MISSION TRIP NUMBER FIVE

CATHOLIC SECOND WIND GUILD ON THE MOVE

Fifth Trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines
September 23-29, 2016

An association of retired priests, bishops and lay professionals will to offer their services, talents, resources and connection to help strengthen the church of the Caribbean. For now there are two chapters: one in the country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and one in the country of Barbados. 

Father Thomas R. Clark, retired priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville, will be the first priest to accompany me  to St. Vincent and the Grenadines under the umbrella of the Catholic Second Wind Guild. I am hopeful there will be more retired priests, bishops and professional lay people in the near future.



Bishop Gerard County (on the left) and all the priests and deacons of the Diocese of Kingstown.




A view outward from the Pastoral Center in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.



St. Michael Church, rectory and religious education classrooms on the island of Bequia.



A view of the harbor from St. Michael Church on the island of Bequia.




A view of the interior of St. Vincent island - the caldera of an inactive volcano.



Sunday Mass at a local parish, assisted by the pastor, Father Peter from Nigeria.



Youth from St. Vincent and the Grenadines in Poland for WORLD YOUTH DAY.



I will preach at all the Sunday Masses at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Kingstown SVG September 25.


TRIP SIX
I will be returning to Barbados for their annual priest/deacon retreat in November. While there, I will probably go over to SVG for the sixth time. 

CELEBRATING ONE YEAR OF BLOGGING

STARTED AUGUST 16, 2015

ALMOST 24,500 VIEWS IN MY FIRST YEAR




THE IDEAL


THE FEAR


"Blogging could be just a lame attempt at making yourself believe that parts of your dull ordinary life could be fascinating to someone out there!" 
Fr. Ronald Knott


THE REALITY

THE CHALLENGE

THE REASON

The main reason I started  blogging was that I was talked into it. After years of people suggesting it to me and years of unbelief that I could actually learn to create posts, I felt I had to lay the egg or get off the nest. When it became clear that I could communicate several things at once (books, columns, news, travel schedule, homilies, readings, fund raising) with my own blog, I decided to take it on.

• I can share what I am doing with a number of family members, friends and supporters. 
• I can showcase the generosity, imagination and good deeds of those around me. 
• I can advertise my books and create a link right to them.
• I could, with a simple click,  share my weekly column in The Record with people who don't even get The Record.
• I can share my homilies with people who want to read them over again after hearing them or with people who would like to read them because they were not there to hear them the first time. 
• I can tell people about the needs of the church down in the islands where I am volunteering and solicit their help. 
• I can let people know about my speaking schedule and share information about the church in other parts of our country and around the world.  
• I can share stories about growing up, shine light on the gifts and talents of people in my past life and share the prayers, quotes and insights of great men and women from the past. 
• I can make a few people laugh by laughing at myself and the situations within which I often find myself. 
• I needed something to do with my retirement.
• I wanted to save postage and I do not like talking on the phone so much. 

AFTER SEVENTEEN YEARS, "FAREWELL, BELLARMINE!"

A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY
A LIFE-GIVING MINISTRY
A BIG THANK YOU TO ONE AND ALL




Melanie Prejean Sullivan and I worked together in Campus Ministry for seventeen years.
I don't believe we ever had one disagreement.




Dr. Jay McGowan invited me to work at Bellarmine when I was pastor of the Cathedral. I never thought it would happen, but if Jay wanted it, it usually happened. It even surprised me!



What I will miss most are the Sunday night Masses.........



............. and the chapel pulpit!

I gave over 700 homilies at Bellarmine University. I have saved them all on my computer.



Melanie and I were helped by the Francisan Friars from India, Fathers Antony and John.
They, along with Father George, will be replacing me as chaplains.



I think I sat through about thirty graduations in all! They kept getting bigger and bigger until we had to hold them on the athletic field.



MY THREE "BELLARMINE BOOKS"

SUNDAY NIGHTS is a collection of chapel homilies.
A PASSION FOR EXCELLENCE is collection of Baccalaureate homilies.
THE LORD IS CLOSE TO THE BROKENHEARTED is a collection of Blue Christmas homilies                                                        
(To order, click on MY BOOKSTORE in the panel to the right of this screen.)



I was invited to bless the new Campus Ministry offices as part of my farewell party.
On the wall of the office is this wonderful poster with a quote of mine and a summary of my preaching at the bottom. It is a wonderful tribute. I could not have summarized my years there any better. 

Melanie Prejean Sullivan (Director of Campus Ministry), Laura Kremer Kline (Associate Director of Campus Ministry) and Helen Grace Ryan (Vice-President for Student Affairs)



I was invited to bless the new Offices of Campus Ministry.
Melanie, Laura and the Franciscan Friars have offices just around the corner on the left.



Another view of the new campus ministry offices.



The new Office of Campus Ministry is located on the bottom floor of the new entrance to Bellarmine University.



Dr. Fred Rhodes has been a marvelous supporter of my ministry at Bellarmine over the years. He is one of the most affirmation-giving persons I know.



Joyce Stephenson has been there to help me and support me from day one! She is an amazing woman who never seems to have a "bad day."



Dr. Maureen Norris was a faculty member, regular Mass attender and consistent encourager.



Board of Overseers



Dr. Doris Taggert, Acting President, stopped by.



Father Clyde Crews, long-time Bellarmine professor and icon stopped by.
Father Crews has offered consistent welcome and encouragement throughout my tenure.

Several Franciscan Friars (including Father Provincial Leo - second on the left and two more visiting with him) pose outside their office. Father George who lives with Fathers Antony and John (on the right) had wandered off somewhere.

I hope everyone will note that it is taking THREE Franciscan Friars to take my place!




There you are, Father George!

Melissa Zoeller, Alumni Board

Even some friends from the Office of Public Safety attended my retirement reception: Officer Chris Gay and Officer Larry Burciaga.

The sumptuous brunch was enjoyed by a steady stream of well-wishers over a two-hour period.

This beautiful chair was a retirement gift. It has the Bellarmine University Seal and my name.
Notice it does not have rockers.
They knew better!


JUST WHEN I THOUGHT IT WAS OVER.....A BELLIE AWARD

About twenty faculty and staff members got "Bellie Awards" at the official opening of another school year. It is an annual awards and appreciation lunch.

I was given the

2016
CATHOLIC IDENTITY IN THE INCLUSIVE SPIRIT OF THOMAS MERTON AWARD






Acting Bellarmine President, Dr. Doris Taggert, presented my award.