Lourdes and a Chuckle

One hundred plus degrees here in Oklahoma. Also, we can't say it is a "dry heat" like the Arizona days...

Before posting the next reflection about our Lourdes visit - I thought I'd add this summer fun picture to let you laugh a bit.

(Note: I was told no one was injured in this house fire!)

For those who just see a burned house... read the sign posted in the front yard. For those who can't read the sign sign it says: "Psychic Readings" There is a phone number below that I blurred out.

This is the second structure I have seen with my own eyes that was owned or rented by a fortune teller or Psychic where fire damage was not 'forseen'. The first was in Northern California and this one was in Connecticut. I feel a little guilty for laughing about this but can you fault me for it? I could not pass up this photo-op!

Stay tuned for the next Lourdes piece, and take it easy in the sumer heat.
We're being advised to stay indoors, stay as cool as possible, and drink plenty of water.
You do the same and God bless your summer!

Happy Father's Day

God bless the men out there who 'father' with integrity. God bless the single Mom who must be both mother and father for her children. We are at JFK airport about to go through check-in on our way to Lourdes, France. I'll keep adding a few sentences at a time to the "Twitter" account. Time to go. (Nice to know I can post from the phone!)

Happy Feast of the Sacred Heart!

A whole MONTH since my last posting here! An email is about to be sent out with a lot of information so I will make this quick. We are in our old house right now - you know, the one that didn't sell? After two years and eight months on the road full-time we're glad to have a place to stop and rest. Going on three weeks now I've been hoarse - the doctor says it is chronic laryngitis. I should be fine in a few weeks. We leave tomorrow for Lourdes, France and from there I will try to post on "Twitter". In case you are not signed up for that, you can stop at the holyfamilynow.com website to catch up on our news until we get back to the USA on June 29. The main news today is the feast day! Grab all the graces you can and pray for us as we travel tomorrow. We will pray for your intentions while we are in Lourdes. We are doing well and planning to be in New York next month. If you are not on our email list, be sure and sign up to get our newsletter. The one going out today has a fun idea that will bless the children in your life. Gotta go as we are busy packing.

Lord, let our hearts beat in union with yours! Amen!

Walden Pond, Cornwall Bridge, and Divine Mercy Shrine

T-Shirt on a priest friend from Louisiana read: "I Love My German Shepherd"
How could I pass up a chance for this photo-op next to a cardboard cut-out of my 'German Shepherd'?
Photo was taken in a room at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts where we spent 2 nights in their peaceful parking lot camping near the statue pictured at the top of this post.



You can see our RV parked near what might be one of the most photographed Catholic churches in New England - especially when Fall colors take over in Cornwall Bridge, CT.

St Bridgets Parish hosted an evening along with St Bernard in Sharon, CT.


The evening unfolded in a way more unusual than most when an elderly gentleman required 911 assistance. What hit me the most was how we tend to stare in curiosity at unfolding crisis when what is needed is for us to pray. Folks were quick to respond and pray for the situation as it played out. The man is fine and we learned a great lesson: don't get all wrapped up in curiosity over emergency situations; if we are unable to help in an emergency in a 'hands on' way - we can always help the situation in a 'hands lifted in prayer' way. You get my meaning. This includes economic situations, too.

SPEAKING of PRAYER - THANK YOU for the prayer support last Friday morning. The meeting went well and I'm sure that was in part due to your prayers. We will tell you more before long. Meanwhile - thank you!

Below is a picture taken at Walden Pond through the trees.

My father told me recently that when he was about 13 years old he used to hitchhike (Kids! don't hitchhike! It was much safer years ago!) from Cambridge, Massachusetts to Walden Pond on Saturday mornings and practice his diving off the dock there.
It meant something to me to stop and have my 13 year old son snap this photo.

Boston, Massachusetts (edited)

View From above...

We are wrapping up our time here in Andover, Massachusetts. This is a picture of our RV tucked in close to the Priory at St. Augustine Parish. One from above and one fro the ground. No levitation here, just a great office window across the parking lot.

We turned the RV around so we can more easily head out later tonight.


