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|John Main Seminar Summary & Slide Show
Photo: At the closing Eucharist of the 2010 John Main Seminar, in Canterbury, led by James Alison, representatives from many of the countries in the community received a candle to take home to their national community. In his talks James spoke of the essential mysteries of the Christian faith. Following the theme of Creation, death and resurrection and Eucharist he powerfully refreshed and reinvigorated for many the familiar symbols and texts. He spoke of God moving into the human condition without displacing us - powerful but not creating rivalry - and of Jesus as radically occupying the place of shame in order to reverse our usual, flawed way of seeing things.
View a slide show of the Seminar here.
|John Main 2011 | Timothy Radcliffe OP
University College Cork, Ireland
11-14 August 2011
What does it mean to be alive in Christ? This is a tough question in a society which is often secular and hostile. Timothy Radcliffe, former Master of the Dominican Order, will explore the roots of our identity and life as baptised people.
PRE-SEMINAR RETREAT 8-11 August 2011
For further information
PDF brochure here.
|WCCM Newsletter ONLINE News
Meditatio 2010 Poland - Katowice
WCCM Poland organized from the 1st till 3rd May 2010 Meditatio, our fifth national meditative retreat. During previous retreats we had the privilege of having Fr. Laurence Freeman as our guest speaker. This time we were visited by a teacher from India, Fr. Joe Pereira.
I had been wondering which element of the Christian meditation would be in the centre of Fr. Joe's teaching. I anticipated that we would hear a lot about the consciousness of the body. It was not a secret that Fr. Joe was a yoga teacher and a student of Guruji BKS Iyengar as well.
But it would be a mistake to assume that Fr. Joe teachings were completely different from Fr. Laurence's. The man standing in front of us was a dedicated practitioner of Christian meditation, an Indian catholic parish priest and the man who founded The Kripa Foundation. Fr. Joe was awarded with the highest national award in India for helping those who struggled with different kinds of addictions. His teaching about Christian meditation was rooted in the deep experience of the holistic approach to the whole human being. The integration of spirit, mind and body was the way to this holiness.
There is no shortage of Christian teachings talking about the spirit or even the mind, which processes and absorbs spiritual experiences, however, almost always there is some problem with the body. Although on one hand being the temple of Spirit it is, on the other hand, home to the different desires which "should" be subjugated.
We are so much lost between these two extremes approaches to our body that matters related to it have nearly disappeared from the positive religious teaching, just in case it might cause some confusion. The body on its own is not the most important, but thanks to its existence, our Spirit has a place to dwell in. "The body never tells lies, while your mind can do that" - Fr. Joe quite often repeated this sentence during the Meditatio, his talk to inmates in Wąsosz or during our body workshop in the Centre for Dialogue and Prayer in Oswiecim. "You can cheat yourself, but your body will never lie to you." – he used to say.
During previous Meditatios with Fr. Laurence Freeman we learnt about the roots of Christian meditation, the essentials of John Main`s teaching and the meaning of the mantra. Father Laurence taught us about the importance of reciting it in our hearts, for developing the discipline of fidelity to God and finally the poverty of spirit.
Meeting with Fr. Joe was an essential complementary addition to this teaching. Many times, repeatedly in fact, I have heard that we must learn to include our body in meditation. Unfortunately, just sitting on the meditation cushion or stool does not mean that you automatically do just that. If we want to involve our whole being into meditation we have to learn how to communicate with our own body.
No one can do your meditation for you and equally nobody can understand your body for you. Thanks to Fr. Joe we could realize that the body is really a component of our prayer and as the element of our human condition makes our prayer unique, because every body is unique.
The program of Fr. Joe's visit in Poland was very intense. After the Meditatio program we drove 100 km north to Czestochowa. In the evening we visited the renowned Sanctuary at Jasna Gora with its miraculous painting of Our Lady (Black Madonna). Next day in a penitentiary institution in Wasosz, located about 30 km away from Czestochowa, a group of about 100 inmates watched the Kripa documentary and listened to Fr. Joe`s talk. After that Fr. Joe led a 20 minute meditation for those prisoners who attend our weekly meditation group.
Next stop was Oswiecim, the Centre for Dialogue and Prayer, where Fr. Joe conducted a three days' body workshop. At the end of our workshop we visited former the concentration camps in Auschwitz and Birkenau. We ended this short but busy trip to Poland by Fr. Joe in Krakow, the city of churches.
"It was a good pilgrimage," summarized Fr. Joe as we were seeing him off at the airport. It really was. For all of us it was a time of grace, indeed.
WCCM Poland, Katowice
Last Advent we launched a project to hand-write the St. Luke Gospel among all the meditators of the meditation groups. A chapter or two was distributed to each group so that each member could fulfill this task. The manuscript sheets will be handed over to the National Coordinator at the Contemplative Eucharist in June and bound into a book. The aim is also to "bind" the community together.
Our Course on Christian Mystics has focused on St. Teresa of Lisieux, The Beguins, Hildegard von Bingen, Edith Stein, Clement of Alexandria and Daniel Faria (a Portuguese mystic of the XX century). We are delighted that a bishop will be the lecturer for the final conference. As usual, after the conference and dialogue with the public there is a 20 minute period for meditation.
A one-day retreat took place in Lisbon on March 14, oriented by a Jesuit priest (the same who presides over our Contemplative Eucharists). Twenty-eight members of the Community attended.
Our InterReligious Meetings for Meditation (IRMM) continue and since the beginning of this year there is an addition: after the silent period of meditation (30 min.) a previously appointed member of one of the religious traditions speaks on a theme for 10 min. We have accorded the theme Compassion, for the current year. The May meeting was hosted by the Hindu Community. The Community in Viseu has also launched a similar initiative and on the 6th of March an interreligious meeting for meditation took place at the Major Seminary. Among the 27 people who came from different cities there were Christians, Buddhists, Vedantas and Taoists. They listened to extracts from the New Testament, Astavakra Gita, Tao-te-king and Dhammapada.
Due to the experience of the IRMM we have acknowledged the need to know more about the other traditions and we have therefore co-organized a six-sessions course as an Introduction to the Great Religions from April to May. Religions which have been introduced were: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islamism and Bahá'i Faith. The sessions lasted for one hour and a half and the room was always full (80 people).
An Introductory Seminar for Christian Meditation was held in the northern city of Braga. M. Salema and I went there last Saturday, 15th of May, to introduce Christian meditation to a group of 28 people, aged from 18 to 94. We were happy to realize that the audience took great interest on the presentation and that some of them were keen on the subject of meditation. There is no doubt that at least one meditation group will be formed in Braga!
Maria Cristina
Reflections by Fr. Laurence on the disruptions to events caused by the Volcano :
While the volcano eruption ended my longstanding plans to teach in Texas and lead a retreat in California, even ash clouds have silver linings and order comes out of chaos when we see it.
Within a few days our community in the US, the UK and Italy had pulled together and made a breakthrough in our use of technology. The videos were shot in London by a Colombian meditator staying with us for a year. They were processed and transmitted to the US by an IT meditator in Rome. Maria and Dan in California caught the ball and the showing of the videos worked well.
Feeling we were on a roll I suggested we try a live question and answer session on the last morning of the retreat. Amazingly and wonderfully it worked smoothly.
I was very moved to see and feel the atmosphere among the retreatants, to see old friends and meet new ones there. We learned many useful things through this event. Above all, I learned again what a wonderful, generous and resourceful community we are.
Meditation Podcasts @ iTunes
Search for "Christian Meditation" in the podcast section of iTunes to find more than a dozen series of podcasts by John Main, Laurence Freeman, Bede Griffiths, Peter Ng, Gerry Pierse, David Wood and others. Though the podcasts are offered without cost, we suggest users send a donation to the Community at http://www.friendsinmeditation.com/friendsprogramme.html
Review of The Shape of the Wave: Elizabeth Cardone
Meditators of all ages and levels of experience will appreciate the wisdom of Fr. Laurence's The Shape of a Wave, a collection of captivating and enlightening talks given at Monte Oliveto.
While skillfully exploring the concept of the wave and how it can help us to better understand our own meditation and life experiences, Fr. Laurence guides his listeners through a side-by-side study of The Conferences of John Cassian and some of the Upanishads of the Hindu tradition. The desert monks of The Conferences seek to realize the Kingdom of Heaven; similarly, young Nachiketas of the Katha Upanishads searches for the meaning of life.
With a thoughtful and conversational style, complemented by a good measure of humor and spontaneity, Fr. Laurence investigates the topics of contemplation, purity of heart, love and attention, self-knowledge, and wisdom, as well as the ideas of attachment and distraction, the nature and types of thoughts, and the role of crisis in spiritual growth and maturity.
Elizabeth Cardone
Review of Community of Love
John Main's Community of Love is a luminous work of exquisite depth and intelligence. The book's contents are delightful and even unexpected. Here, Fr. John teaches on a wide range of topics, but with a cohesive vision and an authority informed by the light of experience.
Topics covered include, but are not limited to: the role of the Church in the modern world, the function of prayer and meditation in education, reflections on the Rule of St. Benedict, and the importance of community, as well as thoughts on Mary and the nature of death and resurrection.
Throughout this book, we see John Main's commitment to the truth and practice of meditation, coupled with a powerful love for his community and his church. Above all, John Main's writing reveals his own rootedness in the redeeming and resurrected Christ. He tells us, "Seeking Christ means that we open our consciousness to his. We begin to see with his vision, to love with his heart, and to do so without counting the cost."
This new edition of Community of Love, with fascinating new prefaces from Fr. Laurence, will be of great benefit to both beginning and more experienced meditators. New meditators will gain encouragement and see the broad context of faith and experience in which we meditate. Committed meditators will find strength and renewal in the knowledge that their mediation shapes all aspects of their lives.
Community of Love presents a marvelous distillation of John Main's thought. This is John Main at his finest.
Elizabeth Cardone firstname.lastname@example.com
Father Laurence and the WCCM Community join our brothers and sisters in Thailand in praying that the violent civil unrest in their once peaceful country is resolved soon, and without further loss of life. We know that the meditation practice and the mantra will carry the Thai community through this difficult time, and we invite meditators to share their contemplative response to the situation. Please send comments for posting on the Peace & Justice pages to firstname.lastname@example.com.
