June
17, 2007
Celebrating
Father Cine
More
Adventure
Last week I wrote about the bugs, raccoons, falling trees and bees...While
those pests are under control, the “plagues” we’re
facing still continue. During the week, in the midst of the torrential
rains, I couldn’t start my car -- and the car windows were in
the “open” position. So picture Father John and me standing
outside at 10:30pm with our portable lightning rods (umbrellas) trying
to put plastic bags over the window openings in my car. I was afraid
that the next morning I would find not only fish swimming in my car,
but the ferule cats and a family of raccoons living in the car.
It’s always an adventure here at St. Brigid’s.
Sommer
in the Summer
Yes, I’m planning on visiting folks at home again this summer.
More info next week. So start thinking about gathering some friends
to meet with.
Online
Masses
We are now able to stream masses and other events live over the internet
to homebound folks and to relatives who live in other lands. If you’re
interested in this, in this, click
here.
e-mail Father Ralph:
Past Columns:
June 10: When Nature Turns
June 4:Celebrating Father
Jim
May 27: Praying in Tongues
May 20: Making (up) the
difference
May 13: Loving our Mothers
May 6: About Father George
April 29: Hearing Voices
April 22:Three Stones
April 15: What a week!
April 8: Alleluia! Alleluia!
April 1: Holy Week
March 25: Climate Change
March 18: Take A Step
March 11: Cold Enough for
You?
March 4:Stocking the Shelves
Feb 25: Basket Case
Feb18: Ashes and Desert
Dust
Feb11: Get Ready, Get Set,
REST!
Feb.4: Lent Lurking
Jan.28:Catholic Schools
Week
Jan.21:Crying in Church
Jan.14: Love ahead
Jan.7:
So How Was Your Christmas?
Columns
from 2005
Columns
from 2004
Columns from
2003
Columns from 2002
We’re
coming to the end of an era. Father Syriaque Cine will be returning to
Haiti at the end of June. Father Cine has been ministering at St. Brigid’s
for seven years -- longer than any priest who is currently here -- he
was here to welcome me to St. Brigid’s when I arrived six years
ago and I’ve not experienced what St. Brigid’s is like without
him.
Father Cine is a brilliant and
holy man, a Montfort Father who is returning to Haiti to be the Superintendent
of Schools for Catholic schools -- the Montforts have four high schools,
but Father Cine hopes to be involved in the development of over 80 parochial
elementary schools.
It’s not going to be easy -- either for us to say goodbye to Father
Cine, or for him to take on his new ministry ahead. It won’t be
easy for us who know him because we will miss Father Cine’s gentle
presence, his outstanding spiritual insights, his pastoral care, his infectious
laugh, his many kindnesses. And the path he is choosing in Haiti won’t
be easy either. He recently received his doctorate degree and has been
invited to teach at the university in Haiti. But instead he has chosen
to work in the poorest areas to give poor families and poor children a
chance to have an education. He has developed a master plan to develop
the educational system throughout Haiti and I know this will entail many
challenges and hardships in one of the poorest countries in the world.
Father Cine will celebrate his
last Sunday Mass here next weekend at 2:30pm and we will have a reception
for him following the mass. Please join us at the mass and/or reception
(which will start at around 4:15pm) to honor and thank this holy priest
for his life and his work among us.
