hello

Greetings to each and everyone of you.


This section for English-speaking viewers –
and all those enjoying the culture –

has developed over the months and is now offering materials of all kinds:

texts, images, poems, videos, etc.

It will continue to provide you with rich contents week after week.

 

International Vulture Awareness Day – 2 September 2023

2 septembre 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: admiration, awareness, conservationists, extinction, poison, scavengers, vultures

It is a celebration that goes beyond mere admiration – it’s a call to action, an opportunity to stand up for these crucial birds and raise awareness about their urgent conservation needs.

Vultures are more than just scavengers; they are nature’s cleanup crew, silently performing a crucial service that keeps our ecosystems healthy. By efficiently disposing of animal carcasses, vultures likely help prevent the spread of disease and reduce the need for costly waste management processes that produce CO2 emissions. In short, vultures provide a remarkable range of free ecosystem services that benefit both nature and society at large.

Despite their vital contributions, the populations of some vulture species are dwindling at unprecedented rates, pushing them to the brink of extinction. These incredible birds are threatened by poisoning, electrocution, collision, and other human-induced factors. We cannot afford to let these important birds disappear from our skies.

Join us on International Vulture Awareness Day 2023

IVAD is a collective effort to shine a spotlight on vulture conservation and raise awareness about the critical work being done by conservationists worldwide.

 

Source: Text & Image: https://4vultures.org/

22nd Sunday of Year A – 2023

1 septembre 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: "real' world, believers, blessings, choice, friends, God's invitation, Matthieu 21:12-13, prophet, relationships

 

Our lives are woven with all kinds of relationships:
family, relatives, friends, neighbours, colleagues.
There are also the specialists we are referred to, or the technicians who fix things for us.

Our relationship with each one of them can be very different.
Some neighbours may become friends, but we may not develop a friendship with certain colleagues.
Some relatives may remain quite distant, while the specialist who treated us has become a close friend.

At a certain moment in time, a choice has been made.
A decision has been taken to accept this, or that person, in our life in a closer way.

Have you ever thought that the same is true about… God!
As you read this, it may happen that you stop and think…
Slowly, you realize that it is true…
You had never thought about it in this way, but you see it now: God invites himself into our lives.

Some people may not want to see God ‘interfering’ in their existence!
It is a little what we see in today’s 1st reading where the prophet Jeremiah is not eager for God to come too close! (Jeremiah 20:7-9).

“You deceived me, Lord, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed…
I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name.”

Jeremiah laments the choice God has made of him to be a prophet.
The message he must pass on to the people in the name of God brings him insults and abuse.
But he cannot resist fulfilling his mission.

Looking at our own lives, we may somehow feel disappointed as well.
We may have thought that accepting God in our lives would bring us blessings of all kinds.
But we are sometimes faced with being laughed at, or rejected, for being believers.
We may be seen as naïve, or out of touch with the ‘real’ world.
We may lose friends because of our being followers of Christ.

God does not impose himself on us, but he proposes a life of relationship with him.
The choice to accept, or to reject, God’s invitation, God’s presence in our life, is ours.

Much depends on our decision…
A more meaningful life, and a more promising afterlife…

God’s offer is a permanent one… and the choice always remains ours…

 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/22e-dimanche-de-lannee-a-2023/

 

Source: Images: unsplash.com (Helena Lopes)        pexels.com (Andrea Piacquadio)      https://www.encounter247.com       Wikipedia

International Dog Day – 26 August

26 août 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: abuse, Care, homeless, man's best friend, mistreatment, sizes and breeds
INTERNATIONAL DOG DAY: A SPECIAL DAY TO CELEBRATE ALL DOGS AROUND THE WORLD!

The International Dog Day is observed annually on August 26 to honour all dogs – no matter shapes, sizes, age and breeds – and encourage adoption to all those who have yet to find a home and a family forever.

It is a good and symbolic occasion to celebrate man’s best friend and to remember that every dog around the world should deserve a better life: a life of joy, love, protection, care and respect. A special day to raise awareness about dog adoption because if you are looking for a life’s companion, shelters are full of four-legged friends who are waiting for their chance and will bring just happiness to your days.

Today we also want to give special thought to all dogs that are still left behind in many parts of the world because people, government or local authorities do not care. We should remember all dogs killed, abused, mistreated, but also those who live homeless, in suffering with no care and need to be helped and rescued.

This day was created in 2004 by Colleen Paige, a pet and family lifestyle expert and animal advocate who chose to celebrate the day on August 26 as it was the date that her family adopted their first dog ‘Sheltie’ from an animal shelter home.
Since the first celebration in 2004, National Dog Day has grown in popularity and is now celebrated across the world as International Dog Day.

