I didn’t want to let this one day go by without sharing some of my photographs from our Canada holiday. When we travel, we may have different objectives. Each trip is different, and it is only in looking back at journals and photos that a theme sometimes emerges. Sometimes it’s just family time, tourist time, foodie fun, and relaxation, and other times it fleshes out into something a little different.
In looking for photos to share as part of National Photography Day, I saw a theme of history; not only a historical perspective, but a focus on First Nations, ancient land, and my own personal history. I hope that the captions will tell a story.
As our Scavenger Hunt comes to an official end, I’ve added an extra bonus for this fine, Tuesday morning: A Travel Scavenger Hunt! I’m planning on printing this out for my kids as we head out on vacation soon. Same rules as the week’s hunt – comment with your photos or with links to your photos on your social media. And most importantly, have fun, enjoy the sunshine (wear hats and sunscreen), and be well.
The download button will give you a single page of 14 items.
In my ongoing research of labyrinths, as well as an impromptu visit to a gluten free bakery for my students, I discovered that the area of and around the village of Schuylerville, near one of my labyrinths is riddled with little shops, eateries, and a wealth of history that can be explored on a day trip through the area. Combining that with nearby Saratoga Springs (11 miles) and Lake George (about 30 miles), it is easy to make a weekend (or longer) out of it with fun things to do for adults and kids alike.
Hudson River Crossing Park Labyrinth. Schuylerville, NY. (c)2023
Schuylerville is located about 45 miles north of the state’s capital of Albany and was originally part of the Iroquois Federation; the land called Haudenosaunee and the Mohawk people.
I hadn’t intended for this series on travel to wholly encompass shrines, but I was asked yesterday about visiting these two later in the summer and thought it would be a good opportunity to share their information with you.
The sites are spiritually connected by both St. Kateri Tekakwitha and the Jesuits. The site in Auriesville has a coliseum, one of the first circular churches built in the US. It holds about 6000 people. Across their 600 acres of land is a museum, one or two chapels, a grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, and Theresa’s Rosary, a rosary made of rocks embedded in the ground. I have walked and prayed this rosary on one of my visits.
There is also the ravine where Rene Goupil’s body was found. In visiting there, I found it very spiritual and a place of holiness. The way to the ravine is quite steep. On the way there are several statues and grottos to pray at as well as signs that tell the story of the Martyrs.
Prior to his martyrdom, Isaac Jogues had been held in captivity and tortured by the Mohawk (a different group) for over a year. With help he escaped in New Netherland or Albany, NY. He returned to France, where he visited his mother in Orleans (where Joan of Arc led France’s army 219 years before) and was considered a “living martyr” by Pope Urban VIII, but soon again returned to this area, longing for and meeting his martyrdom in what is now Auriesville. It had been the Mohawk village of Ossernenon. He, Jean de Lalande, and Rene Goupil were tortured and killed here. Jogues weighted Goupil’s body and placed it in the water of the ravine in order to return and bury him properly. He did return, but he was gone. He later found some of his body parts, and reverently buried them. I’ve heard others say that the ravine itself is a reliquary. As I said, the spirituality felt here is palpable.
At this same village, ten years after their deaths, Kateri Tekakwitha was born. She became ill with smallpox and both of her parents died. She was scarred, and it was difficult for her to see, needing to put her hands out and feel her way. Her name Tekakwitha translates into she who bumps into things. Her mother had been baptized Catholic and educated by the e missionaries. Her village moved from Ossernenon across the Mohawk River and rebuilt their village, named Caughnawaga, which means place of the rapids. She was bullied for practicing her Catholic faith. She refused to be married, and that did not make her popular within her adoptive family and aunts. She also practiced mortification, praying for the conversion of her family and for forgiveness.
Her name Kateri is for her baptismal name of Catherine, which she received after her baptism at the age of 19. It took me several years, but I was able to walk to the spring (it’s a bit of a steep incline) from the village footprint that archeologists uncovered. Her Native people still felt that the Catholic religious rituals and items were sorcery and opposed her conversion. At some point after her conversion, she was helped to leave and went north to the new Mohawk village where other Native converts had gone. This village was also named Kahnawake (this is the Mohawk spelling), just south of Montreal. She died in 1680.
When I visited her empty tomb (where she was first laid to rest until her relics were removed to the St. Francis Xavier Mission Church on the Mohawk land), the sound of the rushing water nearby was nearly deafening. I have had so many spiritual experiences in visiting the sites of Kateri and her people that it only makes me more in awe of the Holy Spirit.
For those who are not religious, but want to visit a pastoral, serene, place of comfort, both shrines offer that in the beautiful Mohawk valley. The sights and sounds are lovely, and it is easy to get lost in your own thoughts. Of course, that’s until the train comes roaring by, but that is in its own way an affirmation of the space we are in.
