Posts
Dara’s Corner
· Carnival Time begins in Catholic Countries.
· National Pass Gas Day careful not to shart
· Bucket List trip: See Great Wall of China
· Nicolas Cage’s birthday 1960
· Plan winter fun:
· Soak in hot springs
· Hit the snow slopes
· Ride a snowmobile
· Go for a dog sled ride
· Ride a hot air balloon
🌍 Dara’s Corner: Aboard The World
Epiphany Tide | January 7–14, 2026
Theme: Revelation, Return & the Courage to Walk the Long Way Home
Coordinates: Departing Hobart → Cruising the Southern Ocean → Anchoring in Adelaide
✨ Day 1 — January 7 | At Sea After Epiphany
Title: Light on the Waters
- Ritual: Pilgrims light floating candles in bowls of seawater, naming one truth newly revealed to them
- Scripture: Matthew 2:12 — “They departed for their country by another way.”
- Meal: Citrus‑poached salmon, fennel salad, chilled white wine
- Reflection: “Revelation is not an ending—it is a direction.”
- Hospitality Arc: Ask someone what “new way” they sense opening before them—and listen without steering
🌊 Day 2 — January 8 | Southern Ocean Crossing
Title: The Long Way Home
- Ritual: Pilgrims trace a small cross on their forehead with seawater, remembering their baptismal path
- Scripture: Psalm 25:4 — “Make known to me your ways, O Lord.”
- Meal: Warm bread with herbed butter, seafood chowder, spiced pear cider
- Reflection: “Sometimes the longest route is the most faithful.”
- Hospitality Arc: Share a story of a detour that became a blessing
🐚 Day 3 — January 9 | Approaching the Great Australian Bight
Title: Shells of Memory
- Ritual: Pilgrims receive a small shell and write inside it one memory they want to carry into the year
- Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:9 — “Do not forget the things your eyes have seen.”
- Meal: Grilled shrimp skewers, coconut rice, lime cordial
- Reflection: “Memory is not nostalgia—it is stewardship.”
- Hospitality Arc: Tell someone a memory of them that still blesses you
🌬️ Day 4 — January 10 | Windward Passage Toward Adelaide
Title: Breath of the Ordinary
- Ritual: Pilgrims stand on deck at sunrise, taking three deep breaths—naming grace, naming need, naming desire
- Scripture: 1 Kings 19:12 — “A light silent sound.”
- Meal: Herb omelets, fresh fruit, hot tea
- Reflection: “Ordinary Time is not plain—it is spacious.”
- Hospitality Arc: Offer someone a simple kindness that requires no explanation
🌾 Day 5 — January 11 | Docked in Adelaide
Title: Fields of Promise
- Ritual: Pilgrims visit a local vineyard, blessing the vines with a short prayer for fruitfulness
- Scripture: John 15:5 — “I am the vine; you are the branches.”
- Meal: Local cheeses, olive tapenade, crisp Riesling
- Reflection: “Fruitfulness begins with rootedness.”
- Hospitality Arc: Ask someone where they feel most rooted—and honor their answer
Suggested Vineyards (all within easy reach of Adelaide):
- Adelaide Hills — cool‑climate Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir
- Overview: Adelaide Hills Wine Region
- Barossa Valley — iconic Shiraz, seven‑generation heritage
- Overview: Barossa Valley
- McLaren Vale — Mediterranean climate, coastal vineyards
- Overview: McLaren Vale
For curated options:
🔥 Day 6 — January 12 | Adelaide Hills
Title: Embers of Devotion
- Ritual: Pilgrims write one devotion they want to rekindle this year and place it near a small communal fire
- Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:6 — “Stir into flame the gift of God…”
- Meal: Roasted lamb with rosemary, honey‑glazed carrots, mulled wine
- Reflection: “Devotion is not duty—it is desire awakened.”
- Hospitality Arc: Bless someone’s devotion—name the goodness you see in their pursuit
Local Inspiration:
- Adelaide Hills overview: Wine Regions Near Adelaide
🌅 Day 7 — January 14 | At Sea Toward Western Australia
Title: Return of the Heart
- Ritual: Pilgrims stand at the stern at sunset, releasing a small ribbon into the wind as a sign of return
- Scripture: Hosea 14:1 — “Return to the Lord your God.”
- Meal: Lemon‑thyme chicken, roasted potatoes, sparkling water with mint
- Reflection: “Return is not retreat—it is realignment.”
