Susan Bailey - Music and More

You won't want to miss this event!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:04:00 +0000

This is a must for anyone involved in or just interested in learning about Catholic New Media. SQPN is hosting the Third Annual Catholic New Media Conference in Boston this year and if you live in this area (or even if you don't), BE SURE and attend. This is part of the new evangelization that Pope John Paul II spoke about. The internet is such a powerful tool for spreading the Gospel through podcasts, blogs, videos and music. Here is more information:

SQPN ANNOUNCES 3RD CATHOLIC NEW MEDIA CELEBRATION
Registration Opens, as Keynote Speakers and Program are
Unveiled for Annual Conference

Roswell, GA, April 29, 2010: The Star Quest Production Network (SQPN) announces the
third annual Catholic New Media Celebration, to be held in Boston, Massachusetts on
August 7, 2010, answering the Catholic Church’s call for a new evangelization and
Benedict XVI’s recent message that God’s Love “must be expressed in the digital world… as
something concrete, present and engaging.”

The Catholic New Media Celebration (CNMC) is a festive, educational, and international
conference focused on evangelization and building community through new media. This
event is designed to inform and inspire how interactive new media platforms, such as
blogging, podcasting, and social media are created, shared, and implemented. Within
an atmosphere of Christian community, attendees will learn how to effectively create and
share powerful, unique content for the benefit of the universal Catholic Church.

"This year's CNMC will focus particularly on three things," says Fr. Roderick Vonhögen,
CEO of SQPN. "We will be exploring the best practices for creating quality content; how
authentic catechesis and spirituality are incorporated; and, how a true sense of mission is
instilled in those who consume this media and become a part of our online communities," he
says.

Registration is now open at http://celebration.sqpn.com. All interested in New Media are
invited, including young adults (18+), ministry leaders, and priests and religious, to whom
Pope Benedict appealed in his 2010 World Communications Day message, to “become an
ever more pastoral presence on the web.”

SQPN gratefully acknowledges the Archdiocese of Boston for hosting the CNMC on August
7th at the Pastoral Center in Braintree, MA. A pre-event reception will take place on August
6th at the Omni Parker House Hotel in Boston.

SPECIAL GUESTS
Keynote speakers for the Catholic New Media Celebration are Fr. Robert Reed and Mr.
Lino Rulli.

FATHER ROBERT REED, Director of the ever-growing CatholicTV® Network, promotes the
dynamic use of television and new media for effective and entertaining Catholic
programming. A priest of the Archdiocese of Boston, Father Reed prepared for the
priesthood at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, and studied Broadcast
Administration at Boston University's School of Communication.

LINO RULLI currently produces Lino at Large, a radio program/podcast sponsored by the
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, syndicated on college radio stations, and
affiliated with SQPN. He is host of The Catholic Guy radio show airing on The Catholic
Channel of Sirius/XM Satellite Radio. Lino Rulli has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in
Communications and a Master's Degree in Theology.

PROGRAM
In addition to the keynote presentations by Fr. Reed and Mr. Rulli, the CNMC program will
include three breakout tracks.

Podcasting Track - The Podcasting Track, hosted by Fr. Roderick Vonhögen leading a
team of SQPN podcasters, will focus on the necessary elements for creating a high quality
and authentically Catholic show. Both instructional and inspirational, this track will conclude
with a live recording of SQPN's flagship program, "The Break with Fr. Roderick."

Blogging Track - New this year, the Blogging Track presents Thomas Peters (American
Papist at CatholicVoteAction.org) and Sarah Reinhard (Just Another Day of Catholic
Pondering at SnoringScholar.com) sharing their varied expertise and insights about Catholic
blogging. Also, blogger and author Rachel Balducci (Testosterhome,
FaithAndFamilyLive.com, How Do You Tuck In a Superhero?) will lead a panel discussion
with guest bloggers.

Children's Track – This new family-friendly track led by Allyson Sweeney from SQPN's
Catholic Family show will introduce youngsters to the fun of creating their own
podcasts. Lisa Mladinich of AmazingCatechists.com will demonstrate children’s catechesis
with Bible-based puppet shows and more. (Space and age limitations apply, see registration
details.)