National Shrine of the North American Martyrs Auriesville, NY
Open May 1 – October 19, 2023 Hours: Grounds: Open daily 9-7 Museum: Open daily 11-3:30 Gift Shop/Visitor Center: Open daily 10-3 There is no fee for admission or parking. If you are interested in attending mass or other events, visit their website.
National Shrine of the North American Martyrs. (c)2023
St Kateri Tekakwitha, National Shrine & Historic Site Fonda, NY
Summer Season: May 1st to October 31st Hours: Grounds are open sunrise to sunset daily. Saint Peter’s Chapel and Native American Museum open daily, 9-5 Gift shop open: Sat, 10-6, Sun – Wed, 9-5, Thurs – Fri, 10-4 Office open daily 9-4 Candle Chapel, Caughnawaga Village Site, Kateri Spring and grotto, outdoor sanctuary, and hiking trails are open sunrise to sunset year-round. If you are interested in attending mass (scroll down at the link) or other events, visit their website.
St. Kateri Tekakwitha statue with a sign of her last words: Jesus, I love you! (c)2023
I had the privilege of visiting the Marian Shrine in Stony Point, New York, administered by the Salesians of Don Bosco recently, and I couldn’t spend nearly as much time as I had wanted to. As you can see from the photos of that day, the sky was a perfect shade of blue with fluffy white clouds floating. The green grass and leaves were a remarkable shade for early spring, and the cool breeze really made the spirituality tangible and profound.
(c)2023
(c)2023
Driving up the lane and seeing the statue of Mary of the Rosary as if rising from the ground made my jaw drop to the floor. The immensity of the statue (48 feet and 6 1/2 tons) is something I have never seen before. It was huge, but besides its size, there was a feeling of strength resonating from Mary, and once we parked, I just stood in awe and gratitude that I had made the decision to stop on our way to visit with family.
Our Lady of the Rosary, or the Rosary Madonna has been here since 1977. It was created in Italy in 1959 and blessed by Pope Saint John XXIII. From the star-shaped base and surrounding benches is a mesmerizing fountain and beyond this is the Rosary Way, constructed in 1954, during the Marian Year. The rosary way follows a shamrock shaped path through a wooded space. In addition to the mysteries of the rosary, there are also statues depicting the Stations of the Cross on the grounds.
(c)2023
Because of our family visit, I had very little time to explore, so I began with sitting on the benches surrounding Mary and said the Hail Mary. I listened to (and recorded for a short time) the sound of the fountain. The peace was contagious. I slowed my breathing for fear that a normal exhalation would be too loud for this gentle, serene place.
(c)2023
I moved on from there to the statue of St. Francis and his prayer, which is one of my favorite ones, touching on nature and Creation. It lends itself to so many other spiritual experiences. There are several other statues (St. Michael, St. John Bosco, St. Padre Pio, St. Joseph, St. Maria Goretti, and the aforementioned St. Francis of Assisi), and devotional areas, gardens, and grottos outside as well as a wooded path that helps to center the spirit for prayer. There is also an indoor chapel. See below for times for services.
(c)2023
Stopping briefly at the Outdoor Altar (with seating for 1000) and a quick visit to the gift shop where my family picked me up, and I wanted more time. The photos do not do this place justice at all.
If you’re in the area, stopping by for the day is encouraged. The grounds are open from sunrise to sunset, and while there is no food available onsite, there are picnicking areas that you may use when bringing your own food.
In addition to pilgrimages from individuals and families, they also hold retreats here as well as youth retreats and activities in their youth center and regular masses and confession times. Check their website for details or if you wish to bring a larger group of fifteen (you would need to fill out a form).
Mary Help of Christians Chapel 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Marian Shrine Gift Shop Monday thru Saturday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm Sunday 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm Administration Offices 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Shrine grounds close at dusk
As I mentioned in the June Inspire last week, I’ve been awed by the number of inspiring events I’ve been privileged to have participated in since the very beginning of the month. Since I was unable to choose one or two to write about, I thought I’d write about most of them, and include some photos and links so you can explore on your own in your own timeframe and let them capture your imagination and inspire you as well.
One warning before I really get into it: this will be picture heavy (as well as, from my estimate, word heavy).
June began with a weekend retreat that I’m still feeling. June is also the end of the school year, and so during finals and Regent’s exams, my youngest often doesn’t have to go to school, and since the whole crew at home took a day off to see The Flash movie (no spoilers ahead), we decided to take a road trip to Connecticut. And then finally, a field trip to a college outside of Albany to tour a set of books (a Bible actually) of Biblical calligraphy and illuminations. And in between all of that it’s been busy with driving my kids, funeral for a colleague and friend, interfaith doings, Red Hats lunch, a broken hearing aid, weekly rosary, and Father’s Day, an interfaith prayer service, and a fellowship luncheon.
