PASTOR’S COLUMN
4 OCTOBER 2015
Last year, I took a month away
from Saint Pius to embark on a remarkable journey. On the occasion of my fortieth year of
priesthood, Bishop Rhoades gave me permission to join a group of fellow
pilgrims to travel by bicycle the ancient Via Francigena from the British
Canterbury Cathedral, where Saint Thomas Beckett was martyred to the Vatican
Basilica of Saint Peter, built above the bones of Saint Peter. It was intended to apply the lessons learned
from the cycling pilgrimage to the common pilgrimage which all of us travel
through life to the new and eternal Jerusalem.
The lessons were many. We learned
to work together. We prayed together,
shared food and drink, thanked God for our good health, and encouraged one
another. We learned how to handle
adversity, difficult climbs through the Alps and Apennines, disagreements, and
the inevitable tensions placed on a group traveling together. More than anything else, we learned that no
one (not the thieves who had stolen all our possessions) or nothing (including
the unexpected difficulties) could rob us of the graces received on our 1,200-
mile pilgrimage.
There had
been no grand plans for any pilgrimage this year. Intending to continue to thank God for my
good health, I tried to ignore the growing pain in my left leg. Denial is a great thing! However, doctors, health care workers,
physical therapists, and friends who have the courage to tell the truth have a
unique ability to attack this denial.
They gradually broke it down and convinced me that hip replacement
surgery was necessary. With dread and
fear replacing the more comfortable denial, I saw my spiritual director just
before surgery. After hearing my
Confession he advised me to look for the graces given by God in this upcoming
ordeal. Regarding his words as nice
pious thoughts from a Jesuit who belongs to the same Religious Order as the
Pope, I went under the knife and became a patient at Saint Joseph Medical
Center instead of a pastor visiting his sick parishioners.
Those who
know me best would never use the word “patience” in the same sentence as my
name! But to my surprise, there have
been more graces than I could have imagined.
I gained a new respect and admiration for doctors, nurses, and dedicated
health care workers. My siblings were
there. My sister, Janet, remained at my
side instead of driving the van through narrow streets in Italian towns. My retired brother, Ed, and his wife, Mary,
who had regarded last year’s pilgrimage as a crazy venture, stayed with me as
long as it took for me to maneuver on my own.
My roommates, FB2 and Steve Jagla, have been great. The outpouring of love and support from our
parish family has been overwhelming. The
cards sent by our grade school students lifted my spirits and made me
laugh. Jesus called it well in the
Gospel of Saint Matthew when he said that those who sacrifice spouses and
children for the sake of the Kingdom of God would receive more than they could
ever imagine. Days with nothing on my
schedule except visits from the nurse and the physical terrorist provided time
for reading, contemplation, and opportunities to follow Pope Francis on his
remarkable visit.
This
unsolicited and unplanned pilgrimage has been grace-filled. Unlike last year’s pilgrimage, I will not be
away from my day job for a full month.
However, I hope to apply the lessons learned from this pilgrimage to my
ministry as pastor of Saint Pius X. More
than anything else, this experience has taught me to be more compassionate to
those who suffer. Not many people have
the opportunity to travel the Via Francigena by bicycle. But every one of us has to travel the way of
the cross. May the Lord continue to
teach me to be a better minister to those who are carrying their crosses!
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