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Apparently this church was rescued from closure by nuns from Tennessee in the USA.
Some years ago the Dominican Friars in Ireland announced they had embarked on a process of reorganising its commitments in Ireland because of falling numbers and would be withdrawing from Limerick. As a result of their decision St Saviour’s Church, Glentworth Street, which has an 800-year association with Limerick, was due to close but thanks to the Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia it will remain operational as a church.
On the 4th. of July 2016 the last Mass held by the Dominican Order took place. Soon after the Limerick Diocese took over the running of religious services with a Mass at 1pm each day while the nuns moved into the building later in the summer of 2016.
This Gothic Revival Church, though much altered from the earlier Gothic designs of the James Pain, has a strong presence in the area. It was begun for Prior Fr. Joseph Harrigan and consectated 6th July 1816. The repairs and alteration in 1860 were carried out by J.J. McCarthy. The contractor for that work was John Ryan. The architectural composition and carved limestone detailing, which is a composite of Pain's original design and later alterations, most notably that of William Wallace in the 1860s, is testimony to the skill of the architects involved and the craftsmanship of the artisans involved in its construction.
Wallace heightened the exterior and interior by 20 feet with the addition of a clerestory and rose window in the 1860s. George Goldie designed a new chancel, high altar, reredos, tabernacle and east window between 1863-66. The sculptor for the altar was Bolton of Worchester; the sculptor of the reredos was Patrick Scannell of Cork Marble Works. The stained glass was by William Wailes of Newcastle. In 1870 Goldie and Child remodelled the interior and exterior and the work was supervised by Maurice Alphonsus Hennessy, CE, Limerick. The builders were McCarthy and Guerin. In 1896 and 1899 the stalls and the railings to the Sacred Heart Chapel were designed by George Coppinger Ashlin. In 1927 the communion rails and gates were designed by Ashlin and Coleman.
The church terminates the view from Pery Square to the east, while the south elevation facing onto Dominick Street dominates the view from the east. At any point on Baker's Place the contribution of this limestone church to the streetscape is further enhanced by the Tait Memorial Clock and the former priory, now the Mid-Western Health Board Offices on Pery Street. Saint Michael's Church of Ireland Church, which terminates the view of Pery Street to the west, adds to the prominence of these ecclesiastical buildings within the Georgian district of Pery Square.
Kenya - PCEA/MCK: Representatives of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa and the Methodist Church of Kenya attended 'Farming God's Way' workshops to learn skills for organic and sustainable farming. On September 18, 2012, 26 Christian, Muslim and Hindu faith groups in sub-Saharan Africa launched long-term environmental action plans during ARC's 'Many Heavens, One Earth, Our Continent' celebration in Nairobi, Kenya. Visit www.arcworld.org
Following the public commitment announcement from Nike to champion a toxic-free future, Greenpeace activists project messages including “Water Pollution Is Not Fair Play” and "The World Needs More Champions. Is Adidas All In?" at the Nou Camp Stadium, in Barcelona, where almost 100,000 fans are attending the Spanish Super Cup match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Real Madrid and a number of the players starring in the match are sponsored by Adidas, one of the major clothing brands to which Greenpeace has posed the challenge to eliminate the discharges of all hazardous chemicals from across its entire supply chain and products. Nike's commitment means the pressure is now on Adidas to prove that they are leaders not laggards both on and off the pitch. 08/17/2011
© Marta Ramoneda / Greenpeace
MACON, Ga., Oct. 15, 2017 – Jennie Marshall receives the Georgia Commendation Medal from Col. Matt Smith, commander of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in recognition for her contributions to the 177th Brigade Engineer Battalion during the unit’s change of command ceremony. Lieutenant Colonel Kris Marshall, outgoing commander of the 177th BEB was recognized with the Meritorious Service Medal.
Georgia Army National Guard photo by Capt. William Carraway / released
Borneo Operations: 41 Squadron RNZAF, from August 1965 to September 1966
An extract from "On the Bridges Between Heaven and Earth" by Peter William Tremayne, 2021
First, let me set the scene for Borneo Operations: In August 1965, I flew to RAF Kuching, Sarawak to begin Air Supply operations to the jungle forts along the Kalimantan border with Indonesia. The British, Australians, Kiwis and some Malaysians were in a shooting war against regular Indonesian military units along that border, including a fighter threat from MIG-21’s based at Kalimantan airfields. The RAF’s No. 20 Squadron (Fighter) was on hot alert with Hunter aircraft at the end of the Kuching runway to provide air cover if our Bristol Freighter or the RAF’s Argosy were attacked by Indonesian fighters while we were circling the jungle forts, on station, very close to the border and Indonesian guns. This initial commitment of New Zealand combat forces and air support is highlighted on page 224 of Christopher Pugsley’s “From Emergency to Confrontation,” and my name is there! At that time, I was the squadron Training Officer, and as such, designated to train the other pilots on this latest operational task.
