointed out that I do in fact carry a big knife. That initially I was brandishing it during homilies but they have helped me out there, encouraging me to adjust and be less conspicuous! Their conclusion: “He’s improved a bit!”

6. Another thing you notice about the US. The typical Office where people work, also functions as a second home. There are ample facilities for making breakfast, a second wardrobe etc. Maybe this is part of the large and small corporate culture in Australia too, but I was not aware of it.

7. Monday continues to be the day I visit downtown Chicago! Last Monday was the first time that I was not “ approached” by someone asking for money. I hope it is not because of the frown. Today is the feast of St Vincent de Paul, the founder of the order that ran the boarding school I was at for 6 years. He was fond of saying and we heard it many times. “If you do it to one of the least of these, you are doing for me!”

8. I have been asked to give a talk on the Pope’s famous address at Regensburg! The one that caused all the controversy. They want an Australian perspective! Cardinal Pell and the “controversial” Sheik in Lakemba have created global waves. After studying it a bit, I realize that the Pope was merely saying that we have to “be reasonable”. That “reason” or knowledge is part of the nature of things. Our “modern” understanding of knowledge or reason has become very badly restricted. He introduces his talk by saying that Islam, as understood by Manual II in 1391 is not a religion of reason. The Pope has some powerful and interesting ways of describing and showing that Christianity is “wedded” necessarily and providentially to Greek thought and hence “reason”. Our modern concept of knowledge has lost this nexus! Pity about all the noise at the time. The Pope’s message has been lost amongst all the controversy!

9. Had a meal at a restaurant on Monday too. I will have to investigate this more. It is quite a common thing to have a low price meal when getting together with friends and acquaintances. I still do not much about good or bad restaurants. Recently someone was here from Australia. I did not feel confident about suggesting different places to dine or drink! I would probably have the same problem in Sydney or Melbourne!

10. There were a few misunderstandings that arose from my last newsletter: “Are you really 40? Happy 40th birthday!”. I was flattered. Also You've been at “Uni” since 1971!? Time you did some study Father, maybe those Yanks will pass you.... seeing as the Aussies didn’t”. I have obtained several qualifications!

11. There was some comment about not coming to the WYD: “Sad to read you don’t feel ready for a visit back to Oz! It must be true that you are having too good a time over there (...)”. My explanation is the following. I feel that to come and go to Australia would be disruptive! Even make me sad as I miss Australia. I prefer to just stay here for 3 years or so. Make it a worthwhile learning experience as well as helping out here. Besides it would cost money to go and return. The WYD will be a great thing though even if all the horses die!

12. Another correspondent said” The papers today say that WYD cannot be held at Randwick because the horses are sick and workers are not allowed on site to start building preparations for WYD”. The correspondent continues: “What they don't know is if they keep being impossible to cooperate with WYD, all the horses might die then Randwick will become available for WYD because there will be no horses. They obviously don't know or don't care about the power of God! WYD should be a good stimulus for Sydney! Although it will take time to have a more serious Christian culture Sydney.

13. The Video about the WYD is great! It is on the Opusdei.org webpage: “July 2008: Pope Benedict XVI with youth in Australia”. It says, “In less than one year, Pope Benedict XVI will arrive in Australia to meet with thousands of young people from all over the world. Here is the official video announcing World Youth Day 2008, which will be held next July in Sydney”. Worth a look!

14. Many correspondents must be Manly supporters. “Manly played awesome last night and its going to be an interesting grand final next week. I suppose you won't get any coverage over there though unfortunately”. I received this good advice from a Rugby League fan studying in Rome: “BTW Manly are playing Melbourne in the Grand final next week. if you have a computer with the internet go to either www.2gb.com or www.nrl.com and go to their live scoreboard and audio for ABC Radio's call of the game (I rarely do it but for the grand final it may be nice to do). You can also get the results from Australian websites. I regularly go to www.smh.com.au the herald's website. They have all the rugby scores there as well.”

15. More on the Australian accent! This not a personal thing in the sense that anyone in the US from Australia would be receiving the same “praise”. I was explaining a small issue to some people who were going to come again to a retreat. They had been to one I gave last April and were planning to come again. I mentioned that I usually tell the same stories so it might be a bit boring. They said “We’re so glad that you're giving the retreat (…) we love your stories, so the pressure is off for fresh material! Father, you could read right out of the Catechism and we would be sitting on the edges of our pews. Your voice is a real gift. They probably don't appreciate it in your country as much as we do here! Just don't lose your wonderful accent!!” That is pretty nice! But I am just in the right spot at the right time!

16. I did rave on about the importance of culture last time! There was some reaction! “We should of course distinguish between the individual and social aspects! Culture does come from to cultivate. Therefore, if an individual or a society is better now or in the future than past; meaning that the 'cultural yield’ of the crop is superior to that of the past; then, we have culture. Currently; Europe, that used to be our stronghold culturally speaking, is living from past harvests; not cultivating anymore or improving the final crop. On the contrary, the European yield is most certainly decreasing! I also think there is a strong relationship in between being rich as a country and the resultant materialism and lack of depth in culture”. What do you think of that?

17. With regard to the USA and Australia: Although there are many people in both countries who appreciate true culture or education, neither nation seems to have reached "a good type of cultural sustainability!". It is very patchy situation. No widespread appreciation of the really important, and the situation always at risk of “barbarism”!

18. What do you think of this news from the middle of nowhere? “I have been enjoying your stories about the USA and can relate to many of them as I have just spent the last two years working in Micronesia for two years (on and off). These islands states are affiliated with the US and shares many of the same things you mentioned. Plus they are near Guam which really is the US! In fact, it is just like a run down suburb of LA with lots of freeways, fast food joints, oversized pick up trucks and Latino like people!”

Regards to all!

NL 36

1. After receiving many emails of the following type. “Good luck to Manly this weekend: should be a massive Grand Final. Both teams are playing really well at the moment.”: Manly lost . But thanks for the wonderful flood of sympathetic emails afterwards!! It was as if someone close to me had died. Most were so understanding. There were a few from the uneducated, fans of Canterbury Bulldogs who expressed a perverse happiness at Manly’s loss!.

2. By the time you get this Newsletter the Australia V England result will be known! I have conflicting pre-match reports. Most people express only a “fragile hope” that Australia will win!

3. I recently found out an interesting fact about a priest who has also began to work in this part of the world i.e. Chicago. He is named Fr Paul as well. He studied at the University of Dallas. They do not have a much of an academic reputation. They have a reputation of making people from outside Texas think like Southerners i.e. Lincoln was a bad guy AND they have a reputation for Rugby. Fr Paul was captain of the U of D Rugby team for 5 years. He thinks that it is the best sport in the world!. He played scrum half. He is another guy I can talk to the World Cup about. He is bit of health fanatic though, runs marathons and does not drink beer. If we manage to watch a game on cable TV we won’t be sharing any beer!

4. I have said this before. Australians are compared to Californians: a bit casual! But I heard that we are also described also as the same as Californians but with a frontier or a pioneering spirit. I hope it is true. In Sydney you do find a certain dynamism, but I think it is almost cultural that Australians want to prove something, and that gives the impression we have energy when we are on display! Incidentally looking at pictures of West Coast of the US you seem to see many aspects similar to Sydney Harbor. I will give you a full report when I go there! I will be doing a course there from Jan 26 to Feb 17, 2008. Might be a bit rainy but I’m not the complaining type!

5. With regard to another linguistic difficulty! As many know the word “Maths” with an s just rolls off my tongue, having been a teacher of Maths for some time! Now, being involved in several schools I have to get used to Math! It is actually taking a while to get used to it. I compromise with “Mathematics”.

6. A new development in the work that I do here is that I have become more involved with the priests of the Archdiocese. There are Days of Recollection and circles for Diocesan priests here as everywhere else. So I have begun giving circles. Being from Australia gives me an “initial” high interest value!

7. With all the driving and noisy neighbors (stops me sleeping and allows me to read) I finished listening to the audio book “Flags of Our Fathers”, and finished reading the book “Lincoln’s Virtues. I have started the audio book The Three Musketeers! I did not know anything about the author Alexandre Dumas. The book was written around 1825 but is set in 1625. It was one of the most popular books ever written in French. From the “Sources”: Alexandre Dumas, (Senior, as his son with same name was a writer), born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie (July 24, 1802 – December 5, 1870) was a French writer, best known for his numerous historical novels of high adventure which have made him one of the most widely read French authors in the world. Many of his novels, including The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers, and The Man in the Iron Mask were serialized, and he also wrote plays and magazine articles and was a prolific correspondent”. It makes driving more pleasant, but I have missed a few left or right turns. I try to convince myself that it has immense cultural value. The next audio book, and already I have it in the car is “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” Someone commented that I am reading what every American child has read! The next book to read is about the Civil War!

8. After finishing several books, Professor Miller’s on Lincoln was by far the best. It fulfilled all the criteria for a good history. Having read or heard a few books it is appropriate to make a bit of social commentary. Books, of course rely on “concepts” and “feelings”. Trying to look at things in a more “intellectual way” it seems that we are losing our capacity to think in a sense. “Feelings” are opposed to “concepts”! We are shifting more and more to an “non-intellectual” way of describing things, based just on feelings, which in general is not a satisfactory explanation of anything. I do not think you can explain a great man’s life with a few anecdotes, or a video etc. We seem to have the same dilemma as St Augustine. He was trying to accept a spiritual world instead of purely material one. We need to discover again the world of concepts instead of the one just of feelings and pictures!

9. On Tuesday we celebrated a big feast: the foundation of Opus Dei by St Josemaria and tomorrow is the feast of the Canonization of St Josemaria. So his thoughts on the intellectual life come to mind. “However, the particular influence that intellectuals exercise in steering a country’s culture was not lost on him. They may or may not be famous, but they are very influential. He likened them to the masses of perpetual snow on the distant mountain peaks. Though they may be too far away to see, they send the steady stream that waters the fields and makes them fruitful. They are a key element, then, for the Christianization of temporal realities and of society as a whole. From the time of his studies in law at Saragossa, Saint Josemaría never lost contact with the university world. He encouraged many young people to take up careers as university professors. He encouraged everyone to a serious and profound study of their own field, and an equally serious study of the faith. In 1952, having prepared the way with a lot of prayer, he encouraged the founding of the University of Navarre in Pamplona. He saw it as a center to infuse science and culture with the light of faith”.

10. In general we seem incapable of studying “explanations of events” seriously or even appreciating serious studies of anything. So we end up throwing up pleasant or unpleasant “feelings” about a passed event! Even mixing reality with artificial images etc

11. After pouring forth on American culture I could say a little about Australian culture. At times, in conversations, I make too obvious a comparison with Australia. “In Australia it is like this etc. It can become a bit tiresome. And who wants to be a mild nuisance. Just like it goes more smoothly in conversation if you say cell phone not mobile, railroad not railway, parking lot not car park etc. So I just stick to appropriate discreet Australian examples of things. I gave a class of Religion to group of boys and girls 13-14 years old during the week. We were looking at images of the Church. Shepherd, Sheep and lambs came to mind. I thought I would throw in Kangaroos and Joeys. The Australian perspective so to speak. One thing led to another and I mentioned how we had pet Joeys on the farm. In fact how my sister had one from the time she was three till the time she was about thirteen. The Joey grew up, she called it “Skippy. It had a collar and followed her everywhere like Mary’s lamb. Eventually for some inexplicable reason it just hopped away, provoking my sister’s first adolescent crisis. They did not appreciate how we obtained the Joeys’. I also have mentioned that at the Nairana Cultural Center in Sydney, after they acquired two Joeys more people came to see the two Joeys in the backyard than to visit and pray in the Chapel!

12. I received several “calming” emails concerning the crisis at the Randwick with regard to WYD. “I attach a document from WYD about the latest news in regard to Randwick Racecourse”. WYD seems very well organized! Great PR statements to the press etc!

13. So Frank Hyde died during the week! Quoting from another email: “Now there was a Christian gentleman. A daily Mass goer, great public personality, gentleman, etc. Frank Hyde was honored through the week including today at the grand final between Manly and Melbourne. The biggest thing that came across via the media was summarized by the acknowledgment of what he considered priorities; faith, family, friends and football. He also worked a lot with St Vincent de Paul, "Youth off the street" and with disabled kids. An Impressive cheerful soul”. He is an Australian hero.

14. There was one unfair statement: “I heard from someone that you claim your newsletter has a higher circulation that MercatorNet- is this true? Also, perhaps you can think about changing the name of the newsletter to GrantEdge- brings it into line with BioEdge and FamilyEdge which also consist of sharp, pithy pieces on a variety of topics”.

15. I would like to have made more out the results in the Rugby Union, the US lost to Tonga and Samoa. No one cares or comprehends! Alas

16. I was caught out: “I said "I use Aussie examples to make the classes more interesting i.e. Russell Crowe and other Australian fauna and flora”. The correspondent said: “Surely such an educated man as yourself is aware that Russell Crowe, along with his cricketing cousins Jeff and Martin, is a New Zealander? “

17. That is about it . Not really a lot of news as I have been quite “enclosed” this week. Many hours enclosed is a small blue Honda Civic saying rosaries and listening to audio books or enclosed in a room with a screen listening to scenes from the many books of life!

Regards to all,

Hi!

1. It has not been a good week for Rugby supporters, at least the ones on my mailing list. I am suffering too. To be beaten by England, by penalty goals! The priest I mentioned who played Rugby for the University of Dallas in Texas for five years, rang to congratulate me when he saw that the All Blacks lost. It couldn’t completely compensate for Australia’s loss. He quoted the phrase “misery seeks company”. Maybe the results have something to do with the Northern Hemisphere interpretation of the rules. Good to see that Argentina is representing the Southern Hemisphere in the semi-finals. The rugby results have influenced emails. Depression reduced the number and increased the somberness of the tone.. It must be the mournful cloud hanging over New Zealand and Sydney!

2. As someone wrote: “Apocalypses! Australia lost, same as Kiwi land! What is going on? Are these “meaningful” signs of the times? I do not know what happened to the Wallabies!

3. At present I am teaching another Course at the Shellbourne Conference Center. Whenever you teach a group of middle aged American men you learn something. I was informed that the Fall is the best time of the year. This is an often repeated phrase in Chicago: “The fall is the best time”. Why? It is no longer hot or humid. The color of the leaves adds a rich dimension to walks and drives. The hunting seasons begins in earnest! Deer are plentiful! Thanksgiving is coming! Christmas is comes just after that! And there is the football season.

4. I have collected some more information on football. I mentioned that Notre Dame is one of best Universities here. It is the football that gives it the reputation: “The fighting Irish!”. One of the men on the camp told me that when his daughter told the Parish Priest that she was going to Notre Dame. He said” What! Do you play football?”. She said I am going to study there. Oh I did not know there was a College connected with the football team. College football is massive. The ten biggest stadiums in the US are College Stadiums. The one a Notre Dame has seats for 88,000. It has been sold out for every home game since 1962. The Father of the girl who is on the Course said that he was very impressed with Notre Dame. Besides the football atmosphere, it has the most number of Masses of any College in the US. There are 40 Masses each day!

5. Football is the most watched sport in the USA. I even watched a game last Sunday on TV. The Chicago Bears came from behind to win. As a TV spectacle is has too many adds. Kind encourages you to flick through stations.

6. One thing that does scar the “best-ness” of the Fall is Halloween. I do not understand it yet. But signs of Halloween have been appearing for the last few weeks. The actual “feast day” is October 31st. Halloween has all the signs of being a huge day. It seems to be a complex event. It includes an element of “happy harvest”. And also scarecrows! Pumpkins! And near house invasions by kids shouting “trick or treat!”

7. The celebration of Halloween seems to be “an aberration”. It has its origin in the “ghosts of the saints” being around before All Saints Day November 1. The celebration has become quite secular and has the superficiality of empty commercialization! It is a “popular” occasion in the sense it is celebrated almost as much as Thanksgiving. There are lots of sales of scary items. In fact it has become an occasion to see who can have the most scary mask. Right now you see decorations everywhere and it is still a few weeks away. It celebrates the harvest time, at least pumpkins, since they ripen now. Most items of decoration are related to pumpkins. I will of course say more after “the event”. Most gardens have scare crows and most front doors have a Halloween wreath. Perhaps Halloween would be more meaningful if it was united to the day of All Souls! (November 2) In stead of having a party over nothing, have a party at a cemetery. Rather than be a time to scare, it could be time to look death in the face with faith and not be scared!

8. There are lots of dead squirrels on the roads. I am reminded of the frontier days in the US when squirrel stew was a very popular dish as well as blueberry pie. Squashed squirrels don’t look that attractive. There is a reason for the high number of dead squirrels. I have mentioned that they are one of the few animals that has adapted or adjusted to be able to live with “urbanized’ man. However this is a “romantic time”, and as they “dance and chase” each other across roads they get distracted! American vehicles are as single minded as the American drivers!

9. I had an my first Australian visitor during the week. Not bad after having been here for 37 weeks but who is counting! Even though I am over an hour from Chicago, I drove into meet Theo Vermeulen. He was passing though the USA, and made a special trip to Chicago to drop in and see me. He is a “free lance” consultant working in Micronesia, specifically near Guam in the Northern Pacific. He advises on policy etc with regard to Economic Development. He has also co-authored a text book on this subject, for the Chinese market. We had dinner and he stayed at a hotel near the University residence where I usually live. It was great to see him after many years. Theo was a student at Warrane for several years. Since Theo had visited the US before and lives in rather Americanized environment, we could compare notes on the two cultures!

10. Theo was, amongst other things visiting another ex- Warrane student, Dr Peter Heslin, who is Professor in an MBA School in Texas. The Aussie Network is getting bigger! One positive thing that Theo said about the US was to do with the matter of convenience. It is so easy to get things in the US,. Books, all kind of rare items . Besides being easy to access they are cheap and abundant! That was his impression. As a low consuming priest I do not know. One thing I did become aware of though was my ignorance. Although eating at restaurants is increasing. I realized my limitations. I can’t recommend too many due to lack of experience. I was luck with one that Theo and I chose!. Someone also asked me: What do you most like about Chicago? It’s Architecture? It is all becoming so familiar that not too many things stand out. The question makes me I have to stop and ponder. But if anyone comes to visit me I would wonder where to take them.

11. I have begun reading about the American Civil War! There is not much to comment yet, except some of the introductory information conflicts with other books I have read.

12. With regard to my opinions concerning American History from last week, someone said: your point #10 is a bit over my head. what were you writing in reference to? I said “In general we seem incapable of studying "explanations of events" seriously or even appreciating serious studies of anything. So we end up throwing up pleasant or unpleasant "feelings" about a passed event! Even mixing reality with artificial images etc” Admittedly it is confusing. I was trying to say that explanations based on feelings are not that useful! Actually I was thinking how “false but powerful movies” form our ideas of past events., They are not true explanations. And when they make a “documentary” to explain something they often use pictures from these “movies” to explain events or organizations. For example to explain Opus Dee they make a “documentary” but use film clips from “Da Vinci Code!

13. There was more comment on my idea of “merely anecdotal history. “As to your comment that we are losing our capacity to think and are shifting to describing [and, probably, deciding] things based on "feelings" rather than intellectual concepts, I mention I read recently in "How the Irish saved Civilization" that the same emphasis on feelings rather than intellect was a feature of the Dark Ages”. I have seen the book: but have not read it. Guess we are heading for another Dark Age. Who will save us this time! It hard to overestimate the influence the Irish have had!

14. My addiction to Audio books! provoked the following comment! “saw on the news that an Englishman, now 40, has completed a 13 year circumnavigation of the globe. It took that long because it was all done without the aid of motor or sail. All pedaling, rowing, cycling, walking and running. What a feat. That's a lot of audio books! I do drive a lot but you have to drive to “excessively” get though 20 CD’s. i.e. “The Three Musketeers”. It is not that good anyway I subscribe to the Philosophy of the 500 best books. According to this Philosophy there are 500 books in world. Read them first. By my powers of discernment “The Three Musketeers” must be around 499 or maybe even 501!

15. I did not realize that the climate is quite hostile in Australia. “The drought has come back with a vengeance after rain in June and July promised so much”. OR “Weather is very very very dry, we need rain desperately!” OR “The price of bread is now up to $5,50 so bad is this bloody drought!”. This is much worse than the Rugby result !

16. “Mobile cups of coffee” are another cultural phenomenon. You see many people carrying a “kind if thermo cup” along the streets or sipping it at Traffic lights. It is simply a result of the fast pace of life. People walk out of their houses with a hot convenient thermos type cup of coffee in one hand . I imagine that it is not exclusive to Chicago.

17. Someone accused me of linguistic degeneration as a result of last week’s Newsletter!: “A quick question, do you spell "Sydney Harbor" like that or should it be spelled like this "Sydney Harbour"? It is the spell check!

18. I have just finished giving a talk in the get-together on Australia to those on the Course. Included were its history including convicts, gold rushes aborigines, the mining boom, the ten most deadly snakes etc etc. I finishing off with how Opus Dei arrived and how this building with 8 floors grew out of the ground and became known as Warrane College. If you tell it right people are fascinated by every aspect of Australia. I hope I am doing a good job at explaining it.

Regards to all, until next time

Hi!

1. Today a box of bottles arrived with about 10 different brands of beer! Of course this incident has a history. When I was teaching the Course last week I made some comments about the superiority of Aussie Beer over US Beer. One of the clients is quite wealthy and perhaps a little eccentric. He sent the package for me to sample American beer. It also reflects another wonderful characteristics of some Americans: their somewhat outlandish generosity. Charles, who sent it, is a successful businessman. Amongst other things he is a dealer of rare coins. He also sent two specially framed coins: one used in Palestine at the time of Herod Agrippa. And another similar to the “widows mite”. They are certified as genuine, I hope they are not worth too much, or I will have an insurance problem. The whole package with the beer and the coins was quite big!

2. Another impressive example of generosity also came from another person on the Course last week. It concerns China. There were several dentists on the Course; one has been at least twice with Rotary to China. He was part of a team of about 35 who go to help out each year. Members of Rotary sponsor them. It was a medical mission to work on children with cleft lips and palates. We saw a DVD and some digital slides. From the last trip we saw lots of ugly starters but many very happy mothers and children at the end! The families are ones who cannot afford to have this kind of operation done unless “the team from the US” does it (for free). The incidence of cleft lips and palate is three times higher in China than the US! 1 in 400. The dentist also said: “About China, I found it to be a fascinating place. The people were very friendly and the family unit appears to be very strong. The school children love to practice their English with you. I did find it very dirty and polluted though. I would guess their industry is at about the 1950's level”. Interesting!

3. During the week long Course we visited some ‘famous” sand dunes on the shores of Lake Michigan. We walked and ran over some grass covered ones. Even though it is probably the nicest spot around this huge lake it is still lake Michigan: meaning 20 or more Sydney’s beaches tempt much more.

4. Speaking of Courses I start another Course on Monday! It seems that I have a week long Course every two weeks. It is a kind of disruptive fun!

5. I continue to plough through audio books and one real book. I recommend Uncle Tom’s Cabin! At least in audio form! As I said: it is my latest addiction. I mentioned that I read "Flags of our Fathers". The movie is not faithful to the book. Usually Clint Eastwood, although a very good director and maker of movies, fills his movies with his own brand of ideology.

6. I cannot claim to have totally acclimatized yet. I got lost last week. It is funny how things work. There was some construction of the High Way so I thought I would take a back way. There is very old map in our lounge room. Very clearly marked is Green Bay road. The map is from 1833. This “Green Bay road” was one of the two or three original major roads. I had seen the road a few times in my travels around Chicago. It seemed to be a fairly wide road etc. But as I drove along it, as the main part of the short cut or back way, it petered out! I had looked at the Chicago version of the “Gregory’s” prior to setting out, but not closely enough. I arrived at an Evening of Recollection about 40 minutes late to the Recollection but it all ended well. During the week I even went down a street on the wrong side! So not there yet!

7. Had a “final” quiet picnic lunch overlooking Lake Michigan on Monday. The cold season has begun. The last few days have been chilly, wet and with gusty winds! Future days will be the same apparently.

8. I mentioned previously that when I first came to Chicago that I gave a “talk” at the Metro Achievement Center. It is a Center in the middle of the city for girls from lower income families. I now give classes there on a permanent basis every moth. I have just started. They are mostly Blacks and Hispanics. My first class to grade 7 did not go as well as I would have liked. I am teaching a course on Christian Morality. It is back to the drawing boards for next time.

9. I guess the announcement of the election Saturday November 24 has caused some activity!

10. The rugby seems to be winding down to a rather bitter end. Many emails were expressing the hope that as long as England loses, it would be alright. I hope they do lose but … Although this correspondent has a bit of dilemma: “As long as England and South Africa do not win; I will be happy”

11. More Rugby news : Two points of view:

A. “Why don't you go to you tube, via google and type in Sebastian Chabal- the caveman as he is known in France. Looks like the missing link. I think he destroyed NZ with his tackling. He is apparently a cultured man- he is French after all- and apparently a very good family man who can't stand English food (he plays for an English club).”

B. “My commiserations on the Aussies loss and yes it was another gut-wrencher when the All Blacks were toppled too! I would say in the AB's game that France simply played out of their skins and out-smarted the AB's in many aspects of the game, especially in the second half. Having said that, dubious calls by the ref ensured the AB's demise.

12. I received this very good tip, when expressed my ignorance about showing people around Chicago: “ That's easy - when someone comes to visit you in Chicago, the first place you should go is the Michael Jordan statue!” Actually I checked it out on Google Map at least. It is easy to include in a walking tour of the City!

