Easter Sunday is a Cultural Renewal and Celebration Among Christians

The Lenten Season begins from Ash Wednesday and it will end with a Joyous Easter Sunday, particularly in the Catholic Faith.  Catholic devotees flock into churches during the Passion Week from Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday Vigil up to Easter Sunday to commemorate the passion of Jesus Christ up to his Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Good Friday - Commemorating the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ:

credit: Theophanes_the_Cretan, 16th Century

Receiving the Holy Light - Saturday Vigil 

credit: Maggas @en.wikipedia

"Because the new liturgical day begins at sunset, the vigil begins between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Sunday outside the church, where an Easter fire is kindled and the Paschal candle is blessed and then lit. This Paschal candle will be used throughout the season of Easter, remaining in the sanctuary of the church or near the lectern, and throughout the coming year at baptisms and funerals, reminding all that Christ is "light and life.""

A Blessed Easter:

Christians across the globe celebrate Easter Sunday, where the replica of the cross that Jesus was crucified on and his resurrection are important symbols of Christian Faith. Many Americans and cultures across the world illustrate their celebratory events with decorated real eggs, chocolate eggs, materials that are made of rabbits, lambs, and or hares. Stores carry various forms of chocolates and candies in the shape of an egg.. Abundance of Easter Lilies are also available in many supermarkets and flower shops. And many designs of Easter cakes across bake shops. Easter is one of the most vibrant celebrations during the Spring Season in the United States.

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day

Backgrounder:

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, the saint's religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years.

Saint Patrick, who lived during the fifth century, is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. Born in Roman Britain, he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. He later escaped, but returned to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people. In the centuries following Patrick's death (believed to have been on March 17, 461), the mythology surrounding his life became ever more ingrained in the Irish culture: Perhaps the most well known legend is that he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock. (Source: history.com)

Today, the celebration of his feast day has evolved globally, where majority of the people wear anything green during this day. It also became highly commercialized as every merchandize is wrapped with something green with it. 

Regardless of Faith, in America almost everyone joins the celebration of the St. Patrick Day. It is just like one of any other Holiday like Valentine's Day or Thanksgiving Day. This holiday is not a Public Holiday in the United States. 

 Have fun, be safe and enjoy the festivities that Saint Patrick's Day brings. 

Happy Saint Patrick's Day to Everyone! 

Argentina's Cardinal Became Pope Francis

Pope Francis is the first Pope from Argentina and Latin America. The world welcomed the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the Pope Francis. A great honor of the Argentine Society of having an installed  Pope from their country.

Let's learn the significance of the new Pope's name "Francis" instead of using the tradition of his predecessors;

• he wants to lead the church into a new chapter, or at least embrace a new tone. In a notable gesture, Francis asked the multitudes assembled in St. Peter's Square to bless him.
• In Catholic tradition, St. Francis of Assisi had a mystical vision of Jesus Christ, who told him to rebuild his church. 
• In light of the scandals that have tarnished the Church, from its financial troubles to widespread allegations and cover-up of sex abuse, the name may carry special significance
• Francis is also known for humility and a simple lifestyle. The Italian patron saint renounced his wealth and founded the Franciscan order of friars in 1290.

Pope Francis is the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Wishing a continuous great health of the Holy Father.

To learn more information about Pope Francis, the following are additional backgrounder that was put together from various sources (source acknowledgement: Time Newsfeed)

• Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 17, 1936.

• He has four brothers and sisters. His father was an Italian immigrant and railway worker, and his mother was a housewife.

• Prior to becoming Supreme Pontiff, he had been Archbishop of Buenos Aires since 1998, and a cardinal since 2001.

• Before becoming Archbishop, he taught literature, philosophy, theology, and psychology.

• He also has a philosophy degree from the Catholic University of Buenos Aires and a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Buenos Aires.

• In 1958, at the age of 21, he decided to enter the Society of Jesus, and started studying to become a Jesuit priest.

• As the Archbishop of Buenos Aires he turned down the opportunity to live in the palatial Archibishop’s residence, opting for a spartan apartment instead.

• He cooks his own meals.

• He takes the bus.

• He only has one lung. His second got infected when he was a teenager, and it had to be removed.

• An email chain once alleged he “never smiled.”

• After Argentina legalized gay marriage in July 2010, Bergoglio described the new law as “a scheme to destroy God’s plan” and “a real and dire anthropological throwback.”  When the legislation was still being debated, he called it “a move by the father of lies to confuse and deceive the children of God.” Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner said Bergoglio’s comments were “really reminiscent of the times of the Inquisition.”

