…along with strawberry-rhubarb pie and my Busha’s rhubarb sauce.
No Hopers, Jokers & Rogues from Ben Woolnough on Vimeo.
Fisherman’s Friends, is an emerging vocal group from Port Isaac in Cornwall. The group of 10 includes former or current fishermen, coast guardsmen and marine rescuers. For nearly 15 years they have gathered on evenings by the shore or in local pubs to have a few beers and sing sea shanties.
The group has recorded two CDs with their own interpretations of shanties. A vacationer recently came across them at the pub where they normally gathered and saw the potential. That vacationer was record producer Rupert Christie who brought them to Universal’s attention. The group signed with Universal this March.
The group’s prior two CD’s will soon be joined by a third. Their first album was recorded in a fifteenth-century church in St. Kew, Cornwall (the video above). They have also been invited to sing at the Glastonbury summer music festival.
Thanks to my sister for sending me these…
Found this at Interia:
The “short monk” at about 1:10 to 1:12 is a hoot.
An older story, but worth noting for those who dabble in the vagante world.
This is why I am a firm believer in the Cyprianic definition of Orders. If one is in the Church you are ok, outside the Church, who knows… Also, to answer any response to those who would say that they are part of the “Old Catholic Union of Utrecht,” the Utrecht Union does not recognize any denomination in the United States or Canada other than the Episcopal Church. A list of member Churches is here.
The “Reformed Catholic Church,” a vagante group, fell apart in late November, early December amid a scandal involving its “Archbishop” and other “clergy.” The Columbus Dispatch covered the details in Catholicism offshoot dissolves after scandals:
An independent Catholic denomination with its global headquarters in Columbus has disbanded, having been torn apart after publicity about the criminal backgrounds of its top leader and a former priest.
Critics of former Archbishop Phillip Zimmerman of the Reformed Catholic Church say he covered up his 2005 felony conviction and allowed participation by a convicted child molester.
…
Zimmerman resigned last week because “I was becoming the focus of controversy,” he said Wednesday. The church’s bishops then voted to dissolve the denomination, which was founded in 2000.
Individual parishes probably will continue to operate. Most Reformed Catholic congregations rent space or meet in homes, and none received funding from the Columbus headquarters.
Zimmerman said he will continue to serve at the Ascension of Our Lord Basilica on E. Broad Street on the Near East Side, which will stay open. He wouldn’t rule out organizing a new denomination.
…
Its membership numbers are difficult to pin down, but Zimmerman has estimated the worldwide body at 200,000. A Web site lists six parishes and missions in Ohio; it’s unclear if they all have a physical address.
At the Ascension of Our Lord Basilica, the most-attended Sunday Mass might have 30 or 40 people, said Bishop Marcis Heckman, the church rector.
Zimmerman came under fire when e-mails and Internet postings pointed out that a convicted child molester and former priest was allowed to participate in the denomination’s annual meeting in October. Sean-Michael Lyons wore vestments and sat with priests during Masses.
Then, news of Zimmerman’s own conviction circulated online.
Zimmerman, whose full name is George Richard Phillip Zimmerman, pleaded guilty in 2005 to fraud for his role in a scheme that cost the U.S. Department of Education more than $533,000…
Per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, this was the group that the Rev. Marek Bozek (could have developed something if he sought Catholicism rather than vagante fun and other nonsense) had reached out to for coverage.
Two priests died at the same time and met Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter said, “I’d like to get you guys in now, but our computer is down. You’ll have to go back to Earth for about a week, but you can’t go back as priests. So what else would you like to be?”
The first priest says, “I’ve always wanted to be an eagle, soaring above the Rocky Mountains..”
“So be it,” says St. Peter, and off flies the first priest.
The second priest mulls this over for a moment and asks, “Will any of this week ‘count,’ St. Peter?”
“No, I told you the computer’s down. There’s no way we can keep track of what you’re doing.”
“In that case,” says the second priest, “I’ve always wanted to be a stud.”
“So be it,” says St. Peter, and the second priest disappears.
A week goes by, the computer is fixed, and the Lord tells St. Peter to recall the two priests. “Will you have any trouble locating them?” He asks.
“The first one should be easy,” says St. Peter. “He’s somewhere over the Rockies, flying with the eagles.
But the second one could prove to be more difficult.”
“Why?” asketh the Lord.
“He’s on a snow tire, somewhere in BUFFALO..
Dearest readers,
I have several blogging projects I am going to work with in 2010.
