Hasta luego to Deacons Seamus and Peter
The new school year brings lots of changes, not least a parting from friends who must return to school. For me, these last ten months have been made more pleasant by the company of Deacon Seamus Rowland who was doing his pastoral year at Our Lady of Sorrows in Jacksonville. He would visit me on Monday evenings for a little R and R. When Seamus was Here, Vince was very happy and I was ignored until he left. Seamus and I often discussed theology, politics and priestly life until it was time to go back to Jacksonville. He usually wound up the rectory clock and he played with Vince. Who will keep the rectory clock wound up now that the deacon is in St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston?
This summer, I have also enjoyed the company of another Irish deacon, Peter Mc Grath. In the summer of 2000, while I was on vacation with my family, I interviewed this Tipperary pub owner. He said that he wanted to be a priest, so I asked him to come talk to the bishop of Tyler. This summer he has often served as deacon for the 11.30 Mass and he has photographed our new building and our parish picnic. Peter loves photography, and is a bit of a computer genius. He is presently at Holy Apostles seminary in Cromwell Conn. He is a deacon and he and Seamus will be ordained priests next May. We took these picture before Deacons Peter and Seamus went their own ways.
Apart from the obvious fraternity of being clergy and being Irish, these men share another bond with me. I met them both in pubs. I met Seamus at South’s Bar in Limerick after a rugby game one Saturday in 2002, and I met Peter by walking into his family pub one Monday afternoon in 2000. I myself spent my thirties running a bar. In spite of that, maybe because of that, none of the three of us really like alcohol very much, and I don’t believe we have ever sat down to have a drink together. I know that the people here at SMM have come to love and respect them both. I am proud of them both and I have been blessed with their friendship. I look forward to their being fellow priests with me in he diocese.
IMPORTANT MEETING
For ALL Parents and Candidates who participated in Formation for Confirmation and First Eucharist and who are scheduled to receive these Sacraments in October.
When: Sunday, August 31, 2008
Time: 10:30 a.m. (Between the 2 Masses)
Where: St. Mary Magdalene, Upstairs in the Lecture Room
It is very important that you and your child/children
plan on attending this meeting.
For more information, contact Lisa Ellis 903-283-4205 or gracellie5@netscape.net
ST. MONICA LECTURE SERIES 2008
THE PARISH OF SAINT MARY MAGDALENE IN FLINT OFFERS A SERIES OF THEOLOGICAL LECTURES EACH FALL.
The first event for this year will be a presentation by Fr. Tim Kelly on the great Bishop and preacher St. Augustine of Hippo. This great man is the most quoted saint in history, his theology is foundational to Christianity. He preached every week, often on Saturdays as well as Sundays, bringing his considerable knowledge and skill to the pulpit. He was a philosopher and a scholar, a brilliant man of letters. He was also an exceptional preacher, capable of teaching, moving and inspiring a congregation of ordinary Christians. In this lecture Fr. Kelly will look at how Augustine preached, what texts he liked best, what texts he avoided, and how much we can learn from his writings about how it was to sit in his church and hear this 5th century Bishop.
ST. AUGUSTINE
PREACHER TO THE COMMON MAN
Venue: Peaches Hall at Saint Mary Magdalene Flint
18221 FM 2493 Flint, TX 75762
Time 7:00pm - 9:00 pm
Date: Thursday August 28th Feast of St. Augustine
Saint Mary Magdalene Parish sponsors the St. Monica lecture series to foster theological knowledge and discussion in the East Texas area. We hope that all will feel welcome.