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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.

 

World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly – 24 July 2022

24 juillet 2022
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: bear fruit, elderly, grandparents, Saints Anne and Joachim, spiritual wealth

Pope Francis has decided to institute the Church-wide celebration of World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. It will be held on the fourth Sunday of July, close to the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus.

Cardinal Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, pointed out that “this is the first fruits of the Amoris Laetitia Family Year, a gift to the whole Church that is destined to continue into the future. The pastoral care of the elderly is a priority that can no longer be postponed by any Christian community.  In the encyclical Fratelli Tutti, the Holy Father reminds us that no one is saved alone. With this in mind, we must treasure the spiritual and human wealth that has been handed down from generation to generation”.

In old age they will still bear fruit

This is the theme chosen by the Holy Father for the II World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2022.

  On Sunday, July 24, 2022, the Second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly will be celebrated throughout the universal Church. The theme chosen by the Holy Father for the occasion is: « In old age they will still bear fruit ».

 

Source: Text: www.laityfamilylife.va    Image: Unsplash

17th Sunday of Year C – 2022

22 juillet 2022
Nicole Gregoire
2 Comments
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Asking, Genesis 18:20-32, harassment, insist, Luc 11:1-13, obstination, persévérance, persist

People who persist in following us to obtain something are not always rewarded!
Those who insist to attract our attention and awaken our interest will end up, very often, disappointed.
Insistence and persistence are often seen as obstination and do not gain our favor.

But it seems that… with God, things are different!
The 1st reading and the gospel of this Sunday show this clearly.

In the 1st reading we meet Abraham who pleads with God in a way that some would see as harassment.
And, amazingly, God goes along with this and accepts Abraham’s terms time and again (Genesis 18:20-32).

In the gospel, Jesus himself, tells a story meant to be the model of our approach to God:
asking, keeping on asking… until we are given what we want! (Luc 11:1-13).

To God, perseverance appears to be an important quality when presenting ourselves – and our requests – to him!
Singlemindedness and steadfastness are attitudes that can obtain from God… all that he is eager to give us in the first place!

Unfortunately, when knocking at his door… at times, we do not allow him to answer so much in a hurry are we to explore other avenues and… lacking trust in his unfailing generosity…

 

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/17e-dimanche-de-lannee-c-2022/

 

 

Source: Images: walkwithgodthejourney.com   aleteia.org

Palace Day – 19 July 2022

19 juillet 2022
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: arworks, biodiversity, fauna, flora, historic houses, palaces

For the seventh year in a row, the Network of European Royal Residences invites its members, cultural and political institutions, historic houses and their audiences to celebrate heritage on social media on July 19, 2022!

THE 2022 PALACE DAY WILL BE DEDICATED TO BIODIVERSITY!

This year, let’s talk about biodiversity !! When you talk about royal residences, we generally think to a big palace full of gold, paintings, sculptures, etc. But we often forget the wonderful biodiversity that we can admire in the parks and in the gardens of the royal residences. Exotic trees, thousands of bird species, wild animals, Royal Residences are home of an rich and various fauna and flora. And it’s not something recent!

Fauna and flora are often represented in the sculptures, the paintings, the artworks in the royal residences. Kings and Queens of Europe brought exotic plants for their gardens and wild animals for their “menagerie” and have contributed to the diversity of species. And today, professionals of palace-museums raise awareness and preserve this incredible biodiversity which is totally part of the richness of Palace-museums and the natural heritage!

 

Source: Text: www.palaceday.com    Image: unsplash.com

16th Sunday of Year C – 2022

15 juillet 2022
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: anxious, being attentive, devotions, Luke 10:38-42, necessary, please God, prayers, troubled, trying

Usually, the followers of Christ want to please God and they make special efforts to live as he wants them to.
In general, Christians try to imitate Jesus as they see him in the gospel and they try to be faithful to what God expects of them.

Prayers, devotions, sacrifices, penance in different forms – all these are part of the means in use.
But often, people ask themselves whether they have chosen what is best…
Are they, in fact, using the right way, the proper ritual, the correct words to address God?

Today’s gospel message (Luke 10:38-42) may come as a relief to many.
We hear Jesus reassuring Martha in these words:

“Few things are needed, indeed only one.”

Amazing, really!
Truly astonishing and… comforting!
But what is this ONE thing?

Described as “the better part”, it is shown in Mary’s attitude: simply being present to God.
Could it be that simple?