I will likely not be doing a regular series on anything. The 2009 poetry project was a massive undertaking and frankly, was a bit too much. I’ve learned a lot in the process, but I need to take a break from that sort of posting schedule. Note too, there are a few gaps I still need to fill in for 2009 and will complete that shortly. I do hope that my poor personal translations, as well as my broader inclusions, will provide all of you with an appreciation of the depth and scope of Polish (and other) poetry. In some small measure I can see why Bishop Hodur encouraged the study of poetry. It is an inspiration, a history, a challenge, and part of humanity’s song.
On other fronts, I plan a recap of things I liked, enjoyed, found inspiration in, and had fun with in 2009. I would like to do a little with Polish art works on an irregular basis. I do plan to complete my 10 reasons series. I’m working on a piece on “The Flag in the National Church ethos.” I will also keep you abreast of the news across the PNCC, the Catholic faith in general, ecumenism, and all the goings on in Poland and Polonia.
Beyond that I am up to managing 12 websites, 9 PNCC Parishes, 1 Reformed Church site, 1 not-for-profit, and this blog. There are at least 2 other projects in the hopper.
Again, my heartfelt thanks to all my readers, correspondents, and all who gather information, inspiration, and challenge in what I write. God bless you in this new year.
— Dcn. Jim
On some older news in my inbox:
The irony
From Reuters: Republicans urge Obama to roll back “Buy American”
Republicans urged President Barack Obama on Thursday to roll back “Buy American” provisions of this year’s economic stimulus package that they said were delaying public works projects and costing American jobs.
“Clearly these provisions are creating problems for our domestic companies and employees that must be addressed,” Representative Wally Herger said at a “roundtable” Republicans organized to hear industry concerns about the measure.
Representative Kevin Brady urged the White House to exempt state, county and city governments from the Buy American requirement “so that we can get those dollars working, create these jobs, get these projects in place and move this economy.”
…
The Buy American provision included in the $787 billion economic stimulus act requires all public works projects funded by the bill use only U.S.-made goods.
As a result, many local jurisdictions receiving Recovery Act funds are faced with ensuring that their projects comply with the Buy American mandate.
That’s not as simple as it sounds because many products contain components from around the world.
…
Groups calling for changes in the Buy American provisions include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Emergency Committee for American Trade, which together represents most of the biggest U.S. companies.
They said they feared other countries would retaliate by passing their own “buy domestic” provisions, as Canadian cities are threatening to do because their firms are being shut out of U.S. stimulus projects.
So, don’t do anything to stimulate and create manufacturing jobs in the U.S., and ensure those jobs keep getting shipped off-shore, while at the same time you decry the immigrant for “stealing” the last McDonald’s job left in the U.S.. Complete hypocrites.
On Ukrainian history:
From The Day: Mazepa: Architect of European Ukraine?
…Peter I’s Russia found its ideal dimension in Imperium, a —great form— with its inertial imperative of constantly developing supranational schemes aimed at compressing all conquered space into a single ideological whole.
Victorious as it was, Peter I’s Russia built its society out of —subjects— and —serfs.— Defeated as it was, Mazepa’s Ukraine was potential society of citizens.
Mazepa’s Ukraine had thus taken a resolute and decisive step in the direction of Europe at a time of anti-absolutist revolutions. Peter I’s Russia realized itself in an imperial structure whose messianic concept was generally anti-European.
It was a bolt of lightning that split the family tree of Old Rus’. Since then the confrontation between Ukraine and Russia has been systemic and conceptual. The gist of this confrontation is that Ukraine was not an obedient territorial unit open for colonization. Ukraine was Europe’s last bulwark retaining a political tradition that was absolutely unacceptable for Russian absolutism and thus very dangerous for centralized governance. It was a republican tradition. Rooted in the philosophic legacy of European culture, this tradition became the basis of the Ukrainian idea, i.e., a republican and consequently national idea, which has since been in opposition to the Russian Idea as an imperial and consequently immanently supranational one…
It is a complex article which attempts to draw the currents of the Reformation, Humanism, Orthodoxy, Polish-Ukrainian history, and the Khmelnytsky revolt into one large bundle giving rise to Mazepa’s movement. I’m really not sure how the Reformation and humanism play out here. I would ascribe the influence of Cossack independence and self-determination as well as the philosophies already existent in the Polish-Lithuanian, (later Ruthenian) Commonwealth. Those philosophies were already well settled, and well known in the Ukraine, when the rest of Europe met the Reformation and the advent of humanism as a philosophy.
