Posted on November 27, 2017 under Monday Morning Musings with one comment

December 17th. Little Christo’s. The MacDonalds

 

What is your absolute favourite thing in the world to do?

Is it a solitary walk in the woods? Christmas Shopping at the Mic Mac Mall on Christmas Eve? (I’d rather a public flogging!). How about curling up in front of a toasty fire with a good book and a glass of wine or a nice single malt? Hanging out with your grandkids would certainly rate highly.

For me, watching my children perform music always comes to the top of my list. They did quite a few public performances when they were teenagers performing at venues with the likes of Natalie MacMaster and Bruce Gouthro. These days, they are spread hither and yon so opportunities to see them play are few and far between.

My second favourite thing (a tie with a good piece of coconut cream pie with real whipped cream) is having the chance to play WITH my children. So, mark this on your calendar. On Sunday, December 17^th, 2017, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., I will be sharing the stage with my son Peter and daughter, Betsy at Little Christo’s. We’re doing a fundraiser (more details to follow). We’ll do some Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Gillian Welch, Blue Rodeo and probably some Christmas tunes in three part harmony…. four if you want to chirp in. It’s a Sunday so hopefully there won’t be 50 other events going on that evening.

And speaking of the Holy Trinity, I have not mastered the art of being in three places at once. This past Saturday, I was invited to two events that coincided with the Christmas Parade and tree lighting ceremony. No. I am not that popular but I can provide a warm bum in a seat. The “Dance for Life” event at Immaculata Hall was amazing. Sponsored by Arts Health Antigonish and the local Heritage Society, it was an evening of learning and listening about Mi’Kmaw art and culture and an opportunity to sign a parchment renewing peace and friendship with our First Nations people. I was honored to be a signatory of the parchment. The rest of the evening was taken up with dancing of every conceivable type. I couldn’t stay for the entire program as I scurried off to my third event of the evening.

Singling out any one performance is always fraught with danger but I don’t think many would argue that Anne Camozzi’s wheelchair dance was the show stopper. Her dance to peace and friendship offered comfort to all, especially those with physical challenges. The music was haunting and the dance was quite stunning.

You knew this was coming… a bit of shameless self-promotion. It’s time for you to get into the Christmas spirit. Even an old curmudgeon like me likes certain aspects of the holiday season. You can get a copy of all my three of my award winning books for only $25.00 (+ shipping). Award winning, you say? Yes. As far as I can determine, I have sold more books than anyone in my apartment complex. You can give someone the gift of laughter with the knowledge that you are supporting yet another starving artist. I have been told that my Week45 series makes excellent bathroom material!

Private message me or flip me an e-mail at lenpdmacdonald@gmail.com.

Have a great week.

Posted on November 23, 2017 under Storytelling with one comment

Karen and Jyotsna – stalwarts of Cultural Connections

 

“ There comes a time, when we heed a certain call,

When the world must come together as one…

We are the world, we are the children,

We are the ones that make a brighter day.”

“ We Are The World.” Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie

Antigonish is the home of Coady. Every year, for decades, Antigonish has welcomed leaders from around the world. St.F.X. University and St. Martha’s Hospital, two big engines in our economy also attract many people to our community. And we boast, unabashedly, that we are the “Highland Heart of Nova Scotia.

Do we do a good job of welcoming new people to Antigonish, whether they are foreign workers, international students, professionals or refugees?

A group of interested citizens got together 5 years ago to try and answer this question. Discussions were held with the Director of International Students at St.F.X. who knew the Newcomer Navigator for the Strait region. The idea of a potluck dinner was entertained to allow newcomers and long-time residents of the area to get together to share a meal and make new friendships. St. James United Church, one of the most welcoming places you could find, stepped up and offered their newly renovated kitchen and hall. Several societies at St.F.X volunteered personnel and expertise. The International Potluck was born. The rest, they say, is history.

Rarely in life is a new venture deemed an instant success. When nearly 140 people burst through the door at St. James, the organizing committee realized that they were on to something special.

Do you eat to live or live to eat? I suppose it depends on which part of the world you call home. Most of us take food for granted. For many it is a daily struggle. A potluck is a terrific way for people of different cultures to share their food and their stories with “locals.”

