March 2008 – Pie and Coffee

508 #28: A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country

508 is a show about Worcester. This week’s panel includes Brendan “Buck Paxton” Melican and Bruce “Snow Ghost” Russell.

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Ralph “Ralph’s” Moberly has died. People worldwide have fond memories of that bar, but it doesn’t get a lot of respect in Worcester.

The building HBML rents in is getting foreclosed. Read their blog for the latest updates on finding a new location (or making do with the current one). The hip literary enterprise McSweeney’s is encouraging people worldwide to help them. Despite this kind of attention, HBML doesn’t get a lot of respect in Worcester.

Bruce used to think this was a picture of Mike Leslie:

Here is the real deal:

The Dive Bar isn’t moving to its new location/name till at least June.

Our friend Dave is on the cover of Worcester Magazine; he doesn’t like the photo.

Artigo/Ajemian Films continues to raise money for their project “We Got the Beat.”

Nothing much happened at this week’s hearing about the American Antiquarian Society vs. the Montvale Historical District. (You might listen to the opening for a detailed explanation of the issues.) The AAS is asking supportive Worcester residents to sign a petition against the expansion of the historical district.

Mike has been unable to entice people to public hearings with offers of free beer; asking people to trade printouts of Jacob Berendes e-mails for beer has worked great, though.

You, too can leave a voice message to be played on the show. Just call 508-471-3897.

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Goslow profiles Worcester Catholic Worker community

What a delight to pick up today’s Worcester Magazine and see “Diamond Dave” Maciewski on the cover! (It’s from last week’s Stations of the Cross.)

The article is mostly about the Saints Francis & ThÃ©rÃ¨se Catholic Worker. Nice quote from co-founder Scott Schaeffer-Duffy:

“People think of anarchy as irresponsibility–but it’s not. It’s about individual responsibility.”

The article also touches on the Mustard Seed Catholic Worker soup kitchen, helmed by Donna Domiziano:

Following Catholic Worker doctrine, the Mustard Seed doesn’t apply for grants or seek state or federal funds.

“Day-by-day donations, that’s how we do it,” Domiziano says. “We live the gospel and it works.”

The only factual error I find was that he misspelled Ken Hannaford-Ricardi’s name. The funny thing is, the T&G misspelled his name last week in an article about the “rosary arrest.” I can’t tell you how much I will enjoy teasing Ken about this :)

Kid with stupid hair turns self in for church graffiti

Previously in the T&G: Vandals strike seven churches

Today: Arrest made in church vandalism, “Police said they are also looking to arrest a second suspect, a female, in the crimes.”

Seriously, this look doesn’t work for you, man.

Brian D. Griffin, 19. Photo from Telegram & Gazette.

It was a good idea to trim it short before turning it in, but you should have dyed it a uniform color, too.

The dude can’t even spray paint:

Telegram & Gazette photo

Looks like he misjudged his spacing, ran his “r” into a black part of the door, and ended up with “JESUS NEVEN ROSE AGAIN.”

Police said they have video footage of Mr. Griffin and a female companion buying two cans of spray paint from Wal-Mart at 8 p.m. Thursday

You just knew Wal-Mart would be involved. (The T&G really needs to call up Jason Feifer to cover this story; he’s a master of gentle mockery, and was responsible for the front-page story “Athol Town Hall stages teen headbangersâ€™ metal ball: Those who came to rock hard and heavy salute music series.”)

Lest anyone think this fiasco of a crime is a symptom of modern moral collapse, note that dumbasses have been goofing around churches since at least January 1965:

Continue reading “Kid with stupid hair turns self in for church graffiti”

Tamar Hennessey, daughter of Dorothy Day, has died

Source: Catholic Worker e-mail list, sent by Tamar’s daughter Martha.

Items

T&G: Holy Cross students protest war in D.C.
Sponsored by the College Democrats. Where is their Pax Christi these days?

Song for Holy Saturday
By James K. Baxter, the “Walt Whitman of New Zealand.”

Why bother having a resume?
Seth Godin:

Not just for my little internship, but in general. Great people shouldn’t have a resume.

T&G: Vandals strike seven churches
Lousy news. Though this graffito is perfectly in the spirit of Holy Saturday, I think:

Another had â€œJesus is dead.â€

Feynman chaser
Hadn’t seen this clip in forever! Via Maximum Fun:

Stations of the Cross, Worcester

Worcester’s Catholic Worker community celebrated Good Friday as it traditionally does, by walking the Stations of the Cross in downtown Worcester with meditations on present-day evils. About twenty people were there today, include some I had not met before. In past year’s we’ve crossed paths with other Stations groups, but not this year. Many pix.

Pictured: Former marine David Maher prays for an end to war.

508 #27: Lockup

508 is a show about Worcester. This week Mike talks with Brendan Melican.

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After comparing the philosophies of Joff Smith, Dr. Dre, and Thomas Jefferson, we talk about the City Council’s salary debate. (Audio of the debate at archive.org.) We also revisit last week’s discussion of the Antiquarian Society and Dianne Williamson’s similar take.