An emerging factor in operating the Freighter in this hostile environment was the lack of a second pilot. From their introduction, the RNZAF Freighters were configured for one pilot only, except for two aircraft equipped with dual controls, used for conversion training and routine check-rides. For the Sarawak operations it was quickly determined that during the actual drop sequences close to the border, two pilots would occupy the front seats and be equipped with dual controls. Since the Squadron was unlikely to have one of the two dual equipped aircraft in its fleet of four aircraft, it was necessary to jury-rig several single pilot aircraft with dual controls that would be exclusively assigned for airdrop operations in Borneo.
My purpose in highlighting what this conflict between the Indonesians and ourselves was like, is to remind those who were not there, too young to remember, or not taught the history of a conflict that became known as the “Undeclared War.” Undeclared it may have been, but it was an authentic and dangerous war for soldiers on the ground and airmen in the sky. If it wasn’t a serious conflict, why did we carry Sterling submachine guns, why did we require a second pilot in the cockpit during airdrop operations, why did we need fighter aircraft cover, why did we require a daily Intelligence brief as to the disposition of the enemy and why were our drop loads often made up of many howitzer shells that the forts could fire into Indonesian territory to protect us from ground to air gunfire?
If the Squadron records relating to these operational missions have been lost and/or the Unit History was written with omissions, then perhaps it’s all been forgotten (and never happened) in official NZ DEF records? Fortunately, there are books like Christopher Pugsley’s and better still, most of the aircrew, like me, retain detailed Flying Logbooks of the events. My Logbook from that time shows that by early September 1966, I had completed a total of 162 “Operational” airdrop missions and delivered a total of 1,049,039 pounds of supplies. I can’t speak for the other aircrew members involved but would make a guess that many of the pilots, navigators’ and signalers’ would have exceeded 100 missions.
Although we, from the British Commonwealth military, joke that Americans get their medals out of cornflake boxes, I do like the objective system they use for gallantry awards: A DFC is awarded after completing 100 operational missions or sorties, whereas, in the RNZAF of my time, you couldn’t expect a commendation for an AFC or DFC if your senior officers didn’t like you, or they hadn’t got theirs. I suspect the reason some of our Huey pilots assigned to the RAAF unit in Vietnam were awarded DFC’s (for very valid reasons), was the objectiveness of the Aussie commanders. Also, Fg Off Mike Callanan, flying in Vietnam as a FAC with the USAF was awarded an American DFC after 100 missions. So what happened to our very active participation in the Undeclared War? To my knowledge, the only award for 41 Squadron’s part in Confrontation was a MID for Flt Lt Noel Rodger. No DFC’s no AFC’s … as there had been during the Squadron’s participation in the Malayan Emergency, doing precisely the same type of airdrop operations, but in a non-hostile "being shot at" environment.
The Missing Years of 41 Squadron in "Portrait of an Air Force"
41 Squadron’s activities after 1960, Chapter 21 covers the two significant Detachments from RAF Changi to Korat in northern Thailand, the first in May 1962 for Operation Scorpion and the second in January 1963 for the program known as SLAT. This detachment remained in Thailand for two years, finally returning to Changi in February 1965. The authors have provided mission statistics for the SLAT operation: Two aircraft flew 647 courier flights, carrying 3,500,000 lbs of freight, 92,000 lbs of mail and 15,877 passengers. Precise details obviously garnered from comprehensive archival sources in New Zealand.
When we come to the section in Chapter 21 that addresses the Squadron activity for the period mid-1965 to late 1966, I was not surprised to find little written, with the exception that Ian Hutchins took over the Squadron from Roger Garrett and a brief story of Noel Rodger and crew taking hits from ground fire near the Indonesian border in Freighter NZ 5906. As members of a “Ghost Squadron” that participated in a shooting war for more than a year in Sarawak, we have a mystery as to why the 41 Squadron airdrop operations from RAF Kuching are not available in any detail. There’s nothing written about mission statistics, being shot at when close to the border, lousy afternoon weather, poor visibility, tricky navigation, and often a seven day week on operations?
Let’s study statistics as I see them: I personally flew 162 operational airdrop missions and dropped a total of 1,050,000 lbs during the twelve months from August 1965 to September 1966. During that same period, it would be reasonable to suggest that another 1000 missions were flown by other crews, dropping a total of 6,500,000 lbs. Impressive figures when you realize the drops were supporting combat troops at the jungle forts. Very much Active Service duty.
