"YOU JUST CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP" #28

 

POOR DECISIONS CAN HAVE BAD CONSEQUENCES 

On a vacation to Acapulco, Mexico, a friend of mine and I spent most of our time in the tourist area around the hotel. There was plenty of night-life and it swarmed with people who looked a lot like us - tourists. The police were obvious as they protected the area. One evening, my friend talked me into taking the bus out of the area so we could see where the "locals" lived and find an "authentic restaurant." The longer we were on the bus and the further away we got from the "tourist area" the more uncomfortable I got. I kept thinking, "Dorothy, we are not in Kansas anymore!" Most of the people on the bus where obviously workers at the hotels, restaurants and bars that we had left behind. They stared at us with that look of "what are you doing on this bus?" No one was speaking English, but us! 

Finally, I told my friend that we needed to get off and find the bus going back to where we came from! We got off and asked around and were told what time the next bus would come by and where to wait for it. Since it was late, the time between buses was considerable so we decided to grab a bite to eat at a local "fast food" joint. I was not only worried about the area we were in, but also worried about the food we were about to eat. I thought we might be mugged by some angry "get those Americans" rough necks. I was also worried because the place where we stopped to eat did not look all that clean. We ate it anyway because we needed a safe place to wait for the next bus back to the hotel. 

We got home safely that night. However, my worries were misplaced. The local people stared at us, but did not mistreat us. What I should have worried about more was the place we ate. I contracted a bad case of diarrhea from that huge burrito that I ate that night in a "rough area" of Acapulco !  

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On another summer trip out to Colorado, while I was still in the seminary, I agreed to accompany my friend from the Evansville in his Volkswagen one a visit to his aunt who lived out there. There were a lot of good things about the trip, like a day's hike up a mountain and a superb Thai restaurant. However, there were also a couple of nightmare scenarios, like a floorboard with an inch of water whenever it rained! 

The worst nightmare happened when we were making a side-trip to Pike's Peak. Think a Volkswagen Beetle! For some reason my friend, who was driving his Beetle, decided to turn around half-way up the mountain. There were no guardrails or shoulders to the road,  just loose gravel and dirt on the side that led down to a curve in the road below with the same all the way down the mountain. Well, he drove his Beetle over the edge a bit and tried to back up. The gravel began to slide and take the Beetle, with us inside, a little more over the cliff. 

As we were sliding, he applied the brakes and tried to back up, spinning rocks and gravel like cannonballs out of a cannon. I remember trying to decide whether to open my door, get out and save my own life and let him keep sliding to his death or "go down with the ship." I concluded that I would rather stay in the car and "go down with the ship" than face his family as a coward. 

Well, I am happy with my decision because miraculously, the wheels got a grip and we backed out of that mess and onto the road! He not only saved our lives, but I saved my dignity. I was really angry at him for not knowing better than trying something like that, but I swallowed my anger and tried to focus on my gratitude for not dying that day at the bottom of Pike's Peak! 

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On a vacation in New Orleans, a friend of mine and I went to a bar on Bourbon Street one night. We had rented two rooms in the rear of a private house not far from Bourbon Street - a short walk home. When it was getting very late, and my friend wanted to stay longer, I decided to walk back alone to where we were staying. Well, I thought I knew how to get home, but I didn't. I got turned around and kept walking until I realized that I was hopelessly lost in a very dangerous part of New Orleans. 

When I asked a friendly looking man for directions to the street I was looking for, he looked at me in shock. "You shouldn't be over here this late by yourself! This is a very dangerous area!" He then told me how to find my way back, but with a very worried look on his face! I finally managed to find my way back to where we were staying, relieved that I had not been robbed or killed and left to die on the streets of New Orleans! I kept repeating to myself over the next couple of days, "Don't ever do that again, ever!" Poor decisions can have very serious consequences!  

VERONICA'S PRAYER IS FINALLY BEING ANSWERED THIS SUMMER

JUST ONE MONTH AWAY

DEDICATION SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 10, 2025

LOCATED IN THE DIOCESE OF MACHAKOS - EAST OF NAIROBI, KENYA

ON THE EAST COAST OF CENTRAL AFRICA

 

LOCAL CATECHIST, VERONICA KITILI, HAD A VISION

Veronica, an illiterate catechist, taught the Catholic faith out of her home from memory. She is said to have been the godmother of over 1,000 new Catholics. There was no church in her village so she had to walk miles to get to church for Mass. As she got older, she did what she could to talk the local priest into building a church in her village. He agreed, but she died before it could be built. When the first church was built in her village, the people named it St. Veronica Church in her honor. It is pictured below. 

