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A little over 12 years ago, on October 25, 1992, we celebrated with great joy the beatification of our 51 brothers, the Martyrs of Barbastro.
That grace-filled moment positively affected the lives of many Claretians and had a profound impact on those who were in the process of initial formation at the time. Many young Claretians, motivated by the testimony of the Martyrs, wrote to Father General expressing their availability for the universal mission of the Congregation.
As a Congregation we wanted to respond to the grace of the beatification by committing ourselves to open a new mission in continental China. The following year the Claretian community of Taiwan was established as the first step in this direction. We are very near to realizing our dream of a stable presence in continental China.
But above all, the beatification of the Martyrs of Barbastro constituted a powerful call to a more radical following of Jesus and a more generous response to the service of the Kingdom. It also helped us to rediscover the gift of community as the place where our faith, which always wavers, is nurtured, grows and is made firm. Within the community, through the care and concern of our brothers, we experience in a new way the love of the Father who never abandons us, but rather teaches us to love and to forgive.
We know very well that the Congregation's experience of martyrdom does not end with the 51 Martyrs of Barbastro. Many other brothers of ours have surrendered their lives to the Lord and to their brothers. Their deaths provide poignant testimony to their faith in the God of life. From Father Francesc Crusats to the last of our brothers assassinated for his fidelity to his mission, Claretians of different ages and nationalities have written the history of martyrdom of the Congregation. Together they form a very important part of our spiritual patrimony.
All of these Claretians—priests, brothers, students—are points of reference for us and evident signs of the dimension of martyrdom which always accompanies the missionary vocation.
1. Father Andrés Solá Molist
Pope John Paul II proposed to the community of the faithful that the Catalonian Claretian Missionary, Father Andrés Solá Molist, be considered a witness for the Gospel. Father Solá was assassinated on April 25, 1927 in the small village of San Joaquín, near the city of León, Mexico.
We do not have a detailed biography of Father Solá. In fact, there is not much that can be told about him. He was born on October 7, 1895, in the town of Taradell, near Vic, the birthplace of our Congregation. The preaching of some of the Claretians in his parish helped him discover his own missionary vocation. On August 15, 1914 he professed his vows in Cervera and was ordained to the priesthood on September 23, 1922 in Segovia. There is nothing especially outstanding in the reports submitted by those responsible for his formation. However, his death, years later, will reveal the firmness of his vocational choice and the radical nature of a missionary life lived in simplicity and total surrender.
Bound for the universal mission of the Congregation, he arrived in Mexico on August 23, 1923 where he finds his new country and, in the Mexicans, his new people. As a missionary, he loved the Mexican people and did not abandon them in the difficult moments of the religious persecution when his presence, together with theirs, was most necessary. He remained faithful to the end as he provided the pastoral service his people asked of him.
2. The context of martyrdom
Every act of martyrdom has its context: religious, social, political. The greatness of the martyr is precisely in remaining faithful to the values that Jesus presented in the Gospels, and to the vocation that the Lord has given him in order to live them and to place them at the service of others. To know that one is in the hands and the heart of the Father and to seek above all else the Kingdom and its Justice is what sustains the martyr in his testimony.
Obviously, the martyrdom of Father Solá has its own particular context. Throughout its history, the Church in Mexico has lived through difficult moments in its relationship with the State. The presidency of Plutarco Elías Calles (1924-1928) represented the reconstruction of the country after a period characterized by confrontations between armed movements and the return of legality; however, at the same time religious persecution intensified. President Elías Calles, strengthened by new orders clearly offensive to the right of religious liberty, wanted to apply the Constitution, including the articles considered to be anti-clerical such as the prohibition against the exercise of ministry by all foreign priests, the power given to each Governor to limit the number of priests allowed within his jurisdiction, etc. In response to the actions of the government, the Mexican Bishops issued a pastoral letter calling for the suspension of all worship as a form of protest against the submission of the Church to a State that does not recognize the reality of Catholicism. The people of Mexico felt as though their faith and their culture were under attack. Some groups of Catholics organized themselves into a multi-class resistance movement with great organizing capabilities. In the area known as "el Bajío" (especially in the states of Guanajuato and Jalisco where Catholicism was deeply rooted) many Catholics raised arms in order to defend their faith and their culture. In general, the priests did not sympathize with the armed movement. The vast majority of them abandoned their parishes and clandestinely exercised their ministry. The Government, however, continued to pursue them, expelling many foreign priests and executing approximately 90 others, mainly in el Bajío. In the city of León (Guanajuato), where Father Solá and his companions were martyred, 18 priests were executed. On March 19, 1927, near León, the "cristeros" (armed resistance groups opposed to the government), headed by immigrants from Galicia in Spain, derailed a train transporting gold pesos, and again on the 11th and the 24th of April there were train derailments in Laredo. Train derailments became one of the preferred forms of resistance of the cristero groups. Our martyrs were accused, in a mock trial, of having participated in the derailment of the train from Mexico City to Juárez City on the night of April 23-24. In a telegram from General Sánchez to General Amaro, the Minister of War, Sánchez affirms the following: "I have surprised three priests conspiring against the established authorities, and three curious onlookers, consequence of the conspiracy yesterday's derailment." In the telegram he asked for instructions. Amaro's reply was rapid: "Execute the priests as a lesson to all of them in the area where this occurred; set the onlookers free." Obviously our Martyrs had nothing to do with the train derailment. This charade was perpetrated as an excuse to justify the assassination of the three prisoners.
What is certain is that Father Trinidad Rangel, and the Claretian, Father Andrés Solá, were detained simply because they were priests. The layman, Leonardo Pérez, was detained because the soldiers thought he was a priest as well. This becomes very clear at the time of their arrest. Father Solá was arrested because a photograph was found on him which showed him dressed in liturgical garb and giving first communion to a little girl. We have received additional confirmation of this in the form of testimony concerning conversations that took place between Father Solá and the military personnel who guarded him during the brief period of confinement following his arrest.
This is the context, described in broad terms, within which the martyrdom of our brother took place. In order for us to discover the meaning that Father Solá's martyrdom has for us today, it is necessary to reconstruct the events leading to it.
3. Our brother's testimony of martyrdom
Due to the religious persecution, the Claretian community of León had to seek refuge among the families and friends of the community. Father Andrés Solá was assigned to this community where he assisted in providing for the sacramental needs of the Church and formed part of the preaching team responsible for popular missions. The community was conscious of the risks they were taking by continuing to exercise their ministry. The superiors of the community counseled Father Solá to be prudent, even while giving him the necessary freedom to choose whatever option he considered most opportune in light of the special circumstances in which he found himself. The tension between personal security and the demands of service to the people is always the most difficult part of discernment in these cases. Father Solá came to know and love the simple people he encountered in his ministry in the Church of León, either as a preacher of popular missions, or in the short time that he was in charge of a Parish at the request of the Bishop. The common people of Mexico touched his missionary heart and he felt great affection for them. The situation worsened and in the beginning of February, 1926, he sought refuge in the home of two sisters, Josefina and Jovita Alba. From their home he continued to exercise his ministry, combining his attention to those who participated in the celebrations or sought his counsel at the house where he took refuge, with the numerous visits he made to those persons who requested his presence in order to nourish their faith in those difficult moments.
He was fully aware of the risks involved in meeting his pastoral commitments. Various witnesses affirm that on several occasions he commented that even if he were to be arrested he was convinced that only the normal sanctions against foreign priests who continue to exercise their ministry would be applied, namely, expulsion from the country. It is possible that his condition as a foreigner might have provided him some assurances, but still he was aware that the possibility of martyrdom loomed over the path that he chose. He writes to Father Pau Aguadé, a classmate from the novitiate and a very close friend, on February 9, 1927: "I don't remember if I ever said to you while we were at college that I had a great desire to be a martyr. Who knows if the Lord will ever grant me this grace! If so, may my blood be accepted for the triumph of the Catholic Church in Mexico." There is not the least doubt that the idea of martyrdom ran through the mind of Father Solá more than once and that he incorporated the idea in his goals for the future. I imagine that it was a theme that permeated his spiritual itinerary during those months, and because of it, he was ready to face it concretely. The cry of the people, asking him to continue at their side to help them maintain their faith and their hope during those difficult moments, was stronger than his own fears and the repeated calls to be prudent—or to abandon his work—that surely he received from many.
Finally the time came for him to face that eventuality which he knew could come at any moment. They were arrested around noon on April 24 and taken to the Seminary which at times was used as a military command post. The environment in which they found themselves led them to believe that they had arrived at the end of their "Way of the Cross." The military authorities were firm in their decision to kill them because they were priests. Neither of the three was surprised in the act of committing the "crime" of public worship. If they were condemned to death, it was only because of the fact that two of them were priests, Fathers Rangel and Solá, and the other, Mr. Pérez, because he was considered to be a priest. The expressions of rejection and hatred toward them as priests that they had to listen to from the lips of the military authorities did not leave them any doubt. The moment had arrived for them to accept their fate. Now they needed to call upon all of the spiritual resources they held in reserve, especially in their final moments of persecution.
Around eight o'clock in the evening they were made to board the train that would take them to the place of their martyrdom: the three martyrs and three young men, frequent participants in the group meetings that were held in the house where Father Solá had sought refuge. (Later these three young people would provide us with certain details concerning the road to martyrdom.) The train was detained in Lagos the whole night long, probably for fear of further assaults. It continued on its way in the morning and Father Solá and his companions understood that they were approaching the time of their final testimony. They all agreed to shout "Long live Christ the King!" if they were going to be killed. There was still one last change from the passenger train to a military train in which they were forced to board a freight car. The train stopped in the place where the derailment occurred on the night of April 23-24. The three were forced to disembark, and right there, about 60 meters from the tracks, they were shot at 8:45 a.m. on April 25, 1927. According to the testimony of several railroad workers who were in the area repairing the damage caused by the derailment two days before, Father Rangel and Mr. Pérez died immediately, but Father Andrés Solá survived another three hours. We rely on the testimony of Mr. Petronilo Flores, one of the railroad workers, who declared before the Tribunal in the process for beatification: "I did not know the martyrs in life; but I saw them after they had been shot. I spoke a few words to Father Solá who survived about three hours. They were executed and I heard the shots since I was only about 300 meters distance from them at a point very near to San Joaquín, at marker 492. It seems to me that they died with patience and good disposition and, above all, I affirm that Father Solá, during the three hours that he remained alive, repeated frequently these words: 'My Jesus, my Jesus, I die for you.' I myself heard him pronounce these words. In this manner he prepared himself to die. I pulled him out of the tar because he wasn't able to, first, because of his wounds and, second, because of the stickiness of the tar. I did not see him die because I went to get him some water because he told me that he was very thirsty. The soldiers stripped him of his belongings shortly after shooting him."
