Feb
13

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For our LORD • St Rosa Procession • Sittard • The NETHERLANDS

Each year Sittard celebrates their Patron Saint, Saint Rose of Lima, Peru. She was credited in the late 1600s, saving the city from the Pest.

St Rosa Procession • Dutch Catholic tradition • Sittard • 3

Once a year, on the last Sunday in August, the ancient tradition comes to life. Thousands of people walk from St. Michael’ church at the town square to Saint Rosa’s chapel on the Kolleberg.

St Rosa Procession • Dutch Catholic tradition • Sittard • 5

Dean van Rens describes the procession, the participants and the symbolism behind the pageant. “The South was always Catholic. Its not about demonstrating but rather making visible: Here is our God, Here is our Christ. Here is what we love.”

St Rosa Procession • Dutch Catholic tradition • Sittard • 11

You can watch the full interview with Dean van Rens here:

 

Feb
11

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The Happy (LIKE! on Facebook) Version of Ko Mak

“Headin’ off to Ko Mak. Its a small island right on the Cambodian boarder. Loaded up on the ferry and then hung on the back of a little pick-up truck and made it to the beach. Oh yeah: Palm trees and sand. A little fishin’ going on as well. A little dinner as well. I met Um, a nurse from Bangkok along the way.”

‘This weekend I am going touring around the island,’ she said.
“Sunshine means its time to go biking – a little work being done on the island as well as a lot of clear cutting, planting new pineapple groves. There are also loads of rubber trees on the island and they also make their own little rubber mats. Coconut husks are turned into charcoal. Now its time for a trek throughout the jungle to find the perfect beach. Unfortunately this time I made it through to find a little mangrove swamp. So I left the water and headed back up through the island. Made it up to the top of a little cliff. I found a little shrine and two holy cats.”

“Finally after cycling the entire perimeter of the island I finally found a secluded perfect beach. It was hot, so I took a swim to cool off.”

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