The Alhambran November 2016
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The Alhambran February - April 2018 Official Journal of the International Order of Alhambra CP Pub AGT #PM41206513 NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS SAVE THE DATE - July 28, 29 & 30, 2019 Inside... 2019 Biennial Convention Balitmore, Maryland Notice to All Members................1 See SC Mike Stakem’s Article for more information Operation Cover Hope to see all of you there. This is a family oriented Convention with plenty of fun activities for everyone. up..........................3 Christmas Raffle On the evening of the 24th of December 2017 Alamo Caravan #269 participated in a Christmas Eve mass at St. Results..................5 Andrew’s Convent. After mass Alamo Caravan Sir Nobles and Sultanas served a meal they had prepared for all in attendance. Ocean City Get Together................7 Important Alhambra News and Insurance..............8 Spiritual Gift Cards..............22-23 PLUS MORE Editor’s Pen Supreme Officer’s Columns BRAGA CARAVAN’S BREAKFAST WITH SANTA FOR GOD’S SPECIAL PEOPLE Braga Caravan #114 hosted their annual Breakfast with Santa for God’s Special People on Saturday, December 9, 2017 at The Mirage Banquet Center in Clinton Township, MI. Over 550 clients and their caregivers attended and enjoyed a fun-filled morning of live music, dancing, breakfast To find out more about and stockings delivered to each and every one of them upon Santa’s arrival! Honor students from Chippewa Valley High School helped throughout the Order of Alhambra the morning. go to: A great time was had by all! www.orderalhambra. org/ Facebook - http://bit.ly/ orderofalhambra Twitter - @ Orderofalhambra Or call 1-800-478-2946 Dedicated to Assisting the Intellectually Disabled Our Supreme Chaplain From the Desk of the SPEAKS OUT Supreme Commander by Rev. Father Paul Ballien by SC Michael Stakem So do you remember a few years ago seeing a Doritos ad video on You tube about the As always, I would like to extend to our Sir Nobles, Lady Nobles and Sultanas my best pastor looking to increase his flock? Apparently, Frito Lay had sponsored a Super Bowl ad wishes. In my prayers I ask that you remain mentally and physically strong and committed contest, and one of the entries was an ad about a pastor who was worried about declining to the purposes of the Order of Alhambra. numbers in his church. And so while he is praying, he receives divine inspiration to replace the communion wafers with Doritos, and the communion wine with Pepsi Max, and in A special thanks to Sergio Zarate from Alva Caravan #91 in Texas and PGC Mike Kiefer doing so, he dramatically increased the numbers at church. It was all in jest and good fun of from Galicia Caravan #77 for their dedication towards our social media pages. Because of course, and the fan who created the ad, who says he is a devout Catholic, doesn’t understand his time and hard work, the Order of the Alhambra has their Face Book and Twitter pages why some people had a problem with the ad. up and running. It will now be the job of our new Social Media Committee to upgrade our message. We need to take advantage of the opportunities that this social media will I was channel surfing one time, when I came across a show called “Man Answers.” In the provide us to inform people of our purposes of the Order especially the enormous work show, they posted the question: How much of the precious blood does a priest have to drink we do for the intellectually disabled. This is a tool we must master. The Order needs before he gets drunk? Apparently the answer is 10 cups, just in case you were wondering. its Sir Nobles, Lady Nobles, Sultanas, family members and friends to “Like us” on So what do these two examples have in common? Both, I would say, show a certain lack of Facebook and share our message on Twitter. Visit our Facebook page: http://bit.ly/ reverence toward the Eucharist. If these were isolated examples, that would be one thing orderofalhambra and follow us on Twitter @Orderofalhambra. The more people who I suppose. However this irreverence, and not simply towards the Eucharist or church, but are aware of our charitable work will improve our position in recruiting new members. even on a wider range of issues, I believe is a very common phenomenon in Western culture Please, all suggestions are welcome to help us in ascending the Order of Alhambra up the today. Take for example the issue of sex. It doesn’t seem to matter how old you are these social media ladder. days, one of the most commonly told jokes by many people are ones that include the subject of sex. For some people, that is the only kind of joke they know. In treating the subject this I am pleased to announce that the 2019 INTERNATIONAL ORDER OF THE way, they convey the attitude that sex is something that is not meant to be holy or special ALHAMBRA’S CONVENTION WILL BE IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND ON JULY or a sacred act of love in any way. Also, the way some people curse and swear is another 28, 29, 30, 2019. It will be 42 years since we have had a convention in Baltimore. The instance of irreverence. When you stop to think about it, it’s really not hard to come up with convention was hosted by Alcala Caravan #16 who at that time had over 1,000 members! examples of irreverence happening all around us. The 2019 convention will be hosted by caravans from Region III which are Alcala #16, Padul #69, Wamba #89, Porto #104, Jerez #183 and Fatima #265. The convention So where does this lack of reverence come from? Why are things that are sacred, treated headquarters will be at the Double Tree Hotel, 890 Elkridge Landing Road, Linthicum as though they are not? Even the body piercings and multiple tattoos that you see on some Heights, MD. This hotel is two miles from the Baltimore-Washington International people, it is a sign of irreverence toward the body. Many people are even proud of this Airport. The room rates will be $99.00 per night and this rate will be honored from July attitude of irreverence. But is it really a good thing? Is it really a good thing to lose a sense 23 - August 1st. of the sacred? What are the consequences of such an attitude? One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is wonder and awe. This gift allows people to become This is a convention which will welcome your entire family so you can make a vacation conscious of the gifts and blessings around them and to appreciate it. It helps people to and visit the many attractions in close proximity. In Washington, DC you can visit the enter into a more loving relationship with God because of their joy and gratitude. It helps Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception which is the largest Roman people to see the beauty in life and the value and dignity of all human life. People without Catholic Church in North America. You can visit our national monuments and government this gift tend to be people who are bored. They become irreverent and disrespectful as buildings and many other tourist attractions in our Nation’s Capital. In Baltimore you they fail to see the gifts and blessings all around them. They fail to notice what is special, can visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin they lose a sense of the divine and His presence around them. They become emotionally Mary which is the first cathedral built in America. You also have the Baltimore Inner numb. And because people without this gift tend to be bored or emotionally numb, it Harbor, and the National Aquarium. Also, the Maryland State Capital located in historic takes more and more to excite them or titillate the senses. They act as if nothing shocks Annapolis is only 15 minutes away. There are also golf courses located within 15 minutes them. If this goes on long enough, it eventually gets to the point where people become of the hotel. As you can see, this convention has much to offer. PLEASE PLAN TO incapable of responding appropriately to situations that require empathy, understanding or ATTEND. moral judgment. I am saddened to say that we lost another great Alhambra member, Bill Fuchs. Bill As an example of what I mean, I read an article not too long ago where there was a famous passed away on January 6, at the age of 98. It was the wonderful fortune of the Order person, “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” who was giving a lecture on a college campus; and of Alhambra to have Bill as a member who served on the Council of Viziers, and the midway through the lecture, he fainted. Nobody got up to help him, instead everyone got Executive Committee. Bill was a proud, charitable Alhambran and a great influence to out their electronic devices and texted their friends about what was happening. I maintain me. He will be missed by many. Please pray for strength and comfort to his family during that this lack of sensitivity is in part due to the loss of a sense of reverence and sacredness in this difficult time. our society. Without a doubt, without the gift of reverence and wonder and awe, our ability to enter into intimate, healthy relationships with others where we have the ability to truly Prayers for the Purposes of the Order, cherish one another, is greatly reduced.