           

Her daughter, Clementine, became Sister Stephen, a Little Sister of the Poor, who ended up being stationed at St. Joseph Home for the Aged here in Louisville, Kentucky, where Father Ronald Knott helps with weekday Masses. Even though Father Knott had sworn off any more missions projects, he was moved by the story of her mother, Veronica, and decided to see if he could help. The rest is history.

 

Sister Stephen, a local Little Sister of the Poor, and Father Ronald Knott (photo from The Record)

Father John Judie, a Louisville priest, let us use his tax-exempt charity (Father John Judie Ministries Inc.) to pass money through to this project since he was already working in east Africa. He will represent Father Knott at the Dedication of St. Veronica Church on August 10, 2025 Father Benedict, pastor, blesses the ground where he wanted the new church to be built. 

St. Veronica Church Building Committee

Mr. Julius Kitili, son of Veronica Kitili and brother of Sister Stephen, who oversaw the details of building the new St. Veronica Church in honor of his mother. 

The concrete footers for the foundation stones went first. 

The foundation stones before dirt-fill was hauled in and packed down before concrete floor was poured. 

The walls going up after the floor had been poured.

After the walls were up, the metal rafters were installed to await the metal roof sheets. 

The metal roof sheets start to go on over the side entrance. 

 

The entrance on the end awaits the arrival of parishioners.

Once the roof was completed, the windows and doors were ready to be installed, along with a terrazzo floor covering. The new electrical ceiling lights were installed and turned-on, as well as many other improvements made, since this photo was taken.  

Below, notice the windows going in and the terrazzo floors being installed. Notice the cross in the floor (center). The doors are built and ready to be installed. 

 

A view of the new St. Veronica Church as it looked on June 20, 2025

Even though not finished, the new church (seating 500) was reported as being filled for the first Mass on June 29, 2025

Photo as of July 19, 2025

The old stick and sheet-metal church (photo above) has been torn down to make way for landscaping.

The new St. Veronica Church will be finished by, and dedicated on, August 10, 2025

1,000 people are expected for the community dedication celebration.

Watch this blog for further developments and photos.  

The new St. Veronica Church has taken shape quite nicely. I can't wait to see it finished with its bell tower, church sign out front and landscaping. I have been assured that it will be ready for dedication on August 10, 2025. (Father John Judie will represent Father Knott at the dedication on his way back to his volunteer work in Tanzania - next country south of Kenya.) The pews are being built off-site and will be assembled on-site once the terrazzo floor is finished and the doors and windows have been installed. It should all be finished during the next four weeks leading up to the dedication and community celebration.  

 

If you want to know more, contact Father Knott at jrknott@bellsouth.net  

 "Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is....life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you." 

Pope Francis

FOR A GOOD STORY ABOUT THIS PROJECT FROM OUR DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER

https://therecordnewspaper.org/retired-priests-collaborate-to-bring-an-illiterate-catechists-dream-to-life/

STAY TUNED FOR A POST-DEDICATION REPORT AND PHOTOS

August 12, 2025, two days after the dedication on August 10, 2025

St. Veronica's Feast Day

This Coming Saturday, July 12

Saint Veronica is one of the lesser-known saints in the Catholic Church, but her story has captivated the faithful for centuries. She is known as the patron saint of laundry workers and photographers. A major life event, as depicted in religious tradition, was her act of compassion towards Jesus Christ during his journey to the cross.

Veronica was born in the 1st century in Jerusalem, although little is known about her early life. Her name, which means "true image" in Latin, refers to her encounter with Jesus on his way to Golgotha. Veronica was moved with compassion for Jesus and offered him a cloth to wipe the sweat from his face. As she did so, the image of Christ's face was imprinted on the cloth, and it became known as the "Veil of Veronica".

Veronica's act of compassion towards Jesus during his crucifixion has become a symbol of the importance of mercy and kindness in the face of suffering. Her story has been told and retold in various forms of religious art and literature, and she has become a beloved figure in Christian iconography. The cloth believed to be the "Veil of Veronica" is preserved in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome and has long been one of the most prized relics of Christianity. Veronica’s act of charity is commemorated in the Stations of the Cross.

Despite her status as a popular saint, there is little historical information about Veronica beyond her legendary act of compassion towards Jesus. Some traditions suggest that she may have been a follower of Christ, while others speculate that she was a wealthy woman who supported the early Christian community. However, these details are not well-documented.

