martes, 12 de mayo de 2009

The Fulton's






Siguiendo con el plan de conocer a los parroquianos de mi comunidad, la semana pasada fuimos con Fr Tom (el párroco) a comer a lo de los Fulton, de origen irlandés. Viven en las afueras de Bath, en un barrio muy lindo que queda en el medio de la campiña inglesa. En las fotos pueden observar las ovejas en el "jardín" de al lado de la casa y la vista de la ciudad de Bath.

Will y Joy tienen tres chicos: Georgia y Thomas, mellizos y monaguillos de la parroquia en las misas del domingo a la mañana, y Patrick, el más chico. Estoy con ellos en una foto. Unos maestros! Noten que ya estaban en pijama y listos para irse a dormir (ejem, para Caro y Meru).

Los chicos prepararon la mesa, pintaron los cartones con los nombres de cada invitado (para indicar dónde se sienta cada uno), sirvieron la picada muy diligentemente y antes de que los grandes empezáramos a comer vinieron a saludar para irse a dormir. Insisto, no me torren más mis amigos -o más específicamente las mujeres de mis amigos- con que no se puede tener una buena reunión de adultos si están los chicos.

Lugo tuvimos una comida muy rica, abundante y divertida entre adultos. También estaban invitados un matrimonio amigo de los Fulton y un amigo soltero, tipo tío solterón o cura garronero, ¿les suena? Varios de los comensales vivieron en distintas partes del mundo, así que la conversación se fue poniendo cada vez más interesante a medida que disminuía la luz solar y aumentaba nuestro nivel etílico. Mucha política internacional y nacional, algo de religión, bastante de educación y familia y sociedad en general fueron los tópicos principales. Yo copado, como se imaginarán.

lunes, 11 de mayo de 2009

Embarcaciones



Especialmente dedicado a mis amigos de San Gabriel, Javier, Diego y Daniel. Hay algunas que por adentro están realmente buenas y los propietarios viven en ellas. Para tener en cuenta.

También van dedicadas a mi ex párroco de Dique Luján, Juan Martín y al Mono y Marsi, que amablemente me suelen invitar a navegar por el Tigre.

Para Juan M., la lancha blanca se parece a la que teníamos en Dique, sólo difiere bastante la casa del dueño que aparece detrás, no?

El lugar está a pocas cuadras de mi parroquia.

River Avon: pequeños diques






Para mis amigos ingenieros y náuticos, fíjense cómo este pequeño dique -bastante antiguo de por cierto- permite que el Río Avon sea navegable a pesar de sus desniveles. Cada uno debe accionar y sistema para pasar. Increíble, no?

Bowood Playground



No todo es seriedad. Lo primero que hicimos al llegar, a pedido de los chicos, obvio, fue ir al parque de aventuras y entretenimientos.

La verdad que está buenísimo. Me daban ganas de jugar a mí. ¡Cómo extrañé a mis ahijadas y al Sr. Luca (mi sobrino)!

Estaba lleno de inglesitos parecidos a Harry Potter que me hacían matar de risa.

Los juegos están hechos con mucha creatividad y seguridad.

Bowood museum II




Dorothea, dedicada a mi profesora Rebeca.

El plano original de la casa, contruida por un famoso arquitecto de la zona (estilo Georgiano). Dedicada a mis amigas/os arquitectas/os.

En la siguiente escultura pueden ver a Cupido besando a otra diosa griega. A ver si alguno de mis alumnos del seminario -o algún otro bloguista- puede descubrir quién es.

Bowood museum


Una parte del interior de la casa está presentada como museo.

Las imágenes que aparecen en el techo son de los filósofos más famosos de la historia. Van dedicadas a los filósofos de Commnio Luis Baliña, Carlos Hoevel, Isabel Pincemin y Marie-France Bègue (me acordé mucho de Uds. allí).

El escritorio y la biblioteca (una gran parte no se ve) es la envidia de todo "estudiante".