NEW MEDIA GALLERY
The New Media Gallery is an opportunity for bloggers, podcasters, and other producers of
new media to exhibit their expertise. Gallery contributors may display their best practices,
innovations, and creative endeavors in an exhibit area, plus interact with conference
attendees at designated times. For details, see the Call for Presentations at
http://celebration.sqpn.com.

TIME & LOCATIONS
The Archdiocese of Boston is host to the CNMC on Saturday, August 7, 2010 at the Pastoral
Center of the Archdiocese, 66 Brooks Drive, Braintree, MA 02184. The CNMC begins at 9:00
am and ends at 5:00 pm.

A pre-event Meet-and-Greet reception, sponsored by the Catholic Company, will be held
Friday, August 6th, from 6:00-8:00 pm, at the Omni Parker House Hotel, the official hotel of
the CNMC, located at 60 School Street, Boston, MA 02108.

ABOUT SQPN
SQPN, the Star Quest Production Network, is a non-profit Catholic apostolate dedicated to
evangelization and formation through new media. SQPN creates engaging multi-media,
specializing in audio and video productions (known as podcasts) faithful to the teachings of
the Roman Catholic Church. Its mission responds to the Church’s call to use the media for
religious information, evangelization and catechesis, and formation and education.
SQPN.com is a portal for a select number of affiliated Catholic podcasters that share the
vision and media strategy of SQPN.

“Star Quest” refers to the star of Bethlehem that emerged and caught the attention of three
Magi from foreign cultures. The Magi’s quest led to the discovery of the newborn Savior.
The programs of SQPN tap into popular culture inviting people to journey together and
discover their own encounter with Christ.

Go to www.sqpn.com for more information.

Join our prayer community on Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 02:14:00 +0000

I've just set up a new page on Facebook called the Sung Rosary/Marian Cenacle Rosary Podcast page. Here you can listen to sample podcasts where I lead the rosary in song and recitation, modeled after the cenacle of the Marian Movement of Priests, founded by Fr. Stefano Gobbi. In this cenacle format, we pray the rosary, offer prayers for the Pope, listen to a reading from Fr. Gobbi's book, and consecrate ourselves to the Blessed Mother who exists only to lead us all to Jesus, her Son.

I have created this page as an extension of my http://www.sungrosary.com/ website. Here on this page we can share prayer requests and pray for each other. We can also share stories of blessings received from answered prayers. We can create a prayerful community on Facebook!

You can set up a badge like this one to invite others to join us:

Susan Bailey is a fan of

Sung Rosary/Marian Cenacle Rosary Podcast

Create your Fan Badge

I look forward to seeing you there!

Article about my husband's ordination to the Diaconate

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:14:00 +0000

The official magazine for the Melkite Church (Eastern Catholic), Sophia, ran this article about my husband Rich and his faith journey. Thought you'd like to see it.

A Journey of Faith
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church – Worcester, MA

On September 27th, 2009 Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church
in Worcester, MA celebrated the ordination of Richard Bailey as
Deacon Elias at the hands of His Grace Archbishop Cyril. His ordination was witnessed by the parishioners, gathered family members and friends, aswell as fellow candidates from the St
Gregory’s Deacon Training Program.

Deacon Elias has had an interesting faith journey leading to this moment. He recalls the first time he came to Our Lady of Perpetual Help as part of a field trip with Confirmation candidates from his former Roman Catholic parish of St Luke the Evangelist in Westborough, MA. Pastor Father Paul G. Frechette had given the group a brief description of the church itself as well as the Melkite church in general. This visit left a lasting impression on him, culminating in a year or so of discernment about joining the parish, which involved much prayer and research.

After joining the parish, Deacon Elias made the commitment to immerse himself in these ways that were totally new to him. He is thankful to all of the parishioners who helped him along in his journey.

Even before joining Our Lady of Perpetual Help, he had considered the idea of becoming a deacon and had been encouraged to do so by many of his friends in the clergy over the years. He had been active in liturgical activities since he was a teenager as a lector and musician as well as being involved in youth and adult ministry. He felt the calling again in this new parish but decided to spend a year or so praying over the idea and seeking the counsel of Fr. Paul, Deacon Dennis McCarthy, and of course his wife Susan.

