Easter Noon Mass 2013
As I entered the Cathedral (sans cane) this morning at about 11.05- 11.15, Communion was still being distributed in the main aisle, and I saw Andy, a former FP student of mine, suited up and waiting in his Easter Sunday best in the narthex. I wished him a happy Easter and we shook hands.
Don played the recessional hymn and Widor's Toccata (from Symphony V for organ).
The choir, Ken, the tympanist, and the Carnegie Brass players all fell into place after well-wishes and "Happy Easter"s to each other. We warmed up/ rehearsed briefly before a few preludes by Ken and also by the Carnegie Brass.
Entrance Hymn: Jesus Christ is Risen Today (Four verses)
Gloria (Don Fellows)
Psalm 118: This is the Day - O Filii et Filiae
Sequence (sung by Fr. Kris Stubna, and by us) (A.C. Dohms)
Gospel Acclamation: Good New Acclamation (J. Chepponis)
Sprinkling Rite: Springs of Water (Don Fellows)
Preparation of Gifts: Hallelujah! from the Mount of Olives (L. Beethoven)
Eucharistic Acclamations: Community Mass (Richard Proulx)
Agnus: Chant
Communion: Be Known to Us, Lord Jesus (C. Schalk)
Communion 2: Hallelujah from Messiah (G.F. Handel)
Blessing/Dismissal: Thanks be to God, Alleluia
Closing Hymn: Christ the Lord is Risen Today (Llanfair)
Postlude: Toccata, Widor
Easter Vigil Mass 2013
At about 8.40 in the evening yesterday (Saturday) Bishop Zubik started off the Easter Vigil Mass with the
Acclamation of Light: "the light of Christ..." "Thanks be to God."
and the Exsultet, sung by the Bishop.
The following two psalms were led by cantors Sean and Linda--
Psalm 33: The earth is full...("Bernard Newell)
Exodus 13: Let us sing to the Lord (Bernard Newell")
You Will Draw Water Joyfully (R. Bastistini)
Gloria (Don Fellows)
Easter Alleluia with Psalm 118: Good News Acclamation (James Chepponis), with three repeats of the Alleluias and an alleluia after the Gospel reading
Litany of the Saints: Chant by Sean
Initiation Acclamations: Springs of Water (Donald Fellows)
Preparation of the Gifts: Hallelujah! from the Mount of Olives (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Eucharistic Acclamations: Community Mass (Richard Proulx)
Agnus Dei: Chant
Communion: Be Known to Us, Lord Jesus (Carl Schalk)
more Communion Music: "Hallelujah" from Messiah (G.F. Handel)
Blessing/ Dismissal: Thanks be to God, Alleluia...
Closing Hymn: Jesus Christ is Risen Today
Postlude: Toccata, Symphony V (C.M. Widor)
The Cathedral choir was accompanied by Ken (as usual), the Carnegie Brass, and the tympanist. The celebration was in four parts: a light service, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of Christian initiation (welcoming the RCIA candidates to the Church community), and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The celebration Mass lasted approximately two hours and fifty minutes.
I explained to Kyle, who was visiting with Kelly at Mom and Dad's, that, of all the Masses of the Catholic Church year, if I had to see just one, this one would be it. There's lots of singing, and celebration, and light after the Mass begins in the darkness after sundown. This is to welcome the new converts to the Church community.
Good Friday 2013
After work today I walked (avec cane) to St. Paul Cathedral. I went in the side entrance and saw Laura, one of my bosses, standing, too, waiting for the homily by Bishop Zubik to end before finding a seat.
I found a seat next to Sr. Dorothy, a Sister of Mercy from Carlow University.
I am always moved by Bob Farrell's Cruxifixus, which was the last musical piece sang by the choir before we exited in silence.
Holy Thursday 2013
Just returned from the Holy Thursday Mass celebrated by Bishop David Zubik et al. We, the choir sang with Christina cantoring. The Mass was televised and began at seven o'clock in the evening. The opening antiphon was
Let our glory be in the cross,
followed by the hymn
Lift High the Cross
we sang Gloria (C. Andrews)
Psalm 116 (M. Guimont)
the Gospel Acclamation: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ (Richard Proulx)
Foot Washing: Ubi Caritas (James Biery)
Ubi Caritas (Chant)
Preparation of the Gifts: Where Charity and Love Prevail
Eucharistic Acclamations: Sanctus chant, acclamations from Schubert's Deutsche Messe, Agnus Dei in E flat (Antonio Lotti)
Antiphon: This is my body which is given...