Bowood Gardens






Les mando algunas fotos más de los "pequeños" jardines de la mansión. Tienen especies de árboles y plantas de todo el mundo.

Ojalá se pueda apreciar los distintos tonos de verde (si hacen clic en la foto creo que se les agranda).

Bowood & good company





Ernesto Vivares es un profesor de mi Masters. Vive con su mujer Sherley (ambos en la foto conmigo) y su hijo en Chippenham, cerca de Bath. ¿Pueden creer que es mendocino?

Me invitaron a almorzar a su casa y la pasamos realmente bien. Estuvo una hermana de Ernesto, Susana (aparece en la foto vestida de colorado), que vive en Londres y trabaja para un importante banco alemán en inversiones para energías renovables. Shirley es canadiense y sabe hablar fluido español, francés, alemán, danés y hebreo. Un genio total. Así que se imaginan las conversaciones. Hay mucha gente buena y preparada interesada en trabajar por un mundo distinto, más humano.

¿Qué tal la foto en la puerta principal de Bowood House?

Bowood House





El sábado pasado fuimos con mi Ernesto y su familia a Bowood House, un lugar impresionante por sus jardines, pinturas, esculturas, arquitectura e historia. Además, tiene un excelente parque de juegos para los chicos. Si bien es de una familia noble que aún viven allí, es como un gran parque al que pagando una módica entrada se puede pasar el día (como ir a la quinta de mi tía rica, me dijo alguno). Es notable el empeño, estudio y trabajo sobre los jardines. Para quienes les interesa, les dejo un poco de historia:

Purchased by the 1st Earl of Shelburne (1705–1761) in the mid 18th century, Bowood House and Gardens have been improved by successive generations up to the present day. Many famous architects and garden designers have been employed, including Henry Keene, Robert and James Adam, ‘Capability’ Brown, C.R. Cockerell and Sir Charles Barry.

A visitor to Bowood today will see fine 18th-century architecture and splendid interiors: the Adam Orangery, the Chapel and Library by C.R. Cockerell, the New Hall, the Sculpture Gallery and the Laboratory where Dr Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen in 1774. There is also a series of exhibition rooms with a wealth of fine furniture, costumes, pocelain, jewellery and paintings on display. Outside, the house is surrounded by ‘Capability’ Brown’s stunning park; there are magnificent formal gardens, a ‘Picturesque’ rockwork garden; and the renowned pinetum and arboretum

The first house at Bowood was built c.1725, on the site of a hunting lodge in the former Royal Forest of Chippenham. The house and park were bought by the 1st Earl in 1754, who employed architect Henry Keene to extend the house, including an imposing portico, and to build an extensive E-shaped service wing behind it.

Soon after his father’s death, the 2nd Earl (1737–1805) commissioned the Adam Brothers to decorate the important rooms and to screen the service courts with a grand orangery. An Adam mausoleum for the 1st Earl was also constructed in the park. At the same time, ‘Capability’ Brown was employed to remove the earlier semi-formal gardens and create an open, gentle landscape, with a sinuous lake and belts of trees, all typical of his style. A ha-ha was constructed near the house and a ‘pleasure ground’, for interesting trees and shrubs, was formed behind the house.

In the 1770s, the two parts of the house at Bowood (the ‘Big House’ and the ‘Little house’) were joined together by the building of an enormous drawing room. During the following decade, a ‘Picturesque’ rockwork garden, with a beautiful cascade, grottoes and a hermit’s cave, was formed at the head of the lake.

The 2nd Earl, Prime Minister from 1782 to 1783, was created Marquess of Lansdowne for negotiating peace with America after the War of Independence. He furnished Bowood and his London Home, Lansdowne House, with superb collections of paintings, furniture and Classical sculpture.

His father having died deeply in debt, the 2nd Marquess (1765–1809) stayed away from Bowood after the contents were sold. It was the 3rd Marquess (1780–1863), Chancellor of the Exchequer at 25, who restored the house, commissioning C.R.Cockerell to design the chapel and alter the library, and Sir Charles Barry to build the clock tower. The famous terrace gardens also date to this period as do the pinetum and arboretum in the Pleasure Grounds and the first planting of rhododendrons.

