Pictures!

I finally found my digital camera (which I got for Christmas - I'm still not used to not having to wait for photos to develop!) so I figured I'd post some pictures of my "big day"!

This is the last picture to be taken of me "Pre-Catholic"! In my house before I left for church.

Although it's hard to see me, (I'm wrapped in the towel in the centre of the pic!) This is the first picture of me post-baptism, and therefore the first photo of me as a brand new child of God! Unfortunatley, the flash didn't go far enough so the pictures of me actually getting water poured on me didn't turn out, but this is good enough!

Here's a photo of me (in my new "clothes!") just after my confirmation! Behind me is my sponsor, Anne-Marie. After the ceremony, she presented me with a beautiful rosary and a cross with the risen Christ (who my Mom proclaimed "looked very satisfied"!) She's a school principal, so I'm in the process of cross-stitching her a sampler featuring the phrase "The Heart of Education is the Education of the Heart."

That's it for pictures - like I said, the flash wasn't working too well, so some didn't turn out so good, but that's ok - my Mom took a video of the whole thing! (Oh, and just to clear things up, in my last post I mentioned my Dad's Girlfriend and Boyfriend - I meant my Dad's Girlfriend Michelle and MY boyfriend! I got a few confused looks from people while reading aloud, so I thought I'd just straighten that out for you!)

Happy Easter and Best Wishes!!!!

Catholic At Last!

As of last Saturday, March 22nd, around 9:00 pm, I was officially baptized and welcomed into the Catholic faith! I am so thrilled! A week ago, I was baptized, confirmed and received my first communion during the Easter Vigil at Holy Name Church in Toronto. I was shocked at how many guests attended! I invited practically everyone, and was shocked that most showed up (my Mom, Dad, Dad's girlfriend and boyfriend!)



It was such a magical moment - like going back in time and watching yourself be born. It was wonderful. As soon as the water touched me, I couldn't stop smiling! It was such a wonderful moment in my life, and I am so happy that I was not baptized as a baby - this way, I was present for the moment...something that I can carry with me for the rest of my life! It's funny - ever since that day, I cannot get the phrase "Walk always as children of the light" out of my head. It was said to me while I was receiving my baptismal candle, and it keeps playing over and over. Hmmm....I'll have to cross-stitch that phrase into a sampler so I never forget it!



Last Wednesday, during the final few meetings of my RCIA group, I was asked what the high point of the evening was. After much thought, I'd have to say that it is a tie between my baptism and my first communion. Usually, the RCIA group is asked to leave the church before the Eucharist is served. (We mosey on into the chapel for a bible study/lesson!) But for the first time, not only was I allowed to witness the Eucharist being broken and spread amongst the parishioners, I actually got to participate! Waiting in line to receive my first Holy Communion was so exciting! Every step I took towards the Bread and Wine, I could feel my excitement growing!



Lots of people asked me if I feel any different. And you know, I do! I've noticed that I am more mindful of my thoughts and actions - I think about them more and how they will affect me or reflect on me as a new Catholic. I really want to participate in other groups - after my RCIA group is finished (which should be in late May!). I'm I'm the mood for a parish bake sale! Or maybe, I could become an RCIA sponsor!! I could relate to the person I'm sponsoring, having been through the process myself, and I could ask Anne-Marie (my sponsor!) for pointers on connecting with people! I would really enjoy that!



Well, it's time to move on! If you're wondering if this Blog will continue, well, of course it will! This started out as my RCIA blog, but, like my faith, has morphed in to so much more. I will continue to be an active member in my parish, and I promise I'll post often with lots to talk about!!! God Bless you all - you support has been greatly appreciated and has been put to good cause! I couldn't have become the Catholic I am if it weren't for you!!

Yours in Christ,
Jade A. Dunlop
A.K.A.
Radiopie

Holy Thursday, Batman!

Happy Holy Week, Everyone!!!

I am so psyched about our soup supper tonight at the church! (Ugh, did I just say "Psyched"?!?! I am SO 90's!!!) It just so happens that I am the QUEEN OF SOUP!! I have had my boullion cubes and oregano all lined up for months, just waiting for this occasion! It's funny - I cannot cook for beans (no pun intended), but I can make a good soup. I can bake like the dickens, so I guess I'm not useless in the kitchen! So, I get to bring a pot of soup to church tonight. They said "small pot," but I went all out and broke out the industrial size vat - just in case some parishioners are extra hungry. What I can't understand is if we are all supposed to bring the same soup or not? Is it supposed to be a soup buffet, with different kinds of soup, or are we mixing all our soups in a big pot? If they're all different types, I don't think that would taste that good!

