Our Lady of Lourdes Church

Feb28

To view the Journal for FEBRUARY click on this link goto February Journals…or click on the “header at the top of this page, select “Journals” for the drop-down menu. If pictures appear missing, use your “refresh” button.
HAPPINESS is to have EVERYTHING
you NEED,
NOT the NEED to have EVERYTHING

This month’s Travel Plans:
7. Jan. 20th Willis, TX at Lake Conroe (TT) RVP x 12 nights. (190m)
Seguin, TX -Overnight (156m)
4. Feb. 2nd Lakehills, TX at Medina Lake RVR (TT) x 13 nights (71m)
5. Feb. 15th Fort Stockton, TX overnight
6. Feb. 16th El Paso, TX – overnight
7. Feb. 17th Deming, NM overnight
8. Feb. 18th Benson, AZ at Valley Vista RVR(T3) x13 nights
Phoenix, AZ overnight

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2.28.2019

Our Lady of Lourdes

“Our Lady of Lourdes was founded by Father Felix Emile Joseph Dilly in late 1894. Church construction began immediately on the site of the today’s church. The church building was built by the parishioners of the day out of adobe bricks and wood. The church could seat about 80 worshippers on 12 pews when completed.

The parish community thrived as Benson continued to grow over the next 50 years as the ranching industry grew up, the railroad was constructed and the explosives industry was formed to support the growth in mining around southern Arizona. There were 20 pastors of the church in this span of years.

During this time period, Our Lady of Lourdes was a mission of Tombstone, St. Patrick’s in Bisbee and Sacred Heart in Nogales. Then Tombstone became a mission of Benson from 1931 to 1960. Then in 1966, Our Lady of Lourdes became a separate parish of it’s own.

The groundbreaking for the new church was on June first 1948. The footers for the foundation were 5×5 feet to add strength for the poor soil conditions. Fifteen men and boys worked all night to lay the foundation. The church was constructed of clay blocks. The architecture of modified Spanish style with exposed beams represented the stable of Bethlehem. The builders in charge were Shorty Martinez, Vern Bell and the architect Terry Atkinson. Dedication ceremonies were set for May 22, 1949. After construction of the new church, the old church deteriorated quickly, even though it was being used a parish hall. Fr. Norm Whalen made plans to build new classrooms and a new parish hall. In April of 1967 the bell tolled for the old church when it was demolished. It stood for 72 years in service to the Lord and the people of Benson. After the old church was torn down, nothing was left in the spot but vacant ground where a lawn was planted. In early 1973 Msgr. Rosettie and Abe Samuels came up with a plan for a grotto to be located in the empty area left by the old church. Construction began in February. All the work was done by hand with the rock being hauled from a quarry in Dragoon and from the Whetstone mountains. The shrine was completed March 13, 1976 and it was dedicated the following day. When the church was decorated for Easter in 1980 a defective electrical extension cord caught fire which spread through the west side of the church causing extensive damage to the building structure, although almost all the items in the sanctuary, including the tabernacle and statues were saved. The fire was extinguished by the Benson fire department, but the fire damage left the church unusable. Mass was held either outside in the grotto area or in the parish hall depending on the weather until the church was reconstructed.”

The above information was copied directly from the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish web site. 3932K

“Everything we were, we carry with us. 
Everything we will be, is calling to us,  
from the roads not travelled yet." pjgrenier

Tombstone, Arizona

Feb27

To view the Journal for FEBRUARY click on this link goto February Journals…or click on the “header at the top of this page, select “Journals” for the drop-down menu. If pictures appear missing, use your “refresh” button.

HAPPINESS is to have EVERYTHING
you NEED,
NOT the NEED to have EVERYTHING

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2.25.2019 -Visiting Tombstone, AZ

Life size murals dot the landscape depicting life in Arizona.

Tombstone, as well as our campground, is surrounded by mountains on 2-3 sides… Awesome!

(Text <Italics> on the Scheiffelin Hall taken from Wikipedia)

The Cochise County Courthouse, opened in 1882 and was built in 1882. Cost of construction about $43 thousand, and still strands today.

These four dudes are the actors that will portray the Shootout at the OK Coral in a few minutes. They are representing Doc Holliday, Morgan, Virgil and Wyatt Earp. As you all know all four will survive the shootout, not so good for the bad guys. They would be Tom and Frank McLaury and Billy and Ike Canton, you can find them at Boothill. As you might already know, the police chief of Tombstone, at the time, was Virgil Earp, not Wyatt. Wyatt and brother Morgan were sworn in at the last minute by brother Virgil, to fend off the Clanton’s and McLaury’s.

Shielfellin Hall

When the hall opened on the corner of Fremont and Fourth Streets in June 8, 1881,^[2] it seated 450 on the floor and 125 more in the gallery. The stage drop curtain was painted with a scene from Colorado and was considered a work of art. The building was the center for city entertainment and social events in Tombstone with formal balls and theatrical performances. When it opened, it was “the largest, most elaborate theater between El Paso, Texas and San Francisco, California.” The first play, Tom Taylor’s five-act drama, The Ticket-of-Leave Man, was staged on September 15, 1881.^[2] The Hall was scorched by a large fire that burned many

blocks in 1882.

Schieffelin, his brother Ed, and their mining engineer partner Richard Gird formed a partnership, shaking hands on a three-way deal that was never put down on paper. The company they formed, the Tombstone Gold and Silver Mining Company, held title to the claims and worked the mines.^[3] They brought in two big strikes, the Lucky Cuss and the Tough Nut. The company produced millions of dollars of wealth for the three owners.

Some original artifacts from the 1880s, not sure about the skeleton!

The Tombstone Epitaph was the newspaper de hour in the 1880’s. The Epitaph reported the Gunfight which made news around the country and further.