A distinguished statesman, the 3rd Marquess served in the House of Lords under eight prime ministers, and formed another great collection of paintings and sculpture, rivalling those of his father. A number of these works are seen at Bowood today.

The 4th Marquess (1816–1866) married Emily de Flahault, granddaughter of Prince Talleyrand and daughter of the Comte de Flahault who was Napoleon’s aide de camp; and it was through this connection that the fascinating Napoleonic Collection at Bowood came into the family. The 4th Marquess was responsible for having the small Doric Temple removed from the Pleasure Grounds to the far side of the lake [illus].

When the 5th Marquess (1845–1927) succeeded, the family fortunes were again in decline. He became Governor-General of Canada and Viceroy of India. On his return to Bowood in 1894, the Big House was used only for entertaining and the family lived in the Little House. The situation remained unchanged during the life of the 6th Marquess (1872–1936) and up until the Second World War.

Both the 7th Marquess and his brother were killed in action in 1944, the title and property passing to their cousin. During the War, the Big House was occupied by a school, then by the RAF. Afterwards, it was left empty, and by 1955 it was so dilapidated that the 8th Marquess decided to demolish it, employing architect F. Sortain Samuels to convert the Little House into a more comfortable home.

The grounds have been developed over the years to become one of the special glories of Bowood, encompassing almost every phase of English garden design from the early Georgian period onwards. The present Marquis of Lansdowne opened the house and gardens to the public in 1975. He has maintained and improved Bowood’s many magnificent features over the last 30 years, initiating major replanting schemes and introducing new plantings, such as the daffodils in Lake Field and the tree ferns in the Rhododendron Walks.

The park remains much as ‘Capability’ Brown intended, with a fine lake, gently sloping lawns and drifts of trees. The late 18th century ‘Picturesque’ rockwork valley remains below the lake dam, incorporating the cascade and caves. Closer to the house are the great 19th-century Italianate terraces: originally lying in the angle between the Big and Little Houses, they now form the south front to the house.

The Pleasure Grounds, including the pinetum and arboretum, can be explored throughout the 7-month open season. The Rhododendron Walks, on the hill to the southwest of the house, now cover some 60acres and are only open to visitors during the flowering season. All are maintained to the highest standard and little has changed since these great gardens were laid out.

The Home farm area of the park has now been made into a championship golf course.

For children – there is fantastic adventure playground in the Pleasure Grounds.

domingo, 10 de mayo de 2009

5th Sunday of Easter: The vine, the branches and the vinedresser

The true vine (Jesus), the branches (the church) and the vinedresser (the Father)

Let us make use of the wonderful image of the “vine” and analyze it in depth. Jesus identifies himself as the “true vine” and addresses his disciples -the Church- as the “branches”. He also calls his Father the roll of the vine grower.

To bear fruit: love, joy and completeness
In this parable, Jesus emphasizes the “fruit” each branch of the vine can bear. Vines bring forth grapes and usually most of them are used to produce wine. Wine, therefore, is the result of the work of the vinedresser and his co-workers, contributors or employees; but that work depends on the quantity and quality of the grapes that the branches can bear. Furthermore, such quantity and quality of fruits depend on the vine grower’s work, mainly on the place or piece of land he chooses to plant the vine and on the ability to take care of it so that every branch can bring forth the best and most suitable fruit.


In the Gospels, especially in John’s Gospel, the vine symbolizes the new life of the new covenant: abundant love, joy and communion. Please remember that according to John, the first miracle worked by Jesus took place at Cana of Galilee, where he transformed water into wine during a wedding.

So the fruit is not only the grapes that each branch of the vine can bear, but also the wine that all branches of the vine together, and with the vinedresser’s work, can produce. This new wine produced is an abundant life of joy and communion. The need we have to love and to be loved, the desire of unending joy which arises in any human being is apparently possible. But some requirements are needed.

