A few prayer requests

As I type this out on Wednesday morning, my grandmother (at one month shy of 90 years old) is hitting the operating table to have her hip replaced.  If you could, please spare a prayer for her and for a speedy recovery.  A few years back, she fell and broke her left hip and had that replaced.  (We think she just missed grandpa, who was in the hospital at the time w/ congestive heart failure, and wanted to be by his side for his last days here on earth.)  Now, she's having the other hip done, because otherwise she might end up in a wheelchair.  (At 90, would that be so bad?)  I annoited her while I was home on Monday, so she's good to go from that end.

Another request: a good friend of one of my nieces (10 years old) was recently diagnosed with a tumor on her brain stem.  She's undergoing therapy, but it's something that no 10 year old should ever have to go through!  Prayer for her strength, her parents, sisters and friends, if you can.

Thanks in advance.

More Prayers

This coming weekend, three men from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will be ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Schnurr.  The Catholic Telegraph features their bios, as well as their classmates from Toledo and Youngstown.  If you could, stop and offer a prayer for them as they finish their pre-ordination retreat over these last few days.  Then offer another prayer that they might be good and worthy ministers of the Gospel as priests of Jesus Christ.  They will learn of their assignments at the end of the Ordination Mass.

A second request: I have a bit of a project coming to fruition on Friday, if you could please offer a prayer that all goes smoothly, I would greatly appreciate it.

Prayer Bleg

Starting tonight and running through Friday, I'm helping with a retreat for Catholic Grade School teachers here in the Archdiocese. Please keep the participants in your prayers, and send one up for me, too. One of hte team leaders came down ill and had to withdraw, so I get to step up and deliver a talk in his place. Theme is on God's love, so I should have that down pretty well, but don't really have the time to put it all together concisely. Help a Padre out!

I get back on Friday just in time for our annual Welcome Weekend out at Mount St. Mary's Seminary, where prospective guys are invited to visit the seminary for the weekend to see if this is where they are being called. The list is a bit short right now, but pray that those who do attend might be open to wherever God is leading them.

Fr. Boeke, RIP

From the Chanellor:

We have received word that Father Anselm Boeke died today, January 7, 2011, at St. Charles Center in Carthagena. His funeral arrangements are as follows:

Reception of the Body: Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 12:45 p.m. at St. Charles Center, Carthagena (2860 U.S. Route 127., Carthagena, OH 45822, 419-925-4516). Celebrant: Reverend James Seibert, C.PP.S. Visitation until 7:00 p.m.

Vigil Service: Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Charles Center. Celebrant: Reverend James Seibert, C.PP.S.

Mass of Christian Burial: Monday, January 10, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Charles Center. Celebrant: Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr; Homilist: Reverend Vincent Hoying, C.PP.S.

Burial: Immediately following Mass of Christian Burial, burial will be at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cemetery, Cassella (6524 State Route 119, Maria Stein 45860-9599; 419-925-4775) Celebrant: Reverend James Seibert, C.PP.S.



I remember him as the last pastor of the little parish out in the country from my home town. He was a good, gentle soul, loved the Church, loved Our Lady, loved the priesthood.

If you could, please pray a quick prayer for this devoted servant who has gone to his rest after many years of toil in the Lord's Vineyard.

prayer blegs

I just received a note that the mother of a good friend has passed to her eternal reward.

And another is removing her mother-in-law from life support as well.

Prayers appreciated.

Prayers

I've been keeping it mostly secret, but we've got a new endeavor shaping up tomorrow in the Vocation Office, but I'm struggling with what to call it.  If I were Oprah, (and thank God I am not!), I would call it a 'book club.'  But I'm not her, so we're stuck at 'discernment group,' which is thoroughly uninspiring, but perfectly descriptive.  Enough rambling:

Tomorrow evening, a number of men who are contemplating the option of the priesthood are coming together to begin a discussion on Deus Caritas Est.  Please keep them in your prayers (and include a shout or two for me leading this group.)

For those in the Cincinnati area who might be interested, contact me through the Vocation Office.

