RBWords

     As I write this, I am just north of St. Petersburg, FL, where I will be preaching the second of four straight parish missions.  Parish missions are a major item in my itinerant ministry, and although I am finding the travel occasionally tiring, I never cease to marvel at the diversity as well as the sameness of parish life around the country.  The faith of the folks in the pews and the dedication of the priests, sisters, deacons and lay ministers is very edifying.  I often find myself dealing with the pastoral problems of staff members as much as the ordinary parishioners. Another feature of parish missions is the "small world" experience.  I usually introduce myself by saying where I live and where I grew up.  Many people have seen the movie, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, which was filmed in my home town of Natchitoches, LA.  Many veterans from the U.S. Army trained at Ft. Polk which is not too far south of Natchitoches.  In Lubbock, TX, I met a lady married to a man originally from there.  In Mobile, AL,  I met at least two persons with connections to Natchitoches.  I also met a woman who had attended a parish mission I preached in Naples, FL years ago.  In Pensacola, at a retreat for permanent deacons and spouses, one of the couples had attended a retreat I preached up in Maryland!

     I cannot say that attendance is huge at these events - at least at the ones I preach.  Some preachers who have considerable promotional resources can do better.   Once upon a time, the parish mission was a major event in the Lenten season of a parish.  There was a tendency of these missions to focus on sin and conversion to avoid eternal punishment.  As a result, in the years that followed Vatican Council II, the parish mission became less prominent and now seems to compete with all kinds of programs going on at the same time in parish life. Only the older generation remembers the fire and brimstone.  They don't really want to hear that and a younger generation has no experience of the prominence of a parish mission, so it receives no great priority from them..

     Many of my Dominican brothers do not find this ministry attractive, probably because of the travel and uncertainty about what awaits one at a given church/rectory.  Living out of a suitcase and being flexible about programs and having to promote oneself to prospective pastors are part of the "asceticism of the road."  But I do enjoy it and will try to continue doing it as long as my generally good health permits.  I've just turned 72 and I know I have to be realistic about my energies, but the Lord and the doctors will find a way to inform me when it's time to stay put.  IT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.