Bishop’s Note
The cats are getting pretty obnoxious these days. I recently started letting them in through the window in my room. Big mistake! One morning as I was saying morning prayers in my room with the windows open and the screens down I suddenly heard, “Meow! Thump!” and looked up to see Fat Cat hanging from the screen and then falling back to the ground. Now there are holes in one screen. Trying not to be annoyed I turned back to my prayers. A few minutes passed before I heard another, “Thump!” Looking up, I noticed Black Cat hanging from the other screen and then falling back to the ground. Rats! Now there are big holes in both screens. Well, lesson learned, those silly cats will no longer be allowed to come in through the windows. Another thing I learned is that Fat Cat jumps higher than Black Cat. So there is your entertaining critter story.
Fr. Lehtoranta has been really busy with his teaching. His seminary courses just began last week. The seminary has started off well, except that one of the seminarians was not able to return to the country. He was sent to Argentina to spend time in the seminary of our friend, Fr. Contreras.
Wasn’t last week’s picnic great! We really do have a lot of youngsters and, of course, they had a blast with the piñatas again this year. I even got to play a little football with little Kate Hudson! That was a hoot. Boy, can she throw a football! The weather was a little hot, but at least there were no bees this year. The food was very good, but the company was the best! It is so nice to be with fellow Catholics! Truly, God has blessed us more than we deserve.
I haven’t received much news from the missions, but should have some for you very soon. However, we have two priestly anniversaries. Fr. Alfredo Contreras celebrated his anniversary just yesterday, Saturday, September 21st. Fr. Nicolás Benegas, my very first priest, celebrates his first anniversary on Monday, September 23rd. Fr. Benegas’ first Sunday in Mexico last weekend went very smoothly, he tells me. We priests are so very happy to hear that.
As for the Oblates, we have a few people still looking for homes. But first, we need to raise some funds. It does seem backwards, doesn’t it? Well, here in West Chester homes are selling so fast that unless we have a certain amount raised beforehand it does no good even to go and look at houses. We are looking at homes between the ranges of $300,000 to $600,000. We really are not looking to buy anything fancy, but it has to allow for growth, as I mentioned before. We also would prefer that the Sisters have at least a little bit of a yard so that they can walk around and have some privacy to do their prayers and to recreate. If you would like to donate to this cause you can make a check out to St. Gertrude the Great. All you have to do is to write “A Home for Oblates” in the Memo space. It will get to where it needs to go that way.
I hope you have a blessed Angel Sunday. Remember that they are your best friends and they are always with you! Oh, how they love you—and how you should love them in return!
– Bishop McGuire