13. One “affirming” correspondent said: “I share your opinion that "Halloween" is an aberration. It has been trailed here in Australia for a few years, but thanks goodness, it does not seem to be accepted”. Here it is getting more and more noticeable as October 31 approaches. Big black blown up spiders everywhere; artificial cobwebs; little gremlins and millions of pumpkins of different types, real, plastic, big, small etc. In some kind of “inverted” way it reminds me of Good Friday and Easter Sunday in Kingsford Sydney. Over the years many of the shops have been taken over by Asians with no Christian roots. The only shops open on these days are the ones owned by them. The same “non-Christian” root s seems to cause the excitement over Halloween. A big blown up spider does not say very much except to signify a win for inane commercialization! As for my cultural roots: Someone said: “Sounds like you've settled in well into the American way of life without losing your own cultural roots”.

14. My support for Manly is controversial: “I barrack for two teams: Parramatta and anyone who plays Manly!

15. You can have a Driver’s license at sixteen here, hence all the Junior and Seniors in High School drive to school! They seem to drive reasonably well, in the City at least I have not seen any “hoons”.

16. The following is an exaggeration. There is an excess of influence of US Imperialism in this correspondent’s phrase! “I would love to hear more about NFL. It is the most watched sport in the world and has the most money: the American brand of football must be doing something right!”

17. Warrane College lost the sports shield; probably why they have not sent me any Footie Jerseys yet!

18. It is probably been the busiest week since I have been in the US priest-wise, .The way the timetable (we use the word schedule here) is designed, the third week of the month pretty well means that priests do nothing much else but Recollections I have had 4 this week. But the beauty is that I have no more until next month, at least not in Public Churches. Yet I have still have time to write this Newsletter. It is bit short though!

Regards,

NL 39

Hi!

1. I am back at the Shellbourne Conference Center giving another Course, the same material as last time. (It is in the State of Indiana. Chicago is in the State of Illinois, next door. But the Conference Center is about one and half hours from Chicago!) Have to careful that I don’t lose my enthusiasm. Actually it is easy to be quite animated as I try to explain to American women the importance of History, the excessive practicality of Americans and other aspects of my “sociological discoveries” of US citizens, at the same time as I explain how each person of the Blessed Trinity is a “subsistent relation”! There are three priests at the Conference Center; three different activities going on at the same time. This little priestly group live in a small and comfortable complex and we have to “entertain” ourselves at times. Last night I was talked into watching the “Simpson’s!” I have never done so before, neither in Australia nor the US. Seeing the “Simpson’s” in its “true context” so to speak, was very interesting! The Show probably keeps family values on the agenda in the US, sometimes promoting them, other times debatably so!

2. Literature is my topic of comparison this week. With regard to literature, there seems much good literature written in Australia in our short history, an amount comparable in quality to the US. I came across an article which does not rank American literature that highly! The writer Elizabeth Kantor (she is well known in American ) begins with phrase” One notable thing about American literature is that, for such a big country, we’ve specialized in small literature”. I will try read the few books that she recommends. Australian literature does connect more readily with English literature than it connects with American literature. Also American literature does not connect as much with English literature as Australian literature does!

3. On Saturday I spent the afternoon with an American family. Husband, wife and seven children. Mostly teenagers. It was a sample of the life of a typical American family. Very entertaining. I talked about life back on the farm! The older boys are keen hunters and amongst others things we checked out a few high powered rifles together. The 2nd oldest boy had just brought down his first deer! At 250 yards!

4. John Walker, the Warrane College, Australia connection, and I did some bike riding on Sunday! Leisurely enough to talk. I was hearing confessions at St Mary of the Angels (the big Church entrusted to priests of Opus Dei) so it was convenient to drop across to his place! Biked to the place where the biggest and first Ferris Wheel ever made was first used! There is still a substantial one there. It is on a small finger of land jutting our into Lake Michigan called the Navy Peer!

5. Several of my sisters who also receive this Newsletter added more to the baby kangaroo story. Apparently there were three “Joeys” adopted by the family at different times. The other two Joeys were called Trudy and Mary and met with tragic ends, one shot by neighbors, the other poisoned. The tragedy was worsened by seeing the “body”. In the Skippy case the kangaroo just hopped away, into the horizon. More romantic. The clarification was appreciated!

6. I have become more informed as to why people like “The Fall” so much. It is not the last fine days of weather before winter! People like the cold change! But it is not too cold. They like the crispiness. If we have fine days, they are just lucky summer remnants. Fall days are traditionally “crisp” “cold” and windless, and very much appreciated for these characteristics!!

7. More on the literary angle: Actually there are some Australian authors that are popular here. The books are not good ones! Several times I have found boys at school reading Science Fiction Novels by the Australian writer, Sarah McDonald (I think is her name) and also a book called “Shantaran?” (not sure of the name) by the escaped Australian convicted robber. Concerning my own reading, I am having a break after finishing Uncle Tom’s Cabin and listening to Emma. I have just got Alexander Hamilton out of the library. It is an audio book of 29 CD’s so it might be a while before I finish this one! Another thing that I have noticed. It was pointed out to me when I arrived here, that books like Moby Dick by Herman Melville, Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Democracy in America by Alexis De Tocqueville are crucial for understanding the shaping of the US. But very few people have actually read them despite being assured that they do read them! Uncle Tom’s Cabin was the most popular book ever written in the US. It was written in the middle of the nineteenth Century, but I have not met any one who has read it. It would do them a lot of good to do so. Should be obligatory at all schools! Would help to revive the “religious dimension” of the American Psyche. The author was the daughter of a Congregationalist Minister, she was also married to one, and her brother-in-law was one, so her writing is quite “Christian”! But her writing conveys no praise for Catholicism!. Both Harvard and Yale were originally Congregationalist Establishments. With regard to Moby Dick it is satirized as the most popular “unread” book in the US. It is studied in some schools to discover the “weird” supposed allusions. I can understood why Democracy in American is very well known but not read. It is 800 pages and boring. It is popular because it praises America a lot. But De Tocqueville was an unusual character! His theme in the book is “the adjustment of Western Christendom to Democracy”. He does not seem to understand Christianity that well, nor European History and seems to overvalue American Democracy. I will give an another opinion in 800 pages time!

8. The Rugby news has petered out. The next big sporting event will be the Election. I can already feel the excitement in some of the emails. First with regard to the Rugby: from a NZ correspondent “final update, was a great game this morning with England playing very well but not good enough so I think most Aussies have breathed a sigh of relief that the lesser of 2 evils has prevailed....”. Another correspondent added: “Saturdays game was a blinder for Argentina! They buried the French”. A report from NZ “I supposed you heard that SA won the Rugby. Everyone here was predicting an English win-even Tana Umaga!” With regard to Tasman rivalry, I see where the Aussie Juniors beat NZ the other day and also in the Rugby League, it went well for Australia against NZ too!

9. Beer, naturally enough continues to be of interest! Commenting on the supply that arrived last week: “Please tell me about those beers! Which beers are you testing? Samuel Adams? Whatever your Yank friend says; it almost indisputable: Aussie beer is better. Simple. Water quality is better here. Think that I am an objective arbiter in this dispute! Please, feel free to quote this against your Yank friend!” Also “I am reading your email while sitting in the Rex Lounge at Sydney airport terminal and drinking Snowy Mountains beer. I will attempt to drink 10 bottles so that I can compare this beer with the other Australian beers I enjoy”. I hope I am not guilty of encouraging excessive beer drinking!

10. We were discussing the Civil War here the other day. One of the participants comes from Virginia. Still filled with secessionist sentiments! He does not appreciate Lincoln as much as me! he accused Lincoln of denying “habeas corpus”. It sounds like a big deal, an ugly thing that Lincoln did! I asked an Australian lawyer, doing me a favor so to speak what is meant exactly by “habeas corpus” since they go on about it at times. I mentioned that they say it comes from the Magna Carta! I received this reply. “’habeas corpus’ in the US, they believe there, I understand, is an apache word first uttered by the famous native-American chief Magna Carta when he wished to meet General Custer”

11. More on the relative political and legal difference, provoked by the comparison between Australia’s coming election and the US one next year. Again the view from an Australian lawyer’s perspective. “The Australian election announcement has caused little activity! As you know, Australia is a very stable country, which is the result of our Constitutional Division of powers, with the States rather than the Federal Government retaining the reserve powers and with the third tier being State municipalities. Even if anyone could get excited enough to have a real revolution here, particularly in the summer heat, it would flounder in the confusion of who is the correct authority to rebel against and where did you have to apply for a permit to demonstrate.

12. As to "reserve powers" they are the unfettered powers of the Crown to make laws for the peace and good government of society, which is what the State's have under the Australian Constitution. That is, the Federal Government in Australia only has specific limited and nominated powers which have a national character (such as defense, tax, corporations, foreign affairs etc.), which is why we have so much argument here as to what government can do what! Which is why the country is so stable - because no one really knows. In the US the Federal Government has “the reserve powers”.

13. As regards the Election I have received some predictions filled with “confidence”. “Rudd by 35 seats in a landslide! Right now, according to the polls Labor will get 78 - Liberals 42. The Labor primary vote up around 51%, gigantic! But they are only at the 400metre mark! Then later I would say by 30 seats. Could be wrong, but at the 300 meter mark, Rudd would have to break a leg!”

14. I have just returned from a run and pleasant walk in “Taltrees”, a kind of Nature Reserve not too far from the Conference Center. Two days in a row I have done this and have discovered another reason people like the Fall so much. It is not just the “crispness”. It is simply beautiful to walk along grass covered paths, between rows of trees with glistening leaves of many colors, along the edges of small lakes. The air helps to make you feel good too, the special crisp Fall air!.

Regards to all,

1. Today, an interesting thing happened at Northridge Preparatory School. It is a School very similar to Redfield in Sydney. I work there one and half days a week. Anyway the “schedule” (not timetable) was thrown out of kilter. The Cross Country team has made it to the State finals, so we had our first “Prep Rally” of the year. It is one of those which we think of as “typifying” the US popular culture. It is a “gee-ing” up session. It is a massive “enthusing show”. There was a loud music preparatory stage! All the students were in a stand in the Gym. The Headmaster gave a speech: loud, forceful and very positive, comparing the event (going to the finals) to the 300 Spartans defending Greece from the Persians. He pronounced all the Greek names correctly. His speech led into a virtues talk, ending with heroic sanctity as the only worthwhile goal!. Then a team of coaches congratulated, everybody by name, including each other! Everybody was any one who had participated in sport in the last three months. All this waa accompanied by much cheering, clapping and stomping of feet. Finally the “Cross Country Athletes, themselves ran in! The last phase occurred a crescendo of noise, flashing lights and weird student antics. Several of the athletes gave passionate talks on the deep felt appreciation of the support and how they were going to do their best for the school. Everybody spoke well clearly and well too! It calmed down after all this. I think the students and everyone concerned liked the show. Personally, perhaps from an Australian point of view, I thought it was a little over the top. I asked one kid what he thought of these “prep rallies”. He loved them. Could not get enough of them!

2. I have been “enlightened” about Halloween. Even though I received a few Happy Halloween emails, many were of a other style, namely, “I won’t wish you Happy Halloween, but Happy All Saints for tomorrow! etc. In spite of this, my verdict of Halloween is a positive one. Most of the displays are of childish horror i.e. spooky, scary etc. It is a big “kids day. Get free candy. Here candy means any type of lolly, chocolate absolutely anything sweet! So kids, in the evening set off, dress up, vain as hell, in their superman, batman, darth vader etc suits and ask for candy at the door of every reasonably looking dwelling. The have to say trick of treat! The ages go from about 3 to 12. It is genuine fun. They are many times accompanied by their parents. There is a lot of entertainment and innocent joyfulness for little kids! It is true that if you asked questions about the meaning of “goblins” etc and ghosts you are led to the sinister. But there seems to be a kind of very deep pool of pure scary fun and no one knows any thing about the bottom!

3. I gave special get-together on Australia last Saturday to a group of country girls of the Midwest! Some of the questions were interesting. Do you collect and eat platymus eggs? Are dingoes cute? Etc.

4. When I was giving the Course last week, on Saturday I went out and had a beer with a shoe shop owner. They have a happy hour here too. We had $1.00 beers and some pizza! Afterwards, he took me back to his shoe shop and I bought a great pair of runners! The beer was not that good though! The owner of the shop is “small business man”. He is not small, but has done very well. After taking over his parents shoe shop, he has expanded it to something much bigger, lots of shoes, men’s women’s, children’s, and now lots of clothes, uniforms etc. One thing he did say! Practically every thing is made in China! Everything! The best brands of shoes and clothes. The factories are in Chine, and owned by the Chinese. Big companies just send the specifications over, probably electronically. The Chinese import most of the “ingredients” i.e. leather from Argentina etc!

5. Just up the road from where I live is a well known Jesuit University, the University of Loyola. I have always been impressed by the number of private universities here in the US. The Jesuits have 32. Another priest and I walked through the campus on our way to the Chapel, and with the intention of possibly joining the library. After all the Jesuits have good libraries! With all their intellectual tradition they ought to! We both looked quite priestly, being dressed in black etc. We were attacked for not looking like Jesuits priests! They dress down, colored “track suits” etc! We were not able to become members of the library!

6. I still have not seen the Michael Jordon Statue! I did visit the City on Tuesday to see a couple of people! I did see the place where Lincoln won his “nomination” for the Presidency! It is called the Wigwam. It was a huge structure for about 10,000 people. Now of course, it has disappeared. There is a plaque commemorating the event. Chicago is in Illinois, the Land of Lincoln! I am plodding my way through the Civil War book! Lincoln had lots of one-liners! For example he said, as Kentucky was “debating” whether to join the seceding southern states? I “hope” God is on our side but Kentucky “must” be one our side!

7. I seem to have less time to “reflect” on the American experience” this week! I have been asked to give a series of 30 Classes on the “History of Theology” in January. I get quite enthusiastic about this sort of thing. I have spent every spare moment doing research and making up a decent set of notes. Most of the research consists of cutting pasting from other sources. Just the same it has keep me busy!

8. As for audio books, less driving has meant less progress. I mentioned last week that I am listening to “Emma” by Jane Austen. It is beautiful! It is so good that after sending off this letter I shall sit in the car, not going anywhere and listening to the last ten minutes of the 13^th CD! The book consists of 13 CD’s Then I will start the mammoth 29 CD’s of Alexander Hamilton!

9. THE weather has turned cold. Thick under garments are the go, and all buildings are using their “heating” apparatus!

10. My next Newsletter will be form Boston. I fly out next Friday. Hope to get a feel of the early days of the Colony, prior to and including Independence. (Will spend most of my time teaching)

Regards to all,

The words about the fall provoked the following responses“Your talk about the beauty of the "Fall" makes one more interested in going over there than previously. One of my business partners, Ken Paul, now retired, went there some years ago and was very enthusiastic, especially about New England”. I envy you being there in the US for the autumn, as it is getting quite hot and humid here in Sydney. Yesterday was very humid, almost a mid-summer's day - I agree with your American friends and you, Fr Paul, that the suggestion of cold weather to come in the autumn air, when you are outside, is very special.

Also not all is bad in Chna! “ In your previous Newsletter you mentioned Chinese family qualities. My experience reinforces yours”

experience of US
TV programs shows that unless a story has a car chase in it or people with
supernatural powers (and unnatural good looks) and several buildings are
destroyed by extreme disasters or aliens, it is unlikely to evoke any
interest.

I suppose its going to start getting very cold there now, don't worry running keeps you warm

”This beer contest is certainly engaging some others. But, I must agree with
your commentator, Australian beer is clearly better”

1. I am trying to get this Newsletter into “Cyberspace” earlier than usual. It will hard to do such things in Boston. Travel is exciting but disorientating. Besides there have been several computer crashes lately in this Center. They make you “sweat” a bit. Makes life unpredictable so to speak and forces you to do tings sooner rather than later!

2. I have noticed another difference here. The difference between “voting tips” of Australia and the US. Here it is all life issues. There it seems to includes some life issues but issues of social welfare etc. I find both too politically partial! But I find the “conservatives” here too rigid! I will comment on “conservatism” here, in another Newsletter. It is a complex issue

3. For example from the US: As you know, the Voter’s Guide for Serious Catholics is the definitive voter’s guide for explaining the Catholic position on the “five non-negotiables” Abortion, Euthanasia, Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Human Cloning, Homosexual “Marriage”. These are the most critical moral issues of our time. They represent everything that’s wrong in America (and the world) today—because they’re the key tenets of the “culture of death” versus the “Gospel of Life.” If we lose on these issues, we lose everything etc.

4. Whereas the Australian Bishops’ Election Guidelines. The bishops of Australia are encouraging citizens to head to the ballot box and "apply the test of the common good" above their own individual interests. The Australian bishops' statement, released last week, called attention to eight key areas for voters to consider: life, family, indigenous peoples, education, health, environment, immigration and refugees, and peace. Etc.

5. You may not have noticed but last week was the 40^th Newsletter! Somebody did notice. “Hi Father, Congratulations on your 40^th Newsletter”

6. I hear confessions all the time, but every couple of weeks I hear them at a Church “Santa Maria del Populo” in the North Western part of Chicago. Usually Saturday 10.30 to 12. Business is improving. Last week I arrived early, and had to stay till 3.30 pm. Non stop! Lots of families! I hope it keeps up. I stayed awake the whole time too! After the long run of confessions a local family (they have seven children) invited me to a very late lunch! They went over board! Even barbecued some steaks. And had Aussie wine! Another wonderful time with a “typical” American family!

7. We switched back from daylight saving last weekend. No one told me. So I got up and arrived to say Mass one hour early! Gave some people a chance to think badly of Australians. Did not enhance my reputation for efficiency.

8. I am working my way through Alexander Hamilton in audio form. His ideas, and being a practical person, his actions are responsible for many aspects of the “strong” Federal Government, and also the effective financial system. What a genius! Unfortunately he was responsible for the first, second and third sensational scandals in US social history. He is one of the “founders!” As for the Civil War, thus far, I am convinced after reading 330 pages of a very tick book, that the South was responsible for the war, and from any point of view the “issue” was slavery!

9. As I leave for Boston from O’Hare Airport I will be looking at the Statue of Butch O’Hare. I have enclosed a “convoluted story about him at end of this Newsletter. Should be enjoyable.

10. Throughout this week I have been giving another Workshop. It is different from the others. It is called a commuter Workshop. I just arrive at 9.15 am and leave at 1.30. Same material as last time, different people. Tomorrow, I go straight from there to Boston. Again same material different people and very different scenery! New England: the proud heartland of the “makers” of America!

11. Beer continues to provoke comments: “if Aussie beer is better than American then I really feel sorry for the yanks”!

12. I made a mistake last week in explaining another aspect of the American way of life. It is “Pep rally!” Not prep! The correct wording does explain better what was going on. The boys who were “pep-ped up, did not do that well after all. The Cross-country team came 19^th out of the 21 competing teams. It is not as bad as it seems though. They have many disadvantages. The concept of “enthusing” in the American way did attract some comments. “It appears, from your description of it, that the 'prep rally' probably evolved from those Christian Evangelical Revival Meetings (…). I hope those poor kids in the cross-country team can really run and emulate Pheidippides wonderful "feet", after that sort of build-up (…) etc. And “Hope prep rallies don't make it here. Sounds awful. We have enough of American style" Graduations" from pre-school, infants, and primary, imitating university graduations etc”.

13. The pet kangaroo saga continues too. “Do not, of course, forget to mention that each of us, before the age of 5 years, mentally bonds with a baby kangaroo, so that we can call it at any time when we need help, wherever we are in later life, by bending a gum-leaf in half and using it as a whistle!”

14. As for my statement: “Lincoln had lots of one-liners! For example he said, as Kentucky was "debating" whether to join the seceding southern states? I "hope" God is on our side but Kentucky "must" be one our side!" The comment: I think Lincoln got it wrong. It should be other way around!”

15. As regards season of falling leaves, someone mentioned: “Autumn is also flue season. Please be careful!”

16. Finally for those with more time, below are the two stories. They should be read in order!

STORY NUMBER ONE

Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.

Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was his lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.

To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but also, Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block.

Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him. Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example.

One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scar face" Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great!

So, he testified. Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine. The poem read:

The clock of life is wound but once, And no man has the power To tell just when the hands will stop At late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still.

STORY NUMBER TWO

World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.

As he was returning to the his carrier he saw something that turned his blood cold: a squadron of Japanese aircraft were speeding their way toward the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron on his radio and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger.

There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible.

Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction. Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft.

This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.

A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29.

His hometown would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this man. So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.

SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?

“Butch O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son”

Regards

Hi!

1. I have just returned from a wonderful time in Boston on the East Coast! This time I did not see much of Boston the City, with all its history. Met lots of nice people from there though. In some ways “Bostonians” are closer to Sydney people than those of the Mid West. Somehow more normal! Perhaps it is the “British” roots. The culture perhaps is more rooted in Europe than the invented variety of culture in some of the other parts of the US!

2. Although all the traveling does mean that “packing” a bag, is becoming like setting the table for breakfast. Security and waiting at Airports is still a little nerve racking. I usually take the path of least resistance. Get there early, do as much by Internet and credit card, and pay a few extra dollars to put my bag though early. And having a book is a great “smoother” if your are worried about ‘wasting” time.

3. Speaking of books, as I work through the Civil War I have become a big fan of General Grant. I will investigate the family connection! Everyone agrees he was a great general. He was small is stature, never argued, never complained, and popular with the troops. Always went forward! He was not always successful in his battles. He was easily the best general in the Civil. War. There is the famous quote by Lincoln “If I knew what brand of whiskey he [General Grant] drinks, I would send a barrel or so to some other generals”. Abraham Lincoln liked Grant and had no puritan streak! (I notice most people here are affected by a puritan shadow. They always apologize when they drink alcohol! Back to Lincoln: in the early days of the War many complaints reached Lincoln about General Grant. But the President said at the time: “I think Grant has a hardly a friend left, except myself, but what I want are Generals who will fight battles and win victories. Grant has done this, and I propose to stand by him”. After Grant’s Vicksburg campaign, which Lincoln describes a one o f the most brilliant in the World – a judgment echoed by a good many subsequent military analysts. “Grant is my man”, the President declared on July 5, “and I am his the rest of the war”.

4. Boston is one hour ahead of Chicago. So you lose an hour going there. I said I did not get around Boston but I did explore the area around the Conference Center. With walks, runs and excursions I felt that I was in a very beautiful area. One excursion to a local seaside village “Duxbury” showed me the non-sandy nature of the beaches, and an origin into the hardiness of the New England people. It was cold, bleak and windswept. Walking allows you to appreciate the varied and colored patterns of the fallen leaves. They are like giant snowflakes in shape. They say no two snowflakes have the same pattern. In this case no two leaves have the same pattern or color. The “low shining” sun, casts a soft yellow light in the afternoon and gives everything a beautiful and enchanting golden tinge. I leant about the different variety of trees when I went to New Zealand. I was used to Australia where every tree in the whole of the Southern Continent seems to be a not too attractive rugged and “pale leafed” gum tree!

5. Several people in Boston, who had visited Australia, said Melbourne was similar to Philadelphia. As usual Australia was a popular topic. Surprisingly there were two copies of “The Fatal Shore” by Robert Hughes in the Library at the Conference Center. At the end of the Courses most of the 22 participants had read huge slabs of the book! And were better informed as a result!

6. I heard a rather “nice” but erudite explanation of the Aussie accent. A linguistic expert on the Course said that there was a “vowel shift” in the English-speaking World in the late 19^th Century to early 20^th century. This did not effect Australia, so we were left pronouncing our “diphthongs” like we did then, and the rest of the English-speaking World did then but no longer do. The explanation gave the “ai” sound in “g’day” sound more important than I thought it deserved!

7. With regard to the cold weather, you can feel it! You can no longer loiter between the warm house and the warm car. Many people like the cold weather! It allows them to go about in the long coats and especially to parade their soft, bulky, chequered caps. It is a kind of “unofficial, not so obvious fashion parade for the over 50 age group!

8. Perhaps a sign of the “American Individualism” that you hear so much about, is the different texts of most hymns at Mass and Benediction. Every place of worship has a different set of words, same tune, for the standard hymns and songs. It is the way they like it.

9. Many “correspondents made a similar comment to the following” I enjoyed your stories "Easy Eddie" and "O'Hare". I have included another one at the end o the Newsletter. From a legal point of view though: “Al Capone had the deck stacked in his favor! As someone said: I don't know so much about Easy Eddie being a very good lawyer to keep Al out of gaol (the U.K. English version). Once a defendant pleads Not Guilty, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt ALL of the essential elements of the particular offence which it, the prosecution, alleges against the accused. Now, in almost every case there is an essential prosecution witness, usually, the alleged victim of the offence or some other principal witness. Without that witness, the prosecution does not have a leg to stand on. I understand that witnesses back then often encountered "second thoughts" when it came time to testify. It did not take much skill from defending counsel at all!”

10. The comments about beer continue to roll in, similar to the following: “Although I'm not a drinker, I think Europe's beer is better (than Oz and US - in that order)!

11. I found out that a horse called "Efficient” won the Melbourne Cup. Not many thought it that worthwhile to comment of the great race. The race that the great American author, Mark Twain described when he was n Australia as “The race that stopped a Nation!”

12. Of course there has been some comment on the election:” We are getting lots of pre-election propaganda via the media!”

13. THE STORY There is a prehistory to the sinking of the "Titanic" on the 14-15 April 1912. Among the hundreds of dock workers who participated in the building of this gigantic luxury liner were many who hated God. Curses and blasphemies accompanied their work. In their hateful way of thinking, some of them wrote on the side of the ship: "NOT EVEN CHRIST CAN SINK HER" and above the waterline was written in very large letters: "NEITHER GOD NOR THE POPE!" and on the other side: "NEITHER HEAVEN NOR EARTH CAN SWALLOW YOU." Even though these inscriptions were covered with varnish, for the most part, they reappeared. A Catholic employee at the dry-dock wrote to a relative in Dublin: "I am convinced that because of the blasphemies which cover her sides, the ship will never arrive in America." At 2.20am the ocean giant, the pride of the British merchant marine, sank. The words, "NEITHER GOD NOR THE POPE!" were cut in two by the iceberg. They were written directly above the waterline. Captain Smith, the commander of the vessel, had reiterated those same words during the last lunch aboard. Soon thereafter, he paid with his life for his godless insolence.”

