Updates from Maine

I have my head above water again here at the seminary.  We are in our last week before retreat, so things are winding down.  My last deliverable is a homily, then I can get current on my reading assignments and start packing.  Faculty will not assign anything to be due for the first few days when we get back.

If you also follow me on Face Book, you will have seen this article about my home parish in Maine closing it's doors.  It was a sad moment in time, but not at all unexpected. The other parish in my home town is younger, larger and more vibrant.  The handwriting was on the door (shades of Luther) in 1988 when our parish was split in two and a new parish was created in the next town over.  It left our parish in much poorer financial conditions. It just took 25 years to come to the final conclusion.  The finance committee suggested it, the other parish committees and pastor approved it and the Bishop accepted the recommendation.

I will not be praying a Mass of Thanksgiving at the parish that I grew up in.  I hope to pray it in the other parish in my home town,  If God's timing works out correctly, a brother seminarian from that parish can serve as my deacon for that Mass. I just got the quote back for refinishing that chalice, it was about 1/2 of what I expected.  God is Good, All the Time.

The family in Maine are reasonably stable.  Between my niece (God bless her) and hired home health care aids, somebody is in the condo with the family for at least two hours every day.  Eyes on is a good thing.  I hear of little issues, but I sleep better knowing that good people are checking up on my family.