Ash Wednesday in Japan, ...and Mardi Gras in America

I'm writing this entry, in Japan, on 7:30AM (that is 9 hours forward of the Greenwich Time in UK, and 17 hours forward of the Pacific Time in US) of Wednesday, March 1st 2006.
That is, the "Ash Wednesday", a beginning of 44 days of "Lent", a season of repentance and sacrifice, on the end of which we celebrate the Easter.

But, beyond the time zones over the globe, you might be enjoying some carnival, I imagine.
And I'm really concerning myself for The Mardi Gras, the finale of the carnival of New Orleans, Louisiana, where the Hurricane Katrina hit the region in the early autumn of 2005.

God bless especially this event this year. Amen

Father Peter's weblog site

Father Peter, who is actually one and only Capuccin priest living in Japan today, is publishing his weblog and other sites. A few of them are written in English. I'd like to introduce some to you readers.

>Today with Father Peter
A daily message from Father Peter.

>Let's go!
A weblog of Father Peter.

A Happy New Year!

This is a entry transplanted from one of my blogs on a Japanese server, which cannot show side bar menus correctly in English.
The original casting date is January 3rd, 2006:
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The January 1st is, of course, a new year's day, but also a Catholic holiday celebrating "Mary, Mother of God", too.Today's first reading in the mass was from "NUMBERS 6:22-27" (Old Testament).

This passage tells the way of the new year blessing of the Israelites by the Lord through their priests.
I like it so much and want to share it with all of you readers:

The Lord bless you and keep you!
The Lord let his face shine upon you,
and be gracious to you!

... The peace of God spread into every corner of the world, and a happy new year to you all!
The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!