Foot-washer

 On April 15 on this year (2019), the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris burst into flames.  As the fire was blazing on the roof of this remarkable church, imperiling the entire structure and the life anyone who entered, the chaplain of the Paris fire brigade, Father Jean-Marc Fournier, rushed in.  I want to share with you in his own words what he did and why: As soon as I arrived, there were two things that it struck me as absolutely essential to recover: firstly, the invaluable treasure that is the Crown of Thorns, then, of course, Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament.   Everyone understands that the Crown of Thorns is this precious, extraordinary relic, but the Blessed Sacrament is our Lord made flesh... you'll understand it's difficult to see someone you love perish in flames. He describes standing alone in the cathedral "surrounded by flames, fire and smoldering objects falling from the ceiling" as he rescued this relic and the consecrated Eucharist. [1]   C

  Given to the Syro-Malabar community of Louisville, Apr 7, 2019 (4th Week of Lent) at Holy Family Catholic Church for their Easter preparation retreat.   Thank you for the introduction friars, and the invitation to speak today.  I have known these Franciscan friars for at least six years and have greatly enjoyed their friendship and ministry here to you, to Bellarmine, and young adults.  They like to invite me speak, sometimes with not much warning. . One of my favorite Fr. John stories: I was travelling as a chaperone with him to Kerala for Christmas in 2013 along with a group of Bellarmine students.  We stayed at their gorgeous friary in Karukutty.  Kate and I went to morning mass with the novices there at 7am one of our first mornings there.  I was feeling a bit jetlagged from the long travel.  I listened to Fr. John read the Gospel, afterwards he said, “it is not our custom to give homilies at morning mass, so I would like to invite Ned to come up and say a few words.”  Needless t

  Catholic Schools Week Reflection,  February 6, 2019   During Catholic Schools Week last week, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed – Facebook, if you aren’t familiar with it, is like SnapChat but for old people—anyway, I was scrolling, and I saw two posts appropriate for today.   The first was from one of our Catholic grade schools in Louisville.   It had two girls in their uniforms holding a sign that read, “So Glad to Be in Plaid.”   The second was a very appropriate meme for our snowy week.   It read, “Some of y’all never endured an entire winter in a plaid Catholic school skirt and it shows.”   Today, many of you are wearing sweat shirts from your grade schools.   If you went to a Catholic grade school, maybe you are remembering the plaid jumpers and skirts that you wore for many years before coming to Mercy Academy.   Your grade school plaid skirt, and your Mercy plaid immediately identify you as a Catholic school student.   You are part of several generations of Mercy