Vacation?

Hello once again -
Well since my last post the big news is our time back in the US for the last two weeks of June.  The real occasion for our trip was the 50th Anniversary of St. Timothy's in Norwood, MA but we also got to reconnect with old friends and family as well as work on our home in Canton, MA and our cabin in Hillsborough, NH, neither of which we can sell in the current economic climate.  (Wouldn't you love a log cabin on a lake, in ski country?  Let me know if you're interested).
Anyway - it was a very full schedule of meetings and work and celebration so let me get to it.  We arrived on Friday, just before the Saturday evening celebration at St. Timothy's.  We had Saturday day to catch up with people in the parish on the schedule of the event and questions about the liturgy and at the regularly scheduled 4:30 liturgy on Saturday the celebration began - but let me back up.

A room had been set aside for all the visiting clergy to vest in the lower church.  We had visiting priests from all over the Archdiocese who had, at one time served at St. Tim's, Cardinal O'Malley, his Secretary, and me, the only Deacon.  Our Pastoral Associate had posted the order of procession and the stations for communion we were all assigned to.  While we waited for the Cardinal there were stories of past experiences from these priests that were hilarious.  One was of Fr. Rocco who, as Pastor, had had a disagreement with some parishioners who put together a petition and letter of complaint to then Cardinal Mederios.  A few weeks later Fr. Rocco is summoned to the Cardinal's office.  So he goes off to the meeting, fully expecting a confrontation but upon his arrival he is informed he has been elevated to Auxiliary Bishop of Boston (with no mention of the letter).  All the priests got a kick out of that one.

Anyway - time is moving and no Cardinal, so we head out to the front door for the Entrance Procession and our Pastor is waiting patiently on the steps, no Cardinal.  We wait, and literally about 3-4 minutes before the start up pulls the Cardinal's car.  Our Pastor whisks him downstairs, he is vested in moments, his Secretary comes to me and says "Frank, the order of procession you were given is wrong, you're before the priests, not after them"  it was a small nit, but I thought it cool that the Cardinal's Secretary knew my name and just didn't say, "Deacon - - -".  One of my friends sitting in the choir has some great pics.  If and when he sends them along I will post a few for you but here are a few pics of the liturgy - you can see me pretty clearly in this first one showing the Cardinal preaching.

So the Mass and Anniversary celebration went off without a hitch, and afterward there was a huge tent on the lawn and a reception. 

Throughout the night people would come ask me about the ministry, we'd share stories and I'd talk about the need for money for the new church in Mastic Point and a wad of bills would be stuffed in my hand.  Some people had envelopes with a card and a check.  Others would promise to send money.  I was overwhelmed with the interest and generosity.

The next day, Sunday, I preached at the 8AM Mass to help out.  Didn't do a mission appeal (I felt I had hit up the people of St. Tim's on every trip home - they deserved a break).  But at the end of the weekend I had over $1,000 in unsolicited donations!

Our next task was going to work on the cabin in NH.  It's a log home on a lake in ski country but the economy for places like this is still pretty dead.  We had set aside 4 days for NH - two to do non-stop work and two to give ourselves time to relax.  The weather was forcast to be 2 days of rain, then 2 of sun so we saved the sunny days to get the work done and took the rainy days for ourselves.  We drove far up into the mountains to the Eagle Mountain House - a favorite Inn of ours. 

It was great.  What a change from the flat terrain of Andros to be in the mountains again.  We sat on the porch with a cold drink and read novels!  Not something we ever have time to do on Andros, that's for sure.

Then it was off to the cabin to try to spruce it up a bit.  With the help of John and Kay - wonderful friends of ours, and my nephew Troy, we re-stained the deck, did a ton ( no, two-tons) of yard work, and repaired a list of small things that tenants had broken.  Totally exhausted, we headed back to Mass.

The rest of the week we met friends for lunch, for dinner, for drinks - reconnected with so many wonderful old friends of ours.  After the vaca was over we realized we only had time to eat at home once!  The following weekend I preached at all 5 Masses at Immaculate Conception in Weymouth MA to solicit funds for the new church.  They were very generous donating enough, when added to monies from St. Tim's and friends, to ensure we can put a roof onto the building.

Then back to Andros (whew).  When we got back we found that the walls were going up at the new church but there was a hiccup with the contractor's generator breaking down - and rain.  Progress is progress but its slow -- as I write this we are all nervously tracking tropical storm Chantel on its way to the Bahamas.  It is good to see the walls starting to rise - we are hoping for a September occupancy - pray.

As I write this it is Independence Day in the Bahamas.  Our nation is 40 years old today!  Last night was the Ecumenical Prayer Service, and Independence Day celebration.  I was on the stage in my black clerics with about 8 other ministers.  It was a wonderful celebration with song, dancing, preaching, song, preaching, et.al.  The fireworks were super - despite the rain!  Sorry, no pics of this event, but again, many great friends to celebrate this occasion.
Well enough for now - till next time