Some of the Historical Buildings of the town.

I think I read that Morgan Earp was shot dead, in the back, playing pool in the saloon above, I’m pretty sure.

Everything we were, we carry with us. Everything we will be, is calling to us, from the roads not travelled yet.” pjgrenier

Shootout at the OK Coral

Feb25

HAPPINESS is to have EVERYTHING
you NEED,
NOT the NEED to have EVERYTHING

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2.25.2019…Shootout at the OK Coral

.On October 26, 1881 The Earp brothers had a shootout with the Ike and Billie Clanton Frank McLaury and Billy Claiborne. Unlike television, in this shootout the good guys wore black.

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The Earp Brothers, Virgil, Wyatt and Morgan, with Doc Holiday. I believe that Wyatt was the Tombstone Marshall..Below…the bad guys. .members of the Clanton family.
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This shootout at the OK Coral did not actually take place at high noon, but a little after 1PM. It wasn’t a long battle, about thirty seconds.

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.The bad guy came out the losers. Ike and Billie and left the town wounded.Wyatt, I believe, was not shot unlike his brothers and Doc Holiday.

.

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After the OK Coral incident Wyatt went on for several years looking for a town that his talents would help only to search in despair. A Sheriff who witnessed the shootout the good guys were charged with murder, only to have those charges dismissed.
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“Everything we were, we carry with us. 
Everything we will be, is calling to us,  
from the roads not travelled yet." pjgrenier

Boothill, Tombstone, AZ

Feb25

To view the Journal for FEBRUARY click on this link goto February Journals…or click on the “header at the top of this page, select “Journals” for the drop-down menu. If pictures appear missing, use your “refresh” button.

HAPPINESS is to have EVERYTHING
you NEED,
NOT the NEED to have EVERYTHING

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2.25.2019 Boothill

Boothill

Our trip to Boothill in Tombstone, AZ was very pleasant. Our Experience at Boothill proved to be more than we expected. Boothill, in Tombstone, is another Arizona town that tells of its history in murals.

Italicized text-From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally called Boothill Cemetery, the graveyard was founded in 1878.^[4] After a new city cemetery was built elsewhere, the old cemetery stopped accepting new burials in about 1883 (save for very few exceptions) and fell into disrepair until the 1940s, when the city began to restore and preserve it.

A gift shop and the place your purchase your entry ticket.

In order to attract tourists, some of the Boot Hill grave sites are falsely marked, and fictitious claims of burials have been made by the cemetery’s various operators over the years.

4162

Lester Moore, with the famous epitaph “Here lies Lester Moore, Four slugs from a .44, No Les No more.” Lester Moore was purportedly a Wells, Fargo & Co. station agent in the border town of Naco who died in a shootout with Hank Dunstan over a mangled package.^[4] There was never anyone named Lester Moore who was killed in Arizona Territory,^{[citation needed]} and there is no evidence to indicate where Dunstan (who also died in the purported shootout) was buried.

George Johnson, with epitaph “Here lies George Johnson, hanged by mistake 1882. He was right we were wrong. But we strung him up and now he’s gone.”
John Heath, accused of organizing the robbery that led to the 1883 Bisbee massacre, has a grave marker near the grave of the five perpetrators of the massacre. John Heath was arrested and convicted, and was later removed by a mob from the Tombstone jail and lynched on February 22, 1884.^[7] However, he was not buried in Boothill Cemetery; his body was returned to his estranged wife in Terrell, Texas, and was buried there in Oakland Cemetery.

Thomas Harper is another badman supposedly buried in Boothill Cemetery. He was a friend of Curly Bill Brocius and was hanged for murder by Sheriff Bob Paul in Tucson on July 8, 1881.^[8] Harper was buried in Tucson, not in Tombstone.
Federico Duran, spelled as “Fiderico Doran” on the grave marker, who was claimed to have been killed by Sheriff John Slaughter after the Agua Zarca train robbery in 1888. In fact, Duran and train robber Jack Taylor were executed by firing squad in Guaymas, Mexico in December 1889.^[9] Slaughter had nothing to do with their deaths and Duran was not buried in Tombstone.
Below the graves of the bad guys at the OK Coral.


“Everything we were, we carry with us.
Everything we will be, is calling to us, 
from the roads not travelled yet." pjgrenier

Pima County Boneyard

Feb20

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2.20.2019-Pima County Boneyard

(The bold/italicized text below has been taken from Wikipedia)

A large number of the museum’s aircraft are displayed outside with the remainder located in one of the museum’s four display hangars.^[1] In addition to the display hangars, the museum has a restoration hangar.^[2]

Opened to the public in May 1976 with 48 aircraft then on display, the Museum’s main hangar houses an SR-71A Blackbird, an A-10 Warthog, a United States Air Force Through the Years exhibit, and a mock-up of a control tower.

I believe this is a C-130. Tom Ward used to pilot a plane like this when he was deployed.

The museum is adjacent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG), affiliated with the base, also known as the “Graveyard of Planes” or “The Boneyard”, is the largest aircraft storage and preservation facility in the world. Bus tours of the boneyard leave from the museum several times a day from Monday to Friday, except Federal holidays.

The nearby Titan Missile Museum is located about 20 miles south of Tucson in Green Valley off of Interstate 19 and features a Titan II intercontinental ballistic missile still in its silo. Tours of the above-ground and underground installations around the missile are conducted daily. More extensive “top-to-bottom” tours take up to five hours and are conducted several times each month. Reservations are required for a top-to-bottom tour.

Both museums are overseen by the Arizona Aerospace Foundation and are governed by the board of trustees. They are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that rely on visitors paying admissions, for trams and AMARG tours, as well as what they spend in the museum stores. They also rely on memberships and contracted events to pay to restore and acquire exhibits.