Many of the potlucks are “theme based.” The Philipinno Community has been hosts twice. Cultures such as the Acadians, Chinese, African Nova Scotians, and Celts have all left an indelible mark on the event. The L’Arche drummers are always a crowd favorite.

The organizers were slightly overwhelmed by their own success and had to reduce the number of dinners. They also realized that there was much more to this than just a meal. A wider group was convened to brainstorm with the central question, “How can we make newcomers to our area feel more welcome and supported?”

In step with a broader mandate to build a welcoming community that supports diversity, the group decided that it needed a new name to reflect this reality. Cultural Connections Antigonish now liaises with several other groups in the community including the Immigrant Support Program, Arts Health Antigonish, the Nutrition Department at St.F.X. and the Coady Institute.

If you’re a foodie and you like meeting new people, attending a Cultural Connections Antigonish potluck at St. James is a must. All are welcome. All you need to bring is some food and goodwill.

Antigonish is becoming a melting pot and we are all the richer for it.

We are the world. At least it’s beginning to feel that way.

(With thanks and gratitude to Fran Wittgens )

 

 

Posted on November 20, 2017 under Monday Morning Musings with 2 comments

St. Ninian’s Cathedral Choir . Nov. 13, 2017 – Funeral Mass for James MacPherson

( Bernice MacDonald Photography )

 

One week ago, our friend, James MacPherson was laid to rest. Much has been written and said about this humble man who was the organist and choir director at St. Ninian’s Cathedral for almost a half a century. He treasured friendships. And he had two families: his immediate family of brothers and sisters and the Senior Choir at St. Ninian’s … his “ unofficial family.”

The picture above was taken moments after his funeral mass. The choir formed an honor guard in front of the cathedral to bid their friend adieu and then scurried inside to grab this iconic picture. Several people in the picture came out of “ retirement” to sing for their friend and leader. And we were blessed with not one but two organists to perform at the funeral mass. Dennis MacDonald and Al Fougere did a masterful job on short notice. The choir is deeply appreciative for Bernice MacDonald coming with but an hour’s notice to take the picture. It is safe to say that this particular configuration of the group will never perform together again.

Everyone in the choir had deep respect for James. A number of the women in the choir were his “ surrogate “mothers.  “ We had so many great times over the decades performing at Sunday mass, the Baccalaureate Mass for St.F.X., the Highland Games masses ( opening and closing ) and ordinations. Christmas and Easter were always special with midnight mass the crowning event. And every year in December, the choir assembled at the R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home to perform a few Christmas pieces for the “ Lights of Love” campaign. It will be tough going there this year without James to guide and inspire us.

Bernice posted the choir picture on Facebook several days ago and the response was huge, not just from choir members but from the general public. Would you be interested in having a copy of the picture for posterity? Just private message me or send me an e-mail at lenpdmacdonald@gmail.com and I’ll add your name to the list. The cost is $15.

Where are the three busiest gathering places in the community… excluding the NSLC?!

My picks would be People’s Place Library, the Farmer’s Market and St. James United Church. The first two need no explanation. If you haven’t been to the library or Farmer’s market, you likely live on the dark side of the moon. But why St. James as my third choice?

St. James has become a hub for a wide variety of reasons. First and foremost, it is a place of worship and the congregation is led by its affable and articulate pastor, Rev. Peter Smith. But oh, it is much, much more than a place to sing and pray. It is the home of the twice weekly Hot Lunch program which provides a hot meal to anyone who needs it. It also is a popular place to hold meetings, Book Fairs, concerts, potluck dinners and tea and craft sales.

I had an opportunity last week to spend some time with their Senior’s Fellowship Group telling them about my adventures in India. There’s a warmth about these people that’s not hard to detect.

Anyone who enters St. James, feels a sense of welcoming.

And in a spirit of ecumenism, men from different Christian churches gathered on the weekend for the annual Men’s Prayer Breakfast at St. Ninian’s  Place. Yes, there are a few prayers spoken but it’s really about fellowship, a drum that I continue to beat within these lines. Brian Macleod was the guest speaker and he gave a compelling talk about his journey in life thus far.

Let us start off a new week with a sense of gratitude.

Have a great week.