SENT
Our priests are gathered for their three night convocation in Sable Park as I write this. How I wish I could be with them for the full three days as I have every year so far. I made a quick trip tonight to join them for dinner and present that Father Luis Cancer, OP award to
Fr. Demetrio Lorden
Father Demetrio Lorden pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe mission in Waimauma. The priests vote to honor one of their own every year and I often do not know the recipient until, like the Oscars and Emmys, I open the envelope (high drama, huh?). Father Lorden has one of the toughest challenges in the diocese as he ministers to a community of mostly Mexican brothers and sisters of various legal status. It is a financially poor parish as you would expect but it is spiritually rich with culture, tradition and Father Lorden. He has given them a new parish center and is thinking of a larger parish hall. He runs a food and clothing dispensary and spends a lot of his time in the camps. Born and educated in Spain, Father Lorden generously left mother and father and family and came to our diocese. How lucky we have been. Congratulations, Demetrio.
But I digress. Each of the last three years we have brought the the major presenter for our big convocation on the Eucharist to prepare the priests for the topic each year: Gathered (the Liturgy of the Word and Father J. Glenn Murray, SJ), Nourished (the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Father Ed Foley, OFM Cap) and this year Sent.I have invited Father Timothy Radcliffe, OP to come twice from England. Father Radcliffe
Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, OP
is the immediate past Master General of the worldwide Dominican fathers and brothers. He has written numerous books, the latest being WHY GO TO MASS? which I highly recommend to everyone. It is both informative and enjoyable read. It is amazing to me that a man of Father Radcliffe’s calibre and demand would come twice to this relatively small diocese to share his wisdom and perspective. The priests in attendance loved their first day with him and said that they had gained a lot.. Sadly, some of our pastors and priests have not embraced this initiative but the old adage, “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink” applies to many things in the Church. If you are in a parish which has largely ignored this pastoral effort, I apologize. From those who embraced it, I hear nothing but praise.
Anyway, a great delight awaits you in early May when Father Radcliffe and Father J. Bryan Hehir come to the Convention Center to share what it means to be SENT.
+RNL
Tags: Fr. Timothy Radcliffe OP, Living Eucharist, Photo, Priests