In the world but not of the world
|
|
Dear <<First Name>>,
"In the world but not of the world." I have a confession to make. Although I've been an avid lifelong student of the Bible, I had always assumed that this phrase was a direct quote from somewhere in Scripture. It's not. Instead, it's a handy phrase used to sum up John 17:14-18 and 1 John 2:15-17. I've had reason to think about this quote as I'm trying -- in the fourth quarter-century of my life -- to articulate why I do what I do.
Then suddenly, it's April 27. This year, actually, people had to remind of the significance of this date. It crept up on me almost unnoticed, and was about to slip by. Fifty-two years ago today, Cardinal McIntyre ordained me to the priesthood in the old Cathedral of St. Vibiana.
Looking back, the commitment that the Lord and I sealed on that day has been a struggle to navigate between the "in" and the "of." I've commented more on that in my "Coffee with Fr. Tom" Facebook LIVE video I made this morning. Check it out. Meanwhile, Join me in a little trip down memory lane.
The above picture shows me giving Cardinal McIntyre my first blessing at the end of the ceremony. Below is the Cardinal saying the prayer of ordination. (Unfortunately, no picture of the imposition of hands survives.)
|
|
|
Fr. Gene Chromoga, pastor of St. Mary's Byzantine Church in Van Nuys, who was probably the greatest influence in my journey to the priesthood, hosted a wonderful dinner after the ordination. (l-r: Fr. Chromoga; Fr. John Danagher, seminary rector; yours truly; Frances Welbers, my mom; John Welbers, my dad; Trace and Ralph Olson, family friends.)
|
|
I have a few pictures of my First Mass at St. Elisabeth Church in Van Nuys, but no time right now to sort and present them in this letter. Later today, I hope to put together a slide-show which you can view on my website. Check there later.
Meanwhile, here are all my fellow newly ordained priests in 1968. (Click on the image for a full-sized, high-resolution copy.)
|
|
|
The Smile isn't all that's enigmatic!
|
|
|
Hairdressers are not deemed "essential services." Even Mona is impacted by coronavirus lockdown. After all, she's over 500 years old.
|
|
|
Blessings, Peace, and Love,
|
|
|
Do you like my email messages?
If so, why not forward this message to a few friends and invite them to subscribe.
Click here to browse the archive of past messages and subscribe.
Each person has to subscribe her- or himself. Anti-spam and privacy laws discourage me from adding anyone to the list myself. I do not share this list with anyone, and am using a highly reputable mailing service (with a delightfully off-beat name), and so your contact information is safe with us.
(Want to send your own emails with your own ever-widening circle of friends? For small users, MailChimp is free and easy to use. Try it! They make their money on the big commercial gorillas, not on little baboons like you and me.) |
|
|
|
