It's somebody's birthday

My nephew, Matthew William, celebrates his first birthday today. A party was held for him yesterday in one of Quincy's many beautiful parks.

Regretably, I was unable to be there yesterday and again this evening.

The summer continues to be filled with many surprises and turns of fortune. As I arrived in Effingham Friday evening for a wedding rehearsal it occurred to me that the pastor was away on vacation and would be for a week and that one of the retired priests who has been generously filling in for me was leaving on Monday (today). I knew at that moment we would have a funeral this week, my last week to be at the Liturgical Institute.

Sure enough, at 7:20 Saturday morning the telephone rang and I knew it was one of two places: the hospital or the funeral home. It was the funeral home; funeral on Tuesday. So here I am yet this evening in Effingham.

After the funeral tomorrow I will return to the Liturgical Institute to collect the remainer of my things and return to Effingham Wednesday night or Thursday afternoon. Perhaps that way I will at least be able to write/finish one paper on Friday (of the three I set out to write this summer).

The summer, though most enjoyable and refreshing in a strange way, has been thoroughly unproductive. It seems the more I try to finish this degree for the good of the Church, the more God seems to disallow its completion. Oddly enough, I'm not too concerned about it. When God wills it shall be completed.

At any rate, happy birthday, Matthew! The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord turn his face toward and be gracious to you! The Lord make his countenance shine upon you and give you peace! Amen.

Saint Joseph, pray for him. Saint David, pray for him. Saint Angela, pray for him. Saint Matthew, pray for him. Saint William, pray for him. All you saints of God, pray for him.