Jubilee

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Being away from home has certainly had its advantages.  There is a lot less pressure to meet deadlines, I have not had to deal with the heartache of many people, especially while I still work through my own.  I've been told many times that you cannot be effective ministering to others if you are not taking care of yourself.  Of course, that is why sabbaticals are important.  I truly cannot thank the Vicar's office for the help they gave and the encouragement they continue to offer.

One drawback to being away from a purely social view is that I missed the annual celebration of the jubilarians' mass at the seminary.  The men celebrating 25 and 50 years are honored by the Archdiocese, friends, and family with a formal meal after the mass.  Many of my classmates I don't see very often as it is.  I think they are all in the city or northwest suburbs, while I have remained in the southern and western suburbs.  I spent two years at Holy Name Cathedral and that's as far north as I've been.  None of the guys have been near the south suburbs, except MAYBE Walter.  He MIGHT still be at that parish just north of where Charles once served.  Still, as I said, sometimes distance is a difficulty, yet, only if we let it be so.

From pictures I've seen from yesterday's mass, I think 6 of our 10 showed up for the mass - I'm away on sabbatical, Livingston left (I believe), no idea whatever came of Mark, and Paul didn't make it either.  One of my friends, Rob, said that there were a few guys from other diocese who came in to celebrate too.  However, I can't say I would miss those guys.  It might have been nice to catch-up a little bit, but it would have been superficial, I think.  Maybe that is part of my grief too.  There are some guys I just wish I could see again, but they were not there -- some left the priesthood, some have died.  Without Paul, and really only seeing Rob, that would have been the highlight of the day.

Of course, there is the class of 1976 celebrating 50 years too.  I have more than a few friends in that class.  It would have been great to see them indeed.  But many of those men are retired too (most of them, if not all).  There are men in upcoming classes that are just as important to me.  As I've said, it's why I have been more of a friend to them and not my peers (generation).

Did I miss yesterday?  Probably more than my soul wants to admit.  I am still discerning my future, whatever that next assignment may be.  I have my own ideas and thoughts, but they are not really sharable just yet.

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