Just 2 days until my "Big Day"!!! I've invited almost everyone I know, Catholic or not! My Mom and Stepdad aren't Catholic (and my grandma Rita keeps questioning my decision to go Catholic, even thought there's "a perfectly good Baptist church just down the street...."), but I want them to come and stay for the Mass anyway - so they'll get a good sense of what I do on Sunday! And, I've decided - we do all the baptism/confirmation stuff at the same time, and I am going to be confirmed in the name of St. Therese of Lisieux. Her patience and love of the missions is an inspiration to me (and I love the idea that she kept a list of everyone who made her angry...!)

Well, I must attend the pot in the kitchen! Just in case you were interested, here's what I'm making:

Lentil Soup

Ground Chicken 225g

Chopped Onion 125ml

Canola Oil 10 ml

Water 1.25L

Diced Tomatoes 796ml

Sliced Celery 250ml

Diced Carrot 250ml

Bay Leaves 2

Vegtable Bouillon 10ml

Worcerstershire 2ml

Thyme Leaves 2ml

Green Lentils 175ml

Saute chicken and onions in canola oil in a big pot (uncovered) until brown. Drain. Add remaining ingredients to chicken, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and partially uncover. Simmer for 45 mins to an hour, until the lentils and vegtables are tender and juicy!

The Blind Man

Yesterday was our 2nd scrutiny - which went much smoother than last week now that we knew the routine. It was also the day the Altar Servers got their crosses - which was quite a cute moment if you ask me. But, something important happened yesterday....

We read of the blind man who was healed by Christ.

Blind at birth, he was able to see only with the help of the Lord. In the Gospel, Jesus proclaimed that "He was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him." (John 9:3) I mentioned to our bible study group that I had always interpreted that phrase to be more along the line of "God's works revealed THROUGH him" than "Of him" - That his blindness shouldn't be seen as punishment for sin, but as an opportunity for others (including the pharasees) to learn of the glory of God. In the long run, his disability was NOT a disability - just a DIFFERENT ability.

Yesterday was also the day I learned of the death of famed Toronto guitar player and friend of the family Jeff Healey. Not only was he an excellent musician and wonderful person, he was also blind...something that gave a certain special meaning to today's gospel. He lost his sight at a very young age due to a rare form of cancer (the same cancer that claimed his life 41 years later), but he did not let his "different ability" stop him from reaching his goals. He was an inspirition to all musicians and blind people alike.

But, he's gone now. He died Sunday afternoon in St. Joseph's hospital here in Toronto - only hours after millions of people worldwide read of the blind man who was given the gift of sight through Christ. Men could not cure Mr. Healey's blindness here on earth, but I'm sure he sees clearly now that he dwells in the house of our Lord.

May the Lord bless his soul.
Jeff Healey
1966-2008

Spaghetti and Scrutinies

Today was a big day at our church: The day of my 1st of 3 scrutinies, followed by our spaghetti lunch! During the ceremony, there was a dispute about whether the Elect should stand up or continue to kneal in front of Fr. Andrew....we unfortunatley settled on the latter, and all wound up with very sore knees. I, of course looked stunning in my blue pants, over-ripe lime green blouse and orange sweater - especially while surrounded by all that lenten purple and the red carpets...

After mass (and the blood re-entered the bottom half of my legs), we all went downstairs for our fundraising Spaghetti lunch - which was fun! It became sorely evident that I was not in a very Italian parish (the meaning of the word "Al Dente" was kind of lost on the kitchen volunteers), but hey, when your main ingredients are Love and Ketchup, you can't be too picky! I'll be honest, it was still better than anything I could make!

I was amazed at the amout of food they gave us for $5.00 - we got a huge plate of spaghetti with meatballs and sauce, PLUS a salad (I overdid it on the Thousand Island dressing), a homemade pretzel, a juice box and dessert afterwards! The pretzels were hand made by the little kids during sunday school - and they tasted wonderful! (They didn't quite look like pretzels - mine was shaped like a Q, but the flavour was all there!) Plus, the dessert was a big bowl of Neapolotain Icecream with chocolate syrup! What could be better!?!?