Other witnesses told us they remember seeing Father Solá as he lay dying. The testimony of one of them, which was given to Father Julián Collell shortly afterward, merits repetition: "Don't forget," said Father Solá to one of the persons who was at his side, "to notify my mother, in whatever way you can, that I have died; but tell her also that she has a son who is a martyr." With his thoughts fixed on his mother, and surely on his brothers in the Congregation, as well as on the many other persons who helped him remain faithful in difficult times to his missionary commitment, Father Andrés Solá died around 12 noon at 31 years of age.
The railroad workers buried the three bodies where they died. On May 1, Mariano Pérez, the brother of the martyr, Leonardo Pérez, received permission to transfer the bodies to Lagos where they were received by many people who already considered them to be martyrs for the faith. Later the remains of Father Solá were transferred to León and placed in the Church of the Heart of Mary on January 26, 1943.
4. A memory that challenges us
In the apostolic exhortation "Vita Consecrata," Pope John Paul II invites us "to gather the names and testimony of consecrated persons who might be inscribed in the Martyrology of the twentieth century" (VC 86). Martyrs are a precious inheritance for all religious families. They are symbols that remind us of the meaning of our lives, and the reason for our existence. "Consecrated to Christ and to the service of the Kingdom they have given witness to their faithfulness by following until the cross. The circumstances may be diverse and the situations varied, but there is only one cause of martyrdom: fidelity to the Lord and to his Gospel, because it is not the penalty that makes a martyr, but rather the cause." (Caminar desde Cristo, n. 9)
What does the memory of our brother Andrés Solá Molist, a martyr for Christ, ask of us today? What does it tell us? Where does it ask us to direct our gaze? I will propose several brief points for reflection so that the concept of martyrdom, which is a gift from God, does not cease to bear fruit in us.
4.1. Reaffirm our option for Jesus and the Kingdom
Much is said today about fragility, culture "light", fragmentation, lack of deep convictions, limited capacity to assume permanent commitments, etc. On the one hand, the cultural characteristics of our moment in history have surely accentuated these traits, that, on the other hand, have always accompanied the human condition. In the "world" of religious life we are surprised by the many forms of abandonment that indicate a lack of consistency for the options that should orient our life and are expressed by means of concrete commitments.
The memory of any of our brothers who has given up his life confessing his faith constitutes an urgent call to reaffirm our option for Jesus and the Kingdom. It invites us to open our lives to the powerful action of the Spirit of the Lord that "chooses the weak and makes them strong" (Preface of Martyrs). This does not imply that we should depend on our own efforts and strength, but rather on a renewed awareness of the conviction that fidelity is possible thanks to the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. This is a gift which must be protected. The option to remain faithful to the consecration to God and to the service of the people in the moment of persecution can not be improvised. To accept this moment with clarity and serenity reveals a deep experience of faith that has grown and matured as a result of ardent prayer, assiduous meditation on the Word, participation in the Eucharist, filial devotion to Mary, fraternal accompaniment in community, a life graciously shared with the Christian community and a generous commitment to the Kingdom. All of this requires that the Kingdom occupy the central part of our life plan with all else following secondary. The text from the Congress on Claretian spirituality reminds us: "It is our task to believe in the possibilities that the Spirit gives us and to allow ourselves to be moved by the Spirit in our personal lives. Spirituality, after all, must be linked with faith in Jesus, with trust in Him and His Spirit, with the love of friendship and gratitude, and from Him with our faithfulness to the Covenant" (Our Missionary Spirituality…)
The possibility of martyrdom is always present in the missionary vocation. It was in the life of the Founder and it has been in the history of our Congregation. Our Father Founder integrated this possibility into the definition of the missionary and he lived it himself in the distinct stages of his life. "Nothing daunts him: he delights in privations, welcomes work, embraces sacrifices, smiles at slander, rejoices in all the torments and sorrows he suffers, and glories in the cross of Jesus Christ. His only concern is how he may follow Christ and imitate him in praying, working, enduring and striving constantly and solely for the greater glory of God and the salvation of humankind" (CC 9). Father Andrés Solá, like all Claretians, carried these words engraved in his mind and in his heart. He knew them from memory and he meditated on them hundreds of times. However, they did not erase weakness from his life. Surely some of the privations weighed heavily on him. He felt weakness in the face of the sacrifices that were asked of him. He experienced fear as he thought of the many ways he could be tormented. The definition of a missionary is not the description of a few "strong men," but rather of persons who know how to gaze upon the face of Jesus and allow his glance to penetrate their hearts. This ability to contemplate Jesus and to be in communion with his passion and with his love for each one of his brothers—beautifully expressed in the last phrase of the definition—is what makes it possible to live the demands expressed in the first part. The martyrs knew how to fix their sight on Jesus, allowing the Teacher to return the same glance of tenderness and mercy that transformed the heart of that Peter who denied knowing the Lord, and later was able to give up his life confessing his faith in Him. How many times had Father Solá meditated on these words? How many times had he asked Jesus for assistance? The gaze of Jesus prepared him for his final testimony; in it he discovered the tenderness of unconditional love and from it he received strength for his ultimate surrender.
To confess faith in Jesus even unto death is the fruit of a deep friendship with the Master, and this friendship is a gift that must be nurtured with care. I want to remind you of one of the priorities of this sexennium determined by the last General Chapter: "We accept as a priority the cultivation of our own vocation in faithfulness to our evangelical roots and charisms, as expressed in the Constitutions" (PTV 48). This is an invitation to cultivate a closer friendship with Jesus, because this friendship makes faithfulness possible. The Chapter also denounced the inconsistencies in our lives, including the vocational dissatisfaction in some Claretians. This concern, expressed by the Chapter, is the direct consequence of a progressive abandonment of the means, indicated in our Constitutions, for us to grow in friendship with Jesus and to celebrate his presence in our community. In these cases, the Kingdom of God is displaced to the margins of our lives and is converted into a burden rather than a joy. There is a need to make up for the void in one way or another, and many substitutes appear quite quickly: activism, personal projects that take place outside the community, the search for positions of prestige, the anxiety for personal well-being and extra benefits, etc. This is not the way to find happiness. Jesus already raised the warning: "No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other or be attentive to one and despise the other. You cannot give yourself to God and money" (Mt. 6:24). Our road to self-realization consists in building our lives around Jesus and responding to his invitation. This is the road that prepares us to give our lives each day, even to the point of martyrdom, if it becomes necessary.
It would please me for each of us to place ourselves before our brother Martyr and ask him to help us discover the source of the strength which sustained him on his road to martyrdom. I would like for us to share in a community meeting the importance we find for each of us in the testimony of Father Andrés Solá. I am sure that it will help us reaffirm our option for Jesus and for the Kingdom. This is precisely the greatest treasure that makes giving up everything worthwhile.
4.2. Availability for mission with all of its consequences
Father Andrés Solá was born in Catalonia and professed in the Congregation as a member of that Province. His superiors sent him to Mexico where he encountered a new people. He gave himself fully to them and he did not wish to abandon them in their moment of difficulty. These are two characteristics that have marked the lives of many Claretians in the history of the Congregation. The historical references would be too numerous to list. It is beautiful to hear Claretians from some countries speak with love and respect of the missionaries who were assigned to their countries from other areas. They fondly recall how these Claretians accompanied them in the task of creating in these places true missionary communities. It is also beautiful to hear the people speak with pride and emotion about "their missionaries" and how they dedicated themselves to the mission without sparing efforts or sacrifices. The common people always know how to read the signs of love and welcome the generosity of those who give of themselves. It moves me to hear how some missionaries who, after spending many years in their mission sites, and feeling incapable of abandoning them, still speak with enthusiasm for their "new people." They truly love them and want to remain with them forever. They are "their" people and "their" family. This is the concrete experience of the hundred fold that Jesus promised to those who give up all for the sake of the Kingdom.
Father Solá was able to work only a few years in Mexico, but he lived his missionary life with intensity, first as a professor in the Claretian Seminary in Toluca and later in the ministry of preaching and as part of the pastoral team in our church in León. He prolonged his missionary service, even after he went into hiding, by comforting, with his presence and word, the Christian communities that could not celebrate their faith publicly. The people loved and respected him. After his martyrdom, his remains, along with those of his companions, were transferred from San Joaquín to León where they were received with great enthusiasm by those who were aware of his apostolic zeal.
Father Solá placed completely in God's hands the life he had already offered to those he served throughout his ministry. With this he validated the offering he had made the day he left Barcelona for Mexico, saying his final and definitive goodbye to his family and his country. He lived his missionary commitment with generosity in spite of all the difficulties. The letters he writes to his family, especially his mother, express the deep feeling that united him to his family, and that, in Mexico, he would have lived in a diverse way as a missionary. His thought toward the end of his life was once again of his mother. He asked those who attended him as he lay dying to tell his dear mother that she had a martyr for a son.
The possibility of serving the Church and the Congregation in the universal mission continues to be on the horizon in the life of every Claretian. Many of our brothers are called to live their missionary vocations in places other than where they were born, matured in their faith and professed in the Congregation. This missionary availability should continue to distinguish the new generations of Claretians. The testimony of our brother Martyr cautions us of the need to accept the consequences of this option. The love for the people demands a generous surrender that translates into concrete attitudes and conduct in the life of the missionary: to know and to appreciate the language and the culture, to spare no sacrifice in completing the service that is asked, to be prepared to remain as long as the mission requires, to know how to remain faithful to the values through which we express our consecration, to place ourselves in the midst of the small and the excluded and to unite ourselves in their struggle for justice and the dignity of all persons, etc. It hurts me at times to find Claretians who have been sent to destinations outside of their own countries and/or cultures who, after a short time, want to return because they claim to have completed their mission or they begin to demand "compensation" for the time spent in the mission. The memory of Father Andrés Solá and many other missionaries can help us to discover the true missionary spirit that, in spite of our fragility and limitations, impels us to give up all and forever.
It would be beautiful if the beatification of our brother could awaken in all Claretians a new awareness of the call to collaborate in the mission of the Church wherever the needs of evangelization are most urgent.
4.3. In shared mission
