Over the 32 years of our marriage...there have been two priests in Pat's family that have always been a big part of our lives! Fr Gremain is a priest from Missionhurst and has been a missionary sent to the U.S. in the early years of our marriage! Yes, he was a missionary priest sent to California! I think that is really cool and I agree that we need missionaries here with all our needs. He is from Belgium, which is where my mother in law's parents were both from and he is a first cousin to my mother in law!
Mary had a little frog in her hand and Father did not hesitate to tell her to let the frog go and not put it in a jar like she wanted to.... Quickly she set it down on the ground and the little frog had a new lease on life! Thank you Fr!
Sharing stories and photos (?) with our daughter in religious life - Hallel... seemed to be the natural thing to do. Everyone says that this is such a natural picture of Hallel... for now having her around in this "paper" form is a delight, and I find myself saying things to her now and then... Yes, it's a bit psycho, but it is a kind of cute psycho...
Simon had just put together a lego sports car that was a birthday gift that day... he found that Fr was very interested... Father Germain Louwagie is now a missionary priest in Guatemala City! When Pat and his sister traveled there a few years back...they spent a couple days with him and walked around looking at some of the many parishes that he is in charge of. They were deeply touched by the poverty, but Pat was forever changed in his thinking about illegal immigrants as Father would point out to him that this small one room "home" was made possible by a son or daughter working somewhere in the US, and sending the money back to them!
Today's Gospel is from Luke 9:46-50, and it is about how the disciples were arguing about who is the greatest... "Jesus... took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, 'Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest." Jesus does not mince words... he is asking us to be HUMBLE!
The times that I have spent with Father over the years...as he comes back for visits every 5 years or so... I am touched by how he is so free with his time to anyone that wants it... Yesterday we had the gift of going to mass with my mother in law and Fr, as they were leaving shortly after we all had dinner at the parish dinner... He flies out to Guatemala today! 
Mary had found glitter in grandma's make up drawer... don't ask... and was very generously sharing it with Father... he was delighted!
He had arrived at our home after breakfasting with a group of another Louwagie family... he was here with all of our kids minus Ruth and Hallel, and got to be a part of the craziness and just be a smiling happy presence and affirm for us that we are lucky to have our family! His comment to Pat's mom; "I think that we could take a couple of these little ones with us.. they wont' miss them, because they have so many!" 
Glittery Mary... I think that grandma is molding you in her image... poor girl!
Standing next to Fr at mass yesterday - a polka mass to celebrate our parish festival in a new and fun way- I kind of wondered why Fr had not robed up and stood up there next to Fr Paul and concelebrated. But when it came time for the Eucharistic prayer... I saw that he was saying the words with Fr and it was a humble yet powerful experience for me to be next to him like that! 
Realizing the power of keeping Life in this world through the gift of the priesthood! I will never forget a stirring thing I read one time..."No preists, no life!" How angry I felt at Satan for making young men and families no longer listening to the Lord's call! Fr Craig, who is a young amazing priest and involved in vocations in our diocese says that he feels that the Lord is calling as many priests to him as ever...it is just that they are distracted and not listening or have no support! Lord, help us in our need!
So to have Fr beside me consecrating the mass quietly and humbly was very amazing for me... It reminded me that there does not have to be huge pomp and circumstance for these men... His priests... to serve and love him and honor him and to be the instruments to bring him down here to earth in the miracle that happens every time that we go to mass! The most amazing and wondrous of all gifts! I feel so touched to have him come to our home and gather our children into his arms and to have them know him and put glitter on his face and show him their frogs and race cars and tractors... That humble beautiful man is one, who brings life and love into this world!
Pat has shared with me how Fr has changed his attitude towards the poor and the right they have to change and improve themselve...we all know that we have way more than we need here in our country, and how do you get it to those that have nothing and yes... are starving?! I was talking to Fr yesteday of my desperation as I am in the midst of a slum now in Calcutta in the book that is consuming me... "What is the answer Fr, how can we make a difference?" was my desperate question to him... His simple responce after a few moments of silence; "You are making a difference." How did that make me feel? I felt that I should continue with what little I am doing and to always be aware of the needs around me and answer the call for food or water or whatever the need may be... "whatever you do to the least of my brothers... that you do unto me!"
Thank you Fr Germain for your priesthood and the beautiful way that it has blessed many throughout the world, and being a missionary to the U.S. was a special message to me back 32 years ago, when we were first married! Yes, our country is in great spiritual need! We also have the poor in our midst and we need to see them as Christ in our midst! Jesus we want to see you!
Last evening just before sunset... I was at a friends farm and snapped a few that I would like to use as part of this final sharing...
In evening prayer last night... this verse from Galations 5:22 gave me great delight! "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness."
After these thoughts on Fr Germain... I look on a man that is filled with the fruits of the Spirit!
Words from ST Catherine of Sienna (1380) on this feast day of the servant of the poor St Vincent De Paul!
"So our soul is at peace in him and no one or nothing else. It is he who is supreme wealth, supreme wisdom, supreme goodness, and supreme beauty. He is such an unimaginable good that no one but he himself can measure or fully appreciate how good and great and delightful he is - so much so that he knows how to satisfy and fulfill holy desires of those who are willing to strip themselves of the world and clothe themselves in him - and he can do it and wants to do it."
From the psalm for morning prayer - Psalm 112
"Open handed,he gives to the poor;
his justice stands firm for ever.
His head will be raised in glory."
Jesus, we love you and so desperately want to serve you in the poor. Thank you for those that are "missionaries" to the poor and those in need throughout the world! Jesus we trust in you! Amen and Halleluia!
Bless- bless, Barb
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