VIEW FROM THE PEW “If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough.” That’s just one of the uncountable adages, proverbs and witticisms that come frothing to the top of the deep pool of ethnic memory as St. Patrick’s Day approaches. The poetry and music, the long-winded blessings concluding with “May the good Lord […]
Mary Adamski: Happy Valentine’s Day!
VIEW FROM THE PEW Standing in the greeting card section at Longs and reading Valentine cards set my thoughts scattering in diverse directions. What would St. Valentine, the third century martyr whose name is perpetuated with this holiday, have thought about some of these sentiments, especially in the naughty variety, or even the ones with […]
Mary Adamski (on stewardship): Christmas! Let’s run with it
VIEW FROM THE PEW It’s the seventh day of Christmas and we should still be on a hallelujah high. (Eighth, ninth, if you lagged in opening this paper, and still happy we’re in a season that didn’t end with one day of frenzied unwrapping and overeating but just began with the holy birth in Bethlehem.) […]
Mary Adamski : Chaplains in blue: listening, consoling, praying
Screaming sirens go past the window of the restaurant, and it hits a time travel switch in my brain. It’s time to say a prayer for the safety and well being of the people who are in distress and the policemen, firemen, paramedics dashing to help them.
Mary Adamski: The song of the rich young man
The whole congregation swayed and lip-synched as the choir sang “Kanaka Wai Wai” at the Oct. 11 Sunday Mass at my parish. One of the most mellow, lovely Hawaiian hymns; even those not fluent know the words of the chorus, “E hawi, e hawi lilo. I kou mau waiwai,” and so on. But did we […]
Mary Adamski: Getting spiritual about ecology
If Catholics think we corner the market on fulfillment and welcome as we watch Pope Francis in his historic visit to the United States, we are mistaken. Even the American politicos who cluster to hear him — and hope for a photo op — when he speaks to Congress, visits the White House and mingles […]
Mary Adamski | View from the Pew: The Mountain
I told a friend that I want to write about The Mountain and she immediately tried to argue me out of it. “It’s just sticking your neck out to be harassed,” was the prediction. “You’re the wrong ethnic persuasion to dare to have an opinion.” But the subject of The Mountain has arisen in things […]
Mary Adamski: When a loss for words is preferable
Being at a loss for words is not a trait prevalent in my family. We are storytellers and we love to give advice. People in power positions don’t know how lucky — or is it unfortunate? — they are that they’re not on our speed dial for input on remedies for the state of the […]
Mary Adamski: Ceasefire Sunday
“This is a weapon free zone.” That was the sign on entry door of the assisted living apartments we visited recently. It echoed the instructions on the doors of restaurants, supermarkets and malls: “No handguns or other weapons permitted” or “All weapons prohibited on these premises.” Our friends and family in Wisconsin don’t even blink […]
Mary Adamski: Saints alive!
Father Damien de Veuster, still celebrated, is only one of many heroes Kalaupapa produced Heroes and martyrs and saints, oh my. One of them is featured in a cameo further back in this paper. Some ring a bell from schooldays stories or “patron saint of” lists. Many may seem obscure to people caught up in […]
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