Some years ago the concept "shared mission" gained acceptance in our approach to pastoral ministry, even though the understanding and practice of it varies among the Organisms of the Congregation. It is clear that putting "shared mission" into practice will enable us to discover new, more efficient ways to coordinate our pastoral teams. As a result, we can identify the consequences this has for our own personal and community growth. The last General Chapter already addressed this issue: "The term 'shared mission,' relatively new in the Church and among ourselves, arises from a radically communal understanding of mission and from the necessary interrelationship among all states of life and ministry in order to confront the challenges to evangelisation presented by our world. Our Father Founder intuited this in some way when he invited us to 'do with others' and not to consider ourselves self-sufficient." (PTV 35) And after indicating that this will require a change of mentality, the Chapter proposed the following as one of the priorities for the sexennium: "Therefore, we choose as a priority that shared mission be our normal way of carrying out our mission and that we all, as Claretians, accept the consequences this has for our spirituality, vocation ministry, formation processes, community life, apostolic work and institutions of government and economy." (PTV 37)
Today, the martyrs of San Joaquín—one Claretian priest, one diocesan priest and one layman—become for us a parable of this sharing that unites us all in the mission of giving witness for the Kingdom. They were in agreement in their total adherence to the Lord, sharing the same passion to serve their brothers and sisters by comforting them in the moment of persecution, and they helped each other remain faithful to the end. From three distinct forms of Christian life they followed Jesus and completed the only mission entrusted to the Church by the Lord.
We all have experience of how our faith grows when it is shared with the Christian community, of how our vocational response is purified when we allow ourselves to be questioned by those who live out their following of Jesus in other vocations, of how our missionary commitment is vigorized and its efficacy multiplied when it is carried out in the communion of charisms and ministries. Surely this was the experience of Father Andrés Solá and his companions, even though it was understood and lived from other ecclesiological assumptions. Today we count on new approaches in ministry to help us accept the way of shared mission. The testimony of the martyrs of San Joaquín will provide us with a new inspiration to continue down this path. We renew our commitment to advance in our understanding and practice of shared mission, especially with those who belong to the Claretian family, and share the same Claretian inspiration.
4.4. In the Year of the Eucharist
The Church has given us a special gift in that the beatification of Father Solá takes place during the Year of the Eucharist. One of the pastoral tasks that Father Solá carried out with great dedication during the time he was hiding, was to take the Eucharist to those faithful who were not able to assist at Mass because of the prohibition against public worship. The faithful felt it was necessary for them to receive the Eucharist since it was the source of the vitality of their faith, a link with the Christian community, and a powerful force for witness during that difficult time. In spite of the depression caused by the persecution, they were comforted, just as the disciples at Emmaus, in recognizing the presence of Jesus at the breaking of the bread. With prudence, and at the same time great courage, Father Solá walked the streets of León over and over again accompanying Jesus, present in the Eucharist, and accompanied by Jesus. The whole time he engaged in the kind of intimate conversation with Jesus that set his heart on fire and revived the hope that he needed in those difficult moments.
The persons who lived with him then have told us that Father Solá spent a lot of time before the Blessed Sacrament and organized frequent moments of prayer with the people. These moments of contemplation before our Lord, present in the mystery of the Eucharist, sustained his dedication to the people he served and prepared him for the final surrender of his life in martyrdom.
I am sure that the words of Father Founder, taken from those beautiful passages of the Autobiography that narrate his experience of the Eucharistic Mystery, echoed more than once in the mind and the heart of Father Solá: "On May 11, 1862, at 6:30 in the evening, while I was in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament at the palace of Aranjuez, I offered myself to Jesus and Mary to preach, exhort, labor and suffer even death itself, and the Lord accepted my offering." (Auto. 698) There is also the passage where he recounts how he was granted the grace of the conservation of the sacramental species. He felt called to live that profound moment of communion with Jesus and to be a witness for the Kingdom by confronting all of the evils of Spain (cf. Auto. 694). These and other Claretian memories must have inspired Father Solá's life and missionary commitment in those difficult months.
The beatification of our brother will be a permanent reminder to us to live the Year of the Eucharist with intensity. The Eucharist is the sacrament that preserves among us that presence of the Lord that the disciples of Emmaus demanded. (cf. Mane nobiscum Domine
-MND- n. 19) It is necessary that the Lord continue to set our hearts on fire with his Word and that our community always feel accompanied by his presence in the breaking of the bread. There is where our communion is strengthened because we recognize ourselves as brothers gathered around the same table and sharing the same bread (cf. 1 Cor. 10, 17; MND 20, 21) The experience of the Eucharist transforms us into fearless apostles of the Jesus who gives life so that all may have life, and awakens in us true missionary zeal. (cf. MND 24, 25) The Eucharist, says Pope John Paul II, "is a project of solidarity for all of humanity" and a "great school of peace;" "the Christian who takes part in the Eucharist learns to become a promotor of communion, peace and solidarity in every situation." (MND 27) In the Eucharist "we receive the impulse for a practical commitment to build a more just and fraternal society." (MND 28) Here I wish to reiterate what was stated in the document from the Congress on Claretian Spirituality: "Gathered around the table of the Lord, who shares his life with his disciples, we feel the pain of exclusion of so many persons from that other table the Lord has prepared for all of his sons and daughters: the goods of Creation, the care of which has been entrusted to the human family. The Eucharist is a powerful call to collaborate in the transformation of the world according to God's plan." (Our Missionary Spirituality…, p. 49)
We welcome, as grace, the fact that the beatification of our brother will take place during this Year of the Eucharist. We will strive to turn the exhortations of the Holy Father into concrete actions. I am convinced this will help us be more daring in our attempts at fulfilling the priority indicated by the General Chapter for this sexennium: "Therefore we choose as a priority solidarity with the poor, the excluded and those whose right to life is threatened so that this impacts our personal and community lifestyle, in our apostolic mission and institutions." (PTV 40) Our commitment for justice, peace and the integrity of creation should find greater importance in our spirituality and in our missionary projects.
Just as indicated in the General Chapter (cf. PTV 70.2), we should try to deepen the Eucharistic dimension of our charism. The General Government would like to propose the following process to assist every Claretian. I ask for your maximum cooperation.
5. We celebrate the beatification of our brother
"At the limits of the life of an authentic missionary always lies the possibility of martyrdom, the "limit case" of self-giving, of love, of confessing the faith and of proclaiming hope. Martyrdom is a gift. And it always must be recognized as such. It is a gift for the martyr and also for the Church and the Congregation. It is a paradoxical gift, but a real one. We can flee from it beforehand, if we escape danger, if we seek security, if we avoid any type of risk. Martyrdom on the horizon gives a distinctive coloration to the missionary life" (Our Missionary Spirituality…, p. 21)
If martyrdom is a gift then we are grateful for it and we celebrate it. Once more it is time to sing the Magnificat. With Mary, who accompanied her son, Andrés, with maternal love and affection at the moment he was asked to give the supreme testimony of his option for the Kingdom, and with our brother martyr we sing the Magnificat. God always looks upon the lowliness of his servants and continues to work great things in them. When the powerful wish to silence the voices of those who proclaim the marvels of the Lord, the community of believers is moved into action in favor of the construction of the Kingdom. When hatred gives rise to death, faith and forgiveness are converted into fountains of life and hope for many. They become instruments for the establishment of justice for all.
We are thrilled to be brothers of Father Andrés and we appreciate his testimony. It is a grace for us to be part of the same congregational community, sharing a plan for life that is capable of building up persons who are able to surrender everything for Jesus and the Kingdom. The commemoration of the martyrdom of our brother should help each one of us reinforce our Claretian identity. Let us welcome that book of life we call the Constitutions and conform our lives to it. In it we can find the way to strengthen our commitment for the Kingdom and to convert our communities into powerful signs of the same. Martyrdom speaks to us of faithfulness which is the fruit of grace at work in human fragility. "Fidelity" is a word that we should thoroughly study and apply to each moment of our life.
The Province of Mexico has been preparing for the celebration of the beatification of Father Solá. We have also created a general commission that will propose several concrete initiatives. I would like all of the Organisms of the Congregation to prepare to receive this gift of grace. Those who work in formation should look for ways to encourage the formation communities to learn as much as possible about the testimony of our brother martyr, and to celebrate his beatification with enthusiasm. The Church has placed Father Andrés Solá before the people of God as a model for Christian life. The exact date for the beatification has not been set, but on that day we will unite in prayer and thanksgiving. We are committed to keeping the memory of Father Solá alive among us.
I have been wondering how we could express our gratitude to the Lord and to our brother who left us his testimony of faithfulness until death. One way to respond is to approach vocation ministry with renewed determination. Father Solá lived his missionary life in two Organisms, Catalonia and Mexico, both of which are experiencing difficulty in attracting new vocations. The last General Chapter issued an urgent call to the entire Congregation to promote vocation ministry with renewed enthusiasm. The General Government has created a Secretariat of Vocation Ministry in order to animate this important ministry. We want to take advantage of this special moment of grace to renew our commitment to vocation ministry and to accept the many demands on our personnel that this entails. We should review our pastoral projects and activities to determine if sufficient importance is given to vocation ministry. We have to ask ourselves if we are willing to invite young men to consider the possibility of life as a Claretian missionary, and also if we are open to receive them in our own communities. We should not forget to revise the life of our communities in order to make them clear signs of fraternity and missionary activity. Our homes and communities should be appealing to those who are thinking of following Jesus in the consecrated life. In some places we will have to insist on careful vocational selection, knowing that it is not enough to want to be a priest in order to enter our community, but rather it is necessary to feel the call to missionary life and to be ready to accept the consequences. This is especially true in places where the formation teams need to be reinforced in order to provide adequate accompaniment for those preparing for Claretian missionary life. In other cultural contexts we have to remind ourselves that the Lord continues calling people to the religious life. For our part, we must make a strong effort to recognize the call and to accompany those who are called in their process of discernment. I ask all Organisms, in their next assembly or chapter, to discuss the theme of vocation ministry in order to identify concrete proposals to help us revise our attitudes and accept new commitments.
If we are generous in our vocational response and make a valiant effort to live the Claretian mission, mindful of the options that the Congregation has proposed at this moment, we will recover enthusiasm for our vocation and we will feel truly happy to belong to our community. This is the first necessary step in any approach to vocation ministry. May the memory of Blessed Andrés Solá help us in this regard.
I picture Father Founder as he wrote to Father Xifré upon receiving notice of the death of the first Claretian martyr, Father Francesc Crusats: "I just received your esteemed letter of the 2nd and 3rd, and I am fully informed. Let us give thanks to God now that the Lord and his Blessed Mother have deigned to accept the first of the martyrs. I had hoped to be the first martyr of the Congregation, but I was not worthy. Another has beaten me to it. I congratulate the Martyr and Saint Crusats and I congratulate Mr. Rexach, as well, for having had the luck of being injured. I also congratulate the entire Congregation for the blessing it has received in being persecuted. Tell them, for my part, not to be afraid and to trust in the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary." (Letter of Father Founder to Father Xifré, October 7, 1868)
Let us celebrate with joy the memory of our brother, and may our celebration encourage each of us to greater faithfulness.
Rome, March 28, 2005
Easter Monday
Josep M. Abella, cmf
Superior General