Learning about your new neighbors:
From the Times: Polska! Year comes to London
Slap-bang in the centre of Warsaw there’s a striking neo-Gothic skyscraper called the Palace of Culture. Poles are forever debating whether to demolish it —” it was a gift from Stalin, whose memory is not lovingly tended in these parts. But they could equally well celebrate it. Within its imposing walls it hosts three theatres, a cinema, bars and museums. What other capital city’s most prominent edifice is an arts centre? —Theatre is the national sport,— says Piotr Gruszczynski, a critic and dramaturge at the high-flying Nowy Theatre. —Poles still believe that theatre can change the world.—
Britons can now enjoy the fruits of this devotion in the form of Polska! Year, a 12-month arts festival that cashes in on the wave of immigration that has left Brits eager to know more about our new neighbours. Poland, we’re being told, is no slumbering ex-Soviet satellite, but Europe’s sixth-biggest country and a star in the international arts firmament.
…—Poland needs to kill its idols,— says Katarzyna Szustow, one of a triumvirate now running the Dramatyczny Theatre, based in the Palace of Culture. Here they like their drama more political. In the 19th century, Szustow says, when Poland was partitioned between Germany, Russia and Habsburg Austria, —it was to the theatre that you went to hear Polish spoken. Then, under the Soviets, theatre was the focal point of dissent. Post-1989 theatre was suddenly meaningless —” the real ‘theatre’ was happening in the public sphere.—
…
The remaining taboos in Polish theatre include homosexuality and Poland’s relationship with its Jewish population. The former is broached by Szustow’s new regime, which programmes live art about gender and the body; the latter by a new play at the National Theatre in London, Our Class by Tadeusz Slobodzianek. His play, which confronts the country’s complicity in Second World War atrocities, hasn’t been staged in Poland —” Slobodzianek is loath to apply for state funding because of the controversy it would generate. All theatres are state-funded and highly bureaucratic, which means plenty of activity, but a lack of flexibility.
The only other taboo is laughter. —Making comedy in Polish theatre means you are not an artist,— Gruszczynski says. He’s exaggerating —“ perhaps for comic effect. But for Britons striving to reduce our own theatre to a branch of the leisure industry Polish drama takes some getting used to. And yet, the sense of a thriving, passionate scene, and of a younger generation exploiting the public role theatre has retained from the Soviet years is exhilarating. If Polska! Year can communicate that excitement, its shows will be well worth seeing.
A fitting tribute:
Dr. Jerzy J. Maciuszko – Ambassador of Polish Culture and one of the most dedicated members of the Kosciuszko Foundation by Olga Teresa Sarbinowska
Those of us who were raised in Communist Poland have much in common. We are direct, act with a characteristic ease, and we tend to pay little attention to manners. The Polish post-war generations stand in direct contrast to the Polish pre-war intelligentsia. To many of us the pre-war intelligentsia is an abstract notion often associated with rigid etiquette and snobbism. When at the end of the eighties I arrived in Cleveland, the first representative of Polonia who reached out to me was Doctor Jerzy Maciuszko, a charming, courteous man full of gentleness, humbleness, politeness, and inherent high culture.
A Warsavian by birth, Jerzy Maciuszko, is a 1936 graduate of the Department of English Language at the University of Warsaw. He began his American career in 1951 as a lecturer of Polish Literature at Alliance College in Pennsylvania. Soon thereafter, he moved to Cleveland where he enrolled in the doctoral program in library sciences at Case Western Reserve University and worked in the department of foreign literature at the Cleveland Public Library. Upon defending his Ph.D. dissertation, Maciuszko was promoted to director of the prestigious John G. White Department at The Cleveland Public Library and continued his academic career teaching Polish literature at Case Western Reserve University.
In 1969, Dr. Maciuszko accepted the position of Chairman of the Slavic Studies Department at Alliance College in Pennsylvania. It should be noted that Alliance College was established by the Polish National Alliance. An informational brochure published by the College at the beginning of the seventies explained that “Slavic studies” at most American universities amounted to “Russian studies” while at Alliance College the emphasis was on “Polish studies.” …
Unfortunately in 1974 Dr. Maciuszko left Alliance College and returned to Cleveland where he accepted the directorship of Baldwin-Wallace College’s Ritter Library. Soon after his departure, Alliance College, together with the Center for Polish Studies, closed down. The magnificent Alliance College campus was sold out and the entire complex was turned into a women’s prison.
Accepting a position as the library director at Baldwin-Wallace College, Professor Maciuszko seemingly departed from his involvement in the Polish cause. However, this was not the case. He plunged into the life of Polonia like a missionary driven by an inner fire. He wrote, published, became active in many Polonia organizations, and quickly established himself as a foundation of cultural and intellectual life for the Polish-American community in Cleveland… Furthermore, as an active member, he was involved with the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences in New York, Polish-American veteran organizations in Cleveland, the Association of Polish Writers Abroad, and the Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, and others.
