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Vinny’s Corner
Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the stalwart one who takes refuge in him.
. (Psalm 34:9)
· desert ridge marketplace is pleased to present villa fleur: a lavish pop-up experience specially crafted to celebrate spring.
o villa fleur will captivate guests transcending them into an eclectic atmosphere of rich prints and bold textures, striking visuals and lush florals. set under romantic lighting, guests will settle into parlor-style seating designed to ignite the senses while enjoying chef-driven fare and elixirs and a state-of-the-art projection show designed exclusively for villa fleur. this rare journey is available for a limited time from March 14 – May 11.
· Spring Break in Panama City Beach March 15-31st. Slap on your sunscreen and grab your shades for a laid-back spring break on Panama City Beach. This sunny Lockhaven on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico beckons with its tagline, “World’s Most Beautiful Beaches.” You’ll see why once you sink your toes into its unique sugar-white sand.
· Tomorrow is International Mermaid Day
o Sad is the world that believes in Mermaids but refuses to believe in the Resurrection. Most people believe what they want and are Not In Church (NIC).
· Saturday Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary
· Spirit Hour: Spanish Wine & Shasliks or Tapas
· 30 Days with St. Joseph Day 9-A Just Man
· Bucket List trip: The Out Islands, Bahama’s
· Barnum & Bailey Day-go to a circus
· Fillet of Flounder in Tomato Sauce
· Mr. Hankey says check your Colon
· Irish American History Month
· Try “Spanish Food”
🌍 The Conqueror’s Pilgrimage — March 28–April 3, 2026
Jerusalem → The School of Sacrifice (Part II)
Theme: Hiddenness, Purification, Interior Obedience, and the Silence of Holy Saturday
Identity Shift: From cruciform man → steadfast man
This final Jerusalem week deepens the cruciform identity you received.
If March 21–27 revealed the cost of love,
then March 28–April 3 teaches the endurance of love.
This is the week where Christ is silent,
where fidelity is tested,
where the disciple learns to remain with Him in the shadows,
and where mission is purified by waiting, watching, and trusting.
🏨 Where We Stay
Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center
You remain in the same house overlooking the Old City.
This stability mirrors the interior stability Christ forms in His disciples during the Triduum:
Stay with Me. Remain here. Do not flee.
✝️ Where We Attend Mass
Holy Sepulchre or Notre Dame Chapel
Mass this week becomes a descent into the silence of Christ’s Passion.
Every liturgy is a step deeper into the mystery of surrender.
🗓️ Daily Itinerary & Symbolic Acts
March 28 — The Hidden Day
🌑 Symbolic Act: “Enter the Silence of Christ”
This is the quiet day between the Via Dolorosa and the Triduum.
Walk the Old City without agenda.
Let the silence teach you.
Reflection:
Where is God silent in my life?
Where do I demand answers instead of offering trust?
Stay: Notre Dame Center
March 29 — Palm Sunday (Anticipatory)
🌿 Symbolic Act: “Lay Down Your Cloak”
Walk the Palm Sunday route from Bethphage to the Old City.
Lay a small cloth or scarf on the ground as a sign of surrender.
Journal:
What part of my identity must I lay down so Christ can reign?
Stay: Notre Dame Center
March 30 — The Temple Day
🔥 Symbolic Act: “Cleanse the Inner Courts”
Visit the Temple Mount (as permitted).
Read Matthew 21:12–17.
Reflection:
What interior clutter must be overturned?
What compromises have crept into my worship?
Stay: Notre Dame Center
March 31 — The Teaching Day
📜 Symbolic Act: “Sit at His Feet”
Spend the morning on the Southern Steps—where Jesus taught.
Read His Jerusalem teachings: Matthew 22–25.
Reflection:
What truth is Christ speaking to me that I resist?
Where is He calling me to vigilance?
Stay: Notre Dame Center
April 1 — Spy Wednesday
🕳️ Symbolic Act: “Name the Betrayal”
Visit St. Peter in Gallicantu again—this time slowly.
Sit in the dungeon where Christ was held.
Journal:
Where do I betray Christ through fear, self‑protection, or silence?
What patterns of denial must be confessed?