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10-26-2013: Kaddour
What a happy birthday your broehtr must have had this sounds like a lot of fun for you all, Noah! I wonder if the train was in Moss Bank Park? I am going to a Chinese restaurant with all our vistors on Thursday. You will have to tell me what you had to eat there!

subset: commoncrawl


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Ford's robot butt for testing car seats can now sweat
The next time someone tells you that the tech industry is out of ideas or that the future we were all promised never arrived or that real innovation died out years ago, you grab that stinker by their collar, and you yell in their face: "Ford added sweat glands to its robot butt."
There'll be stunned silence, I guarantee.
Back in 2017, we introduced you to the Robutt, the robotic butt that Ford uses to test its car seats. It's basically a cushion stuck on the end of an industrial robot arm that performs CPR on car seats for days at a time to quickly re-create 10 years of wear and tear. Well, in 2019 (as seen via Motherboard), the Robutt is back, and it's moister than ever.
To better mimic real-life usage, like getting into your car after a workout at the gym, the Robutt can now sweat. Its cushioning is heated to 36 degrees Celsius (to approximate the human body's temperature), and half a liter of water is fed through the fabric.
"The sweat test ensures the seat stays free of surface damage over time," claims Ford in a blog. But who can really say? I feel like the sweating robot butt is just as likely to be the work of some imaginative pervert at the Ford factory (or a canny comms department that knows what idiots like me like to blog about) as any conscientious engineer.
But hey, I'm just glad there are some jobs humans don't have to do.


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Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE+2017
Starting at
$34,455 *
2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE+ for sale
From its sleek front fascia down to its tailgate, the 2017 RAV4 Hybrid lets you hit the road with sporty, dynamic style. A sturdy frame and wide athletic stance signal RAV4 Hybrid's high-performance capabilities, while compact, aerodynamic design enhances both handling and fuel efficiency.
Town: 6.9 L/100km
highway: 7.8 L/100km
- Trailer sway control
- Electric Power Steering
- Power Assisted, Front Ventilated Disc Brakes, Solid Rear Disc Brakes, Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)
- Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), Gate Type Shifter, Transmission Cooler
- 2.5 Litre, 4-Cylinder, DOHC, 16-Valve, Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence (VVT-i), Electronic Throttle Control System with Intelligence (ETCS-i), Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD), Atkinson Cycle, Cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) System, EV Mode, ECO Mode, Sport Mode
- Net Hybrid System HP (kW) 194 (145)
- Compression Ratio 12.5:1
- Suspension: Front: MacPherson Gas Struts, Coil Springs, Stabilizer Bar
- Suspension: Rear: Double Wishbone Type, Coil Springs, Stabilizer Bar
- All Wheel Drive (AWD), Active Torque Control System, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC)
- Front Seatbelt Pre-Tensioners and Force Limiters
- Anchor Points for Child Restraint Seats
- Child Protector Rear Door Locks
- Engine Immobilizer
- Compact spare tire
- Front Seat Mounted Side Airbags
- All-Position 3-Point Lap & Shoulder Belts
- Front Seatbelt Anchor Height Adjusters
- Dual Stage Driver & Passenger Airbag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
- Roll-Sensing Front and Rear Head/Side Curtain Airbags
- Backup Camera
- Front Passenger Occupancy Classification Indicator
- Vehicle Proximity Notification System
- Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology (SST)
- Toyota Safety Sense: Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Auto High Beam, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
- Front Passenger Seat Cushion Airbag
- Driver Knee Airbag
- Warnings: Oil Pressure Warning, Low Fuel, Low Washer Fluid, Door Ajar, Front Driver and Passenger Seat Belt Warning
- Illuminated entry
- Synthetic Leather Door Trim
- Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
- Smart Key System
- Push Button Start
- Keyless Entry
- Power Door Locks
- Power Windows with Driver Side Auto Up / Down
- Dual Vanity Mirrors
- Electric Rear Window Defroster with Timer
- Tonneau Cover
- Overhead Sunglass Storage
- Coat Hooks (Rear: 2)
- Digital Clock
- Scuff Plates
- Dual Zone Automatic Climate Control
- Dust, Pollen, Deodorizing Air Filter
- Rear Seat Heater Ducts
- Fuel Economy Meter
- Dual Trip Odometer
- Water Temperature Gauge
- Eco Drive Monitor
- Outside Temperature Gauge
- Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror
- Rear Privacy Glass
- High Solar Energy Absorbing Window Glass
- Front Windshield Acoustic Glass
- Grey Headliner
- Soft-touch Instrument Panel with Stitching
- 3-spoke Steering Wheel, Tilt & Telescopic Steering Wheel, Steering Wheel Audio Controls, Bluetooth Controls, Voice Recognition Controls
- Front Centre Console Box, Front Seat Back Pockets, Driver and Passenger Door Pockets
- Cargo Lamp
- Map Lamps
- Carpeting, Carpet Floor Mats, All Season Floor Mats
- Front Sun Visors with Extenders
- Retained Accessory Power
- Front & Rear Cup Holders
- 12Volt Accessory Power Outlet
- Cargo Area Tie-Down Rings, Under Cargo Area Storage Compartments
- Fog Lamps
- Automatic Headlamp System
- Hybrid Blue-Accented Emblems
- Wheel Arch Moulding
- Silver Painted Roof Rails
- HSD Badging
- Rear Splash Guards
- Colour-Keyed Mirrors
- Colour-Keyed Door Handles
- Front Splash Guards
- Projector Style Halogen Headlamps
- 17" Aluminum Alloy Wheels, Wheel Locks
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- Chrome Accented Window Frame Moulding
- Spoiler with LED Stoplamp
- Chrome Fog Lamp Surround
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- Blind Spot Convex Mirrors, Foldable Exterior Mirrors, Power-Adjustable Heated Mirrors, Integrated Signal Lamps
- Front & Rear Silver Lower Bumper Garnishes
- Rear Window Wiper/Washer - Intermittent, Rain Sensing Wipers, Windshield Wiper De-Icer
- 4.2-inch TFT Multi Information Display
- Audio: Shark Fin Type Antenna, 6.1" Display Screen, Voice Recognition, AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA, Audio Auxiliary Input Jack, USB Audio Input, Bluetooth Capability, 6 Speakers, Phonebook and streaming audio via Bluetooth, SIRI Eyes-Free
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- Front Seat Type:Bucket Seats, Front Sport Seats, Heated Front Seats
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Optional Package
- XLE Package: Power Back Door, Power Moonroof, XLE Badging, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel, Chrome Inner Door Handles, Scuff Plate, (Option)
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†Manufacturer's suggested retail price. Licensing fees not included, HST is included. Does not include current promotions. Ask us for current promotions for applicable specials.* Manufacturer's suggested retail price. HST and licensing fees not included. Does not include current promotions. Price request online for applicable specials