14. And finally, with “Thanksgiving” coming up, and having been in Boston there is another thing you should know. Around the Conference Center there are lots of Cranberries. The berries that they make the Turkey source from. It is the only remaining serious agriculture product produced in New England. From the Sources: “Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines in the genus Vaccinium subgenus Oxycoccus! They are found in acidic bogs throughout the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Cranberries are low, creeping shrubs or vines up to 2 m long and 5 to 20 cm in height, with slender, wiry stems, not thickly woody, and small evergreen leaves. The flowers are dark pink, with very distinct reflexed petals, leaving the style and stamens fully exposed and pointing forward. They are pollinated by domestic honeybees. The fruit is a berry that is larger than the leaves of the plant; it is initially white, but turns a deep red when fully ripe. It is edible, with an acidic taste that can overwhelm its sweetness.

15. NB Cranberry sauce is regarded an indispensable part of traditional American Thanksgiving menus!

16. Since the early 21st century within the global functional food industry, there has been a rapidly growing recognition of cranberries for their consumer product popularity, nutrient content and antioxidant qualities, giving them commercial status as a novel "superfruit"

I am looking forward to “Thanksgiving”!

Regards to all,

Hi!

1. Thanksgiving has come and gone! I am giving a retreat. Snow fell all day during Thanksgiving, it is the first day that it has snowed this season,. coming down at a brisk rate. Nice to look at from the window, but I was looking forward to going for a run! Now I’ll have to wait a few months.

2. I would like to have given you some details about the history of Thanksgiving, but I only have access to email at the Conference Center not the INTERNET! Perhaps I can send details next time. The People on the retreat can’t really express their feelings one way or another! The advice: “Take it easy on the Turkey and Cranberry sauce” was not necessary! Neither was: “Don't choke on the turkey!”

3. Last Friday, just after I sent the last Newsletter, we had a “Holiday Prelude”. It is a popular way to raise money. The aim was to raise money for the two Schools Northridge and Willows. The setting for the event is in a fairly plush ballroom restaurant complex! Arranged in elegant rows are items for auction. These are items for silent auction. Other items are sold after and during the meal in the normal vocal non-silent way. These kinds of events begin at around 5.30 pm when hundreds of people begin intermingling, and making written bids on the many donated items. The items include everything! Articles to make houses more beautiful are the most numerous, but there are also crib sets, bicycles, ornate chairs, laptops etc. It is a time of much socializing amongst the people! etc. The dinner begins around 8.30 which goes for a while!. There are speeches and explanations throughout the entire evening. I was there for a while; it is was a way to meet parents of the students. It was noisy though. I did not buy anything. All the items were donated. In the non silent auction i.e. real auction, a black Labrador puppy went for $1200. 00! It is to raise money for the “technological improvements for the school. I think they raised a lot.

4. The “newness” of the Honda was diminished on Sunday! I was catching up with John Walker’s family last week, after working at the “Big Church” St Mary of the Angels. While the car was in the street someone put some paint on “my” car! A small scrape! It probably hurts the user of a new car more than the car itself.

5. I am still working through Alexander Hamilton in the Car, and have almost finished the History of the civil war. Life was certainly cheap in that era! Of the 600,000 who died, two thirds died of disease!

6. I found out where the Australian Consulate is in Chicago. I went there to vote. Hearing a group of women speak with an Australian accent sounded “shocking”. It seemed a little dull. I guess I shouldn’t complain given how I sound! I voted of course because there is an election tomorrow! News from local voters: “The election campaign is becoming annoying. Each party deliberately misquotes the other's statements so they can have a shot at it!” AND Tomorrow we go to vote for the next Prime Minister. The polls have been predicting a big victory for Labor. I think that John Howard has done a good job and I dislike that he may be rewarded with a kick. They say that in the last hour there has been an increase of support for Howard, but will this be enough to be re-elected?”

7. Actually two retreats are going on here. The priest giving the retreat is Fr Michael Geisler. You might have heard of him. He has written two books Junia and Marcus. He has written a third one called “Grain of wheat”! which will come out soon. He is going to give me some hints about how to write a book! He did liberal arts at Notre Dame University though majored in the Classics i.e. Latin and Greek. That is why he is good writer.

8. There some mixed reactions to the story I included last week. Very positive and very negative. Since the retreat does limit my capacity to “experience” the US this week I shall included one or two more to fill up the pages. Responses: “Great story about the titanic. I will take it to the get-together” AND “I will pass the titanic anecdote on in my religion class. I may even pass it on to some of the priests” The negative side: “As a strong believer in rationality and the importance of checking one's information before disseminating it, I feel I must comment on the Titanic story! While imaginative, it sounds too sappy (and overtly moralizing) to be true. The urban legend debunking site snopes.com has information on a story similar to it!”

9. Predictably my reflections on the book about the Civil War provoked some dissent! “Your comment on General Grant: "easily the best general in the Civil War" Oh dear, you mustn't have heard of Robert E Lee! Offered command of the Union Army at the beginning of the Civil War, but as man of integrity and honor, and after much anguish, felt that his higher duty lay with his 'country' - i.e. Virginia”. Personally I do not see the point of this statement! Did Lee win the war? Besides why is it a sign of honor to lead the South and thus defend an “Empire based on slavery”!

10. Also thanks for the news about the Melbourne Cup! “The race was terrific. Efficient came from nowhere and timed his run to perfection. It was beautiful”.

11. Comment from a local Australian linguistic expert: “As to the Australian accent being consigned to antiquated diphthongs resulting from alleged isolation, while the rest of the world went through a vowel shift in the late 19th Century to early 20th century, I fear you may have been the victim of teasing by your American associates” It was actually put in a cruder form!

12. There was “News” from Warrane but no Football Jersey! Alex Perrottet told me the Warrane boys put “The Pirates of Penzance" on recently but had to drastically edit it due to lack of time to prepare. Gilbert and Sullivan looks so much fun that you could fall into the trap of thinking that it must be easy to produce. But not so. Any theatrical production is a big job, especially when singing and dancing have to be learned. I think those talents would be a bit thin on the ground at Warrane! I wonder about the result!

13. News on beer and more! Obviously from someone wise and old! “Commendably, your newsletters reflect a wholesome interest in beer. Which leads me to tell you the best beer now is 4X The best in my youth (and your father's) was Toohey's Long Neck Pilsner but it with much else that is long gone. A grilled steak at Adam's Marble Bar in the 1940's washed down with a Toohey's Long Neck! My taste buds palpitate still when I think of it!

14. There is even more news! However dark days have come: Beer has got into Australian milk. National Foods Ltd, Australia's largest processor of milk, dairy products and juice (as in orange, apple, mango etc) was taken over in 2004 by San Miguel Brewery of the Philippines. Now 2007 the top Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings has bought National Foods for$1 billion from San Miguel in which Kirin already has a 20% stake. Kirin produces Ichiban and Kirin Larger Beers - which are no doubt selling in USA. Kirin has bought into National Foods and milk because it seeks growth away from stagnating beer sales!!! But there is worse. Kirin already owns 46% of Australia's Lion Nathan which is about to buy Tasmanian brewer, J Boag from San Miguel to lift Lion's share of the Australian beer market to44.5%. San Miguel is getting out of the beverage business in Australia to diversify into power, mining, infrastructure and utilities. So next time you call for a San Miguel make sure it hasn't got coal dust in it!

13. STORY: “Once there was a feeble old woman whose husband died and left her all alone, so she went to live with her son and his wife and their own little daughter. Every day the old woman’s sight dimmed and her hearing grew worse, and sometimes at dinner her hands trembled so badly that the peas rolled off her spoon or the soup ran from her cup. The son and his wife could not help but be annoyed at the way she spilled her meal all over the table, and one day, after she knocked over a glass of milk, they told each other that enough was enough! They set up a small table for her in the corner next to the broom closet and made the old woman ate her meals there. She sat all alone, looking with tear-filled eyes across the room at the others. Sometimes they spoke to her while they ate, but usually it was to scold her for dropping a bowl or a fork. One evening, just after dinner, their own little girl was busy playing on the floor with her building blocks, and her father asked her what she was making. “I building a little table for you and mother”, she smiled, “so you can eat by yourselves, in the corner someday, when I get big.” Her parents sat staring at her for sometime and then suddenly both began to cry! That night they led the old woman back to her place at the big table. From then on she sat with the rest of the family, and her son and his wife never seemed to mind a bit when she spilled something every now and then.

Regards to all,

Hi!

1 Where to begin the Newsletter this week. How about the mundane topic of soupspoons! A sign that it has been a quiet week! I have not seen one since I have been in the US. Now that it is cold we are having soup regularly it has come to my attention again. I was mildly mocked when I commented upon its absence. What does this mean? Certainly Americans don’t take criticism well! The second point: Are soupspoons really necessary? Someone said that perhaps his great grandfather had seen one on a trip to Europe.

2. From the sources: a good soupspoon is large enough to deform the mouth when it is pushed in like a shovel. Sipping soup from the side of the spoon might be too refined for some company; sophisticated diners adjust their table manners to suit others. Etiquette for eating soup from a wide, flat bowl with a spoon does vary, but classical manners do consist of these points:

a. The soupspoon is tipped up and drunk from while holding it outside the mouth;

b. the soupspoon is filled in the bowl by movement away from the eater in western cultures, while movement towards the eater is used in eastern cultures;

c. the bowl of the spoon is touched soundlessly to the rim of the bowl to eliminate a possible drip before raising it to the mouth;

d. the bowl itself may be tipped slightly to fill the spoon, but should be tipped away from the eater in western cultures, but tipped towards the eater in eastern cultures

The logic of the second and fourth points is to avoid spilling soup in the lap for western cultures, whereas in eastern cultures rather to have the soup spill on oneself than to disrupt the meals of others (and possibly spill it on them).

Conclusions: We should have soupspoons!

2. I have decided not to put a story in this week. Although the response was very positive most correspondents said they had seen it before. “That was interesting. I think I have heard the story before but it is a good one” With regard to the criticism of the Titanic incident: “people sometimes get over concerned about the veracity of a particular story and forget that the whole aim of a story (true or not) is to convey a deeper message - the person who made the negative comment has obviously not had much experience dealing with kids” Not sure what to think about this. Seems a bit relativistic and perhaps a bit judgmental. But it is very positive!

3. I mentioned last week that I gave a five-day retreat. It seemed to go well. It is different from giving it in Australia. Anecdotes and diction are much more important. There were 34 men on the retreat. They could have become tired on listening to an Australian but several said that the “Aussie” sound is pleasant to the ear1! How nice is that?

4. The election results has come and gone! It was the only time that I have seen Australia mentioned in the news since I have been here. Several people pointed it out to me. Items of news from correspondents: “Do not lament the passing of Howard too much as he has enjoyed a political career longer than most and has done some very worthwhile work e.g. gun control. In the same vain do not lament the arrival of Kevin 07 as even the most die

hard liberal supporter was aware that their party had lost its way. Let's hope education is the big winner and we can lay to rest the argument of who was the best civil war general”. AND Howard’s speech conceding defeat in his own electorate was dignified and up beat. This morning Peter Costello shocked the public by announcing that he would not accept leadership of the Liberal Party”. AND “I have just been watching some of the election on TV, and it looks like Liberal is coming second this time”. As you can see from these examples, I am being kept up to date. I rarely check news about Australian on the Internet! I am sure most of the members of the new Government have the good of Australia at heart!

5. Although I mentioned that I might be “limited” by the cold from running, I actually went for a run in the snow during the retreat. Had to brush off soft snow from my hair and shoulders! An interesting experience! You are quite warm after about 5 minutes. I appreciated very much the following encouragement. Perhaps that is the reason I will try to keep running even if I have to slush through snow! “In point one where you say you'll have to wait a few months to go jogging because of the cold, reminded me of an incident some years ago. I was living in Homebush. It was the middle of winter, around 5.30 am, and I was going for a walk. I was wearing about 3 layers of clothing top and bottom, plus gloves and beanie. it was bitterly cold. And appearing from out of the frigid fog came an aged priest or brother, quietly jogging back home in a singlet and shorts. I was astounded, and put to shame by this elderly mans resilience. And it wasn’t even lent. So don't let the cold stop you Father!” ALSO “Enjoy the snow, but don't give up on the exercise with such a ready excuse”.

6. I have been asked to give a Course in California on the History of “Theology”. 30 classes I am enjoying preparing the classes. I have taught the History of “Philosophy” many times are the last 25 years. In this new Course you look at the same people but as in their contributors to Theology. Now I have much more complete picture of the each man. Getting to know a man from two or three of his philosophical ideas is quite incomplete. Most unsatisfactory! Knowing them as theologians I understand them much more.

7. On my regular trips into down town part of the city “clientele” is starting to build up! On Tuesday I visited a computer type person at “Trading Company”. Several of the employees work at the stock exchange in the pit. They were relaxing after to day’s trading with a wrestling match. Apparently they hire “sporty” types for this type of work. They are used to high pressure and quick thinking. As the sale of options and futures becomes more “computerized” the type of person they hire is one who can understand how a computer works i.e. Engineers. Still need to be able to stay calm under pressure, be decisive and think quickly, though!

8. The Christmas decorations are quite extraordinary! Both public and private buildings are plastered with Christmas themes. A particularly interesting thing is how they thread bright golden lights through every branch of the now leafless trees. Many streets are lined with these glittering luminosities, which impress in the late evening and night.

9. I had to rush off to an “anointing” this morning. Some one wanted “last rites”. I hope the operation was a success. It is only my second “emergency anointing”!

10. “I am looking forward to the heat in OZ”. I feel a little bit on envy with this sort of note from someone about to arrive in Sydney.

11. There is still considerable correspondence about beer: “My other beer is Kilkenny draught”

12. “Sad to hear your car got scratched. The first one hurts the most” I appreciated the sympathy

13. A genuine American joke arrived in a recent email from Australia: “I heard that a spectator at a gridiron match dropped a 25 cent coin at halftime, then spent the rest of the game yelling "Get the Quarterback"!

14. We started the Novena here in Chicago tonight. A huge crowd at St Mary of the Angels. I am preaching on Wednesday! You can keep it in mind.

Regards

NL 45

Hi!
1. It has been one of the “fastest” weeks! It is Friday again. Time for a Newsletter! The “tension” concerning the “big homily” for the Novena might have been a contributing course! I have just started giving another retreat at Shellbourne Conference Center as snow gently falls all around the buildings! Nice to look at! And if soupspoons was the trivia form last week this week it is snow!. Snow is trivial but not mundane as soupspoons! Snow has enchanting aspects!

2. Perhaps the reason for the week go well is audio CD’s. It keeps every minute fruitfully occupied. On the trip out to Shellbourne I finished Alexander Hamilton all 29 CD’s and have now started “Team of Rivals” 36 CD’s! The Audio book is about Abraham Lincoln but from an interesting angle. There were four candidates for the Presidency at the Republican Convention in 1861. Seward, Case, Bates and Lincoln. When Lincoln won the other three and voice of the media was of the opinion that the least competent had one. The main theme of the books is how Lincoln invited these three candidates into his cabinet. They were a superb team! The team was completed by 3 Democrats! The book shows the “political virtues” of Lincoln by a consideration of his relationships with the men and their wives. As for “actual” reading, sometime ago I mentioned the French influence in the Mid West, as a result of a visit to the History Museum. Recently I read a short book on the early French explorers Fr Marquette and Joliet. They actually did not do that much. Just sailed up and down the Mississippi once and then died! Brave I guess. But the journeys of Burke and Wills, Hume and Hovell etc are intrinsically more interesting. I have started Lewis and Clark. They were once of the first explorers to go East West in the States in 1805-1805. For relief I have started reading Flannery O’Connor. She has been recommended. I have not been that impressed yet!

3. Beginning my “snow” dairy. I heard confessions last Saturday for several hours. As I went to the back of this big Church, I saw something idyllic! Beautiful white fluff falling from the sky. It covered everything. It seemed as if everything was wrapped in a soft white cloth. The day had begun as a typical fine day, I thought. The view of the falling snow flakes was the beautiful part. Unfortunately there is an ugly part. I had to walk to the car a little unprotected under the falling snow. Then scrape the car clean of the two inch white cover, and set out for the journey home. The roads were not graded immediately. So traffic was slow and driving dangerous.

4. Once they get going though, the graders are extremely efficient. They are just Pick up trucks (“Utes” in Aussie Country jargon). They have a grader blade at the front and pile of “salt” in the back. They speed along at about 40 miles an hour, cleaning the road, and letting out a trail of salt that melts the current snow and any more that falls.

5. Another “difficult” thing is the ice. After the snow has fallen, and a little rain comes there is ice everywhere icicles too. Early in the season you are likely to get this occurring. The weather is not quite cold enough and you seem to get ice forming everywhere. You have these two long chunks of ice on the edge of the windshield which the wind wipers clunk into every time they attempt to wipe your window. Ice means you have to exercise considerable care while driving and walking!

5. On Wednesday I was late to Mass. It snowed heavily during the night. This makes it harder to get into the car in the morning. You have to clear a path to the car, and then clear 6 inches of soft snow off the entire car! Luckily I had a broom handy. That is the tough part. The previous evening was very good experience. I walked rugged up with hat, scarf, gloves etc from the train station to St Mary of the Angels. It was dusk. There was an ever so gentle fall of snow, the street lighting, somewhat yellowish and whitened landscape was exquisitely picturesque. It felt heavenly to walk for 10 minutes in such surroundings.

6. I have continued to prepare class for the Course in California in late January. As I said last time, the subject is called the History of Theology. To fill in some gaps the Internet is not a bad research tool! Needless to say, this week I also have spent many “spare” moments in front of a computer screen!

7. The documents that I needed from Australia to proceed with my green card application arrived on Monday. They took about a month. I am blaming US mail, as I a sure Australia Post is free of fault. I have to get prepared again for the green card procedure. During the last month I have forgotten all the instructions.

8. Speaking of Instructions! We were joking the other day about how most of the jobs to with cleaning, gardening, clearing snow from paths etc are done by Mexicans. In fact the instructions on the equipment i.e. mowers, etc are written in English and Spanish. The English is much briefer than the Spanish. English Instructions says’ “Give this instrument to a Mexican”. The Spanish is just the set of normal instructions!

9. The homily at the Big Church for the Novena went well. There was no cheering though.

10. Probably one of the reasons that the week went so quickly, is that I was so busy that I was not able to go for a run much, only twice. I ran in the snow though. after ten minutes you feel quite warm. I like running in the snow of course! I received the following encouragement: “So when will you be coming home from the US. It's been a very HOT weekend in Melbourne in contrast to your jogging in the snow. Your jogging tin the snow
is very inspirational”!

11. As a result of seeing people regularly in the City, down town in Chicago, the beer problem is being resolved. Last time over coffee, a client said. “Look you are form Australia, we all know you like beer. I am from Milwaukee. Look at my surname it is German. In Milwaukee we drink beer. So next time no coffee! We are planning to meet up a little later and put into practice a sharing of our common values. In fact today he sent me an email, saying that a Congressman also wants to join us for a beer!

12. There were several comments concerning the ‘Elections” :But nothing outlandish!

13. Christmas is around the corner! Which means I have been here nearly a year! It means other things of course too! Advent is a nice prayerful time too!

14. University and the School year is winding up in Australia. Here is just building up steam!

15. There were some comments about the drought: “It is tipping down here. The drought seems to have given up the ghost!” I like both rain and snow to be n there rightful place!

16. There was some reflections and encouragement concerning cultural depravity and the absence emptiness of soupspoons! Some samples: “Cling dearly to the view that we should use soupspoons for soup and move the spoon in a circular motion away from the mouth when using it! Do not give in to customs there! Try to explain that, although Americans don't take criticism well, it is something they must get used to! AND There was a further clarification: “I ALSO think that using a wide flat bowl is not a good idea. It requires too much effort to retrieve the contents. The same with breakfast cereals. A deep smaller diameter bowl makes more sense when one has to scoop out the contents with a spoon. The last bit sits neatly deep in the centre and not spread thinly over the whole bottom. BUT I agree, we should have soup spoons!

17. I will conclude with a “teaching story” called THE ATHEIST!

Miss Hurst, an atheist and a nurse in a large hospital, had to get up early one cold winter Sunday morning. Feeling sorry for herself, she set off on the four block trip to work, every step torture, through two feet of snow. She had to pass a Catholic church. Near it, she saw coming toward her a small boy, not more than seven years old. She asked him:

"Where are you going, little man?"

He peeped out of his gray muffler, and answered, "To church, of course."

How could a mother send a tiny fellow out on a day like this, she wondered. She asked, "Must you go to church on a day like this?"

"Oh, yes. It would be a sin if I didn't go without a good reason for missing. Besides, I like snow."

Miss Hurst's self pity was gone.

All day long she thought of the boy. After work that night she stopped in at the church, and sat thinking.

Again and again, something drew her back. She met her little friend again, and had further talk with him. Maybe, she thought, there is a Supreme Being. One day a priest spoke to her as she was leaving the church. She was a stranger no longer.

Today Miss Hurst is a believer , and married to one. She has a dear little boy of her own, who will one day slosh through snow for early Mass.

18. Hope many blessings come on for you today’s feast day!

Regards to all,

NL 46

1. Today I went with John Duffy to buy a Christmas tree! The joyous season is upon us! It won’t be my first white Christmas as I had two in Rome, but there is much more snow here than Italy! It takes a while to adjust. Everything has been covered by a foot of soggy snow for about two weeks now, and seems a permanent part of life. I suppose it will last till April. Cabin fever might infect me before then. I wonder what I shall do?

2. I should tell you about John Duffy, my helper this afternoon. He is somewhat of a legend! He is one of the people who live in the residence. He is over eighty. He is quite healthy but a bit deaf and his has occasional lapses of memory. He is what many of us will be one day! Sometimes I take him out. Last Wednesday we went out for a while. He loves going to libraries. We drove in terrible rainy weather to a large regional library. After exploring a while he settled down and busied himself reading a “book about life n the States in the 50’s”. I was able to spend my time reading my Office etc. A priest always has things to read! Afterwards to went to the big Church run by priests of Opus Dei in Chicago. And prayed for a while. On the way we stopped and has one small quiet, small beer. For him it was a perfect afternoon. I thought it was pretty good. I have leant that with slightly deaf people you let them do most of the talking. They are like libraries themselves and you don’t have to continually raise your voice. You learn much!

3. I mentioned that I was giving a retreat last weekend. We were two priests in Shellbourne at the time as there were two activities. The other priest is a fan of music. So we watched a documentary on Les Paul a music legend! I guess you knew that I didn’t. He also had a lot to do with the development of the electric guitar! It was a different knowledge lesson from American History, which is going along all right too. “Team of Rivals” gives much background and fills out the period before the civil war.

4. I received several emails commenting on an article that appeared in Australia. They liked the last paragraph. The emails came from American pro-lifers that I have come to know: “Associate Professor Barry Walters, a professor of obstetric medicine at the University of Western Australia, says the taxes would help offset the supposed problem of overpopulation. Writing in today's Medical Journal of Australia, Walters proposes a baby tax and says parents of every child born should also pay an annual carbon tax of up to $800 a child. That would cover the supposed cost per year that people cause by harming the planet” etc

5. What made people send the email to me was the final part of the article: "Even people on the pro-abortion side of the debate condemned Walters' comments, with Australian Family Association spokeswoman Angela Conway telling Newspapers that babies don't cause global warming." I think self-important professors with silly ideas should have to pay carbon tax for all the hot air they create," she said. "There's masses of evidence to say that child-rich families have much lower resource consumption per head than other styles of households."

6. As usual you learn much from the people on the retreat. They represent such a variety of people. It enriches my knowledge of the US social fabric!

7. There is much more I could say about the ice and snow outlook, although I won’t say it all. I did say a lot last week but there is still more to say. At times when you go out to the car there is thick ice that covers the entire vehicle. It is hard work to actually scrape it off. Apparently happens more often in the early part of the winter season when the weather still more unstable with occasional rain. I have also nearly slipped over many times. I am surprised that more older people don’t break their hips. I know three older priests of Opus Die who have slipped in icy conditions and broken a leg!

8. I continue to run in the “cold” when I can. There is something very “beautiful about running in snow. The old snow seems to ice over, and as you run you go crushing through the snow “piecing” the hardened icy capped snow with each step. I try to run on the beach still and the lawn edge of the sidewalk next to the road. It is soft and enchanting!

9. There is still variety in the weather. We had one day of what was called “raw” weather, it was raining very cold water! I decide to use the running machine in the basement. It is one of those machine that you find in many standard Gyms i.e. a treadmill. The one we have here is fairly hi-tech with lots of dials! Obviously I prefer to run in the “fresh air”. My aim is to try and run even during the middle of winter. I’ll let you know how I go.

10. I received a nice comment about the Australia accent during week at the Post Office. The attendant was so impressed that it seemed to expedite sending a package!

11. Often I receive emails with phrases of the type: “You've got me interested in the place”. It sometimes reflects an intense interest in the US”. I still can’t claim to know too much. It is easy to settle down here and keep busy, lose yourself so to speak. Is it better or worse than Australia I can’t say. The media definitely creates our initial perception of how the world is. It is quite powerful, and I fear the one that most of us carry with us as a kind of permanent screen, which stops us knowing the different realities that we move in.

12. I made the mistake of inviting a student out for drink the other day. He looked aghast! You have to be 21 to buy a beer here. Thank heavens I for my “German” friend as another correspondent commented: “it's good to see you've got a new drinking partner”.

13. There are no stories in this email. It creates controversy. “The story at the end was OK though I tend to like more the ones with a historical content e.g. The Titanic or Easy Eddie” AND “I loved the last story... I nearly cried. Who was the little man?