As a follow-up to the Inter-Faith meeting organised in Geneva in November of 2009, the Swiss community will be organising another such meeting from December 3 in the late afternoon until December 4 at the end of the day. The conferences will take place at the Château de Bossey, close to Geneva and will be in French, without translation. The speakers will be Father Laurence Freeman, head of the World Community for Christian Meditation, Dr Faouzi Skali, Soufi and founder of the Fez Festival of Sacred Music and Rabbi Marc Guedj from Geneva. If you would like to be informed as soon as the programme is finalised, please send a mail to: firstname.lastname@example.com or to: email@example.com
Mumbai Meditators' Two-Day Silent Retreat.
Days of Silence and a Two-day Silent Retreat are regular features in the calendar of events of the WCCM Mumbai meditation community. This year's Silent Retreat, held at the Canossa Ashram in a suburb of the city afforded quiet time and space for mediators to prepare for Holy Week, held as it was on the Week-end prior to Passion Sunday. We were privileged to have two priest participants, one diocesan and the other belonging to the Salesian Congregation. The latter is Fr. Pius Palathingal sdb. He has done his Licentiate in Spiritual Theology from the Salesian University in Rome with "The Art of Christian Meditation based on the works of John Main" as its subject. He recently celebrated his Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee and on that occasion brought out a book on Christian Meditation. This was the time to re-connect with Fr. Laurence who wrote a presentation for his book. Fr. Pius shared with us his valuable insights into John Main's teaching on prayer and this retreat has encouraged him to be part of spreading the practice of Christian Meditation in India, much to Fr. Laurence's delight.
For many of the participants, it was a time to unwind and to reconnect with their centre. The morning walking meditation was a special experience. The time for Taize Prayer , Chanting the Morning, Evening and Night Prayer, a Way of the Cross presented as a Lectio Divina all served to enhance the quality of the 4 – 5 times of meditation each day. The presence of the Auxiliary Bishop who celebrated the Eucharist on Saturday was much appreciated. He spent the whole morning participating in the programme praying and meditating with us. Four married couples, a mother and her young son, two priests, a management professional and a host of regular meditators made this group quite unique in its character. This has been for all of us a time of grace and the experience of truly being community.
Christopher Mendonca.
AUSTRALIA Greetings from Bundaberg!
Travelling with Fr Laurence Freeman for a week during the month of February, 2010, was one of the highlights of my life.
It was the occasion of "THE BISHOP'S INSERVICE DAYS" in the Diocese of Rockhampton. Our Bishop, Fr Brian Heenan, takes time out each year to visit different areas of the large diocese to spend a day with the staff of all Catholic schools, the catechists who teach religious education in State schools, adult educators, Centacare staff, Youth, members of religious congregations, Catholic parishioners, members of other Churches, and members of the local Christian meditation groups.
This year was special. Bishop Brian had invited Fr Laurence Freeman to be the Keynote Speaker on each day, as well as to present a workshop on Christian Meditation, as one of a variety of workshops available to participants each afternoon.
Following a prayer ritual which focussed on The Year of the Priest, a welcome from the Director of Catholic Education, Miss Leesa Jeffcoat, and an address from the Bishop, it was Fr Laurence's turn to address the audience. Audiences varied in size according to the region, with approximately 1000 people in each of the Rockhampton and Mackay regions, 400 in each of Gladstone and Bundaberg, and 300 in the Emerald region, with people travelling from Barcaldine, Blackall, Clermont and Springsure. Because of distance, people in Longreach received a live broadcast of Fr Laurence's address in Rockhampton.
The theme of each day was "Taking Time…", and Fr Laurence encouraged his audiences to take time each day for prayer, especially Christian Meditation, so that prayer becomes grounded in our daily lives. He advocated the value of teaching Christian Meditation to children, and referred to the daily practice of meditation undertaken in many Catholic schools across Australia. Many principals and teachers left each day with the intention of introducing daily Christian meditation into their classrooms. The parables of Jesus, and His teaching on prayer, were brought to life by Fr Laurence as a sound basis for our Christian meditation.
One aspect of his presentation that has remained with me, was Fr. Laurence's description of "The Catholic Mind" as "The Mind of Christ". A mind which is all inclusive, open to all, without division or discrimination, where all are equal and loved by God, and no barriers are created. People in the audience, from many different walks of life, felt very much at home.
While the majority of participants had no prior knowledge of Fr Laurence, evaluation comments included:
. Fr. Laurence Freeman was inspiring;
. Meditation workshops were really interesting;
. Fr Laurence excellent!!
. Loved the meditation presentation;
. The practical experience of meditation was very worthwhile;
. Loved the guest speaker- what wonderful knowledge;
.Fr Laurence was inspiring, first with the Biblical introduction, and then with the actual meditation;
.Guest speaker was thought-provoking;
.A worthwhile experience to listen to Fr Laurence and to have time to practice the art of meditation.
Joe Mc Corley
A recently published reprint of the book " All Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets and Witnesses for Our Time" has been published by Orbis Books. In the book author Robert Ellsberg claims John Main as a saint for December 30. John Main died December 30, 1982.
In a rich compendium of 590 pages, Ellsberg includes John Main along with 365 other saints, traditional and contemporary, canonized and un-canonized, in an updated calendar of daily saints whose lives speak to the meaning of holiness in our time.
Included along with John Main are such saints as St Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Thomas Merton, Mother Teresa, Dorothy Day, St Augustine, Simone Weil, Etty Hillesum, Archbishop Romero, Teresa of Lisieux, Thomas Aquinas, Joan of Arc, John Cassian, Hildegard of Bingen, Francis of Assisi, Catherine of Siena, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and 347 other profiles of saints at the margins as well as in the Christian tradition mainstream.
In a profile detailing his life on page 568 for December 30, Ellsberg calls John Main a "monk and master of Christian meditation", quotes from his talks and writings, and emphasizes John Main's approach to contemplative prayer that furthers dialogue with people of other faiths. After a visit between the Dalai Lama and John Main, Ellsberg quotes Main as saying, "We meditated together in absolute openness to love and to the Lord of love. We were not trying to convert one another. Our challenge as Christians is not to try to convert people around us to our way of belief but to love them, to be ourselves living incarnations of what we believe, to live what we believe, and to love what we believe".
Ellsberg points out that John Main was given very little time to develop his experimental monastery in Montreal. He says that Main suffered in his last illness, yet few apart from his dearest friends were aware of the seriousness of his condition. Until the end John Main continued to write and give conferences.
In his last major talk, says Ellsberg, John Main spoke at length on death and "the inner journey." He said, "The inner journey is a way of union. Firstly it unites us to ourselves. Then as our personal fulfillment is found beyond ourselves it unites us to others. And then as union with others opens up the heart of the mystery of love, it unites us with God, so that God may be all in all".
Reviewed by Paul Harris, Canada
|Newsletter News Items | June 2010
Here you may read the NEWS items that are part of the June Newsletter. Be sure to use the link in the left-hand menu to visit the NEWSLETTER page to read Fr Laurence's latest letter and News.
|Word from Thailand
To the World Community for Christian Meditation,
Christian Meditators in Thailand first came together at Mater Dei Convent, located in central Bangkok, on land now adjacent to what has become the largest protest site for the present turmoil in our country. Here we learned to practice mediation and to be guided by Fr Laurence, Sr Theodore, Peter and Patricia Ng here.
Christian Meditators now come in many colors and may have different loyalties at the present time, but we are all Thais or adopted Thais, and so have been devastated by the weeks of conflict and fighting across the country, but especially in the capitol of Bangkok.
With violence, distrust, disharmony, pain, fear as our daily emotions, many of us live in an embattled war zone. How can this be our beloved city of Bangkok? An open wound of distrust, of fighting, destruction and despair have taken the place of the normal Thai behavior of sharing, caring, gentleness, kindness and compassion.
On behalf of the Christian Meditators in Thailand, I appeal to you for prayers for all the Thai people who are suffering in so many ways at this time. We would be happy to receive any response you may wish to share with us.
I ask for the prayers of the World Community and of each of you and your families and friends, for the Royal Thai family, the present government, the protestors - no matter the color of the shirts they may wear, and those of us who will have to help rebuild a caring loving society.
May peace, justice, compassion return once again to our beautiful and beloved Thailand.
Peace, compassion,
|Mumbai Meditators' Two-Day Silent Retreat.
Days of Silence and a Two-day Silent Retreat are regular features in the calendar of events of the WCCM Mumbai meditation community. This year's Silent Retreat, held at the Canossa Ashram in a suburb of the city afforded quiet time and space for mediators to prepare for Holy Week, held as it was on the Week-end prior to Passion Sunday. We were privileged to have two priest participants, one diocesan and the other belonging to the Salesian Congregation. The latter is Fr. Pius Palathingal sdb. He has done his Licentiate in Spiritual Theology from the Salesian University in Rome with "The Art of Christian Meditation based on the works of John Main" as its subject. He recently celebrated his Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee and on that occasion brought out a book on Christian Meditation. This was the time to re-connect with Fr. Laurence who wrote a presentation for his book. Fr. Pius shared with us his valuable insights into John Main's teaching on prayer and this retreat has encouraged him to be part of spreading the practice of Christian Meditation in India, much to Fr. Laurence's delight.
For many of the participants, it was a time to unwind and to reconnect with their centre. The morning walking meditation was a special experience. The time for Taize Prayer , Chanting the Morning, Evening and Night Prayer, a Way of the Cross presented as a Lectio Divina all served to enhance the quality of the 4 – 5 times of meditation each day. The presence of the Auxiliary Bishop who celebrated the Eucharist on Saturday was much appreciated. He spent the whole morning participating in the programme praying and meditating with us. Four married couples, a mother and her young son, two priests, a management professional and a host of regular meditators made this group quite unique in its character. This has been for all of us a time of grace and the experience of truly being community.
|Relief in Haiti
Supplies being delivered to Fond des Blancs from the USNS Comfort.
As we continue to focus on earthquake relief efforts that don't show any sign of diminishing in importance, I wanted to take a quick time out to reflect on what has happened and where we are going.