He recalls the 4 years in the Deacon Training Program as a very rewarding and intense learning and spiritual experience. He found the other deacon candidates to be of great help and support. This time together was the beginning of lifelong friendships for them all.

He is often asked about the why he chose Elias as his deacon name. He initially wasn’t interested in taking a deacon name, as some candidates do. He gives two reasons for the name. It was half way through the program when he served at the funeral of Elias Tembenis, who had died at the age of 7 due to a seizure associated with his autism, which had a profound effect on him. Even though Deacon Elias didn’t know the boy personally, he always says that he learned more about being a deacon from this than from anything else and has taken his name in memory of him.

His commitment to supporting St Elias’ church in Woonsocket, RI with Fr. Paul over the years has also inspired him. He is very inspired by this small parish and wants to continueto support them as they do to him.

Members from St Elias’ parish as well as Elias Tembenis’ family were also in attendance at the ordination. God Grant Deacon Elias many years! †

A CD worth waiting for and worth buying

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:46:00 +0000

I was really excited to hear that Michael Howard was putting together a new CD to support a foundation called Footprints in Faith. Among the many albums I reviewed for GrapeVine, his debut CD, "Build the House" was one of my all time favorites. I am eagerly looking forward to his new one.

Here's a video Michael put together about Footprints in Faith and his new CD project. You can can find out more at www.michaelhowardmusic.com.

Michael Howard - The Footprints of Faith Foundation from Michael Howard Music on Vimeo.

Oops!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:27:00 +0000

It came to my attention that the most recent podcast I posted with the Sorrowful Mysteries was missing the opening prayers! Mea culpa. I have reloaded the podcast, corrected, and if you subscribe via iTunes, you can download it again. You can listen to the podcast here.

Special devotions for Holy Week

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 18:04:00 +0000

I've just posted the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary with the Marian Cenacle Rosary Podcast. There are 2 readings from Fr. Gobbi's book to meditate on (one in the form of a song called "Mother of Sorrows." Visit the Marian Cenacle Rosary Podcast page to listen to the podcast on the player, and pray the special consecration to Mary.

Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries through song and video - one video for each mystery, each video lasting around 5 minutes. A quick and easy way to walk through Holy Week with our Lord. You can find the videos here.

Here's a sample video:

There are 2 Stations of the Cross videos available on my website as well, meditating on the stations. These are also geared for busy people on the go.

Here's one of them:

May you have a blessed Holy Week.

Listen to a portion of my concert in DE

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:18:00 +0000

Remember that interview with Deacon Dave McDowell that I posted last week about an upcoming concert featuring myself and Sharmane at Mary, Mother of Peace Church in Millsboro, DE? Well, now you can listen to the entire live concert that I gave and see a video of the first song. Just click on the player on "Advent Concert" to listen. You'll hear some new songs that I've recorded.

And here's the video of the first song from that concert, "Lord, Send Out Your Spirit":

Listen to a radio interview promoting my concert and retreat at Mary Mother of Peace Church in Millsboro, DE

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:48:00 +0000

Deacon Dave McDowell, whom I have worked with for several years, appeared on WGMD and was interviewed by host Bill Colley. Deacon Dave was there to promote the concert and retreat I am providing music and a talk for, along with Sharmane Adams. You can listen to it here:

If you live in the DelMarva penisula area of Delaware, stop by Mary, Mother of Peace Church for this free concert on Friday night beginning at 7pm. I will play first for about 40 minutes, followed by Sharmane.

"How Advent Saved My Christmas" - a special talk with music

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:22:00 +0000

I invite you to listen to my special presentation on "How Advent Saved My Christmas." I used to be the quintessential Grinch at Christmastime but focusing on the hopeful themes of Advent has caused this Grinch's heart to grow! I've experienced a great sense of peace and joy because of the healing messages of Advent.