14. Comments on the weather: “All that talk about snow is out of whack here!. This week we had some very hot days each including a deluge, thunder and lightning, etc. Rainfall intensity varied over the Sydney area, but on Thursday we had about an inch in 15 minutes at home” etc. AND “Enjoy the snow and will enjoy the hot weather and the pool thanks!” AND You are lucky to see the beautiful snow! Not for us though, we had a hailstorm Friday, followed by we had torrential rain! Flooded into our garage and causing damage etc. AND “Yesterday, we had hail, which broke some windows and dented car; also there was no power until mid night”.

15. Next week I will be on my own retreat, so the newsletter will arrive a couple of days late, and will be short. Perhaps I will just try and dig up a Christmas story. There is probably an element of melancholy in the air, as I get ready for a white Christmas along way from Australia.

Regards to all,

Nl 47

Hi!

Firstly:

MERRY CHRISTAMS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

1. I have been dreaming of a white Christmas but my hopes are melting! Snow is amazing though. I arrived at Shellbourne Conference Center last Monday to begin my annual retreat. There was 12 inches of snow covering everything. It is delightful to pull the curtains along the window in the morning and see snow right up to the bottom edge. The glass being the only thing stopping you from walking out onto the snowy field! The glass on the windows goes down to the floor. The trees look good too! There is always a deer or two foraging through the snow with its nose! But on the forth day of the retreat, the snow started melting and in one day, without the sun shining it has practically disappeared! But as we drove out this morning, Sunday, at 10.00 am it was bitterly cold. Flakes of snow are falling. It might be a white Christmas after all. Not many people care though!

2. Of course, I am two days later than usual with this Newsletter and somewhat newsless! Not much has happened on the retreat in terms of news. I have not listened to books on CD about Abraham Lincoln for example. However in one of the talks, several talks in fact, incidents and anecdotes from the War of Independence were quoted extensively. I was still able to learn about American history after all! Actually one speaker mentioned that many of foreign soldiers who came to fight against the Americans in 1776, were German mercenaries. They and British troops so liked the “friendliness and “liberality” of the Americans that they decided to stay on after their defeat. In a private conversation with the speaker I mentioned that it might be worthwhile to ask some more recent arrivals about American friendliness and liberality. Thinks might have changed in 230 years!

3. The priest who preached the retreat is Fr Torlach Delargy. He is Irish. Been here for 25 years. Still sounds Irish. I think my accent is more pronounced but probably not as “nice”. I wonder how I will be after 25 years of US living. Speaking of speaking! The boys at North Ridge Prep, the school that I work at one and half days a week, have a pizza lunch every Friday for any student who wants to pay! They insist of giving me a few free slices. Actually my payment is to say a few words, sounding as Australian as possible! It send them smirking!

4. I should not be naive though. As one correspondent said: “I noted that you received a nice comment about your "Australian accent" during week at the Post Office and that the attendant was so impressed that it seemed to expedite sending a package! I am concerned to know where the package was ultimately sent by the attendant!”

5. Before I left for the retreat there was a heavy fall of snow. It was a Sunday. The roads were not cleaned as yet, when I left to go and say Mass in the morning. I had to drive through 18 inches of snow, more at times. It is similar to driving through mud! All my experience from the farm of getting bogged or nearly bogged was useful. That is in terms of driving steadily and slowly, watching the acceleration, breaks and generally being cautious. On the four trips I made that day I was and the car were unscathed!

6. I was with John Walker and his family last Sunday. John is preparing to take his visiting cousin to an American Football Game. The Bears! A part from learning the finer points of the game, the main challenge is how to stay warm for three hours when you are standing still! A greater challenge is to convince his cousin you need to rugged up rather seriously. It is not the same as a Rugby game even on a cold and wet day!

7. I am still running most days, although on the retreat had to be content with 4-6 mile walks. Also for exercise I even did I bit of shoveling during the day to clear a path to the “Shrine of Our Lady”. At Shellbourne Conference at night you notice a beautiful well-lit path to a shrine of Our Lady that you can look upon while you stand in front of an open fire in a living room with huge long windows! At 9.30 in the evening, the scene of the still snow, the shapes of the trees and their moonlight shadows on either side of the path, a series of small twinkling electric lights also on each side of the path , a yard or so off the ground, is quite breath taking!

8. By the way we had beer one evening on the retreat. There were lots of guys from Milwaukee there, with a German Heritage. They drank the beer without excuses! Another thing happened on the retreat. I noticed a few blood stains on my heels. I thought it might be from running in the snow. One of the “retreatants” is a doctor from Texas. He doesn’t speak that slowly though. He assured me that the cracks and the blood are not due to running barefoot in the snow! It is from the dryness. A little moistener cream should solve the problem. Thanks heavens for sensible doctors!

9. Some time ago I mentioned a few spiritual reading books that were superb i.e. Jacques Philip’s Interior Freedom and Walter Cizek’s “He leadeth me”. Another one that I am enjoying at the moment is “I Believe in Love: A Personal Retreat Based on the Teaching of St. Therese of Lisieux” by Jean Du Coeur De Jesus D' Elbee. It is just as outstanding as the other two. Another one of the best ones that I have read in the last 10 years!

10. Alex Perrottet, an important person at Warrane College, is in a rather efficient mode of operation. He found a few items of clothing that I left in one of the storage closets, namely two white summer cassocks. I had to assure him that in this Chicago weather they were not necessary. He hasn’t been reading my emails. It is a pity to have to say this but still no one from Warrane College has sent any Football Jerseys or distinctive items of clothing! I was going to support their drive to attract International students by wearing it publicly! I have now asked for a typical American jersey from Santa. After being in Warane for more than 20 years they seem to have forgotten me. They lost the shield this year too!

11. Someone said: “Noticed a discrepancy in your newsletter numbering. The current one received Dec 15 should be #46? I think #45 was the one received Dec 8. Maybe I'm mistaken...! “ Not many people noticed! But the last Newsletter should have been 46 not 45! This one is 47! Getting close to 52!

12. Christmas is a time of much correspondence! I have received many Christmas greetings by email! It was good to feel everyone’s presence! Lots of news too! I guess Christmas time is for that kind of thing! Can restore your faith in humanity too! People took advantage of ‘Wishes” to express thanks for the Newsletter too!

13.Many people expressed concern over running on the icy surfaces! “Be careful with the ice, a broken elbow or shoulder is very unpleasant and would limit your priestly work somewhat” Although there was scientific support for my observations about the ice battle each morning! “As a Canadian resident in my young days it makes interesting reading your adjustment to snow. It is true that the early season is the most dangerous. Fluctuating temperatures around freezing can melt snow and then refreeze it, this time as ice. Then another fall of snow covers it and you are taken unawares when you step out: the ground is very slippery, but you can't see that it is. Roadways are another problem in that the pressure from the car tyre compacts the snow into ice. The increased pressure lowers the melting point and the snow melts, then after the passage of the tyre it refreezes” Wow!

14. I have made contact with another Australian living in the US! Although I am not looking too hard! David Hunter was a resident at Warrane. He is doctor in Boston, married 4 kids, working like a dog but happy. Does research too!

15. Someone else said: “Sad we didn't get a story this week”. I have to apologize again. Couldn’t to find anything “attractive”. Perhaps the following quotes from St Josemaria are sufficient.

"God has become Man to redeem us": Marvel at God's magnanimity: he has become Man to redeem us, so that you and I - who are absolutely worthless, admit it! - may come to know him and trust him. (The Forge, 30)

"This day shall light shine upon us; for the Lord is born to us" This is the great announcement which moves Christians today. Through them it is addressed to all mankind. God is here. This truth should fill our lives, and every Christmas should be for us a new and special meeting with God, when we allow his light and grace to enter deep into our soul.

We stop in front of Mary, Joseph and the Child, looking at the Son of God who has taken on our flesh. I remember now I made a visit — for a very special reason — to the holy house of Loreto, Italy, on August 15, 1951. I said Mass there. I wanted to say it calmly and reverently, but I hadn't counted on the crowd's fervor. I had forgotten that the faith of the people of the region and their love for the Madonna meant there would be a huge crowd for the feast of the Assumption.

Their piety was not always entirely correct in its expression, at least from the point of view of the Church's liturgical regulations. When I would kiss the altar in accordance with the rubrics, three or four local women would accompany me. It was distracting, but certainly moving. I also noticed that above the altar in that holy house, which tradition says was the home of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, these words were written: "Here the Word was made flesh." Here, on a bit of the earth on which we live, in a house built by men, God dwelt. (Christ is passing by, 12)

Regards to all, and will be praying that everyone has a special Christmas Season!

NL 48

Hi!

1. This is very short piece. It has been a quiet week and there have only been five days of possible news making time! Christmas does not create a lot of work. It is much, much quieter here than in Australia. The weather probably makes a difference. It limits out door life! There are other factors too. In Australia there is, I think, a big difference because of the Calendar. In Australia, (I suppose the Southern Hemisphere in general) the Academic Calendar and the normal Year calendar coincide and in a sense reinforce each other. The six weeks till the end of January are a very “in-active time” Australia, very much a holiday month. This means that Christmas occurs at time that the nation kind of stops and is available to celebrate. Here not so. The nation is not prepared to stop. Most people work on “Boxing day”. It is not called Boxing Day, just another day! I think the Australian calendar and climate allow you to have more fun, although it is not a picturesque! Christmas with snow is great which this year there wasn’t. It is snowing now, has been for most of the day, about 8 inches.

2. As I mentioned in some private emails. I did not have to shovel snow on Christmas day. The snow had melted almost completely by Christmas Eve. It was an exceptional day to go out though. I mean it was not a blizzard. It was unusually mild, little wind and about 3 degrees above freezing. Funnily enough we made a little excursion; we went ice-skating!

3. I thought some of the staff of Warrane might feel guilty and send me a late Christmas presence but it was not the case. I had to rely on an American Santa. He brought me a nice warm jersey. It has no American eagle to attract onlookers, so I am not advertising anything. Warrane has missed their chance there. Another advantage of the new clothing is that my original Warrane Jersey can now have a well-deserved wash. Somebody did say though: “Keep the pressure on Warrane to sponsor you at least a jersey”. I will continue to check the mail filled with lots of hope!

4. Besides the Jersey I received several books, one about Kit Carson (Chris to his mother). He had some good points, good at languages; and bad points consistently revengeful. Another book explain how the many “natural” advantages of Chicago’s geography made it very well suited to grow so big and so quickly! I am still working my way though Team of Rivals which show Abraham Lincolns “managerial style”. Very friendly. ALSO my concern for American History prompted someone to send this quote: "To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant" – Newman

5. Christmas emails continue to arrive. I feel a bit guilty about not sending any cards! Many emails noted: “Have been trying to find time to read your most informative newsletter” AND “Work has been keeping me busy and I have forgotten about sending Christmas cards to even my closest relatives”. I guess we are all pretty busy!

6. Later in the evening of Christmas day I dropped into my “lone” Aussie connection John Walker (legendary ex-student from Warrane College). I had a nice time with him and his family. He had a couple from Australia too. I did not notice they spoke differently. It was an “Aussie” reunion. They live in Saudi Arabia and of course told us what it is like there! Very interesting!

7. It was pointed out that there is house not too far from here, about a 5-minute walk, which is designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright. I checked it out today. It revived my enthusiasm for his style. I have to remind myself that I can’t concentrate too much on soupspoons and snow. I have still to keep an eye out for the good things in the US.

8. I heard some news today that might make people envious. I have been asked to be the Chaplain of a group of University students who want to do a bit of walking in Spain i.e. form the sources: “The Way of St. James or St. James' Way, often known by its Spanish name, el Camino de Santiago, is the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where the remains of the apostle, Saint James the Great, are buried”. The students come from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. We are leaving the US on March 15^th and returning on March 23^rd. It coincides with Holy Week. The substantial part of the trip consists in walking 20 miles on five consecutive days I should be able to handle that. There will be about 12 University students. I am looking forward to all aspects of the trip! So much for Organizing a big contingent for WYD in July!!, which several people have suggested

9. Here's a pun: Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other, 'Does this taste funny to you?' (Complements of well-known punster Fr Joseph Martins)

10. I received some sympathy! “I would not feel too badly about Warrane, I know from personal experience that it is quite a rapid process from being an important part of the college machinery to being just another ex- staff member”

11. ALSO: “Happy to hear you are still running ! I still believe that most injuries come from an excessive concern about having an injury; OHS (Occupational Health and Safety) is vastly overrated !

Regards to all

NL 49

1. It has been another quiet week. No school, many people away on short vacations so fewer confessions and meetings in the City! It is a relaxing time.

2. I spent three or four sessions drinking hot chocolate in “Starbucks”. It seems to be the appropriate drink when wet snow is settling down in the street on your car outside. Having a drink and a small slice of something nice and delicious is a very pleasant experience. You might be surprised that I went to Starbucks. It is just that it is part of the “culture” here. On every second corner there is a Starbucks. Starbucks is an interesting phenomenon. It is a chain of “sophisticated” “coffee restaurants. Every one thinks they are a little expensive, but have a “what the heck attitude!” It has an enigmatic atmosphere. It is a little jarring when you enter. But you get the impression that anyone could be comfortable there. It has almost new age design about it. It lacks a well-defined sense of order. A display of modern CD’s for sale in the middle. Lots of other non-descript items lying around! Some comfortable and also some not so comfortable benches and chairs arranged around the windows. There is access to the Internet in all places. Top executives, frantic students or even hippies fit in. None of them would look out of place. The beverages vary enormously, mostly very elaborate and sophisticated teas and coffees.

3. On one of these recent occasions in Starbucks I was having a nice conversation with a fellow priest, who works in one of the nearby parishes. We were waiting for our hot chocolates to arrive, slowly consuming our richly flavored muffins when two young ladies arrived. They were large and looked somewhat Mongolic. One said: Oh look! Two Fathers! We had to make conversation. My priest friend asked: And what do you do? She said: Oh I am a prophetess! Afterwards my friend said: “after all this is Evanston”. It is a sophisticated and trendy part of Chicago! The lady, although being a prophetess, did not know who was going to win the Presidential election!

4. This week Thursday, we had the first Primaries. Hillary did quite badly. The conservative republican did very well. I live in a place where this news is commented on immediately! I was impressed by the entertainment value of the “electioneering!

5. The “first primary” was in the State if Iowa. The heart of the Mid West! I feel that I have begun about 10 months of non-stop “political” entertainment. There are 50 states and the Democrats and the Republicans have Primaries in all 50 states. Most of the major candidates run in them. I will have to start reading the newspapers and watching the TV more avidly. Will try and explain more about the system as I learn more.

6. Basically the Primaries are elections, which aim at getting a presidential candidate to win in the “Party Convention” a few months before the election of the President. They are Elections, state by state in which the different candidates for the two major parties are trying to win support to be elected as a presidential candidate at their corresponding party national conventions. At this very early stage, for the Republicans the front-runners are Huckabee, McBane and Romney. For the Democrats the front-runners are Hillary, Obama and John Edwards. Most of the text and visuals in the printed press and the TV news and the advertisements are “emotional moments”. Usually when candidates talk about other candidates in their same party, they are insulting. All the candidates are talking about “the big changes” they are going implement which makes me somewhat cynical!

7. Just so you don’t think I have go too carried away by politics, on another issue! Today is the feast of Mother Elizabeth Anne Seton. The First American born saint! And tomorrow is the feast of another American saint: Bishop John Neumann. I have to say Mass and preach in a Parish Church tomorrow. I was thinking of comparing American saints to our Australian one! Mother Mary McKillop. I think ours is better! The main message will be, of course, that the Church continually puts saints in front of our eyes to show us the way, to encourage us to reach holiness. The message is just that little bit more forceful when we realize that these saints could have been our neighbors!

8. On celebrating feasts someone made the comment: “we in the time zone just west of the international date line are the first in the world to celebrate a particular day. At the head of the queue as it were. You guys to the east of the date line are the last to celebrate. Poor old Hawaii is one of the last in the queue. Also pity about the winter weather holiday break clash. We certainly have it right here”

9. Although Christmas was not as white as I hoped New Years was! I had to go out to preach and say Mass late at night. It was snowing so heavily I got lost. The main reason for the disorientation was that the heavy fall of wet and soft snow sticks to all the signs. You cannot read the street signs. Fortunately I am more or less familiar with certain parts of Chicago now, and with a certain feel for things, and with the intrinsic merit of the grid system, I managed to arrive on time to fulfill my New Year priestly duties! We had the usual entertainment afterwards. Plenty of Champaign, very little beer though! By the way people were very impressed here when I told them my Father makes several hundred bottles of beer (home made brew) around Christmas. With the other stories about life on the farm they think I grew up in some kind of paradise!

10.I am making steady progress in my acquisition of the American heritage of culture and history. Flannery O’Connor’s short stores; the life and times of Kit Carson, a true history of the West during the time of the Mexican War! And Lincoln’s efforts to win the civil war! At times I feel a little overloaded, but generally becoming informed and completed!

11. I had a small party with some of the Chicago priests to welcome in the New Year! They are good group of locals. Hopefully I can do more in the following year with them. To further celebrate 2008, on New Year’s Day we went to visit a nice Church in a trendy area up the road. On the way we passed “The Baha'i House of Worship”. It is rather imposing. We stopped off and walked round. Did not appear to pray too much though! I found out that it is “One of only seven Baha'i temples in the world. This unique structure symbolizes unity and invites prayer to God”. We are fortunate enough to have one in Australia. I have never visited the one in Sydney, although I have been passed it a few times. “Like all Baha'i Houses of Worship, the temple in Wilmette, Chicago has nine sides and a dome and is surrounded by exquisite gardens and fountains”. They would need more irrigation in Sydney! The one here was begun in 1912, and finished in 1953. It probably has more National prominence in the US than the Sydney one has in Australia.

12. When I “toured” a local Gym, there was a game of basketball going on. Mostly blacks. They respect priests! As soon as I entered: an official yelled out “Keep the swearing down!”. It was a way of acknowledging the presence of priest.

13. In spite of the all the snow and low temperatures running on the white surface is still enticing me out most afternoons! I am always being subjected to comparisons with the weather in Sydney! “Low 30s here. Surf is thumping the coast!”

14. Many of the emails that continue to arrive over this Christmas and New Year period are still encouraging me to “share with us your great experiences”! So I shall keep sending the Newsletter! As I have mentioned before they help me to stop, and not go through life in daze, but look around, observe and reflect a bit more etc! AND “I appreciate these notes. They help me understand a culture that is very similar to our Australian culture and yet one that is radically different”.

15. Another comparison: Sydney’s New Year Fire words seemed more impressive than Chicago’s. There are some natural advantages to Sydney!

16. Most assumed that the trip to Spain, to go with some University students along to trail to Santiago, was won in some kind of competition for fitness. That is only partly true.

17. The drought seems to be over in most parts of NSW at last!

18. The Warrane advertising material has not arrived yet!

19. With all the references to US Wars (civil and otherwise) several correspondents encouraged me to read about the action of the Australian troops especially in Europe in WWI “The Great War” As for history after reading a fair amount of it, I think that there are many aspects of Australia's history that could be written up or repackaged! The explorers, the mining boom, the gold rushes; even the early settlement etc are all worthy of much better appreciation. Some correspondents felt so stirred up by the stories of war and civil spirit that they planning to walk the Kokoda Trail as a patriotic duty!

Hope 2008 continues to go well in the “Sunburnt County!

Regards to all,

NL 50

Hi!

1. The snow! Ah! It is snowing right now! I am at Shellbourne Conference Center giving another long retreat. The snow has not settled yet but it is cold! I have a lot to learn about snow! When the plane touched down at Chicago on February 4th last year, I was picked up by a “brilliant scientist”. I nearly froze death in the parking lot because he could not remember where he had left the car. My attire was not appropriate for a seek and find car mission. Besides that I made some false assumptions! As we drove into the City of Chicago there was snow on the ground, at least 18 inches of it. The snow stayed around for two months. I thought it was normal. That is winter in Chicago means snow on the ground for 6 months. But not so. It depends on the year. When it snowed recently in early December I thought it would last all winter but now we have had a “mid January thaw! The temperature went up to over 60 degrees F. It is some kind of record! To go from 0 degrees F to 60 degrees F, to is the same as going from minus 18 centigrade to about 16 centigrade. The global warning fans made a bit of noise, but there was a blizzard in California on the West Coast at the same time. That took the wind out of their sails. Anyway it is snowing now! Looks good but feels cold!

2. Refresher Course! For those who like to compare temperature scales!

Celsius to Fahrenheit (°C × 9/5) + 32 = °F

Fahrenheit to Celsius (°F - 32) x 5/9 = °C

Example 1: Convert 26° Celsius (A nice warm day!) to Fahrenheit

First: 26° × 9/5 = 234/5 = 46.8: Then: 46.8 + 32 = 78.8° F

Example 2: Convert 98.6° Fahrenheit (Normal Body Temperature!) to Celsius

First: 98.6° - 32 = 66.6: Then: 66.6× 5/9 = 333/9 = 37° C

Typical Temperatures

°C °F Description

100 212 Water boils

40 104 Hot Bath

37 98.6 Body temperature

30 86 Beach weather

21 70 Room temperature

10 50 Cool Day

0 32 Freezing point of water

-18 0 Very Cold Day

-40 -40 Extremely Cold Day (and the same number!)

2. As one would expect giving a retreat is a quiet time. I am trying to use occasional stories from Australia. It is hard! Steve Irwin is all they know! I can easily invent things but people are already used to Giant Wombats and the famous Tasmanian “drop bears”!

3. I mentioned that this “Nation” does not stop over the Christmas New Year break. There were many “used” Christmas trees at the usual garbage collection points on the 26th December! I have returned to work to! I have heard lots of confessions this week at the various public churches! Wasting time at the Beach or watching too much cricket on TV was not a common crime during the Holidays!

4. By the way students who come from Australia to study could stay in Northview University Center! I live in a place which is a Residence for Students. If someone in Australia or New Zealand plans to study in a University in Chicago and there are lots of good ones they could stay here. The usual criteria apply. The Residence is for men. The environment is similar to Warrane College. The residents would have to be studying at University (College). Probably best to stay for several months! You probably already know that the University of Chicago has a very high number of Noble prize winners amongst its graduates! North Western University just down the road is one of the most prestigious Universities in the Country. There are several Catholic Universities in the vicinity also! The Residence is small. There are no sports teams. Unlike Warrane College there are no “unique” T-shirts or “Football Jerseys”!

5. We have had some fun recently with a “sensor”. A fairly standard type of “typical American” is the slightly nerdy engineer. There seem to be many in my circle in the US; much more than I have encountered in Australia or New Zealand. He received a gift for Christmas of a fairly sophisticated type of “Thermometer”. It functions with a wireless “sensor”. You can tell lots of thing about the outside weather environment from the comfort of your living room. The sensor is a small stand alone device, which you place in a discrete outside situation. It sends “climatic data” to the main reader! Every morning, evening and any other time we can see how cold and humid it is outside, without actually going out side. It is useful to check on my way out each morning. I know whether I should put on gloves or an overcoat!

6. I discovered that there is beautiful Church close by! It is called St Jerome’s. The Pastor and I have something in common. He is from Wales He says he is ! I guess he wants to avoid a backlash! He sounds like Prince Charles. Looking forward to getting to know him better. Says he does not know a lot of priests because of the ‘priest’ old boys network. Most priests went to the same seminary and prefer to “mix” with their class mates!

7. Activity in the City has flourished a little in the last few days, before the retreat began. I had a few pleasant walks and hot chocolates there.

8. I suppose you heard about the more recent results in the “Primaries” in New Hampshire. There was a change in the winners from last time. It is too early to call but it looks as if the next US President will be Obama. I have no idea who the presidential candidate for the Republicans will be! You can check out Obama on the NET. Wikipedia gives a “fair” biography! The recent results do mean that there will be some competition. And some entertainment doing the lead up to the election! I have started reading the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Chicago Tribune. It will help my “inculturalization” process!

8. I continue to study in order to prepare for the History of Theology Course in California beginning January 26th. I came across any interesting person: Cardinal Cisneros! Some data: “OFM (1436 – November 8, 1517) was a Spanish cardinal and statesman. Starting from humble beginnings he rose to the heights of power becoming a religious reformer, twice regent of Spain, Cardinal, Grand Inquisitor, missionary of the Moors, promoted the Crusades in North Africa, and founded the Complutense University (currently the largest in Spain). Among his literary works he is best known for funding the Complutensian Polyglot Bible, the first printed polyglot of the entire Bible. The Complutensian Polyglot, is the first printed polyglot translation of the Bible in which six different versions were put in parallel columns with the original Aramaic, Greek, Latin, and Hebrew so that readers for the first time could check all the translations simultaneously. The text occupies five volumes, and a sixth contains a Hebrew lexicon, etc. The work commenced in 1502. The New Testament was finished in January 1514, and the whole in April 1517”.

9. BUT THE FOLLOWING IS the interesting bit. He reformed the Church in Spain, and therefore, some would argue, making Luther’s call for reform unnecessary! “From his new position Cisneros set about reforming the Franciscan order in Spain. The ordained friars had to give up the practice of having "wives" (or concubines). They had to reside in the parish where they were supposed to work, attend confession, and preach every Sunday. There was intense opposition. By 1498 the reforms were expanded to include not only Franciscans but other religious orders as well. The resistance was so fierce that four hundred monks and friars fled to Africa with their "wives" and became Muslims”

10. I am receiving a Newsletter from Pamplona too!

11. Several people are visiting the US from Australia in the next few weeks I hope I can catch up with them!

12. After complaining about Flannery O’Connor’s short stories some informed me “You should read Flannery’s letters: they are really worthwhile!” Actually I have them on my shelf. Lincoln still continues to impress me! I like the CD’s so much that I look forward to getting into the car!