The museum opened to the public on May 8, 1976. In early 1982 the first hangar on the site was completed. A second was built in 1987, a third in 1992, and a fourth in 1994. In 2012, the museum collaborated with artists, in The Boneyard Project, to place some abandoned aircraft on display as canvases for art.

During 2015, Boeing donated to the museum the second 787 aircraft to be built. It is exhibited in the colors of the 787 customer. In November 2016, Orbis International donated their first McDonnell-Douglas DC-10 Flying Eye Hospital to the museum, after receiving a second DC-10 from FedEx. The DC-10, which was the oldest flying example of its type at the time of its donation, is being restored for display at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base.^[8]

"Everything we were, we carry with us. 
Everything we will be, 
is calling to us, from the roads not travelled yet." pjgrenier

Mission San Xavier

Feb20

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2.20.2019

The text below in bold and italic was taken from Wikipedia.

Mission San Xavier del Bac (Spanish: Misión de San Xavier del Bac) is a historic Spanish Catholic mission located about 10 miles (16 km) south of downtown Tucson, Arizona, on the Tohono O’odham Nation San Xavier Indian Reservation.

Fr. Francis Xavier rest at the founder of the Mission and co-founder of the Society of Jesus

The mission was founded in 1692 by Padre Eusebio Kino^[1] in the center of a centuries-old Indian settlement of the Sobaipuri O’odham who were a branch of the Akimel or River O’odham, located along the banks of the Santa Cruz River. The mission was named for Francis Xavier, a Christian missionary and co-founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order) in Europe.

At the end of this tour you’ll find vendors, local parishioners, cooking and

selling fried bread to us, the tourists. The bread was delicious. After sampling the bread Sue and Tom drove us to a Mexican restaurant in Tucson where we enjoyed an excellent Mexican meal. We went to the Mi Nidito Restaurant, Bill Clinton, as well as, many other celebrities and athletes as well. The food is great but the parking leaves much to be desired.

The original church was built to the north of the present Franciscan church. This northern church or churches served the mission until being razed during an Apache raid in 1770.

Today’s Mission was built between 1783-1797; it is the oldest European structure in Arizona; the labor was provided by the O’odham.^[1] An outstanding example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States, it hosts some 200,000 visitors each year.

Below sue Ward listens to our tour guide.

Tom Ward and Carla lead the way our tour guide is going.

The site is also known in the O’odham language as “goes in” or comes in: meaning “where the water goes in”, as the water in the Santa Cruz came up to the surface a couple of miles south of Martinez HIll and then submerged again near Los Reales Wash. The Santa Cruz River that used to run year round in this section, once critical to the community’s survival, now runs only part of the year.

The Mission is a pilgrimage site, with thousands visiting each year on foot^[4] and on horseback, some among ceremonial cavalcades, or cabalgatas in Spanish.

This mural is high above the left side of the church. You will only see it in this church. It is a mural of Mary, Mother of Jesus, diapering the infant Jesus. This may not be that clear but at the same time it’s over one-hundred years old. Not one thing I’ve ever done will be around 100 years from now.

“Everything we were, we carry with us. 
Everything we will be, is calling to us,  
from the roads not travelled yet." pjgrenier

Travel Lakeville, TX to Benson, AZ

Feb18

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02.15.2019 Lakeville to Fort Stockton, TX
We got a very early start on this trip, about 320 miles.

Yes, this is a Camel farm or habitat area. I’m not sure what you would raise camels for.

So many beautiful vistas we got to enjoy on this long sojourn.

In the rest area in Fort Stockton trip where Carla started a conversation with an older gentleman traveling with wife#2, and three Huskies and a black pup, traveling in a van. This gentleman gave Carla some very good tips for our trip forward. A Mesa (below) is a raised parcel of land that has a very flat top. A butte (above) is a pyramid shaped hilly area that comes to a point.

We also experienced a massive amount of wind turbines, I mean hundreds of them. We ended the day watching the video Hunter Killer, a flick we recommend.

02.16.2009 -Fort Stockton to El Paso, TX-Sat
On the western side of Fort Stockton on our way to El Paso we came across another Rest Stop area that really deserved talking about, more info in the blog.

Today we continue with day two of our trip to Benson, AZ. The roads to El Paso may not be I-95 type but more than adequate for the traffic on these roads. The 16-wheeler trucks still give me concern when they’re passing us. Once again Texas will impress us with another distinguishing
rest area.

Above is another example of how El Paso keeps its highways very clean cut, especially in the road signs and the arched pole holding them. We are continually warned about what and how to handle a sand storm. Between route info on the pavement ad signs, it’s hard t make any mistakes.

The road infrastructure in this city is awesome.

Every fence of every overpass is different and distinctive; works of art.This day being Saturday Mass was on the schedule.

We were fortunate to experience the St. Patrick Cathedral. After Mass we treated ourselves to a steak and ham meal at Crocker Barrel.

02.17.2019- El Paso to Deming,NM
Traveling to Deming we came across another great rest area, the Pecos County Safety Rest Area. This venue was so nice going to try to make a simple blog on this location; they even have a actual footprint of a T- Rex sometime in the past. With Cracker Barrel only a short we could not pass up a good breakfast. Just like last night the weather was cold, about 32 with a strong wind. We rounded off the day with the movie Speed Kills with our Saturday night pizza twenty-four late but very good.

This rest stop area gave the history of this part of the country.

Wind turbines seems to be a second industry here. These turbine blades seem much smaller than the ones we experienced in Vermont. Below is the sign we’ve been looking for.

The cattle industry is huge here. For the next 15 miles venues like this, on both sides of the road, never stop appearing. I’m talking about thousands of head of cattle. Below another overpass decked out in beautiful environmentally friendly and minimal maintenance stone landscaping. Florida should take their lead.