Listen to the talk in its entirety here which includes music from my Advent/Christmas CD, Wait with Me: Advent of the Promised Son:

You can watch video excerpts too:

Advent has begun - a quick reflection from a favorite author

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:07:00 +0000

November 30, 2009

I received this in an email from the official website of Henri Nouwen, one of my favorite Catholic authors. I thought I'd share it with you as we begin the season of Advent.

First Sunday of Advent – November 29
An excerpt from Finding My Way Home, Henri J.M. Nouwen

Waiting with the Word

Our waiting is always shaped by alertness to the Word. It is waiting in the knowledge that someone wants to address us. The question is, are we home? Are we at our address, ready to respond to the doorbell? We need to wait together, to keep each other at home spiritually, so that when the Word comes it can become flesh in us. That is why the Book of God is always in the midst of those who gather. We read the Word so that the Word can become flesh and have a whole new life in us.

Finding My Way Home, page 107, © Henri J.M. Nouwen. Published by The Crossroad Publishing Company and reprinted here with publisher's kind permission. Photo by M. Wright.

View Henri Nouwen’s complete collection of books and media at www.HenriNouwen.org/shopcart.

Great Gifts for Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:47:00 +0000

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about Christmas gifts.

I have something new this year: quality rosaries offered at really affordable prices. Perfect for thoughtful gifts, stocking stuffers, or to accompany the Sung Rosary Book and CD. Free with each purchase is a Rosary bookmark instructional guide.

Blue Sapphire Rosary
$3.00 +$1 shipping

Brown Wooden Rosary
$2.00 + $1 shipping

Silver Rosary Ring
$1.00 + $1 shipping

If you're looking for music to soothe your frazzled nerves and bring you to a place of quiet in expectation of Jesus, try Wait with Me: Advent of the Promised Son. It features earthy, acoustic music reflecting Advent and Christmas themes. It's only $15 plus shipping. Here's some music to sample:

Now playing: susanbailey's station
- Susan Bailey - Wait with Me

For uplifting, contemporary Christian music with a Catholic theme, consider Teach Me to Love, featuring a rousing call to the Holy Spirit ("Come Holy Spirit") and two songs dedicated to the memory of Blessed Mother Teresa ("Something Beautiful" and "Teach Me to Love.").

The Christmas season can be so hectic if we allow it to be. Treat yourself to quiet time apart from shopping, decorating and parties to reflect on the beautiful readings and prayers of Advent. It'll bring much needed peace to your heart.

Uncertain about whether you'd want to sing your rosary?

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:08:00 +0000

Friday, November 13

Check out this review and short blog by Sarah Reinhard on the Mary, Queen of Peace Meditation Guide & Sung Rosary.

ValLimar Jansen comes to my parish!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:35:00 +0000

Saturday, October 24

Last Thursday, spiritandsong.com recording artist ValLimar Jansen and OCP composer Tom Kendzia came to my parish (St. Luke's in Westboro, MA) with a dynamite workshop performance focusing on a theme of Renewal. Filled with great singing, dynamic storytelling, and sharing, this concert was really wonderful. I made a video to give you a taste of what this performance was like. It includes a portion of an interview I conducted with ValLimar (you can hear the whole interview on the Catholic Music Express podcast).

Here's the video. Enjoy! If she comes to your area, be sure and catch her, you won't be sorry!

A podcast to thank you for all your prayers

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:58:00 +0000

Dear friends,

Several weeks ago I asked for prayers for my mom and our family and thanks all your prayers, God intervened in a most miraculous way. Last week was extraordinary! I told the story in episode #5 of "How Can I Keep from Singing" which you can find at http://mariancenaclerosarypodcast.blogspot.com/. I wanted to share the story with everyone and especially all of you who have prayed for us.

God truly answers prayers and really makes the impossible happen.

Enjoy!

