Jubilees

Today at Saint Meinrad we observe Jubilees of Monastic Profession ... Father Theodore marks 85 Years (he's 107 years old and will most likely be at Mass this morning), Abbot Bonaventure marks 70 Years, Brother Kim and Brother Giles mark 50 years, and I MARK 25 YEARS. Yes, I'm a Jubilarian. When I entered, I thought Jubilarians were old, and now I am one. My Parents, Sister and Brother-in-law, and a few friends are here. It's a typical southern Indiana summer day (hot and very humid) so among the things we give thanks for today is airconditioning in the Abbey Church!

More on all this later ... I hope ... maybe ...

Sister Madeleine Sophie

Monday morning I received a call that Sister Madeleine Sophie, OP, had died at the Motherhouse in Adrian, Michigan. Sophie was my eighth grade homeroom teacher, and a very significant influence in my life. We've maintained contact over the years ... on and off ... but always reconnecting, no matter how logn tha lapse of communication had been. When Sister Eileen(my other "eighth grade nun")called on Monday, I immediately told her that I would try to attend the funeral ... Adrian isn't all that far from Indianapolis. She called back later in the day inviting me to Preside and Preach for the Funeral Liturgy. So I drove to Adrian on Tuesday after the Noon Mass at the Cathedral, and got there in time for the Reception of the Body and evening Vigil. The Funeral Mass was on Wednesday morning ... a bright, clear, Michigan summer day. Everything was lovely. There are too many "Sophie stories" to go into right now, suffice it to quote one of Sophie's wisdom sayings: "There are no accidents in the Providence of God."

God rest you, my Dear Friend