We cannot doubt Jesus words: they are direct and clear.
It is not a question of words to say, or things to be done.

It is a question of being – being there with God and for God.
Being attentive to what he tells us,
open to what he asks from us,
ready to receive what he offers us.

And then?… The rest is up to him!
It is worth trying!…
 
Note: A video, in English, presents the scene of this gospel text at: https://youtu.be/mRe14dfXf6c

Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/16e-dimanche-de-lannee-c-2022/

 

Source: Image: Pinterest

World Youth Day – 15 July

15 juillet 2022
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: change, disabilities, education, employment, entrepreneurship, opportunity, pandemic, skills, training, UN, Youth

Young people are drivers of change and must be fully engaged in decisions affecting their future. Guided by the United Nations Youth 2030 strategy, I urge everyone to act for youth skills development as a priority, at the Summit and beyond.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres

Transforming youth skills for the future

In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day, to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. Since then, World Youth Skills Day has provided a unique opportunity for dialogue between young people, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, firms, employers’ and workers’ organizations, policy-makers and development partners.

World Youth Skills Day 2022 takes place amid concerted efforts towards socio-economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that are interconnected with challenges such as climate change, conflict, persisting poverty, rising inequality, rapid technological change, demographic transition and others.

Young women and girls, young persons with disabilities, youth from poorer households, rural communities, indigenous peoples, and minority groups, as well as those who suffer the consequences of violent conflict and political instability, continue to be excluded due to a combination of factors. In addition, the crisis has accelerated several transitions the world of work was already undergoing, which add layers of uncertainty regarding the skills and competencies that will be in demand after the pandemic is overcome.

The United Nations and its agencies,  such as UNESCO-UNEVOC, are well placed to help address these challenges by reducing access barriers to the world of work, ensuring that skills gained are recognized and certified, and offering skills development opportunities for out-of-school youth and those not in employment, education or training (NEET). During this Decade of Action for the 2030 Agenda, the full engagement of young people in global processes is vital to generate positive change and innovation.

 

Source: Text: UN   Image: pngtree.com

 

World Population Day – 11 July

11 juillet 2022
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: deaths, growth, life span, mortality rate, population, UN

Did you know?

  • Since the middle of the 20th century, the world has experienced unprecedented population growth. The world’s population more than tripled in size between 1950 and 2020.
  • The growth rate of the world’s population reached a peak between 1965 and 1970, when human numbers were increasing by an average of 2.1% per year.
  • During the period from 2000 to 2020, even though the global population grew at an average annual rate of 1.2%, 48 countries or areas grew at least twice as fast: these included 33 countries or areas in Africa and 12 in Asia.
  • The life span of adults in the developed world has increased since the middle of the 20th century – the number of people reaching the age of 100 years has never been greater than it is today.
  • Worldwide, the number of deaths relative to the size of the population has been declining since the 1950s, Over the next several decades, projections by the United Nations assume a continuing gradual decrease in age-specific mortality rates.

 

Source: Text: UN DESA    Image: Freepik

 

 International Small Arms Destruction Day – 9 July

9 juillet 2022
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: armed groups, conflicts, criminals, firearms, organized crime, terrorists, victims, weapons
This date marks the International Small Arms Destruction Day, a date initiated by the United Nations in 2001 to remind the threat that the excessive and destabilizing accumulation of and illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons pose to peace and security, and highlights the importance of destroying surplus weapons as a key measure to reduce illicit arms flows and build safer societies where citizens can develop their full potential.

Illicit firearms are often catalysts and elements that aggravate the impact and harm produced by other crimes, including violent crimes, organised crime, drug trafficking or terrorism, among others, posing a major threat to human security and social stability, whilst standing as a serious obstacle to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

 Indeed, the international community has recognised the need to reduce illicit arms flows as a key target (Target 16.4) in pursuit to achieve peace, justice and strong institutions, as Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Agenda.

Over the past decade, arsenals have proliferated at global level. According to Small Arms Survey, it is estimated that there are approximately 1,13 billion firearms in circulation, among which 857 million are held by civilians; 133 million by military; and 22,7 million by law enforcement.

The larger the number of uncontrolled arms in circulation, the more difficult it is to ensure effective control over them throughout their entire lifecycle. Stockpiles become potential targets of thefts and attacks, and diversion points of firearms to the hands of criminals, non-state armed groups, terrorists, etc., contributing to fuel crime, conflict, gender-based violence, forced migration and innumerable indirect consequences.