13. There was some commentary on Starbucks. I am not trying to promote it! In Australia you are fortune that it does not have a monopoly! COMMENT ONE: “I have a Starbucks across the road from where I live in the city. A few days ago I went into it for the first time. It certainly is no ordinary "coffee shop". The array of types of drinks is puzzling” That comment was mild compared to: “My son, who worked in New York repeatedly said their coffee was awful” AND “My thoughts on Starbucks and coffee in general from my experience in the US: “Americans have NO idea how to make a good cup of coffee, and their version of tea is even worse! Good thing you stuck to hot chocolate!” AND “The Starbucks "culture" is taking over New Zealand and making forays into Australia, but I am resisting it as I do not want all of those wonderful little coffee shops with their Italian coffees to disappear here. Your advisory anecdote about the risks of meeting prophetesses in such places further strengthened my resolve to resist Starbucks”. Some of these comments are too harsh in my experience!

14. Some other feedback: So your friends think you grew up in paradise? You did. It's called Australia. The farm was an bonus!” A big slip up :”By the way we call it the Kokoda Track. The Americans called it the Trail!”

15. I received a compliment about the news on the Primaries. I think it is exaggerated! “I had been following the primaries here in Australia though had been a little confused by the system - your explanation helped!” By the way if Hillary won the Presidency, it would send everyone I know into depressed state!

16. There was much more feedback on the election! “We are getting a lot of news coverage here concerning the US Presidential primaries. I cannot say I was disappointed Hilary Clinton did poorly in Iowa or that I would disappointed if she did poorly elsewhere”. In my opinion though, in some ways news about US “politics” makes more noise in Australia and the rest of the world than it should. It is not that important.

17 This is NL #50 creeping up to #52: a years supply!

Regards to all,

NL 51

Hi!

1. It may sound like an excuse but half the week was spent at Shellbourne Conference Center. So I have an excuse for little news. I was finishing off the long retreat I began when I last wrote. One of the interesting things was the snow that fell during the retreat. Since the Conference is built in “Campus Style”, not a one single building but many, I had to walk from one building to another i.e. to give the conferences, and then back to where I was living, and also for the meals. At times I was covered with snow and almost slipped over a few times. Still I managed to go for a run most days. It was cold but quite endurable!

NB Some feedback: “We were also fishing on the waterfront in 30degC blazing sunshine. We all got a bit burnt and drank plenty of beer. To prevent dehydration, of course” That sounds like a dream for me at the moment!

2. In a sense of “challenge”, sometime ago I told myself that I would keep up running most days during winter and even run on the coldest day of the year. That will probably be tomorrow. It is supposed to be minus 7 F i.e. almost minus 40 C! Unfortunately I will not be able to run. Too many things on! I will try and run at Sunday to show that Australians can handle the climate here! Actually tomorrow has come and gone. And it was quite cold!

3. I continue to be “overwhelmed by the variety of beer! Tonight I went out with someone born in Milwaukee i.e. has a healthy German heritage of beer drinking! We enjoyed several glasses of Guinness. I met his family afterwards. It is wonderful family. Four children and one on the way!

4. The main “idea” of the week has been history. I have mentioned the importance of history several times in these Newsletters. Also the importance of becoming enthused again about Australian History. Several people have taken up the challenge! The book “The Tyranny of Distance’ is arriving soon. More specifically: “In your newsletter number 49 you made the point that Australian history should be better packaged! This raises the question, have you read Geoffrey Blainey's " “Tyranny of Distance"? This book I believe is the best concise Australian history ever written”. It explains the “the real reason” why Australia was founded, the reason for the wool industry being so important in the settlement of the outback, the consequences of the gold rush and the effects of the different ethnic and social groups on Australian Institutions and political and social development”:

5. I am looking forward to reading the book. I hope some the other correspondents will do likewise! Although I have always liked History, Australian History has become very attractive since coming to the US. One of few books that I have read is Manning Clark's Short History of Australia. After reading several books here, I realize that you have to read many books about the same period of history as well as many books about each one of the important figures to get an "objective" picture.

6. I still think that History lecturers in Australia should start writing many books about Australia. For example three or four books on the "supposed bigot" Henry Parkes would do a lot of good! Even three or four books from different angles on Captain Phillip or any of the early Governors would be good. Billy Hughes is another example, not a particularly nice guy, but someone could write interesting and informative books about him. I think it would help everyone to appreciate Australia much more!

6. Just a little incident about the cold that some of you may be familiar with. In Shellbourne after going for a run, I put my shoes and socks in the boot (i.e. trunk) of the car. Bit “malodorous” to take into the Center. When I went to for a run the next day the socks were frozen solid. It is a ten-minute drive to the Park where I run, so the hot air of the car heater softens them sufficiently to wear them. Any thing you leave in the car is very cold. In this weather to read a book left in the car can be a challenge to turn the pages.

7. More from an Australian History buff! “As regards Henry Parks (The perennial bankrupt from Balmain) I always fail to understand why he is regarded so highly? He was I believe not worthy of any recognition except possibly as the consummate politician, that is he would hand promote himself on one hand as the radical all Australian republican and at same time “grovel” without any sense of shame if he saw the opportunity to picking up an imperial honor of any type for himself. It would seem that his Tenterfield speech elevated him to the status of the supreme Australian Statesman, though the concept was Federation not new, and in fact the Reverend John Dunmore Lang (in Lang we find a real bigot) had been promoting the concept of a national union (And republic) since the 1850;s. the resultant Sydney conference of Parkes speech was a complete non event with no agreement or plans or further action .The idea of federation received no further stimulus until the Corowa conference which owed nothing to Parkes, and was in fact due to initiatives originating in the Murray Valley the cause of which was the inconvenience and financial hardship caused by customs duties being applied by Victoria on goods crossing the border from NSW. Any way that's my thoughts on Henry Parks”. This discerning attitude is exactly the kind of attitude that I think we should all have!

8. I am preparing for the “Great Trek across Spain, which begins on March 15th. I have my ticket and instructions about how to carry my gear. The other participants can just get on the plane and start walking when they get off. It is different if you have to wear black at times. You need a cassock to say Mass, and I like to look black when on the plane. My experience of Work Camps with Australians and New Zealand i.e. to many adventures in the Pacific and Asia will provide good experience. I will still have to carry more than the others though!

9. I have just finished “ Teams of Rivals” What a sad thing the assassination of Lincoln. Apart from inspiring me to be more charitable and magnanimous Abe has encouraged me to read Shakespeare. He used to sit around the fire each evening and read aloud or someone else would read aloud Shakespeare’s plays or some other classical piece. Lincoln was amazing. He was great at telling either for fun or to illustrate a point. He had millions of interesting and enjoyable anecdotes. His favorite Shakespearian play was Macbeth. I got out of the library today. I am not enjoying it as much of Lincoln and those men of this time! I also took out Hemingway’s “Old man and the sea”, to understand the American mindset a little more.

10. An Australian priest Fr Mark de Battista arrived in the US during the week. We met twice. Had a great conversation about what his happening in Australia. It even made me a little homesick.

11. The falling Dow Jones has produce a little “flutter” in the conversation about the “predicted” crash in the stock exchange. Some people predict a bigger crash than 1928. But everything seems pretty stable here and life continues as normal.

12. The latest results in the Primaries have made the political possibilities less predictable. Some feedback: “It's good to see that the "Letters from America" are still as analytical as ever. I must say though, I was mortified that you got McCain's name wrong. I hope it was just a typo. I supported him back in 2000, so I hope he gets the nomination -- and the presidency -- this time round.

13. My Starbucks impression continues to provoke responses from Australia. “I know that there is more to your experiences in the states than just coffee, but I thought I would throw in my two bob's worth about Starbucks. I bought a sensational coffee from an Italian cafe in Hyde Park the other day. When I asked about the Starbucks across the road and trade the fellow replied that it had done him a lot of good as anyone who had sinned against presumption in going in there and expecting drinkable coffee and then had a coffee at his place would never go back!” I discovered very good coffee living next to Lygon Street in Melbourne. In the US, a kind of "pseudo trendy atmosphere" is probably more important than "good" coffee! I think it is related to the overall level of "taste" whether it be clothes, Churches, food or Coffee! There are of course many many exceptions. Many people have exquisite taste!

14. I have been watching a bit of football lately, in the lead-up to the Super bowl. I cannot get as excited as for a big Rugby International. I guess the up and down sensation of excitement in an American football game is more like Cricket!

15. This is Newsletter 51. Only one more and it will be 52 a year! The Newsletter is a day late! I guess I have been short on news! January is quite month is Australia. It has been noticeable in the lower volume of information and greeting exchanges between the two nations!

Regards to all,

NL52

NL 52

1. Well I guess I made 52 weeks if you are reading this. Actually I am in a hurry. I have to catch a plane tomorrow and have not packed!

2. It has been another quiet week. And very cold several days at minus 20 F. The skin on your face and ears burn a bit in the little trip from the car to the building. You need a few minutes to warm up again and start breathing properly. Even in the car, it takes a while for the heater to start pouring out sufficient heat. You hands are stuck to the steering wheel and you backside is numb! You teeth rattle a bit too. But it is all over very soon! It has snowed most days this week and it is snowing now. I hope I can get to the Airport in the morning!

NB With regard to the cold: someone noted: “Moderate correction” I said” “It is supposed to be minus 7 F i.e. almost minus 40 C!" He pointed out: “-7F is -21.67C. -7F is indeed 39 Fahrenheit degrees below freezing, but 1.8 Fahrenheit degrees make 1 Celsius degree”.

3. There was considerable extra correspondence this week as people rush to send greetings from around the world for my birthday on Jan 22! Here it is a famous day! Roe V. Wade. Nothing to celebrate there though! The legalization of abortion in 1973!

4. I guess I have had another good week of drinking, but not always beer. Last Saturday it was beer with an Irishman! Married to an American. We had a very pleasant time. Has very strong opinions about Rugby and American Football and who should not win the election! The week ended with a beer after school with a global traveler, then with a “cup of tea” with my new friend, the local priest. He is very English, but says he is Welsh. Surprisingly we not talk about Rugby but mostly about Chicago. He has been here for 10 years and likes the City a lot. We both agreed though that there is nothing “quaint” in the US. Perhaps it is another characteristic of US culture.

5. On Sunday, being the 3rd one of the month I went to St Mary of the Angels, the big Church looked after by priests of Opus Dei. I was “trapped” in the confessional from 10 till 3 pm. I wanted to have some lunch so they let me out!

6.There was a little disappointment among my football circle of friends. The Green Bay Packers, who were favored to win, lost the semi finals. Now the Super Bowl will be an East Coat affair, and will have very little interest in the Mid West. I did learn one thing though. They were playing, many with short sleeves, on the coldest day of the year in the late evening. I should not complain about the cold.

7. With regard to the birthday celebrations, it was impressive how many songs, bands, movies, actors etc they know of with an Australian connect. They know much more than me about Australian music and movies!

8. During the week, someone mailed me an article from Sports Illustrated. The gist of the article was how several Australians have turned around several major US Basketball team. The article said: “Because these players grew up in a strongly an egalitarian culture they are very cooperative, team players” Something like that. It was meant to a be compliment and mild attack on the current demagogy and inflated self-importance reigning in US sport!

9. Amongst the moanings and groanings at the breakfast table as we collectively wake up there is one person who says” ‘Great! Another day in which to excel”. He is a high-energy person.

10. Not much to say with regard to the elections. Although it is another very common topic of conversation!

11. The history theme provided some exchanges: “Yes, more Australian history is needed. Tyranny of Distance is good; Manning Clark and Fatal Shore, well, they show what needs to be done better. There is a good book on Arthur Phillip, Tom Keneally's

Commonwealth of Thieves. Windschuttle is always interesting, too” “Even more lacking is anything on Australian history of ideas”

12. AND Re Robert Hughes' "The Fatal Shore" Someone added: The book evokes Australia's capacity to eke out an existence from the harshest possible circumstances. Perhaps we have lost that characteristic to some extent, although it seems to be manifest on the sporting field from time to time”. This is a rather contentious statement! Followed by another one: “Surely The Fatal Shore is a seminal and important work regardless of its flaws.

13. ALSO “As to history, I also have become more interested in it as I have become older” “Because as we get older, it becomes more important to know our place in the world, not only geographically but in the greater scheme of things”

14. Concerning spiders and other dangerous Australia fauna, I had mentioned to an “Australian expert” on the topic that it is an interesting theme for get-togethers. They replied: “Glad the Red-back struck a bell. Remember that it is related to, or at least resembles, the American Black Widow. We don't seem to have had a fatality from the Red Back bite so far, but it makes a good story for people who are impressed by our collection of deadly creatures including snakes, and crocodiles who have a particularly good tally of American tourists who can't seem to understand our warning signs”

15. The coffee theme led to the following comment: “Fr Paul, I actually don't mind Starbucks coffees. No doubt amongst your readership that makes me a complete American imperialist and philistine!” Actually I have no problem with Starbucks, here. In Melbourne I would probably not visit them much. The anti-Starbucks "outbursts" from some Australians is a mild form of anti-Americanism, but pretty harmless!

16. A note on aging from a wise correspondent: “You know how people say the years just fly by! I have worked out why the years do go quicker as you get older. When your 10 one year is 10% of your life while when your 50, one year is 2 % of your life! What do you think?”

17. Australia day will be a very “internal” affair tomorrow. No one else will have a clue! My mind will be full of pleasant memories and hot weather!

18. It has been a busy and fruitful week. Even the classes at Metro Achievement Center went well. Once a month I give a class on “human development” with a “Christian focus” to girls who come from “awkward back grounds mostly Blacks and Hispanics. I think I am getting the hang of it! The highlight of the week though, was dinner at the Walkers on Thursday night. I sat down to a delicious meal of superb Italian food entertained by John and Ale Walker and their five children.

19. Well that concludes a year’s supply of Newsletters. Shorter but not sweeter than usual!

Regards to all.

NL 53

1. A Course in California is an interesting thing to do! Many people have come from all over the US: Texas, New York, Pittsburgh, Texas Chicago and of course Los Angeles and San Francisco. You learn a lot. You get opinions of what each person thinks about the others. The opinions of Texans about Californians is a case in point! Texans have strong opinions and express them loudly. They always talk about a typical Californian as hippy like, and their cars are plastered with “green peace” stickers etc. They “project” their bias a little I think. There are some other examples!

2. I am closer to Australia here. If you drew a line from San Francisco to Hawaii then on to Sydney, Hawaii would be one third of the way to the coast of Australia. It does not make me make homesick, but it makes it easy to explain to this diverse group where Australia is! Australia is a still a popular topic! I have given two long talks on it. History One and Two. From Captain Cook to Cardinal Pell!

3. In the last Newsletter I mentioned that perhaps there is nothing quaint about the US. I meant that in Chicago because of the climate, with the need for more protection in the buildings, and the grid system of road there are not many “surprises” when you walk around. I mentioned this to someone in the Midwest. I have since been inundated with examples of quaintness” in the US. Actually I sent this same person a couple of the latest Newsletters. The family wanted to see what kind of “news” I was sending back to Australia. One of the Newsletters mentioned the sad story of the Warrane’s failure to send me a jersey. So next day by priority post there is a nice black Jersey on my doorstep! A present! An obvious example of the “proverbial” American generosity and American efficiency!

4. I have been in Trumbull Manor, (the place where is Course is taking place) for a few days now, have seen a bit of the City and the surrounding area. It is a beautiful City. Have crossed the famous “Golden Gate Bridge” three times, and plan to walk across it very soon. The surrounding area, close to Trumbull Manor, is hilly, very green and next to the sea. The only small problem is that it rains most days! The subject that I am teaching “The History of Theology” (2000 years of it) seems to enchant the participants!

5. With regard to the City of San Francisco. It is actually a small city. About 700,000 people! And 49 square miles. The “gays” must make a lot of noise! An interesting phenomenon can be learnt from the names on the Streets signs! Philosophically speaking: with regard to names, I have always thought that the names of music bands are a reflection of the “cheap popular culture”, what ideas are in the “air” so to speak. That is, shallow ideas glide through the media and have an affect on people’s imaginations, somewhat at least, and give rise to the names of bands! If you go through the names of the 100 most popular bands you will realise that our civilisation is in a confused state! Some information can also be gleaned from street signs. It is a reflection of the ‘cultural situation” too. For example on the way to Trumbull Manor you have street signs like, San Anselmo Ave, San Rafael Street, Tamilpais Place, Tiburon Road and then Sir Francis Drake Avenue. It is expresses clearly the clash of cultures. California was discovered and settled, (very sparsely) by Spanish speakers. Only the names have remained! No Spaniards at all. The names are all that is left to remind you of the distant past, although the pronunciation of the names is anglicised and perhaps the even my perception that the sign Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is a kind of conflict is not seen by any one else

6. As we came across the Golden Gate Bridge I heard a comment from the back seat that it is most elegant bridge in world! So a fairly American mentality reigns. It is nice bridge but much narrower than The Sydney Harbour Bridge or the Anzac Bridge in Sydney. I had a tour of the entire city of Sunday. Had a long all day hike on Wednesday, the area is called Point Reyes, and a bike ride today. There are plans to climb a few of the mountains in the time dedicated to sport! Many of us are running most days! It is very different from running in snow. It is nearly the same as running in Sydney in late August, or early March i.e. it is likely to be cool and wet!

7. One small disappointment is that my PDA or Palm died! After getting over the initial stress it has contributed to feeling a little more carefree! I can’t call any one etc!

8. Next Tuesday is called Super Tuesday! Over 20 Primaries will be decided. I suppose you know that is going on. I probably feel it a bit more, since some people take it seriously. The participants of the Course, since they come from around the States are all planning to vote absentee! After Tuesday there will probably be only two candidates for each party. Of course equally important in everyone’s mind is the Super bowl on Sunday. Betting says that the Patriots (From Boston) will win. Although the Giants (From New York) have the majority of support here on the Course!

9. From the variety of participants the conversations in the Dining Room is interesting too! Although movies and food probably come up too much!

10. Much of the correspondence over the last week could be summed up in the following line: “lovely to hear from you and a very happy birthday for Jan 22nd. As you rightly noted it was the anniversary of Roe v Wade, not much to rejoice about”

11. AND “I’m glad you made the 52 newsletters. Keep them coming. The second year might prove to be more difficult than the first, that is, in relation to keeping up the newsletters”.

12. AND I agree with the philosophical explanation of why it feels that time gets faster the older you get. I’ve often thought so myself. ALTHOUGH (from a pseudo philosopher) “I have also wondered why time seems to go quicker each year. That is an interesting idea presented by your correspondent. After thinking for a while about it I came to the conclusion that it cannot be correct. The problem that we are talking about is time perception, i.e. how one subjectively feels time passing. And for the perception with regard to the time which has already gone by, it is actually irrelevant. Because for the perception only the considered time interval is of relevance, time coming before or after the considered interval doesn't contribute anything to the perception itself. May I offer an alternative explanation: It is safe to say that the older you get the quicker time is going. This statement is true universally, for all people. I have never known anybody who said time slows down, as you get older. The time accelerating phenomena is psychological in nature, I think. Some entity within ourselves which is not conscious (psyche, sub-consciousness, pick which you like most) simply creates the impression that time is going by quicker as we get older. Now you may say that I haven't explained anything at all but the human psyche seems something which is difficult to explore and as such I am happy to rest with this explanation and take it as an axiom of human nature (until someone comes up with a better explanation)” WOW!

13. ALSO “So you missed lunch in the confessional? Consider yourself lucky, I just finished 20hours straight in hospital and could only get to eat at 4am this morning! Oh well maybe when you're older your stomach needs regular contact” I guess I should consider myself lucky!

14. AND “20F!! My goodness, I didn't realize Chicago got THAT cold”. I appreciate the sympathy but I am not suffering at all!

15. AND “There is something very wrong with your translation from F to C: BOTH SCALES MEET AT MINUS 40! Minus 7F is about minus 22C. You forgot to take 5/9 after subtracting 32.” I guess I can’t afford to make mistakes!

16. Being in sunny California I received some news about the Midwest that I have left! There was a blizzard in the Midwest! This comes from an American correspondent. “It's the best blizzard I've ever seen in my entire life! The children went to school, but were sent home 2 hours early. I thought that was rather silly because there was just a bit of wind and about a 40 degree drop in temperature. But now it's really impressive! Flat line winds out of the East with blowing snow. It's supposed to get down to 23 below zero tonight. Walking past a window in the house is very cold. The children's bedrooms are the worst. Its nights like these where we all pile into our bedroom, the kids on "floor beds". It makes for a fun adventure! It really is something to watch” It is an adventurous approach blizzards, don’t you think?

17. I asked some Americans about what they could perceive as an Australian obsession! Drinking Beer! I have sometimes said that in Australia we drink beer much more often than here; because it is hotter etc. And there was no Puritan influence in Australia In fact we probably drink too much beer! The only comment that I have received is that in the US what they usually drink is much more hard liquor! I will continue investigating!

18. Looking over the Newsletter, I realize I could have described the excitement of the trip to the West Coast more and the beauty of the city but … bad luck! My main focus here is to relax a bit, teach and sell the Australian way of life!

Regards to all,

N 54

Hi!

1. This week should not have been a slow or quiet week with the “SUPER BOWL (American Football Final) and SUPER TUESDAY (majority of the primaries to determine the Presidential Candidate) and all seen from Sunny California but looking back, more or less, it was! That is what you should expect on “holidays” I guess. The last 6 days have been quite sunny and the forecast is more of the same until I fly out on Sunday 17^th. I have been spoilt weather-wise. I will have to “psyche” myself up to walk into 6 inches of snow and breath through a scarf, starting from when I arrive at Chicago Airport! What a contrast!

2. Most afternoons have been spent climbing the hills nearby. It reminds me of Weekends in New Zealand. As we were admiring the view from Mount Tamilpais yesterday someone asked if this is similar to New Zealand. They all think that New Zealand is as good or better than the best scenery in Lord of the Rings. I said that New Zealand is different from the area around San Francisco. Although the bays, hills and trees here are precious they are so in a different way. The green of New Zealand is richer and brighter. There is more variety of greens. The green of the hills around here is a little duller, but still very nice. Unique even! In New Zealand it was a trend amongst many lecturers and other staff at the University to climb a nearby “small mountain” every weekend. I often went. Lunch at the top of a mountain with a view was always an exquisite experience! Tamilpais, the name of the high peak we were at yesterday is actually a native Indian word. I might have given the impression that it was Spanish in origin.

3. As I suggested last week, being on a Course with many people from all over the USA, during the time here, I have learnt a lot about other parts of the Country. Texas for example! Even one of the locals said: “I know what you mean about Texans. They go through periods of discussing secession from the Union - quite a bit when oil prices were high and they were on top of the world. Not as much lately. That State however is a good counter-balance to the self-doubting and insecure parts of the country”. So I guess Texan exuberance is part of a good mix but their style is hard to take for long periods of time. Texas is actually one of the more prosperous States of the Union! Lots of industry, much internal migration as well as many Hispanic migrants. The “prosperity” is also part of a “healing process”! While Texas was not a major player in the Civil War it still seems to be smarting under the loss. The increased prosperity and importance will diminish a certain of envy of the North, which festers from the civil war induced antagonism. I hope that all the Southern states become at least as wealthy as some of the Northern one. It will decrease this unfortunate North/South tension!

4. I also learnt a few things about New York, especially “Up state New York!” It is a very big state going right up to Canada! Opus Dei has lots of friends in that part of the country i.e. at Ithaca, Syracuse etc. The famous Cornell University is at Ithaca. All more or less news names to me! The Get-togethers also include many conversion stories, most very moving.

5. With so many different types of “Americans” on a Course like this, the thought does cross your mind about the “Melting Pot Theory”! How successful is it! The Prelate of Opus Dei was very impressed to see how new arrivals within a generation were “completely” American. He said it was a very good thing. I agree that it is a good thing. I think requires a bit of work though! It is involves a “type” of love and gratitude between two parties, the arrivals and the “persons and institutions” of the country. It is a bit like a marriage where there are two parties and it can only work with effort. I am beginning to thing that social harmony works the same way. There are second and third generation Americans from many European counties: from Norway to Italy; from Scotland to Turkey. In general they think and feel very much like Americans. Amongst the more recent arrivals I think less effort has been made to “melt in” so there is less harmony! Not to melt in though is still the exception.

6. We watched the movie “ANTZ” last night. The style and content is a fair indicator of the level of American culture! It is very slap stick humor! People actually do laugh at it! And very loudly and heartily! Many Americans have a reputation for naïveté and a kind of “unrealistic” simplicity. Their reputation seems deserved. I also enjoyed the movie although a little more discretely than my companions!

7. There has been a lot of comment pouring into the email box on the “passing of time” as you get older. There were two types of comments. Learned on the one hand. There are many pseudo intellectuals in this section of cyber space that the newsletter goes out to! The other group said it was a waste of time and found the discussion bamboozling? So we will leave it!

8. We watched the TV coverage on the Election Primaries. Things seem to settling down. McCain is now the only Republican Candidate for President. The Democrats have two possible Candidates Hilary Clinton and Obama. It is still close to call. Hilary is slightly ahead at this stage. It is interesting. In the last 60 years, the Party in power oscillates regularly. “Subconsciously” at least, it is the turn of the Democrats to take Office. But will “the people” vote for Hillary or Obama to be President! That is what all the talk, local and nations wide is all about!

9. I am keeping fit with all the regular hiking, biking and running. The Sun and the food help too. Lent will probably be helpful, although as we all know Lent is not a diet season but a pious season. A group of us even ran across the Golden Gate Bridge and back during the week; it is about 1.5 miles one way. From one gold extremity to the other gold extremity!

10. I enjoyed the Super Bowl, more than Super Tuesday (the day of 24 Primaries). Unfortunately I became a last minute Patriot’s supporter so was disappointed with the result! I knew enough to get excited during the game. The fact that there are 4 quarters each of only 15 minutes playing time, and the game goes for well over 4 hours takes some getting used to. Rugby is 80 minutes of non-stop action. If I get used to American Football I will need to take tablets to calm down when I watch a Rugby match! Some of the reporting after the game was supernatural . They wrote about how some players, for example Plaxico Burress who scored the winning touch down, did well because they prayed. So God got quite a few headlines after the game!