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There's so much noise out there. It's hard for companies to get the attention they need to grow and prosper.
Public relations is one of the most effective ways to get that attention. By its very nature, publicity is generally considered more credible and trustworthy than advertising or other marketing activities. Publicity carries with it the implied third-party endorsement of the media, an endorsement that can get organizations heard above the noise.
We successfully generate publicity for B2B healthcare and technology companies in a wide variety of trade, business and consumer media, both online and off. This coverage helps our clients get the attention and sales leads they need to succeed.
Public Relations Services
Our public relations services include:
- Writing (e.g., news releases, feature stories, websites, blog posts)
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Publicity Results
See results of some of our PR work here:
Technology & other trade media
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Front page and cover stories
Here's What Our Clients Say…
Julie Knight-Ludvigson, Xbridge Systems
Christine Oliver, Silicon Valley Open Studios
Raymond Schulz, Voxel
Communications Plus has received 18 local, national and international public relations and writing awards.


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Scroll down for essays on sculpture, painting, film, and introducing your kid to art.
- Getting More Enjoyment from Art You Love (Kindle) – A favorite artwork can provide you with enjoyment and inspiration, help you recall important events of the past, and help you project a course into the future. Get even more enjoyment from a work of art you love by approaching it with an active mind: studying its details and asking questions about its meaning.
- And more: Representational vs. abstract art; Innovators in Sculpture (5,000 years in 2 exhilarating hours!). Even more: see the Sculpture page on this site.
- How to Analyze and Appreciate Paintings (Kindle) – Via discussions of Holbein's Sir Thomas More and Bellini's St. Francis in the Desert, we work through a series of questions to help you systematically observe the details of a painting, state what effect they have, and set them in the context of the rest of the work. As we go, we work out tentative themes and then a final statement of the theme; and finally, we evaluate the works in emotional, esthetic, philosophical, and art historical terms.
- And more: How art jumped from representational to abstract in barely a century; brief overviews of landscapes and still-lifes. Even more: the Painting page on this site.
- What are the elements of a good movie review?
- Who votes on the Oscars, and what standards do they use?
- How would you set about analyzing a film as a work of art, as opposed to writing a review that will help others decide whether to see it?
- And more: see the Movies, TV & Photography page on this site.
Have a blast talking to your kid about art!
- "How to Introduce Your Kid to Art" (Medium.com): Advice from a former homeschooling parent and current art historian.


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Formed in 1992, APOS provides software solutions which deliver enhanced capabilities and strong agility in the management and administration of SAP BI platform operations. APOS solutions improve the return on BI investment for a large base of global customers who use APOS technologies in achieving a 'Well Managed BI' environment.
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A half-century after breaking off relations, the United States and Cuba will restore full diplomatic ties and reopen embassies later this month.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Havana for the July 20th re-opening of the U.S. embassy there, and Cuba will open its embassy in Washington, DC, the same day.
Each country has maintained a minor diplomatic post called an "interest section" in the other country for years, but neither building was allowed to fly their country's flag without formal relations. The first hint of today's announcement came earlier this week as workers installed a new flagpole at the Cuban Interest Section just blocks from the White House.
Man With Rare Antibody Saves Two Million Babies with His Blood
Since December, the two countries have been working quickly to bridge a divide that began in 1960 at the height of the Cold War.
Now, after more than five decades of isolation, the U.S. has relaxed its trade and travel restrictions and removed Cuba from its list of states that sponsor of terrorism.
"We don't have to be imprisoned by the past. When something isn't working, we can and will change," President Obama said during the announcement in the White House Rose Garden.
(READ more at The Hill) – Photo of El Capitolio, Cuban Academy of Sciences, by dibaer, CC
Send Your Own Diplomatic Communique: Share this (below)…


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After closing the Deal, to Israel: "You will not be around in 25 years' time, and God willing, there will be no Zionist regime in 25 years." To America: "America, in a way, has divided its duties with Iran and behaves in a twofold way; some smile while others are busy producing legislation against Iran." … Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Khamenei … with chants in the background of "Death to America"
This week the House and Senate will be taking up votes on the merits of the Obama administration's Nuclear Deal with Iran-which is alleged to delay Iran's ability to gain nuclear weapons capability, from currently an alleged couple of months, to over a year, after which Iran's Grand Ayatollah and associated mullahs are free to build nuclear weapons to their hearts' content. And Iran gets $150 billion, a significant portion of which begins immediately as a massive signing bonus.
As my colleague Dr. Peter Pry and I wrote yesterday in National Review Online ("Don't Trust, Never Trust, and Verify"), claims that this deal is verifiable are scandalously incredible to say the least! (And there are more facts that argue against the deal, as discussed further below.)
Yesterday's attempt to call attention to the folly of this Iran deal comes on the heels of last week's Senate vote in which 42 Democrat Senators voted to filibuster any attempt to vote on the Deal, the so called Joint Comprehensive Program of Action (JCPOA)-signaling that any attempt to reject the administration's deal will fail in the Senate.
Not a single Republican joined them, and only 4 Democrats have announced their opposition to the Deal and refused to join their fellow Democrat senators: Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Joe Manchin (D-WV).
Click here for Family Security Matters full tabulation of the senators who voted to sustain a filibuster and avoid a vote on the Deal-"The Democrat Hall of Shame," as they refer to the list.
Unless at least three of these 42 Democrat Senators change their minds in votes anticipated this week, the Deal will die without senators going on record regarding the JCPOA. Thus, all should note the results from another vote that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has promised for this week. This vote may be the record for posterity.
In the House, the Republicans hold a sufficient majority to assure passage of legislation, but not to override a Presidential veto without at least 44 Democrat votes. Speaker of the House John Boehner plans to have several votes this week that will establish the record of all House members for all to see-and remember, especially as their 2016 election campaigns proceed.
Click here for a New York Times summary of the current situation on Capitol Hill.
None should forget the faults of this unverifiable deal, which provides little to nothing for America and Israel, but money and deals for Iran-and others who will seek their "fair share" of the $150 billion loot that Iran will no doubt use to continue its well-known support of Islamic terrorism-by both Shia and Sunni jihadis around the world-against the "infidels," especially the "little Satan" Israel and the "Great Satan" America.
To the degree you can influence the Congressional debate this week, I urge you to do so. Inform yourself and engage in this fight, literally to save Western Civilization.
On September 2nd, 56 knowledgeable experts on arms control, intelligence, nuclear and defense matters provided to the President and congressional leaders (as well as to each Senator and Representative) a brief but comprehensive assessment of the JCPOA, which can be reviewed by clicking here.
If you want to understand the irresponsible behavior of the Democrats in going along with the administration's terrible Deal that places America at risk, I urge you to take the time to read at least the 2-page letter and those who signed it, and consider the attached heavily footnoted backup discussion. A brief summary of the main points follows:
- The JCPOA waters down Iran's previous commitments for access to sites with possible military dimensions (PMD) removing a prior requirement for IAEA access to key sites, equipment, persons and documents.
- We do not believe the JCPOA fatal flaws can be remedied in its present form.
- Iran retains all the key equipment, facilities and materials and weakens its existing obligations under the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
- It includes assistance, including from JCPOA signatories that advance Iran's programs seeking nuclear weapons and delivery systems-and when combined with other measures virtually guaranteeing Iran a deliverable nuclear weapons capability.
- The JCPOA weakens conditions for an already weak verification regime, by among other things:
- Replacing promised "anytime, anyplace" rapid inspections with a cumbersome bureaucratic process that could drag on well beyond the (hardly rapid) 24-days often discussed as the time for inspections.
- Relying on an IAEA verification regime that among other weaknesses devines that Iran can inspect itself at the Parchin military facility, pertinent to PMD issues.
- Obtaining a UN Security Council resolution favoring the JCPOA before its consideration by Congress-thereby reducing any leverage in compelling Iran to return to compliance with its NPT obligations, and virtually eliminating the credibility of so-called "snap-back" conditions in view of likely future Iranian violations.
- The only unambiguous terms of the JCPOA are those requiring the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations to lift sanctions on Iran-providing the world's leading sponsor of Islamic terrorism with hundreds of billions of dollars and access to trade.
- We are disturbed by the administration's unprecedented lack of disclosure to congress and the American people the side deals and the unclassified verification assessment prepared by Secretary of State Kerry.
That this JCPOA is a very bad deal is heralded by how it was received by Iran, before the congress had even considered its merits. For example, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, declared that Israel would no longer exist in 25 years-and his announcements were met with cheers from the Mullahs and their followers: "Death to America."
And we have 42 senators who believe this is a good deal? And how many representatives?
We should keep track of all their names for posterity's sake.
Near Term High Frontier Plans.
While continuing to provide key information in the fight to defeat the very bad Iran Nuclear Deal in the near term, we will continue pressing for building the most cost-effective ballistic missile defenses possible and working with South Carolina folks to build a coalition to engage constructively with private citizens and their local and state representatives and other authorities to work with the SC National Guard in understanding and responding to the existential threats to the electric power grid-especially the nuclear power reactors that produce 60 percent of SC electricity. Click here to see the recent Washington Examiner article on the importance of hardening our nuclear power reactors.
What can you do?
Join us in praying for our nation, and for a rebirth of the freedom sought, achieved and passed to us by those who came before us.
Help us to spread our message to the grass roots and to encourage all "powers that be" to provide for the common defense as they are sworn to do.