Obviously, the catastrophe of Jan. 12th will have a lasting effect on Haiti for decades to come, but the immediate needs are still very evident. As we drive around Port-Au-Prince, Leogane, Petit Goave these days, we see every single free space or public square is filled with makeshift camps of sheets and sticks. Rarely, do we see tents or tarps, and even more rarely do we see latrines or any semblance of sanitation.
People from Port-Au-Prince still continue to pour into Fond des Blancs as life in the capital becomes more difficult. The strain on the community's food resources is evident as an already hungry population is forced to come up with extra nourishment for refugees from the capital. School populations have increased astronomically as tarps are erected and classes are moved to new locations to compensate for the influx of new students. The hospital has also seen a large increase in the numbers of hospitalized patients, as we move towards filling the hallways (and perhaps soon a tent) with cots. Our outlying clinic in Villa, severely damaged in the quake, has been moved to a church hall next door and our team has started seeing patients again only two weeks after the destruction.
The people of Fond des Blancs and St. Boniface have proven to be extraordinarily resilient. Panic over aftershocks has died down and people have come together to start the long process of relief and renewal. The hospital staff has been dedicated to normal activities as well as the added task of receiving daily (and sometimes twice daily) helicopters from the USNS Comfort delivering difficult post-op cases. Many of these patients are paraplegics, as other hospitals in the country don't want the added burden of taking care of these people over the long haul. Our staff has already formed a team to be responsible for their physical rehab and through a partnership with Handicap International, Healing Hands for Haiti, the Clinton Foundation, and our generous donors we feel that we can provide the care that these patients need and deserve.
In the coming weeks, we expect to work on food distribution to the local population, come up with ways to get more refugee children placed in school, provide mobile primary care clinics in the refugee camps in Port-Au-Prince, receive severely malnourished children from the capital and Mother Theresa's home, and continue to receive helicopters carrying patients from the USNS Comfort. These are all short term activities that will help with relief; however we are also working with the local community to identify better ways to rebuild.
Even in the darkest hours here in Haiti, the people still have not given up hope. We thank you for your generous support for all that our team continues to do down here. We promise to continue to do everything possible to work in solidarity with the people of Fond des Blancs and the people of Haiti as we advance on the road of relief and recovery.
Kenbe fem,
|Benedictine Monk speaks on Making the Most of Crisis
"A society of stress and anxiety, dragging a ball and chain around through the day" was how Benedictine monk Father Laurence Freeman OSB described some people's experience of today's world in his lecture to over 200 people gathered at The University of Notre Dame Australia's Fremantle Campus on Tuesday 16 February.
Entitled "Making the Most of Crisis: How a Contemplative Mind Grows", the lecture was focused on the importance of contemplation and role of meditation when dealing with crisis.
Read the complete Web article here.
|Reflections Fr Rev Glenda Meakin's talk in Sarasota
Feb 13, 2010 Announcement
Listening to the Daily News with a Contemplative Heart
Join us on the beautiful campus of St Boniface Episcopal Church, located across the street from Siesta Key beach, for a day of reflection on the ways in which Christian meditation/ contemplative prayer enables us to listen to the daily news and respond to the needs of the world from a place of compassion, justice and love. Rather than being overwhelmed by the news, meditation empowers us to offer our talents and resources in humility and service. In meditation, we discover the inner resources, the insight and grace to do our small part in the healing of God's world.
Reverend Glenda Meakin a retired Episcopal priest from Ontario, Canada presented a one day retreat at St. Boniface Episcopal Church on Siesta Key, Sarasota, Florida.
The focus was on how meditation helps us balance the news of the day.
The meditators of Sarasota dreamed of a retreat but Glenda Meakin's presence and message exceeded all expectations.
Her presentation was down to earth help for those following the path of daily meditation in a busy world. She reminded us "we are God's beloved".
She examined the Gospel story of Christ removing the money changers from the Temple. She reminded us that the Temple of our heart needs some things to be removed from time to time if the things obstruct our relationship with God. Glenda suggested that daily meditation practice is the way to preserve the sanctity of the personal temple of our heart.
The second Gospel she explored was the Wedding Feast of Cana. Those at the wedding feast declared that the best wine was saved until last. Glenda said the best years of our life should be the present and the years to come as we go forth with the blessings we receive.
Thank you, Glenda, for your presence in Sarasota and your warm and generous message.
George Browning
|From Pauline Peters....
Dear National Coordinators, group leaders and friends,
You may remember Fr Laurence's Tablet on the tsunami in Chile. The words of María Rosa González the Coordinator as she tried to escape the aftermath and violence touched us all. Many emailed you were praying for Maria Rosa and her family and asked for news of her. In an email this week she sent her thanks and said 'We are "well", after what we lived through. I was very near to the epicenter at the beach in Dichato, where the tsunami destroyed almost the whole town , so my younger son Alonso and I had to run to the hill , escaping from the tsunami. I am now at home in Concepción although I go back to Dichato to help the people that are still living in tents, our winter is starting and is very cold.' We hold the people there especially in Dichato in our prayers.
John Main Seminar 2010 -- University of Kent, Canterbury 5-8 August
Each year we hold the international John Main Seminar to celebrate the life and teaching of Fr John Main whose life's work was passing on the practice of Christian meditation to all. It's a time when we gather as a world community with a leading speaker. James Alison theologian and writer will lead this year's Seminar with the theme 'The Shape of God's Affection'. The Pre-Seminar silent retreat 'Practice makes Perfect' 2-5 August will be led by Fr Laurence. Come and join us if you can! email@example.com www.jms10.com
MMI has produced "When God Disappears" a set of talks given by Robert Kennedy SJ at the John Main Seminar 2009. Fr Kennedy uses the traditional Zen approach to teaching through questioning and art. The talks are structured around twelve koans (a story, question, or statement whose meaning can't be accessed by rational thinking, yet may be understood by intuition). The set also includes an elegant fold out leaflet with the koans beautifully illustrated by Amy Yee's paintings and by Fr Kennedy's calligraphy. I'm sure this will be a set to treasure or perhaps give as a gift. The cds will be available from the International Office London firstname.lastname@example.com the Medio Media bookstore Tucson www.mediomedia.org as well as from your WCCM local distributors in Australia, Singapore and Canada.
Last month Fr Laurence had a full and varied programme on his first visit to Barcelona. Fr Laurence visited the Benedictine Abbey of Montserrat and with the National contact Marco Schorlemmer hiked up to a hermitage in the mountains to meditate. Fr Laurence gave a TV interview, a talk at the University where Marco has a small group, a meeting with the Bishop and a public talk for over 200. Marco said Fr Laurence's visit had a profound effect with people asking about starting a group or joining the group at the university. Marco hopes to translate the newsletter into Catalan as many have asked for more news about meditation and the community. The Catalan website is http://www.meditaciocristiana.cat/
While he was there Fr Laurence visited an old friend, the philosopher and theologian Raimon Panikkar one of the leading figures in interreligious dialogue for over half a century who gave the memorable 1996 JM Seminar in London on "The Silence of Life" .
Congratulations to Maria and Albert Zakharova who organized the first Ukrainian conference in Kiev this weekend with the theme - Christian Meditation: the contemplative Church tradition, Past and Present. The speakers included the Polish coordinator Paulina Lesniak and Dominican priests Fr. Wozniak from Kiev and Fr Czwichocki from Poland. It concluded with an online interview with Fr Laurence through the wonders of technology! During the conference the WCCM DVD "The Pilgrimage" with Russian subtitles was shown and they launched Fr Laurence's book "Light Within' the first WCCM book translated into Russian -a wonderful achievement for such a new and small group of meditators. The website is www.wccm.org.ua Click on the 2nd last link at the top- галерея- which is the Photo gallery and you'll see an amazing collection of wccm photos.
Lina Lee and the Hong Kong Community recently produced a booklet commemorating the first anniversary of their former Spiritual Director and teacher Fr Sean Burke. The booklet contains some of Fr Sean's quotes and extracts from his writing on meditation.. They were pleased when the Correctional Services asked for 200 booklets as Fr Sean had been head chaplain for Hong Kong's prisons. Last month the Red Cross Hong Kong and Radio and Television Hong Kong honored Father Sean with its 3rd Humanity Award for his dedication over 30 years to the marginalized in the country.
WCCM Weekly Readings now for your iPhone, iPod or iPad! Follow the link below for directions or go to Mobile weekly readings on the left hand menu on the webpage http://wccm.org/item.asp?recordid=MobileReadings&pagestyle=default
Many of you have heard of Bere Island from Fr Laurence's book 'Jesus the Teacher Within'. Fr Laurence has often mentioned in articles the little island in Bantry Bay where his family came from and where we hold our Easter retreat. His Tablet article below is about Aisling the beautiful little 5 year old daughter of the group leader Anne Marie who died after a tragic accident 2weeks ago. Aisling was also a meditator and you may have seen on the WCCM home page a beautiful photo of Aisling meditating with her mother in the meditation room on the island. We hold Jack and Anne Marie and their boys as well the Bere Island community in our hearts.
To follow the way of meditation we need others to travel with us. It is a pilgrimage. The essence of meditation is to be on the way. Pilgrims travel together in faith, supporting and encouraging one another as they go, as they approach at different speeds, and in different ways perhaps, a common goal. - John Main
|Haiti Pilgrimage 2010
Here is reflection from George Browning from our trip in Dec 2009. We are planning another trip this year.
love&prayers - gene bebeau, us coordinator
I was fortunate to be one of eleven for the WCCM visit to Haiti in 2008. I was moved by the experience and planned to invite my daughters to see what I had seen if possible.
Only one of my daughters, Katy, was able to go to Haiti in December 2009 for the WCCM trip. There was no disappointment. All my hopes and dreams for a shared experience were realized.
Although we were few in numbers we set off on an ambitious schedule of talks by Michel Legault and Dr Pierre. We visited students in seminaries, high schools, and a nursing school. A fishing village and the hospital at Fond de Blanc were high points. Holding the babys at Mother Theresa's Orphanage will stay in our hearts and minds.
My daughter's reaction to our generous hosts and leaders, the peace and humility of the Haitian people, the fun of a full schedule with wonderful companions, and the power of meditation, was wonderful to experience.
If you get a chance to make this trip don't miss it!
