Turbulent skies as I left Phnom Penh. I miss it all!
Not so long ago, but far away….
Author: Charles Dittmeier
Indivisible Rally
Today Indivisible Louisville held a rally along Frankfort Avenue to protest the present administration’s policies and practices.
The signs of the protesters were plentiful and creative! The cars honking in support were great, too! About 250 people were at this rally, most of them in the over 50 group.
Bike Exploring
Today was a beautiful sunny day for [1] learning more about my new bicycle and [2] exploring old neighborhoods where I grew up. In the morning I rode about 19 miles to the Portland and Shawnee neighborhoods where I lived from 1950 to 1960. I was amazed at how the streets and everything had shrunk in size since I rode my bike there 65 years ago!
In the afternoon I rode from Nazareth Home to home of my sister Mary and husband Mike. The return journey from there (8.7 miles) is in the graphic above, taken from Strava, an app that records bike trips. Mike is a professional biker and introduced me to the app. Today’s graphic shows two personal records, which can only be made to seem noteworthy because this was the first time to use Strava and that journey is the ONLY one it knows!
US Bishops: One Big Beautiful Bill
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops on Trump’s signature bill:
“The final version of he bill includes unconscionable cuts to healthcare and food assistance, tax cuts that increase inequality, immigration provisions that harm families and children, and cuts to programs that protect God’s creation.”
Immigration: US attitude
According to a recent Gallup poll, the number of American people in favor of immigration has reached a record high, 79%. In 2024, 55% thought immigration should be reduced. Now that number favoring a reduction is 30% in 2025.
The American public has greater sensitivity and more Christ-like values than our present Washington administration.
Another anniversary
Two weekends ago I went to Maryknoll, NY for the 50th anniversary of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners. Today is the third anniversary of Fr. Roy Stiles moving to Nazareth Home Clifton and he decide to celebrate a little.
Receiving mail again!
Since I moved into Nazareth Home Clifton two weeks ago, I have received three letters–the first mail I have received in more than ten years. Cambodia had no mail pickup or delivery before Covid. Mail could be received only in a post office box. Then with Covid, there was NO mail in either direction.
Visit to Cincy
The last sister I hadn’t seen after my return is Martha in Cincinnati so yesterday two other sisters, Mary and Jane, and Jane’s daughter Emily, drove to Cincy to see Martha. It was a great reunion for me and a wonderful visit for us all.
Theme for Day of Peace
January 1st each year is celebrated as an international day for peace. Today Pope Leo announced the theme for this year’s celebration.
The theme for the January 1, 2026 Day of Peace is:“Peace be with you all: Towards an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace.” The theme “invites humanity to reject the logic of violence and war, and to embrace an authentic peace based on love and justice.”
It was interesting that at the 50th anniversary of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners last weekend, Marie Dennis announced a new peace initiative from Pax Christi. Marie was previously the director of the Maryknoll peace and justice office, and then was national head of Pax Christi, and then international head of Pax Christi. She now directs the international Pax Christi’s Catholic Non-violence Initiative. It is an attempt to put non-violence at the center of Catholic theology. They are meeting with Vatican officials about that in October.
The pope has also written a book on peace, with the title “And let there be peace.”
Bicycle Surprise