…
As a writer, Dr. Maciuszko dedicated his works primarily to Poland and Polonia. Since 1957, he has been publishing reviews of Polish literature in the quarterly World Literature Today. Reviews by him also appeared regularly in The Polish Review and other leading literary journals. In addition, as a prolific writer Dr. Maciuszko has authored numerous forewords and commentaries to various editions of classical literature. …
This prominent Cleveland Pole also wrote a chapter entitled “Polish Letters in America” for the book Poles in America, Frank Mocha, editor (Worzalla Publishing Company, 1978), as well as a chapter entitled “Polish-American Literature” for the book Ethnic Perspectives in American Literature, Di Petro, editor (Modern Languages Association of America, 1983). Numerous encyclopedic entries on Polish writers and poets authored by him appeared in Encyclopedia of World Literature in the 20th Century (Unger Publishing Company, 1975). The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, John Grabowski, Editor (Indiana University Press, 1987) included an entry by Dr. Maciuszko. He was also a founding member of Choice, the official journal of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). Choice was first issued in 1964, and since then Dr. Maciuszko has been a regular contributor, writing primarily reviews of Polish literature. He also has served as Chairman of the Slavic Division within ACRL organization.
In 1969 Dr. Maciuszko published The Polish Short Story in English; A Guide and Critical Bibliography (Wayne State University Press). This compendium consisted of summaries of Polish short stories published in English. The work was published within the Millennium Series of the Kosciuszko Foundation. Professor of Polish Studies at Columbia University, Dr. Anna Frajlich, called the book “a monumental work indispensable to all American teachers and students of Polish literature.”
A most puzzling fact is that a significant literary achievement of Dr. Maciuszko’s, to this day, remains completely unknown. To solve this mystery we must travel back in time to the beginning of World War II. In August of 1939, twenty-six-year-old Maciuszko was a member of one of the first military units to stand up to the Nazi war machine. Unfortunately, on September 4th, he was taken prisoner of war, and for the next five and a half years he remained in the German POW camps.
In 1943, the international Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) headquartered in Geneva announced a literary contest among all prisoners held in German POW camps. At night, by candlelight, after an exhaustive work day, while his comrades slept, Maciuszko wrote a short story which he entitled Koncert F-Moll (Concerto in F-minor). He was thrilled to find out later that it had been selected as a winner.
…
In 1974, an American professor wrote in a letter of recommendation that Dr. Maciuszko “still maintains his old-world dignity.” Never giving in to the pressures of the American culture, he has remained faithful to the ideals of his upbringing. Having known Dr. Maciuszko and his wife, Dr. Kathleen Maciuszko, throughout the years, I rediscovered the charm and splendor of Polish pre-war intelligentsia, this culture of mine that at first appeared very distant and incomprehensible, the culture that has been almost lost and forgotten. Today, I greatly value this engaging courtesy coupled with refined dignity and tremendous kindness. In today’s world of aggression, courtesy and kindness are invaluable assets. I salute Dr. Maciuszko for being able, against all odds, to preserve the most precious qualities of the Polish culture and pass them on to the next generations.
Zeal:
From Pew: The —Zeal of the Convert—: Is It the Real Deal?
A common perception about individuals who switch religions is that they are very fervent about their new faith. A new analysis by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life provides quantitative support for this piece of conventional wisdom often referred to as the “zeal of the convert.” The analysis finds that people who have switched faiths (or joined a faith after being raised unaffiliated with a religion) are indeed slightly more religious than those who have remained in their childhood faith, as measured by the importance of religion in their lives, frequency with which they attend religious services and other measures of religious commitment. However, the analysis also finds that the differences in religious commitment between converts and nonconverts are generally very small and are more apparent among some religious groups than others.
One of the most striking findings of the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, conducted by the Pew Forum in 2007, was the large number of people who have left their childhood faith. According to the survey, roughly half of all Americans say they have left the faith in which they were raised to adopt another faith or no faith at all, or if they were not raised in a religion, they have since joined one.
The new analysis finds that, overall, people who have switched religions consistently exhibit higher levels of religious commitment than those who still belong to their childhood faith, but the differences are relatively modest…
After joining the PNCC I went through strong convertitis. Affects others more strongly than others I suppose.
In Bridge news:
From the NY Times: Polish Wroclaw Team Blitzes, Winning Universities Title
The first European Universities Championship was played in Opatija, Croatia, from Oct. 4 through last Saturday. The 22 teams from 11 countries (Poland sent 7 teams) played a 10-board round robin.