George Browning
[Photo top: Pierre's group and Church members in Fond Des Blanc]
[Photo below] Talk at a School in Fond Des Blanc at the end of the school day. They had just finished taking tests. We didn't have a place to sit so we did a short period of Yoga led by Dr Pierre and 4 minute standing meditation. The children were surprised at how energized they felt afterwards.
|Advent, Christmas & Lent Reflections from India
Advent, Christmas, Lent & Easter Reflections written by Christopher Mendonca
Easter 2010
Lent 2010 - Week 6
Lent 2010 - Week 5
Lent 2010 - Week 4
Lent 2010 - Week 3
Lent 2010 - Week 2
Lent 2010 - Week 1
Christmas 2009
Advent 2009-3
Advent 2009-2
Advent 2009-1
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
http://sundayex.catholic.org.hk | November 8, 2009 | P.12 Look for attention in prayer not intention, priest counsels.
HONG KONG (SE): "Prayer is about attention, not intention," Father Laurence Freeman said during a three-day visit to Hong Kong from September 12 to 14. Speaking at retreat days in St. Jude's in North Point, St. John's Anglican Cathedral and the University of Hong Kong, the English Benedictine priest said that Jesus was a great one for asking questions. "However, he seldom answered them," he noted.
He pointed out that when Jesus was asked where he was staying, he simply answered, "Come and see." He also asked his followers, "What are you looking for?" Father Freeman said, "That question reminds us of our fragilities, it is a challenge to look at the priorities in our lives. This is where we need to pay attention to Jesus."
Father Freeman said that we need to pay attention to the questions that Jesus asks. "And the attention is extremely important," he added, "as Jesus describes prayer as attention, not intention. It is an invitation to come and see." He said that much of our prayer tends to be bargaining with God, trying to get him to change his mind on something. "Some people," he said, "aim at changing God's mind, asking him to intervene in human affairs and change some relationship with God. They try to get God's attention or bargain with him, but in fact, God knows our real needs before they are put into words."
In describing the importance of prayer, Father Freeman noted, "The way we pray is the way we live." He used the image of a wheel to describe what he called centreing prayer, where the spokes are the many ways that we approach God, but the hub, or the centre, is the part which remains silent and still. "That is where we find the connection in our stillness to the centre of our lives."
However, he also noted that the wheel will never move if does not touch the ground. In the same way our prayer must also touch the ground. "Prayer should be grounded in our daily life, the daily experience of ourselves." However, he noted that because, as St. Paul says, "we do not know how to pray, we must allow the Spirit to pray within us."
Father Freeman said that prayer must always be directed towards the centre. "As St. Paul said, 'I live no longer, but Christ lives in me.' And so we can say, 'I pray no longer, but Christ prays in me'."
He said that what he calls centreing prayer is born out of a lay spirituality, as it was conceptualised by a lay person, John Main.
Father Freeman harked back to his school days at a Benedictine college in England. "We had just broken one religion teacher," he related, "and we got a tall, confident, at ease, natural man with a strong sense of humour, called Brother John, and we knew he was in charge."
However, the wheel of life does go round, as Father Freeman described how he met him again in his second year at university.
Main was born in London in 1926, to Irish parents in Canterbury. Jesuit educated, he joined the Benedictines as a student for priesthood after World War II, but left to study law at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
As a lawyer, he joined the British Diplomatic Service in the 1950s, and was stationed in what was then known as Malaya, which was in a state of turmoil and civil war. "One day, he went to visit an Indian monk in Kuala Lumpur on official business. Immediately, he understood he was in the presence of a special man of profound integrity. They talked about prayer."
Father Freeman said that Main told the monk how he prayed, reflecti
on, asking for forgiveness, making intercessions and, his daily Mass. However, the monk then shared, "When I pray, I allow it to sink into the silence of the heart. We do this with the spirit, the creator of the universe, who dwells in the human heart in silence and is loving to all."
The Indian monk advised him, "Just take a sacred word, a mantra, and repeat it continuously, letting go of thoughts and images. Main was fascinated." Father Freeman added, "The use of repeated words is common in prayer. We should use them in our life journey so that we can interact with the journeys of Christ."
Father Freeman told the members of his audience that their presence at his talk shows that prayer is important to them. He reminded them, "Prayer is like the wind. We think we are on our way, at a turning point or on the point of a great discovery. But by thinking that we know the way we are following, it can just as easily turn in an instant, becoming totally unpredictable."
He also encouraged people not to get discouraged. He described how being busy, getting sick or distracted can easily leave prayer as the first casualty. "But remember that meditation did touch you," he counselled, "we can connect again."
He added that, strangely, meditation is a way of losing control. Contrasting it to the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, where people are encouraged to relate to God to recover from or heal anger, addiction and things like that just to get control of ourselves, he noted that at the same time, people are trying to touch the presence of God, not sharpen their ideas about God.
"In meditation, we learn to lose control, letting go of the control of the possession of the ego. The challenge is simple, but not easy. We have to put the teachings of Jesus into practice, we have to lose ourselves, then find life," he went on.
He explained that often we try to deal with crisis by working to control things, but this usually does not work. "We feel helpless," he said, "and if we do not deal with it we will breakdown. In meditation we can begin to see a new wisdom, a new way of looking at things and a new knowledge emerges."
He described this as being the point where we begin to pay attention and "attention is itself a freedom," he concluded.
|Christian Meditation Center | Neptune Beach,FL
Website for a new Meditation Center... www.wccmneptunebeach.org
Every day brings newcomers seeking to experience Christian Meditation.
There have been a couple of items in the local papers and another one coming up in about 10 days to focus on our day of prayer: Thanksgiving Day held at the Center in Silence Stillness and Simplicity. A day of silence with 6 scheduled meditations. Six volunteers will come to lead each meditation period.
7AM-7:30AM | 9:30AM-10:00AM | 12:15-12:45PM | 3:00PM - 3:30PM and 6:30PM - 7:00PM The Center will be in silence, however there will be a Spiritual Friendship room available for anyone who would like to expierence Lectio Divina. There has been an overwhelming response from the community of meditators eager to join us for a time set apart in their rather chaotic weekend of family, football, food and the begining of the holiday shopping frenzy; a day which for the most part has lost all meaning of thankful hearts in the unity of the spirit.
Linda Kaye, Director of the Christian Meditation Center Neptune Beach,FL
|John Main Seminar 2009 | Photos
View photos here.
|Father Laurence in Hong Kong | Media
Here you may download audio and video clips of Father Laurence's recent visits to Hong Kong, China and Japan. You can right click the hyper-links and select "Save Target As...".
|I knew my prayer life needed strengthening...
During a Lenten program through my church, San Jose Catholic, I was introduced to meditation. I knew my prayer life needed strengthening and decided meditation was the way to do this. A little over a year after beginning meditation I lost my job. I worked for this company thirty-nine years. One minute I was working on a project and the next a security guard was walking me to my car like I was a criminal.
I went through some stages of loss even a little depression. But panic or hopelessness never set in. Every day I continued to get up early and meditate, go for a walk and say the Rosary and go to daily Mass. I did what I needed to do to find a job – network, prepare a resume, write letters to prospective employers etc. – I found a temporary position for three months and then almost a year after being laid off I found a permanent position.
At one of our weekly group meditation gatherings after I found my new job our leader, Joanne, asked the question if meditation has helped in our lives. I hadn't thought of it before this, but I knew right away the reason I wasn't panic stricken about losing my job or anxious about finding another one is meditation brings a calmness to my life I have not experienced before. I truly believe this is the first time I have actually been able to put into practice "turning a problem over to God." Because of meditation God didn't have to work through a tangle of emotions to get my attention. I was already paying attention through meditation.
Linda DiMuzio
Subscribe, download, read or listen .here.
|IN THE SPOTLIGHT | Reviews
Learn more about the latest publications here.
|"Silence in the City" | Video Trailer
For complete information and the 10-minute video, please go to www.christianmeditationaustralia.org .
Silence and Stillness in Every Season: Daily Readings with John Main, edited by Paul Harris, with a Preface by Magdalena Puebla and an introduction by Laurence Freeman, was recently published in a Spanish language edition in Buenos Aires, Argentina, by Bonum Publishers. The title of the Spanish edition is John Main: Silencio y Quietud, para cada dia del ano. (For information contact; Contemplative Life Bookstore website: www.contemplative-life.org -- Email address is email@example.com).
This collection of quotations by Benedictine monk John Main (1926-1982) has 365 daily readings and 395 pages of his teaching from talks given at the Benedictine monastery in Montreal, Canada. These readings reinforce the great inspiration which John Main's taped talks and books have given to so many people around the world seeking a contemplative spiritual path in the 21st century.
In a forward to the book Laurence Freeman comments: " In John Main's vision meditation opens an authentic spirituality for a wide range of people today. This book of his teaching on the spiritual path will help many meditators to stablize and deepen their daily practice in the two periods of silence, stillness and simplicity which John Main recommended. Each morning and evening these daily readings offer the gentle encouragement and wise inspiration which everyone who has set out on the pilgrimage needs in order to persevere and to discover the fruits of meditation in their ordinary daily life. Many meditators will be grateful to Paul Harris for the loving work he has put into selecting these readings".
This book is suggested reading for newcomers to meditation as well as practising meditators. In John Main they will find a spiritual guide and teacher who leads them into the daily discipline of the contemplative journey of prayer. This is bedside reading for those interested in the meditative spiritual path.
|Teaching Christian Meditation to Students | E-Newsletter
PDF document here.
|FOR iTUNES USERS!
We have 10 sets of Christian meditation podcasts listed on iTunes. If you already have the iTunes software installed on your computer you may subscribe to the podcasts directly by using the links here. When you subscribe, you may also "Tell a Friend" by clicking on the appropriate link. Alternately, iTunes users can subscribe to them by following the usual path at the iTunes store > podcasts > power search > description > Christian meditation -- and then choosing the series they want to subscribe to. While subscriptions are without cost, each title description encourages subscribers to make a contribution to the WCCM to support its work and tells how to get other meditation resources at our online Book Store.
|Special John Main Anniversary Web Page
The WCCM web home has been hosting a variety of special contributions to this John Main 25th anniversary page as we celebrated this landmark year for our Community. On the page you will find a "Welcome Message" from Father Laurence, photos, biographies, audio clips & podcasts by John Main and Father Laurence, PDF files of John Main's "Monastic Teaching", book announcements, a complete John Main bibliography, music by Margaret Rizza based on John Main's writings, memories of Father John from meditators around the world and more. Visitors are invited to contribute to the page. Other features will be added throughout the year, so please come back again. Click here.
|Westminster Cathedral | Memorial Celebration of John Main's Life & Spiritual Legacy
December 29, 2007
Download a PDF file of this special Eucharistic memorial celebration held at Westminster Cathedral, December 29, 2007 here.
