Readers Comments:
Frequently, I receive emails from people who read my columns. Now, that I have decided to continue writing a column under the byline of "Across the Pond" for Gulf Pine Catholic," it is nice to knowo that some folks enjoy my musings.
Included is the following email: Thank you so much for what you do in editing the Gulf Pine Catholic. I'm sure you have received MANY comments, suggestions, etc. about Father Tracey's column, with his move back home to Ireland. Please indulge me to add my 2 cents worth.

A fellow parishioner/ co-worker and I both always said we read Fr. Mike's columns first. Any chance of his starting his column back up after he gets resettled as parish priest, etc. back in his home parish? It would be FASCINATING for him to simply share with us his impressions/daily experiences in returning home after 35 years in Mississippi. The faithful of our rural diocese could travel to rural Ireland through Fr. Tracey's experience and unique writing style, without ever leaving home. ("99%" of us will never travel to Ireland; "90%" will never make it to GB or mainland Europe.)

If this is not going to happen, please find someone in the diocese to replace Fr. Mike on page 5 with a down-to-earth, every-day-life column written from anywhere in the diocese. Whether priest, deacon, religious, layman, etc., just something in a similar vein. A good percentage of folks in SE Miss. can relate to and enjoy these types of musings. Everyday, ordinary life experiences penned by a talented communicator. That's all you need. Ha! Easier said than done, right?

Evening time at home

Shipment on the way
Today, I was informed that the shipment of my belongings from Gulfport, MS has arrived in Dublin and await Customs Clearance. The shipment left Gulfport on January 8, traveled by road to New York, was placed on the cargo ship, Atlantic Companion, which docked in Liverpool, England on February 8th. the shipment wss off loaded there and put on a smaller ship to be sent to Dublin.  Let's hope Irish Customs clears it soon and it will be on its way to my home in Mayo. It feels like part of one is missing when one doesn't have one's stuff.

Cultivating God's Garden

          As part of my retirement, I decided to start a garden. so, on Valentine's Day,with spade in hand, I began the digging process. thes soggy earth yielded the sod quite easily. Progress was slow an the blisters on my hand a distraction. as i continued to dig and turn over the sod, the plentiful worms cried out, hoping that i would not dissect them accidentally as they went about their God given task.
          The whole adventure reminded me of Lent and  turning over a new sod of growth. The ground needed to be cultivated lovingly before and growth might take place.
          It reminded me too of howI spent forty years trying to help people discern how the Lord was cultivating the garden of people's lives.
          Obviously, as I ready my garden for springtime planting, I reflect on how the Lord is planting a new crop of possibilities in my own life.

No memory:
I attended the funeral of a priest from my beighborhood on Monday. i  had even served Mass for him when I was a kid. Before he died, he spent ten years in a nursing home, suffering from Alzimers disease. He walked the corridors constantly and never recognized his family when they came to visit him. The archbishop preached the homily and noted that “we place great store on memory, on people we have met, on places we have visited, on games we have seen, books we have read or films we have enjoyed. We depend on memory so much for communication."
As hundreds  of people turned  out for his wake and funeral, we know that, while he may not have any memories of the last ten years of his life, counless others have and came to show and share it.