Your Bio

I'm a Catholic writer, photographer, artist, secular Carmelite, singer of Gregorian chant and polyphony.

Featured Galleries

2008 Sacred Music Colloquium (CMAA) Loyola University, Chicago : From June 16 through June 22,2008, 250 lovers of Gregorian chant and Sacred Polypohony met at the Church Music Association of America Colloquium at Loyola University's beautiful Lakeshore campus. The instruction and talks were great, the Loyola accomodations were comfortable, and the staff went way out their way for us. Several levels of Gregorian chant scholas and four different polyphony groups met daily to prepare to sing at the liturgies. Besides Masses, we sang at Morning Prayer, Vespers, Compline and a Holy Hour. Sing, sing, sing to the Lord seven days in a row with hundreds of kindred souls. I tell you, that's my idea of a good time. From the little story I'm going to tell you, the joy of the music in such a rarified environment must have created quite a glow on our faces. On Sat. evening in the dining hall, I met a small group that had come on campus for a rally for a local Democratic candidate, and when they asked, I told them I was with a Sacred Music Colloquium. One woman said, "That explains all the sweet faces I've been seeing." In this gallery, you can see for yourself the hundreds of sweet faces and some of the other sights of the week.

2008 Sacred Music Colloquium (CMAA) Loyola University, Chicago

From June 16 through June 22,2008, 250 lovers of Gregorian chant and S ...

Updated: Jun 26, 2008 5:13pm PST

Galleries

2008 Sacred Music Colloquium (CMAA) Loyola University, Chicago : From June 16 through June 22,2008, 250 lovers of Gregorian chant and Sacred Polypohony met at the Church Music Association of America Colloquium at Loyola University's beautiful Lakeshore campus. The instruction and talks were great, the Loyola accomodations were comfortable, and the staff went way out their way for us. Several levels of Gregorian chant scholas and four different polyphony groups met daily to prepare to sing at the liturgies. Besides Masses, we sang at Morning Prayer, Vespers, Compline and a Holy Hour. Sing, sing, sing to the Lord seven days in a row with hundreds of kindred souls. I tell you, that's my idea of a good time. From the little story I'm going to tell you, the joy of the music in such a rarified environment must have created quite a glow on our faces. On Sat. evening in the dining hall, I met a small group that had come on campus for a rally for a local Democratic candidate, and when they asked, I told them I was with a Sacred Music Colloquium. One woman said, "That explains all the sweet faces I've been seeing." In this gallery, you can see for yourself the hundreds of sweet faces and some of the other sights of the week.

2008 Sacred Music Colloquium (CMAA) Loyola University, Chicago

From June 16 through June 22,2008, 250 lovers of Gregorian chant and S ...

Updated: Jun 26, 2008 5:13pm PST

San Miguel hike April 2008 :

San Miguel hike April 2008

Updated: Apr 30, 2008 8:35pm PST

Roseanne Sullivan, Artist, Graphic Designer :

Roseanne Sullivan, Artist, Graphic Designer

Updated: Apr 01, 2008 12:24pm PST

Sankta Lucia Danish Party - Mary Fischer and Whitfield Diffie : According to Wikipedia, "in Denmark, the Day of Lucia (Luciadag) was first celebrated on December 13, 1944. The tradition was directly imported from Sweden by initiative of Franz Wend, secretary of Föreningen Norden, as an attempt 'to bring light in a time of darkness.' Implicitly it was meant as a passive protest against German occupation during the Second World War but it has been a tradition ever since." Night Walks with a Heavy Step (English translation of the Danish song) Night walks with a heavy step Round yard and hearth, As the sun departs from earth, Shadows are brooding. There in our dark house, Walking with lit candles, Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! Night walks grand, yet silent, Now hear its gentle wings, In every room so hushed, Whispering like wings. Look, at our threshold stands, White-clad with light in her hair, Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! Darkness shall take flight soon, From earth’s valleys. So she speaks a Wonderful Word to us: A new day will rise again From the rosy sky… Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia!

