Luck of the Irish

St. Patrick's Day dawned bright and sunny. After all the rain we have had, it was nice to have a spring day.  After working some in the yard at the rectory,  I was returning the tools to the church when I received a delightful  blessing. As I was walking along in the parking lot with a shovel over one shoulder and a bag of trash in the other hand,  Steve Lefebvre drove up with a truck load of supplies for the garden. "You look all ready to help with the planting", he said. And so I was reminded that they were trying to plant potatoes before the rain returned later in the week.  What a joy to help plant 4 rows of potatoes!  There is a special blessing in working with the soil and growing a garden.  I was tickled at planting taters on the holy day.... my inner leprechaun was dancing a jig. 

As the spring comes, we will be planting many crops over the next few weeks.  Please join us on Saturday mornings starting around 9am.  Many graces await!

Hunger Walk

It's been many months since I have posted.  Yesterday I took a walk for a wonderful cause....putting an end to hunger in our community through the good work of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. On a beautiful spring day I dusted off my walking shoes from the Camino and joined thousands of fellow Atlantans for Hunger Walk 2015.  We were a good group from St. Matthew's and we exceeded our goal for fundraising.   Well done!

The Camino continues....

Sabbath

Today is a good day for rest and prayer.  Pilgrims are allowed and encouraged to spend 3 days in Santiago before returning home.  I am sure part of that is for support of the local economy, but primarily it allows the body to rest after a long journey.

There is time for prayer as well. I concelebrated Mass last night in the Cathedral.   Not only was the Botafumeiro in use....I got to put some incense in it before it swung from the rafters.  :)  This morning there was a Mass in English which I concelebrated with a priest from Sri Lanka.   My Mass intention was for the people of St. Matthew's.  

Then I spent time praying at the tomb of St. James.   It is below the main altar.  Only two or three can be there at once; a sweet personal visit with the Apostle.  All the intentions folks had placed in my prayer journal were remembered.

Sabbath is a commandment to pray and rest with the Lord one day each week.   It allows us to gather with the community of the faithful to worship together and renew our covenant with the Lord.  Today has been a wonderful blessing of Sabbath.... with the evening Vigil Mass and dinner still to come!   :))

Certifiable

There is a joy and a peace that words do not describe in being here in Santiago.   What a wonderful gift! 

I took a walk around the old town this afternoon and collected not one, but two, Compostelas.  The first is from the Cathedral as a pilgrim to Santiago.   The second is from the Franciscans since this is the 800th anniversary of St. Francis walking to Santiago.

I am headed back to the Cathedral this evening for the Pilgrim's Mass... time to offer my thanks to God in sacrament.  This Mass is for Nancy Slattery.  I am particularly blown  away that the gospel for today is the call of Matthew from Matthew, chapter 9.  Does it get any better than to hear Jesus say.... Come, follow me???  Can it be lived better than by his call....it is mercy I desire, not sacrifice????

Buen Camino.

Cathedral

After 33 days of walking.....

Way

We have made it to the outskirts of Arca and Santiago is about 20km away.   We will arrive tomorrow, God willing.  It's hard to believe it is so close....been walking for a while.  

Today is the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle....the one who questioned and doubted....who had to experience the Resurrected Christ....and came to great faith.  Morning prayer reminded me that it was to him that Jesus said....I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.

I have met him along the Camino.   In the silence we have discussed all sorts of blessed truth.  And oh what life he bestows!

Just a few shots from along the Way...that we, like Thomas, may know him and believe.