The Return of the Native, of sorts…

Greetings! It’s been two months since I’ve posted. Yep. Tons of stuff has happened – I served as ‘temporary administrator’ of Gesu parish for about 6 weeks when our (former) pastor, John P. Schlegel, SJ officially resigned. I’ve been at 3 weddings, a couple funerals, was part of a St. Louis Jesuit concert (Milwaukee, 9/20) and fundraiser for the new Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, and traveled to St. Louis, Chicago, Boston, and Oakland, CA. Whew.

With the naming of our new pastor at Gesu, Fr. Jim Flaherty, SJ, former professor of philosophy at Marquette University, I have been encouraged by my provincial to focus on writing, composing, and blogging. I’m very grateful.

So, I am back to blog here. I plan to video and post new segments that will deal with In the Midst of Our Storms chapter by chapter.

I’m working on a song commissioned by the Synod Implementation Committee of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee for the coming Year of Mercy celebration. It’s an Irish-Existentialist approach to mercy that has these words from the end of the gospel of John in mind – “When you are older, another will bind you and take you where you would not go.” That’s a different view of mercy, eh? “In these vessels of clay, in these vessels of earth and of clay, you reveal your mercy – your tender and terrible mercy, Lord.”

And, I’m planning workshops, reflective walk-throughs of the Mass, to lay the groundwork for a second book. Yep, an Irish-Existentialist approach again.

It’s good to be back. Blessings to you all! –roc,sj