Chetan's Random Thoughts

The Best New Year Gifts: To your friend - loyalty; To your enemy - forgiveness; To your boss - service; To a child - a good example; To your parents - gratitude and devotion; To your mate - love and faithfulness; To all men and women - love; To God - your life. Have a Great New Year

Thomas of Celano, Francis' contemporary, writes: " The saint of God stood before the manger, uttering sighs, overcome with love and filled with a wonderful happiness....He sang the Gospel in a sonorous voice, a clear and sonorous voice, inviting all to the highest rewards. Then he preached to the people standing about and spoke charming words concerning the birth of the poor King, and the little town of Bethlehem....When he spoke the name, Child of Bethlehem or Jesus, his tongue licked his lips, relishing and savoring with pleased palate the sweetness of the words. The manner in which St.Francis celebrated Christmas has been my dream celebration. Every time i read the above passage, i cannot but wipe my tears at the end. St.Francis simply shed tears when he meditated on the mystery of incarnation. The only attitude one can have while he stands before the crib, is SILENCE and only SILENCE. Words would spoil the message and experience. This is my last Christmas in Rome. Next ...

St.Francis of Assisi, whose feast is being celebrated world over on 4th October, is a saint for all times and all people. In fact, the best known Christian saint after Lord Jesus Christ. St.Francis was truly human as his Lord and Master. He wept with those who wept, smiled with those who smiled, suffered with those who suffer. This, in fact is the essence of the brotherhood he preached. A brother/sister is always a brother/sister. One fine morning he cannot be seen as enemy. Even the enemy would turn into a brother/sister, with your fraternal touch. Let St.Francis touch our hearts to see the brother/sister around us!!! Wish all a Happy Feast of St.Francis!!

Having spent two enjoyable months in the US, the last two days I spent in anxiety. The Delta Connectio flight from BWI airport, Baltimore was delayed by more than an hour. As a result, when i reached JFK New York, the Delta Airlines to Rome had already left. Without much deliberation Delta gave me a seat in the following day's flight, i.e. after 24 hrs. In the JFK airport i witnessed a face of US beauracracy. I went from pillar to post to change the ticket as i couldn't wait for so long. Everyone giving an advice, but a wrong one. Even for a one phrase clarification, i had to stand in a line for more than an hour. For the night, they wouldn't make any arrangement for accommodation. After much discussion, and questions like 'who's your MD? want to talk to him' etc., i was given a coupon for accommodation in a hotel with a dinner coupon. The dinner was costing 30 dollars of which Delta payed only 7 dollars and the rest from my wallet. Good business for the...

United Nations Security Council Meeting Hall The stupendous stage at the Radio City, New York The Statue of Liberty, New York The ground zero at the famous World Trade Center New York the commercial centre of the world, is in reality not only a state in the United state, but a mini world itself. One can find people from all nations around the globe in New York. Busy life,people not walking but running reminded me of Mumbai's busy life. Culturally too, New York is very rich. The UN head quarters, the Liberty statue, Ellison Island, Brooklyn bridge, the Radio city, Rockefeller center, NBC studio, CNN, a number of museums, the beautiful and rich broadway theaters.. so many of them. It's a unique opportunity to watch New York city at night with all its glowing lights. The 'Les misérables' at broadhurst theatre was a memorable experience. The musical play has been running in the theatre since last 14 years, and every show is a jam packed one. The ticket a whopping 100-200 ...

An Indian flag exhibited among other flags on the roads of Philadelphia The Liberty Bell: the main attraction of Philadelphia The Prestigious Annenberg School of Communication of the University of Pennsylvania The city of Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylavania is a compact, little beautiful city situated between two rivers. Phil-adel-phia, truly means the city of brotherly love. The city breathes the spirit of Liberty. Philadelphia was the original capital of the USA when in 1776 the constitutions were signed. The monuments like constitution center, independence hall, etc., narrate a thousand stories. The symbol of liberty, the Liberty bell is housed in a new building now. Crowds throng to see it. For me, being in the Independence area was a special experience, because it was August 15th, the day of Indian Independence. A visit to the Prestigious Annenberg school of communication and the University of Pennsylvania, celebration of independence day with the students of Drexel Univer...

The view of the White House from the Washington Memorial The Washington National Cathedral The Tomb of John Kennedy at Arlington Cemetery The Administrative capital of the USA is Washington, a beautiful, clean city with majestic edifices. There are a number of museums, parks, gardens, historical places. One great thing about these places is that the entrance to these places is totally free except a couple of places like spy museum, Albert Einstein Planetorium, etc. All these places and monuments are situated around the capital, at walkable distance. A week was not enough for me to visit all the places and monuments. In the Smithsonian chain of museums, the Air and Space museum was stupendous!! The White House couldn't visit, it needs prior appointment (3 months someone told me!!)

St.Ambrose Church,Park Heights,Maryland The Pittsburg province of the Franciscan Capuchins has 116 friars. At St.Ambrose Friary, Baltimore live 4 friars, the guardian Br.Roman,Pastors Brs.Paul & Mark, and the Capuchin volunteer program incharge Br.Dennis. Nice little community, busy with pastoral ministry yet all have enough time for fraternal sharing. It's nice to be here!!

Welcome my friend to my Blog The last one month in the United States of America has been a period of cultural enrichment, new experiences and refreshing heart and mind. The human nature anywhere in the globe is the same. Indians, Americans, Africans..only the names differ. The basic human nature is full of goodness, generosity, understanding, love..of course, tinged with a little selfishness, anger, prejudices.. The Baltimore area where i am put up since a month is fascinatingly rich with culture and variety..tinged with crime, drug abuse.. Some of the beautiful landscapes of Baltimore.. The National Aquarium at Baltimore The variety of fish