Another highway art piece. The Roadrunner appears to be the New Mexican Mascot, not sure though.

Ahhhh! Only a few mere miles to go.

02.18.2019- Deming to Benson, AZ
Yesterday when we arrived in Benson our driver’s side slide got stuck in the half-in/half-out position. Wayne came in and added hydraulic fluid and all is well. We’ve made an appointment with Lazydayz on April 4tht to have them look and see if the hydraulic line needs repair or replacing.

Another fine rest stop. Each rest area is beautiful, clean with covered outdoor eating areas. Not to mention a work of art o their own. Below a centennial marker from only a few years ago for Arizona.

As with New Mexico, Arizona also takes pride in their highways. The fence work depicting cattle crossing is unique. The natural landscape of the area is equally eye pleasing. Below has nothing to do with Arizona, it’s a Casita trailer. Only a few days ago we met and spoke to an older lady who RVs eight months of the year in her Casita. For so small it has it all, besides being very light weight for towing.

We finally make it to Valley Vista, in Arizona, or are we in Wisconsin? Second day here we woke up to two inches of snow and very cold temperatures.


“Everything we were, we carry with us. 
Everything we will be, is calling to us,  
from the roads not travelled yet." pjgrenier

St. Patrick Cathedral, El Paso-done

Feb18

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2.18.2019-St. Patrick Cathedral, El Paso

The text on this venue in bold and italicized has been taken
from the St. Patrick Cathedral web Site.

Located downtown, the Cathedral is a work of art and it is one of El Paso’s historical landmarks. The construction began when the first stone was laid and blessed by Father Edward Barry S.J. and Father Francis Roy, S.J. on July 31, 1914, the feast day of Saint Ignatius Loyola and was dedicated Thanksgiving Day November 29,1917.

The St. Louis architectural firm of Barnett, Haynes, and Barnett designed the church. The contractors were Kroeger, Mayfield and Shaw of El Paso. The style is a blend of Byzantine and Romanesque architecture.

Together, the clergy and townspeople built the Cathedral as a beautiful expression of Faith that provided an uplifting environment for Catholic worship and an inspiring place for private prayer.

The goal was to raise $150,000 to begin the church building. Fr. Barry had raised $12,000, but needed an equal amount to begin construction. He distributed hundreds of cards with a picture of the proposed new church with an announcement that anyone who donates the sum of $10,000 will have the privilege of selecting the saint in whose honor the new church will be named.

In December of 1913, Mrs. Delia Lane presented Fr. Barry with a check for $10,000! Her innate modesty would not allow her to select a name. She gave the privilege to the “Daughters of Erin” (of which she was a member) who named it, by unanimous consent, after Saint Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland.

The Cathedral’s original pipe organ was made by George Gilgen & Sons of St. Louis at a cost of $7,000. It had 2500 pipes and was electrical in its mechanism, and had a marvelous tone.

The large Crucifix mounted in the choir loft was a gift given in commemoration of Bishop Anthony J. Schuler, S.J. on the occasion of his fiftieth jubilee upon entering the Society of Jesus. It was originally placed in the sanctuary on Good Friday 1936 where it remained until it was moved to its present location during the renovation.

On April 3, 1914, the Vatican under Pope Pius X elevated and es tab li shed El Paso as a Diocese. In June, 1915, after the death of Pope Pius X, Pope Benedict XV appointed Rev. Anthony J. Schuler, S.J., as the first Bishop of the Diocese of El Paso. Bishop Schuler announced that upon his arrival in El Paso he planned to take the new St. Patrick Church as his Cathedral.

A short time later her brother, Michael Connerton, donated $10,000 for the main altar, which is a smaller replica of the altar in the cathedral in St. Louis, Missouri. The two side altars cost $5,000 each.

The construction of the Baldachino (main altar) is a canopy-like structure that projects out from a wall and is supported by columns and is used specifically over an altar or seat of honor. The supporting columns on either side of the main al tar are 15 ’12 inches thick and 8 feet 8 inches tall. Six different marbles were used: Numidian red, Brown Sienna, Champville yellow, Blanco P. (white), black, gold, and Sylvan green. The mosaic is Venetian red and gold. The height of the main altar is twenty-seven feet. The altar railing is Numidian red, Sylvan green and Champville yellow.

On the left side of the main altar is a small chapel. Initially it was used for early services, private masses and official meetings. During past years the chapel was named St. Rita’s Chapel and later, Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel. Vatican II stated that the Tabernacle should specifically be in a space designed for individual devotion. The chapel was then selected as the “Chapel of Repose” where a new tabernacle was placed. Stained-glass windows were donated by individual parishioners and installed in 2002. Griffin Studios of Ruidoso are designers of the windows depicting the seven Sacraments.

The beautiful painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe located in a niche on the west side of the church is over 300 years old. It is from Zacatecas, Mexico, given by an anonymous donor to the Cathedral in 2002.

In 1929 the original glass windows were replaced with the existing stained-glass windows. The twenty West to East stained glass windows show the scenes of Jesus Christ from His birth to resurrection. The windows were custom made by the Emil Frei Art Glass Co. of St. Louis, Missouri and Munich, Germany. The company was founded in 1898 by Bavarian-born Emil Frei, Sr. The Company is still designing beautiful works of art for churches from New York to San Francisco. Their work is equal in every respect to any of the best windows imported from Europe. The glass used was mouth-blown antique glass from Germany. Various parishioners donated the windows with an inscription to a member of their family or friend.

