Off to England

Well, I'm sitting in Toronto's Pearson Airport, waiting for my flight to Manchester. I'm off to our house in Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire, UK for three weeks there, giving retreats and talks and whatnot (whatnot being whatever the director of the house tells me to do!).
I will try my level best to keep up with the blog, especially since we're in these historic times of papal succession. But, of course, being in a different place on a different schedule will no doubt make blogging a bit more sporadic the next few weeks. And while I am committed to the blog re-naming and re-design... well, we'll just have to see when that gets done.
Meanwhile, prayers please, as I jet and then train off to encounter the Yorkshire moors, pudding, and (possibly) terriers.

Things I Am Not Blogging About

OK - so the Internet is all abuzz with salacious gossip about Vatican scandals. Several people have asked me what I think.
I don't think anything, because I don't know anything. The entire article, as I understand, is rumours, gossip and unsubstantiated tittle tattle.
I don't blog about that stuff.
We all have one duty right now, as far as the Vatican, the papacy, and the conclave are concerned. And that is to pray, to fast, and to keep our eyes on Jesus. It is his Church, and his power alone that holds the Church in being and in life.
Gossip, rumours, and salacious scandal do not help us, I think to do anything of our duty of the moment in this matter. So I will not blog or comment further on it. God bless us all, and keep His Church in peace and integrity

Retreat! Retreat!

So, off I am heading now to the distant city of Pem Broke Ontario (for those non-locals, it's about an hour away), to give a men's retreat. Expecting about 35 guys there, so should be full and fun.
As always, have no idea until I get there if I have wifi or what, so may be blogging again on Monday, or may be back here tomorrow.
Until then, prayers please, for the event.

Prayers for a Parish Mission

Well, I'm off to do a parish mission here in the diocese of Pembroke - giving it in two parishes in Vinton and Otter Lake, Quebec. Pray for me and for them, that the Gospel be preached and heard!

I Was a Teenage Retreat Master

Or rather, I will be this weekend. Yep, me and 83 (at last count) 13-18 year olds. Posting this not so much to explain my lack of blogging the next few days as to beg prayers for all concerned. The retreat is Truth Quest, for the Pembroke diocese, and we have a great team... except for the doofus priest giving the talks. Come Holy Spirit...

Prayer Request

One of our Madonna House members, Paul Holland, died today after a lengthy and at times quite difficult time of old age and illness. He was our oldest man, dying just shy of his 90th birthday. Pray for him, and for all of us as we accompany him on the last lap of his journey into the mystery of God and eternity.

Away for the Weekend

And I'm off again - last one for awhile. This time, I'm helping with a bereavement retreat at St. Mary of Egypt Refuge near Madoc. Pray for the retreatants, the retreat staff, and me! Back Monday.

Prayer Requests

Fr. Paul Bechard, beloved pioneer priest of Madonna House, died yesterday. He was 93, and had been failing for some time.
I also just got word from my family that my Aunt Alma died yesterday. She was the last one of my father's siblings; my mother was the last of her siblings... a generation passes away.
They were both good people, full of faith and prayer, but if you could spare a prayer for them and for MH and my family, that would be appreciated.

Gone for The Weekend

Blogging will be light to non-existent the next few days, as I'm off to attend this, and the schedule will be a dawn-to-dusk kind of thing. Meanwhile, may I solicit prayers for a special intention - a dear friend of mine who is very sick at this time. Thank you, and God bless you.