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October - December 2003
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Enlightening News
- To The Unknown Teacher
I sing of the unknown teacher.
Great generals win campaigns, but it is the unknown soldier who wins the war. It is the unknown teacher who delivers and guides the young.
She lives in obscurity and contends with hardship in loving service of God.
For her no trumpets blare, no chariots wait, no golden decorations are decreed.
She keeps the watch along the borders of darkness and makes the attack on the trenches of ignorance and folly.
She awakens the sleeping spirits.
She quickens the indolent, the unstable.
She communicates her own joy in learning and shares with boys and girls the very best treasures of her pure mind.
She lights many candles which later years will shine back to cheer her.
This her current reward
- Henry Van Dyke Catholic Quote
- Why do Catholics genuflect?
When a Catholic genuflects, he is showing reverence to God. Jesus is present under the appearance of CONSECRATED hosts (bread) in the tabernacle. He is the redeemer of the human race. The Latin noun, "genu", means "knee", the Latin very "flexto, flexi, flexum'' means to "bend" or "bow". To genuflect means to bend one's knee.
By the second century, it became routine for Christians to genuflect.
St. Augustine wrote during the fourth century, "They kneel, stretch their hands, or even prostrate themselves upon the ground".
St. Ambrose wrote (during the same period) "by genuflecting, one expiates one's offenses against God, and divine grace is called for." Scripture references: St. Paul's Letter to the Romans and the Phillippians.
- Rockaways' Catholic-Jewish School Council Disbands
The Rockaway-Catholic Jewish Council has disbanded effective June, 2003 after 24 years of interfaith dialogue and activities.
Citing a combination of membership and cost factors, the group agreed to cease operations. The council's historical records and database will be maintained in hopes that a successor organization may arise with in the foreseeable future.
"We found much satisfaction in what we have accomplished," said the Council's Liaison Committee in the final issue of Dialogue, the RCJC newsletter.
"We live in a neighborhood that has a pattern of continuous growth of diverse population and with it, of course, a significant potential for trouble. We take pride, therefore, the knowledge that our religious and educational interfaith programs have contributed in large measure to the peace and tranquility that we enjoy."
Persons interested in continuing to pursue such interfaith grass roots harmony building on an organized basis were referred to the Catholic-Jewish Relations Council of Northeast Queens.
A press release from the Council stated: "Our aging leadership and increasing overhead, as well as costs for free programs and publications, were problems that called for solutions beyond our capabilities."
A small community-based organization, the Council got involved in such diverse and far-flung situations such as Passion Plays in the U.S. and Oberammergau, Germany.
- The Tablet 8/2003
- Very Profound Statement
In the movie, Death on the Nile, Peter Ustinov says to Mia Farrow, "Do not let evil in your heart, it will find a home there.
- A Refresher Course
Judaism was founded c. 2000 B.C.E. among the Hebrews who migrated west from Mesopotamia (Iraq, Iran) to Palestine (Canaan). They were led by Abraham who entered into a covenant (agreement) with God who promised His protection to the Jews in return for their recognition of Him as the One True God. Moses rescued the Jews from captivity in Egypt in the 13th century B.C.E., and led them to the Promised Land. He received the Ten Commandments from God. The Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible) consists of history and laws. The Talmud and Midrash are collections of commentaries on the Laws and Scriptures.
Christianity was founded by Jesus who was born c. 5 B.C.E. in present day Israel. He taught he was the Son of God (Messiah). His key 12 followers (called Apostles) spread His ideas. Jesus' writings are called the New Testament scriptures. The Three main divisions of Christianity are Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Protestantism.
Islam was founded by Muhammad (c.570-632 C.E.) who was born in Mecca in the Arabian Peninsula. He claimed to be the last of the great prophets from God. His ideas are contained in the scriptures called the Koran.
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