11. With regard to the interesting people here! One is a convert from Judaism! Another is about to solve the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle in a very definitive way! Etc

12. I received sympathy when I mentioned in the last Newsletter that my PDA (palm) had collapsed. “It's a pity with your palm but I am sure you will have a less stressful life without one in the long term. AND “I hope you enjoy the visit and take full advantage of being without the PDA by climbing a hill, stopping at the top and praising God”.

13. Some correspondents were upset at the Californian stereotyping, and justly so. Those Texans generalize too much. “Hey, I'm from California - from Bakersfield! We ain't got no Green Peace stickers on our cars in Bakersfield, you better believe it! All that Green Peace stuff is from the part of California on the other side of the San Andreas Fault. When God gets tired of apologizing to Sodom and Gomorrah, they are all going to drop into the sea and we will be beachfront in Bakersfield!”

14. The sunny California references provoked a healthy type of “envy” “We just continue to get pounded with snow. I usually handle it just fine, but to tell you the truth, I'm getting rather sick of it. Lots of shoveling! Lots of slush and slop!”

15. Of course people have different angles when they consider a City: “San Francisco is one of my favorite cities in the world having visited twice. There is also a famous surfing wave that breaks under the golden gate bridge so check it out if you get a chance”!

16. The following comment is telling: “I was pleased to see you got a new jersey from a family, who'd seen your newsletter pleas for a Warrane Jersey to replace your old one. That was generous of that family, but is has taken away from your other correspondents the joy we were having in seeing how long Warrane could hold out in the face of the mentions in your newsletters!” Warrane has still not replied!

17. AND “Sounds like your thirst for knowledge of culture and history is being partly satisfied there, on the 'Left Coast.' That is how people from the Mid West refer to California.

18. A little History and comment about the Golden Gate Bridge also arrived in the mail! “The Golden Gate bridge, like all suspension bridges, is elegant in that they clearly and honestly show their simplicity . Suspension is easy to perceive. Simply hanging a deck from a cable is visually simple but the wind and the moving dynamic loads severely complicate the "simple" bit. Bridges like Sydney Harbor Bridge are not so simple to look at and the shape disguises the concept. It is basically a three-pin arch, like leaning a tree from each side and tying them together in the middle. Trouble is when you suspend a deck load under the tree it bends. As for "the most Beautiful Bridge in the World" that your friend admires, I think the Golden Gate shares the title with all the other suspension bridges in the world including the primitive rope bridges in New Guinea and South America. Don't let him get too carried away with his admiration”.

19. The Classes seem to be going well. We are winding up now! I hope the sunny weather keeps up. I hear that it has been a fairly moderate summer in Sydney and Melbourne. Wetter than usual though! Apparently New Zealand is dryer than usual.

Regards to all,

NL 55

1. The Course is winding down! It has been great! I have never relaxed so much. Physically: Running, Hiking and Biking! Mentally: teaching a very interesting subject “the History of Theology” with lots of interesting intellectual distractions in the classes and in the conversations at meals and other gatherings. All my students passed their exams too. What else could a teacher want! In fact, not only did they cheer at the end of the last class, they found these “extra large” cans of Fosters Beer and brought them into the classroom. Part of the Foster’s marking ploy is to sell big cans. It gives the impression that Australians like their beer! It also shows that Americans like Australians! The cans actually look quite nice. It will be sad saying goodbye to everyone as they depart, flying out in a staggered formation over the weekend.

2. More sociology! Like some people in Australia, many Americans like “foreign movies”. I considered them overrated! It shows a kind inferiority complex. Besides that I still think most Americans are a little square and naive! They make “resolutions” to think outside the square! Which is even more square!

3. We saw a documentary of Frank Lloyd Wright! It was a somewhat negative! The “maker” might not have liked him because he had a Frank Lloyd Wright house that leaked! His houses always look stunning but often leaked! Anyway, the consensus from the documentary: “Perhaps he was the greatest architect in the world but he was not the world greatest man!” It was good to look over again all his wonderful buildings. The movie did a good job of displaying his startling and beautiful work!

4. I said we did a lot of hiking! There was always the possibility of visiting the City of San Francisco and other architectural sights but if you carry a few beers or a bottle of wine to the top of green and wooded mountain with a lovely view or to a beach with stormy waves, the hiking option is much more attractive for me. Although I have been exhausted after some excursions!

5. I am reading newspapers now because of their intrinsic worth. I guess it is because I can relate to what they are talking about. And Australia was also in the news! I have no idea of the feeling in Australia, but the “Apology” with a nice picture was on the front page of the New York Times Feb 13^th (The National Edition). This is the 3^rd time Australia has appeared in the NY times since I have been here. They must have realized that it was a while since Australia had appeared so they include two other articles. One about East Timor (Australia sending more troops) and Joel Fitzgibbon saying he would “absolutely not” send more troops to Afghanistan! You get the impression that they do not want to expose Australia too much. It is a good idea. Let them think we are a great country! Besides that I find the NY Times to be explicitly anti-Christian! Their way of approaching most items is to find an anti-Christian angle or focus, then write the News up with that bias! The chances are that if they write about Australia it will be irritating!

6. All last weeks Newsletters emails to Warrane correspondents “bounced”. They must be upset with my hint of their lack of generosity! I hope they are not spiteful as well! Perhaps a big parcel will surprise me when I return to Chicago! Maybe even two Football Jerseys!

7. One comment about the “people” of California. They are similar to Australians in one sense. They are more “undefined” than the rest of the US. Most of the people starting arriving here, in big numbers, in the 1930’s. So unlike the Midwest or the East they have no traditions, no biases if you like. Some would say they are “relativistic” but the way I see it, is that they just takes things as they find them, especially people. They are more casual and more inclined to be adventurous with new ideas!

8. I had a haircut at a Vietnamese run establishment today. They are a Baptist family. I am sure that if they had gone Australia they would have ended up Catholic. The wife cuts the hair; the husband is a “Pastor”. I spoke with them for over an hour! They wanted to give me a 50% discount but I insisted in giving a small “tip”. It was good haircut for only $10.00.

9. One afternoon/evening we went on a trip to “Bodega Bay”. All aspects of the trip were pleasant. The green windy roads, the neat houses etc, even the Friesian cows looked contented. Part of the Bay has a small rocky outcrop jutting out into the sea. It is traditional for people to go and see the sunset there! We joined them. There were hundreds of people! It was beautiful! The unique cloud formation due in part to the cold current that causes mist to rise added the many colors displayed through the clouds as the sun went down. The many seals among the waves, and the many birds on the waves enhanced the scene. It was a melancholic moment though! I realized that as the sun was slowly going down, it was probably about 12 noon around Ayres Rock, and the sun would be beaming down on the middle of Australia on the other side of the Pacific Ocean!

10. Amongst the books I am reading now is Joan of Arc by Mark Twain. It is a beautiful book. I will be sad when I finish! A bit like the last Harry Potter book. You know that the “enjoyable reading experience” will have ended forever. Mark Twain wrote Huckleberry Finn and many other very enjoyable books. He classified Joan of Arc as his best. At the beginning of the book he says that Joan of Arc was the greatest woman who ever lived. There is footnote though. “Mark Twain was not a Catholic; he did not know the truth about Our Lady!”

11. Some news from correspondents commenting on the previous newsletter: “I agree with your comment about how green NZ can be. I had a chance to go to the US (…) and when I came back to NZ, I realized the meaning of Green Grass!” ALTHOUGH some one else said: “You mentioned the 'green' of new Zealand! It is non-existent at the moment. Our lawn is yellow and looks like an Australian lawn in summer”

12. A more general comment summing up my long list of “sociological” pseudo insights!

“Americans nearly always inspire in me admiration and frustration”. In some ways, but certainly not in all ways, I would say that the US is a much bigger version of Australia. All the good and all the bad! Much more of the good and much more of the bad!”

13. I appreciate news like the following: “I suppose someone has told you but there has been a lot of flooding and rain in upper NSW and QLD. Some have declared the drought officially broken. Anyway it is very nice to see”

14. From someone who thinks I could be lonely: “I had not realized (until you moved to Chicago) how many of my friends, colleagues and acquaintances in Sydney go there from time to time (…) Although I have discovered it is not necessarily the best thing for my immediate response to be: "Great, I know Catholic Priest there that you could go to see!"

15. Another comment on the Super Bowl: “I trust you found the adds during the Super Bowl to be more interesting than the game itself? The game is a bit like DNA where there is far more useless genetic material than functional DNA. There seems to be so little game played” Seems like a very good analogy! Of course written by a doctor!

16. Some feed back on Australian Starbucks: “Being at Circular Quay yesterday, I thought I would sample Starbucks coffee. The shop was well fitted out and inviting, but I was surprised that the coffee was only served in paper cups. The coffee was also weak, which can be good if one has already had a few cups of coffee, and is drinking to be social. Maybe this Starbucks was different to other locations and not a good comparison, but I think I prefer Australia's Coffee Club”

Not much more news. Courses of three weeks in one place are fairly quiet affairs. We have had fifteen sunny near perfect days in row! It will be hard to return to Chicago on Sunday!

Regards to all,

I had to send the email a bit later than usual! The Internet was down for a few hours!

NL 56

Hi!

1. At present I am in the State of Michigan, giving a retreat to about 30 men. It is a 3.5 hour drive from Chicago and in a different time zone! I lost an hour and I arrived an hour late and missed lunch! The week-end retreat is at well known "Conservative" College called Hillsdale College! You can look it up on the Internet. It began in 1844! The Conference is a very nice place. I have not met most of the men before so it will be an interesting and fruitful time. You can keep it in mind. I am working at a Computer in the 'Lobby'. It is a bit risky. It is a public computer. You can't save anything!

2. I have a "serious" cold! My first since I arrive here in the US! It makes preaching more of a strain! I probably sound more Australian though! The cold is cause (I think) by the radical change between California and Chicago! I had forgotten what "nice" weather was until the three weeks in California. I had tried to travel light so did not take an over coat. That is alright except when I arrived back at Chicago Airport my troubles began. It was a cold wait for the taxi! Chicago is full of snow! I guess I pretended not to notice and tried ignore the snow and ice. When there is a lot of snow you just pile it off at the side of paths and roads! So every where you look there is pile of hard and icy snow! It is not much fun to run on! Too hard! I am still trying to run most days. But I overestimated how the body adjusts! There are some limitations. Hence the flu like cold that I have!

3. I left San Francisco Airport on Sunday morning! There was a little bit of drama! There was a message in my voice mail saying the flight had been cancelled. I had been "re-booked" on Monday! To go on that flight would have been a nuisance! Fortunately when we arrived at the San Francisco Airport and after negligible complaining" we were put on a flight an hour earlier than our original. It was much better. We arrived at Chicago in plenty of time to un-pack, un-wind, and prepare the hectic week. The only problem was the "cold". I forgot to say it has actually snowed every day!

4. One phenomenon that I have noticed is that when you are return to a place after being a way you appreciate it even more! This is true with my attitude to Chicago! I find myself more "settled" into the life of the place and can see many more advantages. Obviously I will appreciate the Chicago Summer. One local did ask me if it is possible to die of Cabin fever! Because of the snow and blizzard like conditions she has been stuck at home with her children for 4 full school days!

5. I bought a new "Palm" or PDF. It seems to be a good one. These things are always an adventure! Copying all the data across etc. I suppose I got it fairly cheaply. $189.00!

6. We celebrated Presidents day on Monday. It is a "holiday" in honor of the Birthdays of Washington and Lincoln. There used to be two holidays but that seemed excessive! As I have mentioned Americans like to think they work hard and are efficient. The Public Holiday only meant that libraries and the Post Offices were shut!

7. A mother who has two sons in Iraq showed me photo of them. There are in Bagdad. They seemed to be happy. As many students go through college on Military Scholarships, I have spoken to quite a number of young soldiers about to embark on tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. They usually want to get "organized" spiritually before they leave. Many are Catholics! It is easy work to help them get organized!

6. This week I was back at the Kingswood Academy! (A school that I work at most Thursdays; it goes up to grade 8). I had to partially prepare and hear the confessions of grade 2! It was fun. Afterwards they sent me an official invitation to attend their post confessional party in the grade two classroom. There were some quite specific directions about how to get there. The room was full of their parents etc. Each child gave me a "Thank you card", made up in their class. It was quite touching i.e. their lettering and the good advice they offered me in written form.

7. Back at the "Course in California" I received some nice compliments as we said good bye. They think Australians are "casual and competent". Or in extreme cases "holy and fun". These impressions of the "aussie way" seem exaggerated!

8. As we were winding down on the Course we had a final extra movie. It was called Spiderman III! It was Ok. It will probably do good! But as a reflection of the culture of the US! It does provide some insight. It shows that the display of deeper psychology and emotions of people is shallow and rigid. It seems to be a widespread characteristic!

9. On the way back it was a very fine day. I saw how big the US is. Bit lie travelling from Perth to Sydney or Dubbo. There are vast spaces which are uninhabited!

10. There were several strong reactions to comments about brown Aussie lawns. It came up over considering the 1000 green tinges of New Zealand! "This leads me to the following quote from your "Our lawn is yellow and looks like an Australian lawn in summer" they need to take their head out of the sand. Australian lawns, both city & a fair bit country, are the greenest they have ever been!

11. With regard to the emails at Warrane bouncing there was fair amount of correspondence: "The reason the Warrane emails bounced could be because they forgot to pay their ESP!"

12. Some of you may get a competing newsletter: PAMPLONA NEWS 8. Sad to hear that "This may be my last newsletter as I will be leaving Pamplona on the 21st February". Philip wrote: "A general point (I have tried to avoid these) about Spain- it seems "I guess I don't avoid generalizations!

13. Other News: "Thank you for the Newsletters, I do enjoy your slice of American pie." People often about "Any thoughts on the election campaign?". It seems that Hilary is struggling! How is Rudd going?

14. AND "Speaking of Fosters big cans, I recall having too many of them one night in 1984 in Hawaii with a few Marines. The colloquial term for them then was "oil cans". The Marines seemed to love them." I have not had any beers with Marines yet, so do not know if they are called Oil Cans! ALSO "Good work with Fosters. I have a few Fosters shares in my super fund!

15. Concerning the references to "Starbucks: what a nice person who wrote that. That review of that dreadful establishment was as nice as anyone could possibly make it apart from Starbuck's mum" AND I noticed another Starbucks, I think Park St, that served in paper or plastic cups, only 2 doors away from a Coffee Club with ceramic and Glass Cups and Glasses. It makes me wonder how they attract and keep clientele.

16. Regarding the Warrane jumpers, some one overheard: "I judge from the tone of his comments, you won't be getting a free one"

17. "Sad to hear about more multiple shootings in Chicago. Glad you weren't involved" I have become immune t this kind of news. It happens a few times each week.

I think I have overcome the risky business of typing in an "insecure'" way in this Conference Center lobby! If you receive it, you'll know that have been successful Regards to all,

NL 57

Hi!

1. I still have a cold! So I feel rather unenthusiastic about this newsletter. However the mail must go out! My training for the trip to Spain has taken a beating! I not been for a run or done any exercise for over 10 days.

2. There has been a little bit of sympathy! “Sorry to hear you have been ill. A simple cold can be amongst the worst of ailments because you get little or no sympathy. It’s not like cancer or something serious yet it can completely debilitate you!” AND “Hope your cold is getting better”. A LOGICAL RESULT: “This time your section in the letter where you quote and comment on others' feedback was hard to follow”. It was badly written. I think it was a result being tired; it was late; there were 30 guys on the retreat and the cold was getting worse!

3. There has been lots of news in the media and my own local correspondence about the WYD! All positive! The Pope is coming here in April so it forms a kind of reinforcing news items! One report; from an older Australian generation: “Last Friday we went with some other Octogenarians to see the Youth Cross and Icon, It was very impressive seeing all the young people participating and being so enthusiastic” AND In New Zealand:” Cardinal Pell celebrated a WYD Mass in St Pats. It was very successful. He gave a very good homily”!

4. On the retreat I did mentioned that I met some interesting people. There were many converts. One was a “typical” New York Jew! He gave me some information to counteract the “supposed” secession arguments that Southerners use. Every now and then people with Southern sympathies threaten to secede!

5. When I was in Hillsdale College last week, I was in the State of Michigan. Because of Detroit and the declining Motor Industry it is one of the few States that has actually gone down in population in 2007. Anyway, Detroit Michigan is the home of Brian Genslak. He was a friendly American who studied at UNSW and stayed at Warrane in the early nineties. Since I was 2 hours from Detroit, Brian and I agreed to meet at Anne Arbor! About an hour from Hillsdale and an hour from Detroit. We met at a Sea Food Restaurant. I was not that hungry. So we had a small quantity of fish and a few beers! Brian is 42 and very healthy. Still things Australia is the greatest country on earth! Naturally it was pleasant experience to catch up. He is married and is a fairly important Engineer in the upper echelons of GM! Has to drive a GM car though!

6. I have been told many times that this Chicago winter is a most “brutal” winter. I have had to clean the snow of the car most mornings. It was exciting at first. There are some sophisticated instruments for doing this. I was taught a trick Just use old hair broom. It works very well

7. I received some good news! I will be teaching a big swag of classes in August in Boston. It will allow me to fill out any free time I have. The classes are on Sacred Scripture! Something new and challenging.

8. Having a cold means you feel a little less energetic than usual. I almost have the impression the brutal cold keeps my sickness quite alive! So most days have been quiet!

9. I spent a little time with John Walker and his family on Thursday. Had to tell him the latest with regard to Brain Genslak. All three of us lived in Warrane in the early nineties. It is also a pleasant way to pass on hour or so! John has such a nice family!

10. Some news that I received! “Rudd seems to be going OK but upset the Libs by making parliament sit on Fridays meaning a five day week” I guess members of Parliament should work 5 days, like everybody else.

11. Apparently there is good news on the financial front in Australia. I get occasional comments on the increasing strength of the Aust $”. I can’t tell whether economy is going badly here. There is a lot of talk about “crisis” in housing mortgages.

12. MORE NEWS FROM DOWN UNDER“I guess you heard a lot our big sorry day. It was like a huge theatrical production; some one commented that it was as momentous as “man landing on the moon!”

13. Hilary seems to have gone by the way side! ANOTHER COMMENT: McCain v Obama???? Who’s your pick? I think McCain is soft! My comment:

You think McCain is soft!! What do you think Obama is??

14. I hear lots of good news about Notre Dame University. FOR EXAMPLE: “The Catholic Weekly reported that a doctor had donated $100,000 to the medical school of Notre dame, recently” Very impressive!

So fairly short this week. I hope you are understanding!

Regards to all,

NL 58

Hi!

1. Perhaps I exaggerated the severity of my cold last week. There is not a lot happening. I was looking for an excuse to keep the Newsletter short! Several people did comment that it was only one and half pages. That will probably be standard from now on. There were lots of confessions at Santa Maria del Popolo on Saturday so it is back to normal as far as work is concerned. As for my health I still have a slight cough which forces me to clear my throat from time to time and is annoying for me and the listeners in the preaching that I am doing at the moment. I have gone back to running most days which will prepare me for Santiago!

2. Concerning the “Camino de Santiago” across the top of Spain following the footsteps of thousands of medieval pilgrims, I am starting to get prepared. I obtained several useful items like a good “backpack” etc. I still have lots of planning to do. I have to organize Masses! At this stage I haven’t much of a clue. Just hope they will let me say Mass “on speck” as we trek across “sunny” Spain! I received several pieces of advice about what to take. Some is conflictive. I hope to resolve it by the time I leave. An interesting things is the reading materials! I have acquired this “package” which allows me to read many things on the “palm” i.e. pda. As I will not be able to take any book etc on the trip, I have to put everything on the “palm”. I have even put the breviary i.e. the 40minute prayer that priest have to pray every day on the “palm”. As regards the trip to Spain. I will be walking during Holy Week! It will be interesting crossing pretty green and hilly meadows during a sunny good Friday!

3. Speaking of the “palm”! I lost it during the week! Since I had just acquired a new one, it was a sensitive issue. I had been in several Churches that day, it forced me to get on very well with several of the local priests! I found it in my overcoat pocket later I the evening.

4. Many people are complaining about the weather. Many mothers talk about cabin fever. Apparently it is one of the roughest winters in living memory! One result is the poor state of the roads. The experts say that roads are much worse than usual. This is caused partly by the extreme cold, but also because of the occasional “thaws” we have had. The extremes in quick succession destroy the asphalt!. You would not believe the huge pot holes that people are prepared to live with!

5. I delivered a talk on Pope Benedict’s Regensburg address. You might remember that the Pope gave the address on September 12th in 2006. It created a stir, partly because it was on the anniversary of September 11th. Some radical Islamist misinterpreted his words. Some Americans were disappointed with the talk as I did not mention Islam at all. Support for the war in Iraq is still strong!

6. I have been asked to help out with New activity for the “high flyers” i.e. professionals of “down town” Chicago! We are going to give a Recollection in the heart of City of Chicago! It is aimed all those lawyers and financial experts who otherwise are too busy to attend “spiritual formation”. It is something to keep in mind. On Tuesday, we checked the place out, saw where to preach from, organize sale of books etc. It was next to a nice Spanish restaurant so one of the “highfliers” paid for a delicious meal!

7. Right now I am at a Shellbourne, in the middle a three day retreat and would you believe a person I met coming out of the restaurant is on the retreat! He is a heart surgeon! He is married to someone that I have met before!

8. Actually I got lost on the way the Shellbourne! The usual road to get off the Expressway was closed for some emergency repairs! The detour was very confusing! Getting lost is not such a big deal anymore ! I just stopped at a “Gas” Station and asked for directions!

9. Trips into the City are also on again after the Californian break. It is really not that cold to walk around. On Wednesday I had “hot chocolate” at the “bottom” of the Sears Tower! The tallest building in the USA. Did not see much!

10. On Wednesday I also saw my first visitor from NZ! (I have only had one from Australia thus far! Things could be changing though. A recent email stated: “I might be going to the U.S. at the end of the March for an international conference held in Las Vegas. I am now waiting for the result of the visa to the US application. If the visa would be offered, I'll be in the same country as you are in a few weeks”)! Back to the New Zealander; he is thinking of migrating to Australia or the US! I told him I enjoyed my time in New Zealand but understand why people would want to move to a more “active” employment situation! It seems impossible in New Zealand to ever earn enough to buy your own nice house! It was good to catch up with all that is happening in New Zealand especially the activities of the Centers of the Work!

11. I have heard some disappointing news about Cricket. It limits conversations with Indians.

12. I heard from another correspondent who likes economics, that “Things are going well here in Germany”. He also said: “I was most surprised to read the word "crisis" in your newsletter! But I guess at some stage even the most optimistic people have to become aware of the huge problems the financial system faces today. By the way, gold is trading at 975$/oz, not far from 1000$/oz, a number -as I pointed out to you when gold was trading at 550$/oz- gold will surely reach. In case you want to provide yourself with a little nest egg, gold is still very cheap compared to where it is going, so it is not too late to buy”. I agree that buying gold is a good thing at this stage, however it has always gone down in the past!

13. Someone else commented on the monetary state in Australia: “On the financial front Australia seems comparatively good. I say 'comparatively' because they only report our US$ exchange rate, which is not a very good bench mark and not very consoling. However we do compare well with the Japanese Yen, and not so badly with the Chinese Yuan. There is a lot of cautionary financial advice circulating in the media these days, mainly caused by forecasts of real estate doom. Sydney property prices are falling!”

14. Here is some information I thought might interest to some of you: “Easter is on the 23rd of March this year - the earliest any of us will ever see for the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population (95 years old or above) have ever seen it this early. None of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier. The next time it will be a day earlier will be March 22, 2285.So keep this in mind as we celebrate the day of our Lord's resurrection this year”.

15. I heard that “WYD08 is becoming more mentioned in the media, Secular and Catholic Weekly”

16. Political update. Perhaps Hilary and Obama will “damage each other but I "feel" that the Democrats will win the Presidency in November!

17. Some one from “Down under” asked: “Are there really still people with southern sympathies”? I have to say “millions and some attitudes are vehemently violent!

18. Another correspondent referred to the Australian PM as “Pixie Rudd”. Why is that?

19. More on the sorry news: “I did agree with saying sorry to the Aboriginal people. I had had some doubts about it some years ago and perhaps had not thought enough about it, but my view changed as a consequence of the apology from the Church to the Jews in relation to the Shoah. It cannot hurt to openly recognize that as a people the Aboriginals were not treated as they ought to have been from time to time, whether that was done at times in the past for good or bad motives”. Although, what I do not like is being made to feel guilty for what people in the past did.

20. More News: “I wanted to comment on your correspondent's reference to the extra sitting days of the commonwealth parliament. One of the reasons the opposition is upset is that the Friday sittings will have no question time so Ministers will usually not attend. Only back benchers will be present. So the government requires the house to sit but Ministers are not available to be made accountable which is the function of the opposition. More importantly members have electoral and family responsibilities. Friday sittings mean some members can not get back to the electorates that they are there to serve until mid Saturday and only have Sundays with their families. Many Labor back benchers are also unhappy especially those from remote Qld and WA. It is hardly worth them going home at all when they have to leave mid Sunday to get back to Canberra. Friday sittings might work in the House of Commons but they can't here.”

21. ALSO “You may know that Sydney has had the first summer in 50 years without a single day over 31 degrees. Together with Chicago's winter and the Chinese snow storms, I am more and more worried about global cooling. And this coming so soon after the three decades of global cooling between 1945 and 1975!”

22. Because of my job here I have mentioned that I have to drive a lot and therefore can listen to audio of books! Just finished four enjoyable books: Of Mice and Men, The Importance of Being Ernest, Scarlet Letters and Wuthering Heights! All superb in their different ways!