The main requirements to live in the way of complete love and joy

To live in community

The first requirement is to accept this analogy as a way of living in communion with others. Complete joy and true love can only be the result of living with others as branches live together in a vine. The only way we can manage to find true joy and love is to live in community and resign to an individualist way of living. The branches of a vine are called to bring forth all the grapes they can. Some of them will bear a few grapes, others a large number of grapes. Some of them will produce grapes of extraordinary quality, while others only simple grapes. But in the end, the fruit of each branch is attached to the fruit of the other branches. It is useless to bear some good grapes if my neighbour’s branches can’t produce any at all. What kind of wine can the vine grower produce if most of the branches of the vine are infertile?


For current Christians, living in community, tight as the branches in a vine, is the only way to find a joyful and loving life. But living in community means to be involved not only in our Church but also in the world. This should be translated in political and social commitments, in studies and investigations to contribute to the development of poor people and countries, in research to discover the cure for incurable illnesses, in creating and playing uplifting music, etc.


To remain in the vine

The second requirement is to remain in the vine. As we are like branches and Jesus is the true vine, we are called to abide “in him”. Jesus insists on this: “remain in me and I in you… as the branch remains in the vine… If you remain in me you can bear fruit”; “whoever remains in me and I in him bears much fruit”. But how can we remain “in” a person? Jesus seems to explain it: “remain in my Words”, “remain in my command… to love as I have loved you”… “remain in my Love so that my Joy may be in you and your joy may be complete”.

If we do not abide in the vine (in him) we cannot bear fruit by ourselves. Apart from him, from this vine, we can do nothing and we, as useless branches, will be cut down and thrown aside. This image suggests that despite our skills and strengths, if we do not receive the sap (life, vitality) of this wine, we won’t be able to achieve God’s Joy and new life. We won’t be able to receive what he is giving us and hence, we’ll be apart not only from his Joy but from our completeness too.

To remain, in the Gospel of John, is not a static but a dynamic verb. To remain, linked with this botanic analogy, means to take root gradually in our life, to go through different seasons and be patient (biological ages, states of mind and faith, economic and political cycles, etc.), to bring forth a lot of fruit one year and few or none the next one, to take interest in other branches, to trust the vine grower and his collaborators and to be fed and vitalized by the sap. Without this permanence in the vine, in Jesus, it’s not possible to bear fruit neither to enjoy what that fruit can produce: wine, this means, a new life of joy and love.

To be pruned

The third requirement to receive and live in this joy and love is to be pruned. As Jesus makes emphasis on the fruit the branches will bear if they abide in the vine, he also refers to the branches’ pruning: “every branch that does bear fruit, the vine grower prunes, so that it will produce more fruit”. The aim of pruning plants is not to hurt them but to keep them fit for flourishing. However, when a branch is pruned, it looks like useless or even dead. Is this not the feeling that we have when we lose something or someone important for us, or when we have to give up something or someone that we really desire or love? When this happens, we should remain in the vine to stay alive, to be fed by the sap and to flourish new fruits in due time or season, perhaps better than ever in quality or even in quantity.


The mission

The glory of the vinedresser, Jesus and our Father, is that we, branches of the vine of his Son, bear fruits of love and joy. By living in communion with Christ and with all human beings, committed to the weakest branches, by remaining in Jesus’ love and receiving the sap and vitality of his Holy Spirit, and by allowing the vine grower to prune us so that we can bear much fruit, we will be able to love as Jesus have loved us and our joy may be complete.

sábado, 9 de mayo de 2009

Prior Park: Reception & People



Con algunas estudiantes católicas de la Universidad. La que está al lado mío, Rachel, toca el violín como los dioses. Este domingo quizás lo lleve a la misa.

Recuerden que la Universidad de Bath es pública, pero tiene una capellanía inter-religiosa. A cargo de ella está Fr Bill y un grupo de jóvenes católicos, generalmente "undergraduate students". Ellos organizaron esta recepción a la cual fueron autoridades de la Universidad y de la Ciudad de Bath.

