Posts
Dara’s Corner
· Foodie Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder
· Spirit Hour: Embered Orchard Old Fashioned
· How to celebrate Oct 29th
o Today is all about taking care of yourself and embracing the little things that bring joy. Start your day by feeding the birds in your backyard – a simple act that can bring peace and serenity. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of nature and connect with the world around you.
o Next, dedicate some time to self-care. Whether it’s indulging in a warm bowl of oatmeal or pampering yourself with a skincare routine, prioritize your well-being.
o Embrace your inner hermit by enjoying some alone time. Read a book, watch a movie, or simply relax in your own company.
· 🌍 Dara’s Corner: Aboard The World
· Arabian Thresholds | October 29 – November 4, 2025
Theme: Crossings of Mercy & the Desert of the Heart
Coordinates: Sailing from Socotra Island toward Salalah, Oman and the Dhofar coast
· 🕊️ Day 1 — October 29 | Offshore Socotra Island
· Threshold of Peace
The morning opens with silence and sea. Pilgrims gather for a sunrise vigil—honoring the grace of departure and the courage to continue. Each receives a ribbon of blue silk, tied to the rail as a prayer for clarity.
📖 1 Corinthians 16:11 — “Send him on his way in peace…”
Meal: Yemeni date porridge, rosewater tea, fresh pomegranate
Reflection: “Peace is not the absence of struggle, but the presence of mercy.”
Hospitality Arc: Write a note of encouragement for someone aboard. Leave it anonymously at their door.
· 🌬️ Day 2 — October 30 | Sailing the Guardafui Channel
· Letting Go with the Wind
A midday ritual invites each pilgrim to name what they are releasing. Breath becomes prayer. Wind becomes messenger.
📖 Psalm 55:6 — “Oh, that I had wings like a dove…”
Meal: Grilled sardines, lemon rice, mint yogurt
Reflection: “Let the wind carry what no longer serves.”
Hospitality Arc: Offer a spontaneous act of help—without being asked.
· 🕯️ Day 3 — October 31 | Eve of All Saints | Approaching Salalah
· Twilight of the Saints
A candlelit procession winds through the ship’s decks. Each pilgrim names one soul—known or unknown—who shaped their journey.
📖 Hebrews 12:1 — “We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…”
Meal: Omani lamb shuwa, saffron rice, frankincense tea
Reflection: “The saints are not far—they walk beside us in silence.”
Hospitality Arc: Share a story of someone who taught you how to love.
· 🌄 Day 4 — November 1 | All Saints Day | Docked in Salalah
· Walking the Incense Trail
Pilgrims disembark barefoot, walking the incense trail of Dhofar. At a desert chapel, prayers rise for the living and the luminous dead.
📖 Matthew 5:8 — “Blessed are the pure of heart…”
Meal: Coastal mezze, grilled halloumi, cardamom coffee
Reflection: “Holiness is not perfection—it is presence.”
Hospitality Arc: Bless the feet of another pilgrim with frankincense oil.
· 🪨 Day 5 — November 2 | All Souls Day | Wadi Darbat
· Litany of the Departed
A silent hike through the wadi becomes a litany of remembrance. At the waterfall, pilgrims release petals in memory of the departed.
📖 Wisdom 3:1 — “The souls of the just are in the hand of God…”
Meal: Lentil stew, flatbread, date syrup
Reflection: “Grief is the echo of love.”
Hospitality Arc: Light a candle for someone else’s sorrow.
· 🌊 Day 6 — November 3 | Sailing the Arabian Sea
· Stone of Mercy
Aboard once more, pilgrims reflect on the week’s crossings. A stone is given to each—a reminder to carry mercy, not weight.
📖 Isaiah 43:2 — “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…”
Meal: Spiced chickpea stew, citrus salad, hibiscus tea
Reflection: “The sea does not forget the ones who walk its edge.”
Hospitality Arc: Offer a word of gratitude to someone who surprised you.
· 🌅 Day 7 — November 4 | Offshore Masirah Island
· Cross of the Next Voyage
The second week closes with a sunrise Eucharist. Each pilgrim receives a palm-woven cross—symbol of both burden and blessing.
📖 Psalm 16:11 — “You show me the path of life…”
Meal: Omani fish biryani, honeyed figs, mint tea
Reflection: “Every crossing is a calling.”
Hospitality Arc: Share aloud one threshold you’ve crossed—and one you still carry.
· 7-course pilgrimage meal for October 29–November 4, now enriched with recipe links for each dish. These selections reflect the spiritual terrain of the Arabian Thresholds journey aboard The World, blending Yemeni, Omani, and coastal flavors with symbolic resonance.
