November 27th 2011 Letter from Castor

Dear parents of Joseph Chow

I am very happy today to write to you a letter.  First of all, how are you.  Concerning to me with my family we are very fine except my father only who is suffering.  His muscles cramps serveral times and this makes him t o fieel harship, but the rest of my family are so fine.

The letter is just to extend my thankful to your for your much support within my studies and future life in general.  Because I do believe that one day with this education I am getting now is showing me to take a place where I can enjoy good life.  God bless you all.

Thank you for your August letters.  And I enjoyed to hear that your family is doing well .  I am very glad to your good story and information about your family members.  I hope even me if God wishes I can come there and see you all and perform various things with you this is because I like more to share ideas with people so that to get various news and information's.  Also I like playing various sports and football, table tennis and I like mores studying.
According to our culture, people are likely to play "Ngoma" (drums) and we have various types of Ngoma such as Singenge, Mzombe, Mtotonto, Katasima and so on.  These Ngoma are mostly practiced during circumcision of young boys period usually in June and December.  Young girls also when they becoming mature are also collected together and taught about how they can form their life when they will get married and taught how to cook foods like ugali, mboga and so on.  And when they finished their teachings, people to go play Ngoma as a sign of happy to that their daughters and sons are now full knowing various adult duties and responsibilities.
These kinds of culture are practiced by the people found in tribes of southern part of Tanzania such as Makua, Yao and Makonde.  I am a member of the Yao tribe.
The leader of our clan is titled "Mwenye".  The man controls the whole clan and maintains discipline and people.  But for the moments these people are starting disappear since to many tribes in their clans there is no Mwenye the most causeful factor is globalization as people especially we young people do not like to live in the such kind of life hence we do against clan rule, even if not all of the rules.
When I was on holiday in September I enjoyed much with my parents, brothers, sisters and others in my family we are six children.  Two girls, four boys.  Our first born is girl, second and third boys, fourth is girl and fifth and sixth are boys.  I am the third born to my family.  My sister and brother still have no job to do since they lacked education.  So they are at home and jobless.  I am the one who a luck of being educated.  My family is so poor so they depends on me so that I can save them.  S do to your support you have boosted me very much and I see the light that I can save the family and society at large.  Than you very much.
Concerning my studies, I do better since the last term  I was the third of 56 students in my class and my grade was a B.  Am sure that the coming term I will be the first because of the many books and materials which also come from you.
I enjoy writing a letter to you.  May God bless you.  Amen!

Yours thankfully
Castor Alfred

Daniel set up the web page

http://www.jlcmemorialfund.org/

On the Death of the Beloved

Though we need to weep your loss,
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts
Where no storm or night or pain can reach you.

Your love was like the dawn
Brightening over our lives,
Awakening beneath the dark
A further adventure of color.

The sound of your voice
Found for us
A new music
That brightened everything.

Whatever you enfolded in your gaze
Quickened in the joy of being;
You placed smiles like flowers
On the altar of the heart.
Your mind always sparkled
With wonder at things.

Though your days here were brief,
Your spirit was alive, awake, complete.

We look toward each other no longer
From the old distance of our names;
Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath,
As close to us as we are to ourselves.

Though we cannot see you with outward eyes,
We know our soul's gaze is upon your face,
Smiling back at us from within everything
To which we bring our best refinement.

Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Beside us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows
And musi echoes eternal tones.

When orchids brighten the earth,
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In every heart that loves you.

May you continue to inspire us:
To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again.

 John O'Donohue

Thanksgiving Football game

This year was the Joe Chow third annual football game.  I went to the field and watched, ant the boys/men were so obviously having a great time, it was fun.  Thanks for everyone for showing up!

New website for Joseph

http://www.jlcmemorialfund.org/

Fordham Preparatory School March 28, 2011 - We are honored

Reservations are still being accepted through Tuesday afternoon (11/15) for the 2011 Hall of Honor Dinner which will be held in The Garden Terrace Room of The New York Botanical on Friday night, November 18, 2011. Among the inductees are past and present faculty members Father Charles Sullivan, S.J., Alfred Mehmel, Robert Hawthorn, Gus Stellwag `49 and among alumni are Joseph Chow `03, Patrick Joyce `88, Dr. Bill Magee `62, founder of Operation Smile, and George Jackson `76. The cost to attend the dinner is $300. Contact Larry Curran in the Alumni Office by e-mail at curranL@fordhamprep.org or by telephone at 718-367-7500 ext. 208 to make reservations or if you would like more information.

Happy 26th Birthday