Mike and others were arrested for praying this week, but the US marshalls let them finish the prayer before arresting them, perhaps a sign that their hearts were softened by the 43-day vigil of prayer and fasting that preceeded the event. We also talk about a recent anti-war march, last year’s big anti-war rally, and the time Worcester police let activists install 2,000 crosses on the Commons without a permit.

Monday at 10:30AM is the Economic Development hearing at City Hall about the whole AAS parking lot thing. (Mentioned in passing: meet the new Dive Bar.)

You, too can leave a voice message to be played on the show. Just call 508-471-3897.

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To get an e-mail each week alerting you of the new episode of 508, join the e-mail list:

We won’t share this list with others.

Continue reading “508 #27: Lockup”

5 arrested for praying the rosary in Worcester

This morning at the federal courthouse in Worcester, after attending mass and with about a dozen supporters outside, Mike Benedetti, Ken Hannaford-Ricardi, Sandra McSweeney, Scott Schaeffer-Duffy, and Roger Stanley entered the pre-lobby, knelt, prayed for an end to the war in Iraq, and said a rosary. People came and went from the courthouse, though additional participants weren’t allowed to enter.

Officers allowed them to complete the prayers, then arrested them.

They were charged in federal court with the “petty offenses” of not obeying a federal officer and blocking an entrance. They all plead “not guilty” and said they would represent themselves.

The 2 charges each carry a possible $5,000 fine. A 30-day jail sentence is also possible for each charge, but both the US attorneys and the judge said there was no risk of that.

The defendants will be representing themselves in court. Trial is set for June.

Photo: Worcester Indymedia. Pictured: Tom Lewis and law officers outside the entrance.

The prayers and arrest come as the culmination of a 43-day Lenten prayer, fast, and vigil carried out in conjunction with people in 11 other US cities, including Des Moines, Iowa, Buffalo and Rochester, New York. This campaign was inspired by the example of Franz Jagerstatter, the recently beatified Austrian Catholic who was executed for refusing to participate in an unjust war.

Continue reading “5 arrested for praying the rosary in Worcester”

Mass of Holy Chrism

Bishops McManus and Reilly chat outside St. Paul’s Cathedral before the Chrism Mass.

Rocco Palmo:

In the majority of Stateside dioceses, whether in their cathedrals or even larger parish churches, the Chrism Mass — the lone “family reunion” mandated by the rubrics — is happening today.

There was no noon mass at the cathedral today, so my friends and I went to the Chrism Mass before our Lenten prayer vigil for an end to the Iraq War.

The Chrism Mass takes its name from the last of the three oils blessed during the rite, which are then used throughout the diocese for the next year.

Tom Lewis does a little anti-war “pre-vigiling” at the cathedral before mass. More of us assembled across the street afterwards. I was happy that several priests came over to share words or hugs of support.

I’d never been to one of these before. The bishop blessed the year’s holy oil and priests renewed their “commitment to priestly service.” A very long standing ovation for Auxiliary Bishop George E. Rueger, who celebrated his 50th year as a priest and gave a great homily directed at the many Catholic school kids in attendance.

Prayer for an End to the Iraq War

Editor’s note: This will be part of a Holy Week prayer service at the Federal Building in Worcester.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, under the inspiratrion of Blessed Franz Jagerstatter, who gave his life to denounce an unjust war, on the fifth anniversary of the latest US escalation of its 17-year-long war on Iraq, we gather to beg Your forgiveness for the sin of this war and to ask for Your grace to end it now. We make these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Amen.

For the over 88,000 Iraqi citizens killed since 2003, we pray:
Lord, have mercy.

For the 4,100 US soldiers killed in Iraq since 1991, we pray:
Christ, have mercy.

For the 200,000 Iraqis killed in the first Gulf War, we pray:
Lord, have mercy.

For the 1.5 million Iraqis, including 800,000 children, killed by US-sponsored sanctions between 1991 and 2002, we pray:
Kyrie, eleison.

For the thousands of Iraqis killed by “no-fly zone” bombings between 1991 and 2002, we pray:
Christe, eleison.

For our failure to speak out more forcefully against the sin of this long war on Iraq, we pray:
Kyrie, eleison.

Recalling that Pope John Paul II called war on Iraq “useless slaughter” and “unjust, immoral, and illegal,” we pray the rosary to Mary, Queen of Peace, that the ears of all those in the federal government might finally be opened to attend to the plea of millions of Americans who want the war to end now.

Pray a rosary:

The First Sorrowful Mystery: Christ’s agony in the garden.
Help us to end the agony of the Iraqi people and to return all American soldiers safely home.

The Second Sorrowful Mystery: Jesus is scourged.
Help us to end the torture our nation continues to inflict on prisoners in Iraq and elsewhere.

The Third Sorrowful Mystery: Jesus is crowned with thorns.
Help us to never again drop cluster bombs, depleted uranium, and other weapons onto the heads of the Iraqi people.

The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: Jesus carries the Cross.
Help us to take up Christ’s cross of nonviolent love (even at the risk of criticism and jail) to end the Iraq War.

The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: Jesus dies on the Cross.
Help us to love our enemies as profoundly as Christ did from his Cross and to reject this and all wars.

Close with the Salve Regina.