Yesterday got to visit the Pastoral Center for the Archdiocese of Boston. Cardinal Sean celebrated mass and a priest was welcomed into the archdiocese during the mass. I think the term is "indoctrinated" but I could be wrong. He has been a priest for years working with a group of sisters in the Philippines and has decided to join the archdiocese. There's your technical church term lesson for the day. Hope I got the correct word!
May 13: Nope, wrong word. The correct word is:INCARDINATED and THAT is your catholic term for the month. (Thanks everybody for the emails.)


I was glad to get a chance to thank Cardinal Sean for his example. I was also reflecting on the powerful witness of the priests here in Boston. The strong men who bear the heavy burden of the horrible reputation of those who caused such tremendous harm. I salute you faithful servants - unlike the hired hand, you have remained and continued to walk by faith with way more than just your words.

After a home concert this evening we pack up and start driving tonight to avoid traffic.
Angels line the highway...

New York, Rhode Island, Bridgeport, Andover

We were amazed at how fast we reached New York - or at least it seemed that way. Over 1500 miles in three days. Looking to our right we could see the New York City skyline and even the Statue of Liberty. Then we reached the New Jersey Turnpike and saw we might be stuck for a long time. Nine lanes of traffic that the toll gate person told us would be down to a single lane to at one point. We still had some miles to go before reaching St Anne in Bridgeport, Conn. and there was a chance at this stand still point that we might not make it in time for the opening mass.

So... Mary suggested praying a rosary. Here is what the road looked like as we began.... "In the name of the Father..."


To better appreciate what we experienced, just imagine you are in one of these other cars. Truck horns sounding, cars cutting in front of each other, cars not wanting to let anyone else into their lanes... and here we come in a huge 39 foot RV towing a car... we wondered how we would ever get in to that single lane. By the last amen of the Rosary, people seemed less stressed, and we could hardly believe how space opened up before us as very easily we were able to shift over to the single lane on the far left of the turnpike. We made it to St Anne's with almost an hour to spare.


After parking at St Anne's in Bridgeport, Conn., we walked a few blocks to the water and snapped this picture. The kids are amazing and for the most part have very good attitudes about the near-constant traveling.



Stopped to visit with friends in Rhode Island who treated us to a tour of the Vanderbilt Summer 'cottage' Wow. I would rather live in a RV! It was great to see it and get a sense of the burden that can go along with excessive wealth. No thank you. I was told it is over 100,300 square feet - and this was just their summer cottage!

What better way to end this posting than by asking: "What are you working for?"

To provide for my family.

So were the Vanderbilts.

I guess it comes down to prayer and listening and asking for wisdom and learning to live with less.
Where did I hear this simple phrase? It went something like this:

Your joy of living increases as you depend less on things to bring you joy.

If I said it wrong - you reword it until it sounds right to you.
You get the point.

He Is Risen! Alleluia!

Able to heal. Able to strengthen. Able to renew, rebuild, restore... This humble servant, mighty King, living God, Prince of Peace, turns hatred upside down. Mercy means EVERYTHING can be forgiven. Miracles DO happen. Thank you Lord for the example of your humility, obedience, surrender and trust. Thank you. May you be magnified in the hearts of your people.

Thank you, Jesus, for the ways you renew our hearts as we open them to yours. We say 'Yes' again and again. Let not your suffering, death and rising be in vain for us. Guide our hearts to believe in such a way that our lives are changed for the good, and hearts are converted to your Gospel. Amen!

Here is an example of the image many people ponder as we continue to pray this novena to Divine Mercy.

Our family is still not in our house yet. We leave our driveway this Wednesday as we head East - still in our RV. God is good!
For those of you who want to be inspired to live what most of us claim to believe - here are a couple links to a story about a blind man who evidently was struck by a drunk driver as he was heading to mass and a concert I was about to give in Oregon.
After you read the link - you'll know why I am hoping you join us in praying for this amazing, humble, forgiving man named Norman Larkin.

Happy Octave of Easter and here is the link:

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/injured_vancouver_man_flooded.html