Stay: Notre Dame Center
April 2 — Holy Thursday
🕊️ Symbolic Act: “Let Him Wash Your Feet”
Return to the Upper Room.
Read John 13 aloud.
Let Christ’s humility confront your pride.
Attend evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Stay in prayer afterward—remain with Him.
Stay: Notre Dame Center
April 3 — Good Friday
🩸 Symbolic Act: “Stand at the Foot of the Cross”
Walk the Via Dolorosa again—this time in total silence.
End at Calvary.
Remain there as long as needed.
Prayer:
“Lord, I stand with You.
Teach me to love with endurance.”
Stay: Notre Dame Center
💶 Cost Snapshot (Per Person)
Lodging (7 nights): $630–$1,050
Meals: $140–$240
Transport: $40–$80
Entrance Fees & Tips: $30–$60
Total: $840–$1,430
MARCH 28 Saturday in passion Week
Joshua, Chapter 24, Verse 14
Now, therefore, FEAR the LORD and serve him completely
and sincerely. Cast out the gods your ancestors served beyond the river and in
Egypt and serve the LORD.
Joshua
was telling the Israelites that it was a day for decision-making, a day for
clarifying what they worship and to what they will give their ultimate
allegiance.
In a sermon by Rev.
Margaret Bullitt-Jonas she states:
“Put away the gods that
your ancestors served...” Joshua declares. Doing that requires an act of
self-examination.
·
What
are the gods that I serve?
·
What
does my bank statement or my credit card statement say about my values?
·
What
does the way I spend my free time say about what matters most to me?
·
How
does the way that I treat family-members and co-workers, neighbors and friends
show which gods I serve?
· To what do I give my best, most focused attention and care?
·
What
do I Really care about?
·
What
motives really drive me?
·
What
goals really draw me forward?
·
Are
there compulsive patterns of thought or behavior to which I am excessively
attached?
You and I can go to
church and say very sincerely that we worship God, but in the hurly-burly of
daily life there are all kinds of lesser gods that tug at us and clamor for our
attention and our devotion.[1]
Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. (Mt. 5:3)
Copilot’s Take
Joshua’s command to fear the Lord and serve Him completely and sincerely confronts us with the same decision Israel faced: to clarify what we worship and to whom we give our deepest allegiance. Rev. Margaret Bullitt‑Jonas reminds us that putting away false gods requires honest self‑examination, the kind that looks at our spending, our use of time, our treatment of others, our motives, our attachments, and the quiet compulsions that shape our days more than we admit. It is easy to say in church that we worship God, yet in the rush of ordinary life countless lesser gods tug at our attention and siphon off our devotion—comfort, distraction, resentment, ambition, or the subtle desire to control our own world. Joshua’s call exposes these rivals and invites us to choose again, not abstractly but concretely, in the patterns of our days and the habits of our hearts. This is the poverty of spirit Christ blesses—the freedom to let go of what cannot save and to stand before God with an undivided heart, ready to serve Him alone.
Saturday in passion Week.
Prayer.
MAY Thy right hand defend Thy suppliant people, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and worthily instruct them, being purified in Thy sight, that by present consolation it may profit for future good things. Amen.
EPISTLE. Jer. xviii. 18-23.
In those days the impious Jews
said: Come, and let us invent devices against Jeremias: for the law shall not
perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the
prophet: come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us give no heed
to all his words. Give heed to me, O Lord, and hear the voice of my
adversaries. Shall evil be rendered for good, because they have digged a pit
for my soul? Remember that I have stood in Thy sight, to speak good for them,
and to turn away Thy indignation from them. Therefore, deliver up their
children to famine, and bring them into the hands of the sword: let their wives
be bereaved of children, and widows: and let the husbands be slain by death:
let their young men be stabbed with the sword in battle. Let a cry be heard out
of their houses: for Thou shalt bring the robber upon them suddenly: because
they have digged a pit to take me and have hid snares for my feet. But Thou, O
Lord, knowest all their counsel against me unto death: forgive not their iniquity,
and let not their sin be blotted out from Thy sight: let them be overthrown
before Thy eyes ; in the time of Thy wrath do Thou destroy them, O Lord our
God.
GOSPEL. John xii. 10-36.
