Friday, May 6, 2016

A MINI-VACATION

PISMO BEACH
CALIFORNIA

After finishing the Diocese of Monterey Priest and Deacon Convocation,  I met up with an old friend of mine, a priest from the neighboring Diocese of San Jose who went to the seminary in Rome, for a two day mini-vacation. We used a condo belonging to a family from his parish, St. John Vianney, in San Jose.

As often as I travel, I do not normally stay extra time to look around or enjoy the area even though I have been to a lot of beautiful places doing these priest retreat. This time,however,  I decided to catch up with my friend, Father Steven Brown. We have been friends since 1982 when we met at a National Federation of Priest Councils convention in Kansas City, Kansas. We stayed in contact even when he served several years as a missionary in Tanzania with the Maryknoll Associates and  since he has returned to pastor several parishes in San Jose. He is fluent in English, Italian, Spanish and Swahili. 



Father Steve Brown, Diocese of San Jose, California.



The pier at Pismo Beach. The beach is wide and long and great for walking. The area is known to be cool and foggy all year round, but we were blessed with a sunny day.



Unusual rock formation  down the beach. 



The condo overlooking the beach. 



Casting a long shadow as evening closes in at Pismo Beach. 


IN THE MORNING I FLY HOME, GETTING TO LOUISVILLE ABOUT THE TIME THE KENTUCKY DERBY IS RUNNING - IF ALL GOES WELL. MAYBE IT WILL BE BETTER THAN THE TRIP OUT WHEN WE WERE DIVERTED TO TULSA (OKLAHOMA), INSTEAD OF DALLAS (TEXAS),  AFTER A MAN ON THE PLANE FROM LOUISVILLE HAD A HEART ATTACK. WE MISSED OUR CONNECTION TO SAN JOSE WHICH CAUSED A FIVE HOUR LAY-OVER IN DALLAS, INSTEAD OF AN HOUR. I GUESS THAT INCONVENIENCE IS BETTER THAN BEING THE ONE WHO HAD THE HEART ATTACK. I PRAY THAT HE IS OK. 

IT WILL BE GOOD TO BE BACK HOME ON EASTERN PARKWAY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE HEADING TO THE DIOCESE OF NELSON IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA. 

WHY, OH WHY, DIDN'T I LEARN TO PLAY GOLF, MOVE TO FLORIDA AND ACT LIKE A REAL RETIRED PRIEST?

Teeing Up For Retirement • Priests from the Diocese who were out on the golf course included, from left, Father Michael Wallack, pastor, Holy Innocents, Neptune; Msgr. Walter Nolan, a retired priest; Father Michael Hall, who will become parochial vicar of St. Gregory the Great, Hamilton Square, and director of the diocesan Office of Worship on July 1; and Father Daniel Cahill, pastor, St. Ann Parish, Keansburg. Craig Pittelli photo

UNNAMED "REAL RETIRED PRIESTS."

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