The Quotation of the Week (July 14-20, 2013)

A quotation each of Plato and Voltaire on 'God,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (A solar-powered plastic sunflower as car decoration: Dhaka, January 10, 2012) © Jerome D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (July 7-13, 2013)

Quotations on 'character,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (June 30-July 6, 2013)

A quotation of Lao Tzu on 'great acts,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (The Sun, 2011): Courtesy: Oasis TV

The Toronto Sun Columnist Terms Pakistan the Ground Zero of International Terrorism

Tarek Fatah's June 26, 2013 column in the Toronto Sun

Image courtesy: Toronto Sun (Toronto, Canada)

Tarek Fatah, a Pakistan-born Canadian and a columnist for the Toronto Sun weekly, in a recent column terms Pakistan as the “ground zero of international terrorism.” 

He writes: “It seems Israel and America are blind beyond Iran. While Iran possesses no nuclear warheads, it is considered the primary threat to world peace. On the other hand, Pakistan, with an arsenal of more than 100 nukes, continues to be fed billions of American dollars while Israel seems oblivious to Islamabad’s threat."

He then enumerates with dates the acts of terrorism perpetrated by Pakistanis in different countries of the world from September, 1986 to May, 2010. 

He usually writes on issues related to Islam and Muslims. There are Muslims and others who support him for his moderate Islamic stance and there are other Muslims who denounce him for not supporting radical Islam.

His full column, “Pakistan: a bigger threat than Iran,” can be read by clicking on the image above and his other columns can be accessed at:Toronto Sun/Tarek Fatah.

Brother Nicholas Thielman, CSC, Observes His Golden Jubilee in the USA

Brother Nicholas Thielman, CSC, a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross and a missionary to Bangladesh for 45 years, celebrated his 50 years of Brotherhood in Silver Spring of Maryland, USA, on June 9. 

The golden jubilee celebration at the local White Oak Community Centre comprised of a special jubilee Mass and a reception followed by dinner. Father John Ford, CSC, of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., Father John Stanley Gomes of the Seton Hall University in New Jersey, and Father Thaddeus Hembrom, CSC, a Bangladeshi priest and a student at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, concelebrated the Mass. Some American relatives and friends of Brother Thielman joined several dozen Bangladeshi-Americans in this celebration.

Jude V. Gomez, President of the Mary Lou Kalla Foundation (MLKF), that assists over 100 tribal students in Dinajpur District of Bangladesh with a school and educational materials, welcomed the jubilarian and his relatives, friends, and well-wishers. The attraction of the reception was the Bangladeshi dance sequences of children. 

At the Golden Jubilee Mass at White Oak Community Centre of Silver Spring, Maryland, USA: L-R: Brother Nicholas Thielman, CSC, Father John Stanley Gomes (from Seton Hall University, New Jersey), Father John Ford, CSC, (from the Catholic University of America (Washington, D.C.) and Father Thadeus Hembrom, CSC (Bangladeshi priest and a student at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana.

Brother Thielman and Father Ford at the Jubilee Mass

A section of the Jubilee Mass attendants

Singers and musicians at the Jubilee Mass

Brother Thielman in front of a banner announcing the golden jubilee of his Brotherhood

Brother Thielman decked with a garland and flowers in the Bengalee style

Father John Stanley Gomes speaking at the jubilee celebration

Brother Binoy Gomes, CSC, the former Provincial of the Brothers of Holy Cross in Bangladesh, speaking on the life and work of Brother Thielman in Bangladesh

Children greeting Brother Thielman with one of the Bangladeshi dances

Brother Thielman with the dancers

Jude V. Gomez, President of the Mary Lou Foundatin in Silver Spring, along with some organizers of the Jubilee celebration is greeting Brother Thielman

Brother Thielman with a section of male and female organizers

Photos: @ the courtesy of Jude V. Gomez

The Quotation of the Week (June 23-29, 2013)

A roadside tea-stall on Pubail Road at Tongi, Bangladesh

Photo (January 10, 2012) © Jerome D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (June 16-22, 2013)

A quotation on 'history' by Edmund Burke, compiled by Jerome D'Costa