The Cathedral has undergone minor renovation to maintain the structural integrity of the building over the years. On May 17, 1988, during a thunderstorm, a lightning bolt struck the steeple and set it on fire causing considerable damage. The damaged steeple was removed and a new one erected. The organ was completely destroyed due to extensive water damage as well as part of the interior of the church. This forced the decision to move ahead on the plans to renovate the Cathedral, bringing it in accordance with the requirements of the Second Vatican Council.

The total cost of the renovation was $660,000. This included enlarging the sanctuary by removing a portion of the communion rail. The Bishop’s and priest’s chairs were placed facing the congregation. A new permanent altar and ambo were installed incorporating a section of the removed altar rail. An entrance to accommodate the handicapped, a new sound system, and a small gathering plaza at the top of the stairs leading into the Cathedral were the main focal points of the renovation.

Whether you have come to pray or simply to view the beauty, we hope you are nourished in spirit and will return again to the Cathedral of Saint Patrick.


“Everything we were, we carry with us. 
Everything we will be, is calling to us,  
from the roads not travelled yet." pjgrenier

Valley Vista in Benson, AZ

Feb18

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2.18.2019-Valley Vista RVP- Benson, AZ

We’re now in Valley Vista Campground in Benson, AZ. Benson is about forty miles south of Tucson, AZ. Valley Vista, thankfully, is another Thousand Trails, Equity Lifestyle Property. In short, we get to stay here for two week at no charge. There was a two dollar per day surcharge for a 50Amp site, which is well worth the costs.

As you have read on our first day our driver’s side slide was stuck halt in-half out. It was fixed the next day, just needed some hydraulic fluid. Our second day was not what we were expecting-SNOW!

This campground is also an Encore Property. These properties are a step above the average Thousand Trails property.

“Everything we were, we carry with us. 
Everything we will be, is calling to us,  
from the roads not travelled yet." pjgrenier

El Paso, Texas-done

Feb16

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2.16.2019-El Paso, Texas

We leave Fort Stockton and travel to El Paso, TX.

The majority of the italicized texts below has been taken from Wikipedia.

El Paso (/ɛl ˈpæsoʊ/; from Spanish, “the pass”) is a city in and the seat of El Paso County, situated in the far western corner of the U.S. state of Texas. As of July 1, 2017, the population estimate for the city from the U.S. Census was 683,577. Its U.S. metropolitan area covers all of El Paso and Hudspeth counties in Texas, and has a population of 844,818. The El Paso metropolitan area forms part of the larger El Paso–Las Cruces CSA, with a population of 1,053,267.

El Paso stands on the Rio Grande across the Mexico–United States border from Ciudad Juárez, the most populous city in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. The two cities, along with Las Cruces in the neighboring U.S. state of New Mexico, form a combined international metropolitan area sometimes referred to as the Paso del Norte or El Paso–Juárez–Las Cruces. The region of over 2.7 million people constitutes the largest bilingual and binational work force in the Western Hemisphere.

The infrastructure in this city is so beautiful. Bridges and fly-overs are all painted. The colors and architecture reflect the Adobe lifestyle. This is not a town, it’s a major city. Traffic is heavy but all signs are clear and easily understood.

The El Paso region has had human settlement for thousands of years, as evidenced by Folsom points from hunter-gatherers found at Hueco Tanks. The evidence suggests 10,000 to 12,000 years of human habitation. The earliest known cultures in the region were maize farmers. When the Spanish arrived, the Manso, Suma, and Jumano tribes populated the area. These were subsequently incorporated into the Mestizo culture, along with immigrants from central Mexico, captives from Comanchería, and genízaros of various ethnic groups. The Mescalero Apache were also present.

Please read the special blog on St. Patrick Cathedral.

St. Patrick Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso, Texas.^[1] The cathedral is located at 1118 N. Mesa Street, north of the downtown area. It is the mother church for 668,000 Catholics in the diocese (as of the 2006 survey).^[2] The cathedral parish operates one of El Paso’s Catholic high schools, Cathedral High School, and St. Patrick Elementary School adjacent to the church.


“Everything we were, we carry with us. 
Everything we will be, is calling to us, 
from the roads not travelled yet." pjgrenier

St. Jude, dog lost, dog found.

Feb14

To view the Journal for FEBRUARY click on this link goto February Journals…or click on the “header at the top of this page, select “Journals” for the drop-down menu. If pictures appear missing, use your “refresh” button.
HAPPINESS is to have EVERYTHING
you NEED,
NOT the NEED to have EVERYTHING

This month’s Travel Plans:
Jan. 20th Willis, TX at Lake Conroe (TT) RVP x 12 nights. (190m)
Feb. 1st Seguin, TX -Overnight (156m)
Feb. 2nd Lakehills, TX at Medina Lake RVR (TT) x 13 nights (71m)
Feb. 15th Fort Stockton, TX overnight
Feb. 16th El Paso, TX – overnight
Feb. 17th Deming, NM overnight
Feb. 18th Benson, AZ at Valley Vista RVR(T3) x13 nights
Mar. 3rd Phoenix, AZ overnight

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St. Jude, dog lost, dog found.

2.14.2019- VALENTINE’S DAY
Last night, just before bed, Carla and I were talking and she mentioned that the couple who’s dog got lose and ran away from them had returned home on its own. I’m still not really an animal lover but we do get attached to our pets. Last week, when the incident happened, the parents of the runaway dog approached us to keep our eyes peeled just in case we might spot the animal, that was about a week ago. For people like us and them if we we’re living a normal lifestyle, we could just say, not to worry he’ll come back some day, but we’re transients. Almost all of us must pick up and leave, then all you can hope for is a phone call some time in the future.