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Interested in gaining more insight and information regarding a legal career in the Twin Cities? Twin Cities Diversity in Practice will come to you!
Once a year we visit locations across the US to spread the word about the Minneapolis / St. Paul legal community. In each city diverse law students are cordially invited to attend a special dinner to meet and network with our Flying Squad. Our Flying Squad is comprised of teams of attorneys from both law firms and corporate legal departments who can share perspectives and opinions about their practice and what it is like to live and work in the Twin Cities. This is a great way to discover the various opportunities that exist within the Twin Cities legal community, and learn why the Minneapolis-St. Paul area is a great place to live and work.
If you are a diverse law student or a law school interested in a Flying Squad coming to your location please contact us. We look forward to meeting you!
If you have any additional questions please contact us.


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1. I got a long-handled trowel.
Long-handled trowels really save a lot of strain on your back. You can do all that precision digging and weeding without bending down to reach the ground!
I looked all over for something like this. Apparently we don't usually sell these in the USA. I finally found these Joseph Bentley traditional garden tools from England, available only online.
2. I switched my cover crop to Buckwheat.
Buckwheat is a cover crop that's excellent for summer time. It sprouts really quickly compared to other cover crops, and it grows great even when it's hot out. And of course it's gluten free. Read more about buckwheat as a cover crop here.
3. I make bouquets out of garden plants.
4. I started using a precision weeding tool.
This weeder is really narrow, which helps to scoop out weeds by the root without disturbing the plants next door.
5. The 10-Second Rule: water each plant for 10 seconds.
I helped my 9-year-old niece start her first garden this year, and I showed her how I've started watering. It saves a ton of time, and it helps make sure all the plants in the garden get enough water during the hot days we've been having. Simply hose each plant down on full blast for 10 full seconds, then move on to the next. Previously I had been spraying each bed down until it looked wet - a method that led to uneven watering. This way I know each plant gets enough. My niece dubbed this method the 10-Second Rule, and it works!


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List of Registered Teams Now Posted Online/
Teams in Divisions A, B, or C that have completed the registration process are posted at 2016 Team Registrations under the Events. Schedules, Teams section. A completed registration includes the online registration form, a signed 2016 Guarantee of Insurance, and payment of fees.
As the Guarantees of Insurance and payments of fees are received the master database is updated. In turn, the 2016 Team Registrations page is updated automatically.
To see if your school's registration materials have been received, check the Team Registration page. If your school is not listed then one or more items is missing. If you school is listed then all registration materials have been received and your Team Number will be indicated on the form.


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This 2-meter USB 2.0 cable connects your iPhone®, iPad®, or iPod® with Lightning connector to your computer's USB port for syncing and charging. Or you can connect to the Apple USB Power Adapter for convenient charging from a wall outlet.*
*Does not support audio or video output.
For more details, see Wireless Legal
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monday + thrifted floral dress + sunshine + relaxing weekend = <3.
this last weekend felt like absolute heaven. heaven! i believe it was due to a mixture of glorious weather, no travel plans, studio time, and a visit from the parents (happy easter weekend!).
late sunday afternoon the hubby and i went exploring the beautiful Shelburn Falls near Mill City. Soo unbelievably gorgeous. We loved the fact that there were hardly any other people out and about. The winding path leading to the falls was lined with blooming trees in white with a lovely, fresh fragrance. Plus, we saw a hawk! (we think this is my spirit animal. i see one almost daily.)
it was so nice to get out and adventure with the hubby. so often it feels like we do the same old thing - which usually involves me painting late into the night and him watching netflix. yep, i know this makes us sound like an old married couple!
how was your weekend?


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Titans CEO Graham Annesley Addresses Phil Gould's Comments On A Touted Peachey/Maloney Swap
On Triple M NRL
One of the many storylines leading into week two of the finals series surrounded Tyrone Peachey and the reports he wanted out of his 2019 contract with the Titans.
With Peachey's future still up in the air, the talk also led the Panther boss Phil Gould suggesting earlier this season the Titans attempted to 'trade' Peachey for teammate James Maloney.
Outgoing Titans CEO Graham Annesley joined Triple M Sunday NRL to address Gould's comments.


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Experienced Real Estate Investment Solutions in Utah and Beyond
Superior property management services are attributable to experience of our people, stability of management systems and in-depth understanding of market conditions and trends.
Susan Cazier, CPM joined Core Communities & Investments in 1999 as a partner and served as President of the company. In 2015 when company changes occurred, Sue became principal broker of Core Real Estate Group, transactions firm and a dual broker for Core Communities & Investments, property management firm. Sue has an extensive background in all facets of asset and property management, having been in the business since 1985. She possesses strong communication, organizational and leadership skills. Sue is a proven leader, employing her analytical and business management skills, ferreting out areas for asset improvement to increase property value through higher income and reduced expenses. Marketing is another forte as is her eye for detail. Core Communities assets and staff have won many awards from municipalities, client groups, Utah Apartment Association and other entities as a result of Sue's ability to hire and retain the best people, place them in positions appropriate to their strengths and give them the tools they need to flourish. She oversees the development and implementation of capital projects, marketing and management plans, including increasing cash flow, aggressive rent structuring, effective collection programs, and expense control methods. Sue holds a Certified Property Manager designation with the Institute of Real Estate Management, was a Utah Apartment Association Instructor and served as president of the Utah IREM Chapter.


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Polaroid Transfers: A Complete Visual Guide to Creating Image and Emulsion Transfers
Amphoto Books, 1997 - Photography - 160 pages
The secrets of transferring Polaroid photographs onto surfaces such as vellum, fabric, wood, tile and acrylic. A great instructional and visual treat. Bring slide images to life by transferring them easily onto artist's papers, silk, wood, even tile. Written with Polaroid's endorsement, the secrets of transferring photos to other surfaces are now shared with photography pros, students, artists, art directors, and other eager to practice the exploding art of transfer photography. Only Polaroid products enable users to contact-print a color negative or to transfer a fully developed emulsion onto such surfaces as vellum, rice paper, fabrics, wood, tile, and acrylic. From fine art to advertising to annual reports, Polaroid transfers are often further enhanced with paint, markers, and crayons, offering unlimited creative results. A great instructional and visual treat, the book features: concise technical data on supplies and equipment precisely illustrated sequential instructions for all transfer methods a gallery of dynamic transfer images produced by top artists detailed descriptions of varied approaches by workshop teachers ideas for embellishing transfers with paint and other materials "This is definitely a must-have book for anyone who wants to create incredible Polaroid transfer art. The instructions are excellent and the artwork wonderful. You will be amazed at the cool effects you can create with the remarkable property of certain Polacolor films that enable you to transfer the image or the emulsion layer carrying the image to a variety of other surfaces, such as paper, wood, etc."--Angel Lee Kathleen Thormod Carr, a fine artist who has taught many Polaroid transfer workshops, is the author of a book of nature images, To Honor the Earth: Reflections on living in Harmony with Nature. She resides in Sebastopol, California.
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Creating Polaroid Image and Emulsion Transfers
Advanced Techniques Equipment and Procedures
Fine Art and Commercial Applications
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35mm slide 4x5 emulsion transfer 4x5 image transfer acrylic arrows tab artists black-and-white blue Brizzi camera catalog colored gels commercial cotton swab create creative cyan dark slide darkroom Daylab Jr dry image transfer dry transfers dyes edges emulsion membrane emulsion transfers enlarger head EverColor exposed exposure fabric film holder filtration fine-art Gallery handcolored with pastel hot-pressed watercolor paper image and emulsion image trans Iris print liftoff light Liquitex look Madamour magenta manipulation oil pastels optional P.O. Box pack film paints pastel pencils peel the negative photographic pigment Plexiglas Polacolor Polaroid 59 Polaroid Corporation Polaroid film holder Polaroid image transfers Polaroid transfers positive print processor produce push receptor surface remove rolling sheet film side slide or negative spray step-by-step sure technique temperature tive transfer process transferred image UltraStable vinegar bath Vivitar slide printer warming tray white tab Winsor & Newton workshops