Laurence Freeman's Homily: JOHN MAIN MEMORIAL EUCHARIST | Westminster Cathedral; December 29, 2007
|Letters from the International School
Welcome to this series of 'Letters from the International School'. The aim of these letters - as it is of the 'School' of the World Community for Christian Meditation in general - is to support and nurture all meditators, but especially those of you who feel called to share the precious gift of meditation with others. These letters will cover therefore the essential teaching of our Community. To read more, please click here.
|Lectio Divina Online
In this exciting feature, every week a new passage will be posted that can be used for 'Lectio Divina'.
You may click on this page to read an introduction to the practice of Lectio Divina. Instructions for the use of these passages in a group setting are also available, as is the list of Lectio Divina for 2006.
|Prayer Service to Celebrate John Main's Life & Teaching
Download this PDF prayer service by Sr. Kathleen Bolger celebrating the life and teaching of Dom John Main, OSB.
|London Christian Meditation Centre | Schedule
Download and Print the PDF schedule for daily, weekly and monthly meditation events and services here.
Download and Print the latest UK Newsletter [PDF] here.
|Podcasts Online
"Essentials of Christian Meditation" -Subscribe to this series of podcasts at iTunes. Talks by Father Laurence given at retreats around the world. Choose from the complete series by using the iTunes link in the left-hand menu.
|Online Directory of Meditation Groups Worldwide
|Monastery Without Walls | The Spiritual Letters of John Main
The Benedictine monk John Main was one of the most profoundly influential spiritual teachers of our age. His belief that the desert tradition of meditative prayer practised by the earliest monastic communities had an immediate and contemporary relevance gave rise to the vision of a totally new kind of community, one made up of men and women scattered throughout the world yet united in their daily practice of Christian meditation.
To this fledgling family -- which today has grown to over 100,000 members in over 100 countries -- John Main wrote a series of intimate letters notable for their deep coherence and simplicity. Tradition and personal experience, church and society, meditation and prayer are the themes that weave in and out of these letters, but their centre is a sense of the presence of Christ permeating every dimension of living -- solitary and relational.
Monastery Without Walls is a complete and annotated edition of all of John Main's letters which together constitute a volume of remarkable spiritual wisdon and insight, as fresh and relevant as when they were first written.
To order, please use the Bookstore link at the left.
|25 Years Later: John Main's Legacy | 25 Activities
The Christian Meditation Community has put together a list of 25 activities to help individual meditators and meditation groups commemorate the 25th anniversary of John Main's death. Printer-friendly version here.
|Latest Newsletter Online
Until you receive your beautiful printed copy of the March 2006 issue of theInternational Newsletter, you may read it and download it using the "Newsletter" link from the "World Community" link in the menu at the left. Use the "Home" page link to contact your nearest distributor to ask to be added to the WCCM postal mailing list.
|"Lectio Divina" Online
Thanks to Sr Barbara Hazzard OSB and School Webmaster, Dr Shanida Nataraja, there will be a weekly passage for 'Lectio Divina' related to the liturgical calendar on the 'Resources' page of the WCCM's 'School' Web site. There is also an introductory article explaining the ancient discipline of 'Lectio Divina' and instructions both for individual use and group use. Click on the "School" link in the left-hand menu here.
|JOHN MAIN CENTER at Georgetown University
You are warmly invited to the Meditation Center for any of the following events this weekend
You are also invited to join in any of the daily meditations at the Center
|Schools for Meditators Worlwide
International Schools Coordinator, Kim Nataraja, has written two articles which meditators around the world will find helpful for either planning or attending a school. Read them or print them out here:
"How We Share the Gift of Meditation" and "Is the School for me?"
Learn more about The School by using the link in the left-hand menu.
|LIKE A CHILD: Christian Meditation in the Schools
"Children are born contemplatives and so contemplation is not only the goal of the Christian life but in a sense its starting point too," Fr Laurence Freeman has written in a foreword to the Like A Childseries of books I have written as a program for teaching Christian meditation to children in primary schools.
Read the complete text here.
|Article on Contemplative Liturgy:
"The Eucharist and Silence" by Laurence Freeman OSB.
Print this inspiring article and use it for your personal reading and reflection.
Share it with those who plan liturgies in your community.
|John Main's Legacy....
Thirty years ago, in 1975, John Main began the first meditation groups at his monastery in London and, later, in Montreal. Thesememorial pages celebrate his unique place in the living tradition of contemplative prayer in the church. View an online slideshow to learn more about his life, read informative articles to appreciate better his influence on countless meditators around the world today. Listen to audio clips of John Main speaking about the practice and tradition of Christian meditation. (Group leaders are invited to submit their own reflections to be posted on the special pages.)
|"Q & A" - Your Questions Answered
In memory of Sr. Eileen O'Hea, we are initiating a "Q&A" service for our Web visitors. If you have a question about the practice or tradition of Christian meditation, you may submit it here. Please browse our "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ's link at the left) first to avoid repetition. Be sure to include your name, city and country.
Traveling? New to meditation? Want to know who your neighbouring groups are? In addition to online assistance, an up-to-date Directory containing the contact details of Christian Meditation Groups Worldwide is now published in PDF format every 3 months. It is held by the International Office and National Coordinators who can help you to find meditation groups in 32 countries. For example, Kathy and Mike Moignard (photo), who discovered Christian meditation in Singapore and now live in Delhi, say that if anyone is interested in meditating with others to contact Kathyat firstname.lastname@example.com or phone 5139 9900 ext. 226.
For other informartion about groups contact Jane Grafton.
|"Weekly Readings" by E-mail
Each week, to assist you with your daily meditation practice, we publish "Weekly Readings" which you can find on our Web pages (choose from the left-hand menu) or get sent to your own E-mail address. Subscribe here.
|Listen to John Main Online!
"The Way of Meditation" - You may listen to an online streaming audio clip of John Main speaking on the simplicity of the practice of daily meditation. From our main menu, select the "About Us" link, then click on the John Main link. Scroll down the page to choose from among several selections. After any of the talks, to prepare for your meditation and put aside all the words you have been listening to, you may listen to a brief excerpt from a musical composition by Margaret Rizza. (All John Main & Margaret Rizza tapes and CD's are available at our Bookstore.)
10 sets of podcasts available, including John Main's COMMUNITAS SERIES: Use the iTunes podcast link in the left-hand menu.
|Please send news, announcements and photos to the News Editor here.


text:
WaverleyDoctor necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 628 diseños de 159 diseñadores freelance.
Multidisciplinary Medical Center would like to have the standard corporate identity package; logo, standard letterhead, envelope, and business card layout.
Waverley Professional Center
They should represent the professionalism, warmth of services and be easily recognizable.
Because the registered business name, "Waverley Professional Center", does not sound medical, it is needed to look medical.
The winner will be considered first for further jobs like the web site and the newsletter design.
- Item 1...
If a 10-year-old child cannot recognize that it is for a medical practice, it is not good enough for us.
To reach that goal, maybe implementing a medical symbol or device would be appropriate.
My own idea, that you may or may not follow, is to make the letter "Y" looks like a stethoscope ± underline looks like ECG drawing.
Too many colors
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
University of Minnesota Duluth education professor Mary Hermes says saving an endangered language goes beyond just enriching the people who speak it.
"I think people have got to get beyond thinking it's just for the Ojibwe people, that we want to save their Ojibwe language. There's 10,000 years of human evolution and knowledge in that language," she says.
With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Hermes is combining the skills of native speakers with video technology to help others, young and old, learn the language in the most natural way. She's doing it by videotaping short movies of everyday situations, from going to a rummage sale to planting a garden to helping out a sick relative.
"Because Ojibwe isn't spoken on a regular basis, there's not a store or a rummage sale or a resort, but part of what we're doing is trying to re-envision what that would be like," explains Hermes.
"So imagine if Ojibwe was the language of commerce, the language of everywhere you went; everything you did was in Ojibwe," she says.
"What we are hoping is that you hear it in an everyday way, [with phrases like] 'tie your shoes,' 'get up,' 'hey mom what's for breakfast,' — that kind of informal speaking ... that's not necessarily correct formal grammar, but the way you would speak it," she says.
Once those short movies are transcribed by native speakers, they are combined with vocabulary lists, pronunciations, and interactive games to create educational DVDs.
Whether it is adults who may have forgotten the language they spoke as children, or young people who want to learn more about their culture, Hermes says these DVDs can be motivational.
"People have such a fear of speaking when they are adults," she says. "They don't want to sound stupid or offend somebody. So for some people it's comforting to practice and then get the courage to go talk to somebody."
Besides the videos, Hermes has worked to create immersion schools for the language and helped arrange workshops to boost interest in Ojibwe, and other endangered languages.
"I started a nonprofit called Grass Roots Indigenous Multimedia, specifically to distribute the multimedia products we've made. So this small nonprofit has reached out with the tools we have, to share to other tribes," she says.
"Now I go places, and I'm meeting new people, new young people who can actually have a conversation with me. And that makes me feel like, OK, it took 10 years, but there's definitely progress here," says Hermes.
One of Hermes' "movie stars" is Ruby Boshey, who has also taught the Ojibwe language. But, through much of her childhood, Boshey was punished for speaking her native tongue.
"When I was five years old, the priests came and picked us up from my reservation on Lac La Croix, Ontario. I'd never heard an English word before then, and they dumped me in a residential school," she recalls.
"The scariest part that I remember was they were telling my brother that I was supposed to 'talk English'," says Boshey.
But to the small girl, the words "talk English" sounded something like the word for "wolf" in Ojibwe.
"And I was thinking, oh, my, God. They want to feed me to the wolves now because I'm not speaking their language!" she says.
During vacations from the school, Boshey remembers her grandmother encouraging her and her cousins to always remember their language even though they were discouraged from speaking it.
