Strengthen Your Breathren- Father Kevin Louis's Bulletin Column - November 19, 2006
One of the constants in the life of a diocesan priest is that you never know just how your days are going to unfold. You might have every waking moment mapped out in meticulous detail but there is no guarantee that the day will even remotely resemble your plan come day’s end! It does not take long for a priest’s family and his parishioners to learn to be flexible when dealing with Father! Several Saturday’s ago I had planned on hearing confessions for 15-30 minutes during a spiritual conference that Father Jim Genovesi was giving at Saint Peter. The idea was that I could then sneak out for an hour to be with parishioners’ celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Once that meal was done I thought I would rush back to church to hear a few more confessions. Well, I never did make it to the restaurant for the anniversary breakfast. I did not even have the chance to telephone the family to let them know I was delayed. So many people were taking advantage of the opportunity for the Sacrament of Penance that I was “trapped” in the confessional for nearly three hours without a break! What a nice “problem” to have! By the time I got out of the confessional the anniversary celebration was long since finished with the family wondering what in the world had happened to Father! After a little breather, I was back in the confessional for the usual Saturday afternoon confessions and heard for another solid hour. It is edifying that so many of you frequently approach the Lord to receive the gift of His loving mercy. I do not mind in the least that at times that means that I have to scrap my plans! And please be patient and understanding if I end up late (or completely absent!) from an event to which you invited me. Chances are pretty good that something came up that needed my immediate priestly attention!
Speaking of the unpredictability of a priest’s life, you never know when someone will drop in at the rectory seeking your counsel in a time of crisis. Also, a priest can never predict when you might receive an urgent call to attend to someone in an emergency situation at the hospital or at their home. Occasionally – like last weekend – people park their vehicles in such a way that they block the doors of the rectory garage. That is a very grave problem because it does not allow Fathers Worzalla or Sakowski or myself to get our cars out of the garage to respond to an emergency. Please do not block the priests’ garage! And do not be afraid to tell someone to move their vehicle if you see they are blocking the priests’ free exit from the rectory garage. Thank you!
Of course our national day of giving thanks occurs this week. In the Collect (Opening Prayer) for the Mass of Thanksgiving Day we pray: “Father all-powerful, your gifts of love are countless and your goodness infinite. On Thanksgiving Day we come before you with gratitude for your kindness: open our hearts to concern for our fellow men and women, so that we may share your gifts in loving service.” Let us approach the Lord with hearts filled with gratitude for the blessings of the past year. Happy Thanksgiving!
Last year we were so privileged to have our beloved and saintly Father Joe Walijewski visit Saint Peter for what would be the last time. Next weekend we are happy to have with us Father Sebastian Kolodziejczyk, the successor of Father Joe at the Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II Orphanage in Peru. Just as Father Joe did last year, Father Sebastian will be enlisting our spiritual and financial assistance to benefit the boys and girls at the orphanage founded by Father Joe in 1986. May the Lord richly bless you for your generosity.
Saint Peter, pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!