Susan

Sung Rosary mentioned as a favorite resource

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:14:00 +0000

Sarah Reinhard, a Catholic blogger featured regularly on Catholicmom.com and Rosary.com, recently made recommendations for aids to help in praying the rosary, and she mentioned the Sung Rosary in this recommendation! She wrote:

"Sung Rosary, by Susan Bailey – This is something completely different. Of the list of resources I’m sharing, this is one that has me by the short hairs. At first, I thought it was a little weird to sing the rosary, even though I do love to sing. Then I found myself at a rosary impasse, just unable to do it well one more day. I flicked on my iPod and turned on the Sung Rosary. WOW! Sometimes, just having Susan’s voice in the background is enough to calm me down. And when I’m out walking the dog and belting out the prayers, the whole concept of singing as praying twice hits home in a whole new way."

Read all of her recommendations here.

Thanks, Sarah!

Newest podcast episode describes Rich's ordination

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:39:00 +0000

I've just posted episode 4 of my podcast, "How Can I Keep from Singing" which you can find at http://mariancenaclerosarypodcast.blogspot.com/. It has a themeof transformation - in the second half of the podcast, I describe Rich's journey to the diaconate and include a moving story of how he took on the name of Elias. It's followed by a song talking about Blessed Mother Teresa's vocation, "Something Beautiful" from my Teach Me to Love album. There is a link to the photo album I just created with pictures from the ordination ceremony during Divine Liturgy.

Enjoy!
Susan

Marian Cenacle Rosary Podcast cited in blog review

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:11:00 +0000

Neko's Scratch Pad, a blog dedicated to reviewing podcasts, included a nice write-up of my Marian Cenacle Rosary Podcast which includes the "How Can I Keep from Singing" segment. My podcast was reviewed along with several from SQPN, putting mine in good company! Here's what she wrote:
"Thanks to Lisa Hendey’s mention on her Catholic Moments podcast (rss), I was made aware of the Marian Cenacle Rosary Podcast (rss) by Susan Bailey. If you’re a frequent listener to the Catholic Music Express (rss) podcast or the Catholic Rockers podcast (rss), or if you’re familiar with the Catholic music scene in general, I’m sure you’ll be familiar as Susan as singer, as well as the person behind GrapeVine Online ministry and the GrapeVine News Minute podcast. Susan is also the author and composer of a Catholic book and CD, Mary, Queen of Peace Meditation Guide & Sung Rosary, which this podcast is based on. The Marian Cenacle Rosary Podcast now has a new supplement known as “How Can I Keep from Singing,” a faith-in-action podcast with personal sharing from Susan on how praying the rosary, studying the word of God and other spiritual exercises has nourished her faith and kept her strong in the midst of trials."

The Marian Cenacle Rosary Podcast has been picked up by GrapeVine and is featured on their homepage. Thanks, Jim! (Jim Logue is the new editor of GrapeVine).

GrapeVine is Mine No More

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:58:00 +0000

After much soul searching, and after 10 years of producing GrapeVine on the web, I have decided to hand off the site to a new editor.

Catholic Music Express podcast producer Jim O'Meara (aka Jim Logue) has taken over GrapeVine as of Wednesday, September 23. He and his assistant, Rob Ayoub, are taking GrapeVine to new places (having already created a channel on MuzuTV.com). New sections have been created including a Catholic Television section, and a Technical Support section headed by Rob "the IT Guy" Ayoub. Breaking News, CD and DVD reviews, features, videos, podcasts and all the things you've come to expect from GrapeVine are still there (and updated a lot more frequently!). Jim and Rob have big plans to promote Catholic music and we in the artist community are 100% behind their efforts.

I am very happy to pass GrapeVine into the capable hands of Jim and Rob. Life for me now needs to concentrate more on the home front as my mother's health continues to fail.

If you are involved in the arts and are Catholic and have something you'd like to contribute to GrapeVine, contact Jim at jim@gvonline.net

susanbailey.net included in the spiritual directory of the Mesothelioma website

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:44:00 +0000

I am pleased to announce that the SusanBailey.net website (along with GrapeVine, the Sung Rosary website and the Prayer Chapel) are all listed in the Spiritual Resources section of the Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center website (www.maacenter.org)

A statement from Matt Richfield, communications assistant for the site, explains it further: "We provide the most comprehensive mesothelioma information on the net. Mesothelioma is a nearly always fatal cancer which is caused by exposure to asbestos. Persons diagnosed with mesothelioma face an extremely difficult battle and the very real prospect of death. At this critical point in one’s life many people turn toward religion to help them cope with their suffering and to assist them in answering life’s most important questions.