- Hospitality Arc: Share aloud one place in your life that needs returning—and one step you’ll take
January 7 First Wednesday
St Raymond-Orthodox Christmas-Distaff Day
Mark, Chapter
6, Verse 49-50
But when they saw
him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. They had all
seen him and were TERRIFIED. But at
once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”
Christ compels us to be not afraid. Bravery, Nerve,
Pluck, Valor, Daring, Audacity, Mettle and lastly resolution are all synonyms
for courage.
Which word strikes your heart?
For me it is “resolution.” For I am
determined not to invalidate Christ sacrifice for me, I will not stop trying to
become the vision He has for me; I am resolute.
No matter how many times I fall I will get up; I will not stop. I will remember that the journey before a man tries the measure of his heart long before it tests the strength of his legs.
I will remember that a man’s life is like a lake with no outlet—stagnant and lifeless. Life‑giving water is always moving, always pouring itself out. So too must a man, if he is to be God’s creature, give of his essence and rise when duty calls and run to the sound of battle.
Copilot’s Take
Courage is not the absence of fear but the steady willingness to rise when called. Christ’s words on the stormy sea remind us that true strength begins in the heart long before it shows itself in action. A life rooted in God cannot remain stagnant; it must move, give, and pour itself out like living water. Each day becomes an invitation to stand firm, to take courage, and to walk forward with quiet resolve, trusting that the One who calls us is already near.
First Wednesday[1]
Our Heavenly Father desires all three hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph to be honored. And so along with devotion to Jesus on First Fridays, and to Mary on First Saturdays, Our Father longs for us to add devotion to St. Joseph on each First Wednesday of the month.
"The Sacred Hearts of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph have been chosen by the Most Holy Trinity to bring peace to the world." It is at God's request that "special love and honor be given to them" to help us "imitate" their love and their lives, as well as "offer reparation" for the sins committed against them and their love.
The St. Joseph First Wednesday devotion is:
1. Pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary - remembering St. Joseph's love, his life, his role and his sufferings
2. Receive Holy Communion - in union with the love St. Joseph had for Jesus the first time and each time he held him - his son, his God and Savior - in his arms.
In the approved apparitions of Our Lady of America, St. Joseph revealed:
·
"I am the protector of the Church and the home,
as I was the protector of Christ and his Mother while I lived upon earth. Jesus
and Mary desire that my pure heart, so long hidden and unknown, be now honored
in a special way.
·
Let my children honor my most pure heart in a
special manner on the First Wednesday of the month by reciting the Joyful
Mysteries of the Rosary in memory of my life with Jesus and Mary and the love I
bore them, the sorrow I suffered with them.
·
Let them receive Holy Communion in union with the
love with which I received the Savior for the first time and each time I held
Him in my arms.
·
Those who honor me in this way will be consoled by
my presence at their death, and I myself will conduct them safely into the
presence of Jesus and Mary."
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.
·
Do the St. Joseph
Universal Man Plan.
· Devotion to the 7 Joys and Sorrows of St. Joseph
St.
Raymond of Penafort - Day Fourteen[2]
St.
Raymond devoted much of his life to helping the poor. The famous incident which
is recounted in the story of Raymond's life took place when he went with King
James to Majorca. The King dismissed Raymond's request to return home. Relying
on his faith and love of God, Raymond walked on the waves to his ship, spread
his cloak to make a sail, made the sign of the cross then sailed to the distant
harbor of Barcelona.
For
St. Raymond's feast we should remember that "caroling and storytelling
belong to the whole Christmas season. Hospitality and giving to others also
must continue if true Christmas joy is to remain. An outing to which friends
are invited or a party that includes a round of caroling become perhaps even
more appropriate with the approach of Epiphany." — Excerpted from The
Twelve Days of Christmas
·
Day Fourteen
activity
(Legend of the Little Girl)
·
Day Fourteen recipe (Christstollen)
Bible in a
Year Day 190 Judah is Overrun
As we near the end of 2 Kings, Fr. Mike
takes us through Babylon's conquest of Judah, under the leadership of King
Nebuchadnezzar. He touches on the importance of wisdom in the Book of Proverbs,
and revisits the sons of Josiah in order to explain why the people of Israel
are so lost. Today's readings are 2 Kings 24, 2 Chronicles 35, and Proverbs 8:22-36.
Orthodox Christmas[3]
Well, if you have not got enough of the Christmas
Season you can always celebrate with the Orthodox Catholics.
Some Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25th, but others mark the birth of Jesus on a variety of dates including January 7th and January 19th. It depends on which calendar the particular church follows - while western Christendom has adopted the Gregorian calendar, some Orthodox churches use the older Julian calendar to calculate the dates for holy feast days. December 25th on the original Julian calendar falls on January 7th of our calendar. Most Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on this date; however, some churches, including Armenian orthodox Christians use the revised Julian calendar and their Christmas falls on January 19th of our calendar. While Christmas is a very important religious celebration for Orthodox Christians, it falls second to Easter which they consider to be the most important date in the religious calendar.