• Bergoglio also called gay adoption “discrimination against children,” charging that the practice was “depriving [children] of the human growth that God wanted them given by a father and a mother.”

• Shortly before the 2005 Conclave that ultimately elected Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI, a human rights lawyer filed a criminal complaint against Bergoglio, accusing him of having been complicit in the 1976 kidnappings of two priests, Orlando Yorio and Francisco Jalics, by Argentina’s military dictatorship. Bergoglio, who had been superior of the Society of Jesus of Argentina at the time, completely denied the claim.

Perspectives:
The newly installed Pope of the Catholic Church have demonstrated continuously in the past about his viewpoints against realities of today's world, where GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender) community are not the same as he views them. The entire world continue to evolve in recognizing that same sex are equally humane with privileges of equal treatment like their counterparts as heterosexuals.

It will be a new window to learn how will he change the current standing of the Catholic Church in regards to  scandalous events that took place during his time as Archbishop. That remains to be seen .. and it's only been four days since he got elected as a Pope.

As an organization, we support our GLBT community for Equality and Justice.

Acknowledgement: Photo David Mcnew/Getty Images

Daylight Saving Time (DST) - Sunday, March 10th - Move Forward Your Clock

Don't Forget, Move Forward your Clock on Sunday, March 10 for DST ~

Please note that Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa do not observe Daylight Saving Time in the United States of America.

"Spring Season is around us ~ Enjoy, celebrate and be happy ~ Support Each Other"

Ten Steps that will remove your Limitations and Become Competent ~

This is the overview of what you can become and you will experience life without limitations!




First Step: Learn from the basics, and then bring yourself to speed up to maximum level. Like the illustrated ladder of learning for someone who likes to become Communicative Competent.

Second Step: Distinguish yourself with the learning of proper and correct vocabulary. Use them efficiently at any location, event, or when you are sharing information with someone regardless of his/her background.


Third Step: Take time to practice with other people. There are many venues of learning and practicing.  The following is an example of the venue for practice. Some are free and some are paid. You get the value of what you pay for and the experience when it is given free.



Fourth Step: Understand the implications and sociological meanings of words, phrases, idiomatic expressions, slangs or the so called ‘lingua-franca’ By knowing when and where to say properly will create an impression of credibility among the people you share your ideas.



Fifth Step: When unsure, find someone who is experienced to help you. There is no better Coach than someone who is experienced in many areas of concern. Thousands of information is available in the internet, but when you cannot tell the difference of what is correct and which one is wrong, then the best advice is to seek the guidance of a Coach or a Teacher.  Either will tell you which is the best.



Sixth Step: When you begin grasping greater responsibilities, there is an expectation that you will demonstrate competence in leadership and management of an organization that is consist of people, activities, situations, revenues, communication and external factors. Being a communicator, you need the competency as illustrated in the following image. If you don’t have one, hire a Coach who will help you obtain those critical knowledge.



Seventh Step:  What is your readiness to make a difference?  Exceptional? or just a so so employee?  or just be a Yes, Sir!  You need to be able to answer eloquently those challenging interview questions when you are facing a panel of people. You need to sell your capabilities in order to gain growth and advancement.



Eight Step: Leading is not a joke. It requires strategic mindset to make the balance of the organizational fulcrum. When you aspire to be a good boss or great boss, you must learn unequivocal knowledge and expertise in the areas shown below. In that way, you are indeed someone to be respected within an organization.  If your aspiration is being a mediocre manager – don’t bother to learn these.



Ninth Step: Demonstrative communicative competency is a must when you aspire to be standing before an audience.  If you don’t know how? Hire a Coach to teach you the proper techniques and mechanics of doing professionally. Don’t be misled with many online information. Delivery of information like the ones shown below is imperative.



Tenth Step: There is nothing more eloquent to listen, attend someone’s talks than an individual who can illustrate these three important characteristics of a Communicator. Your opportunity is limitless when you have these competency, confidence and ability to articulate. Please note this is not a skill – what is required is a competency. The combination of knowledge, techniques, linguistic proficiency, cultural depth, and business acumen.


The 64 dollar question is, “Have you gone through all the 10 steps? If not, which one do you need to accomplish?  Can you call yourself  ’Competent’ and can demonstrate the step 10?”  Ideas N Conversations will be glad to help you with your difficulties.

We like to hear from you. As always every comment that you share will be appreciated.