Sankta Lucia Danish Party - Mary Fischer and Whitfield Diffie

According to Wikipedia, "in Denmark, the Day of Lucia (Luciadag) was f ...

Updated: Mar 28, 2008 9:30pm PST

St. Joseph's Table 2005 :

St. Joseph's Table 2005

Updated: Mar 12, 2008 8:30pm PST

OCDS December Promises 2007 :

OCDS December Promises 2007

Updated: Jan 23, 2008 11:47pm PST

Professor Mahrt photos :

Professor Mahrt photos

Updated: Dec 17, 2007 9:23am PST

St. Ann Choir Fall 2007 : There are three parts to this gallery. Lauds at Prof. Mahrt's home on Sunday mornings. In 1999, the St. Ann Chapel choir was forced to find another church to sing Sunday Mass at, whien St. Ann Chapel was sold. The choir currently is still able to sing Sunday Vespers at St. Ann chapel even though it is owned by traditional Anglicans . About a year ago, the Anglicans started having their own Sunday Lauds. which displaced the choir once again. After a search for another location proved fruitless, Prof. Mahrt opened his home for whoever wants to sing Lauds every week he is around. Aferwards is always a collation. The rest of this gallery has photos from a rehearsal in the St. Thomas Aquinas Church hall, and a celebration in the garden Oct. 7, 2007 for the 44th anniversary of the choir, which started on the 19th Sunday after Pentecost in 1963 when Bill was a graduate student in musicology.

St. Ann Choir Fall 2007

Clothing and promises Secular Carmelites July 2007 :

Clothing and promises Secular Carmelites July 2007

Updated: Sep 15, 2007 6:25pm PST

Baptism in the Traditional Rite: All the photos fit to print :

Baptism in the Traditional Rite: All the photos fit to print

Updated: Sep 02, 2007 2:17am PST

Baptism in the Traditional Manner: Favorite photos from Martha Wilson's Baptism by Fr. Michael Wiener : The baptism shown in these photos took place at St. Margaret Mary Church, 1213 Excelsior, Oakland, CA., using the traditional rite. As it happened, I witnessed another Baptism the next day at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Palo Alto, where I was singing our usual Sunday Noon Novus Ordo Latin Mass with The St. Ann Choir. That second Baptism of an 18 year old young man who converted to Catholicism too was performed reverently by a wonderful conventual Franciscan priest. Fr. Nahoe. But it lacked the richness of the ritual used for Martha's Baptism. For her, the rite of Baptism started outside the church door.. Martha was asked for her baptismal name (Martha Philomena), salt was put on her tongue, she was exorcised, many prayers were said for her, she was annointed, all before Father Wiener covered her head and led her into the Baptistry. In 1989, the Most Rev. John S. Cummins, former Bishop of Oakland, granted St. Margaret Mary Church permission to use the 1962 Roman Missal for Mass, so they have been offering it ever since. In 2005, he Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron, Bishop of Oakland, appointed Fr. Michael Wiener of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, as Episcopal delegate for the Latin Rite of 1962 in the Diocese of Oakland, where he ministers at St. Margaret Mary. The Traditional Latin Mass (now called the extraordinary form of the Roman rite) is said at a daily low Mass at 6:00 p.m. Every Sunday the High Mass (Gregorian Schola, Children's Choir, Adult Choir, and Organ) is offered at 12:30pm. Fr. Wiener also ministers at the Santa Clara Oratory of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, established by Most Reverend Patrick McGrath. Bishop of San Jose. After many years of trying to convert to Catholicism and many misadventures and diversions along the way, Martha Wilson found Fr. Wiener, who instructed her in the Catholic faith. And so it came about on August 25, 2007, he baptized her using the traditional rite, at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. She received her first Communion the next day at the Santa Clara Oratory. Her confirmation will be performed this Fall by Bishop Vigneron in the traditional Roman Rite.

Baptism in the Traditional Manner: Favorite photos from Martha Wilson's Baptism by Fr. Michael Wiener

The baptism shown in these photos took place at St. Margaret Mary Chur ...