Source: Text: UN   Image: Slidesgo

15th Sunday of Year C – 2022

8 juillet 2022
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: Colossians 1:15-20, God invisible, image of God, Jesus-Christ image of God, John 15:15, John 15:9, Luke 19:42, Luke 8:46, Mark 6:34, Matthew 15:32, Matthew 7:7, Matthew 8:7

There are people who regret not to have been among those who walked the paths of Palestine when Jesus himself was doing so – they would have seen him with their own eyes!
More people still lament the fact that God is… invisible – if only they could get a glimpse of him, they say they would be satisfied!

The first words of the 2nd reading of this Sunday have a message for all of them, for all of us indeed (Colossians 1:15-20).
Writing to the Colossians, the apostle Paul tells them:

“Christ is the image of the invisible God”.

Christ – Jesus of Nazareth, yes, but this same Jesus risen and alive eternally, Christ the Lord.
This means that whatever we see in him is also present in God himself.

His attention to those around him: “Someone touched me…” (Luke 8:46).
His concern for those following him: “They have been with me for three days and they have nothing to eat…” (Matthew 15:32).
His compassion for those in need: “He felt compassion for them, they were like sheep without a shepherd…” (Mark 6:34).
His closeness to us: “I do not call you servants, I call you friends…” (John 15:15).
His readiness to help: “I will go and heal him…” Matthew 8:7).
His reassurance in answer to our needs: “Ask and it will be given to you…” (Matthew 7:7)
His sorrow for our lack of understanding: “If you had only understood on this day the message of peace…” (Luke19:42).
His love: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you…” (John 15:9).
 
THIS is God –
the nearness of God, the concern of God, his compassion, his readiness to come to our help, his regret that we do not understand his ways, his love…
If looking for an ‘image’ of God… this is it, so clearly ‘visible’!
 
Note: another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/15e-dimanche-de-lannee-c-2022/

 

 

Source: Image: The Good News Herald – WordPress.com

14th Sunday of Year C – 2022

30 juin 2022
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: God near, kingdom of God, knowing God, knowing someone, Lk.10:17-20, Luke 10:1-12, mantra

Among believers, if asked whether they know God, some people would answer immediately:
“Of course, I know him!”
Others may pause for a moment before replying: “Well, I know some things about him…”

Knowing someone is quite an experience, and to know someone truly the experience must be on-going, never achieved completely.
The same is true, all the more so, where God is concerned.
In fact, to know him truly, we need him to make himself known to us.

In the gospel of this Sunday (Luke 10:1-12,17-20), Jesus tells us something important about God.
Sending his Apostles to towns and villages to tell people about God, Jesus says that they are to proclaim:

“The kingdom of God is very near to you.”
 
The kingdom of God – God’s presence, God himself is indeed very near to us.
Sad to say, many people think of him as far away, far above…
To many people, God is uninvolved, untouched, unmoved by our human experiences…
When he, himself, has chosen to become one of us in Jesus!

It may be helpful in the coming days, to repeat the words – a little like a mantra:
“God is very near…”

The days ahead may be transformed into something we had not experienced until now…

 

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at:https://image-i-nations.com/14e-dimanche-de-lannee-c-2022/

 

Source: Image: Our Retirement Days

Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, Year C – 2022

28 juin 2022
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: advice, anticipation, Einstein, life experiences, Luke 9:11-17, Niels Bohr, physicists, Sign, Temptation

It is recorded that Niels Bohr, a brilliant physicist told the no less brilliant Einstein : « Einstein, stop telling God what to do. »

It seems that we, human beings, often give in to the temptation of doing exactly that: telling God what to do!
We see the apostles doing this in today’s gospel (Luke 9:11-17).

They tell Jesus:

« Send the people away and they can go to the villages to find lodging and food.”
 
Had Jesus listened to the apostles, there would have been no multiplication of the loaves!
No anticipation of something more…
No sign of what was to come…
What we celebrate on today’s feast: Jesus giving us his own body and blood as food –
food permanently offered and always available to us…

It could be an interesting exercise – and quite a revelation –
To look at all those times when, in our life experiences – we told God what to do
and… he did not follow our suggestion or insistent request!

What did we not gain from his refusal to accept our advice!
Much to be thankful for… to this day!

 

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/fete-du-corps-et-du-sang-du-christ-annee-c-2022/

 

Source: Image: BiblePic.com