Note From Father
Dear Faithful,
Once again, I have found myself in the “dwindling priest” scenario here at St. Gertrude’s. Bishop McGuire is still away, and I additionally lost Fr. Brueggemann to his own vacation. Friday saw Fr. Lehtoranta depart for St. Hugh’s in Milwaukee. And then Saturday, Fr. Simpson flew south to the Lone Star state to offer Masses at the St. Anthony Mission…and once again, I found myself all alone. However, all is well and being busy helps keep me out of trouble, or so my mother always told me. In my personal experience, I still manage to somehow find it.
One example of this is contained in our continuing saga of the St. Gertrude’s animal kingdom. Wednesday evening, I was walking up to the house along the same pathway on which I was, only a week ago, attacked by an owl. This time, I faced down a new ground assault. As I was walking along, I reached the narrowest point between the hedges and the woods. There before me was a young skunk, munching away merrily on whatever it is that skunks eat. I approached, it didn’t notice. I then made some deliberate noise and finally it became aware of my presence. However, instead of running away into the safe cover of the nearby woods, as I had hoped, it decided it preferred the “fight” part of the “fight or flight” fear response. The skunk stood its ground and arched its back…staring me down. Not being one to be kicked off my own pathway, I stared right back. Then it lifted its tail high, to warn of a potential spray. (This move I could not, however, mirror). Outgunned, but not deterred, I began a careful slow shuffle along the path, always keeping my front to the skunk. The skunk feigned charging a couple of times, but ultimately, we worked past each other, looking like two gunslingers circling in a standoff, until finally the tension eased as it was apparent I was now moving further away, having arrived at the house side of the standoff’s arch. Never bring a briefcase to a skunk fight.
The Oblates kindly rearranged the books in the office hallway and labeled the shelves, so we know where to find books of various subjects. They seemed to enjoy themselves looking through the plethora of interesting reading material we have, and their work was followed by requests to borrow spiritual books for themselves. I don’t think we are necessarily a lending library back here, but how could I say no to such a pious desire, especially after they had done the work of organizing the books. At least now, they will know which section of the bookshelves to return it to!
In Christ,
Fr. McKenna