Updated: Sep 01, 2007 11:13pm PST

Carmelite Monastery 90th Anniversary - Santa Clara Weekly :

Carmelite Monastery 90th Anniversary - Santa Clara Weekly

Updated: Sep 01, 2007 5:54pm PST

Wedding at the Santa Clara Carmelite Chapel : Copyright 2007

Wedding at the Santa Clara Carmelite Chapel

Copyright 2007

Updated: Sep 01, 2007 3:35pm PST

Camping Point Reyes California July 2007 :

Camping Point Reyes California July 2007

Updated: Aug 21, 2007 8:26am PST

CMAA Colloquium 2007 : Over 140 musicians came together at Catholic University of America from June 19 to 24 to learn from and to perform with experts and be immersed in the Catholic Church's Gregorian chant and polyphony. The 2007 Colloquium of the Church Music Association of America doubled in size from 2006. Due to lack of space, organizers had to reluntantly turn away potential attendees for months. Advertised as Six Days of Musical Heaven, the event lived up to its billing. A heavenly time was had by just about everyone. For how to attend the 2008 colloquium in Chicagp: http://www.musicasacra.com/colloquium

CMAA Colloquium 2007

Over 140 musicians came together at Catholic University of America fr ...

Updated: Jul 19, 2007 12:43pm PST

Favorite photos from Anita and Joseph's wedding :

Favorite photos from Anita and Joseph's wedding

Updated: May 07, 2007 6:43pm PST

Mansour Wedding Photos by Myrna Hilo :

Mansour Wedding Photos by Myrna Hilo

Updated: May 07, 2007 5:39pm PST

A lot of photos by Roseanne : This category contains photos taken at the wedding of OCDS members Anita Sullins and Joseph Mansour, April 14, 2007. The wedding was performed by Rev. Christopher LaRocca, OCD. Blurry photos are ones taken after I was asked to turn off the flash.

A lot of photos by Roseanne

This category contains photos taken at the wedding of OCDS members Ani ...

Updated: May 07, 2007 2:27pm PST

Sister Martha visit after my foot surgery 3/200 7 :

Sister Martha visit after my foot surgery 3/200 7

Updated: Apr 18, 2007 9:35pm PST

Check photos :

Check photos

Updated: Mar 06, 2007 11:55am PST

2006 Year in Pictures :

2006 Year in Pictures

Updated: Mar 06, 2007 11:46am PST

Sacred Music Workshop Auburn AL 2/2007 : Sacred Music Workshop sponsored by St. Cecilia Schola Cantorum in Auburn Alabama 2/2007. Directed by Scott Turkington.

Sacred Music Workshop Auburn AL 2/2007

Sacred Music Workshop sponsored by St. Cecilia Schola Cantorum in Aubu ...

Updated: Mar 01, 2007 12:23am PST

Cousins Joyce and Jeff visit from Wisconsin : Janice Priebe and her nephew Jeff visited from Wisconsin, and here are some photos her visit. Dear Janice Rose Priebe passed away this morning at 3:15 Wisconsin time. The breast cancer she contracted in 1990 was starting to bother her again by the time she came to visit. It had spread to the bones in her arm, and left one arm partly paralyzed. She had a good time on the trip. That I did know.

Cousins Joyce and Jeff visit from Wisconsin

Janice Priebe and her nephew Jeff visited from Wisconsin, and here are ...

Updated: Feb 03, 2007 2:21am PST

Fu Family Visits :

Fu Family Visits

Updated: Jan 29, 2007 10:22pm PST

Carmelite Vicar General Visits : Carmelite Father General Luis Aróstegui visited Santa Clara Carmel of the Infant Jesus November 8, 2006. He concelebrated the Mass on the Memorial of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity with friars from the Mount St. Joseph monastery in San Jose. Three Carmelite Orders were present: the friars (the first order), cloistered nuns (the second order), and secular Carmelites like myself (the third order).

Carmelite Vicar General Visits

Carmelite Father General Luis Aróstegui visited Santa Clara Carmel of ...