In our ongoing effort to meet the needs of our visitors we have created a directory of spiritual resources. We view this directory as one of the most meaningful resources our site can provide. But we need your help to bring this idea to fruition."

I am thrilled to be part of this organization's site. Please visit the site to find out more about what they are doing to combat this deadly form of cancer. The direct link to the directory is http://www.maacenter.org/support/spiritualresources.php and you can find my sites by typing in North Grafton, MA for the location.

In honor of Our Lady of Sorrows on her feast day

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:13:00 +0000

I have a song that I posted back on Good Friday called "Mary, Mother of Sorrows," shown on the player below. If you scroll up a notch on the player, you can click on the song and meditate for a moment on Our Lady of Sorrows on this, her feast day.

New Dates on the Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:59:00 +0000

Go visit the Ministry Page (click on Live Events) where you will see details on two important appearances coming up:

Saturday, September 19 from 9 to 3 at St. Brigid's in Millbury, MA: Meet & Greet/Book Signing - you can purchase Susan's products and she will sign them for you.

Saturday, September 26 from 11:45 am to 12 Noon on CatholicTV: Susan will appear on CatholicTV's annual telethon and will sing 3 songs from her "Wait with Me" CD.

Hope you can join me!

Someone who desperately needs your prayers

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:42:00 +0000

September 2

This isn't music-related at all but I saw this story yesterday and haven't been able to shake it from my memory. Please pray for Samar Saed Abdullah, an Iraqi woman scheduled for execution who is innocent. She is consumed with fear and is in despair. Remember her and all such prisoners. See the CNN story here:

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Samar Saed Abdullah's entire body trembles as she speaks about her impending execution. She thinks of the gallows room, the noose around her neck and that moment when she will take her final breath.

Samar Saed Abdullah is sentenced to die by hanging in connection with the killing of three relatives.

"My life is meaningless," she said, choking on her tears. "I can't think of anything else. The other women, we try to help each other, but we cannot escape the reality that we are on death row and they can take us at any second."

The 27-year-old Iraqi woman is sentenced to die in connection with the slayings of three relatives in January 2005. She looks pale and frail, her face sallow, her eyes bloodshot. She shakes with each sob, anxiously twisting a tissue in her hands.

We first met Samar in spring 2007, at al-Kadhimiya Women's Prison in Baghdad. She had been on death row for about two years, and she was terrified. Watch a tearful plea from death row »

"I don't sleep at all on Wednesdays," she said then. "I stay up from morning until night, because that's the day they pick for executions."

Samar was sentenced to death by hanging for being an accessory to murder in the killings of her uncle, aunt and cousin -- slayings that she says were carried out at their home by her husband-to-be, who remains on the loose. She maintains that she is innocent, and there are disturbing questions about her conviction.

Samar has now been moved a step closer to death: to Baghdad's maximum-security prison, where there are more than 500 prisoners waiting to be executed. It's the same facility where Saddam Hussein was hanged in December 2006.

CNN was not allowed to film her face inside the prison. During the interview, the wardens also seemed to make motions to try to stop CNN from broaching the subject of her allegation that she had only confessed under torture.

The day of the killings is seared into her mind.

"I think about it every day, every hour. I wake up with it in my head," she said. "It's the reason I am here."

There was a point in time when Samar was happy, when her life had meaning and joy. She had a fiancé, Saif Ali Nur, in winter 2004.

"I was so happy at the time, when he asked for my hand in marriage," she remembered bitterly. "I thought that he was honest, that he did not lie to me. It all happened in just two months."

At first, her family didn't approve of the romance, but they eventually relented.

One day, she says, Saif duped her into taking him to her wealthy uncle's house. He locked her in the kitchen and, she says, shot her uncle, aunt and cousin. Then, he turned the gun on her.

Samar says he stole less than $1,000 after threatening to kill Samar and her family if she went to the authorities. The Iraqi police picked Samar up the next day, after Saif dumped her in front of her house and disappeared.

