A "SICK CALL" IN THE SO-CALLED "GOOD OLD DAYS"
Father Edward A. Reavy served as pastor of my home parish of St. Theresa of Avila in Rhodelia, Kentucky, from March 1932 till January 1937.
Under his leadership, a huge cistern was constructed thereby greatly increasing the water supply. A new roof was put on the church. In 1933, a new highway was constructed to Rhodelia. It was a great improvement over the dirt road, which was practically impassible for automobiles during the rainy season.
Father Odendahl, a previous pastor from 1922-1928, had sponsored a movement to procure a new road from the main highway to Rhodelia, but the plan was not realized until Father Reavy's time.
Before the new road was completed and the dirt roads and side-roads were impassible, priests made "sick-call visits," like all the pastors before them, on their trusty horses. Several of the early pastors of St. Theresa traveled weeks at a time on horseback between the small parishes and missions all over central and western Kentucky and beyond!
Father Elisha John Durbin, who established the second log St. Theresa Church in 1826 in the present "old cemetery," covered the mission territory of Kentucky, Illinois and Tennessee. His ministry lasted for over 65 years during which he erected 10 churches, formed congregations, and visited isolated families! He is said to have traveled 500,000 miles on horseback during his missionary years! He is buried in the old St. Louis Cemetery here in Louisville, not too far behind my condo.
You hear people complaining about the present day and age because things were so much better in former times. I wonder what would happen if they could be taken back to the days of their ancestors - would we not still hear them complaining? You may think past ages were good, but it is only because you are not living in them.
St. Augustine of Hippo
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