Updated: Jan 29, 2007 8:59pm PST

My Lost Trip to Prague 9/14/2006-9/25/2006 : On my way to Prague to sing in a music festival with St. Ann choir of Palo Alto, I was diverted into my own private version of Terminal, the movie, Munich style. About 10 of us choir members had left San Francisco about 10 p.m. 9/14. 12 hours or so later, we arrived in Munich abouut an hour after the flight attendants had given us breakfast. Some of us went out for a beer (my first but not last exposure to breakfast beer), and when we stood up to go the departure gate for our connecting flight to Prague, I realized I didn't have my passport any more. Two of the choir members, Stewart and Erick, were still with me and stayed with me until they were in danger of missing the flight themselves. I am very grateful to them, because their concern made the things that ensued easier to bear. 10 days laterI met the grup at SFO on their return. They think that someone sent my passport on the plane because as they left the plane in Prague someone was calling my name. If the passport had stayed in the Munich airport, I might have been able to get it back and take the next plane to join the choir. As it was, it appears the Lord had other plans for me.

My Lost Trip to Prague 9/14/2006-9/25/2006

On my way to Prague to sing in a music festival with St. Ann choir of ...

Updated: Nov 28, 2006 8:30pm PST

Our Lady of Peace & St. Thomas Aquinas :

Our Lady of Peace & St. Thomas Aquinas

Roy Schoeman : I interviewed author Roy Schoeman and took the photos in this album in late May 2006. Roy is the author of a popular Ignatius Press book titled Salvation is Fromt he Jews: The Role of Judaism in Salvation History From Abraham to the Second Coming. Roy also authored a book published in Spring 2007 called Honey from the Rock: Sixteen Jews Find the Sweetness of Christ. I had met Roy on a pilgrimage to Israel the previous November 2005. He spoke to the group at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Pilgrimage Center about his conversion on the evening of the day when we all went to the Wailing Wall, and I had been moved to pray for the conversion of the Jews who are still awaiting the Messiah.

Roy Schoeman

I interviewed author Roy Schoeman and took the photos in this album in ...

Updated: Aug 09, 2006 4:32am PST

Raymond Arroyo :

Raymond Arroyo

Updated: May 23, 2006 2:26am PST

First Profession of OCD Vows 3/2005 Mt. St. Joseph :

First Profession of OCD Vows 3/2005 Mt. St. Joseph

Updated: Apr 26, 2006 7:19pm PST

OCDS December 2005 -- Christmas festivities :

OCDS December 2005 -- Christmas festivities

Updated: Apr 24, 2006 7:55pm PST

Monsignor Sweeny and Our Lady of Peace Shrine :

Monsignor Sweeny and Our Lady of Peace Shrine

Updated: Apr 03, 2006 8:16am PST

Other people's photos :

Other people's photos

Updated: Apr 02, 2006 8:03pm PST

100 Year Old Crucifix Restored : The Crucifix That Once Was Lost, Then Found, Returned, Reassembled, Restored, and Reinstalled in its Rightful Place These photos are from an article I wrote about the restoration of a priceless hand carved, painted, silvered, and gilded wooden crucifix from Italy that was installed in my church (Holy Cross San Jose) in 1907. In the beginning, the church was a mission to the many Italians in the neighborhood under the Latin name SS Sagradischimo Crucifisci. In the 60s, the crucifix was considered to be out of style, and so the pastor took it down and threw it away. Soledad Vallejo, the caretaker, rescued it and kept in her garage for almost 40 years. After her death, her daughter offered the crucifix back to the church--in pieces. Brother Charles Muscat and his birth brother Grezio put it back together. Current pastor Father Clair Orso hired David Dittmann, a Santa Clara art restorer, to bring it back to its original beauty. Dave finished the restoration in time for the crucifix to be reinstalled behind the altar at the start of a year-long celebration of the church's centenary. It was reinstalled at the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross!