Veronica is celebrated on July 12th, which is her feast day in the Catholic Church. She is traditionally thought to have died around the year 50 AD, however, her exact date of death is unknown. She was canonized in the 16th century.

In addition to her association with laundry workers and photographers, she is also considered a patron saint of those who suffer from skin diseases, as her legendary act of compassion towards Christ has been interpreted as a symbol of healing and compassion towards those who are sick.

Saint Veronica's life is somewhat of a mystery, but her story of compassion towards Jesus has made her a beloved figure in Christian iconography. Her life and legacy continues to inspire and captivate the faithful to this day.

SAINT VERONICA PRAYER

Feast Day, July 12

O My Jesus, Saint Veronica served You on the way to Calvary by wiping Your beloved face with a towel on which Your sacred image then appeared. She protected this treasure, and whenever people touched it, they were miraculously healed. I ask her to pray for the growth of my ability to see Your sacred image in others, to recognize their hurts, to stop and join them on their difficult journeys, and to feel the same compassion for them as she did for You. Show me how to wipe their faces, serve their needs, and heal their wounds, reminding me that as I do this for them, I also do this for You. Saint Veronica, pray for me. Amen.

I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST READ

 

Maybe you haven't seen them advertised? Maybe you would like to send one to someone for a present?

A birthday? An anniversary? A surprise gift? Maybe even a Christmas present? Both books have a mixture of both "humorous" and "serious" real-life stories from my growing up years, my seminary years and my years as a priest - many of which I have been too embarrassed to tell until I reached the age of 80! I thought to myself, as I was readying them for publication, "Go ahead! What can they do to me now, fire me?"  

These and many other of my books are available from Amazon Books. For a complete list and for ordering instructions go to:

ronknottbooks.com 

HOW TO SURVIVE A SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP CRISIS

 

The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.

Luke 10:1-12,17-20

As many of you know, for fifteen years I wrote a weekly column in our archdiocesan newspaper, The Record. My column was called An Encouraging Word. My philosophy was, that if you looked for it, you could find all kinds of wonderful things happening that never make the news. I wanted to shine the light on affirming that goodness, rather than "mousing for vermin." By that, I mean I wanted to resist the temptation to constantly "look for sins to condemn."

I still believe that there is a lot of goodness out there, but when I saw today's reading, as one of the laborers who has been sent out into the harvest, I could not help but be moved by its powerful words and want to offer some encouraging words to all of you about how to handle what's happening to our culture.

There is a deadly disease of epidemic proportions infecting our country, our families, our communities and our churches. Many of us are already infected with it and most of us have already been affected by it. No, it's not COVID, AIDS or cancer.  It's an aggressive selfish individualism. This disease, this mindset, is infecting our families, our marriages, our political process, our neighborhoods, and even our churches. 

Today it’s all about me, my rights, my needs, my opinions, my future and my wants. It’s all about "every dog for himself" and a “I don't give a damn attitude” about how my behavior affects anybody else. It’s about running red lights, trashing public property, seeing what you can get by with, reneging on promises, running over whoever gets in your way, getting out front no matter who you have to walk on and engaging in crude, rude, and in-your-face public discourse and behavior. 

As a result of all this, we are investing in more police, more expensive lawyers, more guns, stronger locks, and more counseling just to protect ourselves from each other. Because of all this, people's anger, rage, and hate seem to be boiling over everywhere. This disease is being labeled, among other things, as the “decline of civility” and the “collapse of culture.” Basically, we have learned how to be a “me,” but we have forgotten how to be a “we” - as citizens, as family members, as marriage partners, as neighbors, and as church members. 

What did Jesus do, when he saw all the human bewilderment and dejection of his day? He compared it to seeing "sheep without a shepherd." When he saw it, he was "moved with compassion" for the sick, the poor, the blind and the mentally afflicted. He was "moved with compassion" by the world's sorrow - for those who have lost loved ones, for the tired and hungry and those who struggle to get by with so little. He was "moved with compassion" by the world's loneliness when he saw those who have been marginalized, abandoned and isolated by their sickness, their race or their age. He was "moved with compassion" by people's desperate longing for a connection to God while going without good spiritual leadership.

What he saw was a serious spiritual leadership crisis - a heart-breaking lack of people willing and able to do anything about all the suffering that "moved him with compassion."  What did he do about it? He sent his disciples out, in pairs, after instructing them, to do what they could to relieve people's suffering and to give them hope. 