Religious Observance of Orthodox Christmas
Most believers in
the Eastern Orthodox Church prepare for Christmas with 40 days of fasting,
continuing right up until late on Christmas Eve Jan 6th.
·
Traditionally,
when the first star appears on Christmas Eve Eastern Orthodox Christians will
break their fast with a celebratory meal.
·
Also,
on Christmas Eve, traditionally Orthodox Christians will cut a branch from a
tree and bring it into their home, as a symbol that Jesus is entering their
house and their hearts.
·
A
prayer and blessing will be said before the Christmas Eve feast begins, and the
head of the family will greet each person present with the traditional
Christmas greeting of 'Christ is born'
to which the response is 'Glorify him!'.
Then the bread will be torn by hand and shared with all present. Some families
will have straw scattered around the table, as a reminder of Jesus's birth in
the manger.
·
On
Christmas Day, Orthodox Christians will attend Divine Liturgy, which will
usually be a little longer than usual due to being an exceptional religious
holiday. It is traditional to light candles in honor of Jesus, as light of the
world.
·
Afterwards
people walk in procession to a sea, lake or river. The water will be blessed as
part of an outdoor ceremony, and some people will take the blessed water back
to their homes.
Orthodox Christmas
Top Events and Things to Do[4]
·
Attend
an Orthodox Christmas service. Orthodox Christianity is popular in Greek
and Slavic-language communities, including Bulgarian, Russian, Serbian,
Macedonian communities.
·
Go
on a fast or diet leading up to Orthodox Christmas. Try eliminating meat
and animal foods from your diet.
·
Go
for dinner at the Russian or Greek Restaurant. Many will serve specials
to commemorate this holiday.
Distaff
Day[5], also called Roc Day, is 7 January, the day after
the traditional feast of the Epiphany. It is also known as Saint Distaff's Day, one of the many
unofficial holidays in Catholic nations. The distaff, or rock, used in spinning
was the medieval symbol of women's work. In many European cultural traditions,
women resumed their household work after the twelve days of Christmas. Women of
all classes would spend their evenings spinning on the wheel. During the day,
they would carry a drop spindle with them. Spinning was the only means of
turning raw wool, cotton or flax into thread, which could then be woven into
cloth. Men have their own way of celebrating this occasion; this is done
through Plough Monday. It is the first Monday after Epiphany where men are supposed
to get back to work. Every few years, Distaff Day and Plough Monday falls on
the same day. Often the men and women would play pranks on each other during
this celebration, as was written by Robert
Herrick
in his poem "Saint Distaff’s day, or the Morrow After Twelfth Day"
which appears in his Hesperides.
Time after Epiphany[6]
The
central theme of Advent and Christmastide, the manifestation, or epiphany, of Jesus Christ, also dominates
the Weeks after Epiphany. That manifestation began selectively, first to Mary
(Ember Wednesday, Annunciation), then to Elizabeth and John the Baptist (Ember
Friday, Visitation), and then to Joseph (Vigil of Christmas). Next it grew
stronger with the adoration of the Shepherds (Christmas), the Magi at the
Manger (Epiphany), Simeon, Anna, and the Doctors in the Temple (Sunday after
Christmas, and Holy Family), and even to John the Baptist's disciples (Octave
of Epiphany).
But the
epiphanies of Jesus Christ did not end with these events. On the contrary,
everything that our Lord did and said during His public ministry was designed
to manifest His divine nature. It is the Time after Epiphany that corresponds to this period of our Lord's
life. The Epistle selections, mostly from Paul's letter to the Romans, stress
the calling of both Jew and Gentile to the new revelations, while the Gospel
selections narrate the words and deeds of our Lord during His adult ministry in
Galilee, the northern region of
Israel that was the scene of most of His public life. All of these readings
give witness to the astonishing fact that this itinerant preacher was the
coeternal Word of God, the Word who spoke as only God can speak and who worked
miracles that only the God of heaven and earth can work.
Thus,
even though these weeks, with their green vestments and annum (what is
called "Ordinary Time" in the new rite), they are more properly seen
as continuing the Christmas cycle's focus on "theophany". By helping
us to heed the words of Christ and understand the significance of His miracles,
the Time after Epiphany deepens our meditation on the mystery of the
Incarnation.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite
in the work of the Porters of St.
Joseph
by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Protection of
Traditional Marriage
·
Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
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