100 Year Old Crucifix Restored

Walk for Life San Francisco Jan. 22, 2006 :

Walk for Life San Francisco Jan. 22, 2006

Updated: Feb 25, 2006 10:44pm PST

Trip for the 50th Anniversary of Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos : These photos are about my trip to the the Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos home in Miacatlan Mexico where Guadalupe, the girl I sponsor, and her three sisters live. For more details, see this article at my website.

Trip for the 50th Anniversary of Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos

These photos are about my trip to the the Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos ...

Updated: Feb 16, 2006 6:29am PST

Mount of Beatitudes, Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, and more :

Mount of Beatitudes, Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, and more

Updated: Feb 10, 2006 12:03am PST

Outside and Inside the Shrine of the Nativity and the Adjacent Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria : In November 2005 when we travelled to Bethlehem, the town was under Palestinian control. This is probably the place to mention that Israeli tour organizers don't guarantee any spot on a planned itinerary. They have cell phones, and keep in touch with their contacts, and only take tourists to sites if the situation is stable on that day. There was some uncertainty about whether we could go to Bethlehem. On the day we went, the tour guides decided it would be safe. When we got to the border, we left our Israeli-owned buses in a parking garage and walked up a sidewalk and into another building that served as a checkpoint. Soldiers walked above us with rifles on catwalks. We were told to put our belongings on an airport-style conveyor belt for screening. On the other side, we boarded a Palestinian-owned bus and drove to the center of the town. We left the bus in a paved outdoor parking lot and walked up a hill in a drizzle. The tour guides guided us into one of the shops, which was run by Christian Arabs. As usual, we were forced to spend more time in the shop than at the holy site itself.

Outside and Inside the Shrine of the Nativity and the Adjacent Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria

Posterized photos : My photos got affected by the airport Xrays. The batch I took in Jerusalem was of very poor quality. So I tried some enhancements in PhotoShop, mostly using posterization. I don't know the mechanics of posterization, but it gives more definition to pictures. The effect is like adding a black line around color. In painting, outlines are to be avoided, as they are to be avoided in artistic photos. But since the photos were so unclear, I posterized them to give them more detail, fine art principles be darned. Comments are welcome. Do you prefer these or the same ones without posterization in the other Bethlehem gallery?

Posterized photos

My photos got affected by the airport Xrays. The batch I took in Jerus ...

Updated: Feb 04, 2006 9:46pm PST

EWTN 25th Anniversary Family Celebration San Francisco : See Quoteable Quotes from this event at: roseannesullivan.blogspot.com/2006/02/quotes-from_ewtn-25th-anniversary.html

EWTN 25th Anniversary Family Celebration San Francisco

See Quoteable Quotes from this event at: roseannesullivan.blogspot.co ...

Updated: Feb 01, 2006 9:59pm PST

Golgotha, Adam's Tomb, the Rock of Annointing, and the Empty Tomb : The captions under the photos describe the scenes.

Golgotha, Adam's Tomb, the Rock of Annointing, and the Empty Tomb

The captions under the photos describe the scenes.

Updated: Jan 26, 2006 12:34am PST

Upper Room (Not!) Just Nearby : While we were out on the Sea of Galilee around noon on Day three, Gadi exultantly announced we would going to Jerusalem and stopping for a Mass at "the Upper Room." The thought of being at a Mass at the same spot where Christ instituted the Eucharist during the Last Supper and where the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, well that was inspiring. The site is also called "The Cenacle." We reverently entered into this little chapel in these photos. Our three priests said the Mass. I experienced many emotions of awe and thanksgiving. (I also shot a couple of rolls of film, one of which disappeared later.) Afterwards we filed up one by one and laid our hands on the image of Christ in the middle of the ugly modern sculpture representing the Last Supper behind the altar. I shot photos of many others, and regret the loss of that roll of film. We left relunctantly, and then when we were ushered outside again, Gadi said, "Now we will go to the Upper Room." Wasn't THAT the upper room? No, the upper room is available to all visitors, and the site is owned and administered by the City of Jerusalem. Oh. And why didn't you make that clear beforehand, Gadi? (I experienced quite a letdown at the false expectations Gadi created.) The Upper Room is a shrine built by the Crusaders. At least architecturally is is preferable to the 60s style chapel where we heard the Mass. But the spiritual reality is that Mass was still said and experienced with reverence and awe, and the love of Christ was there.

