Grateful For The Help of These Priests

Last week I wrote about some weddings that will require my absence a few days in July. In addition, I hope to get some days away for some rest and relaxation. Before I do that, Fr. Jack is going to take some days to be with family in Minnesota and in Northern Wisconsin. He has had a busy month preaching mission appeals at St. Philip, St. Mary, and Sts. Peter & Paul parishes. Additionally, he will preach here at St. Willebrord in mid-August, with the help of Deacon Luis and me.

With Fr. Jack’s absence and very few priests who can preside at Spanish language Masses, I need to take the Spanish Masses and ask other Norbertines to help at the English Masses. Thankfully, Frs. Bill Ribbens, Norbert N’Zilamba, Jordan Neeck, Brad Vanden Branden, and newly ordained Johnathan Turba have all promised to help. Fr. Jack, of course, has tremendous flexibility and availability for the many Masses and other Sacraments we ask him to celebrate. I am sure that I speak for everyone when I say how grateful we are for the help of these good and sincere priests.

Many of you know that Fr. Willie Vande Loo has “retired” from his ministry at St. Willebrord. After 26 years of helping at four or five daily Masses per week, usually at 7:15 a.m., he has moved to a new ministry at McCormick Assisted Living. He is already living there and celebrating Mass. Because Fr. Willie had some health difficulties in June, we were not able to give him a grateful and grace-filled good-bye. When he feels strong enough to do so, we will organize a Mass and an occasion to celebrate his service.

Deacon Luis has been reliable at his liturgical ministries this summer. He celebrated some Communion Services while the Norbertines were at our Annual June Chapter meetings. He has baptized a number of children, too, and assisted Fr. Jack and me at several Masses, including Confirmations earlier this summer. He will be preaching at several Masses on the last weekend of July and as I mentioned above, he will help Fr. Jack with his mission appeal here.

Most weekends, Luis is helping in the background of our Masses. He makes sure that we have adequate liturgical ministers, monitors lights, adjusts microphones for priests and choirs, directs ushers when they have questions, assists the homeless who gather here on weekends, and even takes care of bathroom plumbing emergencies. Deacons are ordained for service and Luis embodies that in unique and helpful ways. When Luis is away, as he was recently for two weekends, the other staff members replace him in their own unique ways.

Thank you to all who offer ministry to each other at St. Willebrord and beyond.

Peace, Fr. Andy