#ActonU Day 1-2: For the study of religion and liberty

This time, my view for a while involved a windshield and, for a long stretch of Illinois and Indiana, Krazy Kaplan discount fireworks signs. I mean, there were literally dozens of big billboards, one after another.

A bird’s eye view of the complex where Acton U meets and has met for the last few years in Grand Rapids.  Just across the river is the Gerard Ford Presidential Library/Museum.  It’s really interesting.

The speak at the first evening was a woman from Senegal who spoke about entrepreneurship and about how foreign aid has tended to create job killing, business dressing dependence.   We also saw the trailer for Poverty Inc, which I cam assure you is tremendous.   It is on Amazon (click below) and will soon be also on Netflix.   It is, as I write, the #5 in documentaries on Amazon.

Click!

Sometimes the food at conferences isn’t so great. This was no rubber chicken. And they served over 1000 people from over 50 countries in no time.

So, the first full day begins.  Note the first item in the daily email to participants.

I am now off to Mass. At Acton U we have both Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms. I like to call the later the “Adult Mass”.

More later.

UPDATE:

Some photos were captured from Mass.  We had a good representation of the participants, from many countries.  Some priests came as well.

IMG_0363

IMG_0373

It was a nice, quiet way to begin (without the… you know… ).

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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14 Comments

  1. Dave P. says:

    I like to call the later the “Adult Mass”.

    Although I would think that the OF is reverently celebrated in such a setting…

    [Yes, of course it is. This is a pretty solid group.]

  2. acardnal says:

    Are those white lentils that the chicken is on top of?

  3. Mike says:

    A few weeks ago I returned East from Chicago via the Tollway and I-80. The Krazy Kaplan’s signs came almost as a relief after all the billboards touting shyster lawyers and “gentlemen’s” clubs.

  4. Nan says:

    The lock picks used in watergate are in the Gerald Ford museum. I believe the library is in Ann Arbor.

  5. Semper Gumby says:

    Have a great conference Fr. Z.

    And, of course…Acton Institute!

    [ACTON INSTITUTE!]

  6. JesusFreak84 says:

    Given how small that room looks, I’d imagine a second room for Mass was going to be required anyway =-S

  7. KatharineH says:

    Thank you Father for such a beautiful Mass this morning, and the profound and usable homily. May God bless your day!

  8. Phil_NL says:

    It’s a pity I’ll probably never make it to Action U, for the simply fact that this is always exam grading season for me. If only they’d hold it a month later…

    Enjoy, father!

  9. Jenson71 says:

    Head’s up: “Poverty Inc.” is currently available to instantly stream on Netflix.

  10. Justin_Kolodziej says:

    Ha! Krazy Kaplan…Hammond, IN’s pride and joy :^) I think someone else will buy most of those billboards on July 5th…probably bail bonds.

    I would say try Schoop’s on Indianapolis or Madvek’s on Calumet on the way back, but I’m not sure even really good hamburgers or hot dogs are your thing, Fr.

    Have a blessed conference!

  11. Suburbanbanshee says:

    The small fiddleback looks very practical for a small room/aisle like that. And it’s beautiful, too.

  12. pannw says:

    acardnal, it looks like Israeli Couscous to me. Whatever it is, it looks tasty.

    Have a wonderful conference, Father. Someday I would like to attend, also.

  13. HealingRose says:

    “I like to call the later the ‘Adult Mass’.”

    I love this! Reminds me of the holidays when families have the adult table decorated fancy and the plain kid’s table. Coincidence?

  14. PTK_70 says:

    Latin Rite? But there are various Latin rites, one of which is the Roman Rite, of which there are two forms. Maybe I’ll fire off a note to ACTON INSTITUTE!

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