COMING TO YOUR PARISH OR A PARISH NEAR YOU

THEY ARE LITERALLY FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

  

One of the programs I started at St. Mienrad Seminary when I was there, was the WORLD PRIEST PROGRAM. This is the latest gathering of international seminarians and priests for a dialogue about entering our United States culture and serving as pastors of our parishes.



This was the last one I led before I retired from Saint Meinrad. This dialogue was one of my favorite things to do. They learned much from each other which was the point of the dialogues.



This is Kirt Prospere, a seminarian from the Diocese of Bridgetown, Barbados.
It was because of him that I met his bishop, Bishop Jason Gordon. Because of Bishop Gordon, I got involved in the Caribbean missions and started the Catholic Second Wind Guild for retired priests, bishops and professional lay people.



The internationalization is reflected in our local church as this poster proves. 

ON KEEPING ONE'S COOL

SOPHRONISMOS*

* a Greek word for wisdom, but a special kind of wisdom, the wisdom to know what to do under pressure, the wisdom of knowing how to keep your cool in face of panic. 

I chose this word as the name of my little publishing company, Sophronismos Press. 

It came to me when I was reflecting on a real  life experience I had when I was pastor of our Cathedral of the Assumption. When we were digging around the foundation to add space on the back of the cathedral, the walls began to crack down the back and down one side. 

During this ugly turn of events, I was watching from the sidewalk on the street behind the cathedral. As the crack was widening and spitting out small puffs of smoke, I remember clearly saying to myself, "Ron, you do not have the luxury of coming unglued. You will be pastor of this parish whether that building falls down or not. Now get a grip on yourself!" That, I learned, was "sophronismos," the ability to keep one's cool in the face of panic. 

I have known a few people in my 47 years of priesthood who have faced humiliating situations in their personal and families' lives. In the face of public judgment, ridicule and gossip, they have been able to hold their heads up, go on with their lives and reach a place of peace. I cannot go into detail without exposing them so let's leave it there in generic terms. 

Maybe you are one of those people. Maybe you, or a family member, has done something that has brought great shame on you and your family. You may have been sued for all you're worth, maybe you have had newspaper articles with photos printed in the local papers for weeks or maybe you have been stripped of your professional license and have even been imprisoned. 

I am not here to comment on the deed itself that has brought you so much humiliation, but I do want to salute you for you ability to endure, the grace with which you have handled your affliction and the sophronismos you have exhibited through it all. 

Last of all, I am thinking about those who are facing imminent death, or are accompanying  family members and close friends,  who are fully aware of what is happening and are overwhelmed by the prospects that lay ahead. I wish them the peace that comes with sophronismos. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRENDA

I WANT TO WISH MY OLDER SISTER, BRENDA, A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. 

SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR  ME AND I LOVE HER.

Around 1948?

THAT'S HER!    BACK ROW LEFT!
8th grade graduation - St. Theresa School - 1957



This is how I looked the year she took me in, let me live in her basement here in Louisville and helped me find a job during the summer while I was in the seminary - around 1966.
I will always be grateful. 

ARGYLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (AIA) OPENS ---- FINALLY!

GOOD NEWS, BUT MAYBE NOT THAT GOOD YET

One of the hardest parts of getting down to my island country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is always having to fly from Miami to Barbados and then on to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I have been dreaming of the day when I can fly directly from Miami to SVG.

A new SVG international airport was announced in 2008. The government had previously forecast - and missed - annual completion dates of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. I have seen the construction going on during my previous visits, but I never thought I'd live long enough to see it completed. Finally, after all those delays, Argyle International Airport (AIA) opened on 14 February 2017.

That's the good news. The bad news is there are no international flights yet from places like the United States. I still have to go to Barbados and take one of those regional airlines.

There is one thin hope that something might happen. Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said that "an international airline out of the United States of America is scheduled to operate regular flights to St. Vincent and the Grenadines when the Argyle International Airport becomes operational." Dr. Gonsalves did not name the airline, but noted that arrangements are being finalized and an announcement is likely to be made in the month of June. A well placed international source said that the Airline is likely to be Jet Blue. Gonsalves, however, gave no hint as to the name of the airline. “There’s an international carrier which we have been in discussion with out of the United States. They will make the announcement towards the end of June,” Gonsalves said.

After so many promises over eight years as to the actual opening of the airport, I am leery of such promises. I will remain hopeful, however, with a wait-and-see attitude. I wish them luck.

This could help the country in so many ways, especially economically.

A longer and wider runway than the old airport runway. You still do not want to overshoot the runway, either in take-offs or landings.



The old airport's runway is much shorter and runs right into a densely populated area.



The impressive main terminal under construction. It is so much larger than the old airport terminal.



The customs/immigration area for all incoming flights at the old airport. Citizens of SVG use the lane on the right and international visitors use the lane on the left.



The one single boarding area for all flights out of the old airport. The doors lead right out onto the runway. Notice no agent is guarding the doors.  A more secure airport is desperately needed.

The beautiful flag of St. Vincent and the Grenadines