Communion: Where Love and Charity are Found (Lucien Deiss)
Ave Verum (C. Gounod)
Transfer of the Eucharist: Pange Lingua
Choral Meditation: Adoramus Te, Christe (Robert Farrell)
Stripping of the Altar, Departure in Silence
Argo
Mom, Dad, and I watched Argo on cable television last night. Argo won the Academy Award this spring for best picture. It was directed by Ben Affleck, who also starred in the movie.
I have been wanting to see this movie since I saw the trailer. Auntie Chi had also recommended it to us.
It was simply riveting.
Palm Sunday 2013
Upon emerging from the shower, I heard the emergency alarm go off. I was not thrilled to hear it. I saw Dot from down the hall as I left. Chatted with Roger on the stair, and with Carl and Monica ("Did you bring coffee?") outside.
Came over to Mom and Dad's for correspondence and grading and preparing my folder for choir....Today is Palm Sunday.
Maureen was in town
Yesterday Maureen was in town, after an appointment in Pittsburgh. She is spending most of her time with her aging mom. Yesterday we had breakfast in the North Hills, at one of our favorite pancake places. I had a Polish omelette plate, which has six eggs...I only ate half of my plate (with pancakes). We then went to Staples, where she wanted to fax a document.
I came back and took a nap, woke up, tried to grade and got only ~one-third through one of my sections when Maureen and I decided to enjoy the lovely sunny weather and go outside. We went to Bakery Square, the Panera there and the Staples too, where I got some stationery items. I also went to the hair care store, where I bought some brushes.
Upon returning home I graded, had dinner with Mom and Dad, and chatted with Mrs. B. We noted that the last time we had seen each other was about eight years ago, at Wendy's. We caught up on news from each other. By the end of the evening I had finished grading half of my classes' ecology prelab assignments.
Time with Beatrice and Solomon
Friday night after meeting with a student for math help on campus, I went to Lolo and Lola's and we all had dinner with Beatrice and Solomon (William and Marissa had gone to a ball). Baked whiting (which led me to the Lewis Carroll poem), cole slaw, macaroni and cheese, rice, and sweet potatoes were our fare. We also delivered Easter candy to the "Grandma Ladies," Sally and Rita.
Rita inquired of the two children if they knew where the Easter Bunny lived. They said they did not. "Neither do I," replied Rita.
We also played Flip-Tac-Toe, which Solomon is really good at playing, beating most any challenger. And we watched Nickelodeon, the Fresh Beat Band. Finally, we told stories to each other (Solomon told a Jib-a-Jib story) on the sleepover set-up (replete with the mermaid Ariel blanket) in Lolo and Lola's room.
As I was leaving the building I ran into William and Marissa, who had "rocked on" at the ball, dancing.
Repairing, Refurbishing, Redesigning, and Designing Jewelry
This Friday late morning to 16.00 Maureen and I met with Nancy and her cousin by marriage to repair, refurbish, some broken pieces of beaded jewelry. I also redesigned and designed beaded jewelry. Maureen restrung a piece Six Hands had fashioned for her sister, Mary Gene. I restrung on 0.38 wire a piece Mom gave me from the Southwestern United States as well as redesigned (with Asian ghost stone) a glass necklace I got in Delft to be an earring, bracelet, and necklace set.
We repaired three necklaces (two with aqua beads and one with tan and white seed beads), and I designed a BRIGHT, multi-color, multi-textured LONG necklace with matching bracelet and earrings.
Nancy and her cousin were giving of their time and talents Friday.
I also watched a movie about a trapped, depressed character played by Ingrid Bergman in her first movie with her future husband, Roberto Rossellini, called Stromboli.
Finished Grading, Scoring, Recording Midterms, Spring 2013
Wednesday about after dinner I finished grading and scoring midterms. I recorded grades when I had a free moment.
I had a doctor's visit and X ray views taken on Thursday.
Habemus Papus!
We have a Pope:
http://news.msn.com/world/cardinals-select-pope
He is from Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergoglio , who is 76 years old, and will be Pope Francis.
The bells at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland have been ringing for about one hour or more now, since about 14.00 this afternoon.
Our Favorite Things-- Joanne Lessner and Joshua Rosenblum
Last night I met up with the local Rosenblum clan and William and Beatrice to fill the Levy auditorium at Rodef Shalom for a performance in their music series, "Our Favorite Things" performed by Joanne Lessner and Joshua Rosenblum.
The first group of songs were on "Love" (as Beatrice pointed out to me, after "Amor" by William Bolcom ended), the last two groups in the set were on "Food" (including humoresque La Bonne Cuisine selections by Leonard Bernstein), and on "Animals."
Intermission happened after Beatrice's regular bedtime, so she and her daddy headed home then.
