I think I will run the Marine Corps marathon, she said

On a clear, cool day, Gabby set out to finish her goal of running in the 33rd Marine Corps Marathon. She trained for many months, spent many hours clocking those miles... 3 1/2 of which were run with me on a hot blazing summer afternoon at Watkins park... a steep price was paid by me... as I had not run at all in the past year. My legs were hobbled for the next week... But Gabby kept up the commitment and her pledge to raise donations for vocations... We are proud of her achievement! She had many supporters who encouraged her as she trained. Several (Jim Gill and Tim Lawrence) logged on to the internet and texted her whereabouts to me... as we moved from spot to spot to cheer her on... Amazingly, we were able to see her at three different spots as shown below... (five if you count the start and the finish).


In the beginning!!! Mom, Gabby and Liz.


Mile 10 1/2 .

Some of our nation's finest: giving drink to the thirsty.


Mile 15 under the bridge.

Mile 20... only 6.2 miles left.

The finish is just ahead!

Gabby finishes with her head held high! She ran to raise funds for vocations... almost $1000!
Seminarians along the route cheered her on, as well as her mom, sis and dad... all proud of Gabby's fine achievement.

What a day for us! It gives me great hope for us all that so many people set out to accomplish something and with will-power and determination so many made it! Gabby is a shining example of enthusiasm, optimism and determination. She inspires me!
May we all set out to do good and then stick with it and accomplish something for the glory of God!

Happiness is being done the run!
At the end!

What we did this summer

It is now autumn. So I have finally had a chance to sit and reflect a bit about our summer.
It was an amazing time in the lives of our youth and our youthful adults.
First we sent nine of us to Mandeville for a week to share in the life of our brothers and sisters.
Then three days after we returned from Jamaica, 100 of us loaded up a cargo van, a 20" box truck, a school bus, 4 cars and three trucks and headed west to the mountains of Maryland for our week-long work camp in Oakland and Lonaconing.
Soon after our return to Mt Airy, we spent the next several weeks planning and preparing for our middle school mini-camp. Over 160 of our middle school and high school youth, and young adults and parents spent four days having prayer, worship, excellent Fr Norm inspirations, food, games, and trips.
To start the school year, our work camp group put on a great inaugural 5k run and fun race with close to 90 participants. Mike and Lisa Dee and Jamie Courtney pulled off the prep with help from our crew... and it all made for a great experience for families, youth and children alike!
Now we begin our faith formation for this year. It is such a blessing that we have so many adults who have commited their time and gifts to be part of the faith journey for our youth. Twenty adults (parents and Brother James) will lead over 200 of our middle school youth this year. How amazing is that?
And we have another 20 adults who are helping with the high school and confirmation journey. Thankfully, because there are over 60 starting out the high school session and 65 or so in the confirmation session. Discernment is continuing for the large group of 11th and 12th graders who want to help as peers.
Why do I go on about all this activity? Because it illustrates how possible it is for us to participate in the great commission. We are all in this together. We are all engaged in this journey of faith. In many diverse ways we are all approaching the person of Christ. That is what we are about. That is what we are called to. In everything we do. We do it for Christ. We love because He first loved us. We serve because he commanded us. We pray because he taught us. We move forward in faith as a continuation of the millions of saints before us who responded to our Savior Jesus Christ who, by his love redeemed us into life. So as we begin this year let us all remember that no matter how broken or weak or pitiful we are, we are all called to holiness and to a deep and intimate encounter with Jesus. As we each step forward one step at a time, Lord, help us to remember that.

Pilgrim Papal People

Pilgrim Papal People

We weren’t super fresh that morning, and so we took to meeting at the Super Fresh parking lot at 4:15 before dawn. It was a journey that we had looked forward to ever since the news was transmitted to us. We had tickets! We were in!

Our time would come and so it did.

We all arrived within minutes of each other… on a brisk chilly morning to travel from central Maryland to the District of Columbia. We drove through the blinking amber lights all the way to the Shady Grove Metro and without delay were aboard the subway speeding into the darkness above ground. Sleepy and still were we.

The excitement built as we closed in on the station for transfer…to the green line and our final destination for the Papal Mass!

