I have returned

I have returned from a great and refreshing New England vacation.  I have yet to download the pictures to my camera and upload them to Facebook so therefore none will be posted to here as of yet.  I have however retrieved the held mail and have looked and read the eighteen or so replies, so here we go.  Oh, if there is no quote after the response, the reply was of a general nature:

*Bishop Joseph Gerry, OSB, Bishop Emeritus of Portland, ME and In Residence at St. Anselm Abbey in Manchester, NH.  Bishop Gerry enclosed three quotes from St. Benedict regarding young monks and "to profit others rather than preside over them."

*Fr. Brian J. Converse, Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Gales Ferry, CT.  Father Converse is also a Coast Guard chaplain.

*Bishop Robert Daniel Conlon, Bishop-Designate of Joliet in Illinois.  Bishop Conlon has served since 2002 as Bishop of Steubenville, OH. 

*Carmelite Sisters in Concord, NH

*Dr. George Harne, President of the College of St. Mary Magdalen in Warner, NH.  I visted here while on vacation.

*Fr. Roy E. Dentinger, a priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville, KY, and Kentucky Knights of Columbus State Chaplain, residing in Louisville, KY.  Father is 85 years old and has had some recent health troubles.

*Velinda Stowman, Customer Service Representative at Hannaford Supermarkets in Scarborough, ME. 

*Fr. Jason Stokes, a newly ordained priest of the Diocese of Allentown, PA, and assigned as Parochial Vicar at St. Patrick Parish in Pottsville, PA.

*Fr. James H. Lannan, a newly ordained priest of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, MN, and assigned as Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph Parish in West Saint Paul, MN.  Father is praying that "God grant me a greater faith and trust in His Divine Providence."

*Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in Peoria, IL. 

*Br. Joseph Cotrell, LLSC, of the Little Lambs of Christos in Napa, CA.  He responded on the behalf of Father Peter Talcott, a priest of the Diocese of Santa Rosa in California who offers the EF.  Br. Joseph spoke about the order's foundations and apostolates.

*Fr. Lepoldo Salvania, a newly ordained priest of the Diocese of Metuchen, NJ, and assigned as Parochial Vicar of St. Mary Parish in Alpha, NJ. Father Salvania's seminary journey took thirteen years and various seminaries.

*Fr. Manuel Rios, KHS, Pastor of St. Rocco Parish in Union City, NJ.  Father Rios had a personal relationship with Bl. Pope John Paul II and celebrated Masses with him in the private chapel in the Papal apartment.

*Msgr. Anthony Rosaforte, Rector of the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Norwich, CT.  He replied on a postcard that has the Cathedral, rectory, and diocesan chancery on it. 

*Fr. Richard Malo, Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Greenville, ME.  Father Malo mentioned that how many parishes are building larger churches, one of the parishes where he is Pastor at in Jackman, ME is downsizing its building.  Very interesting.

*Fr. Jude E. Ezuma, a newly ordained priest of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, TX, and assigned as Parochial Vicar at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston, TX.  Father Ezuma's vocation began while sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

*Sr. Joan Milot, APB, of the Monastery of the Precious Blood in Manchester, NH.  Sister spoke about their contemplative presence in NH and how they have not had a new vocation in fifteen years!  From June 24-26 they had a Triduum for the Precious Blood feast.

Here are some that I have yet to blog about, but came between the 15th and 23rd of June.

*Karen Halpin, Secretary at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Burlington, VT.  She replied in behalf of Msgr. Thomas Ball, who passed away on Palm Sunday of this year after a massive heartattack.

*Cabot Farms of Montpelier, VT.

*Fr. Martin Padovani, SVD--in Residence at the Divine Word House in Bordentown, NJ.  Father states that while we reach out to others we are building up the Kingdom of God.

*Fr. Richard J. Vigoa, Secretary to Archbishop Thomas Wenski in Miami, FL.  Father Vigoa has a deep love and commitment to the mutual enrichment of liturgy between the EF and OF. 

*Bishop Dominic Marconi, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Newark, NJ.  He resides in Chatham, NJ. 

*Fr. Mark Cronouge, SSE, Superior of the Society of St. Edmund community at St. Michael College in Colchester, VT.  He states that all vocations need prayer, of course.

*Fr. Robert Gorski, Moderator of the Curia of the Diocese of Manchester, NH and Pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Manchester, NH.  Father Gorski responded on a New Hampshire scenery postcard.

*Fr. Thomas Curley, Pastor of St. Sylvia Parish in Tivoli, NY.  Father says that since God loves us he has special plans for each of us.

*Bishop Howard Hubbard, Bishop of Albany, NY.  Bishop Hubbard says that, paraphrasing, all vocations are lead by the Holy Spirit and must be followed through with a sincere and clear heart.

*Fr. Joseph Betschart, a priest of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon and an instructor at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

*Fr. Hugh Gilbert, OSB, Abbot of Pluscarden Abbey in Elgin, Scotland.  Fr. Gilbert will be ordained as Bishop of Aberdeen, Scotland on the Assumption.  He responded on a Marian Chapel postcard from the abbey.

*Fr. Michael Wensing, a priest of the Diocese of Sioux Falls, SD, and now a parish pastor in that diocese.  He was serving as Director of the Institute of Continuing Theological Education at the Pontifical North American in Rome.

*Fr. Frank Fano, a newly ordained priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ, and assigned as Parochial Vicar at St. Helen Parish in Westfield, NJ.  Father Fano reassures me that God always keeps his promises.

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Tis all for now, folks,

Christopher