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"Perth? Are you serious?"
"...Well jump in Son...I am going to take you as far as I can go today and when you get back be sure to give me a call."
Holding my cardboard sign up I had only been standing there for less than 30 seconds. I was on my way. By night fall I'd had three lifts and arrived in Narranderra, NSW Austrlia.
The beginning of the Hay Plains...a long stretch of wheatbelt towns, river flats and lot of other flat with little in there but sun and sand. It was dusk, it was cold and I was tired. Feeling worried I bought a can of Coke and waited at the exit to the service station. A panel van stopped and two surfie looking dudes said "...jump in."
I knew them from the Shire. God knows why they were driving to Adelaide but off we went, smoke billowing from both the tyres and our mouths. A daybreak I got out of the car just on the very outskirts of Adelaide. Penniless.
A truck pulled up. I got into the cab.
"...In the glovebox son."
I opened it gingerly. A pipe. A tin. I packed a cone and before I'd had time to know what had hit me I was back on the edge of the roadside. Now wasted....and penniless. So I walked and finally got a lift with a couple into the city.
Fell asleep on the pedestrian island waiting for the lights to change. In the back of a police paddy-wagon. As a vagrant with no fixed place of address, no money, I was arrested and spent the night in the police cells. I recall the wailing at night of prisoners being transferred and also the stench of urine in the lockup.
By daybreak I was showered, fed and dropped off on the outskirts of town. This time I wrote 'Augusta' on the cardboard sign. Picked up by a family squashed into a Datsun 180B. With a birdcage on my lap I got out thankfully in one piece in Augusta. Tough little place.
"...Ok....so keep talking and dont stop...and if you stop I chuck you out." The Viet Vet truck driver had commandeered his four wagons to a stop to pick me up. For the 18 hours we drove at an average of 140 kms an hour....on Duramines. Break the tablet. Transfer from hand to hand until the powder is all blown away. Wash down the crystals with a Coke from the central mini-refrigerator.
Hair standing on end I have no idea what I was talking about but I didnt stop talking for two days straight. Which is what he asked for. Apart from the occasional truckies-drop kip we made it into Kalgoorlie. End to end we played tag with the CB radio and tried desperately to keep the snake of a road train on the asphalt most of the time.
Terrifying mostly.
Out I hopped into another truck going south. To Esperance, Western Australia.
Oh my god...what a beautiful place it is, beaches, aquamarine ocean...fell in love. Worked with a farmer for three days stringing fences. Paid my board and moved onto Walpole via a tourist flotilla of hippy vans. Fruit picking. Painting. Odd jobs....I ended up in Augusta East....sitting up Peppermint Trees, grubby, exhausted and hardly able to breath. Little did I know how allergic I am to that pollen.
Heading north I ended up seated at dawn on the front steps of the Margaret River Hotel. Town of 125 residents and a thousand tourists per minute.
" ....You dont look like your a local so why are you blocking the stairs son?"
I looked up at an American Indian looking guy who grinned. "...want some work for the day?" I ended up working with him renovating his house. Frequenting between the Boranup Commune, Witchcliffe township and the local tip scavenging timber and wire.
I knew my destination was a few hours north so I stuck my sign up again.
A few lifts later I ended up in Bunbury. Met my prospective father-In-Law...
A quick reveal of our situation had him in hospital with heart attack. Out, I was given the ultimatum.
"...Under no circumstance is my Daughter having a child....hardly out of being a child herself."
The rest is a bit murky but in essence my girlfriend and I ended up on a bus heading due east. Back to old Sydney town. A couple of bags as possessions.
Four days later we stumbled down for the last time those damned bus stairs and kissed the ground. The morning sickness was already kicking in. I recall the faint feeling of not knowing where we were going, what would happen next. We survived four weeks with my Parents and knew it was time to setup our own abode.
Berala, close to Bankstown, NSW Australia.
'B' is for baby.


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SOUTH PORTLAND — Maine has too many school districts, too many administrators, too few students per teacher and too many students identified for special education.
Those were just some of the problems behind the current funding crisis for public education identified by attorney and education policy expert David T. Flanagan at the Portland Regional Chamber's Policy Soundings: Public Education in Crisis.
Flanagan, the former Central Maine Power Co. president, who helped investigate Hurricane Katrina for the U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee, was part of a panel discussion on Feb. 12 at the Marriott at Sable Oaks in South Portland.
The other panelists were Portland Superintendent of Schools James C. Morse Sr. and Mark Gray, the executive director of the Maine Educational Association, a statewide teacher's union.
The discussion, sponsored by the Portland Regional Chamber the University of Southern Maine Muskie School of Public Service, came as school districts are facing a $35 million mid-year cut in funding from the state. Districts expect a combined cut of $92 million next year.
Flanagan used a quote by Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, to set the tone of the presentation: "A financial crisis is a terrible thing to waste."
The panelists agreed the current crisis should be viewed as an opportunity for Maine's schools to make the structural changes necessary to become more effective and efficient.
"We have lost our way," Morse said. "We lack a statewide vision and commitment to what works. … You can't change the system without shaking it to the core."
Flanagan said school districts need to look at the the metrics used to identify special-education students and deliver services. He said a recent comprehensive study of Portland schools, which identified $2.5 million in cuts, should be emulated across the state.
Morse said new programs are often implemented because they "sound good" and are maintained because they make students and teachers happy, rather than based on verifiable data about their effectiveness.
"We have a mentality in public education that we're in the happiness business," he said. "We're not in the happiness business. We're in the business of giving kids the skill sets in order to be successful leaders for Maine and the future."
Flanagan said the state needs to continue streamlining its school administration by expanding its efforts towards school consolidation.
Until the consolidation effort was launched a few years ago, Flanagan said Maine had been headed in the opposite direction over the last 20 years. While enrollment has dropped by 16 percent over that time, he said expenditures have increased by 450 percent.
Maine has the 10th highest per-pupil cost in the nation, he said, annually spending $13,500 per student compared with the national average of $10,000.
Meanwhile, Flanagan said student performance is getting worse.
"The number of students is down; educational attainment is slipping; but spending is up – way up," Flanagan said. "That is exactly the wrong way to be going."
Flanagan also said Maine has some of the lowest student-teacher ratios (11.3 to 1) in the nation (15.5 to 1).
While more teachers per student is effective in primary grades, Morse said it has less of an impact on learning from middle school onward. Instead, more resources should be invested in early childhood education to lay the foundation for future learning, he said.
As the number of teachers has declined over the two decades, Flanagan said the number of administrator and non-teaching positions have increased.
Gray said that, prior to moving to Maine, his hometown school district in Montgomery County, Md., had 250,000 students, but only one superintendent and one School Board.
"I never knew, nor really ever cared, who the superintendent was … nor did I worry about who the School Board member was," Gray said. "But I knew the principal and I knew the teachers, because that's where we focused our attention."
Gray said Maine has one of the oldest teaching pools in the nation, partly because of its retirement system, which keeps teachers in the classroom longer than they would like.
"They effectively locked teachers in the classroom until the age of 62," he said.
Although last week's discussion was the second of four events to discuss issues facing the next governor, the fact that none of the 23 candidates running for governor attended the event did not go unnoticed.
"That's too bad," Chamber CEO W. Godfrey Wood said, after realizing no candidates were in the audience. "If they were here, they might learn about the challenges that face our municipalities and our state."
Randy Billings can be reached at 781-3661 ext.100 or [email protected]
Sidebar Elements
David Flanagan, left, Maine Educational Association Executive Director Mark Gray and Portland Superintendent of Schools James C. Morse Sr. participate in a Feb. 12 education discussion at the Marriott at Sable Oaks in South Portland, sponsored by the Portland Regional Chamber and the University of Southern Maine's Muskie School of Public Service.
Boston Red Sox
Bogaerts homers, Red Sox beat White Sox 6-3 in rain
Tuesday's Major League roundup: Yankees set home run mark in win over Blue Jays
Tuesday's Sports Digest: Vanderbilt evens College World Series final
Nation & World
Kushner tries to sell Mideast plan to skeptical audience
New England
Official resigns for agency's failure to pull license of driver in motorcycle wreck


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We have given numerous updated about Ram Board Plus floor protection, and now we're all stocked with pallets of it ready to ship same-day. However, we're also now carrying another new floor protection in our Bend warehouse…
|Orange Coverguard being used by one of our customers on a Texas hospital project
We've just received our first shipment of Orange CoverGuard. Measuring 36″ wide by 180′ long, new Orange CoverGuard is a non-flame resistant alternative to standard CoverGuard. The benefit of losing its flame retardant properties is that it is offered at a lower cost than standard CoverGuard.
CoverGuard is made from a diamond-plated plastic that stands up to machine traffic, foot traffic, impact damage, and is generally an extremely tough material to damage. CoverGuard is slip-resistant due to it's diamond texture, and it is easily to unroll and lay flat on floors. It is a fantastic surface protection solution for commercial projects, and it can be cut down to become more versatile as well. For example, a regular customer placed an order for three rolls that he will be modifying to protect stairs at a high end car dealership remodel project.
Due to this reduced price, we list it as CoverGuard Economy on our website. Visit our website www.buildsitepro.com to learn more about floor protection, and any other finish protection products.


