From the Pastor's Pen

JESUS SON OF DAVID, HAVE PITY ON ME!! In last Sunday’s Gospel, amidst the noisy, pushing crowd, his disability, and his poverty, this is what the blind man called out. He was fixed on Jesus above all these things. He was MINDFUL, to use a word in vogue right now, of only Jesus. May we act that way, in all things and above all things. Please notice that Mr. Ken Morr, our school principal, is now writing a weekly column in the bulletin. We’ve talked about this for a long time, and we finally have this way to keep abreast of things at the school. Especially since it’s going so well, with enrollment of 260 kids, and a total of 800 in our new combined school of All Saints Academy. Please RSVP for the St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Anniversary of arrival to our land, on Saturday, November 17. We only have a week left to give a final number to the caterer on Nov. 10, and there is lots of space left. It’s free, with just donation baskets in the hall. Please call or e-mail the office right away—today or tomorrow (Monday), so you’re counted in. Don’t wait after next weekend or you won’t be included in the food count.

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I’m going on my annual retreat this week. It’s more than usual. I’m driving to a Norbertine retreat house, Santa Maria de la Vid, in Albuquerque New Mexico. I’m bringing materials with me on St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises, and have a retreat director lined up there. Then I’ll spend a few days in Taos, a noted artistic community, drawing and painting. As always, I invite you to join me, in some way—a little quiet time at home, in the Adoration Chapel, sitting out back, or taking a walk—mindful of God’s goodness to you, perhaps using your favorite scriptures. It can change our life, as it did for the blind man.