LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD WITH A LIGHT SUMMER LOAD

Talks, Missions, Convocations and Retreats
Spring Schedule
2016


Diocese of Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (second deacon discernment retreat)
Diocese of Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (annual priest retreat)
Address the Bishops at the Antilles Episcopal Conference in Port of Spain, Trindad
Diocese of Scranton, PA II
Diocese of Monterey, CA
Diocese of Nelson, Canada
Diocese of Memphis, TN II
Downtown Louisville Rotary Club

After so much work-related travel, my idea of a vacation? 
Staying home and resting up for an even busier fall! 

I plan to get some exercise, eat healthier food, clean my house and enjoy a few "Tanqueray and Tonics" on the deck! 
After all, I am retired! 

Fall Schedule
2016

Clustered Parish Mission - St. John Paul II - Sellersburg, Indiana
Parish Mission - Meade County-Wide Parishes - Brandenburg, Kentucky
Diocese of Saulte Ste. Marie, Canada
Fifth Mission Trip to St, Vincent and the Grenadines
Priest Retreat Archdiocese of Portland, OR
Discalced Carmelite Community Retreat, TX
Priest Retreat Diocese of Pembroke, Canada
Priest Study Day Diocese of Davenport, IA
Priest Retreat Diocese of Bridgetown, Barbados, WEST INDIES



Schedule

2017

Parish Mission - St. Agnes Church, Naples, Florida
Diocese of Beaumont, TX, II
Archdiocese of Vancouver, Canada (half the priest one week, half the next)


Schedule 

2018

Priest Retreat Diocese of London, Canada

"Memphis On My MInd"- "Second time Around Time Tour" #5

DIOCESE OF MEMPHIS

Priest June Study Days

Fourth Part-Day Study Day

INTENTIONAL PRESBYTERATES 

Part II

"Claiming Our Responsible Freedom as Individual Priests"

Rev. J. Ronald Knott

June 6-9, 2016 

"No one can replace us in the responsible freedom that we have as individual priests."

Pastores Dabo Vobis #69

June 9

CONFERENCE SEVEN

9:00 am

THE SHOW MUST GO ON:

You Don’t Have the Luxury of Coming Unglued


Below, we did a lot of studying this week - eight conferences in all!

Below: besides, studying, praying and eating, priests like to socialize.

After a hard day of study and prayer, the "hospitality room" was open for anyone who felt like dropping in.



It's a southern thing - sitting in the porch rocker after dinner.



A couple of "wild and crazy guys" from Poland.



The parishioners from the local parish of Our Lady of America in Savannah treated all of us to a steak dinner after Mass together with them.



The pastor, Father Francis from Nigeria, celebrated the Mass and delivered a well-thought-out homily.

Closing Reflections

Thank you Memphis! It was good to "have you on my mind" again!


I would especially like to thank Bishop Terry Steib for his warm welcome and Father Carl Hood for his excellent organization. From my perspective, the week went very well. I was honored to be invited back for the second year in a row.



Bishop Terry Steib, beloved bishop of Memphis and a wonderful man.



Father Carl Hood



The long drive home will give me time to reflect and savor some of the wonderful moments of my week with my brother priests of the Diocese of Memphis.

This is the last priest convocation of the spring season. I am looking forward to being home for a while to rest up, redo all my presentation, update them and prepare myself for another very busy fall season of traveling, speaking, preaching and mission work.

What a rich and rewarding retirement this is - getting to do so many of the things I love to do in such a variety of locations. I feel very blessed. I am grateful.

"Memphis On My MInd" "Second Around Tour" #4

DIOCESE OF MEMPHIS
Priest June Study Days

Third Full Study Day

INTENTIONAL PRESBYTERATES
Part II
"Claiming Our Responsible Freedom as Individual Priests"

Rev. J. Ronald Knott
June 6-9, 2016

"No one can replace us in the responsible freedom that we have as individual priests."
Pastores Dabo Vobis #69

June 8
CONFERENCE FIVE
9:00 am
THE JONAH COMPLEX:
Convenience and Selfishness of Playing Small

CONFERENCE SIX
10:10 am
PROTECTING THE FIRE, NOT PRESERVING THE ASHES:
Lessons From Pope Francis


Below: Besides praying priests like to eat ...

One of the biggest downsides of doing these things so often is that I face three buffets a day for a week in each stop. I am dedicating my summer to trying to take off some of those pounds I have collected. So easy to put on! So hard to take off!

Like other presbyterates, the Memphis presbyterate is very internationalized.
Here is a sample, left to right: Indonesia, Nigeria and India. 

