nowhere man

One common point of interest these days for friends in both America and New Zealand concerns Joseph's citizenship. Is Joseph a New Zealand citizen? Does he have dual citizenship? Will we try to attain dual citizenship for him? (etc.... )No. no. and no (etc....) Oh, so he's just an American citizen? Well......no.

Since 2006, babies born in New Zealand to non-Kiwi parents are not automatically granted NZ citizenship. It would actually be easier for Richard to attain residence or dual citizenship than it would be for Joseph to do so at this stage in his life. But right now the little man has no official status or papers at all. I've finished filling out his applications for an American passport, a Social Security Card and the equivalent of a birth certificate. We'll have to drive to Auckland (3 hours away) and present the applications and applicant in person before these documents will be issued. In other words, Joseph is not an American until he appears in the flesh at the American embassy. We can't make that trip until his New Zealand birth certificate arrives in the mail. Five weeks have not witnessed that event. So at present, he's an "international free agent". His feelings on this matter are clear in the photos below.

shock

confusion

anger

solemn and silly

Good Friday

parishioners approach the crucifix to venerate the Cross

following Fr. Michael's homily inviting all present to courageously 

embrace our own crosses & our call to be a Simon of Cyrene

Holy Saturday

Kiwis do not traditionally dye eggs

so we used a "homemade" dye

with food coloring for the first time.

also the first time dying brown eggs since I could't buy white ones.

I love how rich and intense the colors came out!

everyone loving the eggs!

the nuns

There were two beautiful Dominican Sisters of Nashville who attended the SetFree conference. Both are Americans temporarily living in Australia as their order expands Down Under. (One, Sr. Mary Rachael, is originally from Pittsburgh PA, and appreciated the tiny Steelers hat that Grandma and Grandpa sent Joseph last week.) 

After mingling with 200 youth at the conference this weekend, the sisters had a few speaking engagements in our parish. After morning Mass today they had morning tea with a small group of young women, most of whom are members of our girls group. Conversation centered on the topic of discernment, or how to practice hearing the voice of God. Sister Mary Rachael spoke about being attentive to God's will in everyday decisions and thus learning to recognize how God's voice 'sounds' in the heart of the individual. She shared her own habit of prayerfully placing a decision before the Lord and then quietly considering if God is saying "no" (and paying attention to the movements of her heart in response) and then considering if the Lord is saying "yes" (and again paying attention to the heart).

Sr. Mary Rachael touched also upon the importance of living a balanced life, of cultivating a grateful heart, of service and of personal maturity. She shared her own fascinating discernment story. Both she and Sr. Cecilia Joseph had such joy and peace. More than any words they spoke, this demeanor witnessed powerfully to the possibility of profound happiness in religious life. They credited their personal fulfillment to two elements of their vocation: a rich experience of community within their order and the contentment that any woman would possess if she had a Spouse who was both unfailingly loving and omnipotent. 

the sisters take a photo with their admiring audience

the handmaids take a photo with the beloved sisters