 

Source: Text: https://www.oipa.org/international/international-dog-day/   Image: daysoftheyear.com

21st Sunday of Year A – 2023

25 août 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: answers, daily life, expérience, Genesis 3:9, God speaking, Matthew 16:13-20, questions, relationship with God

QUESTIONS: there are all kinds of them, they are countless.
There are short questions, easy; others are intricate, or vague.
Some are intriguing, others are disturbing, they make us feel uncomfortable.

People ask us questions, of course.
Life also asks questions of us, often difficult questions.
And even… God asks us questions!

This started long ago – we see it happening in the very beginning of the Bible where God asks Adam where he is hiding! (Genesis 3:9).
Throughout the books of the Bible, different people are confronted with this questioning from God.
The prophets are often the interpreters to their people of God’s questions.

Today’s gospel text shows us Jesus asking a very important question indeed (Matthew 16:13-20).
He asks his apostles:
“What about you? Who do you say I am?”

If we move from the first to the twenty-first century where we find ourselves and…
If we listen to this very question now addressed to us…
What will we answer?
Not repeating Peter’s answer, but giving our own very personal reply to Jesus…

Some people reading this text will think: ‘It all depends…’
Very true! It all depends what kind of relationship we are having with God.

For us, is God a distant deity, far above, or far away, who has little to do – we think – with our daily life and experience?
Do we know little about who he is, apart from acknowledging his greatness and power?
Or, do we perceive him – mysteriously, perhaps – as close and concerned about us, always ready to come to our help?

God’s questions are always meant to help us discern the way to a better life, a deeper freedom, a more meaningful existence.
And, we should be convinced that, with God, there are no bad answer, no reply that is wrong.
All our answers – even the most inadequate or incomplete – will be received by him who accepts us as we are!

But, of course, we have to listen to him to hear him speaking to us…
For his part, he will wait, and wait, for our answers…

 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/21e-dimanche-de-lannee-a-2023/

 

Source: Image: Unsplash

She was not considered worthy of consideration…

20 août 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: daring, Matthew 15:21-28, non-Jew, sick daughter, Syrophoenician woman, tenacious

She was only… a woman, and… a pagan at that –
a non-Jew, those chosen people by God.
What could she expect?
She deserved nothing, really nothing.
She should not have been waiting for what she was asking for,
especially not from the Master…
But… she was not only hopeful but daring and… tenacious!
She received more than what she had asked for!

 

20th Sunday of Year A – 2023

18 août 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: acceptance of all, inclusion, Isaiah 56:1, Isaiah 56:6-7, John 6:37, Matthew 15:21-28, no rejection discrimination, Romans 11:13-15, Romans 11:29-32

 

In the world at large, the leaders are encouraged, at times with strong incentive from the citizens, to adopt a policy of inclusion.
They should provide equal access to opportunities and resources to ALL people.
Each and EVERY ONE should benefit from the services of the state.
Nobody should be excluded, or marginalized, for whatever reason.
Those seen as belonging to ‘minority groups’ should be treated as everyone else.

It does not happen often that all the Bible texts of a celebration are based on the same theme.
But it is what we are given on this Sunday.
All the texts speak precisely of this: what people nowadays refer to as inclusion.
It means the acceptance of all people whatever their origin, nation, social group, gender, religion.

   
 

 

 

 

 

 

In the 1st reading (Isaiah 56:1,6-7), through the words of Isaiah, God presents himself as the God of all.
He says clearly:
“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

In the 2nd reading (Romans 11:13-15,29-32) Paul, writing to the Romans, speaks of himself as the apostle of the Gentiles, the non-Jews, those usually seen as outcast.

The gospel (Matthew 15:21-28) allows us to meet one such person: a Syrophoenician woman who obtains from Jesus the healing of her daughter.

Even the response to the 1st reading (Psalm 67:2-3,5-6,8) asks God that his salvation may reach all nations.
It is obvious that if this is the God we believe in, we should follow HIS way –
HIS way of being, HIS way of accepting people, HIS way of treating everyone.

It was the way Jesus lived and he said it openly:
“All those the Father gives me will come to me,
and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”  (John 6:37)

As his followers, this is meant to be our way as well…
No discrimination, no exclusion, no rejection…
ALL accepted as God’s own!