At that time a great multitude, that was come to the festival-day, when they had heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm-trees and went forth to. meet Him, and cried: Hosanna, blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel. And Jesus found a young ass, and sat upon it, as it is written; Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold thy King cometh sitting on an ass s colt. These things His disciples did not know at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. The multitude therefore gave testimony, which was with Him when He called Lazarus out of the grave and raised him from the dead. For which reason also the people came to meet Him: because they heard that He had done this miracle The Pharisees therefore said among themselves: Do you see that we prevail nothing?
behold, the whole world is gone after Him, Now there were certain gentiles among them who came up to adore on the festival-day. These therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying: Sir, we would see Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew. Again, Andrew and Philip told Jesus. But Jesus answered them, saying: The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, itself remaineth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it: and he that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto life eternal. If any man minister to Me, let him follow Me: and where I am, there also shall My minister be. If any man minister to Me, him will My Father honor. Now is My soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour. But for this cause I came unto this hour. Father, glorify Thy name. A voice therefore came from heaven: I have both glorified it and will glorify it again. The multitude therefore that stood and heard said that it thundered. Others said, an angel spoke to Him. Jesus answered, and said: This voice came not because of Me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to Myself. (Now this He said, signifying what death He should die.) The multitude answered Him: We have heard out of the law, that Christ abideth forever: and how sayest Thou:
The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?
Jesus therefore said to them: Yet a little
while the light is among you. Walk whilst you have the light, that the darkness
overtake you not. And he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
Whilst you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be the children
of light. These things Jesus spoke, and He went away, and hid Himself from
them.
Preparing for Battle[2] Know Your Weapons
The weapon of Sacred Sacramentals
· Sacramentals include certain actions, such as the Sign of the Cross and other blessings, as well as objects that have been blessed, such as holy water, oil, salt, candles, incense, rosaries, crucifixes, scapulars, and religious images.
·
In
an exorcism, the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus
Christ that a person or object be protected against the Devil’s power and
withdrawn from his dominion.
·
The
Sign of the Cross is the most terrible weapon against the Devil.
·
The
Church displays images of the cross so that we can have it continually in front
of our minds to recall to us just what our souls are worth and what they cost
Jesus Christ.
·
Blessings
and blessed objects. Both the blessings that are properly given by clergy (such
as those in the Liturgy) and the blessings spoken by lay people as part of
their daily lives (such as a table grace) are important sacramentals.
Bible in a
year Day 269 The
Day of Small Things
Fr. Mike encourages us not to be discouraged about the small things happening in our lives, because just as we see through Zechariah's visions, God takes small things and turns them into great triumphs. He also touches on the dedication of Israel to rebuild the temple, and the connection between the crowing of Joshua and the crowning of Christ the King. Today's readings are Ezra 5-6, Zechariah 4-6, and Proverbs 20:8-11.
Something on A Stick
Day[3]
No,
we are not talking about mops or brooms (although we are very thankful for
them, of course!) but Something on A Stick Day is all
about celebrating foods we love to eat – that just happen to come on a stick! Who
doesn’t love relaxed finger food that you can pick up by the stick and eat? So,
whether it’s a toffee apple, camp-fire sausage, cheese cubes on a toothpick,
ice cream bar, lollipop or other lovely treats, feel free to indulge in them on
this day! Or why not try the favorite American food on a stick if you can – the
famous corn dog? What about planning an entire meal of a starter, main course
and dessert all on sticks? Easy, informal, and fun – and very little cleaning
up to do afterwards! What a great theme for a dinner party to have on Something
on a Stick Day!
Shaslik[4]
Is a traditional seasoned
grilled meat on a stick for the Feast of St. Bart. While stationed in Belgium
many years ago with my young daughter Nicole there were none of the American fast-food
places in close vicinity, but there were frites stands. Nicole loved Belgium
frites, which are “French Fries” with an attitude. We used to joke that someday
we will open our own Frite stand and on the placard, we would proudly proclaim
the name of our stand, “DICK AND NIC’S FRITES AND SHASLIKS”.
THIS WE BELIEVE
PRAYERS AND TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH
The Great
Commandment
The Ten Commandments are fulfilled in Jesus' Great Commandment: “You shall love...God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.... You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31)
The New Commandment
Before his death on the cross, Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another” (John 13:34).
