+JMJ
Dear Parishioners,
Having a diocesan priest on mission at our parish this weekend as I am away reminds me of a Divine appointment that happened about five years ago at this very time of my July vacation. I was in Zaragoza, Spain with a couple of close friends. I walked into the basilica sacristy there unannounced. They had no idea I was going to come and ask to concelebrate Mass that day. I showed them my letter of suitability from the Bishop, and the priest celebrating the Mass allowed me to join him.
Here's the Divine appointment: As this priest and I talked in the sacristy, I learned he had been to Zimbabwe, Africa and knew about the Toledo Diocese's mission there. In fact, he had been to Zimbabwe as a diocesan priest to do mission work. And, as Divine Providence arranged it, the obligatory memorial Zaragoza was celebrating that day at Mass was a local diocesan priest whose life had been given to the missions. As we headed out of the sacristy, the priest asked me to read the Gospel, and he would preach. I realized he created the homily in the sacristy while we were talking; because he told everybody how he and I had just met, and we had the Toledo connection, because he had been to our mission in Zimbabwe, while he himself was a diocesan missionary…. And we were now celebrating together the obligatory memorial of a diocesan priest from Zaragoza who did missionary work.
I pray that your time with Monsignor Andrew Martin of Cross Catholic Outreach will be rich. I am out for vacation for a few more weekdays. I'll be back in time for next weekend's Masses. Cross Catholic Outreach does fine work. I used to work under the same roof as Jim Cavnar, founder of Cross Catholic Outreach, back in my Ann Arbor days. I know it's a good organization that will use donations most efficiently and honestly.
Have a blessed week!
In cordibus Iesu, Mariae et Iosephus,
Father Poggemeyer