Those who know me know I have infinite faith in St. Jude, as he’s been there for me on numerous occasions, when I felt all hope was gone, imploring his help ALWAYS brought a positive result. Feeling bad for these folks with the lost dog I began the 9-day novena to St. Jude in hopes he might resolve this situation, that was two nights ago and the dog had been missing for 5-6 days. The day Carla mentioned that the dog had returned home was day two of the novena. I have beseeched St. Jude’s assistance so many times over the course of my life I’ve lost count. Would the dog have come home on its own, maybe-may be not. The anguish these folks were feeling was terrible. The positive result was all that matters.

For those not familiar with the novena I will print it out FYI.

O Holy St Jude!
Apostle and Martyr,
great in virtue and rich in miracles,
near kinsman of Jesus Christ,
faithful intercessor for all who invoke you,
special patron in time of need;
to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart,
and humbly beg you,
to whom God has given such great power,
to come to my assistance;
help me now in my urgent need and grant my earnest petition.

(this is where you present your petition for this novena)

I will never forget thy graces and favors you obtain for me
and I will do my utmost to spread devotion to you. Amen.

St. Jude, pray for us and all who honor thee and invoke thy aid.
(Say 3 Our Father’s, 3 Hail Mary’s, and 3 Glory Be’s after this.)

This novena has never failed me, except once, but that’s another long story, my petition was answered, not so much as what I was requesting, but for what was what I really needed. The novena, from what I’ve been told, will always be answered if your petition is for what is right and good for you. Don’t even think of asking to be a lottery winner, that request won’t even get a hearing. And do not expect answers right away, Jude is not FedEx. On at least two occasions my petitions were answered months after the novena was finished.,

I will now get off and away from my pulpit, but it is my blog, so items of interest to me will most likely always find a spot for me to rant on about as I have today.

“Everything we were, we carry with us.
Everything we will be, 
is calling to us, from the roads not travelled yet." pjgrenier

St. Victor Church-done

Feb9

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The bold italic text in this blog is from the Web Site of St. Victor Catholic Church/ Chapel

WHO WAS ST. VICTOR?

St. Victor was a native of Africa and succeeded St. Eleutherius as Pope, about the year 189. He opposed the heresies of that time and ex-communicated those who taught that Jesus Christ was only a man and not God. He was involved in the controversy regarding the date of Easter and confirmed the decree of Pope Pius 1, which ordered the Feast of Easter to be celebrated on a Sunday. He ruled the Church for ten years. His energy and zeal exposed him to persecutions for which alone he deserves the honors of a martyr, which are accorded him liturgically. This pope is named in the canon of the Ambrosian Mass and is said by St. Jerome to have been the first in Rome to celebrate the Mysteries in Latin. He was formerly held in special veneration in Scotland for having sent missionaries there. While we know little about him, we may reflect that it was through such people as St. Victor, that Christianity took root and has survived to be cherished by us some eighteen centuries later.

The new Chapel, that part with the cross on the roof, was just completed and dedicated in January, 2019.

THE HISTORY OF OUR PARISH

St. Victor Parish was founded in 1961 by the Rev. Prendeville. Its territory was originally part of St. Patrick Church, St. John Vianney Church (both in San Jose) and St. John the Baptist Church in Milpitas. The first Mass was celebrated on October 29, 1961, the Feast of Christ the King, in an old farm house that Mateo and Ann Sunseri made available to the community. This temporary church served as a place of worship for seventeen months. Men of the parish took care of remodeling the farm house and provided 160 seats for the community.

The first Christmas midnight Mass was celebrated with an ancient spinet organ donated for that occasion. The farmhouse lights worked on individual chains. It was understood that parishioners in the front rows would stand and move to the side so that communicants would be able to kneel at the railing. On summer days, early Mass was best and in rainy weather, boots were convenient. It was a simple and homey church in every sense of the word.

The first rectory was purchased in August 1961. It was used as such until 1964 when the church bought two other properties to house the priests. The original rectory then became the convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Corondolet. In 1972, a house was purchased at 3108 Sierra Rd for use as a rectory; it is now the current Parish Office Building.

To serve the needs of the rapidly growing community, it was decided to build a Church Hall. On May 28, 1978, ground was broken. The shell was built by a construction company and the men of the parish did the finishing work. The hall was completed on April 11, 1979; Bishop Francis Quinn blessed it on April 22, 1979.

Just when everything was going well for the faith community, a calamity struck on April 10, 1980. A three-alarm fire swept through St. Victor Church and burned it to the ground, including the newly-installed $22,000 organ. Investigators reported that an arsonist started the fire using candles taken from the sacristy. But out of the ashes emerged the indomitable spirit of the St. Victor Community. The night after the fire, the Parish Council, led by the then-acting chairman, Tom Zeitvogel, had an emergency meeting. It was decided then to rebuild the church with a Spanish Mission theme. Jean Dargis headed the pledge drive to secure funds for the building of the new church and the ground-breaking ceremony took place on June 14, 1981. The first mass was celebrated on May 15, 1982 and on September 9, 1982, Bishop Pierre DuMaine dedicated the church, followed by a parish barbecue and Fiesta.

In June of 1996, a decision was made to construct another wing to take care of the needs of the growing population. Located on the southeast corner of the present school building, the new wing houses meeting rooms and additional space for St. Victor School.


“Everything we were, we carry with us. 
Everything we will be, 
is calling to us, from the roads not travelled yet." pjgrenier

Medina Dam

Feb6

2.06.19-The Medina Dam…Not to much to say about this venue. We came, we saw and we left.

The historic Medina Dam was completed in 1912 and Medina Lake was filled by 1913. The dam is a historical landmark, registered by the Texas Historical Commission and the American Society of Civil Engineers. The lake is approximately 18 miles long and three miles wide at its widest. The surrounding hills are composed of mostly fractured karst limestone covered in ash juniper, oak, persimmon, black walnut and (occasionally) madrona trees. Towering cypress grows near the Medina River and its tributaries. Medina Lake, combined with the Diversion Lake below the main dam, create the single largest recharge source for the entire Edwards Aquifer.

