BARBARA MAHANY LIGHTS UP THE HOME
COVER STORY—Mother’s Day is looming and, this week, we interview columnist Barbara Mahany about her new book, Motherprayer: Lessons in Loving. Written over more than 10 years, this collection of short reflections on family life (with a sprinkling of delicious recipes) is the perfect interactive gift for Mother’s Day. Our story includes some brief excerpts of the book, as well. Enjoy!
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HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS
The easiest way to remember Stephanie Fenton’s Holidays & Festivals section of our magazine is via the simplified address: www.InterfaithHolidays.org.
WELCOME THE LIGHT! Some of the biggest Beltane headlines, each year, come from Scotland and the fiery festival held for many years in Edinburgh. But Beltane festivals—welcoming the brighter half of the year in the Northern Hemisphere—now circle the globe. Stephanie Fenton has that story, too.
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RIDVAN—The festival of Ridvan recalls a sacred period when Baha’u’llah, the Promised One for Baha’is, entered and temporarily took up residence in the Najibiyyih Garden, in 1863. The site was renamed by Baha’u’llah as “Ridvan,” meaning “paradise.”
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CINCO DE MAYO—This popular May 5 observance is an occasion to revel in Mexican food, culture, dance and music. Many American schools and communities hold Mexican educational events, and iconic Mexican symbols—including the Virgin of Guadalupe—are displayed.
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A GOLDEN CELBRATION
GOD SIGNS—It’s high time for celebration as Suzy Farbman and her husband mark 50 years of marriage. Usually, she brings us columns about remarkable moments in the lives of men and women she meets nationwide. This week, it’s time for a story from her own family. Congratulations Suzy and Burton!
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FILM & FAITH:
ED McNULTY, for decades, has published reviews, magazine articles and books exploring connections between faith and film. Most of his work freely published at VisualParables.org.
Among Ed’s latest free movie reviews are:
- THE PROMISE—This week, Ed weighs in on the movie that’s sparking headlines worldwide, because of its portrayal of the Armenian Genocide a century ago. Ed gives The Promise 4.5 out of 5 stars. You may also want to read last week’s Cover Story about global controversy that remains around this tragic event.
- FRANTZ—Given this week’s theme in ReadTheSpirit, this heart-felt German-French production is a terrific choice—set in the World War I era and exploring the human cost of war long after the conflict ends. (5 out of 5 stars)
- PERSONAL SHOPPER—Starring Kristen Stewart, the movie seems to be a mix of genres, including ghost stories and thrillers. (4.5 stars)
- BORN IN CHINA—It’s appropriate that Disney engaged Chinese director Lu Chuan to helm this beautiful nature film, most of which was shot in the China highlands. (4 stars)
- AFTER THE STORM—Japanese director/writer Hirokazu Koreeda explores the broken life of a Japanese family in both a dramatic and humorous way, bringing out well the universal theme of not living up to one’s early promise. (5 stars)
- LAND of MINE—In his Oscar-nominated film, Danish director/writer Martin Zandvliet gives us a new slant on WW 2, as well as an always needed lesson on human decency. (5 out of 5 stars)
- LOGAN—The latest X-men thriller also gets 5 stars.
- ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE—Ed reflects on the Holocaust film along with excerpts from Psalms. (4.5 stars)
- WHITE HELMETS—”We are indebted to Netflix for making documentarian Orlando von Einsiedel’s short film so widely available,” Ed writes. (5 stars)
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