What a lovely week in the Southern Tier of New York. My brief (4 day) vacation over, on Saturday I returned to Bath. It was graduation weekend and I attended parties for two parishioners who were celebrating their high school graduation.
On Monday, Bishop Philip Naameh of Ghana gave a very informative talk about the role his diocese is playing to assure that secondary school education is available to girls in Northern Ghana. Our parish has become quite involved in the education of Ghanaian students through the ministry of Bishop Naameh's nephew, Fr. Peter Anglaaere, our parish priest. Many of our parishioners are now sponsoring the high school education of one or more students whose parents are unable to afford the $400 per year that it costs to attend high school.
On Monday evening, during the Bishop's program, a close friend of Fr. Peter's arrived from Germany. Margild Kaiser is the headmistress of a Catholic School in Germany. A friend who attends a neighboring German parish was her link with Fr. Peter. Some years ago the German parish developed a partnership with the Ghanaian parish that Fr. Peter then pastored. The partnership included several visits between the Germans and the Ghanians. Margild has traveled to Ghana several times as a result of these exchanges.
While I had been aware of Margild's visit, we both kept it a surprise from Fr. Peter. This man, who loves to surprise others, was blown away at this surprise. Fr. Peter will travel to Germany in November for the ordination of Margild's son as a permanent deacon. During her stay, she has visited Mt. Savior Monastery, Watkins Glen and several of the Finger Lakes.
This weekend, I officiated at the first of several summer weddings. Congratulations to Stephen and Kourtney (Kilmartin) Wojciechowski. Kourtney was a high school friend of my daughter Monica. Next weekend we have two weddings and wedding receptions in the parish. It should be quite a weekend.
Speaking of weddings, Pat and I will celebrate our 40th anniversary on July 4th. My column today includes comments on Independence Day and our Inter-dependence Day, both of which occur on Wednesday.
If you open the attached bulletin, (or check my website in a few days, you'll find photos of Bishop Philip, Margild and even Fr. Peter on horseback. Amazing how much we pack into this thing.
Have a blessed week.
Deacon Ray
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Over the years, God has blessed me with many wonderful opportunites to
minister. As a Roman Catholic permanent deacon of the Diocese of
Rochester, New York, (ordained 1982), I have served in a wide variety
of ministries. Whether I am ministering to my parish, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, travel or retreat groups (e.g. Cursillo, Walk
to Emmaus, Koiniania, Pre Cana, Youth) - music has played an important
role in opening doors and hearts.
This website is an
extension of that ministry. Here you'll find the lyrics to many of my
prayer-songs and, if you like, purchase from a collection of CDs I've recorded.
There's also information about tours and pilgrimages that my wife Pat and I
occasionally host and links to web sites I've found interesting.