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Binding and
suppressing the Devils Evil Works
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
Salome (1953)
🎬 Production Snapshot
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Director: William Dieterle
Release: 1953
Screenplay: Harry Kleiner (adaptation), based loosely on the New Testament accounts and apocryphal traditions
Stars: Rita Hayworth, Stewart Granger, Charles Laughton, Judith Anderson
Genre: Biblical epic / court intrigue / romantic drama
Notable: Rita Hayworth produced the film through her own Beckworth Corporation, crafting a version of Salome that is not a villain but a woman seeking truth and redemption. The film blends Technicolor spectacle with a surprisingly intimate moral arc.
🧭 Story Summary
Salome, the daughter of Herodias, returns to Galilee after being expelled from Rome for defying Caesar. She enters a palace thick with political tension: Herod is paranoid and superstitious, Herodias is scheming for power, and John the Baptist’s preaching has stirred unrest among the people.
Salome meets Claudius, a Roman commander whose integrity and compassion stand in stark contrast to the decadence of the court. As she witnesses the conflict between Herodias and John the Baptist, she begins to question her mother’s ambitions and her own place in the world.
When Herodias demands John’s execution, Salome becomes a pawn in the struggle. Her famous dance—here portrayed not as seduction but as a desperate attempt to save Claudius and defuse political violence—fails to prevent John’s martyrdom. Confronted with the consequences of her mother’s vengeance, Salome rejects the corruption of the palace and chooses a path of repentance and renewal.
The film closes not with destruction but with a gesture toward redemption: Salome and Claudius walk away from the palace, leaving behind a world built on fear and manipulation.
🕰 Historical and Cultural Context
- Released during Hollywood’s golden age of biblical epics, Salome stands apart for its focus on character rather than spectacle.
- Rita Hayworth’s involvement as producer allowed her to reshape the legend, softening the femme‑fatale archetype and giving Salome a moral awakening.
- Charles Laughton’s Herod is a masterclass in theatrical decadence—equal parts grotesque, insecure, and strangely human.
- The film reflects 1950s American fascination with ancient empires as mirrors of modern political anxieties: tyranny, propaganda, and the fragility of conscience.
- Its Technicolor palette, lavish sets, and Jean Louis costumes place it firmly in the lineage of The Robe and Samson and Delilah, but with a more intimate emotional core.
✝️ Catholic Moral Resonances
The Corrupt Court as a Mirror of the Fallen World
Herod’s palace is a study in spiritual decay—fear, manipulation, and the worship of power. It echoes the biblical theme that sin is not merely personal but systemic.
The Prophet as the Voice of Truth
John the Baptist stands as the uncompromising conscience of the film. His presence exposes the moral bankruptcy of the court and calls each character to conversion.
Salome’s Dance as Misused Beauty
In Scripture, beauty can reveal God—but it can also be twisted for manipulation. The film reframes the dance as a moment of inner conflict: a woman caught between obedience to her mother and the stirrings of conscience.
Repentance as Liberation
Salome’s arc is not one of seduction but of awakening. She recognizes the cost of her mother’s vengeance and chooses truth over loyalty to corruption.
This echoes the Catholic conviction that repentance is not humiliation but freedom.
Martyrdom as Seed of Renewal
John’s death is not the end but the beginning of transformation. His witness becomes the catalyst for Salome’s conversion and Claudius’s courage.
🍷 Hospitality Pairing
Drink: Pomegranate Wine (or Sparkling Pomegranate)
Rich, ruby‑colored, and rooted in Middle Eastern tradition. Symbolic of both royal courts and the biblical themes of sacrifice and renewal.
Snack: Honey‑Date Cakes with Toasted Almonds
Sweet, ancient, and fitting for a Judean palace. Dates evoke the desert, the prophets, and the tension between worldly luxury and spiritual hunger.
Atmosphere:
- Low lamplight or candles to evoke the flickering shadows of Herod’s court
- Middle Eastern strings or soft choral tones
- A sense of moral tension giving way to clarity and repentance
🪞 Reflection Prompt
Where in your own life do you feel caught between the expectations of others and the quiet voice of conscience?
How might God be inviting you—like Salome—to step out of a corrupted pattern and into a path of truth, courage, and renewal?
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