"She said, from now on, don't talk your language--just keep it. Don't ever lose your language; just pretend to the people who want you to speak English that you've forgotten it," recalls Boshey.
Much has changed since then. At gatherings like the Red Cliff Pow-wow in July 2011, teachers, families, and students celebrate the Ojibwe language and culture.
Dawn Deragon and Katy Butterfield are both teachers at Red Cliff Early Childhood Center in Bayfield, Wis. "To me, the language is important because it is a part of me. It's a part of my culture. I can't imagine not knowing my language, not working more on my language. It's a part of me, it's in my soul," says Deragon.
"I've been doing indigenous language research for three years," says Butterfield. "One of the biggest things that struck me as I was doing the research was what a difference it makes for a person's identity. Being an American Indian is a difficult thing. And sometimes a language is all you have; that's the only thing you have left because a lot of our culture is gone."
University of Minnesota Duluth chancellor Lendley Black says the campus has a broad focus on Indian programs, including the focus on language.
"We actually have over 20 different American Indian programs scattered throughout the university. In our College of Liberal Arts we have a Department of Indian Studies, and we also have a strong program in sociology and social work with a specific track on Indian issues," Black says.
"Our medical school has a particular focus on family health care, rural health care but also Native American medical issues," he adds.
Hermes says she's mostly optimistic about the future of the Ojibwe language.
"People love the language and they want it back. They know the stories of why they don't have it. There's deep, deep, deep emotional attachment. A lot of the reasons are spiritual," she says. "We see the elders passing on, and we know somebody has to step up. And those have been some of our best speakers who have stepped into those roles. And they've learned the language that they need to. So, that's been amazing to see young guys and young women stepping up."
This story was originally written for Science Nation and was republished with permission here. Video: Miles O'Brien, Science Nation Correspondent, Marsha Walton, Science Nation Producer)


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Safety Update
Audible and Segmented Indicator Lights Clearly Convey Equipment Status
For applications benefitting from sound indication, the indicators offer two decibel levels with steady or pulsed tones. In addition, audible indicators provide standard green/red/yellow lights and are available in two housing styles.
EZ-Lights deliver PNP (sourcing) or NPN (sinking) input types, feature Euro-style quick-disconnects, and provide various cable options and wiring chambers.
Banner Engineering Corp.: 888/373-6767; www.bannerengineering.com
See also: Banner Engineering Corp.
Related Enterprise Zones: Safety, Sensing/Electronics


text:
SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake accomplished what they expected to on Saturday night: They beat the New York Red Bulls at home 1-0 with an early goal by Fabian Espindola. Mission accomplished.
But the ramifications of the victory may be more far-reaching than that. First, RSL tied the all-time mark of 22 consecutive unbeaten games at home. With a match at Rio Tinto Stadium against Chicago in two weeks, they could take sole ownership of the record.
"In our next match, we'll be gang-busters going to break the record," said coach Jason Kreis. "It is important to us – we take a lot of pride in this building."
Secondly, the three points gained Saturday night, combined with a draw by the LA Galaxy, puts RSL just one back of LA and the Columbus Crew in the race for the Supporters' Shield. That's something that has been on RSL's target list since the beginning of the season but looked unlikely after the early hot start the Galaxy enjoyed.
Finally, the victory against the Red Bulls – another win against a high-profile opponent – helps to further plant Real Salt Lake among the league elite, another goal the team arduously set out to reach after many skeptics dismissed their 2009 run and ultimate MLS Cup championship.
For the sixth game out of 23 on the season, RSL put a goal on the scoreboard in the opening 15 minutes. They played fluid soccer in the opening half, once again enjoying the better of possession on the night as the midfield combination of Andy Williams and Javier Morales showed some wonderful creativity, initiating some sparkling chances even though the team was only able to notch one tally for the game.
Although RSL erased New York from the pitch in the first half, the home team allowed the visitors to come back on in the second half, when the Red Bulls were able to create more opportunities as they pushed the game and tried to widen the field of play by attacking from different angles.
RSL ultimately did well in fighting off New York's challenges, but they did allow Red Bulls striker Juan Pablo Angel to trouble their goal, requiring some frantic last minute saves from the defense and 'keeper Nick Rimando.
But one player that RSL managed to hold down was New York's star striker Thierry Henry, who didn't factor into the game in a prominent way.
"Anytime you look on the lineup sheet and it says Thierry Henry and Juan Pablo Angel, I think you are thinking to yourself, 'I hope they don't score too many goals on us,'" said Kries, who was pleased with his team's superb defensive effort.
"So to [allow] zero is quite nice. We play really nice soccer – it's fun to watch – but what a lot of people don't know is how much pride we take in our defending."
Said Rimando: "I just think we were in good positions tonight. The midfield played a big role in that. [Henry] likes to come back a lot. There's a lot of great communication between our defenders and our midfielders, [and] he couldn't get the ball as much as he wanted to.
"When he had the ball we were alert and ready. So we did our homework, obviously."
Though Real's overall performance in the second half wasn't exactly what Kreis would have liked it to be, the manager didn't complain about the victory.
"I'm not thrilled with the way that we finished the match," he said, "but I'm extremely thrilled with the result."
For the defending champs, the accomplishments may keep coming.


text:
Though the Deepwater Horizon spill was long ago, it�s anything but forgotten.
Though the Deepwater Horizon spill was long ago, it�s anything but forgotten.
The county RESTORE Act Committee was back in session last week after a recess during which the U.S. Treasury issued draft rules for how to process applications for funding projects from counties affected by the 2010 spill that pumped more than 210 million gallons of oil into the Gulf.
Previously, the RAC reviewed 86 applications over a six-month period of ways to use potential BP money to improve the community.
The RAC ultimately whittled the projects down to 73 valid prospects that totaled over $113 million.
Gulf County is expected to receive around $2.3 million dollars when the settlement is complete, a far cry from the original estimates when the committee formed.
The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, a group made up of governors from Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, released a document that provided the framework for a coordinated region-wide restoration effort.
The plan was sent to all 23 Florida counties eligible under RESTORE and feedback was welcomed for a final draft that would ultimately be sent to the Gulf Coast Consortium, which represents the counties at the state capital in Tallahassee.
Though not all members of the RAC were present during the meeting, county attorney Jeremy Novak led the group through the provisions and noted their feedback.
The available members of the RAC discussed the need for additional clarifications in the plan, especially when it came to the allowance of revised RESTORE plans to be submitted once a dollar amount is assigned to each county.
Committee member Pat Hardman wanted the Restoration Council to push for money to be paid as Non-Federal Restitution Funds so that it couldn�t be taxed.
Throughout the meeting the RAC often became frustrated with the Treasury�s lack of progress toward establishing rules on how projects would be awarded money.
�We need good, clear guidelines,� said county administrator Don Butler.
�We need a timeline. We need a process,� added Port St. Joe city manager Jim Anderson.
Novak told the group that the process had become time consuming because it�s not a typical responsibility of the Treasury Department and, just like the RAC, they were making it up as they went along.
�It�s a unique piece of legislation,� said Novak. �This has never been done before.�
Once the Treasury has decided on its rules and allocated funds, the RAC can focus on which of the 73 projects will be seen to completion.
The RAC acts as an advisory committee for the Board of County Commissioners, which has the final say on what projects would be funded.
Barring any changes, the feedback would be presented to the BOCC and then be sent on to the Gulf Coast Consortium, of which County Commissioner Warren Yeager is a member.
The Consortium is a public entity created in 2012 by an Inter-local Agreement among Florida's 23 Gulf Coast counties.
The RESTORE Act was passed by the Congress in June 2012 and signed into law by the President in of the same year.


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Attorney General Tom Horne today issued the following statement upon the execution of convicted murder Thomas Kemp:
"Nearly 20 years after murdering Tucson resident Hector Juarez, justice has been served on Thomas Kemp.
"Kemp was a particularly cold-blooded individual. He never expressed any kind of remorse for his crimes, which were particularly brutal. On July 11, 1992, he encountered Tucson resident Hector Juarez at Juarez's apartment complex. He abducted Juarez, used his ATM to steal $200 and then drove him to a remote area near Marana, where he forced Juarez to disrobe and fatally shot him twice in the head. An added measure of cruel and depraved conduct was that Juarez knew he would be killed. Kemp then took Juarez's truck to Flagstaff, sold it, and while in Flagstaff encountered a couple travelling through Arizona. Kemp and an accomplice kidnapped that couple, forced them to drive to Colorado where the man was sexually assaulted by Kemp. Kemp was later caught when the crimes were reported by his accomplice.
"Now that Thomas Kemp has paid the penalty for his terrible crimes, it is my hope that his victims and their families will find some measure of peace that justice has been carried out, although we will work to see that victims in the future can see more timely justice."
The execution began at 10:01 a.m. this morning and time of death was 10:08 a.m.


text:
Making every moment of the journey count
There are thousands of moments throughout the vehicle development and marketing lifecycle. From innovation and product development to pricing, path to purchase and customer experience.
In an industry facing unprecedented change – from connectivity, autonomous driving, sharing and electric mobility – discovering the moments that have the power to influence choice, deepen loyalty and drive sales, is critical.
We're here to bring simplicity and clarity to every stage of the journey, making every moment count.


text:
"We like the Eye Skady dark tees because they help hide extra pounds"
Each part of this 100% pre-washed cotton shirt has been milled and handcrafted in USA.
Soft & Natural
Bands Queen T Shirt is made from 100% permium soft cotton. The cotton is safe to pick, the shirt is safe to wear.
Made to be insulating and durable, yet easily packed into a small space – perfect for traveling light.
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We truly believe we make some of the most innovative products in the world, and we want to make sure we back that up with a RISK-FREE ironclad 30 day guarantee. We have 24/7 email support. Please contact us if you need assistance: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
photo 1 of 78
Kendall Grove
TRAINING: Training for this fight has been hard and smart
When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training in late-2002. I really loved it, and never thought about fighting, but I was helping Phil Baroni train for a fight and after one session he said 'you've got potential, you should start fighting.' Two months later I was in the ring fighting.
What ranks and titles have you held? Total Combat middleweight title
Do you have any heroes? BJ Penn, Shogun Rua, and my nephews.
What is your favorite technique? To stand and brawl – I love it.
