FEBRUARY 11, 2007

As this bulletin is being modemed into the printing company, I am still in the southern climes of the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese, preaching their annual priests' retreat. I am attempting to share with them some fraternal spirituality as we labor in the vineyard of the Lord, albeit in disparate places. This is NOT vacation time, but I will be away from the duties at both parishes. Some people may be upset with the fact that I am not readily available for a week. In planning my time, I have to avoid being away for certain things: Christmas, Easter, Lent, First Communion, Graduation, festival and other parish wide celebrations. I also have to figure in the number of weddings I am committed to and other parochial and extra parochial duties. A good parish has something going on 365 days a year. Unfortunately, not even a good pastor can sustain working 365 days a year without a break. As my spiritual director once told me: "Even if you think you can do anything, you must learn that you can't do everything." For those who miss me while I am away (and even for those who don't!) I offer the following reflection that one parishioner gave me from some other Church's bulletin and that I will share with my brother priests in Texas:

WHO WILL REPLACE HIM
If a priest preaches over 10 minutes, he's long-winded.
If his sermon is short, he didn't prepare it.
If the parish funds are high, he's money-mad.
If he visits his parishioners, he's nosy.
If he doesn't, he's being snobbish.
If he has fairs and bazaars, he's bleeding the people.
If he doesn't, there isn't any life in the parish.
If he takes time in a confession to help and advise sinners, he takes too long.
If he doesn't, he doesn't care.
If he celebrates liturgy in a quiet voice, he's boring.
If he puts feeling into it, he's an actor.
If he starts Mass on time, his watch is fast.
If he's late, he's holding people up.
If he tries to lead the people in music, he's showing off.
If he doesn't, he doesn't care what Mass is like.
If he decorates the church, he's wasting money.
If he doesn't, he's letting it run down.
If he's young, he's not experienced.
If he's old, he ought to retire.
But if he dies...

THERE MAY BE NO ONE TO REPLACE HIM

Yes, I will miss you all while I am away. But no, I am not sorry that I went. I'd like to live a while longer so that I can serve God's people both at St. John of God and St. Catherine of Siena a while longer. Besides, there are much, much much older guys like Fr. Al, Fr. Rege and Fr. Mike (all of whom have already been away this year) to serve you.