This past weekend my wife, Chloe, and I visited Holy
Redeemer Parish in Greensburg, Good Shepard Parish in Columbia, and Holy Spirit
Parish in Jamestown to witness the installation of my son, Nick, as the
official pastor of these parishes. The ceremonies were led by Archbishop
Kurtz of Louisville. We attended three masses and listened to the same
homily three times. In addition, we ate one pot luck dinner, one pot luck
breakfast, and one pot luck lunch. The Archbishop cautioned me to pace
myself. The food was excellent, especially the breakfast. After
three masses and three pot luck meals I am sanctified and five pounds
heavier. The people themselves were very welcoming and friendly.
During the masses the Archbishop had high praise for my son and during the pot
luck meals my wife and I received many compliments about our son. It was
a proud moment for both of us. One lady told me that I look just like my
son. I corrected her and said, “No, he looks like me. I was here
first”. Another lady asked, “Do you call your son Father Nick”? She
was curious since I am the father of the Father. I replied, “Sometimes,
but mostly I just call him Nick because he is my son”. A few people came
up to me and said, “I saw that picture of you and Father Nick at the U2
concert”. Both of my sons have turned out to be good human beings and
men. My son, Nick, however, is more like me than his brother. My
other son is more like his mother. Sometimes it is interesting how life
turns out. When my son was ordained a priest, my mother looked at me and
said, “I always thought it would be you”. In some ways Nick is living the
dreams of my youth. I suppose some dreams begin with one person and end
with another. In many ways Nick has finished what I began. In spite
of my background I was surprised when Nick came to me and told me he wanted to
be a priest. I honestly didn’t see it coming. Sometimes our
children surprise us. One way or another most of us turn out the way life
intended for us.
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