At the end of the break, we listened to a group on "Travel" (where Joanne shared her, Josh's, and Cole Porter's classic love of Paris with the rest of us), and four pieces in a group called "Writing Musicals" by the happy couple.
It is always a treat to hear and experience those two performing together. It was a special treat to catch up with Josh's parents and with his brother Charles, and Susan, by an invitation to sit with the family, as well. I chatted with our family friends after the concert; and Susan and I chatted, as well, when she gave me a lift home on that drizzly evening yesterday.
Lector/ Proclaim for Mass, Fourth Week of Lent 2013
Yesterday morning I lectored for Mass. Fr. Steven P celebrated with Fr. Joe F. The entrance and recessional hymns were pre-photocopied for everyone before Mass, thanks to Fr. Steven. Ted W served, and J.R. Daniels provided music ministry from the Beckerath organ panel in the loft.
Monday was in the Fourth Week of Lent. We sang for the entrance "Forty Days and Forty Nights", I read Isaiah 65: 17-21 and Psalm 30:2A, and Psalm 30: 2 & 4, 5-6, 11-12A, and 13B. Fr. Steven read the Gospel according to St. John 4:43-54. Acclamations were from the Schubert Deutche Messe, and Latin Plainsong. The recessional hymn was "Lord of All Hopefulness."
I went to the campus library (during this, our Spring Break), spotted a former student while working in the computer labon laboratory work and on CV work. I stopped in to pick up a student's paper from work and said hi to Meredith and chatted briefly with Elia. Mom, Dad, and I went to the South Hills (where I treated them for lunch), and we picked the brain of the tech where they bought the computer. I got some grading in, talked to Stacey from work about grading, and headed to Rodef Shalom for a concert last night.
Without a Pope Since 1 March 2013
"The seat is empty."
Bible Study- Newman's Sermon Number 4
Yesterday night I went to Bible Study facilitated by Fr. Steve L. We read and discussed Newman's Sermon Number 4, Christ's Privation a Meditation for Christians. Donna, Br. Leland, Laura were all there, and I met Chris afterwards, as well.
Newman bluntly points out to his congregation in the homily that "[they] do not meditate and therefore [they] are not impressed [by Christ's sacrifices for each of them]." I commented that most people get into habits, almost like gerbils or hamsters on a wheel, and do not consider, through deep thought and what is deep in their hearts the seed of Christ's love for them. Fr. Steve mentioned that "you become what you think about." Quite a thought-full and thoughtful thought to hold in one's heart.
I also commented that meditating on Christ is different than meditation on a piece of artwork---there is no give and take relationship between the object of meditation in a museum and oneself, whereas there is so in the meditation on Christ. There, in the meditation on Christ, there is a relationship between oneself and the Christ; there is growth.
Laura commented on brain mapping and practice. I commented on this concept, as well, giving an example of one who has had a stroke who is building back functionality through building new neural connections. Fr. Steve commented that in simply writing daily goals, one can make great strides in life.
I chatted with Donna, Chris, and Laura after the discussion.
No snow or ice this past 5 days or so. This may change tonight....
Friday Night out with the Gals
Friday night after work (which ended a little early), Maureen and I met up with Nancy at a restaurant in Bloomfield that had undergone a reality show makeover. We were surprised with the new decor, panels of powder blue interspersed with the requisite white painted brick, new artwork (paintings and a large---did I say LARGE?---spoon and fork in the archway, and the original menu framed and hanging, as well), and the bar area had two flat-screen television sets in it, the better for karaoke night!
After dinner, Nancy departed, and we took a quick detour to Shadyside, then to Ross Park Mall, where I purchased a pair of leggings/trousers. Maureen did, too, as well as a belt. We passed the sale information on to her sister and mom, who visited this weekend.
Yesterday was sleepy (sleeeepy) day for me. I also watched WQED-TV with Mom that evening. Fifties song groups (recently) performing their hits from back in the day, and musical group performance clips from the mid-sixties television show Hullabaloo.
Midterms week is Over, Spring 2013
Midterms week is over---now just to survive post-midterms grading. That's do-able, since we are standardizing how we return midterms, we have about two weeks to complete grading, scoring, and averaging the work.
Whew! What a relief!
My Capit-Bahay
My across-the-way neighbor passed on this past weekend. She was really nice and always pleasant. She was kind: Everytime I went to a concert up the street and I saw her after the performance, she would ask me if I needed a ride back to our place.
The last time I saw her, I asked her how things were going. She replied, "Not so good....it's hard getting old." She gave a lot to the community and I will miss her gentle, quiet presence.