Upper Room (Not!) Just Nearby

While we were out on the Sea of Galilee around noon on Day three, Gadi ...

Updated: Jan 25, 2006 11:28pm PST

Gethsemane :

Gethsemane

Updated: Jan 25, 2006 11:22pm PST

Eight Hours in the Netherlands : Some of the eighty pilgrims on the Israel tour (11/2005) flew from LA to Amsterdam and then to Tel Aviv. Another group flew to Toronto and then to Tel Aviv. Those of us routed through Amsterdam flew all night, arrived at Amsterdam around 1 p.m. local time, had an eight hour layover, and then got on the plane for Israel. We were bussed from Tel Aviv to Haifa and Mount Carmel, arriving around 2:00 a.m. It was grueling traveling that way without sleeping in a bed for two days. Some tempers got frayed. But I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Eight Hours in the Netherlands

Some of the eighty pilgrims on the Israel tour (11/2005) flew from LA ...

Updated: Jan 25, 2006 10:28pm PST

Last day in Israel : Our last day in Israel was the only day when we did not visit a sacred site. We drove south of Jerusalem to the desert, to the Dead Sea and to Masada, Herod's imposing fortress.

Last day in Israel

Our last day in Israel was the only day when we did not visit a sacred ...

Updated: Jan 17, 2006 9:29pm PST

First stop: Stella Maris Pilgrimage Center on Mount Carmel : Three secular Carmelites from the Carmel of the Infant Jesus in Santa Clara went on a pilgrimage to Israel in November, 2005: Jim Fahey, Anita Sullins, and myself, Roseanne Sullivan. (I am a lay member of the Discalced Carmelite Order--a novice.) Because Mount Carmel is where our order started, starting our stay in Israel at the Stella Maris pilgrimage center that is run by the Carmelite nuns on Mount Carmel was inspiring. This group of photos is from the stay at Mount Carmel.

First stop: Stella Maris Pilgrimage Center on Mount Carmel

Three secular Carmelites from the Carmel of the Infant Jesus in Santa ...

Updated: Jan 11, 2006 10:40pm PST

ILM Graduation : Graduation of the Institute for Leadership in Ministry of the San Jose Diocese at St. Joseph's Cathedral on May 6, 2005. Captions can be edited. Please add names and other info if you would like.

ILM Graduation

Graduation of the Institute for Leadership in Ministry of the San Jose ...

Updated: Jan 11, 2006 9:26pm PST

Tonsil Cancer treatment Summer 2004 : For Good Treatment While I Went Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death A Big Thank You to All of You Who Cared for Me! In April of 2003, I was diagnosed with tonsil cancer. These are photos from my treatment, of myself, of nurses, doctors, and staff at the Camino Medical Group oncology treatment center, the radiation oncology treatment center at Palo Alto Medical Foundation, and some of the friends and family members who pitched in to give me rides to treatment almost every day and helped me in many ways. At the end are photos of me back to full enjoyment of life after my recovery. Thanks to God and thanks to all. And thanks to the many people who prayed for me.

Tonsil Cancer treatment Summer 2004

For Good Treatment While I Went Through the Valley of the Shadow of De ...

Updated: Jan 11, 2006 10:07am PST

Moveable Holiday at Linda Mrnak's 2004 : Linda has a party every January after she gets back from her holiday trip to Mandan, North Dakota, where her mother still lives. She puts her beautiful big tree up in December, and it stays up until the moveable feast day, which celebrates family, food, decorations, and an occasional friend. These photos are from January of 2004. You know what's really too bad? I didn't get to take a photo of Linda! Or Nicky!

Moveable Holiday at Linda Mrnak's 2004

Linda has a party every January after she gets back from her holiday t ...

Updated: Jan 06, 2006 6:27am PST

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