June has been a lot more than usual, and it’s still got a few days left; Indiana Jones will be inspiring in its own way. I don’t want it to sound as though I’m complaining; I’m really not, although once I get started it’s hard to turn off the listing; it’s like a waterfall. However, I can’t say it’s been dull or uninspiring; it’s definitely been the opposite of both of those.
Inspire is a little late this month…okay, it’s a lot late this month. It’s not that I’ve been procrastinating as much as I’ve been absorbing and acting on the plethora of inspiration that I’ve been exposed to in the last several weeks. Sometimes there is a lull or a slight time of unknowing what I’ll write about, but this month was the opposite. How do I choose from the things that inspired me this month, and continue to inspire me? This paragraph formed the introduction to a much longer article on some of the inspirational things I’ve been exposed to throughout June; however, I decided to share some stories from last night’s World Peace & Prayer Day Interfaith Service that I attended at the Historic St. Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine in upstate New York and save the longer writing for another day.
World Peace and Prayer Day was started in 1994 by Avrol Looking Horse to honor the birth two years before of a white buffalo calf, which was a sign of changing times to come as well as the “coming of the mending of the Hoop of All Nations”. She was named Miracle. June 21st was chosen because it is a powerful time to pray for peace as well as being the Summer Solstice and the longest day of the year. It is an offering and hope to heal all of Mother Earth’s gifts that live on the earth, including the Earth herself.
Speak evil of no one. If you can say no good of a person, then be silent..
Let not your tongues betray you into evil,
For these are words of our Creator.
Let all strive to cultivate friendship with those who surround them.
When I was in college, my friend was in England student teaching. When she invited me to fly over and meet her and travel the United Kingdom, I thought there was no way I could afford it. She told me we’d be staying in hostels.
I had never heard of hostels before. I had to join the association (for an annual membership) and then I could pay a small fee and spend the night in a safe, clean, dormitory. The Youth Hostel Association was for young adults, between the ages of 16 (without a parent) and 25. This is less common now. At the time, they also suggested that before you stay at a foreign hostel you should have a dry-run at a local, American run one. I did not do this, and it worked out fine for me. Of course, I haven’t gone hosteling in a couple of decades, so I can only imagine how much has changed. Part of that was because of my friend, who was the expert in my opinion, having been in England and traveled about quite a bit during her days off from teaching.
Where to find Jamie and all her wonderful food expertise and recipes.
I “met” Jamie Schler in the midst of the pandemic and through the former guy’s administration and our mutual resistance. She offered recipes from her home in Chinon, France and brought her followers along as she went (post-pandemic) to a family reunion stateside. I downloaded her free e-book, Isolation Baking, which along with Chef Jose Andres’ #RecipesForThePeople kept us creatively cooking while “trapped” in our own homes and kitchens. She makes an amazing assortment of homemade jams that she offers as part of her bed and breakfast at her Hotel Diderot in the beautiful Loire Valley. I’m looking forward one day to actually make her French Onion Soup, which is one of my favorite things to eat, and whose recipe I share below.
Jamie is generous with her time and love of food on social media and now on her Substack. She shares her techniques for making jam, which she does in abundance as well as recipes and insights. The jam is one of the highlights of the hotel’s breakfast and jam-making has been a hotel tradition since it’s early days of the 1960s. Each new owner has introduced new varieties of the jams, bringing the total to over 50 kinds.
Jamie Schler in front of her jam cabinet at her hotel, the Hotel Diderot. Her book, Orange Appeal has a prominent place on the cabinet.
The main building of the hotel dates from the 15th century. I can feel the history through the splendid pictures Jamie posts on her social media.
Labor Day weekend begins the day after tomorrow. Some people are returning home from their end of summer vacations, some are beginning their getaways. Our family is traditionally back by Labor Day weekend. This year we didn’t go away – car and house repairs made that cost prohibitive but we did manage to do an overnight trip that, to be honest, had its ups and downs. We’re spending this week of vacation getting together for dinner and mini-golfing at the end of the week, and then back to school and work for most of us. Middle child started college so he’s been attending classes while the rest of us have been sleeping late and eating potato chips for breakfast or something equally healthy!
New York has a vast amount of wonderful things to do and places to visit. I truly love living in New York. Even at the height of Covid, we were still able to travel within the state safely. Staying in a hotel and eating at restaurants, we felt very safe.
Griffins and Ginger Snaps 