It was a great moring in Sydney to-day. The ‘coathanger’ or Sydney harbour Bridge was closed to traffic. The tarmac was laid with real grass and dozens of cows were bought in to graze. Thousands of Sydneysiders arrived to enjoy a picnic breakfast with essentials like tea and coffeee available from a long row of coffee ’shops’ lining the length of the bridge. Unfortunately the skies opend at about 1030 and everyone, cows included had to scatter. However, it was great fun while it lasted.

Some exciting news has come our way. Good Night and God Bless Volume I has been announced the winner, Travel Guide section of the USA National Best Books Awards.

Hello! I am always looking for feedback and information about convent accommodation in Europe and I often hear from fellow travellers who are keen to pass on something interesting. This is how I have come to know about a new place of accommodation in South Kensington in the centre of London. Last time I was in London I stayed at a convent guesthouse located near the Gloucester Road tube station and opposite the Victoria and Albert Museum and close to Harrods, Royal Albert Hall, Brompton Orotory, etc - a great location and perfect for accessing London’s tourist sites. However the 3 separate accommodation houses of London’s Imperial College, which describes itself as ‘one of the best scientific, engineering and medical research and teaching institutions in the world,’ are all located in the same area. Now its not a convent but it worth the mention for the location and the price. Overnight accommodation ranges from around £27.00 pp per night (share bathroom) with breakfast included and a litle more if you want your own private bathroom facilities. The College’s accommodation complex Southside Halls, is run along hotel lines and prices here range from £36.00 pp per night. Single and twin rooms are available and the inevitable clothes washing problem is solved as a laundry is provided for the use of guests in all three houses. Over 1500 guestrooms are available over the summer holiday period from the end of June to the end of September. Guestrooms are available which are suitable for the disabled. I am looking forward to checking this out in person. Website address is http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/summeraccommodation
‘Til next time…

MONTREAL — A Beaconsfield, Que., church has gone to the dogs. Really.

Christ Church Beaurepaire in the community on the Island of Montreal is about to begin offering a monthly church service that will include dogs. Called Paws and Pray, the communion service will feature bread and wine, as well as doggie treats and bowls of water for the four-legged ‘parishioners.’The church’s minister, Michael Johnson, said he has always enjoyed doing a pet blessing once a year, so he was open to the suggestion made by an animal-rights activist to include dogs in a church service.

“It’s to recognize the value of dogs,” said Johnson, who will not be offended if there is barking during his sermon.

The first Paws and Pray will be held on Oct. 4. The pilot project will continue once a month for four months, to see if there is real interest in bringing dogs to church.”The members seem happy about it,” said Johnson, who added the service is not an attempt to entice more people into going to church, but to perhaps reach a group of people who would otherwise not have come.”We just want to respond to peoples’ needs,” said Johnson. “I hope the dogs will feel honoured and welcomed.”

Johanne Tasse, who suggested the idea to Johnson, said she believes the idea can have a profound impact.”Animals deserve our care and respect,” said Tasse, who is president of the Companion Animal Adoption Centres of Quebec. “If we can bring dogs to church, how can we turn around and abuse them?”She believes that the “deplorable” state of animal welfare in Quebec requires people take a closer look at how animals impact our lives.”There are search-and-rescue dogs, search-and-recovery dogs, dogs to help the disabled, dogs that go into hospitals,” said Tasse. “Dogs help us so much and we need to recognize them as being part of our lives.”She believes that by welcoming dogs into a house of worship, people will be less likely to neglect their dogs and the Paws and Pray service can help effect a change of attitude.”We’ve lost a little bit of our humanity,” said Tasse. “The time is right to elevate (animals’) significance in our lives.”

As for spirituality, Johnson said the jury is out on whether animals have souls.

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