Being shot at from the Indonesian side of the Kalimantan Border was a constant threat when circling to drop at the forts, particularly those DZ’s very close to the borderline such as: Pang Amo (Red 33), Plaman Mapu (Red 336), Nibong (Red 352) and Stass (red 21). I don’t recall which DZ Noel Rodger and crew were servicing, but it was either Pang Amo or Plaman Mapu, but whichever, a small error in circling at those DZ’s (over featureless jungle) was enough to be in the range of hostile gunfire. In the event, they simply had a bad day and a lucky escape.
Three significant side notes: In June 1967, I was with a Bristol Freighter crew flying from RAF Changi to Perth via Bali, Port Hedland, and Carnarvon. At Bali, we spent the night at the Hilton Hotel, and there, a young Indonesian waiter comments on our RNZAF uniforms with the New Zealand patch on the shoulders. He spoke good English, and we told him we were flying a Bristol Freighter from RAF Changi to Australia, and he explained his recent background as an Indonesian Army officer serving on the Kalimantan Border with Sarawak in 1965-66. He then surprised us by revealing he was on the Border when his Unit shot down a New Zealand Bristol Freighter. I told him the Freighter flew away to fight another day, but he wouldn’t believe me, even when I explained that I’d flown that airplane back to Singapore the night after the incident… and it whistled all the way across the South China Sea because of the bullet holes! My second shooting story is about an airdrop at Plaman Mapu sometime in the first six months of our Kuching operations. Our drop load included many shells for the Fort’s Pack Howitzer, and after a few circuits over the DZ, their radio man requests a priority to drop the boxed shells before the remainder of the load. When asked the reason, he stated that “the enemy” were shooting at us on every circuit, including 20 mm Cannon, and the Fort is trying to neutralize the threat by pounding them with their Howitzer. This was a learning moment for us, that often close to the Border, the British, Aussie and Kiwi Army guys would not tell us that we were being
fired on, just in case we might run away without finishing the drop!
My third shooting story is tragic: I’m having a typical tasteless (except for the vinegar in the poached eggs) British Army breakfast at RAF Kuching, trying to get my head together for Major Bloodnock’s (Major Cocksedge in real life) Intel briefing at 0800 hours. “The location of the enemy is here, here an here” “That’s nice, can we go fly now?” Anyway, across the breakfast table from me is an RAF Flight Lieutenant pilot, about my age, who’s going on his first Borneo mission, in a Whirlwind helicopter from RAF Kuching to the jungle fort at Stass – Red 21, and asks me whether it’s challenging to find. So I pull out my scruffy Topo map and give him the bearing from Kuching airport to Stass of 256° Mag and a distance of 23 nm. Takes the Freighter 10 minutes from takeoff, so maybe 15 minutes for you?
We leave the Officers Mess in our flight suits and brown suede brothel-creeper boots stumbling down to the Armory to be issued with Stirling sub-machine guns (with two mags of 30 x 9 mm rounds), and across the Pieced Steel Planking (PSP) to the briefing room. Greeted to the usual bumff from Major Bloodnock (where the enemy is) local weather for the day (no morning clouds, bad visibility from burning hill rice in Irian Jaya, and afternoon thunderstorms), and assigned the airdrop missions for 41’s Bristol Freighter and 215’s RAF Argosy – the “Whistling Wheelbarrow”. I parted ways with the newbie Borneo Whirlwind pilot, wishing him a good flight to Stass … never to see him again. That afternoon, there’s a report from Stass that a Whirlwind was shot down by enemy gunfire close to the Border and the pilot was last seen running through the jungle firing his machine-gun at Indonesian military pursuers.
It's now 2020, and the surviving aircrew members that took part in the Kuching Detachment Airdrop operations are getting thin on the ground, so it’s critically important for us to provide NZDEF and the Air Force Museum with the missing information on what 41 Squadron Bristol Freighters really did in Sarawak during Confrontation, from August 1965 to September 1966. For us that remain, still remembering all the great, and often courageous, things we did over the jungles of Sarawak, don’t let those memories be lost, like tears in the rain (thanks Bladerunner).
© Peter Tremayne, 29 Mar 2020
Image: Peter Tremayne Collection
Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration, Anne Richard reached out to media to showcase the U.S. commitment to the humanitarian crisis in Syria at a press conference at the United Nations in Geneva, and interviews with the New York Times and NPR. A/S Richard noted that the U.S. remains the largest donor to the humanitarian crisis with over $1.3 billion in donations thus far and spoke of her recent visit to the refugee camps in northern Iraq. A/S Richard pointed out that there is still a need for increased humanitarian access inside Syria. She also outlined the additional needs with winter having arrived for the 2.3 million refugees and 9.3 million people now in need of humanitarian assistance across Syria, figures which indicate more than half of Syria’s population has fled their homes or needs assistance.
