52 Week Photography Project

— January 2024

Week 1 — Everything Old Is New Again

The Mission church of San Xavier del Bac dates back to the late 1700’s when construction began in 1783 and was completed in 1797. In 1963 the United States government named San Xavier del Bac as a National Historic Landmark. San Xavier is a parish church that serves the Tohono O’Odham nation in Tucson, Arizona. Restoration of the church began in 1999 and continues through today, hence the theme — Everything Old is New Again.

Week 2 — The Circle Game

“And the seasons, they go round and round. And the painted ponies go up and down. We’re captive on the carousel of time, We can’t return, we can only look. Behind, from where we came, And go round and round and round, in the circle game. Happy 13th Amelia.

Week 3 — Soft, Like Cotton Candy Or Not

I went out to grab some sunset photos and it looked like it was going to be a complete bust. I started driving towards home and the sky kept turning more and more cotton candy like. I found a good spot where the sunset was on full display, along with the sharp needles of the cactus. So you get the soft sky, with the not so soft cactus.

Week 4 — Film Noir

After visiting a Catholic bookstore about 30 minutes from home, I made a detour on my return to visit the Shrine of St. Charbel. He was a hermit who lived in Lebanon in the 1800’s. Upon his death there were reports of dazzling lights surrounding his grave which finally faded after 45 days. His body was exuding a blood-like liquid. His grave has been opened 4 times, the last time nearly 75 years after his death, and his body is still exuding that liquid.
My wife has been having issues with recurring pericarditis, so I stopped to pray at the Shrine of St. Charbel, and to ask for healing of her heart.

Week 5 — Lie to me

My house was invaded by a bunch of teenage girls for a late celebration of our youngest daughters birthday. I decided to find something to do for a few hours. I drove to a church in South Phoenix owned by the Society of St. Pius X and found this statue of the Pieta. I grabbed the picture to document my visit, not necessarily thinking it would be my Week 5 picture. During vespers on Good Friday in the Eastern Catholic church we sing: “Seeing you on the Cross today, O Sinless Word, the spotless Virgin wept with maternal tenderness and her heart was sorely grieved. Groaning in pain from the depths of her soul, she spent herself tearing at her cheeks and her hair and beating her breast she cried out pitifully; Alas, O divine Child! Alas, O light of the world! Why are you fading from my eyes, O lamb of God?”

This cry of sadness was replaced with tears of joy three days later. That was the “lie” of Good Friday. As St. John Chrysostom preached, “O death where is your sting? O hell, where is your victory? Christ is risen, and you are overthrown.