I did not get an article done last week. Sorry! The short work week because of 4th of July and hosting our mission preacher were enough to cause schedule changes. Of course, I miss Fr. Jack and his availability for last minute requests, for sharing the Sacramental and liturgical tasks, as well as just having a Norbertine here with whom to share and converse. Please continue to pray for Fr. Jack as his leg heals. Pray that he rests, patiently.
      I want to repeat how grateful I am and ask you to be aware of how fortunate the parish is to have so many Norbertine assistants. Fr. Jude Lucier and Fr. Matthew Dougherty have stepped in this summer and taken more Masses than before. Pray for Fr. Matt as he begins graduate studies in Biology at Yale University this fall. Fr. Bill Ribbens, Fr. Ken DeGroot, and Fr. David Komatz have been faithful as always. And of course, we cannot overlook Fr. Brendan
McKeough who at 94 years of age still brings great energy and life to the ministry. Fr. Willie VandeLoo remains a God-send as he presides 4 times a week at morning Masses.
      Another Norbertine priest who helped out during Fr. Ken’s time as pastor and during my first few years is Fr. Gery Meehan. I ask all of you to pray for Fr. Gery whose kidney function is diminishing. He also suffers with dementia. He sleeps a lot. When he is awake he often speaks in German, not realizing it. Fr. Gery taught German at Abbot Pennings High School and at St. Norbert College for many years. I saw him just recently and I understand enough
German to know that he was telling me that he was fine.
      Lately, my own health has not been wonderful. I have done a sleep study (I had to do the overnight home study three times because of malfunctions and misreadings!). The doctor informs me that I have sleep apnea. I have not been feeling very well for a number of months – tired, irritable, depressed, etc. You may have noticed. High blood pressure and weight gain are both effects of sleep apnea and aggravate the problem. Again, I am sorry for the effects of my poor health on all of you. Hopefully, the doctor will offer a remedy that helps me back to “normal.” Let us pray for each other.
Peace, Fr. Andy