What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It means a lot. When I first started, it was my dream. Every fighter wants to be in the UFC, and for me to make it, it's a big accomplishment. I'm just stoked that I'm in it.
Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? No
What was your job before you started fighting? I did a lot of things - roofing, waterproofing, landscaping, tiling, construction. Pretty much any hard job, I did it.
Getty Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image or clip. If you violate our intellectual property you may be liable for: actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image or clip, and, where appropriate, the costs of collection and/or statutory damages up to $150,000 (USD).


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Mr. I takes issue with Selig and Pineda
Idle Thoughts, while waiting for Sun basketball, sunny Chiney Ogwumike and more sunny weather:
• Mr. Idle, Mr. I to his close friends, once again salutes the ongoing Mr. Magoo act of Car Salesman Selig, whose game survives in spite of him.
So that dope Pineda gets the 10 games he deserves.
And the Yankees, by rule, must play the next 10 games with 24, not 25 players. Poor Dean Anna got sent down.
Yet had Pineda been caught with performance enhancing drugs, the Yankees could have replaced him on the roster immediately and played with the full 25.
Only in baseball does a team get punished more for pine tar than the cream and the clear.
• More Pineda:
Mr. I would suspend him 10 more games after his current 10. Just ... because.
• Stunning upset here: Red Sox players made more sense of Pineda's idiocy than their dopey fans.
David Ortiz said, essentially, that using pine tar to grip a 94 mph fastball beats the alternative.
Dustin Pedroia said he had no problem with pine tar, except that Pineda flaunted it.
Nitwit Nation: Cheater! Cheater!
Mr. I's modest proposal: Hum "Sweet Caroline" a little softer and listen to your players.
• Correspondent Bill Donovan reports that his Metrocast bill was exactly the same this month, despite the absence of the YES Network.
Once again for those who can: 1-800-DirecTV.
• The great Richard Deitch of Sports Illustrated reported that roughly 140,000 more viewers watched the WNBA Draft than last season's Major League Baseball draft.
That's a few days after UConn-Notre Dame women was the week's highest rated cable sports program.
What say you, women's basketball haters?
• Congrats to Clayton Potter of New London who is going Ivy. Clayton will attend college next year at Columbia.
His dad, Chuck, a former columnist here at America's Most Underrated Media Outlet, has pledged to drink more Manhattans now that his son his headed to Manhattan.
Heh, heh, heh.
• Tweet Mr. I the next time a Red Sox hitter takes a called third strike without looking like a victim of a crime.
• In case you missed it: The gang here at America's Most Underrated Media Outlet is up for several New England Emmy Awards.
That's right. The New London-Middletown high school football webcast is a finalist for "live sporting event/unedited" with the Boston Marathon from WBZ-TV in Boston, the Celtics on Comcast, Game 7 of the Bruins-Maple Leafs last year on NESN and the Red Sox on NESN.
Pretty good company.
If Mr. I does say so himself.
• Help Mr. I out here:
Is Robinson Cano still in the majors?
• Congrats to Ledyard High's Michelle Klinikowski, who announced last week she'll be playing volleyball at Boston College. This makes Michelle the smartest female athlete in the ECC.
Smartest male athlete, of course, is BC-bound Marcus Outlow of NFA.
• So how is that leadoff spot going for the Sox without Ellsbury? Glad you asked.
Entering the series at Fenway last week - the one where Ellsbury had roughly 14 hits - Boston used five different players leading off with a combined .190 average and a .555 OPS.
Ellsbury was hitting .338.
But, hey, they saved all that money.
• Dying to hear some of our forward thinking social commentators on theday.com defend Donald Sterling.
Go ahead.
You know you want to.
• From Fitch guy Bernie Nasser: The deadline for nominations for the first Fitch Hall of Fame ceremony has been extended to May 30. Go to the Groton schools website if you are so inclined and nominate your favorite former Falcons (which is excellent use of alliteration, Mr. I might add).
• While we're at Fitch: Congrats to Mike Emery, who will be honored May 8 at the Connecticut High School Coaches Association's 50th Annual Recognition Dinner at Aqua Turf. Emery, who won two state titles, will be recognized for his contribution to high school football.
Tickets for the event are $46 and may be obtained through John Fontana at 860-628-4122.
This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.


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Yesterday's Snow Bowl created a real problem for the Detroit Lions in the possession department. (They fumbled seven times.) One late mishap led quarterback Matthew Stafford to a moment of pure panic and desperation—a circumstance we feel deserved a more intimate experience.
This is a Deadspin Video, in which strange sports moments are slowed down to ridiculous speeds and matched with indie music. This video features "Melt Away" by Galaxie 500. See previous episodes here.
To contact the author of this post, write to email@example.com or find him on Twitter @bubbaprog.


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From PostgreSQL wiki
PgNotificationHelper is a Java class for listen/notify management and dispatch, intended for direct JDBC users.
The JDBC driver for PostgreSQL doesn't provide much in the way of help for using LISTEN and NOTIFY. You can issue the statements directly, and can call PgConnection.getNotifications() to get recent notifications, which works well in smaller and simpler apps.
However, if you find that you have multiple parts of the app interested in notifications, some of which may not even know the other parts exist let alone what they need to listen for, management gets painful. Once you add recovery from broken connections and the like, you will quickly find that you need a central place to keep track of what should be listened to.
Similarly, informing interested objects that a notification they're interested in gets ugly if many unrelated components are interested in notifications. You need your central listen/notify registry to be the only place that polls the connection for notifications, and to have objects register their interest in notifications with that object.
I found myself needing just such a helper, and figured that having written it I might as well publish it to save others the same work. So here it is. The following code may be incorporated freely into your own app with no requirements or restrictions. I'd prefer that you retained the attribution comment, but do not require it. If you have fixes or improvements, please contribute them back via the talk page on this wiki article or via the pgsql-jdbc mailing list.
There is another class,
PgNotificationPoller that builds on
PgNotificationHelper. Unlike
PgNotificationHelper, it automatically manages listen/notify subscriptions, error recovery, event dispatch, etc in a completely thread-safe non-blocking manner, so that it may be freely used by many components of an app without any external locking and synchronization.
PgNotificationHelper source
package au.com.postnewspapers.fossil.dbutil; import java.sql.Connection; import java.sql.ResultSet; import java.sql.SQLException; import java.sql.Statement; import java.util.ArrayList; import java.util.Arrays; import java.util.Collection; import java.util.Collections; import java.util.HashSet; import java.util.List; import java.util.Set; import org.postgresql.PGConnection; import org.postgresql.PGNotification; /** * Use a supplied JDBC connection to a PostgreSQL database, LISTENING for * events of interest and reporting events communicated by the database * with NOTIFY via a Java listener interface. * * The PgNotificationHelper doesn't keep a reference to the connection, * as it's expected that you may be borrowing it from the connection pool * for use by the helper. However, it does expect that you will pass the * SAME connection to PgNotificationHelper each call. If you want to change * connections, you will need to call relisten() on the new connection to * bring the connection into sync with PgNotificationHelper's expectations. * * If you use PgNotificationHelper on a connection, you should not * use any LISTEN or UNLISTEN commands on it directly yourself. * PgNotificationHelper may UNLISTEN your notification requests if * you call relisten() or change the connection, since it will re-sync * the server listen list with its own at that point. * * Polling isn't done directly by PgNotificationHelper. You should * use an appropriate timer to take care of it. Be sure to protect the * connection against concurrent use if you're using a timer or thread * to poll. * * Notification listeners are called on the thread the PgNotificationHelper's * poll() method was invoked on. If you need them called on the EDT you'll * need to do it yourself via EventQueue.invokeLater(...) or similar. Alternately, * use PgNotificationPoller, which takes care of this and much more at the cost * of removing the JDBC connection from your control. * * PgNotificationHelper will pass on any SQLExceptions thrown during its work. * Each method is documented to indicate what state the class is left in if * an SQLException is thrown. * * If a listen() or unlisten() call fails with an SQLException, the requested * names will have been added to or removed from the list the PgNotificationHelper * is maintaining, and will be returned by getListenedNames(). However, the actual * database listening state is unknown - and it's highly likely no notifications * are being received at all. You should call relisten() to try to reset the * listening state of the connection and update it to match the list of names * in PgNotificationHelper. If that fails, as it is likely to, you will probably * need to supply a new connection as the old one is most likely broken/unusable. * * @author Craig Ringer <firstname.lastname@example.com> */ // // We don't impose our own synchronization as it can't be done completely and // reliably - there's no way to prevent concurrent use of the JDBC connection. // User is responsible. // public class PgNotificationHelper{ private final Set<String> listenedNames = new HashSet<String>(); private final List<PgNotificationListener> listeners = new ArrayList(); /* * Create an empty helper without any associated connection. It will not * be usable until you call setConnection(...). * * This call does not do any database work and will not block. */ public PgNotificationHelper() { } /** * Begin LISTENing on `name' by issuing a LISTEN statement to the backend. * * @param name new name to listen on, which must be a legal PostgreSQL identifier. * @throws SQLException if execution of the LISTEN statement throws. See class doc. */ public void listen( Connection conn, String name) throws SQLException { listenedNames.add(name); sendListens( conn, Arrays.asList(name) ); } /** * Begin LISTENing on `name'(s) by issuing a LISTEN statement to the backend for each one * * @param name new name to listen on, which must be a legal PostgreSQL identifier. * @throws SQLException if execution of the LISTEN statement throws. See class doc. */ public void listen(Connection conn, Collection<String> names) throws SQLException { listenedNames.addAll(names); sendListens( conn, names ); } /** * Stop LISTENing on `name' by issuing an UNLISTEN to the backend. * * Calling UNLISTEN on name(s) that are not being listened to is safe, and * has no effect. * * @param name name to unlisten from, which must be a legal PostgreSQL identifier. * @throws SQLException if execution of the UNLISTEN statement throws. See class doc. */ public void unlisten(Connection conn, String name) throws SQLException { listenedNames.remove(name); sendUnlistens( conn, Arrays.asList(name) ); } /** * Stop LISTENing on `name'(s) by issuing an UNLISTEN