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.

A new Journey Begins

Following a weekend spent in Dublin, after arriving to begin my official retirement, I set out for my home and to sleep in my own bed for the first time as an officially retired priest. I awoke the following morning to the silence of falling snowflakes. This was the first time I had witnessed snow in decades. It seemed like an apt beginning to a retirement The pure white snowflakes reminded me of a new beginning, a new experience, a reminder of possible difficult travel conditions as I venture out into the cold. It is not only a season of adjustments weather-wise but also personally and psychologically.

Parting Homily thoughts

As I give my final homily at the parish, I reflect on 12 years of a journey with countless people through joys and sorrows, achievements and disasters. I am drawn to something that Fr. Henri Nouwen wrote that captures the complexity of life and moments like this. He wrote: Life is a short in expectation, a time in which sadness and joy kiss each other at every moment. There is a quality of sadness that pervades all the moments of our life. It sees that there is no such thing as a clear-cut pure joy, but that even in the most happy moments of our existence, we sense a tinge of sadness. In every satisfaction, there is an awareness of limitations. In every success, there is a fear of jealousy. Behind every smile, there is a tear. In every embrace, there is a loneliness. In every friendship, distance. And in all forms of light, there is a knowledge of surrounding darkness.. but this intimate experience in which every bit of life is touched by a bit of death, can point us beyond the limits of our existence. It can do so by making us look forward in expectation to the day when our hearts will be filled with perfect joy, a joy that no one shall take away from us.”

Sales call

This morning, beginning at 1:30 a.m., during a 30 minute period, I received three toll-free calls. Caller ID made my decision not to answer them. Having been aroused from sleep, it was almost impossible to go back to sleep again. I am noting the times of the calls and the toll-free numbers and will be in touch with the BBB. Even though my phone number is on the "Do Not Call" list," I wonder if it really matters.

Last Christmas in Mississippi

Today, I celebrate my last Christmas in Mississippi. After celebrating 40 Christmases in Mississppi, Christmas 2013 will be celebrated in my home community in Ireland. My last Christmas in Mississippi seems so final but it is filled with many special memories and people. Next year, a new tradition begins. May the road rise ahead of us. May the wind be always on our back at it guides us into new adventures and may the newborn Christ Christ fill us with hope, peace, joy and love.

Interesting scope

Today, out of curiosity, I read my horoscope. It seems ironic and eye-catching. It said, " you made a big change in your life not long ago and it was a change for the better. You may still be struggling with it, though - even though it is a positive step in the right direction. Your old way was comfortable because you were used to it, even though it was not good for you. Take heart in knowing that you are doing something that is positive, and that as time goes on things will get better because you were strong enough to try a new and better way."

A Milestone

Yesterday, I received my official letter of retirement from the bishop. It become another milestone in my priesthood. On June 14, 2012, I celebrated 40 years as a priest serving in Mississippi. Looking back on 40 years, seems like a momentary pause. Yet, when one looks ahead to 40 years to come, it seems like an infinity. Now that I have received the official letter, this blog will take on a new tone. It will become a blog filled witn transitional moments; ponderings where the Lord will lead me on the rest of the journey.