En la foto aparece aplaudiendo una mujer con saco celeste, es la Headmistress del Colegio Prior Park. El hombre del medio es un Council de Bath (usan unos collares dorados para identificarse en estos actos).

En la otra foto aparezco con una de la Directoras del Masters, Severine Deneulin, un genio absoluto. Es egresada en Economía (Lovaina), doctora en Ec. de Desarrollo (Oxford) y muchos otros pergaminos más. Entre ellos, es una de las mejores especialistas en Amartya Sen en el mundo. Ahora estoy leyendo un libro que editó: "Transforming Unjust Structures". Como podrán imaginar, el libro no tiene desperdicio y se me están ocurriendo muchas cosas para aplicar en nuestro país.

Prior Park: more...



Más fotos. Vean la belleza del edificio principal.

En otra foto aparece Fr Bill (capellán católico) con una de la directoras de la Universidad.
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Prior Park: view & poetry



Estas fotos no tienen desperdicio. Es la vista en donde se hizo la recepción. Si bien era un día nublado y lluvioso, se puede apreciar Bath detrás.

Desde esta vista (foto) y en primavera, es decir, en esta época del año, se puede experimentar lo siguiente:

"... if it is May he (a boy) is rewarded by the yellow-greens of spring and the smell of all-pervading wild garlic. His eyes move, as they are meant to, down to the Palladian Bridge (se ve en la foto) and beyond the ponds to the little church of St Thomas of Canterbury, with Widcombe Manor on its left and Crowe Hall on its right, and Crescent way out on the left and the solid squeatting Abbey in the middle. All around are the hills encircling the city. If he is lucky the scene will be completed with the presence of cows in the valley and a buzzard hovering above." (Peter Levi, ex alumno y poeta)

Prior Park: history




El jueves 7 de mayo por la noche nos invitaron a una Recepción a uno de los lugares más lindos de Bath y por ende del mundo: El Prior Park College.

Se trata de un colegio católico fundado en el siglo XIX, fruto del sueño de un obispo benedictino de los comienzos del S XIX, Peter Baines, quien consideró que la Iglesia Católica, luego de varios siglos de persecución, necesitaba re-emerger mediante una excelente educación de sacerdotes y laicos. El sueño se cumplió y se amplió. No sólo se fundó un colegio sino también un seminario y hasta una universidad!

Eligieron para el colegio un lugar maravilloso: el Palacio fue mandado a construir por Ralph Allen, todo un personaje del siglo XVIII. Él primero reformó el sistema de postas del correo y luego se hizo millonario vendiendo las piedras que desde Bath se exportaban a todo Europa y el mundo para la construcción de edificios. Él compró lo que se llama "the stone quarries of Combe Down" e inentó un sistema ferroviario para trasladar las piedras desde las colinas hasta el Río Avon (que atraviesa Bath y está al lado de mi parroquia -vean otras fotos-). El Río Avon acababa de hacerse navegable mediante un sistema de mini diques que permitían llevar carga vía acuática. Donde estaban las vías que transportaban las piedras hoy hay una calle que se llama, obviamente, Ralph Allen.

Quien construyó el palacio es un arquitecto muy famoso en Bath y alrededores: John Wood (por favor, mis amigos/as arquitectas recuerden este nombre).

Ya entrado el siglo XIX el colegio sufrió un incendio enorme y el obispo murió. ¿Quién levantaba este elefante blanco cuasi-muerto? Reconstruido por un intelectual y golfista Dr Edward Williams, comenzó a revivir pero no podían sostenerlo. Llegaron entonces los Christian Brothers y se hicieron cargo (para mis amigos los Newman boys). De aquí sallieron sacerdotes, obispos, cardenales, famosos jugadores de rugby, doctores, abogados, empresarios, músicos, artistas, etc. etc. En 1980 los Brothers dejaron el colegio a los laicos. Hoy es uno de los mejores colegios de Inglaterra.