Some time ago, I traveled to Chicago to train a Sister from my congregation’s western province on web design. Not having a direct flight, I had a layover in Columbus, Ohio.
When I disembarked the plane for a layover, I stopped at a kiosk for some yogurt and fruit. As I was eating and watching people swirl all around me, an impeccably dressed man in his 30s sat next to me. He was eating his lunch as well.
Many years ago, while I was stationed in the Bronx, Immaculate Conception Parish had a custom of feeding the poor on Thanksgiving. We fed approximately 200 people and then prepared another 200 meals for shut-ins in the parish and neighborhood.
Rosemary Connelly had never traveled outside of the United States, or been on an airplane. She is afraid of heights. And she is discerning her path in life since her husband’s death in 2016.Yet, there she was on a flight with nearly 70 other pilgrims traveling from the Diocese of Harrisburg to Ireland for a 12-day pilgrimage to the Emerald Isle, Aug. 28-Sept. 8.
She had signed up for the pilgrimage just five days before its deadline – no passport or birth certificate on hand.
“I felt that if it was meant for me to go, everything would go well,” Ms. Connelly, a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Abbottstown, told The Catholic Witness.
As I sit in front of my computer looking at the blinking cursor and at the pictures of loved ones on the walls of my office, I ponder, “What’s next?” In the midst of our experiences right now in society and in the Church, what words can I share to make others reflect on the nature of jubilee? How can I find the grace?
Many years ago, when I was a novice, I was given an assignment to interview one of our Jubilarians.
Several years ago, I had the great privilege of going on a mini-vacation with my sister to Cape May. We stayed at an historic hotel for a long weekend. I was so looking forward to soaking up some sun and just spending time with Lisa, whom I dearly love.
Some time ago when I was teaching in high school, I realized that I needed some extra training on HTML. It’s an abbreviation for Hypertext Markup Language and is one of the code languages behind websites.
During Easter Sunday Mass this year, I was gifted with a special grace. I usually attend the 9:30 Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral. On Easter, the parish and I were doubly blessed because Bishop Gainer was the celebrant. Because of his presence, the liturgy was very well attended.
Many, many years ago, when I was a very small child, I used to love the television program “Queen for a Day!” As my brother and I were glued to the TV, my mother would bemoan over the fact that she would have loved to be the ladies she saw on the show.
When I was a small child, my mom would keep me quiet and still during Sunday Mass by allowing me to gaze at her diamond ring. I would put her finger very close to my eye, making my vision blur. I was mesmerized by the kaleidoscope of colors as the light refracted off the facets of the diamond. I thought it was totally beautiful that God made it that way.