This Week: Pentecost XVIII

“Seven Sorrows of Our Lady”  –Bp. Donald Sanborn

Note from Father
Dear Faithful,
I write this note with the Bishop on the other side of the globe…quite liter-ally. The time difference between here and the Philippines, where he is currently, is 12 hours, so he is about as opposite side of the world as one can get. He will visit both of Fr. Joven Soliman’s chapels to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation, one in Manilla and one in Davoa. It is his first trip to the Philippines or anywhere in Asia, for that matter. Doubtless it will be quite the adventure and I know that he was looking forward to getting there.

“Getting there” is the key term too. The travel to and from the Philippines is long and exhausting. His total travel time just to get there was greater than 30 hours, when you include the driving to and from the airport. He left on Wednesday afternoon from Cincinnati and arrived Friday morning, Philippines time. Coming back will take just about the same amount of time…the only difference is that he leaves and arrives home on the same day…Wednesday September 30th. It is only possible because the 30th will have 36 hours to its length for him.

Last weekend was a very nice, albeit quite busy, weekend. It was wonderful to have Bishop Sanborn visiting. It amazes me the amount of energy he has at 76 years old. He drove himself out here, met with people along the way before and afterwards, preached at the Masses and joined us for the parish picnic…and once there, he was visiting with people from beginning until the end. He joked at times with the clergy about getting old, but he hardly looked like it.

The parish picnic was a great time. So many of you were able to come out and I enjoyed visiting with you all too. If I wanted to be picky, it could have been a bit cooler…however, one can hardly be ungrateful for a sunny and dry picnic, spent enjoying good food and better company! May God reward all who helped with its organization!

In Christ,
Fr. McKenna

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