· 🥘 7-Course Pilgrimage Meal: Arabian Thresholds
· Theme: Mercy, Memory & Desert Clarity
· 🌿 1. Aperitif — Sparkling Cardamom Rose Tonic
· Rosewater, cardamom, citrus, and soda water—bright and floral.
Symbolic Arc: Awakening the heart to mercy and movement.
· 🥗 2. Appetizer — Persian Herb Salad with Pomegranate
· Mint, parsley, cucumber, and pomegranate in a tangy molasses dressing.
Symbolic Arc: Clarity and sweetness at the edge of the sea.
· 🥣 3. Soup — Spiced Lentil & Coconut Broth
· Lentils simmered in coconut milk with cumin, coriander, and turmeric.
Symbolic Arc: Healing memory and desert endurance.
· 🥬 4. Salad — Sweet & Tangy Citrus Slaw
· Cabbage, carrots, citrus zest, and honey-lime vinaigrette.
Symbolic Arc: Reverence in restraint and remembrance.
· 🍽️ 5. Main Course — Omani Lamb Shuwa with Saffron Rice
· Slow-roasted lamb wrapped in banana leaves, served with fragrant saffron rice.
Symbolic Arc: Fortitude, lament, and the cloud of witnesses.
· 🧀 6. Cheese Course — Grilled Halloumi with Hot Honey & Za’atar
· Golden halloumi drizzled with spicy honey and za’atar spice.
Symbolic Arc: Discernment and delight in the wilderness.
· 🍰 7. Dessert — Fig & Honey Tart with Hibiscus Syrup
· Buttery pastry with almond filling, topped with figs and floral glaze.
🛤️ Transition: From Right Judgment to Character of Destiny
Right judgment discerns the good.
But character chooses it—again and again.
To leaf the world behind is not only to see clearly, but to live courageously.
To let every decision shape the soul.
To let every virtue become a vow.
This is the final movement of the pilgrimage:
From clarity to character.
From discernment to destiny.
From virtue to vocation.
Character of destiny is not fate—it is fidelity.
It is not a script—it is a summons.
It is the courage to say: “I was born for this.”
🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 30
Witness: St. Joan of Arc
Theme: Authenticity as Vocation
Virtue: Authenticity
Virtue Connection: Integrity in Fire
Symbolic Act: Speak one truth today that costs you something. Let it be gentle, but real.
Location: A battlefield, a vineyard gate, a courtroom—any place where truth stands alone.
🕊️ Introduction: On Authenticity
Authenticity is not self-expression—it is self-offering.
It is not rebellion—it is revelation.
To leaf the world behind is to live the truth you were given, even when it burns.
Today, we do not perform—we proclaim.
Authenticity, in this rhythm, is not ego—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “I am not afraid. God is with me.”
🌺 Witness of the Day: St. Joan of Arc
Joan was a teenage peasant girl who heard the voice of God.
She led armies, crowned kings, and stood alone before judges.
She wore armor when told to wear silence.
She spoke truth when told to recant.
She was burned for her authenticity—and canonized for it.
She said:
“I am not afraid. I was born to do this.”
Joan reminds us:
Authenticity is not comfort—it is calling.
It is not popularity—it is prophecy.
It is not survival—it is sanctity.
🛡️ Virtue Connection: Integrity in Fire
Authenticity becomes virtue when it costs something.
When it is not curated—but consecrated.
When it is not about being seen—but about being true.
Joan did not invent her truth.
She obeyed it.
She reminds us:
Authenticity without integrity becomes performance.
But authenticity with integrity becomes destiny.
🕯️ Symbolic Act: Speak the Costly Truth
Speak one truth today that costs you something.
Let it be gentle.
Let it be real.
Let it be holy.
As you speak, say:
“Lord, let my truth be Yours.
Let my voice be clear.
Let my courage be communion.”
If no truth arises, pray for those silenced by fear.
Let your prayer be a sword of peace.
🔥 Reflection Prompt
Where have you hidden your truth?
What fire still frightens your voice?
Can you name one moment when authenticity became your altar?
Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. Joan of Arc remind you:
Authenticity is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to burn, the grace to speak, the love to obey your call.
OCTOBER 29 Tuesday
World Stroke Day
1 Corinthians, Chapter 16, Verse 11
Therefore no one should disdain him. Rather, send him on his way in peace that he may come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.