Oh, other good news: candidate #2 'MF' was accepted for the Fall.  Many more to come, but shaping up nicely.

Prayers Requested

Bishop Campbell of Columbus, Ohio, is having his leg partially amputated tomorrow.

He is expected to make a full recovery, but prayers certainly won't hurt.

Rest in Peace

Word comes that Fr. Tom Ballman of the Archdiocese has completed his journey here on Earth, and now awaits the fulfillment of the promise in Heaven. From the priest's notification:

"Father Ballman was a very dedicated priest who celebrated almost 66 years as a priest faithfully serving God’s people. May he share the joy of all the saints in heaven. "

Rest in Peace.

Funeral is on Thursday in Dayton

Off to a retreat

But not for me, unfortunately  :(

Over the next three days, I'm helping to proctor a Charis Teacher's Retreat for Catholic Grade School teachers in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.  This is a first of its kind in the country as far as we can tell.  Please keep the 30 retreatants, plus five on the giving team, in your prayers.

This is something that, if successful, we hope to export around the country to other dioceses, helping to foster the unique Catholic identity of our schools.

Talk to ya on Friday.

Ed Thompson, RIP

If you could find the time, please say a prayer for the father of a good friend of mine who passed away this afternoon after a lengthy illness.

Prayers for a friend

Rich has sent out a prayer request.

College Seminarians on Retreat this week

Please keep our five college seminarians: Andrew, Adrian, David, Tim and Nick; in your prayers this week as they are on their annual canonical retreat at the Josephinum. The presenter is from the Institute for Priestly Formation (IPF) at Creighton in Omaha. (Don't let the Jesuit connection fool you, from all I hear IPF is a wonderful program.)

Vows Bleg

This Friday, Sr. Pamela of the Franciscan Daughters of Mary makes her intial vows with the community and is being vested with the habit of her order.

May Our Lord continue to guide and form her into a beacon of light for the wider community.

Prayer Request

Deacon Tony Tozzi's mother passed away last week, with the funeral being celebrated tomorrow. Tony is a transitional deacon for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, anticipating ordination in May, 2009.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon her.

Always come in Three's....

After one on Saturday and another on Monday, I was expecting the other shoe to drop.

Mom and her five siblings have been summoned to the hospital to keep watch and vigil with their father, my grandfather.  He's been in since last Friday, received the Last Rites, and now the waiting has begun.

Any prayers for my grandfather, Edward, would be greatly appreciated.  Oh, and keep Viola, his dear wife of 63 years there, too.  I have a feeling that when one goes, the other will not be too far behind.

UPDATE: It seems Grandpa has stabalized somewhat over night, they sent the family home to get some rest, but it seems a long weekend is in store.

Rough few days

A friend of mine has had a rough few days of it, please keep her in your prayers: Her son, who lives out of state, and her two-year old grandson were shot in a domestic dispute; resulting in her grandson's death. Very tragic. Don't know any of the details.

God Speed!

Prayers are requested for AMS, who is leaving Cincinnati this weekend to join the Sisters of Life. I've known her since I started as Vocation Director, wish her all the best, God Speed! Pray for us as we pray for you.

Prayer Request

If have any extra prayers to throw my way this weekend, please do so! I am leading a retreat for boy scouts, and am terribly nervous about it for some reason. The material just seemed very difficult to pull together this week, which doesn't help, either.

As such, I'll be away most of the weekend, so try not to make a mess of things.

Mourning in Cleveland

While I was going to post something snarky about the Reds beating up the Tribe over the weekend to claim the Ohio Cup, something more important came up.

Fr. V, he of Adam's Ale fame, lost his father yesterday morning. There was some tension in the family, so any and all prayers would be greatly appreciated, I am sure.

The End of an Era

Word from the Archbishop's Office brings sad news: Msgr. Larry Breslin passed away this afternoon after a lengthy battle with various illnesses. He was the last monsignor in the Archdiocese. Please pray for the repose of his soul, that the angels may lead him to paradise.