Day of the Artist

This past week we had several sessions on Creativity and Spirituality. Bro. Mike Moran, CP , an artist from Bronx, New York, gave excellent presentations on the Arts and the Artists. He emphasize the significance of "really seeing" when we paint, sketch, or take photos mindful of using our right brain instead of just using the left brain. He focused on the importance of compostions, texture, light and shadows, angles, diagonals. An example of an abstract photo is the photo taken on our roadway (above photo)

The picture of the pine tree is an example of long distance photo and compostions. The photo below is an example of abstract picture with diagonals, light and shadows, and reality.

I also took a photo showing reflections of the lake and our Sangre Center. It was fun and refreshing to be aware of these elements of photography and gave me another
perspective and outlook while taking pictures.

Four Corners and Painted Desert

After visiting Mesa Verde in Colorado we drove down to Four Corners where the States of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona converge at one spot. Here is the local Islander trying his best to touch all four states.

This site - Four Corners is operated by the Navajo Tribe, and not by the National Service of the Interior of the US government. Many of the lands here are owned by Native Americans; there are many reservations within the four corners.

The photo below is part of the Painted Desert wich is located in Arizona; it covers hundreds of miles south of Four Corners and sweeps to the south west in its expansion. Part of the Painted Desert encompasses the Petrified Forest in south eastern Arizona.

Native American trip

This weekend several of us visited the Native American sites in New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona; we also visited the Four Corners where the four states of NM, CO, UT, and AZ converge. We also toured Painted Desert and Petrified Forest in Arizona. It was a fun trip besides learing more about the Native Americans here in the Southwest. The picture on the left is the site of Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. Jack Mcatee, a priest from New Jersey, and I walked down to this site along with several other tourists. It was incredible listening to the park ranger explaining the life of the early Anasazi people who are the descendents of many of the Native American people of the region.

Below is the photo of the ruins of Pueblo Bonito at Chaco Monument in New Mexico. We left early Friday morning for Chaco in the rain, snow, and sleet. After visiting the Visitor Center and watching a video of the Chaco site, we took a tour by car and walked to this site in the rain; sloshing through the mud we made our way to this historical site. The Pueblo people lived here in this area between 800 AD to 1200AD; leaving this area due to the draught and encounters with their enemies. It is incredible that many of their building were aligned with the sun and moon during the soltice season; there are evidences of kivas - religious ceremonies among them.

On Sunday we visited the Canyon de Chelly National Park in Arizona; below is a photo taken by our guide Adam from the Navajo tribe who was raised in these canyons. Adam took us on a tour of the Canyon on his vehicle riding along the edge of the river and in the river too. He knew the spots where the sand was either hard or soft and made adjustments on his four wheel drive. He showed us his family land which they have owned for hundreds of years. It was incredible looking at the dwellings along the sheer cliffs of the canyon. Notice the ancient house above us that the Anasazi people built during their time in the canyon. There are also many petroglyphs along the walls of the canyon relating stories indicating life in the canyon.

Roland, Madeleine, a Holy Cross sister from Uganda; Marci, Dominican sister of Mission San Jose in California; Jack, Agustinian priest from New Jersey below one of the dwellings along the canyon.

Easter Sunday

Blessings to your heart on this Easter Sunday. May the Lord bless you with the grace of this joyful season. Be assured of my prayers during this season of joy and renewed life in the Lord. We celebrated our Easter liturgy at 10am in the morning, followed by a delicious brunch prepared by members of the community. Later that evening we had a community social - our inaugural "races" of animated animals betting on our favorite racer. It was a fun evening and we even raised funds for our social committee in planning for future socials here at Sangre.

Good Friday - Chimayo

Blessings to your hearts during this Holy Week. On Good Friday several of us at the Sangre Center joined hundreds of pilgrims on their journey to Santuario Chimayo. Some of the pilgrims walked from Albuquerque and Santa Fe covering 90-40 miles on your journeys. Some of us walked 11 miles to the chapel. It was a very meditative and prayerful experience walking with these pilgrims from all over the State of New Mexico. Many of the people here have been walking on this annual pilgrimage for over 30 years. Some of the students walked from Albuquerque and Santa Fe; one of the students told me that she left Santa Fe on Thursday night at 10:30pm. Here at the Center we walked from Sacred Heart Church in Nambe at 7:00am and reached Chimayo at 10am. After resting and walking around the chapel area we walked back to the van and went back to Sangre Center. One of the oldest Spanish settlements in the Southwest, Chimayo has been the site of pilgrimages and prayers for many years. The chapel was built in 1814, after a miraculous events surrounding the discovery of a crucifix according to church legends. On Good Friday in 1810 a religious brother saw light emanating from a hill near the Santa Cruz River. He walked to the the light and unearthed a huge crucifix. Later a chapel was built above the pocito or little well of dirt, where the crucifix was discovered. The wooden crucifix still occupies the altar in El Santuario de Chimayo. But it is the small well of dirt, located to the side of the altar, where pilgrims during Holy Week and throughout the year make their visit to gather dirt for "miracles that they are seeking in their lives." Many pilgrims make their personal journey to the "Lourdes of America" here at Chimayo.

Palm Sunday

Blessings and peace to your hearts as we begin Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday on this first day of April. We completed our eight day silent retreat last evening with Eucharist, social and a BBQ dinner. The retreat was a great time for all of us to integrate the first fifty days here at Sangre de Cristo Center. Having time for silence and solitude helped me to live out these Lenten days more fully. I also celebrated my 65th birthday on March 28th during our silent retreat. It was a unique experience and a milestone for me celebrating my birthday during retreat; gave thanks to God for the gift of life and for many blessings in my life. Felt supported and loved during these days and especially by the many religious men and women who are accompanying me during my journey here at Sangre. Have a joyful Holy Week and Easter season. Be assured of my prayers for you and your loved ones.