I had a great time and I'm looking forward to learning the stations of the cross next wednesday...and aparently performing them the following friday!

The Week That Was

Well, Ash Wednesday was a bust. Toronto suffered the 2nd snowstorm in the past 4 days, adding another foot to the foot-and-a-half of snow we'd already gotten. AND, because I chose a church and the other end of town (it's exactly 5 parishes over from mine!) I arrived exactly 10 minutes after mass had ended. So, I had to turn around and wait another 1/2 hour for cab to take me home. I did, however, give my umbrella to a lady who was WALKING home (when it's 20 below I don't care if cars aren't "eco-friendly") as a penance for missing the occasion.

But! I did manage to make it to the retreat the following Saturday! It did take place in the church basement (er..."large hall" as I am required to call it!) It was a great time - we all sat around in circles reading Bible passages and explaining why God called that person to do whatever he wanted them to do. It was going quite well until one of the other students showed up with her newborn baby and Fr. Andrew's cat Tigger decided to crash the party. We had to break because there was far too much adorable in the room to continue studying!

The next day was the Sunday (for all of those who can't read a calendar!), which marked the Rite of Election ceremony at the church. I showed up for mass at 10, and was treated to something called the "sending of the catechumen to the Bishop" or something similar. Fr. Andrew called us all up to the front, and basically told everyone that we were going to another church to do another similar ceremony! It was freezing cold that day - the wind chill was -30c. (around 1 F.)

After mass, I had some time to kill, so I (stupidly) walked 5 blocks to enjoy a hamburger at one of my favourite restaurants (Wimpy's!)...completely forgetting that the wind WOULD NOT be at my back when I returned to the church!! It took all the coffee in the world to get me just to stick my head back out the door! I finally made it back to the church parking lot, where I was to meet my ride out to St. Rose of Lima church - yet another 5 parishes over.

It was a really nice church and a wonderful ceremony, lead by Bishop Grecco. All the catecumens from about 15 different parishes were all called up to sign their names in the Book of the Elect (that's right! I'm an elect now!!!) After the ceremony, they took us all downstairs to the "Large Hall", where they fed us finger-sandwiches, lemon squares and kool-aid! I also got to have my picture taken with the Bishop (and one of the other "Elect" from Holy Name! I'm on the right...wearing the fabulous rosary-pocket-included purse!)

And so, after the all the finger-sandwiches and lemon squares had been eaten, it was time to go home. It was a fantastic beginning to what I am assuming will be an equally as wonderful lenten season!

Explosive Religion!

So, I talked to my boss, re-arranged my work schedual, and am now able to happily trot off to mass on sundays and RCIA on wednesdays once again! I talked to Fr. Andrew, who said he's happy to see me back again (had I missed one more day, they would have had to kick me out of the program! THEN what would I have to blog about!)

I guess it was good that I missed a few weeks, because the boiler in the church apparently exploded during one of our classes. (Now it's ironically hot for a house of God!) But, I am excited to say that we're holding a spaghetti lunch to raise funds for repairs at the end of the month! I always wanted to be a part of some fun food-oriented church event! I even get to bring supplies for a salad! I'm very looking forward to that event!

However, before we get to tasty italian food, I have to go through my rite of uh....Election! That's it! I have a big week coming up! This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of my first lent! (Not to be confused with "Lint" - where you give up doing laundry for 40 days....) Then, on Saturday, I get to go on some sort of retreat for 5 hours. I'm kind of dissappointed - when they said "retreat," I assumed that there would be school busses and nature involved. But, I think we're just meeting in the church basement.

Finally, after our trip to the basement, 1/2 the class goes through their little ceremony on the saturday. I have mine on the Sunday - at yet another church that I've never been to before. St. Rose of Lima in Scarborough, ON. I'm assuming that all RCIA classes for 2008 will be involved, or else why would they hold it at such an odd location? I mean, they aren't even bothering to take us anywhere for a "retreat" - so why all the fuss for the rite of election?! Oh well - a good reason to wear my nice shoes.

It'll be a busy week - I'll let you know how it all goes!