"There was nothing that made me suspect that this was a guy who would do something like this," she said.

She's filled with regret that she fell in love with him. "And now I am here in prison, and he is out on the streets, happy."

Her parents sold everything to pay for her defense. They swear she's innocent. She says she was tortured by the police into confessing that she went to her uncle's house with the intent to steal.

"They kept beating me, and they told me, 'Say whatever we want you to say, and do not say anything else, and say yes, I was an accomplice to this crime.' Although I had nothing to do with it. Finally, they made me sign a blank piece of paper, and they filled it out afterwards."

She was tried and convicted in a single day: August 15, 2005. Court documents obtained by CNN read that "the court discussed the case file with her and she said that all that she had confessed came as a result of duress and torture."

Under Iraqi law, the court should have investigated her claim that she confessed under torture. But it did not.

After learning of Samar's case from CNN, former Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih said Tuesday he spoke with the Iraqi Presidency Council, which promised to look into the matter. He also said he had spoken separately with top Iraqi officials, including Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, and urged for a new trial.

Human rights groups say Samar's case is just one of many in which justice has failed. And they say that what makes implementing capital punishment even more disturbing is that the Iraqi judicial system does not guarantee a fair trial.

Amnesty International issued a report Tuesday saying that at least 1,000 prisoners sit on Iraq's death row and that Iraq now has one of the highest execution rates in the world. The report says Iraq's court system does not meet international standards and that authorities "provide very little information on executions, and some have been carried out secretly."

According to a Western official with in-depth knowledge of the Iraqi judicial system, Iraq's judicial failures are "rooted in the legal culture rather than the law. ... The entire legal culture remains heavily confession-based, a situation exacerbated by the frequently imperfect investigative skills of the police, judicial investigators and investigative judges."

In his years in Iraq, this official says he observed judges taking payments in exchange for certain decisions and the physical abuse of suspects, either as an end in itself or to "encourage" confessions.

"It is my firmly held opinion that Iraq should immediately reinstate the moratorium on executions," the official said. "There are serious problems plaguing the administration of justice in Iraq in criminal cases, and this fact is widely acknowledged by the Iraq judges, prosecutors and defense counsel."

The U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority abolished capital punishment in Iraq after Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003. But the death penalty was reinstated in August 2004, shortly after the government was handed back to Iraqis.

Iraq's Ministry of Justice maintains that the judicial system is "fair and just."

Local organizations like the Organization for Women's Freedom in Iraq have for years been fighting to get the death penalty abolished in Iraq, especially when it comes to flawed trials and women being put to death. But they struggle against a government that turns a deaf ear.

"I wish there was some kind of response. But the response is totally passive. We've reached a degree of despair," said Yanar Mohammed, founder of the Organization for Women's Freedom in Iraq. "As a human rights organization in Iraq, we find that we need some backup from abroad to put pressure on our government as a first step to stop the executions of these women, some of whom we know are innocent."

But even as doubts surface about many convictions in Iraq, there are signs that the pace of executions is picking up. Over the past two months, Mohammed's group says, between two and four women were executed.

"They were taken out of the extreme-protection prison," Mohammed said. "It is a very scary story for us, because if it starts with a few women in a jail cell ... it could happen to hundreds, thousands of people later on."

As for Samar, she doesn't sleep, haunted by the image of her body that could be hanging lifeless -- plagued by the gut-wrenching fear of death that consumes her nights and most of her days.

"Every night, I stay up thinking that if tomorrow comes, who will be next? Me? Or my friend sitting next to me?"

She sobbed. "I will never trust a man again. I will never love anyone again. I just want to stay with my parents."

Samar feels betrayed, both by the man she once loved and by a judicial system that is about to send her to her death.

Postscript on Ted Kennedy - Redemptive Suffering

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:36:00 +0000

I just finished watching the funeral of Senator Edward Kennedy and was again, very moved. Ted Kennedy may not have been the perfect Catholic or perfect man (after all, who is?) but I believe he has shown us a very valuable virtue, something that today is most often not seen as one: he showed us the virtue of redemptive suffering. The Kennedy family has endured many painful episodes, some by fate, some brought on by themselves. Ted certainly bore his share. He could have been hardened, could have retreated into the background, could have shrunken away to nothing. Yet he always rose above them. I believe he was a late bloomer, something I can appreciate as I am too. In the last 12-15 years of his life, I believe, he worked through his sufferings and worked out his salvation.