23. This Newsletter is a day late. There are 35 people making the retreat. No time for long ingenious Newsletters! Just short and boring one!

Regards to all,

NL 59

Hi!

1. At present I am preparing to leave for Spain, to walk up and down hills in the rain! Perhaps I exaggerated the “sunny” part! It has been another “normal” week, as far as priestly work is concerned, several Days of Recollection and lots of confessions! I should start counting the number of confessions I hear I might even break a few records. I am sure I would break my PB (personal best) from time to time!

2. As I said, much of the week was spent is preparation. I mentioned the backpack last week, (I have very good one), besides that, I have acquired all the things that “seasoned experts” have suggested. Even a flashlight that goes around your head as if you were exploring a cave! I think my backpack will be quite light! I also have a special towel! It folds up to a very small package. I went on little buying spree. Have a very small tube of toothpaste, foldable toothbrush etc! ALSO I was also told that if you get tired on the journey across Spain you can hire a donkey! I hope I do not become that tired, but to be born along by a nice donkey sounds like an interesting experience from any point of view!

3. I appreciate all the emails promising to keep in mind the trip: “Today in my rosary, I will pray for your medieval walk”. AND “I'll pray your pilgrimage is very fruitful”

Someone actually said: “The "Camino de Santiago" should be wonderful. I suggest you take a donkey”

4. The retreat finished well! I will have more clientele to see in the city in the near future! Maybe even do a wedding too. That was part of the fallout of the retreat! It would be my first one. Retreats always create business for a priest. The longer you are in certain place the more it creates! In that sense the longer I stay here in the US the more likely I am to stay longer still. In fact today I received a receipt for my green card application or immigration application! Still a long way for that “bureaucratic” operation to be finished!

5. After the retreat I saw the family that I have mentioned before, the mother is one my “mid west correspondents”. There were visiting from Iowa City in Iowa! I had a hot chocolate and exchanged views on lots of topics. I am very keen to get to Iowa. They are encouraging me!

6. I mentioned John Duffy sometime before. He is the oldest resident in the University Residence! I mentioned that he is a kind of legend! Don’t know all the reasons why! He helped me do some of the shopping during the week; part of my buying spree. We also went to the hearing Clinic! He had to get a new hearing arid! I learnt a lot about hearing aids. I was very impressed by the amount of soft wear and computer technology available. They actually program even the cheapest hearing aids. I still would not like to be deaf. It is likely though. In general is hereditary, a third of all people develop hearing loss, and it is higher in men than women! This makes me a prime candidate! The “aids” are looking more and more “cosmetically attractive” though!

7. I had another session of classes at Metro! The place where they promote the “education” girls from less affluent backgrounds. They are mostly blacks and Hispanics. I am really enjoying it now! It is the Australian accent and examples are mainly responsible for the good out come!

8. I have received many emails lately: For example “I am sure with all your contacts, you must get 100s of emails”. What should I make of that statement!

9. “I was able to visit St Mary of the Angel's. It's very beautiful” comment from a visitor form down under!

10. This was a local headline here: “Las Vegas Churches accept gambling chips” A bit strange but it is an interesting story. It begins well. “This may come as a surprise to those of you not living in Las Vegas, but there are more Catholic Churches than Casinos. Not surprisingly, some worshipers at Sunday services will give Casino chips rather than cash when the basket is passed. Since they get chips from many different casinos, the Churches have devised a method to collect the offerings. The churches send all their collected chips to a nearby Franciscan monastery for sorting and then the chips are taken to the casinos of origin and cashed in. This is done by the chip monks!”

11. Sometimes what I write is misinterpreted! “Wow... it's good to know that you have the liturgy of the hours on the palm of your hand!!!

12. There was been some news about Global cooling: “Believe this or not, but Sydney has not had a day over 31C for the summer! The mildest summer in 50 years!”

13. I see the Post Office produced some stamps for WYD! Great idea!

14. Some one else complained: ”One bugbear I mention is that there has got to be a better name than "audio books" for those things you listened to!” They are “books” which have been read and placed on CD. I don’t know what to call them. I am half way through “Little women” by Louisa May Alcott! It is based on Pilgrim’s Progress! When I read about the author in “Wikipedia “ the book did not seem as impressive! I think it should be essential reading for girls!

15. News from New Zealand! “Many thanks for the regular Epistles from North America, although I am surprised at the large numbers of persons going to confession. No body goes here!” AND “It broke my heart to hear that the Aussies got done by India in the Cricket”

16. There was confirmation of my observation of the pot holes in the roads from an Australian building expert: “Your mention of the roads breaking up with cold weather reminds me of how well off we are in Sydney's temperate climate. Many cities around the world have problems with building maintenance caused by the "freeze/ thaw" phenomenon. It causes great deterioration to building copings and parapets made of stone, concrete and any similar porous material. We don't have the problem here because we don't have the freezing problem on a regular basis. We just have to keep the rain out. The way rainfalls here we have to be pretty good at water shedding. A couple of weeks ago we had a great rainstorm: 'deluge' would be appropriate. We got more than 3 inches in 2hours. No problem with freezing followed.

17. Must go for a run now to get fit for Spain! After my late Newsletter last week, this might even be a few hours earlier! The next one will be after I return. Hopefully not too sore from riding on a donkey etc!

Regards,

NL 60

Hi! And of course Happy Easter to all!

1. I hope you did not miss not receiving a Newsletter last week. I was walking along a “medieval” path in Spain, and the technological tools were mostly of the same era! Now I am back in Chicago. Easter week is a quite week. The time in Spain was mostly sunny and the experience was refreshing. We were greeted by cold and snow when we returned to the Mid West. Climatically we are still trying to get out of winter. I am not that tired from the trip. In fact I think it is easy to walk 165 kilometers (103 miles) than up the four flights of stairs to the room where I sleep in Chicago!

2. Just a few details about the trip. We were walking across the top of Spain on along the same paths plodded by tens of thousands of pilgrims over the centuries. The planning for the “penitential” journey to the Shrine of St James began over 18 months ago. Students and Staff at the University of Illinois had the idea. I was a latecomer but settled into the team quite well. There were 14 of us. It was a great group of people; quite varied as you would expect from any random group of University students. There were personalities ranging from the “marine” types i.e. keen to march through swamp, jungle and snow to defend America military buffs to the classical geek! Most of us fitted into some place in between!

3. As it was for University students and “penitential”, the “pilgrimage” had to be on the cheap side. One result: we spent 2 nights on buses, one night on a plane and one night at an airport to save accommodation cost i.e. 4 nights. The night at the airport was the worst experience of the trip! A cold night at Heathrow Airport robs you of sleep!

4. We left Chicago on Saturday night, March 15, landed at Heathrow, London for a few hours, took off from there and landed in Madrid. Madrid has a much nicer airport than London! All new and neat, and fairly technologically looking! I said Mass at the Airport; they have a very adequate chapel there. Then we changed into our “walking” gear and after storing some clothes, having dinner, we caught a bus for Piedrafita! That was our first mistake. We took the wrong bus. It was soon fixed up and we left Madrid Airport at 12 midnight. We spend six “interesting” hours on the bus. At 6.00 am we jumped out of the bus, at the edge of the region of Galicia, did a few push ups and were off and “walking”. It was not a good start. It was cold, wet, dark and we were not that sure where to go! There was as to be expected a lot of enthusiasm Within an hour all was well, we found a clearly marked path, the rain stopped, the sun appeared and the scenery became almost Idyllic.

5. Day One, was the probably the toughest day. Due to a small arithmetical error in the planning stage, we thought we had to walk 38 km on day one (which was far enough) but it turned out that we had to walk 48 kms. For people not used to walking that was hard. Our nourishment on that first day set the pattern for the rest of the trip. Breakfast was sweet milk coffee and thick toasted bread and jam. Lunch at a bar on the way was a delicious and tasty “boccadillo” with cheese, jamon i.e. ham but a very good type. A “boccadilla” is a very long sandwich, made with real, crusty and fresh bread. It is quite a meal. We had it with beer or wine. Beer and wine seem a necessary part of the walk, soothes the pain and is very cheap! Dinner was always a very hearty meal. Usual a local set of courses designed for pilgrims.

4. But that first day! The pace was set by the two “marine type” personalities. I spent a good part of the day with them. We arrived with them at our accommodation. “Alberge de los Blasones” in a village called Sarria at about 6 pm. The rest arrived in dribs and drabs, the last arriving at 8.30 pm. Looking at the sorry state of the limping and grimacing injured I was afraid that we might not make it to the Shrine of St James! However, a good meal, a good sleep and “the spirit” of being a pilgrim seemed to cure all aches and pains. Perhaps the “long walk” itself strengthens you.

5. The second day we were a little more organized. The general plan was stick more together. Stop every two hours for 15 minutes, have a long lunch break etc. We had a mediation each morning and Mass each evening! With walking, these activities, and winding up to start in the morning and winding down to go to bed in the evening we were fairly occupied. The views are very pleasant. The “Camino de Santiago” winds around the more excluded areas, across small streams, and past green fields with lots of cows, goats etc. I did not see any donkeys.

6. We continued this kind of rhythm for five consecutive days! On day five we arrived at the edge of Santiago. We decided to wait till day six to visit the Shrine of St James. That is another thing. Devotion to St James the Apostle was probably not that strong when we started, but as the pilgrim makes progress along the “camino” he seems to make progress in his devotion to St James; he seems to become a fairly strong and close friend. My devotion to St James will never be the same again. And another thing: we did the walk during Holy week! Often we used scenes from the Way of the Cross to pray, and drew upon these scenes to enrich our thoughts and “efforts” of the day!. The “trip: is supposed to be a spiritual journey. I was able to move easily between the groups of twos and threes and even ones of our team, getting to speak with everyone often!

7. There were many other pilgrims on the “camino”. Summer is the busy time. About 100,00 “registered walkers make the trip each year. It was not crowded but having a few pilgrims ahead and behind, gave a feeling of solidarity and purposefulness to the trip. I guess we all came away thinking that we are all pilgrims throughout our entire lives on earth. That is another sensation that grows as you walk along the camino!

8. With regard to being “registered”. Part of the job of being a pilgrim is to pick up a form that is stamped at each Church, Parish Office or whatever along the way. Most Bars, Restaurants etc also have a “Camino de Santiago” seal and like to stamp your form. When you arrive at Santiago you get a large and formal looking Certificate written in Latin as evidence of your pilgrim status, with a an indulgence too!

9. Thank God there was wonderful Cathedral, the Shrine of St James at the end of the trip. Santiago, in the center at least, is somewhat of a medieval town. Most of buildings in the center of the city were probably looking rather 700 years ago! We walked slowly up the stairs into the Church. Like the first day it was cold, and wet! We organized to “embrace” the massive statue of St James, at the back of the altar. There is a queue that leads up a winding staircase to this beautiful statue. Pilgrims are supposed embrace the statue and then go down to crypt and pray in front of the body of St James! We all did! Then said a rosary in one of the side chapels.

10. The Cathedral is like many churches in Spain. Rather too stark even primitive! Not like the Basilicas in Rome. The “cold looking” stones on the inside and outside are what give the flavor to the building. The building is huge, with lots of moss and even a few pieces of grass growing on the outside stones. The altars and other decoration is usually “madero dorado”, carved wood with gold leaf, not always that well kept. There are some metallic items for example the tabernacle and the many gates. Fortunately we arrived early and we able to explore the Cathedral thoroughly. Later in the day, we visited a University College similar to Warrane It has a webpage: http://www.estila.org which is quite impressive. It must be helpful to be so close to a medieval hearted city! We enjoyed the tour of the college, being made a fuss of, and the coffee and candy!

11. I should mention about St James was a major ally of the Spanish armies of “Reconquista”, that is taking Spain back from the Islamic invaders! The “marines” in our team liked “the statue of St James the warrior” looking like a St George but crushing Muslim soldiers not dragons! It is in one of the side chapels of the Cathedral!

11. I have commented on the cultural differences and differences of other types between Australia and the USA. Spending a week in Spain gave further food for thought! I like Europe! But it does seem to lack some of the energy of the more modern countries. With regard to cultural differences: we left Santiago, tired, wet but happy around 9.00 pm on a bus, heading towards Madrid! We arrived around 5.30 in the morning. We were supposed to end up at the Airport but, there was another misunderstanding. We ended up at a Bus Station in the Center of Madrid City, instead of at the Airport. We decided, after no bus could be found to take us to the airport to try the Metro. It is indeed one of the best in the World! The Madrid Metro was begun a long time ago, but it has recently been “finished”. It is punctual, clean, and very modern looking. All the stations have marble décor as well. We had to change trains twice, use three lines and still got to the airport in about 30 minutes. As for the cultural item!

12. At the Airport we changed into coats and ties from storage! We place them there the previous Sunday!(I only put on an overcoat, since I had a set of priestly looking clothes that I used each evening). Then we had mass in the now familiar airport chapel, then had breakfast at McDonalds. I have never seen a happier groups of guys munch on their “American” style food! Afterwards we had 10 or so hours. We planned to visit “El Prado” one of the bet art museums in the world. We had hard work getting a group to go. Most, wanted to stay and sleep at the Airport! It was a shame. I and 4 others enjoyed EL Prado, we really only had time for a few rooms full of pictures of Goya, El Greco, Murillo and Velázquez! It was still quite an artistically satisfying feast. Afterwards, we celebrated Easter Sunday with a wholesome lunch in one of the many bars and restaurants that there are in the center of Madrid.

13. We, art enthusiasts, arrived back at the Airport with plenty of time thanks to the efficient and new Madrid Metro, caught a plane to Heathrow. Spent a cold and sleepless night at the Heathrow Airport, but saved a night of accommodation and arrived back at Chicago at 1.00 pm on Monday. It was a great trip!

14. A little news from last weeks correspondents: Some one suggested “If you pass through Pamplona, visit the 4th floor of the Clinica!” A good idea but we were going in the opposite direction!

14. Must be going! As I said after our journey we all feel that St James is our friend. And after walking for 20 miles for five days, several things can happen. You can like it so much that you want to become a total walker! Walk everyday … or you can be more “spiritual: and think we are always pilgrims and have to make spiritual progress each day! We all have mildly sore feet! Another thing of course, I will be able to talk about other topics besides Australia! Included in my “repertoire” is a trip across sunny Spain! So get-togethers could focus on me again!

Again, a belated Happy Easter to all and regards to all

NL 61 Hi!

1. It has been back to business this week! In the rush though, to talk about the Camino de Santiago, and make up for the lost Newsletter, I did not include another interesting event that occurred last week. We had a kind of “Australians abroad” party. John Walker and his family, and Brian Genslak, another Warrane Old Boy and his family and myself had a nice dinner with some beers at the Walkers! They were great hosts! All three of us coincided in Warrane for at least three years, so we had plenty of experiences to go over! Brian is fairly high up in GM!

2. I put the car in for a service today. It has done nearly 20,000 km! I started driving it towards the end of September! It seems that I have driven a lot! Besides spending lots of money on gas i.e. petrol (petrol now seems like a word form a foreign language Greek or Slovak!) I know now why I have been able to get through so many books! Rather than audio books, I will refer to them as recorded books! I have just finished “Little Women” a superb book, with a slow start! Someone sent me the movie too! It is quite good! Can only do good to watch the move or read the book!

3. I was speaking with a lawyer in the City during the week! I explained my “quest” to delve deeply into the books and “ideas” that have shaped the US! He said that all those books that I have read (…) well they did a great job, but look at our culture or the situation now! We seem to have left all those great values behind. It is my thesis that the US has return to these values. It is a kind of lament of most Western Counties today; some how in the last 40 years we have allowed empty values to take over and attempt to give meaning to life. It does not work! Anyway the book that I am listening to at present is “Killer Angels”. Quite well known. It is a very interesting book about the battle of Gettysburgh, the supposed turning point of the Civil War! So far it has convinced me even more of the fortunate and “providential” victory of the North. Although, half way through the book I have a better understanding of the values of the South, and a goodly amount of admiration for Robert E. Lee! A calm Christian Gentleman. I am enjoying the book immensely.

4. I have been inundated by compliments concerning the report last week on Santiago. I will list some of them blew. It will fill up space as I am running out of ideas for this weeks Newsletter! Although someone did say that I should try and give my opinion of the “blacks” in the US! There is still a lot of tension about the situation. That will have to wait until I am feeling more energetic. One more thing about the walk across the top of Spain though! I was always of the opinion that boots are better than sneakers for long and rugged walks! Looking back on the walk I think a serious complaint that we all had was sore feet! It was a s if the muscles and bones in our feet were complaining. It was not the blisters! The aches and pains are classical symptoms of “flat feet” caused by lack of support for the arches of the feet! Boots would have avoided that! Another thing concerning the backpacks! We received lots of “advice” about what to take etc. I think I obeyed all the instructions. As a result I did not have problem! The pack was light enough! I had a flashlight which was very useful Actually it was kind of headlamp! You can buy these special thin and light towels. I had one which functioned well!

5. The climate of Chicago is slowing becoming Spring like! We could get snow any day but in general the temperature has been pleasant, mostly sunny a bit cool, but delightful for a run in the evening before dinner!

6. On the afternoons of Tuesday and Wednesday I was in the City i.e. down town. I still enjoy walking from one “client” to another among and into the many architecturally significant buildings of Chicago. The History and traditions of Chicago which I have just walked though on my way the “clients” always provides an easy starting point for conversations that lead to deeper issues!

7. On Thursday at the Kingwood Academy, where I spend most of my Thursday hearing confessions or giving classes, we had a bit of a treat! Like may schools they organize “key note” speakers! Usually these talk are on the weekend or in the evening. This one was on at 9.00 am! It was a talk on “Theology of he Body” on theology! A most amenable talk! The speaker, (below are some details about him) used Eastern Icons, and humor and common sense to explain a healthy and wholesome attitude to “true love”!

NB From the sources: “Fr. Thomas J. Loya is currently the pastor of Annunciation of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church in Chicago, IL and the Eastern Catholic spiritual advisor for TOBIA. Before entering the seminary he earned a degree and pursued a career in commercial art and design, after which he worked for a Church design firm. He completed his studies for the priesthood in Pennsylvania and Rome and was ordained in 1982. In 1993 he added to his Bachelor of Fine Arts by earning a Masters in Counseling and Human Services. He has worked on the iconography both of his present parish and of St. John's parish in Solon, Ohio. In addition to his duties as a pastor and iconographer, Fr. Loya has served the Church in youth and young adult ministry and as an artist and design consultant. He has directed many retreats and has been a guest speaker at many seminars, conferences, and at World Youth Day 2002. He is currently both a weekly host and guest on Relevant Radio, on the topics of Eastern Christianity and the theology of the body. Using his background in art, counseling, and Eastern Catholic spirituality, Fr. Loya brings the principles of The Theology of the Body deep into the lived experience of every aspect of human sexuality”.

8. As I said, some of the emails commented on the Santiago Trip. Most were a little exaggerated!

a. “That was the most amazing email! I loved it!! My Kokoda trail trip sounds easy compared to yours 100 km over 9 days!! A breeze. Thanks for sharing that email it was a wonderful story and I hope one day I can make the same pilgrimage! It’s very inspiring”.

(Many Australians do go on the Kokoda trip! Actually I think it is much harder! Hot, humid, no bars, with beer boccadillos etc

b. “ Such an outstanding newsletter. Very interesting and cultural; and also more importantly spiritual.”

c. “Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed your epistle about your el camino experience in Spain. It made me wish that I'd been along for the walk - though not so sure about cold night at Heathrow, and the introductory walk of 48km in the first day would have challenged even a serious walker like me”

d. “It would be great if you edited this particular newsletter and had it published somewhere, as I think it would be widely enjoyed, and would also be an antidote to the many 'fashionable' articles and books about the pilgrimage of St James, some of which lack the spiritual element.”

(Another thing to remember of course is that we went with a good group of guys. They could have just as easily gone on a retreat!)

e. “I loved your newsletter, Father. I feel like I've gone to Spain, if vicariously.

f. (Kind of indirectly related to the walk): “Our paths almost crossed in Heathrow. I was there with a group of 50 (students and colleagues) en route to Shanghai on 16th and returned on Sunday 23^rd”

g. “I really enjoyed your description of the "camino". You really managed to take us on a five-minute trip to St. James without the arduous walking. Thanks for finding the time to share your experiences with all of us”.

h. Someone said: “Sounds like you are perfectly prepared for the Kokoda trip on your return to Oz”

i. More briefly and objectively “Thank you for the report”

j. “The pilgrimage sounds "awesome", as the kids say. Another thing to put on my bucket list i.e. the things I have to do before I kick the bucket!”

k. “Sad you missed out on a donkey ride”

l. More supernaturally “I am pleased that your trip in Spain was successful. It seems to have been a good pastoral and spiritual exercise for you. Hope the guys with you profited. I put the prayer into it as promised. So here's hoping”

m. “I think this is the best Letter - probably due to the content”

n. “This is the best newsletter yet Father. I think there's a universal appeal to pilgrimages. Something that speaks to the human condition.

o. “It sounds like the pilgrimage across to Santiago was a wonderful experience

p. ““I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this email it was fantastic I felt like I was there with you. You are certainly giving everyone joy by sending these emails”

9. A by-product of walking: “ Some members of our Catholic Bush walking Club have done this pilgrimage walk, including a judge who is now about 76. Walkers seem to keep walking and walking. I have been on walks with members who joined the Club in 1946 and even in their eighties are still walking.

10. Some one noticed that I did not send a Newsletter for a week! “Good to hear from you again after such a long absence. I did remember that you would be away but I still kept checking the mail to see if something came. I actually missed you”

11. As you can see there was too much praise, but I am a little tired after a busy week. As I said it makes it easy to fill up the pages. Besides, I am sure some of you have been inspired to undertake the walk! I can always act as a consultant.

Regards to all,

NL 62

Hi!

1. I am two days later than usual with this Newsletter. Very few people have complained this time though! Last time, the delay coincided with the collapse of the bridge at Minnesota. Then, I think some people thought I might have fallen into the icy waters. Anyway, I was giving a retreat on the other side of Milwaukee, in Wisconsin. It was called the Cedar Valley Retreat Center. I knew I was in the US when I walked into the Center. There was small and attractive sign that said: Welcome to the “friendliest” organization in the world”.

2. There was no access to the Internet there. I was pretty busy anyway! There were over 40 guys on the retreat. I tried to talk to each one of them. It was a wonderful mixture of guys. Most of them had ancestors from Germany, Poland, Denmark, Bohemia, Sweden and Norway! Of course all were very American. I remarked this evening to someone about how many of them were running their own business, some quite serious affairs with turnovers of over $50 million. Someone from the East Coast said this was one of characteristics of some Mid Westerners! Very much into starting their own businesses. On the East Coast you might not meet such a person in your entire life. In the East they are mostly professionals, or politicians or lobbyists!

3. I have finished Killer Angels! It has encouraged me to read more about that period of history. However I will have to put “audio” books on hold for a while. I mentioned that I am going to teach a three-week course in August in Boston. The course is on Sacred Scripture, an exegesis of the Historical books, there are 21 of them, about half the Old Testament. I have never taught the subject before. Part of my preparation will consist of listening to the bible on CD. I will pick it up from the Library tomorrow! I hope I like it. I will probably spend the next five months hearing the Bible and CD’s of biblical exegesis! I want to become very familiar with all the material to impress my students! They already think that I am competent. I don’t want to disappoint them or embarrass myself. So far I have found the preparation very interesting and enjoyable!

4. With regard to the whether it was simply beautiful on Monday and Tuesday! True Spring! fever! However on Thursday and Friday it was wet and icy! By the way, it actually snowed during the retreat! There was a lot of sleet too! I have the impression that every one is tired of snow and dying for sun! I heard a few shops and cars playing John Denver’s Song “Sunshine makes me happy!”

5. The Pope is arriving here on April 15^th! There are many articles around! The New York Times was positive! One article by an evangelical, said that “evangelicals” would be more welcoming than Catholics! Time Magazine had “Why the Pope loves America” on the front page! There is a bit of emotion being displayed! Better that than negativity or bitterness! We should pray that it goes well. I am sure it will be a very positive and happy time for everyone!

6. I had another round of drinking in the City i.e. down town Chicago! I was in the in the city talking with clientele! Sometimes people prefer spiritual and other types of guidance over a drink! I had some glasses of Guinness at an Irish Bar! Lots of Rugby posters were displayed! The “client” insisted on shouted me a snack! A little something to eat! He was quite hungry so we ordered an Irish breakfast at 6.00 pm in the evening! It was massive but typically Irish i.e. simple “Eggs, sausage, mashed potato and a few other things! The Guinness was nice too! It is on tap!

7. Another client and I were walking along the Street! We passed a sign saying “Lou Malnati's authentic Chicago-style deep dish pizza! He asked me if I had ever tried it! I said no! He insisted on shouting me a sample, a huge sample in fact! It was the case of another hungry client. It is ok! Apparently you are supposed to have this “special” type of Pizza when you are in Chicago!

8. We had our new Recollection in the City for “high fliers! Every one seemed happy with the way it went! Only about 20 people though! Their combine income would have been an interesting figure! It was a cold and wet evening!

9. Positive replies are still pouring in over the Santiago report! However there have been a few positive replies just in general! Some example: “Thanks for another lovely letter”! AND “Another great letter!” AND “Your Newsletter was interesting as usual”. AND A VERY POSTIVE REPLY: “You do realize that your ruining the American tourist industry with your emails. They are so informative that none of us have to go to America anymore!”

10. I had some positive feed back over the Civil War book that I just finished: “Glad to hear you are enjoying Michael Shaara's "Killer Angels". I read it a few years ago and enjoyed it immensely - one of the best books I have read”. “It was a source for the screenplay of the movie "Gettysburg". Actually my Mid West correspondent gave me the DVD! As well as another book on the Civil War written by Michael Shaara’s son: “Gods and Generals!” I have started to read it! It is a good book! But Bible studies my slow me down! By the way, one of the heroes of the book is General Longstreet! He was always Lee’s right hand man! Amongst over things, according to Wikipedia : “He became a Catholic, and remained a “devout” one until his death in 1904!” One of the few generals to make it into the 20^th Century!

