From the Pastor

On Monday I leave to represent the parish at Jerome Krug’s ordination to the diaconate in Rome. We have been praying for him and I will carry with me your prayers and support for him. This will be a homecoming of sorts for me since I studied at the same seminary and was also ordained a deacon at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Since I am going so far away for this event, and since I don’t get to Europe often, I will be extending my trip for some vacation and pilgrimage. I will be visiting some cities in Italy that I did not visit while a student there. Eventually I will make my way to France on pilgrimage to visit the Benedictine Abbey of Our Lady of Fontgombault. This Abbey is the motherhouse (the founding abbey) of the Abbey of Our Lady of the Annunciation of Clear Creek in eastern Oklahoma. I have been to Clear Creek many times, as have several of you. I am excited to take some retreat days at this impressive French abbey. You will be remembered in my daily prayers and Masses on my journey. I will still be united with you in prayer, penance, and fasting in this time of reparation for the crisis in the Church. That might even make things a bit more penitential since I will have to forego some of the delights of Italian and French food on the Wednesdays and Fridays of my journey! That is a sacrifice worth making for the healing of victims of abuse, for the conversion of the clergy, and for the good of the Church. I will be back here at home late on October 15. Please keep me in your prayers.