what are you doing

what are you doing these days Thomas?
I have not heard from you and I thought that I might have an e-mail from you by now.
I wonder if you are getting a lot of rain in your part of India?
Here in Cochabamba, the weather has turned suddenly warmer after a cold spell of around 6 weeks. Today, Friday was unusually warm and a complete surprise for me with the rapid changes in the climate here in a matter of a few days.
I have been keeping your intentions in my prayers and with the hope that all is going well for you as principal of the school and also with the teaching of your students.
Here in Cochabamba, it is quiet with my superior in the United States as well at the Regional Superior returned to his residence in Guatemala.
So it comes down to around five of us here in residence at our community house here in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
Last Sunday, as you know that I shared a document with you on loneliness and also what are some of the reactions to loneliness as well. A very sensitive subject for men since they don't want to talk about that. It is something feminine when a man talks about loneliness. But loneliness is very strong in men more so than in women. For that very reason that their are consequences or reactions within the man.
We had a good two hour discussion on this last Sunday with our Regional Superior with us.
I know that your brother Benny has talked about this within your own family due to the health of your Father. And that a lack of love was not shown.
Well this is all the news that I have for now. I am hoping to hear from you soon.
lots of love, Frank

take care of your self

take care of your health... sorry that you are sick with a cold and now their are rains an i hope no flooding like pakistan??

sorry to wake you up

Calixto Salvatierr

This is Father Calixto Salvatierra, Franciscan Conventual priest and I don't know if you have this community in your area of India thomas?
He is also in charge of vocation work for his community and there are 6 seminarians under his care here in Cochabamba with 9 more to come in later on this year.
He is a wonderful friend to have and to share about problems of life as religious here in Bolivia.
Calixto also does ministry in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States and working with people from Mexico in that part of my country.

The past day or two I have sent you a document that I wrote on loneliness. I hope that this sharing is helpful and helps you also to understand about this as well.
It is nice to be in contact with you on a regular basis and to know what is going on in your own personal life.
Your brother Benny is traveling today for his community after being on retreat this week.
This is all the news for now.

your brother,
Frank

4:42 p.m. Friday afternoon, August 20th, 2010

thinking of you

This photo of me was just taken this Friday afternoon at an area where there are a lot of restaurants in Cochabamba. There is a chinese restaurant but all the rest are for eating meat and others are open in the evening for drinking and so on.

I was with a Franciscan priest friend, Calixto who was my student of English some years ago.
He is a Franciscan Conventual priest.

The Assemption of Mary

Magnificat - The canticle of Mary

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,my spirit rrejoices in God my Saviorfor he has looked with favour on his lowly servant....

From this day all generations will called me blessed:the Almighty has done great things for me,and holy is his Name ....

He has morcy on those who fear him in every generation....

He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.....

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,and has lifted up the lowly.....

He has filled the hungry with good things,and the rich has has senty away empty....

He has come to the help of his servant Israelfor he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,to Abraham and his children forever....

(The photo is of the image or Our Lady of Urkupina that I bought the other day in a religious store near the church of San juan de Dios - St. John of God here in Cochabamba. - today. August 15th, is the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven as well. )

It is very interesting to me Thomas that this feast day of the Virgin Mary is also the Independence day of India. Congratulations to you and your Franciscan Brothers in India.

Virgin of Urkupina - August 15th, 2010

Virgin of Urkupina means Virgin of the Mountain - It was in the mountians of Bolivia in the 1800's that Our Lady appeared to a young girl as she was watching the sheep.

The woman told the girl to pick up stones at her feet and take them home to her family. When the girl arrived at her home the stones had turned to silver, therefore releaving her family of poverty.
The people of Quillacolla heard the news they began to have faith in the miraculous virgin of Urkupina.

The festival is held in Quillacolla which is 10 miles or 16 km from Cochabamba. The dates are August 14th to 16th.
People from all over the country of Bolivia as well as from other countries such as the United States, Spain, and other latin America countries come here for this festival.

Prayer -

Oh Mary, assumed into Heaven, in you we find every virtue shining resplendently. In you. is the fullness of grace because you are united to God.
Oh Virgin of Urkupina, work amidst the thorns that grow in the arid deserts of our hearts, that roses of goodness and virtue might sprout forth! Weed out the vanities of this world and replant in us the flower of Life - that our souls might become as nature in springtime to the delight of Christ our Redeemer!