It seems like a lifetime ago, but after college graduation (University of Dubuque), we moved to Ryan, Iowa. Actually, we lived in the country near Ryan. The UCC parish (where my husband* was the student pastor) was a few yards from the large country house where we lived. On the other side of the church was a cemetery. . . and the church, house and cemetery were surrounded by acres and acres of corn fields.About the time we moved to Ryan, I began teaching at Beckman High School in Dyersville (home of the Field of Dreams). There was no way that we would have become Catholic at that time. Too much was riding on being Protestant. But, if we had been open to the grace that leads to Mother Church, we would have been members of St. Patrick's in Ryan or St. Mary's in Manchester.
So, today I'm praying for Fr. John Flaherty and two of the parishes he serves - St. Patrick's and St. Mary's. May the same Spirit that overshadowed the Blessed Virgin and brought us the long-awaited Messiah shine on these parishes. And may the laity be a light that draws many more into the arms of Mother Church.
Blessed third day of the third week of Advent!
*this non-sacramental marriage was annulled prior to my entry into Mother Church
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