Doggie Park and doggie swimming hole from the north bridge, usually a busy spot.  Must be too early.

What's up in Ye Old Catholic Church

1.  U. S. bishops should follow the sisters,  https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/editorial-bishops-should-follow-sisters-lead-dismantling-racism

Sunday Homily from September 13 (Last Sunday.  Just forgot to add it to the blog.)

The Lord is gracious & merciful, never gets angry and is abounding in love.

Many people I know have their favorite scripture passage, one that supports feelings of consolation and inner peace.  It is also a resort when times are difficult.  This my verse.

Please excuse me while I reminisce through three periods of my adult & ordained life, my years in East Africa, my years working as a psycho-therapist and a celebrater of Sunday Masses at St. Marks, and finally the recent years, my blessed marriage with Rosemary and celebrating Masses with our special, marvelous community, each stage lasting 10-20 years.

I was living in Nairobi, Kenya when I was first struck by the incredible strength and consolation of this line.  I was looking for property on which I was to establish a spiritual center.  I had taken a break of a few days to get in touch with my spirit.  I had already been a Jesuit for about 15 years and had made many a retreat.  I had even guided a bunch of people through 8 to 30 day individual retreats.  Suddenly, sitting in the small chapel of the house of some American brothers it hit me.  How had I missed the strength of this line?

I went on to find a 38 acre plot with two houses owned by two elderly Brit ladies, mother & daughter.  (probably younger than I am now!).  The center is still active and under the direction of 2-5 East African Jesuits.  I named it Mwangaza House, which is Swahili for a sudden brightness.  I showed it to Rosemary & Mary Ellen some years ago when we were all 3 younger.

At a meeting of some of us Kenya Jesuits I volunteered to move south to Tanzania, a country more poor than Kenya & Uganda, with dirt roads, more simple living, and the home of The Great, my beloved Mt. Kilimanjaro. 

We knew that transportation was poor, so we decided to go mobile.  I was able to find 4 convents or centers with guest accommodations, one in each of the 4 corners of the country.  I bought a Honda 250 trail bike and found 3 others to form a team.  They were another young French Canadian Jesuit, a French Canadian White Father, and a delightful Dutch nun named Hanney.  In a cardboard box on the back of my trail bike I had my notes, extra clothing and running shoes.  It was a fascinating adventure.

The second big move I made was when I returned to the States around ’85-’86, got a degree & training as a psycho therapist, opened an office in the back of the Jesuit residence at the school here in Dallas, and shared time with people needing help.  I was quite busy.  At the same time Claude Smyth took me on at St. Marks where every Sunday I did the 9:00 and the 10:30 Masses.  I loved the people who made up those communities.

Guess what was the third big move in my life.  Cinco de Mayo, 2005, Rosemary & I got married.  That blessing was more than ever I expected!  But that was not the end of it. 

I blame Carol Eshelbrenner, Bernadette, and a few other trouble makers.  They said let’s continue to celebrate our Sunday Masses together.   Remember where we started and continued for many years?  Yep, Vines High School.  After a gazillion years at Vines, we were assigned to other schools because of Summer renovation.   Then we arrived in The Promised Land, Legacy Charter, Becky being our most gracious hostess.

Ever since that day in Nairobi and all through the years I have found peace and strength in The Line, The Lord is gracious and merciful, never gets angry, and is abounding in love.

What scripture line touches your heart?

Here are the links for Sunday:

May God’s love and mercy encircle you today

With living laughter that renews and saves

May bright hope lead you further on your way

And in your life may you celebrate his word

And be a witness to a gentle and gracious Lord.

A Book of Irish American Blessings & Prayers    Andrew Greeley

JSM Mission-Faith Statement  

 Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for & challenges spiritual & total growth.   Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged & make the world we live in a better place to live.