The Celebration of Kwanzaa

By Sister Alodia Carney

Be watching for mention of Kwanzaa from December 26 to January 1. It will pop up unexpectedly. Kwanzaa (Swahili for first fruits of harvest) is an American Celebration for Black people.

As the event unfolds, it involves seven principles, one for each day, including Unity, Purpose, Faith and others. The goal of the Celebration is for the purpose of cohesiveness in the family and in the community.

The Celebration includes gifts, special foods and candle-lighting. The Kwanzaa Celebration takes place in the home, in church, or another public place.

In the largely black population of Detroit, Sisters Virginia Schmitt and I were on mission in parishes there and became educated and involved in the joy and good feeling of Kwanzaa. This being the case, Kwanzaa comes to mind each winter as one of the Holidays. It is probably the newest holiday in the USA. It was conceived and developed by Dr. Maulana Ron Kerenga in 1966. A US stamp has been issued in honor of Kwanzaa.

Celebrating the Miracles Galore

By Sister Sharon Rose Eshleman

Recently I have been humming the following refrain from a song written by Carey Landry many years ago:

"Take care to wonder

At the world through which you wander. Never hurry by an open door

For you live in a universe full of miracles galore."

The memory of the refrain is prompted by the beauty of the autumn season at Victory Noll. Upon reflection, the tree leaves with their splendor and radiance of the bright colors; yellow, gold, red, rust, brown, prompt me to see them as Miracles Galore (greeting cards from God).

Fall is now giving way to winter, and the first snows remind us of the stark beauty of this new season and of the ever-changing cycle of nature.

It seems that far too often I am so busy hurrying past many open doors that I miss the miracles galore. Perhaps you and I are being challenged and invited to pause, to see anew, to be attentive to the open doors. This will more readily enable us to celebrate the miracles galore in each season of nature and of our lives. What kind of difference would that make in the world?