Dear Friends and Parishioners,
Next weekend, July 31-August 1, we will have a guest priest by the name of Fr. Thomas Edelen. He will be visiting from Cross Catholic as an outreach priest and will preach to the parish about his ministry to the poor and those in most need of hearing the gospel.
Fr. Tom is excited about his visit to the Palouse as he worked in agriculture before his ordination in 2001. He told me that he can’t wait to see Moscow and go to Genesee for Masses just so he can “look out the window” as Deacon George drives him around.
I am grateful to the parish for welcoming our Cross Catholic priests each summer. It means I can get away with an incredibly special group of people in my life. Each year my Cursillo “Fourth Day” group gathers for some time together. We have been together since about 1995 when I helped as a spiritual director for a Cursillo in Idaho Falls.
A “Cursillo” is a “short course” in Catholic Spirituality. The Cursillo is designed to help practicing Christians renew and strengthen their love of Jesus, and to grow in faith, knowledge, and personal holiness. I made my Cursillo in 1981 at the small farming community of Carapegua, in Paraguay. I still remember each moment of my spiritual awakening. It is a foundational part of my vocation journey.
As I gather with my friends next week, we will be able to celebrate Mass together, celebrate life events, say our daily prayers together and have a great time. Sometimes the jigsaw puzzles drive me crazy but then I balance that with a good spy novel or a scoop of Montana Moose Tracks ice cream!
So, thanks for welcoming Fr. Tom and letting me get away for a bit. Priests who come and visit or offer a Cross Catholic weekend are always impressed by the good people here at St. Mary’s. Your goodness, kindness and generosity truly make this parish the great place it is.
Peace,
