I normally do not post Saturdays, but when I remembered that today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and this church goes by 2 names — St. Mary’s and the Church of the Immaculate Conception. This feast and doctrine are often misunderstood even by many Catholics, and it is often presumed that the Immaculate Conception refers to the conception of Jesus who was born of a virgin. But that is not it, the doctrine refers to the conception of St. Mary, who is unique among all people in being conceived and born without Original Sin.  As the Catechism states: “The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.” So I could not let the fest day go unnoticed when I still have images left from this beautiful Church available to mark the occasion.

CONTEST

First announced 3 days ago: I’m planning to buy a couple of prints for myself to update my walls, and I’m looking for ideas for what photos to print. In return, I’ll gift someone else one free print.  So, leave a comment below telling my what’s your favorite photo of mine. Feel free to browse my blog archives and my galleries at SmugMug or anywhere else.  Give a link if possible – but if you can’t find an image that left an impression on you, describe it as best as you can. I’m going to solicit comments all over — here, on twitter, Google Plus and Facebook. Then I’ll randomly select one person who left a comment with a suggestion and will send that person a free print at any size up to 12 x 18.  The contest closes at the end of this week, tonight Saturday December 8. Let’s go with Pacific time.

For my own prints, I won’t necessarily pick the ones that get the most votes, and might even select something that nobody mentioned. I’m just looking for something a little interactive and to get some ideas flowing. Also, the winner won’t have to select the image he or she suggested for the free print. If you win and change your mind by the time it is time to choose, that’s OK. Also, feel free to suggest something that has already been mentioned.

This will be the last announcement, so please make your suggestion/entry today.