The nine of us were just the few from a distant suburban parish, one diocese removed from all the action. In Washington, tickets were doled out in the wheel barrow loads to schools and parishes. In Baltimore, a few hundreds were handed over. Among the thousands who desired them were many youth who were blessed with the chance to receive the Papal ticket…We became the few, the blessed and so it was that we were on our way!

Kathleen, Deborah, Eric, Russ, Ally and Jessi, joined by mothers Judy and Christa and youth guy Ted, found ourselves outside Washington Nationals Park on the morning of April 17^th, on time and in fine spirits! We entered the secure domain without having to relinquish any prohibited articles, except for the seven second downing of a bottled sport drink just as we entered the gates!

The concourse was sprinkled with people and sunlight, we were among the first to arrive. There was celebratory music filling the space and we searched out the new facilities.

It was a time for relief, a time for reconciliation and taking in the fresh new day! It was invigorating, delightful and almost a bit heavenly. All nations were present in uniform joy-filled greetings. Pleasant and giddy.

Even the arrival at our designated seats did not diminish our joy, in spite of the obstructive nature of the two towers guarding the side view to the presider’s chair… I mean the Pope’s seat.

Even the Altar was hidden by the lesser support columns… which quickly helped us choose the big screen for our viewing ease. The reality is that even those with unobstructed views resorted to the big screen… our eyes can only see what they can see!

It was a festive 3 hours of greeting others and seeing friends from around the state gathered in the park. And then the crowd gave out a cheer as the Popemobile entered the stadium and rode round the edge. Pope Benedict waved to the crowds before the entrance procession. It was all very uplifting and invigorating. When he first greeted the mass of pilgrims, it was enthralling to hear so gentle a voice, whisper soft across the space. His voice was confident and yet a very gentle manner. He was enthusiastic and affectionate in his greeting to us all.

The mass proceeded in reverence and very soon we were at the threshold of our Eucharist. The ministers of the Eucharist appeared at our section by the time the prayer had ended and it in itself was a miracle. The order with which reception was had, illustrated the planning that accompanies a celebration this large. We, as one, completed the prayer of the mass and as quickly as it began, the mass was ended. Then Pope Benedict imparted a special blessing for us and our sacramentals, and then he nimbly made his way down the ramp from the altar platform.

As he made his way through the congregation, he did manage to make one family overwhelmed as he blessed a baby in the arms of the mother.

It was great to see the robed vested priests and seminarians in black racing along the path to get a glimpse a bit closer. And then he was gone, beneath the first base dug-out. We were left to enjoy the moment.

Heading out of the park, we were funneled into the street leading to the metro entrance. It was a tight alley way filled with those who wished to make a statement to the faithful. Some were supportive, though most were agitating for their own perspectives. Loudspeakers and megaphones blared from many sides… They had a captive audience… it seemed a little like running a gauntlet. I do believe that love prevailed. We made our way past them and chose to head for the next station 6 blocks west… From there we were able to ride easy to Shady Grove and then lunch at Panera Bread… Communal Bread for us to consume after the bread of Life!

For each of us, our trip was a special moment placed in our ordinary lives. The surreal quality of the day will place itself in our memory all the more willingly.

Truly we were a Pilgrim Papal People!

Pilgrims Progress Along the Streets of B'more

The forecast was for rain, but when the multitudes gathered on the plain beside St Casimir in Baltimore, it was as if the water was parted and the sky burst forth with beautiful blue skies. Our small little band of pilgrims conserved their energy for the 2.8 mile walk to the Basilica, nearly 5 hours later.
In the meantime, we heard witness stories of vocations, from: Sister Julie, a couple seminarians, a married couple: Kristin and Peter, and Steve Angrisano. We prayed the rosary, we marched in a candle lit procession, we recognized Jesus in the blessed sacrament, we joined together in song... it was a full day... but not ended before we were able to donate gift cards to Sarah's House... see the three auxiliary bishops, our new Archbishop Edwin O'Brien and Cardinal Keeler...
Almost a thousand strong, the young church of Baltimore makes its presence known as they journey along the streets in witness to the love that shines: "Jesus"




Familiar faces in far away places... this is after the mass during the pilgrimage in Baltimore on Saturday March 15th. Crystal and Brittany had a great day and it was so good to sit near them during the mass.
Bishop Malooly prepares to say the rosary.

Archbishop Edwin O'Brien gets to know his flock during the evening meal.












