Spiritual

Stand Strong

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Brother Joe sent me some mail today. I invite you to join me in standing strong against hate. I hope you’ll consider taking a stand with us. Hate and hate crimes are more prevalent recently as we face a new wave of xenophobic activity in our country. Every hour someone commits a hate crime. Every … Read more

Alumni tournament

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Both our children are home this weekend. It’s the Alumni Basketball Tournament at Franklinville Central School. This tradition which began perhaps twenty years ago draws alumni from all across the country back to our small town nestled in the foothills of the Allegany Mountains. Last night we went to watch the opening round as teams … Read more

Presence

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Holy Thursday is one of my favorite days and nights in the church year. It always has been. It’s kind of celebration at the end of Lent. In the last eight years it’s become tradition for me to be at Mt. Irenaeus for supper with friends and then the Liturgy of the Lord’s Supper in the chapel. Because of my schedule this week I didn’t think I was going to make it but it all worked out. I had to drive 150 miles round trip to meet with representatives of Dell Computer and then climb into my own car to drive the thirty or so miles to the Mountain.

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Giving it away

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Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be … Read more

Prelude

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This morning I drove toward Mt. Irenaeus in with a hint of snow in the air and a pall of overcast. It didn’t look like an idyllic Palm Sunday. Our liturgy began in the library under Holy Peace Chapel. Fr. Dan Riley, OFM blessed the palms and invited us to process outside, along the path and up the steps to the chapel. As we walked we sang, “oh Sacred Head surrounded by crown of piercing thorns, oh bleeding head so wounded, reviled and put to scorn…” It’s a song I remember well from my youth. The words of the song are ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux. That information was new to me but the symbolism was not lost as I am a frequent visitor to Trappist Abbeys.

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St. Drogo

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Last week in Tempe, AZ I learned that St. Drogo is the patron saint of coffee and coffee houses. I’m indebted to Fr. John and the parishioners of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Tempe for this information. I took a cell phone picture of St. Drogo which is posted on the wall of one of … Read more

Third Jesus

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A couple of days ago I spied a title at Changing Hands bookstore that invited me to pick it up. On the bookshelf was a book written by Deepak Chopra. It’s title, “The Third Jesus,” really captivated me. I read a few paragraphs and put it down. Yesterday, while visiting the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale I saw the book again. This time it was in the center’s bookstore. After I got back to my sisters home, I mentioned to my hosts that wanted to return to Changing Hands and get the book.   Little did I know that later in the afternoon, my Mom would drive over to the store and pick it up for me.

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Bucket list

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A couple of weeks ago I saw the movie Bucket List with my wife and daughter. It’s a great theme and it got me to thinking of some things I’d like to do before I can’t do them anymore.  In April I’m planning a trip to Albany, Ga. and Plains, Ga.  I was stationed in … Read more