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Virginia nonprofits continue to struggle during the recession
The recession continues to rock Virginia's nonprofits
- May 28, 2010
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On any given night, 30 to 60 men sleep on the lobby floor of the homeless shelter on Virginia Beach Boulevard in Virginia Beach. "With the economy the way it is, we've seen a big jump in people coming to us for help," says Linda Jones, volunteer coordinator and public relations director of Union Mission Ministries. "We house anywhere from 275 to 300 people every night of the year." That's a 10 percent jump from 2007 and exceeds the number of beds in the shelter.
Two hundred miles away, Roxanne Rice sees a similar trend at Food for Others, a Fairfax County food bank where she is executive director. In 2007 the nonprofit served 50 families a day. Now its traffic has doubled to more than 100 a day. "We're a growth industry," Rice says.
Although the economy has begun to grow again, the aftershocks of a deep recession continue to rock Virginia's nonprofit organizations.
Nationwide charitable giving has fallen (down nearly 6 percent in 2008, according to the Giving USA Foundation, the first dip in more than 20 years). While donations have dwindled, human-services organizations such as Union Mission Ministries and Food for Others have found more and more people at their door as Virginia's unemployment rate has soared.
And things may get worse. The Virginia General Assembly slashed health and human services spending by $360 million to plug a $4.2 billion hole in the state budget. As public programs are curtailed, nonprofits expect to see increased demand for help at a time when their own budgets are stretched thin.
This perfect storm of stresses may be a defining moment for Virginia's nonprofits, which employed 211,000 workers in 2008, only 10,000 fewer than the state's construction industry at the time. Even before the recession, competition for donor dollars was fierce among the state's 40,000 nonprofits. As corporate and individual donors make new priorities about their giving, they could determine which charities survive.
Fixing the safety net
From food banks to the ballet troupes, many Virginia nonprofits depend on grants from foundations to fund programs. Foundations, in turn, rely on gifts and growth from their investments. When the market is down, foundations have less to share.
The portfolio of The Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia dropped just over 21 percent in 2008, and gifts to the foundation were $23 million below 2006 levels. The situation forced the foundation to reprioritize charitable giving.
"We reached out to the nonprofit community to see what they were facing," says Elaine Summerford, the foundation's program officer. They contacted organizations providing safety net services — food security, emergency housing and health care. "We weren't surprised to hear they were seeing a very large increase in the number of people asking for help," says Summerford, "many of whom had never asked before."
So in late 2008 the foundation created a Safety Net Fund. It sent a single e-mail to supporters and within a year more than 60 individuals and companies had donated a combined $800,000 in matching funds. For its part, the foundation spent $1 million from its endowment. "We'll have $40,000 less to give away each year because we're spending principal," says Robert Thalhimer, the foundation's senior vice president, "but it was extraordinary need."
Thalhimer believes donors likewise reached a critical decision. Faced with fewer dollars to give because of the recession, many are giving first priority to human-services organizations, he says.
It's a statewide trend, says Deborah Oswalt, executive director of Richmond-based Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF), which supports free clinics and other services for uninsured and underserved Virginians. "People see we're in a recession," says Oswalt. "They're rethinking their giving and targeting the basic needs: food banks, emergency shelters, health care."
Though overall giving has fallen, the VHCF has seen small gifts from individuals go up since the recession. So has Food for Others. "People really understand the need for food," says Rice.
Those small gifts are keeping many Virginia nonprofits afloat. But not all.
Spread thin
In the past decade the number of nonprofits in the commonwealth ballooned by nearly 40 percent to 40,000, according to the National Center for Charitable Statistics. Fairfax County alone had more than 1,300 nonprofits in 2005, the most recent year for which county-level data is available. "Entrepreneurship in the nonprofit sector is no different from the for-profit sector," says Deborah Williamson, executive director of the Virginia Network of Nonprofit Organizations. "People see a need, and they have an idea about how to meet that need. They have a passion."
Often that passion is a boon to the community. "People have an idea that is so new it needs its own home," says Alan Hutson, a principal at the Monument Group, a Richmond-based fundraising consulting firm. He points to The Healing Place, a homeless shelter/addiction recovery facility in Richmond with a reported 70 percent success rate (compared with 50 percent at the well-known Betty Ford Center in California). "They're doing something unique."
But occasionally, new nonprofits are just reinventing the wheel. And there's a downside to an overpopulation of nonprofits: competition for finite resources. "With each nonprofit comes infrastructure that needs to be supported, fundraising that needs to be supported," explains Thalhimer, The Community Foundation official. "There are limits. Especially with the downturn we've seen."
Part of The Community Foundation's Safety Net Fund provided emergency aid to struggling nonprofits, including The Healing Place and Richmond CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), a program helping abused and neglected children.
It's too soon to know how many Virginia nonprofits will fall victim to the slowly recovering economy, but there's no doubt the number of independent organizations is shrinking. Last year the Southside Virginia Nonprofit Resource Center, Focus INC and ConnectSouthside.org merged and now are governed by the Appomattox Regional Library System. Likewise, CASA became part of Richmond SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now). The Healing Place and CARITAS are exploring the possibility of a union.
"As a matter of survival, we're going to see more collaboration and consolidation," says Williamson of the Virginia Network of Nonprofit Organizations.
Thalhimer believes that consolidation will serve Virginia well in the long run. "The recession was an opportunity to get people in the nonprofit world to think about increased efficiency through partnership." Just like for-profit companies.
Until that shakeout runs its course (or giving returns to prerecession levels), nonprofits largely are faced with doing more with less, including fewer personnel. "The nonprofit sector, like the public and private sectors, has experienced a lot of job loss," says Thalhimer.
The budget blow
Southern Virginia is one area where nonprofits could face stiff challenges meeting growing needs. The region along the North Carolina state line was struggling before the recession because of the loss of thousands of textile, tobacco and furniture manufacturing jobs since the late 1990s. The recession hampered promising efforts to rebuild the economy with new industries, including companies with foreign ties. In March, Martinsville's jobless rate was 22 percent and Danville's was 14.6 percent at a time when the Virginia unemployment rate was 7.6 percent.
The Free Clinic of Danville has seen what director Denise Buckner calls a "huge boom" since the economic downturn. "It was frightening how many were calling," she says. "People who've never sought our help, people who were suddenly out of work and without insurance."
The rising demand threatens to overwhelm the region's already weakened nonprofit sector. "We don't have nearly the resources necessary to make up the budget cuts or re-create the social safety net," says Karl Stauber, executive director of the Danville Regional Foundation, an organization created to help the region using money from the sale of Danville Regional Medical Center.
Nonetheless, in the face of extraordinary needs, nonprofits feel compelled to help as much as they can. The foundation's mission includes funding long-term, "game-changing" initiatives that improve the region's economy. But, says Stauber, it will continue to provide short-term emergency assistance. "We're helping make sure people and families are not damaged in a major way."
Not bread alone
While the critical needs of newly unemployed and uninsured families have put the spotlight on programs offering emergency aid, the vast majority of Virginia's nonprofits — 86 percent according to one study — do not provide human services. And no segment of the nonprofits — the arts, recreation or education — has escaped the bruising effects of the economy. The results have been deflated endowments and deep budget cuts. The Virginia Commission for the Arts, for example, will lose 15 percent of its state support, roughly $1.34 million, over the next two fiscal years. That's on top of a 30 percent cut in 2008. Yet the agency considers itself lucky. The budget proposed by the House of Delegates would have phased out all public funding.
"2009 was difficult for the arts, but defunding them is short-sighted because of the economic impacts," says Thalhimer. "It's not a matter of either-or. It's a matter of degree. Don't expect any major capital campaigns or expansion projects at universities or the arts, but the loyal will keep giving."
Those loyal donors include Richmond-based Altria Group Inc., which donated more than $3 million to the arts and culture in 2009, with the majority of the money staying in Virginia.
Meanwhile, Virginia's public colleges and universities likely will become more reliant on faithful donors as the schools cope with waning state support. At the University of Virginia, for example, state money now represents only 6.9 percent of its budget, down from 26.2 percent 20 years ago. In response a series of budget cuts, many universities have raised tuition and student fees for the next school year in a range of 6.7 to 24 percent.
While no one expects a quick fix to their problems, hope for all nonprofits lies in the continued recovery of the economy. "Companies are making money again," says Thalhimer, who expects giving to rise with profits. "If you're making your living in a community, you have a commitment to support that community."
The current situation is a crucible that tests the resourcefulness and commitment of nonprofit leaders, says Hutson, the fundraising consultant. "Think how much stronger the nonprofit sector's going to be coming out of this."