The Medina Lake Dam was designated a state historical landmark in 1976 by the Texas Historical Commission and was entered into The National Register of Historic Places at that time. The dam was also recognized as a civil engineering landmark in 1991 by the American Civil Engineering Society and a plaque with that designation sits on the dam, alongside the Historical Commission plaque. Today, the area that is known as Mormon’s Bluff was the site of one of the first Mormon colonies in Texas. A third plaque sits on the dam recognizing this settlement.

Three books have been written specifically about the history of Medina Lake, the first by the Reverend Cyril Matthew Kuehne, originally published by St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, entitled “Ripples From Medina Lake”. This book is currently being reprinted by the Castro Colonies Historical Society in Castroville. It is available at the Castroville Chamber of Commerce.

“Everything we were, we carry with us. Everything we will be, is calling to us, from the roads not travelled yet.” pjgrenier

San Fernando Cathedral

Feb6

This month’s Travel Plans:
3. Jan. 20th Willis, TX at Lake Conroe (TT) RVP x 12 nights. (190m)
Feb. 1st. Seguin, TX -Overnight (156m)
4. Feb. 2nd Lakehills, TX at Medina Lake RVR (TT) x 13 nights (71m)
5. Feb. 15th Fort Stockton, TX overnight
6. Feb. 16th El Paso, TX – overnight
7. Feb. 17th Deming, NM overnight
8. Feb. 18th Benson, AZ at Valley Vista RVR(TC) x13 nights
9. Mar. 3rd Phoenix, AZ overnight
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This is the San Fernando Cathedral located in San Antonio, Texas. Right after we had visited the Alamo Carla spoke to a Texas Ranger and he explained that this cathedral was only six blocks away or about a fifteen minute walk.

The bold and italicized text is courtesy of Wikipedia
The original church of San Fernando was built between 1738 and 1750. The walls of that church today form the sanctuary of the cathedral, which gives rise to its claim as the oldest cathedral in the State of Texas. The church was named for Ferdinand III of Castile, who ruled in the 13th century.

The baptismal font, believed to be a gift from Charles III, who became King of Spain from 1759, is the oldest piece of liturgical furnishing in the cathedral. The cathedral was built by settlers from the Canary Islands, for this reason the interior is an image of the Virgin of Candelaria, the patroness of the Canary Islands.^[2]

THIS CRIPT CARRIES THE REMAINS OF MANY OF THE

FIGHTERS AND HEROES OF THE ALAMO.

In 1831, Jim Bowie married Ursula de Veramendi in San Fernando.
In 1836, the cathedral, still a parish church, played a role in the Battle of the Alamo when Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna hoisted a flag of “no quarter” from the church’s tower, marking the beginning of the siege.^[3]

THE STATIONS ARE VERY INTENSE AND BEAUTIFUL.

In 1868, under the director of architect Francois P. Giraud, the cathedral was considerably enlarged in the Gothic style, the addition forming the existing nave. The carved stone Stations of the Cross were added in 1874. The striking stained glass windows were added in 1920.^[3]
On September 13, 1987, Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral during the only papal visit to Texas. A marker commemorates the event.


“Everything we were, we carry with us. 
Everything we will be, 
is calling to us,  from the roads not travelled yet." pjgrenier

The Alamo

Feb6

This month’s Travel Plans:
7. Jan. 20th Willis, TX at Lake Conroe (TT) RVP x 12 nights. (190m)
8. Feb. 1st Seguin, TX -Overnight (156m)
9. Feb. 2nd Lakehills, TX at Medina Lake RVR (TT) x 13 nights (71m)
10. Feb. 15th Fort Stockton, TX overnight
11. Feb. 16th El Paso, TX – overnight
12. Feb. 17th Deming, NM overnight
13. Feb. 18th Benson, AZ at Valley Vista RVR(T3) x13 nights
14. March 3rd Phoenix, AZ overnight
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02.06.19- the Alamo

This picture and the building portrayed in it has nothing to do with the Alamo, except that you’ll see this building as you enter San Antonio. This facility is as big as a FedEx or Sam’s distribution centers. It’s the “Food Pantry” distribution center for san Antonio, Texas. It is unbelievably big.

Above right are the garrisons, but at the time of the battle this area was use to store ammunition. To thlef is the Alamo gift Shop. Below is a monument dedicated to the heroes of the Alamo, over two-hundred in number. Below to the right is a picture of the Oak Tree planted at the Alamo in commemoration of the fallen.

Above is a blow-up of the list of names on the monument. Bowie and Crockett were the two I knew about the most. Below Carla is talking to a Texas Ranger asking him for directions to the San Fernando Cathedral.

“Everything we were, we carry with us. Everything we will be, is calling to us, from the roads not travelled yet.” pjgrenier

St. Stanislaus Church

Feb2

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02.02.19 Sat- St. Stanislaus Church in Bandera, TX. This is about a thirty minute ride from the campground were staying at.

A little history of the Church. This text is taken from the St. Stanislaus Web Site in the History section. Everything italicized is part of that text.

A HISTORY OF OUR CHURCH 1855-2009
St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Parish had its beginning in 1855 when immigrant families from Poland landed at Indianola, Texas and proceeded to Bandera to settle. This was only six weeks after the settling of the first Polish Parish in the United States at Panna Maria, Texas. In 1859 they began in a 20’ x 30’ log structure, which served as their first church. The entire block on which the church is located was purchased for only $1.00 from the James de Montel Company.

This is also, we were told by a lovely parishioner Molly, that it’s the second oldest Catholic Church in the Country, not just Texas. The oldest Church in the USA is in a small town just south of San Antonio, TX, which we will never see because I have no intention of driving through San Antonio again.