to the backend for each one. * * Calling UNLISTEN on name(s) that are not being listened to is safe, and * has no effect. * * @param name name to unlisten from, which must be a legal PostgreSQL identifier. * @throws SQLException if execution of the UNLISTEN statement throws. See class doc. */ public void unlisten( Connection conn, Collection<String> names) throws SQLException { listenedNames.removeAll(names); sendUnlistens( conn, names ); } /** * Send a NOTIFY on `name' via the JDBC connection. * * If this PgNotificationListener is listening on `name', * it will receive its own notification. * * @param name to send NOTIFY for * @throws SQLException if the NOTIFY statement failed to execute or statement close failed */ public void sendNotify(Connection conn, String name) throws SQLException { Statement stmt = null; try { stmt = conn.createStatement(); stmt.execute("NOTIFY " + name + ";"); } finally { if (stmt != null) stmt.close(); } } /** * Call UNLISTEN on all names the connection is currently listening on. * No more notifications will be received after the next poll(), and * getListenedNames() will return the empty set. * * @throws SQLException if execution of any statement on the connection fails */ public void unlistenAll(Connection conn) throws SQLException { listenedNames.clear(); relisten(conn); } /** * Update the database's list of names being listened to to match that * of PgNotificationHelper by issuing appropriate LISTEN and UNLISTEN * statements. * * Gets the list of names the backend is LISTENing for notifications on, * compares it to the result of getListenedNames(), and issues appropriate * LISTEN and UNLISTEN statements to bring the database into sync with the * local list. * * No notifications will be lost, as individual LISTEN and UNLISTEN * calls will be issued to update the database listening status to * match that of PgNotificationHelper. UNLISTEN * is never used. * * @throws SQLException */ public void relisten(Connection conn) throws SQLException { Set<String> dbListenedNames = getDbListenedNames(conn); // find the names we must listen() to, ie all names in listenedNames // that we're not already listening to. Set<String> namesToAdd = new HashSet<String>(listenedNames); namesToAdd.removeAll(dbListenedNames); sendListens( conn, namesToAdd ); // find the names we must unlisten() from, ie all names we're listening // to that are NOT in listenedNames. dbListenedNames.removeAll(listenedNames); sendUnlistens( conn, dbListenedNames ); } /** * Replace the list of listened-to names entirely. Any names currently being * listened to, but that do not appear in `newListenedNames', will be UNLISTENed. * * No notifications will be lost, as individual LISTEN and UNLISTEN * calls will be issued to update the database listening status to * match that of PgNotificationHelper. UNLISTEN * is never used. * * * If this method throws, the new list of names will have been stored in * PgNotificationHelper and will be used from now on, but the listening state * of the connection its self will be unknown. It is highly likely that the * connection is broken and is not receiving notifications. It should be * replaced with a fresh, usable connection by calling setConnection(...). * * @param newListenedNames New set of names to listen to * @throws SQLException thrown by any JDBC call on the connection during relisten() */ public void relisten(Connection conn, Collection<String> newListenedNames) throws SQLException { this.listenedNames.clear(); this.listenedNames.addAll(newListenedNames); relisten(conn); } /** * Check for notifications. * * If you're using a pre-8.x JDBC driver you must issue some kind * of dummy query on the connection before calling poll() to get any * results. * * @warning a poll call will not detect a broken connection, as no * client->server communication is initiated. Additionally, the * JDBC driver doesn't check the status of the TCP/IP socket from * PgConnection.getNotifications(...) so it won't notice if it's * been closed by the remote end. * * @param conn Connection to poll on * @param pg_backend_pid process ID of backend associated with conn * @param useDummyStatement whether to send a dummy statement before checking for notifications * @throws SQLException if something broke */ // see http://jdbc.postgresql.org/documentation/84/listennotify.html public void poll(Connection conn, long pg_backend_pid, boolean useDummyStatement) throws SQLException { if ( useDummyStatement ) { Statement stmt = conn.createStatement(); try { // It is *VITAL* that this statement not fail, and not affeect the // connection state in any way. Otherwise, if we're borrowing this // connection while someone else is using it for other work we might // cause some major chaos. // // Thankfully, the backend will notice an empty statement, and // respond with an "empty statement" message at the protocol level. // No query gets logged, and no snapshot gets created, but it's not // an error. // stmt.execute(""); } finally { stmt.close(); } } PGNotification notifications[] = ((PGConnection)conn).getNotifications(); if (notifications != null) { List<PGNotification> notificationView = Collections.unmodifiableList(Arrays.asList(notifications)); for (PgNotificationListener l : listeners) { l.notified(this, pg_backend_pid, notificationView); } } } /** * Register an object as interested in hearing about received NOTIFY events from the database * * This call does not do any database work and will not block. * * @param listener object that should receive notification callbacks */ public void addNotificationListener(PgNotificationListener listener) { if (listener == null) throw new NullPointerException("Listener may not be null"); listeners.add(listener); } /** * Remove an object from the list of objects interested in hearing about NOTIFY events from the database. * * If the object isn't in the list, no action is taken. * * This call does not do any database work and will not block. * * @param listener Object to stop sending callbacks to */ public void removeNotificationListener(PgNotificationListener listener) { if (listener == null) throw new NullPointerException("Listener may not be null"); listeners.remove(listener); } /** * Remove all objects from the list of objects interested in hearing about NOTIFY events. * * This call does not do any database work and will not block. */ public void clearNotificationListeners() { listeners.clear(); } /** * PgNotificationHelper manages a set of names that it should be listening * to. Unless you've caught an exception from database operations, this set * is the same as the list of names PostgreSQL is listening for NOTIFY events on. * * getListenedNames() returns a read-only view of that set. * * This call does not do any database work and will not block. * * @return a read-only view of the set of currently listened-to names */ public Set<String> getListenedNames() { return Collections.unmodifiableSet(listenedNames); } /** * Get a list of the names the database has us on record as * listening to. The set should have the same contents as * that returned by getListenedNames() ... but beware of * PostgreSQL's case folding of identifiers. * * Reads the set of names the database is currently listing to from the * pg_catalog.pg_listener view. * * @return Name list from pg_catalog.pg_listener */ public Set<String> getDbListenedNames(Connection conn) throws SQLException { Set<String> names = new HashSet<String>(); Statement stmt = null; try { stmt = conn.createStatement(); ResultSet rs = stmt.executeQuery("SELECT relname FROM pg_catalog.pg_listener WHERE listenerpid = pg_backend_pid();"); while (rs.next()) { names.add(rs.getString(1)); } rs.close(); } finally { stmt.close(); } return names; } /** * LISTEN to the passed name list. * * Does not affect listenedNames. * * @param names names to send LISTENs on * @throws SQLException */ private void sendListens(Connection conn, Collection<String> names) throws SQLException { if (names.isEmpty()) return; sendListenControlCommands( conn, Collections.unmodifiableCollection(names), true); } /** * UNLISTEN from the passed name list. * * Does not affect listenedNames. * * @param names names to send UNLISTENs on * @throws SQLException */ private void sendUnlistens(Connection conn, Collection<String> names) throws SQLException { if (names.isEmpty()) return; sendListenControlCommands( conn, Collections.unmodifiableCollection(names), false); } /** * Issues LISTEN or UNLISTEN commands on the passed names then informs * any objects on the notification recipient list of the change in * listened names. * * Does not affect listenedNames. * * @param names Names to listen to / unlisten from * @param shouldListen true to LISTEN, false to UNLISTEN * @throws SQLException if something breaks */ private void sendListenControlCommands(Connection conn, Collection<String> names, final boolean shouldListen) throws SQLException { assertSafeIdentifiers(names); final Statement stmt = conn.createStatement(); final String cmd = shouldListen ? "LISTEN " : "UNLISTEN "; try { for (String name : names) { stmt.addBatch(cmd + name); } stmt.executeBatch(); } finally { if (stmt != null) stmt.close(); } for (PgNotificationListener l : listeners) { // WARNING listeners must not throw! if (shouldListen) { l.listenersAdded(this, conn, names); } else { l.listenersRemoved(this, conn, names); } } } private void assertSafeIdentifiers(Collection<String> names) throws IllegalArgumentException { // Doesn't try to ensure that the identifier is valid, only that it's // safe to send. boolean ok; for (String n : names) { ok = n.indexOf(';') == -1; if (!ok) throw new IllegalArgumentException("Name \"" + n + "\" is not a valid identifier for LISTEN"); } } /** * Listener interface to be implemented by classes that are interested * in hearing about PostgreSQL `NOTIFY' events. * * Your listeners must never throw, or they will interfere with * event dispatch to other listeners. */ public interface PgNotificationListener { /** * Reports that a NOTIFY event has been received. * * Self-notifications will be delivered, so if you wish to exclude them * or identify them, test `receivingBackendPid' against * `PGNotification.getPid()' for each notification to see if the sending * and receiving backend pid are the same. * * @param poller Helper that received the NOTIFY * @param receivingBackendPid pid of backend that recieved the notification. Test against notices.getPid() to eliminate self notifications. * @param notices Notification events */ void notified( PgNotificationHelper helper, long receivingBackendPid, List<PGNotification> notices ); /** * A LISTEN has been executed on the database, and NOTIFY events for that * name will now be received. * * listenersAdded will be called if a new connection has been * supplied and has just been listened on. In this case names were * already on the list of names to listen to, but a new LISTEN was * just issued for each. If the old connection was broken it's possible * that notifications were lost during the gap, so the app may need * to act on that. * * @param poller Poller that added the listen * @param names Read-only list of name(s) newly LISTENed */ void listenersAdded( PgNotificationHelper helper, Connection conn, Collection<String> names ); /** * An UNLISTEN has been executed on the database, and NOTIFY events for that * name will no longer be received. * * '*' will never be passed as a name. Instead, individual * listenRemoved(...) calls will be made. * * listenersRemoved will not be called if the connection has been * lost. This means that listenersRemoved isn't perfectly symmetric with * listenersAdded. If the connection is dropped, listenersRemoved will * not be called but listenersAdded will be. * * @param poller Poller that added the listen * @param names Read-only list of name(s) newly UNLISTENed */ void listenersRemoved( PgNotificationHelper helper, Connection conn, Collection<String> names ); } }
The unit tests for the class aren't so easily separated from the rest of the code, and would need to be rewritten, so they're not included here.
PgNotificationHelper originally by Craig Ringer (firstname.lastname@example.com).