Those of you who are not from Massachusetts may only know Ted Kennedy as a politician, and perhaps one you vehemently disagree with (I didn't agree with a lot of his policies either). But as a man, he loved very well. I can't go into all the things he did in his life, I could write for days on it, you will have to check it out for yourself. I just know from all the heartfelt testimonies I have heard, that he loved well. His heart grew rather than shrank.

Despite his stance on abortion and stem cell research, he cared for the poor. He cared for individuals in a unique way. As pointed out in the last blog, Matthew 25 really embodied his life, and fittingly, this was the gospel reading at his funeral.

Christ came so we could all claim redemption. He redeemed all of us and we just have to claim it. I believe Ted Kennedy claimed it and will know peace in heaven.

Senator Ted Kennedy, RIP

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:21:00 +0000

August 26

I'm finding myself this morning amazingly sad that Ted Kennedy has died.

As a Massachusetts native all my life, I grew up with the Kennedys. I was in the 3rd grade and remember so clearly where I was and who I spoke to when Jack Kennedy was assassinated. And I remember the same with Bobby Kennedy. I remember the moving euology Ted gave for Bobby. I also remember where I was when I saw the horrendous headlines in the paper about Chappaquiddick. I did not agree with a lot of Ted Kennedy's politics, and he was a deeply flawed and complicated man, but he was also a man who worked so hard for the less fortunate.

Commentator Mike Barnicle said it best this morning when he said that the many tragedies, both family and personal, that Ted Kennedy suffered enabled him to feel compassion for others, and he worked tirelessly right up to the end for the common man. I've heard personal stories from friends, and countless stories on talk radio this morning about all the good he accomplished for individuals. Barnicle also cited something else about Kennedy: he wasn't petty or small. He didn't spew 'hate' speech. He handled opposing points of views with grace and a smile, and remained friends with those who opposed his point of view.

He knew how to connect with the individual. He came from privilege and served regular folks with passion and great heart, and worked for the greater good. He lived the scripture passage of Matthew 25:31-46 ("for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.")

Everyone is redeemable, everyone. God's love makes that possible. And God's love, I believe, flowed through Ted Kennedy despite his flaws.

Rest in peace, Mr. Kennedy.

Interview on Catholic Spotlight Podcast,plus the Sung Rosary is being sold by Boucher's in Worcester!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Bailey) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:43:00 +0000

August 25

Two big pieces of news:
First, I was interviewed last week for the Catholic Spotlight podcast, hosted by Chris Cash of the Catholic Company. It was posted yesterday - I talked about all the various facets of my ministry. You can listen to it on the Soundclick player to your right - click on "Catholic Spotlight Podcast #113" to play it.

Part of the reason for this interview was because of the Catholic Company's recent acquisition of Rosary.com (a site which had been in the hands of spammers), and its official launch next week. Chris felt that interviewing someone with a unique rosary product would be most appropriate - glad he chose me! This website will not be just a list of rosary-related products, but will be a all-encompassing site about the rosary, with directions on how to pray it, lists of rosary-related podcasts, blog posts and more. Check it out! All of my products are carried on the Catholic Company's website; the Mary, Queen of Peace Meditation Guide & Sung Rosary is also carried on Rosary.com.

Thanks to Chris Cash for the privilege of the interview.

The second big piece of news? The Mary, Queen of Peace Meditation Guide & Sung Rosary is now available in a Catholic bookstore (with many more to come, I trust) ! For those of you who live in the Worcester, MA area, you can purchase the Mary, Queen of Peace Meditation Guide & Sung Rosary at Boucher's Good Books, 254 Lake Ave., Worcester, MA 01604-1198, phone number (508) 755-4516. Their website is www.bouchersgoodbooks.com. Here are directions, provided by Google Maps.