COVID-19 Diary: Day 129

Dear Old Blog,

Continuing with the Paulist Fathers' "Five Questions with a Paulist" series:

Paulist Fr. Don Andrie is pastor of St. John XXIII University Parish in Knoxville, TN. He spoke with Mike Hayes on May 7, 2020:

Love,

Paul 

COVID-19 Diary: Day 128

Dear Old Blog,

Continuing with Landings International's "Reflections for a Troubled Age" series:

The photo for meditation in this installment comes from the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Pattaya, Thailand:

 

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 127

Dear Old Blog,

Paulist Fr. Joachim Lally lives in Grand Rapids, MI.

In this installment of "Five Questions with a Paulist," Fr. Joachim spoke with Mike Hayes about life during the COVID-19 pandemic:

 

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 126

Dear Old Blog,

Here is another offering from Landings International's special video series "Reflections for a Troubled Age."

The photo used for inspiration is from Soundscape Park in Miami, FL:

 

Love,

Paul 

COVID-19 Diary: Day 125

Dear Old Blog,

Here is another installment in the "Five Questions with a Paulist" series.

In this video, Mike Hayes chats with Paulist Fr. Stuart Wilson-Smith, associate pastor of Old St. Mary's Church in Chicago: 

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 124

Dear Old Blog,

"How do I practice compassion?"

That is one of the reflection questions in this seventh video from Landings International's "Reflections for a Troubled Age" series:

 

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 123

Dear Old Blog,

As I have mentioned before in this space, managing the Paulist Fathers' "Five Questions with a Paulist" video series has been part of how I have spent my time during the pandemic.

Our old friend Mike Hayes is on the front end conducting the interviews. I'm behind the scenes helping to select the interviewees and then, when completed, executing the social media shares.

Here is the third video in that series: "Five Questions with Paulist Fr. Charlie Donahue":

 

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 122

Dear Old Blog,

Serious questions:

Would you hire Donald Trump to be an intern in your office?

Would you trust Donald Trump to babysit your child?

Would you leave your pet in the care of Donald Trump?

Would you trust Donald Trump to water your house plants?

If the answer is "No" to these questions, why would anyone vote for him?

Family and friends, please support Joe Biden for president.

We need to put a trustworthy adult back in the Oval Office.

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 121

Dear Old Blog,

Here is the sixth video in Landings International's "Reflections for a Troubled Age" series:

 

Love, 

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 120

Dear Old Blog, 

 Mitt Romney is spot-on in this tweet about Trump commuting the sentence of Roger Stone:

Unprecedented, historic corruption: an American president commutes the sentence of a person convicted by a jury of lying to shield that very president.

— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) July 11, 2020

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 119

Dear Old Blog,

Trump commuted the prison sentence of Roger Stone today.

It's one more in the endless list of reasons why Trump must be soundly defeated on November 3.

Respect for the rule of law must be restored.

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 118

Dear Old Blog,

On June 24, I wrote in this space about the "Five Questions" series that I have been producing for work during these quarantine days.

Here is the second video in that series: "Five Questions with Paulist Fr. Rich Andre" (hosted by my buddy Mike Hayes):

 

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 117

Dear Old Blog,

Here is the fifth video in Landings International's "Reflections for a Troubled Age" series:  

 

Love,

Paul

COVID-19 Diary: Day 116

Dear Old Blog,

The great composer Ennio Morricone died yesterday at the age of 91.

Like so many, Morricone's wonderful music for the film "The Mission" touched my heart, and brought tears to my eyes, many times.

In fact, Eric and I had "Gabriel's Oboe" from "The Mission" played for our assembled guests prior to the beginning of our wedding service in 2013. It was performed by James Mobley, who then played oboe at our parish, the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, in New York City.

Here is James playing "Gabriel's Oboe" again in 2014:

 

Love,

Paul