When I hear about, or see first-hand, all the human bewilderment and dejection today, I see very clearly that we are truly in a serious spiritual leadership crisis. We have so few really good role models in government and the most pressing need facing Catholicism today is the quality of its spiritual leadership. Faced with all the social bewilderment and personal dejection, those called to positions of political authority seem more and more focused on their own personal power, and those called to spiritual leadership seem more and more focused on their own personal piety, than helping to relieve the pain and emptiness of others

Effective spiritual leaders need to have the ability to influence people to move from where they are to where God wants them to be – the ability to inspire them to become people willingly, and able, to serve others. Because of our spiritual leadership crisis, we are losing the ability to influence people to choose love, service and compassion over hate, competitiveness and greed. This is leaving people “like sheep without a shepherd" while our spiritual leaders are increasingly promoting personal piety!   

To me, the most pressing problem facing Catholicism today is, without doubt, the quality of its priestly leadership in face of seemingly deteriorating religious devotion and faith, community cooperation, generosity and concern for the poor. Organized religion has lost its power to impose unquestioned rules on the behavior of its members No amount of ranting and raving from the clergy about how it ought to be listened to and new editions of the rule books, will fix this. Instead of blaming ourselves for our lack of skills of persuasion, some clergy persist in their propensity to blame the laity for their lack of faith and the culture for its "secularism" and "moral relativism."

Instead of blaming others, the better approach might be for us clergy start owning the fact that the real problem may be our own style, mistakes and inability to influence others.  Instead of looking around for a solution, maybe we clergy should start looking within. We designated spiritual leaders need to become real spiritual leaders. A fancy title alone means absolutely nothing!  Maybe our real problem is not with you sheep, but with us shepherds! 

What can you do in a serious spiritual leadership crisis? This is what you do! You grab the bull by the horns! You do whatever you can personally to survive and grow spiritually! When you can't find a good spiritual director, you do what you can to become your own spiritual director! Some of us did what we could when one or more of our parents were not there for us when we were growing up! Some of us found a way to parent ourselves! We had to be like those four kids who managed to survive in the Amazon jungle for 40 days after the plane they were on crashed and killed three adults including their mother. Those four children, all siblings, were ages 13, 9, 4 and 11 months. The oldest was used to taking care of the younger ones. They survived jaguars, snakes and other predators. Their knowledge of fruits and jungle survival skills helped them stay alive until help arrived.

Here is one thing you can do to be your own spiritual director if necessary. You don't have to add something new to your already busy schedule. All you need to do is to focus more seriously on something you are already doing - going to Mass. It requires that you move away from the passive old idea of "attending Mass" to a new discipline of "celebrating the Eucharist." Instead of expecting others to offer you a moving spiritual experience every weekend, it requires that you personally become responsible for that "moving spiritual experience" that you crave. It is possible to have a "moving religious experience" even when the homily is not very inspiring and even when the music is not up to your liking. Here are some things you can personally do in a pinch to help yourself have a "moving spiritual experience!"

(1)Spend some time reading and re-reading the Scriptures of the day at home on the computer or from a missalette before you come to Mass. If that doesn't work, or time doesn't allow it, come to church early and do it right there in the pew. That way, even if the homily is disappointing, you can still be inspired by reflecting on the readings before they are read. (2) Pick a seat to minimize visual and audible distractions - maybe up front near the altar or pulpit. (3) Pick up a hymnal and sing along or minimally read the words as others are singing them. St. Augustine said, “He who sings prays twice.” The words of the hymns are prayers too! (4) Keep a "spiritual progress journal" even if you only have time for a few sentences on some days. I now have over 20 volumes of reflections that I can go back to, re-read and notice when I made progress or fell behind spiritually. (5) If you do better in a group, you can always join a spiritual reading book club, a prayer group or a support group. If none are available, start your own. (6) When alone in the car, use your commuting time to listen to a recorded spiritual reflection.

Whatever you do, remember this! If you are not being fed spiritually by others, feed yourself! Feed yourself! Take responsibility for your own spiritual well-being! In an emergency, become your own spiritual director! Be like those four kids who managed to stay alive on their own for forty days after a plane crash in a Columbian jungle! Until help arrives, starting today do whatever you can to prepare yourself to be "moved with compassion for the bewildered and dejected!" In the meantime, pray that the Lord will strengthen the spiritual leaders we have, make them more effective and send us more effective spiritual leaders because "the harvest is great, but the laborers are few!"