 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/20e-dimanche-de-lannee-a-2023/

 

Source: Images: Catholic.co.il    Wikipedia (Valentin de Boulogne, Museum of Fine Arts)    FreeBibleimages     www.prayersandpetitions

 

International Lefthanders Day – 13 August

13 août 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: adapt, awkward, Mona Lisa, quality, Sistine Chapel

International Left Handers Day on August 13th recognizes all those individuals who have mastered using their left hand in a right-handed world. We take our hats off to you – left-handed!

#LeftHandersDay

Approximately 10% of the population are southpaws. Scientists don’t know why a person develops left-handedness. But it’s more likely a child will be left-handed if one parent is a lefty, too. Parents of left-handed children used to force them to use their right hands. In the eyes of right-handers, the predominant use of the left hand seemed evil. Parents feared their communities would shun their children. While we accept left-handedness more readily than days gone by, its occurrence hasn’t increased.  

Famous Lefties

Many lefties seek to blend in because they will stand out soon enough. Their unique quality makes them feel awkward. They bump elbows or seem like a klutz. However, in a world designed for the right-handed, those who are other dominant adapt quite well. For example, eight United States presidents were left-handed, including Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. Would the Sistine Chapel and the Mona Lisa stand the test of time if Michaelangelo and Leonardo de Vinci had been right-handed? 

 

Source: Text & Image: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/international-left-handers-day-august-13/

World Elephant Day – 12 August

12 août 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: carbon, conservation, endangered, environment, feeding patterns, planet, rain forest

Turns Out Elephants May Play a Crucial Role in Saving The Planet

Preserving populations of critically endangered forest elephants is crucial not just for the animals themselves, but to protect the carbon-sucking capacities of the environments they live in, a new study demonstrates.

The rainforest of central and west Africa, which is the second largest on Earth, could lose 6 to 9 percent of its atmospheric carbon capturing capacity if elephant communities were wiped out – further accelerating the warming of the planet.

Forest elephants play a crucial role in the carbon cycle, ‘thinning out’ the rainforest canopy by eating fast growing taller trees that capture less carbon. This creates more space and sunlight for the slower growing trees beneath which capture more carbon from the environment.

« If we lose forest elephants, we will be doing a global disservice to climate change mitigation, » says biologist Stephen Blake from Saint Louis University in Missouri.

« The importance of forest elephants for climate mitigation must be taken seriously by policy makers to generate the support needed for elephant conservation. The role of forest elephants in our global environment is too important to ignore. »

Using data from previous studies and new information collected in the field, the team analyzed nearly 200,000 records of forest elephant feeding patterns in Africa, covering more than 800 individual plant species.

The preference that elephants have for the lower carbon density trees seems to be down to the nutritional value they get from them rather than they’ve availability: they’re more palatable to the animals and easier to digest.

Source: Text: https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/technology/  Story by David Nield    Image: Wikipedia

19th Sunday of Year A – 2023

11 août 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: 1 Kings 19:11-13, 1 Kings 19:9, Avenger, earthquake, fire, gentle breeze, negative theology, Power of God, wind

 

GOD – his name alone leads people to different reactions.
Some fear his interventions, while others deny his very existence.
But many people want to know him, and they persistently search for him.

Trying to know God is quite an experience, it is something of an adventure.
Theologians, Bible scholars, spiritual writers, all of them try to know him,
or, at least, to discover something about who he is.
Throughout history, these specialists have designed methods leading to a better comprehension.

One such method is entitled ‘negative theology’ telling us what God is not.
It is believed that knowing what God is not, we will come to perceive what, or better still, who he is.

This came to my mind as I read the 1st reading of today’s celebration  (1 Kings 19:9,11-13).

The text gives us to meet Elijah, the prophet, who has come to the mountain of Horeb to meet God.
The scene is vividly described for us to form a mental picture of what takes place.

We witness a powerful wind, an earthquake, a huge fire –
but, each time, we are told that GOD was NOT there.
Is it, perhaps, an expression of… ‘negative theology’?

Then, “a gentle whisper” (another translation speaks of: « a soft breeze ») is perceived –
this to Elijah is the revelation of God’s presence.

Different interpretations are given to this Scripture passage.
This scene may help us understand something of God’s true identity:

 

  • God is NOT the Avenger God
  • God is NOT the Destroyer
  • God is NOT the Overwhelming Force crushing all under him.

God’s Power is experienced in gentleness.
God’s Strength is expressed in forgiveness.
God’s Domination is seen in service.

We know that Jesus’ whole life was the positive and clear representation of this… ‘negative theology’ –
gentleness… forgiveness… service…
 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/19e-dimanche-de-lannee-a-2023/

 

Source: Image: Wellspring Christian Ministries