At GES+ new funding commitments to the Women’s Entrepreneurship Fund, an innovative partnership between the United States and Kiva to improve women’s access to capital were announced. The Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) hosted GES+, an intensive day-long program designed to connect 150 emerging youth and women entrepreneurs with investors and leaders in the entrepreneurship space, on June 22, 2016 at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. [GES Photo/Public Domain]
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, the providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:
‘Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!’
W. H. Murray, The Scottish Himalaya Expedition, 1951.
This photo doesn't have much relevance to me other than the fact that I love being given flowers.
I don't do plants as I have commitment issues and plants need looking after, but flowers, well, they brighten up the home and then quietly die a week or so later without having asked for anything from me :)
At a speech to the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce Premier Clark reaffirmed her commitment to balance the budget in 2013.
You're meant to wear a full Santa outfit, not just the hat!
Gizmo & Furby preparing for the annual 'Santa Dash' Sheffield
Strobist:
540EZ 80mm snooted bounced off light tent ceiling. 430EZ fired through right tent panel. eBay triggers
Orthodox Jews combine in prayer at the Western Wall on a Friday immediately prior to Shabbat in the Old City of Jerusalem in Israel.
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Soldiers from Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 143d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), demonstrated the Army Reserve’s commitment to be the most capable, combat ready and lethal federal Reserve force in U.S. history during a field training event conducted April 8, 2017, at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.
“America’s armed forces look to the Army Reserve to provide quick access to trained and ready forces that our active duty partners need to initiate, sustain and prevail in major operations,” said 1st Lt. Jonathan R. Clark, company commander, HHC, 143d ESC. “The 143d [ESC] supports this critical role by conducting immersive and engaging Battle Assemblies that test our capabilities at the individual Soldier level.”
Approximately 300 Soldiers demonstrated their marksmanship skills during a weapons qualification event at Patrick AFB’s Combat Arms Training Facility. The 143d ESC partnered with the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing to use this $8.5 million facility to train and qualify the troops with the M9 Pistol, M4 Carbine, M16 Rifle and the M249 light machine gun.
While awaiting their turn on the firing line, the troops participated in various classes and practical exercises that enhanced their fundamentals of marksmanship, radio communications, medical care under fire and other essential skills for all Soldiers to master regardless of their rank, assignment or specialty.
“Today’s global security environment is growing in scope and complexity,” said Clark. “The Army Reserve is rapidly evolving to adapt to this ever-changing environment, and the 143d [ESC] will be better prepared to overcome complex challenges that threaten our nation by fortifying the fundamentals of a warfighting force.”
Photo and story by Sgt. John L. Carkeet IV, 143d ESC
Minister George Heyman, Parliamentary Secretary Aman Singh, Parliamentary Secretary Kelly Greene, and Parliamentary Secretary Susie Chant announce the Province is renewing and expanding its commitment to make B.C. parks more inclusive and accessible with the release of the BC Parks Commitment to Inclusion.
Once again taken at night at DP World Southampton, the photo shows the landside operation and once again shows DP World's commitment to its customers by offering a 24-7 landside operation.
GET YOUR KNEE OFF OUR NECKS Commitment March Rally at Lincoln Memorial Lower Steps in Washington DC on Friday morning, 28 August 2020 by Elvert Barnes Photography
Visit Commitment March website at nationalactionnetwork.net/commitment-march-on-washington-dc/
Elvert Barnes 57th Anniversary of 1963 March on Washington COMMITMENT MARCH docu-project at elvertbarnes.com/57MOW2020
Photo credit: Annie Bungerouth/ACT-Caritas
Caritas is marking ten years of mitigating the suffering in the Darfur region of Sudan despite the enormous difficulties of working there. It has maintained the same high level of commitment to the victims of violence during this time and remained constant, true and at their side in Darfur.
The violence which struck Darfur in the early 2000s, changed the way farmers and herders lived together. Bloody conflicts broke out over routes and grazing, which continue to this day.
Caritas works in partnership with the ACT alliance of church-based aid agencies in a unique ecumenical initiative. Caritas members provide emergency relief, clean water, healthcare and nutrition. Altogether more than one million people have benefitted. More and more responsibility and management roles have been successfully given to local organisations, following a substantial investment in capacity building.
