Sad news today. My brother-in-law William VanOver died on Tuesday afternoon from a massive coronary event. He has been moving between the hospital and a rehab facility for the last ten weeks.
He joins his wife (and my sister) in God's hands. It is just over three months since she died. She was his entire life, may they rest together in God's peace.
I'm leaving for Maine this morning. I'll be there through the weekend and for Spring Break next week.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Mea Culpa...
It has been too long, my friends. It is not that there is no news, but the news has been discouraging and I did not want anyone to worry.
As of this moment, all is going fine. But it has been a heck of a first 5 weeks as a deacon.
That hacking cough you heard during the ordination was me. The illness I was fighting left me with a middle ear infection. This, in turn, spawned a vertigo attack, an ER visit and an overnight stay at the hospital. A week later, an aftershock occurred with another ER trip. Who knew there were aftershocks for vertigo attacks? A visit with the neurologist resulted in an MRI. The MRI showed the middle ear infection, antibiotics were prescribed, and the dizziness went away. Thank You Dr & God.
Then, the 48 hour bug going around the seminary decided to visit. Like many others, I got well and relapsed for another 48 hours 1 day later.
The net result is I have missed 2 out of 5 weekends at my parish. Now, both the faculty here and my pastoral supervisor are fine with this, but I need the practice as a deacon before I become a priest.
I have spoken to several priests about this rocky start to my diaconate. We all see the hand of the devil in this. Satan does not want another priest to be ordained. I pray for protection from the devil every day. Your prayers will help as well.
As I write this on Ash Wednesday, it is a few days over three months to priestly ordination. May God continue the good work in me that he has begun.
As of this moment, all is going fine. But it has been a heck of a first 5 weeks as a deacon.
That hacking cough you heard during the ordination was me. The illness I was fighting left me with a middle ear infection. This, in turn, spawned a vertigo attack, an ER visit and an overnight stay at the hospital. A week later, an aftershock occurred with another ER trip. Who knew there were aftershocks for vertigo attacks? A visit with the neurologist resulted in an MRI. The MRI showed the middle ear infection, antibiotics were prescribed, and the dizziness went away. Thank You Dr & God.
Then, the 48 hour bug going around the seminary decided to visit. Like many others, I got well and relapsed for another 48 hours 1 day later.
The net result is I have missed 2 out of 5 weekends at my parish. Now, both the faculty here and my pastoral supervisor are fine with this, but I need the practice as a deacon before I become a priest.
I have spoken to several priests about this rocky start to my diaconate. We all see the hand of the devil in this. Satan does not want another priest to be ordained. I pray for protection from the devil every day. Your prayers will help as well.
As I write this on Ash Wednesday, it is a few days over three months to priestly ordination. May God continue the good work in me that he has begun.
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