Did you hear the saying...

Have you ever heard "If you come to a cross in the road, carry it".... No?, are you sure? Cause I am pretty sure I have... It reminds me of springtime... being outdoors.. I am sure it is a popular saying. Oh Well.... I guess I will just share about this cross...
We were on the mountain side in late February after the big snows... on retreat with our confirmation class... We were talking about the Holy Spirit and living with the gifts of the spirit... Throughout the weekend we experienced times of active efforts and other times were spent reflecting quietly. Reconciliation had something to do with many movements toward the cross.
In our trudgings to and from meals, we came across a random cross. In our path, these two sticks perpendicular to each other yet resting precariously amidst the washed out gully of the gravel road, brought to mind the reason for our journey: To contemplate the great mystery of Divine love for divine creation in us and around us.

It was just a momentary image surely washed away with the melting snow or early spring rains, or more likely the random striking of boot on twig by one oblivious to the existence and placement in the road on the way to a meal.
Yet for the divine spark which exists in us and developed technology to capture the image, it does not fade or crumble or rot... it exists for us in this image to remember and to ponder and to choose to strike obliviously or to willfully pick up the cross and carry it.



We move to the Saturday before Palm Sunday and our annual Archdiocese of Baltimore Youth Pilgrimage. Over a thousand youth and adults gather to remember our Lords passion and way to the cross... We invite those who are getting ready to start the immediate preparation and reflection for the sacrament of Confirmation, to do the pilgrimage... this cross was picked up and carried by Archbishop Edwin O'Brien and groups of youth-full pilgrims through the streets of Baltimore.




Our own Clay and Aaron chose to pick up the cross and carry it.
"Lord fill us with an openness to your great desire for each of us. Help us to recognize that it is through the cross that we are brought to unity in the Trinity."

" For God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten Son, so that whoever would believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life"... Jn 3:16



Join us in seeking more about this man Jesus, a carpenter who created the world... we begin today... When you come to a cross in the road... will you carry it?

Yogi Berra: "If you come to a fork in the road, take it. "
Below is an additional pic and comment due to current events in the mojave desert.

This Cross Memorial was just stolen, after the Supreme Court ruled it could stay.. Now a replica is in place, only to be ordered removed by the government... So I guess if you come to a cross in the road, I really mean carry it in your heart and live it.

St. Michael's MEGA camp!!!

For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. Luke 12:34
What a treasure full of wonders! we look back on the summer and it was filled with good stuff... from the work camp to the mega camp... we had time for fun amidst service, worship, food, and recognition that all that we treasure will become a large part of our lives.

Fr. Norman Fischer from St. Peter Claver parish in the Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky,flew to us and shared how we can be treasure seekers, bearers and sharers...
Sometimes it is tough to see our own gifts... and it is elusive like a shadow that trails behind. and yet a shadow exists only because we or something reflects back the light... Our treasure and gift is the same... we can reflect the light back for others to see and to share.
His enthusiasm for God and us was so evident over the three days he was with us that our trip to Hershey Park on Thursday went auto-pilot after Fr Norm flew back to Kentucky on Wednesday.
The message to our youth was all about how we can seek the gifts in us and be a Princess or Prince of the kingdom... and that together we can seek that goodness.
In skit fashion we saw that by working together and sharing the load by using our gifts we can journey towards the kingdom.
At Cascade we enjoyed a perfect day in the water, on the slides, paddle boats and in the meal.
It was a chance to reflect or have a blast, to take a chance in a leap, or to observe life around us.

On Wednesday we had prayer in the sanctuary and heard Fr Norm teach us to forgive and let go of the things that burden us. Our skit showed the burden of holding onto grudges and hurts and how by releasing them we can be free to live and to love our neighbors... as ourselves.

On Thursday we gathered extremely early and took a group picture on the group picture steps... and then rode the four coach buses to Hersheypark. It was a great hot day for the park, the water the fun the food the laughter... all throughout the park you could see the gold treasure map shirts on the backs of our youth... in groups and large masses of people. It was a fitting end to our week of adventure. We continued to seek out treasures, gifts, places and adventures. we rode the Great Bear, the Lightning racer, and Fahrenheit! We all ended the day in chocolate of many varieties, cups, candies, hats, and other assorted treasures at the Chocolate Factory. And just like that at 9:00... 07 I mean, with some hearts pounding from the cross park run... we began the bus ride homeward.. many tired and happy campers... hmmm.
The most amazing experience of the week was to arrive at St. Mike's parking lot at 11PM full of waiting parents... and at 11:15... the lot was empty... what a gift!!!