Caritas uses radio programmes and football tournaments to build peace and provides bicycles for shuttle diplomacy. It opens free veterinary clinics and water points to remove flashpoints. Different groups of people interact and become friends during skills training programmes, which also help to get them jobs.
Uganda - UMSC and UMWA: Members celebrate the launch of the long-term plan for the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council and the Uganda Muslim Women's Association. On September 18, 2012, 26 Christian, Muslim and Hindu faith groups in sub-Saharan Africa launched long-term environmental action plans during ARC's 'Many Heavens, One Earth, Our Continent' celebration in Nairobi, Kenya. Visit www.arcworld.org
If you've never had a 4 hour conversation about which cartoon character gives the best blowjobs, then I question your commitment to tequila.
U.S. Air Force Exchange Pilot Maj. Kevin Sweeney climbs out of an F-16 Falcon at Leeuwarden Air Base, Netherlands, March 27, 2017 during the NATO air forces' Frisian Flag training exercise. Nearly 300 U.S. Airmen and 12 F15C Eagles of the 122nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron participated in training alongside NATO allies to strengthen interoperability and demonstrate U.S. commitment to the security and stability of Europe. During Frisian Flag, NATO air forces conducted air defense missions, offensive missions, missions to protect other aircraft and missions carried out to eliminate static and dynamic targets on land or at sea. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Brian Ferguson)
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Friday, March 8th, 2013
Thomas Ahart, the interim superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, will become the school district’s next Superintendent, School Board Chair Dick Murphy announced today.
“Tom Ahart brings a commitment to our community, a wealth of experience, and a track record of success to this position,” said Murphy. “We had three strong, experienced candidates for this position – anyone of whom could have been a successful leader for our district – but in the end the very best was right here at home.”
Murphy said Ahart’s contract will be voted on at the next School Board meeting on Tuesday, at which time he would immediately drop ‘interim’ from his title. Ahart will become the 13th Superintendent in the 106-year history of Des Moines Public Schools, which is Iowa’s largest provider of public education with more than 32,000 students and nearly 5,000 employees.
“I am excited and honored by this opportunity, and promise that we are going to build on the success that we are seeing at schools throughout the community,” said Ahart. “I am thankful to be part of a great team of teachers and staff who each and every day are out there working to help every student succeed. My goal as Superintendent is straightforward: we will be recognized as the best urban school district in America.”
Ahart became interim Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools on May 15, 2012 and was appointed Associate Superintendent of the school district on July 1, 2011. Prior to that, he served as principal of Harding Middle School for three years.
He has also served as the Director of Human Resources at the Ankeny Community School District, the Director of Instruction at the Marshalltown Community School District, and as a school improvement consultant at the Heartland Area Education Agency. He has also been a language arts teacher at high schools in Denison, IA and Glenwood Springs, CO.
Ahart has also been involved in a number of educational and professional associations, including president of the Iowa Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and an editor of Iowa Educational Leadership. Ahart received a BA in speech and mass communications from the University of Denver as well as a Master’s of Public Administration and Ed.S from Drake University. He is completing his Doctorate in Education Leadership at Drake University, with a dissertation on student achievement factors in Iowa schools.
Ahart’s contract will be voted on at the next School Board meeting on Tuesday, March 12 and will go into effect immediately. The Superintendent’s salary will be $260,000.
Tanzania - ELCT: Women-led tree nurseries are a core part of the long-term plan for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania. The aim is to establish one in every parish. On September 18, 2012, 26 Christian, Muslim and Hindu faith groups in sub-Saharan Africa launched long-term environmental action plans during ARC's 'Many Heavens, One Earth, Our Continent' celebration in Nairobi, Kenya. Visit www.arcworld.o
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, his wife Deanie, and National Basketball Association Commissioner Adam Silver sort apples during a Commitment to Service event where Service Members and Brooklyn Nets' basketball players teamed up to help distribute food at a City Harvest food bank in New York, Nov. 6, 2014. (DoD Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel Hinton/Released)
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey attends a Commitment to Service event where Service Members and Brooklyn Nets' basketball players teamed up to help distribute food at a City Harvest food bank in New York, Nov. 6, 2014. (DoD Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel Hinton/Released)
Ghana - EPC: As well as drawing up their own environmental strategy and action plan the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana plays an active role in RELBONET (the Religious Bodies Network on Climate Change) an interfaith partnership bringing Christians and Muslims together around environmental issues. On September 18, 2012, 26 Christian, Muslim and Hindu faith groups in sub-Saharan Africa launched long-term environmental action plans during ARC's 'Many Heavens, One Earth, Our Continent' celebration in Nairobi, Kenya. Visit www.arcworld.org