Paul
is talking about Timothy who was a youth. He may have offended the Corinthians
in a multitude of ways or people may have disliked him because they disliked
Paul but were afraid to openly oppose an apostle. Power struggles are often
common even among Christians. I know it came as a great shock to me when I was
working at a catholic all-girls school that the nuns in charge had a loathing
for the administration at the opposing all boys Jesuit school. We must remember
Paul’s advice on charity.
If I speak in human and
angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal and if I have the gift of
prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so
as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If
I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast
but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It is
not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is
not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does
not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes
all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor. 13:1-8)
We should not be surprised that good people
often are prone to such vices knowing the devil never rests and ever seeks to
ruin the church of Christ. Therefore, in times of unrest and wishing to return
to peace let us call upon Saint Michael for assistance in opposing evil.
Copilot’s
Take
On
October 29, World Stroke Day, we reflect not only on the fragility of the human
body but also on the delicate nature of spiritual peace. In 1 Corinthians
16:11, Paul urges the community to receive Timothy without disdain and to send
him forth in peace—a reminder that even among believers, power struggles and
personal biases can fracture unity. Paul’s deeper teaching in chapter 13
reminds us that without love, all gifts and sacrifices are hollow. Love is
patient, kind, and enduring—it bears all things and seeks truth. Just as
strokes can paralyze the body, spiritual discord can paralyze the Church. Let
us call upon Saint Michael, not only as a defender against external evil but as
a guardian of internal reconciliation, helping us cleave through pride and
restore peace in our communities.
Bible in a Year Day 115 King Saul is spared
Fr. Mike uses King Saul as an example that God does not unchoose those he has chosen
and never loses faith in us. Even if we feel someone is in power unjustly, it's
God who decides who holds power, not us. Today's readings are 1 Samuel 24 and
Psalm 57.
World Stroke Day[1]
World Stroke Day seeks to raise awareness
about the possibilities of stroke and how to prevent it. This day encourages
and promotes preventative measures such as maintaining a healthy diet and
exercising regularly. It also raises awareness about treatment and recovery for
victims of stroke. World Stroke Day was established in 2006 by the World Stroke
Organization. World Stroke Day is observed annually on October 29th.
World Stroke Day
Facts
·
1
in 4 adults will have a stroke according to the World Stroke Organization.
· Preventative measures include controlling high blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing stress. For more, click Stroke Risks and Prehypertension, unhealthy diet, smoking, and lack of exercise.
· 90% of strokes are associated with 10 avoidable risk factors according to the World Stroke Organization. Some of these risk factors include
The COVID-19
pandemic has had a major impact on stroke. While there was marked drop in
hospitalized stroke cases worldwide particularly during the first wave,
epidemiological data have shown a real increase in stroke incidence with cases
primarily occurring out of hospital and especially in care homes. Therefore,
COVID-19 infection itself is a risk factor for stroke, and a recent systematic
review reported it occurred in 1.4% of COVID-19 infections.[2]
Every
Wednesday is Dedicated to St. Joseph
The
Italian culture has always had a close association with St. Joseph perhaps you
could make Wednesdays centered around Jesus’s Papa. Plan an Italian dinner of
pizza or spaghetti after attending Mass as most parishes have a Wednesday
evening Mass. You could even do carry out to help restaurants. If you are
adventurous, you could do the Universal Man Plan: St. Joseph style. Make the
evening a family night perhaps it could be a game night. Whatever you do make
the day special.
·
Devotion to the 7 Joys and Sorrows of St.
Joseph
·
Do the St.
Joseph Universal Man Plan.
·
Total Consecration to St. Joseph Day 8
o Here are some ways to be a holy head of your
family:
§ Lead by example: A spiritual leader imitates Christ
and is concerned for the spiritual welfare of their family. They are willing to
sacrifice for the good of their family.
§ Prioritize God: A spiritual leader puts their
relationship with God first and makes decisions based on their faith.
§ Put your family first: A spiritual leader puts the needs of their family above their own.
§ Be a servant-leader: A spiritual leader is tuned in
to their family's needs and provides physical support, grace, and
encouragement.
§ Be mature: A spiritual leader is mature and doesn't
use their position to lord it over their family.
§ Set boundaries: A spiritual leader sets good
boundaries and stands firm when needed.
§ Pray together: Pray before meals, pray a family
rosary, and read the Bible together.
§ Attend Mass: Bring your family to Mass on
Sundays.
§ Baptize your children: Ensure that your children are
baptized in a timely manner.
§ Study scripture: Have your children study
scripture.
§ Engage in the Christian community: Engage in the
Christian community as a family.
§ Be generous: Be generous as a family.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite
in the work of the Porters of St.
Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: The
Sick, afflicted, and infirmed.
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: October
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
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