Sunday, November 22, 2015

Jesus the King: Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (instead of the Sunday, 34th Ordinary Time)

Listen to the homily here.

105 Days: 11-22-15

Praise God…Friday, November 20th marks 105 days since my stroke. I spoke of the circle last weekend and I thought I would do some math here:

·      40 (days in the hospital)
·      + 22 (days in Duluth at Miller-Dwan for speech, OT and PT, plus a weekend of Masses in Duluth)
·      + 20 (days in the Cities for speech school)
·      +  2 (days in the Cities for my cousin’s wedding)
·      + 21 (days at home [of HEAVEN] in International Falls and Little Fork )
·      = 105 days. 
·      (15 weeks)
·      BACK HOME!
            PRAISE GOD!

            A few things about my return to work:
·      Masses will be back to Monday-Thursday mornings. Mass on Monday, November 23rd will be at 7:30am (I have an appointment in Duluth…but Mass is BACK).  The rest of the week will be at 8:30am.
·      Happy Thanksgiving Day!  (Yes…make it to Mass at 8:30am on Thursday!)
·      Advent begins next week…the start of the new-year for our Church! 
·      Some cool parts of Advent for our churches: Adoration, books, CDs, talks, music, confession, Wednesday evening Masses, stewardship, prayer and more…

Ice fishing will be coming soon…I didn’t get to hunt this fall, but thank you, Lord, for fishing on the ice!

God Bless!

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Circles of our Church, our life, or something difficult: 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Listen to the homily here.

"Cooking as a Priest": 11-15-15

As I continue to work through Speech, I have a paragraph they taught me through.  The name I wrote about—“Cooking as a Priest”.  I think you’ll enjoy this!
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Twelve days after my stroke, I was moved to Miller-Dwan in Duluth.  I was given speech, occupational therapy and physical therapy.  On one of the first days I was taught how to remember how to cook again.
            I was learning how to make a quick breakfast.  Coffee—perfect.  Eggs—delicious (but with out bacon).  The gal helped me for thirty minutes through OT to help my life back to normal.
            The next day—cooking again.  I thought, “Wait a second…cooking again?”  My leader helped me again; this time the thirty minutes pushed me through toast and juice.  At the same time, I asked a question: “How much cooking are we doing?”  She answered, “We could do quite a bit.”  So I told her what my life is—a priest!  I said, “I am a priest.  Some days I work for 12, 14 or 16 hours for a day.  Cook?  I can buy dinner quicker for 10 bucks than cooking!  I always enjoy dinners at a family’s house to be with them.  I could also be a difficult time for cooking.  For instance, I might be called to the hospital to be with a dying person.  If that happened, my cooking dinner is interrupted and the food is trashed.  Cooking?  I am done cooking!”
            My occupational therapist laughed and told me, “I think we’ll be done cooking!”
            ---------
            Only five days left for my Speech.  Thank you for your prayers and know of my prayers for you all!

            God Bless!

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Stewardship: 32nd Sunday of Ordinary of Time

Listen to the homily here.

Bulletin: Thanks to YOU--November 8th, 2015

            I am thankful to God for my family and my friends after having a stroke.  I am also grateful for YOU.  I was excited to be home for eight days (October 18th-25th), and to be back in our Churches.  And yes, I am pumped to be back in only three weeks.  Until then, I will continue to lead the weekend Masses—praise God!
            A great man in my life told me something recently regarding my recovery: “Your parishioners are on this journey with you and it is something beautiful for God.”  Isn’t this true?  We each have hard parts of life—our sins—and we all need help.  And that’s where GOD loves us! The Savior takes us—not simply to earth—but to heaven!
In my spiritual life I know I am learning to be the best priest I can for you.  As I work through my speech (for my brain!)  and I improve my words, sacraments, homilies, prayers, chats, bulletins and such…know that I am so thankful for you on the way.  And you are in my prayers.
Finally—our best friend, God and Savior, has a great prayer for our hearts:

Psalm 23
           
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;
            he makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;
            he restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
            I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
            your rod and your staff,
            they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
            in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil,
            my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
            all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.