With one round to go, Paris led Wroclaw-1 by 2 victory points. Paris played against Krakow (lying 15th), and Wroclaw-1 faced Munich (13th).
The final match started well for Paris. On Board 21 the Krakow East-West pair misdefended to let three no-trump through, giving Paris 13 international match points. And on the next deal this same Krakow pair missed three no-trump that was made at the other three tables in these matches, giving Paris another 10 imps.
…
On the penultimate board Wroclaw-1 gained 5 imps and Paris 7. So Paris needed a big swing on the final deal, but it was a dull three no-trump where the only fight was for an overtrick.
Paris had prevailed in its last match by 18 imps, which gave the team 20 victory points, but Wroclaw-1 had won a 38 to 0 blitz, gaining 25 victory points and the gold medals by 3 victory points.
The winning team comprised Zatorski, Nowosadzki, Wojciech Gawel and Piotr Wiankowski.
Bridge is hugely popular in Poland.
From Hudson Reporter: Keeping the traditions alive: Veterans’ posts seek younger vets
Bayonne has a long history of being one of the most patriotic cities in America. Men and, more recently, women from Bayonne have often been among the first to volunteer when the nation faces a military threat. Testifying to this is the fact that the city has 12 active veterans’ posts.
Yet, as patriotic as Bayonne is —“ with men and women still shipping out from Bayonne to help defend the country —“ membership in these posts is declining. This is because most of the members of these posts are getting old or dying off, and newer veterans from wars such as Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan are not joining.
While some of the posts still have a number of members on their rolls, they often operate with a core group who attend meetings regularly and bear the burden of civic events.
—We know there are younger veterans in town, and we’re trying to get them to join,— said Frank Perrucci, a World War II veteran.
National trend
This is, unfortunately, a national trend that has been going on since the late 1980s.
Veterans groups like those in Bayonne flourished after World War II, when posts served as a social network for those returning home from war, where men who had gone through similar experiences could gather and offer support for each other. But several studies done since the 1990s seem to indicate the these social networks are less appealing to younger veterans, even though these groups tend to form the backbone of lobbying efforts for veterans rights.
—The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars are the two biggest organizations in the country, and they fight for veterans’ benefits whenever Congress wants to cut them,— said Perrucci. —Posts like those in Bayonne are needed to support that effort.—
The bulk of members of these organizations come from World War II and the Korean War. Though some Vietnam War veterans have joined in recent years, many of these men and women are also beginning to age —“ most now in their 50s and 60s.
The most recent study done by the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs said there are wide social gaps between younger and older veterans that appear to discourage membership. Older veterans groups, the study showed, tended to center around a tavern-like setting, where veterans play pool, trade stories and such, while younger veterans appear to want a setting where they can set up a laptop, drink coffee or play video games.
More losses
Although less an issue in Bayonne —“ where younger veterans received a warmer welcome coming home from wars over seas —“ in many parts of the country, the report said, older veterans groups actually closed their doors to homecoming veterans, an exile that lasted almost 20 years in some cases, creating an even greater social gap between younger and older veterans.
The study, which concluded in 2002, showed that almost half the veterans groups saw a deep dip in membership during the late 1990s, as the population of older veterans died off.
—We lost two veterans just this week,— Perrucci said on Nov. 4, when he and other veterans gathered for the wake of Frank Sullivan.
The study shows that as the number of World War II veterans dwindle, so does membership in the VFW and American Legion.
Federal statistics show that American Legion and VFW membership nationally declined 24 percent to 3.9 million, from 1995 to 1998…
Veteran’s Posts, much like other social clubs, are also falling prey to a narrowing of interests and the over specialization of group membership. Rather than focusing on the common interests of all concerned, likely members are advocating for their particular needs alone (and this includes older, long standing members).
If we look at the wider good achieved through the social linkages created in these clubs we recognize their benefit. Traditionally, groups like the Moose, Elks, Lions, and Eagles as well as veteran’s organizations brought together people from various social strata. They worked for each other, for what they held in common, and did a whole lot of good for the wider community. Hopefully people will recognize that what they hold in common is far greater than the difference between the tavern and coffee club lifestyles. There is room for everyone because in unity there is strength.
If you are interested in working together contact the VFW, American Legion, DAV, or the Polish Legion of American Veterans.
From friend, Fr. Joseph R. Cyman at Holy Cross Parish.
Zawsze mialem problemy z opanowaniem 6-ciu strun.
Wreszcie ktos rozwiazal moj problem.
I’ve had the hardest time mastering a 6 string.
Finally, someone has solved my problem.