A few of our group oversees their "leader" on the streets of Baltimore.
More friends from Hagerstown, the Rohrs with Sarah...

Mount 2008 Seek the Face of Christ

It is so easy to lose sight of the Good News... with all the negative images and news on the various media outlets. Each year for the past 13 years the Mt St Mary's seminarians host a weekend conference for youth. In the beginning it was attended by 650+ and held in the Memorial Gym.. talks, liturgies, dining and sleeping.... for both guys and gals... Since then it has gone on to host up to near 2000 youth and adults...(meals in Patriot Hall, talks and liturgies in the Knott arena stadium, ladies housing in the Knott Arena gym and the guys housing still in Memorial Gym) and now it is limited to around 1600... with registrations filling up 3 weeks in advance!
The weekend is spent mostly together, mostly on the floor, and mostly it is cold outside. Men have the opportunity to get up early and march across campus in the frigid darkness to shower in the dorms... In rain, sleetand wind, it is a brisk wakeup call. Meals are eaten in shifts to accommodate the multitudes... Confessions begin early in the weekend and are often... dozens of priests are needed to allow for the many who seek reconciliation...
There is uplifting music, hand signals that need translation for the newer attendees, talks that inspire, encourage and challenge. There are also celebrations of the Holy Mass and Eucharist each day... It is a weekend that must be experienced with an understanding that it is not about "me"... nor is it about "my comfort or my schedule"... it is a time to set aside the world and for a few moments to encounter a time and space that is open to seeking the face of Christ... this year's theme. In each person there is a spark that has the potential to radiate the light of our risen Lord. I saw that light in our young people... I saw it in our chaperons... I did seek the face of Christ and in so many ways, I saw Jesus. I saw some who suffered, I saw some who rejoiced. I saw those who learned new things, and I saw some who were trying to hold on to the familiar. In our discomfort, in our fatigue, during the Blessed Sacrament procession and Benediction, in the crowded masses, in the lines trecking beneath Rt 15... I saw Jesus. Their names were on their lanyards... fleetingly seen and then fluttering away... yet I did see the Face of Christ... and I pray the Lord bless our youth with a constancy of faith and hope in their own lives to continue to seek His face!

Marching in January cold

In the cold darkness we began our day... driving to Frederick to catch the 5:12 AM Marc train.
It was cold, dark and threatening precipitation...

We gathered with 20000 others for the Youth Rally and mass... many bishops, cardinals, priests and sisters were there too. Our group, even after getting there by 7:20 AM, made it onto the upper level... there were so many early arrivals. It was a great morning to rally and to reflect... confessions were made on the middle concourse... while others gathered their thoughts and relaxed.

We then made our way to the mall, and joined tens of thousands of others who had gathered there to listen to the speeches. After an hour we seemed packed in a huge crowd... finally we began the move to march on the Supreme Court. Inch by inch we tightly stepped our way forward. With so many converging on Constitution Ave... it was slow. After twenty or so more minutes we finally had just a bit more room to proceed. It was amazing to see so many in such peaceful demonstration. There were posters that depicted the graphic results of abortions...there were signs stating "Respect Life", there were many who recited the rosary. There were many, many youth from so many schools, colleges, and parishes from across the country.

To those who witnessed the march from the streets of DC and the buildings as we passed by, it seemed to them that it was a sea of people, moving slowly east towards the capitol... I heard it took over 45 minutes for the procession of people to pass by from end to end. Imagine the sight of so many streaming past... peacefully, without disruption, without violence...
It also seemed that the media ignored the event. The march of protesters who year after year take up the cry... in support of the unborn, in support of the hurting, in support of the women in pain and suffering over the choices made. It has been 35 years of marching and they continue to march and to stand for those who are unable to speak for themselves.
Will the cloud of witnesses, here on earth and those around us recognize these acts as meaningful? It is hard to think not. It is not for personal glory or convenience or satisfaction that they march. It is because to do it any other way, where the media might notice, would be painted as extreme and intolerant and hateful... which in today's world, tends to obscure the truth of the actions of those who protest. This march needs to be seen through the eyes of the 50 million lives aborted by the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision... half of whom would be old enough to vote this November... imagine 25 million more voices with choices on the ballot. How many of them would say the choice for Roe v. Wade was right?
Stand up for them... they did not have a choice. Do not let their voices be muted.