Being fortunate enough to have attended would have been a perfect evening for us, then came Molly. She gave us the nickel version on the history of the church and then asked if we were coming next week. We said yes next Saturday night. But you must come on Sunday and enjoy our annual dinner, she added. It would be an extensive selection of Polish meals and recipes. I insisted that we would be there. This has turned out to be a very special venue for us, and I’m sure we’ll remember all these events for years to come. June, July and August are the three hottest months, humidity also. Jan, Feb and March rarely go below freezing and seldom ever snows. This just might be a nice hide-away for us next year after the Christmas season is over with family and friends.

This is of the Church. Father Frank Kurza, Pastor
In her Centennial Year, 1976, the church was adorned with gothic lights, and she was given a complete interior makeover. Six additional stained glass windows were installed in 1990, and in 1996 the statues and Stations of the Cross were repainted, and the altars all re-marbleized. In 2000, the small room off of the sanctuary was transformed into a chapel for the purpose of Perpetual Adoration. Two additional stained glass windows were installed in the Adoration Chapel and two more in the Sacristy. In 2002, work began on the outside of the church. The limestone rock was cleaned and the old mortar between the limestone was chipped out and replaced. This work was completed at the beginning of 2003.

The church in which we worship today was built in 1876. It was constructed of native limestone. Originally, the sacristy and rectory were located above the rear of the building, the church bell being hung in a small cupola placed on the roof of same area. In 1906 the steeple was completed. The baptistry and confessionals were added in later years, as was a larger bell, and in the 1940’s parish families donated stained glass windows. An all steel steeple with a stainless steel cross was erected in 1988.
(the web site contains a little more information about the convent and school should you want to read about it in more detail. goto St. Stanislaus History

“Everything we were, we carry with us. Everything we will be, is calling to us, from the roads not travelled yet.” pjgrenier

Medina Lake RVR (TT)

Feb2

To view the Journal for FEBRUARY click on this link goto February Journal …or click on the “header at the top of this page, select “Journals” for the drop-down menu. If pictures appear to be missing, using your “refresh” button helps them reappear.

HAPPINESS is to have EVERYTHING
you NEED,
NOT the NEED to have EVERYTHING

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02.02.2019-SAT.-GROUNDHOG DAY-MEDINA LAKE RVR
Awoke to a very thick fog.

Our visibility was less than 1/10th mile so we began this trip slowly. GPS informed us that work was being done on I-10 and traffic was at a stand still, so it gave us an alternate route to follow.

Eventually we arrived in San Antonio with just a little fog to contend with but with so much traffic I was glad to have Carla riding shotgun for us. Just like being in a gauntlet.

Bye bye big city, hello country.

Medina Lake RVResort is a Thousand Trails property. As I’ve days mentioned before it’s part of the Equity Lifestyle Properties family. We’re staying only thirteen nights, but if we had opted to we could have stayed for twenty-one nights at no charge. The no charge is the eye catcher. You can’t live at home, a stick and mortar place, at no charge. below is a schematic of the campground. In the nine o’clock position is a black marker on site 141 section F, that’s us.

White tail deer, Scoots wants to go out and join them. Deer, deer everywhere.

San Antonio Texas is only about a thirty minute ride from this campground but the terrain is so vastly different from that big city. We’ve got the windows and door open letting the outdoor 74 degree temperature make our day. We’ll be attending St. Stanislaus Catholic church in Bandera, TX about a 30 minute drive from here.

We’ve never sat on so much Real Estate. Yup, the HHR took a beating on the way down. We have an excellent site with 30 amp electric, sewer, a corner lot with a view of the lake.

This is a first for us. We have dozens and dozens of deer meandering all over the campgrounds. The campground actually encourages the residents to feed the deer. More to come!!

“Everything we were, we carry with us.
Everything we will be, is calling to us,
from the roads not travelled yet.” pjgrenier

Paul and Carla Take the Fifth

rv travels of paul

Monthly Archives: February 2019

Our Lady of Lourdes Church

Tombstone, Arizona

2.25.2019 -Visiting Tombstone, AZ

Shootout at the OK Coral

Boothill, Tombstone, AZ

Pima County Boneyard

A large number of the museum’s aircraft are displayed outside with the remainder located in one of the museum’s four display hangars.^[1] In addition to the display hangars, the museum has a restoration hangar.^[2]

Opened to the public in May 1976 with 48 aircraft then on display, the Museum’s main hangar houses an SR-71A Blackbird, an A-10 Warthog, a United States Air Force Through the Years exhibit, and a mock-up of a control tower.

Mission San Xavier

Travel Lakeville, TX to Benson, AZ

St. Patrick Cathedral, El Paso-done

Valley Vista in Benson, AZ

El Paso, Texas-done

St. Jude, dog lost, dog found.

St. Victor Church-done

Medina Dam

2.06.19-The Medina Dam…Not to much to say about this venue. We came, we saw and we left.

San Fernando Cathedral

The Alamo

St. Stanislaus Church

Medina Lake RVR (TT)

2.25.2019 -Visiting Tombstone, AZ

A large number of the museum’s aircraft are displayed outside with the remainder located in one of the museum’s four display hangars.[1] In addition to the display hangars, the museum has a restoration hangar.[2]

Opened to the public in May 1976 with 48 aircraft then on display, the Museum’s main hangar houses an SR-71A Blackbird, an A-10 Warthog, a United States Air Force Through the Years exhibit, and a mock-up of a control tower.

2.06.19-The Medina Dam…Not to much to say about this venue. We came, we saw and we left.

A large number of the museum’s aircraft are displayed outside with the remainder located in one of the museum’s four display hangars.^[1] In addition to the display hangars, the museum has a restoration hangar.^[2]