Today found us gathered at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver for our morning of reflection. I admit, Brad Watkins has an excellent bishop, as his ordinary (Bishop Burbige) gave the morning address and really challenged us to embrace the call that we have received from Christ as Vocation Directors, an even more specialized version of our call as priests.
Well, to prove that no good morning goes unpunished, there was a select group of us that selected for the Red Rock Park/Brewery Tour Excursion this afternoon. For those from outside the greater Denver area, Red Rock Park is either a state or city park where they have turned a natural ampitheater into a pretty impressive outdoor performance hall, which so was dominate in the national awards for the journal that the award was name for the arena!
Well, after sending a short and pithy email with a pic from the phone to someone back in Ohio who was stuck in work, (this was from my kind and gentle side), we headed back into Denver for a short tour and sampling of 'Great Divide's product sampling.
Great Divide is one of many micro-brews in the area, as our planned trip to Coor's fell through. (I have so far failed to see the drawback in this plan.....) Well, let me paint this picture for you:
35 priests walk into a bar (What is this, some kind of joke?!?!?!) Great Divide has a wonderful selection of great beers, so we all proceed to sample a few. (SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT!!!) Their 'St. Brigid Porter' is not to be missed, commemorating St. Brigid's unique and unparalleled ability to turn water into BEER! I, however, because of my anti-Irish sensibilities (ganz Deutsch, bin ich) turned rather to the Double IPA, WOW, what a nice selection.
The humor of tonight's story, not that there were not already many laughs, came as one of the last of our brothers ordered his selection. Well, as we were heading on a Brewery Tour, most of us 'went civy' and replaced clerical attire with regular clothes. Our brother from New Orleans was less fashion conscious, and stayed in clerical attire. Remember, he was nearly the last of 35 to order his beer selection, and the waitress responds: 'Oh, I couldn't take money from a priest!'
HUH?!?!?! She had just taken money from 30 some priests!!!!!! I guess you win some, you lose some. Bummer
Her story as to why she wouldn't take money from (one who was dress as a) priest was interesting. She confessed (Theresa being her name) that she had recently finished the pilgrimage to Compestelo in Spain. And not the short version, either, but rather started somewhere near Paris and walked all the way to the western tip of the Iberian Penisula. Hmm, never know who you are gonna meet.
Luckily, Father Christman (DoV of Denver) was with us and could direct her to a good parish here in the home office.
The moral of the story, never be afraid to witness to your Catholic faith, even if it requires taking a big leap of faith, 'natch.
One more day of conference tomorrow, with a very early start!
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7 comments:
Oh, Father, NOW I know why you're so mean to me!
You're anti-Irish! (I've a great deal of Irish blood in me veins!)
But that's OK...you got yours for not being willing to witness to your faith by presenting yourself as a priest...
For us Germans -
Weine nicht wen der Regen fällt ,
DAM DAM-DAM DAM
ES gibt einen der zu dir hält,
DAM DAM-DAM DAM
Marmorstein und eisen bricht,
aber unsre Liebe nicht
Alles alles geht vor vorbei!
Doch wir sind uns Treu!
Kann ich einmal nicht bei dir sein,
DAM DAM-DAM DAM
Denk daran du bist nicht allein
DAM DAM-DAM DAM
Marmorstein und eisen bricht,
aber unsre Liebe nicht
Alles alles geht vor vorbei!
Doch wir sind uns Treu!
Marmorstein und eisen bricht,
aber unsre Liebe nicht
Alles alles geht vor vorbei!
Doch wir sind uns Treu!
And for the Irish (or the luck o' the Irish) -
Her eyes they shone like the diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band.
In a neat little town they call Belfast
Apprenticed to trade I was bound
And many an hour's sweet happiness
I spent in that neat little town.
Till bad misfortune came o'er me
That caused me to stray from the land
Far away from my friends and relations
To follow the black velvet band.
Well, I was out strolling one evening
Not meaning to go very far
When I met with a pretty young damsel
Who was selling her trade in the bar.
When I watched, she took from a customer
And slipped it right into my hand
Then the Watch came and put me in prison
Bad luck to the black velvet band.
Next morning before judge and jury
For a trial I had to appear
And the judge, he said, "You young fellows...
The case against you is quite clear
And seven long years is your sentence
You're going to Van Dieman's Land
Far away from your friends and relations
To follow the black velvet band."
Ah Father, I see that Theresa just got even for me as the recipient of your short, kind, pithy comment and picture sent to me! (For others - a picture of the mountains and a 'hope your having fun at work today' added for good measure!)
He sent me a bar pic...
I'm going to have to change the color of my ponytail holder now.
Thanks, LM...I think you might have just inspired Padre K. to a whole new level of picking on me with that particular song!
Maybe I should post the words to Annachie Gordon...in that one at least the girl suffers for what's right...
:-)
Adoro - believe me - the German drinking song *sounds* so much better in German! It's not a really good song, when translated to English...but it's one that is common over there.
(Do not cry whom the rains falls, gives holds DAM DAM DAM DAM one of that to you, DAM DAM DAM DAM
Marble stone and iron breaks, but goes our love not all everything before past! Yet we are faithful to us!
If I cannot be once with you, am DAM DAM DAM DAM Denk on that you not alone DAM DAM DAM DAM)
Funny how everything sounds better in a foreign language... *grin*
I would have posted the Barley Mill (written & sung by Seamus Kennedy) but I couldn't find the lyrics. *sign*
Well here's the lyrics, in part, from Annachie Gordon:
With Annachie Gordon I beg for my bread
And before I marry Sultan his gold to my head
With gold to my head and straight down to my knees
And I'll die if I don't get my love Annachie
And you who are my parents to church you may me bring
But unto Lord Sultan I'll never bear a son
To a son or a daughter I'll never bow my knee
And I'll die if I don't get my love Annachie.
http://www.lyricsdepot.com/loreena-mckennitt/annachie-gordon.html
It is a HEARTBREAKER of a song. And I could go all theologial on this one, too! lol
I once got to sing it, a capella, back when I had a voice.
Beer & theology - 'Theology On Tap'! LOL
(actually, I've never been to any of the 'Theology on Tap' sessions here in Cleveland - although they do advertise in the Cathedral bulletin).
Everything is good over a pint.... *grin*
(of course, the more you drink, the more the story is distorted.... Noah's wife was Joan of Ark ... The first book of the Bible is the Book of Guinesses ... Moses died before he ever reached Canada ... etc.) It just goes downhill from there.
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