So thanks to all our campers, to our peer ministers, to our adult chaperones and to our adult planners... and to Gabby and Fr Norm for a great experience!
Look for news of our next camp... seek it, bear it and then share it!

Work Camp St Mike's Style

We were missing several of our people... but this is as good as the group pictures get! Our planning began almost a year ago, and culminated in our group departure last Sunday the 21st from St. Michael's. Our hope was to serve several communities in western Marylandand with the help and support of many folks we were able.


G.I.F.F. The Great Iron Fence of Frostburg took on a legendary life of its own. Our Camp Coney group sent many young scrapers and painters to St. Michael's in Frostburg to bring some former shine to the old iron fence... about 100 years old I heard... Among the many other acts of service, these youth performed great landscaping services to a family who had been parishioners of St. Michael Poplar Springs in the early 90's...
Our Habitat crew, 41 strong donned the hardhats and framed walls, roof sheathing, graded and seeded a yard, laid up a concrete block foundation and generally set the stage for great success for the Garrett County Habitat for Humanity affiliate... our 6th year with them!
The McLeans whose house we framed interior walls and sheathed, joined us and the Habitat community for dinner at Ida Maust's place... a beautiful mid-week break. Great food, friends, volleyball, campfire and singing made it the special time Wednesdays in Garrett County are for work campers. Thanks so much to our hosts at Gareett County Habitat for Humanity, headed up by Doug Riley, executive director, and Frank Ferry Site Super.

Beach Volleyball at St Michaels

Let's get this game started...
Test...1,2,3...
The girls strategize before the game...
An evening of beachball volleyball, and some basketball mixed in with a few snacks, pizza, and the Beachboys... both musically and on the court.
Serving it up, the girls took the first game.
The boys came back and won the second...
Meanwhile Fr Mike took a break from his duties, just long enough to rest in the added light.
The crew gathers for a pic...
and then the noodles get noodling... It was fun, there was reflection of light and the message of Jesus, the light of the world...

Confirmation Retreat Summit Lake Camp

It was a cold and frozen mountainside when we arrived on Friday.


Surrounded by quilts from those before them, our youth had much on which to reflect.

Sunday afternoon as a group we gathered outside the chapel for a group photo... The sunshine made us blink, but the warmth allowed us to smile!
A little yarn and much affirmation is a great way to sum it all up!

Tiny openings

So all it took was a 1/4 inch square opening in the trim outside a dormer roof and soon there was an infestation of thousands of yellow jackets. This is a picture of the remains of the nest ... 30 inches across... the opening is the portion of 1/2 inch thick drywall that the yellowjackets stripped down to the paper. The sound of this was like a pot of boiling water. By the time I heard it, they had almost broken through to Liz's room. Since yellow jackets are very aggressive, I was extremely concerned. I decided that I would secure the ceiling with a piece of 2x6. That gave me some time to strategerize. I finally came up with a plan to seal off the dormer from the rest of the room. I used 4 mil thick plastic, a sliding shim that gave me access to the attic through a drill hole. After prepping and setting a drill inside the sealed area, along with a fogging can... I was ready. I drilled through the 2x6, then set off the fogger inside the sealed area... immediately I could see the yellowjackets dropping down from the ceiling. I went away and let the bug juice do the job. I was busy with activities at church so I let the nest settle down. I no longer saw any yellow jackets flying into the trim outside the dormer... so I felt some relief from the imminent danger of a breakthrough. A week later I slid open the shim hatch and more dead and almost dead yj's dropped to the window seat below.

I decided to fog again... replastic the dormer, open the hatch and depress the fogger button...hours later I checked again and I knew it was over... the battle was won. The infestation was vanquished and I was triumphant...wheeewh what an ordeal... I finally got back to it and cut the opening along the outer edge of the nest. I could tell where the edge was by the softness of the drywall. The picture above reveals the nest... What an invasion. I removed a 20 x 37 inch piece of drywall. enough to allow me to get up in there and clean it up. I was able to seal the opening from the inside and the outside. I reinsulated, then patched the drywall. Ready to paint.

Moral of the story: enemies will infiltrate wherever they can. Whenever you let your guard down, something will go after you. How could this have been prevented? Secure the perimeter. Know that forces are always working to get in to a safe haven or a good home. Or in the first place get on the ladder and check your corners. seal the openings...

Oh well... this has been a time consuming affair, one that required my immediate attention and one that needed a creative and thoughtful response. I am proud to say that I did not get stung once. Amazing since there were so many yellow jackets.

Now we get to paint the room... hopefully soon.

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!