Hi, I’m Back
I know that I have been very quiet here on my blog, and I fear that I may have lost some of the readers of the blog. Things have just been very hectic in my life right now, and with the many things that I have to get done, there really has not been much time for blogging. However, I did publish my homily for the 1st Sunday of Advent, below.
As I mentioned in a previous post, my father has become quite ill with terminal lung cancer. It has spread throughout much of his body. It came on very quickly (first diagnosed in October), so the mere fact of the illness, let alone the advance stage of it, still has my family reeling abit.
My pastor is a big-hearted man, and he basically gave me the last two weeks off to be with my family. I came back for the weekend Mass. Of course the other two priests at the parish are equally generous and flexible, covering extra weekday Masses, and even hospital duty. My brother priests are truly a blessing for which I am extremely thankful.
The past two weeks has been a lot of time in the hospital, and then when dad was released, taking him daily for radiation (chemo is just once a week). My father started attending daily Mass with my mother about 15 years ago, after he retired, so one of the hardships that he has been struggling with has been not being allowed to go to Mass (he cannot be in big crowds because his treatment has lowered his immune system). Therefore it has been a true joy for him for me to say Mass for him and my mother, mostly at home, but even once in the hospital.
I have also been doing a lot of paperwork, assisting my uncle get into an assisted-living facility. We’re not finished with that yet, but almost. That situation is also a stress. I know that my uncle really does not want to go, but he knows that he cannot take care of himself alone, and now my parents really are not able to assist him as they once did. Also he is struggling with the fact of my dad’s illness as much as any of us. Dad is his YOUNGER brother, and the only family he has left (well, besides my sisters and I, an elderly aunt, and a few cousins).
I am back in the parish now, though I still do not think I will be posting as much. Hopefully at least once a week. I hope that you will “stay tuned.” If I figure out how to set the RSS status, you can get a heads up when I post again. Have a blessed Advent.