"Memphis on my Mind" "Second Time Around Tour" #3

DIOCESE OF MEMPHIS

Priest June Study Days



Second Full Study Day


INTENTIONAL PRESBYTERATES

Part II
"Claiming Our Responsible Freedom as Individual Priests"

Rev. J. Ronald Knott
June 6-9, 2016

"No one can replace us in the responsible freedom that we have as individual priests."
Pastores Dabo Vobis #69

CONFERENCE TWO
June 7
9:00 am

CONFERENCE THREE
It's Really Simple:
Lessons From The Rabbi's Gift

CONFERENCE FOUR
10:10 am
Give Me A Break:
Saying No to Gossip, Jealousy and Suspicion

CONFERENCE FIVE
7:00 pm
THROWING OFF THE CRUSH OF GARBAGE:
The Power of Forgiveness


Below: a few more views around the park.

Success! I have given five conferences and I haven't been killed yet! On the contrary, the reception has been very good. Each day, I will post some pictures of the group doing what priests do best: praying, eating and relaxing. Today, I share some pictures of the group praying together. 

We concelebrate Mass each day.



Priests take turns presiding, assisting and preaching.

We also pray the Liturgy of the Hours together twice a day - morning and evening. Just in case you think all those priests are texting on their cell phones during prayer time, let me let you know that many priests havea cell phone app with the Liturgy of the Hours. It is much easier, when we travel, than carrying a heavy book.

"Memphis on My Mind" - "Second Time Around Tour" #2

DIOCESE OF MEMPHIS

Priest June Study Days

FIRST FULL DAY

INTENTIONAL PRESBYTERATES 

Part II

"Claiming Our Responsible Freedom as Individual Priests"

Rev. J. Ronald Knott

"No one can replace us in the responsible freedom that we have as individual priests."

Pastores Dabo Vobis #69

CONFERENCE ONE

June 6 

7:00 pm

PUTTING ON YOUR BIG BOY PANTS:

A Personal Commitment to Serious Priesting

8:10 pm

PHYSICIAN, HEAL THYSELF:

Removing the Planks From Our Own Eyes First

THE STAGE IS SET - WAITING FOR THE PRIESTS TO ARRIVE THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON

It's amazing that no matter how many of these convocations I have led, the conference room almost always looks he same - whether it is in Ireland, Canada, California or Tennessee.



We will, of course, eat a lot! Priests everywhere like to eat!


There will, of course be a lot of talking, story telling, yarn spinning, gossip and "church chat." Some of it may even be true!

"Memphis On My Mind" - "Second Time Around Tour #1

DIOCESE OF MEMPHIS
Priest June Study Days

INTENTIONAL PRESBYTERATES 

Part II

"Claiming Our Responsible Freedom as Individual Priests"

Rev. J. Ronald Knott
June 6-9, 2016

"No one can replace us in the responsible freedom that we have as individual priests."
Pastores Dabo Vobis #69

PUTTING ON YOUR BIG BOY PANTS:
A Personal Commitment to Serious Priesting

PHYSICIAN, HEAL THYSELF:
On Removing the Planks From Our Own Eyes First

IT'S SIMPLE REALLY:
Lessons From The Rabbi's Gift

GIVE ME A BREAK:
Saying No to Gossip, Jealousy, Narcissism and Suspicion

THROWING OFF THE CRUSH OF GARBAGE:
The Power of Forgiveness

THE JONAH COMPLEX:
The Convenience and Selfishness of Playing Small

PROTECTING THE FIRE, NOT PRESERVING THE ASHES:
Lessons From Pope Francis

THE SHOW MUST GO ON:
You Don’t Have the Luxury of Coming Unglued

Bishop Terry Steib, SVD

Below: Pickwick Landing State Park, Tennessee

   

Thank God I don't have to get on an airplane for this one! 

I am going to take Sunday and drive down leisurely.

I-65 South through Nashville?

No way in hell! 

I am going through Hopkinsville and Fort Campbell!

Beautiful rural Tennessee!

Crossing the Tennessee River.

After seven hours of hard driving, getting lost a few times on some back road short cuts, I finally got here!

Sundown comes

to

PICKWICK LANDING STATE PARK

Tennessee

I came early to get some needed rest and to be fresh and ready to meet Bishop Terry Steib and his priests tomorrow morning for the second year in a row for what I am calling my:
"Memphis on My Mind" Second Time Around Tour.

MUHAMMAD ALI - RIP

MY VERY FAVORITE ALI QUOTE 

SOME FAVORITE RELATED QUOTES

"Those who believe they can and those who believe they can't are both right."
Henry Ford

"By believing passionately in that which does not exist, we create it. 

That which is nonexistent has not been sufficiently desired."

Nikos Kazantzakis

"Impossible things just take a little longer."
Philo T. Farnsworth