Religion

Hey, Jewish singles: May the Schwartz be with you

adamg — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:30:50 +0000

Specifically, Rabbi Mayshe Schwartz, the matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match, find me a find, catch me a catch of JBoston.com, which instead of a series of algorithms, uses Schwartz's matchmaking skills to match up compatible people of the book. As the Washington Post quotes him:

We believe in Jews meeting Jews and having more Jews.

Despite mostly being run by people associated with the Orthodox Chabad, the J sites feature a splash page with two people who, I should be forgiven for saying so, could pass as goyische.

JP monk discusses the ultimate punk rocker: Jesus Christ

adamg — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:14:11 +0000

The Jamaica Plain Gazette reports:

Sammons, who often traverses the neighborhood dressed in his brown cloth habit tied with a cord, writes about the religious life in a blog called “A Minor Friar” (friarminor.blogspot.com). His posts range from scholarly commentary on Catholic theology to the perils of walking across the Arborway.

Mixed in are plentiful references to the likes of horror-punkers the Misfits and diabolical thrashers Slayer. The music may seem surprising—and certainly is to some of Sammons' peers. But the metal and punk subcultures brought Sammons a key realization: "the given thing, the given taste, is not what you really want."

Bus driver tells street preacher to stick to the street and stay off his bus

adamg — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:45:05 +0000

Video of confrontation between the driver of a 101 bus out of Sullivan and the preacher who refused to shut up.

Jamaica Plain: Shofar, sho good

adamg — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:48:43 +0000

A Jewish tradition holds you should blow a shofar every day of the month leading up to Rosh Hashanah. David Levy provides a Boston interpretation by doing it all over Boston, here in Jamaica Plain (more from the Shofar across Boston tour).

Tower at new Old South not as old as rest of new Old South

adamg — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:20:21 +0000

Old South tower reconstruction, 1937.

By 1932, the tower at what was then called New Old South Church in Copley Square was leaning so much the church had to tear it down for fear it would topple over. Construction began in 1937 on a replica replacement that, so far, has not become a leaning tower of Boston atop the original 1875 church.

Leslie Jones photographed both the demolition of the old tower and the construction of the new one - here in a shot from the Lenox Hotel. More photos, in the BPL's Boston churches collection.

Posted under this Creative Commons license.

Old salt at Fishermen's Feast

adamg — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:25:52 +0000

OK, maybe he's really a stockbroker or teacher or something, but this guy photographed by Jeff Tamagini this past weekend at the Fishermen's Feast in the North End sure looked like he could jump into a dorry and haul some traps up.

Of course, what would a feast be without food? Photographynatalia also attended the feast:

The annual blessing of the fishing waters at Christopher Columbus Park

adamg — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 15:03:48 +0000

NorthendWaterfront.com provides the video of the start of the Fisherman's Feast. Although there aren't any fishing boats there anymore, there used to be.

Roslindale priest put on leave as archdiocese investigates sexual-abuse allegation

adamg — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 23:49:41 +0000

The Archdiocese of Boston said today it has put Rev. John M. Mendicoa of Sacred Heart Parish on leave after receiving an allegation of sexual abuse of a child in the 1980s:

The Archdiocese immediately notified law enforcement of the allegation and has initiated a preliminary investigation into the complaint. Fr. Mendicoa will remain on administrative leave pending the outcome of the preliminary investigation. The decision to place Fr. Mendicoa on administrative leave represents the Archdiocese's commitment to the safety of all parties and does not represent a determination of Fr. Mendicoa's guilt or innocence as it pertains to this allegation. The Archdiocese will work to resolve this case as expeditiously as possible and in a manner that is fair to all parties.

Being sick of Jehovah's Witnesses at your door isn't good enough reason to shove them, court rules

adamg — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 23:48:22 +0000

The Massachusetts Appeals Court has upheld a Newton man's conviction for pushing two Jehovah's Witnesses who'd rung his door - sending one to the hospital with a broken shoulder and arm after she lost her balance and fell.

Neal Farber was arrested on Aug. 13, 2008 after allegedly pushing the two 60-something women away from his house after first screaming at them that he was tired of them and their religion.

Leave the churches alone

adamg — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:35:28 +0000

Jeff Egnaczyk rides by St. James the Great in Wellesley on his way to work. He wants Rome and the Archdiocese of Boston to leave it alone, along with the other five churches it plans to sell:

The people who have maintained vigil at that church for thousands have more of a claim to it than the Vatican. They have squatters' rights by now. I don't remember ever seeing the Pope visit his "property" in Wellesley.

From big church in small town to small church in big town

adamg — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:21:24 +0000

Katie Noah Gibson, who grew up going to large churches in small Southern towns, reports on attending the Brookline Church of Christ, which has maybe 40 people at Sunday services:

I'm so thankful, in the midst of this big city where I often feel anonymous, to have a place where I'm recognized, hugged, needed, seen, known. Brookline is my neighborhood, and I am deeply grateful.

Pole position

adamg — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:26:01 +0000

Craig Hill won the Saturday greasy-pole competition in Gloucester

Greg Cook reports on Saturday at Gloucester's St. Peter's Fiesta, which, as always, featured a greasy-pole competition: Contestants try to walk or run down a greasy pole over the harbor and capture a flag. More.

For the completest round-up evah of this year's fiesta, get to Good Morning Gloucester, including: the Sunday greasy-pole winner, greasy-pole faces and portraits on the pole.

Where do you think they'll be returning the trucks on Sunday?

adamg — Fri, 20 May 2011 18:40:34 +0000

The Judgment Day people held a caravan around Copley Square this afternoon, featuring several gaily decorated trucks, one with what was probably meant to be something like Gabriel's trumpet but which sounded more like wbat you'd expect from a truck that needs new brakes. Some of the church's foot soldiers handed out leaflets on the BPL side of the park as one member with a bullhorn attempted to drum up support among jaded Bostonians mostly just trying to enjoy the non-rain. And then the latter half of Toucher and Rich showed up for a brief counter-demonstration.

Some saint he'll be

adamg — Mon, 02 May 2011 01:42:05 +0000

Kevin Cullen interviews some local people who are less than thrilled at the idea of the beatification of John Paul II - you know, that little matter of not doing anything about the preying-priest thing.

Who are "They"?

JohnAKeith — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 01:21:21 +0000

Faster than Peter Rabbit escaped from Mr. McGregor's Garden, the news that a Seattle third-grade school teacher banned the use of the term "Easter Eggs" has taken the Internet by storm.

What purportedly happened was that a 16-year old girl who was volunteering at the school attempted to give a classroom full of kids candy hidden inside colored plastic eggs but their teacher stopped her, saying she'd have to check with the school's administration. Subsequently, the girl was told that she could distribute the eggs, but only if she called them "Spring Spheres". (The giving of candy to children was apparently okay, without challenge.)

This happened last week. Since then, everyone began searching, without luck, for proof it actually happened.