11. One correspondent said” “Good to hear you had an Aussie reunion with the Warrane fellows. Just to remind you of where you belong!” Actually I am not making any plans to return at this early stage!

12. More news on the Santiago trail!: “I would have enjoyed the muscular endurance factor combined with the spirituality of the pilgrimage you undertook., but I am very much against sleep deprivation! I think you are too empathetic for your own good in sticking to the student/backpacker budget, but you are still a hardy country boy at heart I suppose”!

13. Anyway, another short letter! Been too busy to visit “monuments” etc to explore and make consequent social commentary!

Regards to all,

1. The biggest news this we, as to be expected, has been to Pope’s visit. I did not go to Washington or New York to see him. About 100 boys from Northridge Prep where I work on flew out today I gave them a few words of encouragement. They did not need it really. Americans are experts at becoming enthused! The Pope’s trip has been enormously positive. There is not “exuberance” in the media coverage but it is positive. They like him. The Pope speaks English very well. You have probably seen most of the content of the speeches in various publications. It has united the nation to some extent! All agree that the Pope has said, the right message to the Bishops and Educators. His words seem to be very clear and insightful. He reads the current cultural situation very well. He is not afraid to approach any topic. This was especially true of the scandal associated with sexual abuse! He did it more or less in a matter of fact way. It touched man people when he said that it caused him shame! Hopefully it will help to heal the wounds!

2. There is one issue where I think that the Pope and many Americans do not “understand” each other perfectly. It is with regard to the word freedom. For the Pope it is a very rich term summarized in one of his speeches as “Gift and Responsibility”. I find the way that American leaders and others who talk about freedom, spreading it “around the globe” and defending it etc. as a much too shallow concept, linked too much with choice and political freedom! That is the impression that I have!

3. I continue to listen to the Bible on CD! I hope I can make it to the end. It is the King James Version. It is a sign that it is Protestant Country that no Public Library has a Catholic version of the bible! From reading about the 19th Century in the US and about Lincoln, I realize how important reading aloud is. In Lincoln’s time people often sat around in the evening and read books: stories and poems out loud to each other. Reading big slabs of certain parts of the Bible would have been very very consoling and spiritually useful. Perhaps we should re-introduce the custom. About 1000 times better than most TV programs and any Video games!

4. The weather has been very pleasant all week. In fact I got sun burnt on Tuesday. I sat in the sunning talking to a couple planning to get married. They wanted to sit in the “pleasant” outdoors and I came back to the Center quite scarlet. I guess after six months of “snow” your skin is white and sensitive!

5. There have been many jokes about Mid West weather being only two seasons. Snow AND humid heat! I have discovered another twist! Now is the time to fix all the roads after the battering they have taken with the bitter cold and salt. I remember reading an article many years ago, written in a disparaging way about road repairs in Russia in the 1970’s. Americans wrote the article. They said that sometimes in Russia they act rather crudely, ripping up both sides of the roads at the same time, and give very little importance to drivers. It seems that many parts of the expressways in Chicago are the same. There are references from time to of the advanced industrial society that put a man on the moon! But July 1969 seems long way away when you are sitting in a traffic jam! The apathy of the Public Works seems the main characteristic of the repairs. Certainly no space age technology!

6. There has been some more positive fall out from the Recollection for high flyers! I had a nice meal in one of Chicago’s better-known restaurants “Harry Caray’s”. It was full of baseball legends. Even met Ernie Banks the most famous and popular Cubs player. Cubs is the most famous “losing” baseball team in Chicago!

7. I had another of my rare disagreements with an American during the week! There is a book during the rounds here called “Lone Survivor”! It is the story of how one member of the elite Navy Seals survives against almost impossible odds in Afghanistan. In the book they compare quite favorably the Navy Seals to the SAS. When I mentioned this “comparison” to someone he said the SAS were “sissy”. My opinion of the Navy Seals and his knowledge of most things plummeted!

8. I gave my last set of classes to the two groups of girls at Metro yesterday. These are girls from the poorer parts of Chicago! I think the classes over the 6 months went well. There has been no feedback though. The classes at the end of the of Course were much better attended than at the beginning. This is probably due more to overcoming organizational difficulties than any thing else!

9. Views about Santiago continue to pour in: “Thanks again for your newsletter and I enjoyed reading about your pilgrimage to Spain”. AND “I am glad to hear that you had a nice trip to Spain” AND on related matters: “I read all of your Epistles from the US. My impression is that you would like to stay there?” What can I say? There are some good reasons for staying in the US! My visa runs out on Jan 9, 2010. I am trying to get a green card though! I am still a patriot!

10. I have had some bad news: “With regard to the current financial crisis I think we have just seen the opening round. Problems in this area are systemic today and a collapse of one institution could lead to a domino effect effectively shutting down the entire financial system and by implication the "real" economy as well”. People are starting to talk about “Recession”. They call it the “R” word!

11. News related to the WYD! “ Good to hear that the Pope is going your way and is welcome. There is some discontented advance whingeing going here on in the talk-back radio, Alan Jones and his ilk, About the disruption that will be caused to traffic, commerce etc”.

12. Some people are worried about my increasing spiritual guidance in the City: “Your pastoral work sounds like a health hazard. Beware the Guinness, pizzas, Irish Breakfasts etc. Very bad for the waistline and the wardrobe. I remember an Irish meal in Waterford when we were served three potatoes in the same dish, Baked potatoes, mashed potatoes and chips together with the meat and other veggies”. AND another warning: “Your clients are being generous in taking you for Irish meals and Chicago Pizzas, but, be warned, food portions in the US are large.”

13. Some comment on the Pope’s trip: “ I saw photos of the Holy Father and President Bush, in the Daily Telegraph today. It is a positive thing, whenever the Holy Father visits a country.”

Please keep praying for the Pope’s trip.

Regards to all

Hi!

1. At present I am giving a retreat in the Shellbourne Conference Center. The usual place around Chicago to give retreats. It has most of the modern conveniences hence this Newsletter will be out at the usual time. I did comment on this retreat last year! There are over 35 women here, many from the more southern and western regions of the US! So when they feel I have made a good point they murmur praises; sometimes loudly like "Thanks be to God!". Last year I was a bit daunted! This year I am encouraged!

2. It creates an "unusual" feeling to receive emails about Anzac Day! I is equivalent in the US to “Memorial Day”. We are celebrating St Mark here! I received several emails reminding me of the significance of Anzac Day! Why we celebrate a "military disaster"! I think it is a reflection of the "Australian Psyche". We don't want to glory in war or be particularly militaristic but there are many great qualities to celebrate in that display of courage. I hope Australians can see something in them to imitate! I think even the emphasis that Australia was fighting for freedom should be used cautiously!

3. A further reflection on the visit of Pope Benedict to the US. There was an article in Zenith by a "theologian" called Michael Novak. He is also known as a "Catholic" economist. His article reflects a certain type of American Catholic!. While the article is very positive and catholic he seems over-emphasize two things. He writes the phrase "warm feeling" about 10 times to express the reaction of people, especially Bush, to the Pope. He also uses "Europe" as a negative comparison to show how well things are going in the US in a religious sense. I think both points are exaggerated. It is true the relationship between Bush and the Catholic Pontificate is extraordinary, and the reaction to the Pope at the UN was sensational, but Novak writes from a one sided point of view! He is known as one of the better intellectuals in the US, but I think we will have to wait a few more decades before there is a true college of Catholic intellectuals!

4. The traffic continues to be going at a crawl in Chicago! There are still lots of massive repairs being done to the expressways! Although one positive way to look at it! It makes you search for side streets, short cuts etc. It also means that get-togethers and dinner conversations are dominated by mundane topics like great "shortcuts" and quick changing traffic lights!

5. I have met another person in the City! Actually I met him on a retreat last year. He runs his own legal practice in the City! He is an expert on American History and also Chicago History. Even recommended a few books! Wants to give me a few classes! He explained that rather than talking about being a "Northerner" or a "Southerner" in the US, the appropriate term is to describe the way I feel as "pro the union".

6. I was at St Mary of the Angels on Sunday. This is the "stunning" Chicago Church entrusted to priests of Opus Dei! The number of confessions was high. The other two Churches where I heard confessions this week were lower than usual. Perhaps due to the wonderful weather we have having. We have turned on the air conditioners! And also the Papal trip might have changed things. Many large families went to New York!

7. I am becoming more daring with regard to eating out. A good way to meet priests is over a meal in a low priced restaurant. There were three of us at lunch at "Ihop"! It is chain that specializes in pan cakes. It also has steak! I probably won't return in a hurry. Bit too low priced. It could have been the neighbor hood though! It was close to a poorer area!

8. I mentioned air conditioners! What a change from snow and slow walking deer, to sunny spring and squawking birds! And all within a week!

9. I am still spending time listening to the bible while driving and preparing classes on Sacred Scripture. I am planning a little bit of variety though! Toqueville's "Democracy in America" is a bit of a drag to read, so I have ordered it from the Public Library as a "audio book"! I have come to realize that it is essential reading, if you want a "standard" opinion of the US.

10. There was a fair bit of feed back or comments from correspondents about the Pope's trip here: "Good to hear the positive news about the Pope's visit. We see snippets on the TV news but only the newsy bits in the opinion of the media. It is good to hear him speaking English but we just have time to get the hang of the accent when the item is finished". He should be speaking English very well by the time of the WYD! AND "We are getting the impression here that everything is going well and the Pope is being well received. Its one thing that impresses me about the Americans. In spite of their lack of knowledge of world geography and current affairs they do show the appropriate respect to people of authority and position whether or not they share their views. (A bit like the soldiers with the commander in chief of the army i.e George W)" A slightly warped idea of the US! AND "I'm glad that the pope's trip has been a runaway success. May it bear much fruit for many months and years ahead". I think the Pope's trip to Australia will have much bigger impact than the Pope's visit to the US in the sense a much higher percentage of the population will realize that something is going on! AND finally "There are signs everywhere on the freeways in Sydney "90 days to go to World Youth Day". I received my first letter with a stamp with a picture of Pope Benedict and the WYD! Looks exciting. Unfortunately I won't be coming. It would be too disruptive!

11. There was also considerable comment over the slur on the SAS! "The Yanks do have very good elite soldiers ( the Seals and Delta Force) but their public only know things American so logically you cannot convince them that there are others in the world as good as or even better than them" Then there was along section of the battle of Long Tan in that email! AND "About your problem with the enthusiast about the U.S. Navy 'Seals' The Seals are a very good elite force and its individual members are fantastic soldiers. They also know that there are other very good special forces in other countries. In fact, the Seals come to Australia ( Swanbourn base in Perth) to train with our SAS. They have a mutually high regard for each other" AND Some people expect me to do more with regard to the SAS slur: "Father, I saw this film, Nachos Libre, about a monk who wrestles, it is a good film, I think you might like it. The supporter of the Navy Seals wanted you to clock him, you may have let the country down, but that is OK, you're a priest not SAS"

12. Reading aloud also provoked a few comments! "I agree reading aloud is a great activity and an art well worth developing. Children love it and I think most adults do also. Poetry aloud is a must. My love of reading came from a De La Salle brother reading aloud "Wind in the Willows" to us in third class at school!" AND "I like the point about treading scripture out loud. I think it's meant to be heard first before being read. It comes alive more readily that way"!

13. The road situation also provided some feedback! Too much in fact! So I will leave it until another day!

14. Inspired by my bible classes no doubt: "I can read Hebrew very slowly now, both the old and the new testament"

Regards to all

NL 65

Hi!

1 Why am I a day late with this week’s Newsletter? The reason is not because I have been busy or on a retreat without Internet! As you might know we always like to celebrate 40^th birthday! In our Residence, Gabriel celebrated his yesterday! We had a massive party, which kept me occupied form 6.00 (pm) till 10.00 pm. Gabriel is Mexican finishing his third degree at North Western down the road. He has been a lecturer at other Universities. The food was Mexican and so was most of the entertainment! Gabriel is very smart!

2. On the retreat I gave last weekend another thing happened. One participant was seemingly writing non-stop! It turned out she was sketching different items in the Chapel. She gave one to me after the last meditation! It a nice sketch of the preacher! I would like to send it to you, but I think I shall just frame it!

3. I continue to work through the Bible on CD! It is the King James Version! I am up to II Kings now! Solomon has just died! The kingdom is about to be split in two. It is quite exciting. Because this Newsletter also goes to a very, very small American audience I get a few “reactions” from US correspondents! Would you believe someone wants to give me a “Catholic” version of the entire bible on CD (about 66 of them). I am still waiting for Warrane to send a T-shirt or anything for publicity purposes! I do not need it though! I have received several jerseys and T-shirts from local donors! I did get “Democracy in America” by Toqueville out of the library but it is cassettes not CD’s! No one uses cassette machines anymore!

4. Also with regard to reading, I am enjoying a really good book “The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norton Juster. It is kids’ books. It is kind of a change from too much King James English! I have mentioned that I work at the Kingswood Academy (I hear confessions). I like to know what the students are reading. It is a “tricky” book. From the sources! “The Phantom Tollbooth (1961) is a children's novel and a modern fairy tale full of wordplay and adventure. Written by Norton Juster and illustrated by Jules Feiffer, it tells the story of a bored young boy named Milo who drives through a magic tollbooth into the Kingdom of Wisdom, where he embarks on a noble quest and in the end learns a valuable lesson. Juster claims his father's fondness for puns and The Marx Brothers' movies were a major influence” You can check it out yourself on Wikipedia. Well worth the read! Teachers take note!

5. When I was a University Chaplain in New Zealand one of the things that I had to continually work on, around the University campus, was my profile. How to be known! I did all right in the end! I am having some success here in that regard! You have probably heard of Fr James Socias. He is the boss of a company that produces popular educational books on Religious, moral, philosophical etc topics. His efforts also produced the Roman Missal! He was with me at the retreat center last week giving a retreat in another building. I have done a few small translations jobs for him and checked out a couple of books about to publish! I am trying to get him to consider publishing my first book! It would called “Metaphysics for Australians” It would be a short and simple book! He has not rejected the idea! He thinks it might do well here. Might have to include some pictures though!

6. During the week, on Monday, we did not celebrate the feast of St Peter Chanel! I found out that people in general do not know that the Pacific Ocean exists! This is because when you look at the typical map of the world you are used to seeing three divisions, left, center and right. On the left the Americas, Europe and Africa in the middle and then at the right Australia, above which is PNG Indonesia, Philipines, Japan, then you move back into China etc! No one realises that the Pacicif occupies the other side of the map! It was difficult to expalin that there are lots of islands in the middle of the Pacific where St Peter Chanel worked! It is no surprise that people have no idea of New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji etc!Just in case you think I am exaggerating! From the sources: “The Pacific Ocean (from the Latin name Mare Pacificum, "peaceful sea", bestowed upon it by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan) is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to Antarctica in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia on the west and the Americas on the east. At 169.2 million square kilometers (65.3 million square miles) in area, this largest division of the World’s Oceans. It covers about 46% of the Earth's water surface and about 32% of its total surface area, making it larger than all of the Earth's land area combined. The Mariana Trench is the deepest point in the Pacific and the world, reaching a depth of 10,911 meters (35,798 ft)”. The ocean encompasses almost a third of the Earth's surface”.

7. I dropped into the Walkers on Thursday! John Walker and I lived in Warrane College for 5 years! I had to give Nicholas, his eldest son (8 years old) a short lesson and knowledge test for his First Communion! We are having a small, special First Communion Mass at the famous Church St Mary of the Angels. I might have mentioned that it is one of the biggest and most beautiful Churches in the world. It has been entrusted to the priests of Opus Dei to run! We might feel a little “exceptional” in the huge Church as we celebrate Mass at 3.30 pm with about 50 people instead of the usual 1000! Still it is good to celebrate someone making their first Communion. It will be a kind of Australian affair! Although we won’t have any koalas, or kangaroos or even crocodiles as part of the special Eucharist liturgical decoration!

8. The Presidential Race continues to be interesting! The political cartoonists in the various papers are having some cruel fun with the duel between Hillary and Obama! It does not have intellectual content!

9. Yesterday at school, (Northridge Prep) the first thing I was confronted with as I arrived there was some “Aussie news” An Australian hit a home run! It was from the Dean of students. Apparently it is first time an Australian has hit a homerun the Major League Baseball! When I check it out the headline was: “HUBER LAUNCHES 1st CAREER HOME RUN OFF MAJOR LEAGUE SUPERSTAR”. Apparently the pitcher is a big star! The article continued: “Australian Justin Huber hit his first home run of his Major League career against future “Hall of Fame” pitcher Randy Johnson, capping a 9-4 victory by the San Diego Padres over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix today”.

There is a little more on Australian baseballers! “Huber’s heroics continue the recent trend of Australian “firsts” against Major League Baseball superstars!” “There are currently four Australians playing in the US Major Leagues with Chris Snelling (Philadelphia Phillies) and Peter Moylan (Atlanta Braves) joining Rowland-Smith (Seattle Mariners) and Huber”. I told the Dean of Students that Australians take these things in their stride, but to be careful! Australians tend to take over! He did not take me seriously!

10. Last week, I mentioned that I met another client in the city, a lawyer. This week has been good in that regard. Have caught up with a number people in downtown Chicago! My new lawyer friend is a most interesting person. He seems to have more authentic understanding of normal Americans. He said the concept of “cowboy’ is much more significant for them than practically anything else including being patriotic or political. I will explore this theme more with him in the weeks ahead. When I said I was a pseudo-sociologist. He immediately said all sociologist are pseudo! My lawyer friend appreciates very much the “cultural flow” theory! Culture flows through the ages from nation to nation and manifests itself in different but connected ways. He sent me two highly relevant quotes. One is from an article by Fr Aidan Nichols a famous English theologian on the re-conversion of England, which has some relevance for all English speaking nations! “But the almost 1,000 years of Catholic Christianity that preceded any of that are responsible for the origins of the English literary imagination, for the principles of the common law, for the concept of a covenanted people under God which permeates the induction of a sovereign, and for the range of virtues which have been commended -- and
sometimes practiced -- in English culture and society."

11. Just to encourage each other he sent the following quote from St Paul! "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." The quotes were kind of conclusion to what we were talking about!

12. As for news for correspondents there has been a lot that seems to glorify the SAS but some people have told me they skip over this sort of thing! So I will not include it! Although someone did say: “Once I went to an introduction night for the commandoes at Mosman, I really thought I would enjoy the physical and mental challenges …

13. There were few comments on the worsening economic situation here and there. But that also causes complaints about boring Newsletters too! So I’ll give it a miss!

14. Other news: “I envy your correspondent who can read Hebrew. I recall how at one stage (in the seminary) we did not have a Hebrew teacher here so we had to bring a teacher from Italy to teach. He , sadly, could not speak English so he had to teach Hebrew in Latin!”

15. I did not think that anything had happened this week but I have still managed to write a few lines! Wikipedia does help a bit though!

Regards to all,

NL 66

Hi!

1. I have been away all week but at a place with Computer access. There probably aren’t many places left on the globe without it! At present I am Shellbourne Conference Center. It is in the State of Indiana, but very close to Chicago. Chicago is in the State of Illinois. I am participating in a “Priests’ Workshop”. Priests of Opus Dei do this sort of thing each year! We get together, and do interesting things like study “current moral cases’ exchange experiences etc. It is pretty impressive to sit around and talk with 20 or so priests about what is going on in different parts of the States. And talking of “moral issues” it was great to see that the therapeutic cloning bill failed in WA! That is global news! And good news!

2. Nicholas Walker’s first communion went well. We had a party afterwards. One of the guests at Mass told me something afterwards! She is a local at the Parish! (The parish is St Mary of the Angels; the massive and beautiful Church which has been entrusted to priests of Opus Dei to look after). Anyway she said: "When you started talking in the Mass. I thought what a good attempt at an Australian accent! What a nice detail to John Walker. I was amazed how you kept it up! Then I realized that you were Australian!” She was impressed that John and I knew each other so well in Sydney! Afterwards she complimented me on the “genuineness” of the accent, but concluded that there was no real merit in the way I talked.

3. As part of the First Communion Ceremony, one of the local families, friends of the Walkers, had some fun! I hear confessions at St Mary’s, so I have a large name tag, pointing out that I hear confessions in English and Spanish! I was hearing a few confessions before Mass began on Sunday before the First Communion Mass. They switched the name tag. On the name tag in addition to hearing confession in English and Spanish they added “Kangaroo”! I guess it is some kind of a language!

4. Speaking of confession. Several days ago I said the usual prayer at the beginning, to welcome a penitent. The penitent was a slightly deaf 80 year old lady who said: “What foreign language is that!” I said straightway, but more clearly, to avoid embarrassment that I also spoke English!

5. The weather here is pleasant and I have been on some very nice walks and runs and short pilgrimages to the local Shellbourne Shrine. There are lots of trees full of colorful blossoms! Very, very nice to walk under!

6. What else does one learn on priests work shops! You learn that a lot of good is being done in the various parts of the US! We also saw several videos of the Pope in New York. His last words were to invite all the young people to Sydney. He said it with a big smile, as if in Sydney we know how to have good fun. The US show with young people was a bit dull. His speech was very good. But anyway I hope the WYD goes well in July.

7. There was excursion yesterday. Several of priests went to Chicago to see the “famous” Art Institute. Since I have been once already, and live in Chicago I did not go. Instead I went with a smaller group to a nice park and admired the returning Canadian Geese; they have been away for the winter. We did and saw amongst other things!

7. I was able to listen to the Bible until Monday, the day I came here. The library asked me to return the book! Some else wanted it. I guess that makes sense. The bible should be a very popular book. When they asked me for it back I said it was understandable, the bible is in high demand. In the several short periods that I have had in the car since then I have been listening to some CD’s on the History of Ethics by Peter Kreeft! A superb collection. It was a gift from a generous American. He liked the way I said Mass on a retreat! I have still not been able to get a Cassette player so Toqueville's ‘Democracy in American sits in the back seat of my car languishing! I also recently received a set of CD’s on the biography of General Grant. I am looking forward to hearing them!

8. Obama will probably win the Democratic Nomination! Some of my republican friends think this is better than Hilary winning the nomination. Now people will be able to see how obviously shallow he is! If Hilary won, she is so deceptive, it might not be so obvious and she could win the Presidency! I do not have a lot of “Democratic” friends yet! It is amazing how popular Obama is though!

9. I mentioned last week that a new friend that I meet with City liked History. He said that he was going to explain the concept of “cowboy”. We have not spoken about it much but I did say: “In some way the "supposed" virtues of the cowboy have had much influence in the USA although cowboys hardly existed in reality”. He said: “Cowboys! It sure is part of our national DNA but how that happened is not real clear to me. My suspicion is that "cowboys" always have existed, but we didn't always call them that”. To be continued! He did suggest that if I ever travel across the US, that I be sure to follow one of the old settlement trails west, like that which terminated in Oregon.

10. There were some comments on my reading the King James Version of the Bible: “I have often felt that if some Catholic could just adapt the King James version of the Bible (which in the original did include the seven disputed books, though modern KJ Bibles don't much have it), and re-Catholicize Cranmer's Common Prayer book to be a Mass using a slightly modernized English, they would be far better than the very flavorless lectionaries and English Missals we have today”. What do you think of that? I think it is a topic well worth discussing. I get used to "flavorless" readings very quickly but I agree that Lectionary and prayers need to be improved! "Sacral" English would help everyone! Two phrases that come to mind a lot from King James "It came to pass ..." and "per adventure ... “They seem quaint!

11. I was honored to receive these comments: “I really wish to read your First book: "Metaphysics for Australians". I would like to have a copy of it”. It might be a while in coming though! AND Your book on Philosophy for Australians could be a good twin for "Prayer for Dummies" now out

12. I do get a few comments which make positive and negative comparisons between the US, Australia and other countries but I think that in the end you still have to get up each morning and go to work. Life is 90% the same everywhere! Although you do hear people say things like “Therefore, so far, Australia is the country that I like the best!”

13. Further to my comment about baseball: “Just to correct your facts, the Americans here have assured me that there are other home run hitters from Australia”. One of them wrote to me "However, while that was Justin Huber's first homer as a major leaguer, there have been many other native-born Australians to hit home runs in the majors before him. The link below shows all Aussies to play in the MLB through the years. The leading home run hitter was Dave Nillson. He played for the Milwaukee brewers! http://www.baseball-reference.com/bio/Australia_born.shtml I guess I was misinformed because people have no sense of history here! When I went to the link I was amazed! There are lots of Aussies who have done well in baseball!

14. I am trying and being encouraged to become a Cubs fan, the baseball club for the North Side f Chicago (as opposed the White Six). I know the names of three of the five pitchers; know when they win and loose but I am still a rather weak fan!

15. An American correspondent wrote: “Shame on those Warrane-ers. Still no jersey?” I hope Warrane takes notice!

16. Other news: “I strongly encourage you to scan the sketch of you. I think it is high time you updated your Gmail profile pic. Plus I want to see the sketch!” I am sorry I can’t oblige

17. ALSO "All sociologists are pseudo." What a great quote!

18. ALSO: “The American public may not know much about the Pacific Ocean but their armed forces do. The major part of their recent (military) history has been written in the Pacific”.

19. A correspondent who spent time in the Pacific did add the data on the pacific. “Concerning the Mariana Trench: “My wife and I lived for eight years next to the Yap Trench which is just down the road from the Marianas Trench - and much more picturesque!” It is difficult to test this claim. After further correspondence “Yeah, I was too busy most of the time to get down to the bottom of it”

20. It has been a quiet week!

Regards to all,

Fr Paul Grant

Friday, May 16, 2008

Newsletter #67

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Newlstter Numbers 29-66

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