Rainy days and Mondays

Our prayerful condolences go out to our superior general, Father Ed Dougherty, on the death of his brother Gregory who passed away today at the age of 56. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

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Prayers for a speedy recovery to Fr. Dennis Moorman, visiting home in Indiana when he suffered an outbreak of shingles. Lest you think this is violating his privacy, he posted this himself on his Facebook page, which many here at the Knoll STILL cannot access.

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Today brought much needed relief from the stifling heat wave of 100+ degrees we've suffered over the past few days. Today was overcast, rainy and cool, but the heat and humidity is expected to rise by week's end.


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The stump of the now defunct English elm was removed today. Plans are to plant another tree in the fall, but NOT another elm, according to a second-hand source quoting Fr. Richard Callahan, our arborologist. Apparently whatever killed off our 86-year-old tree is still lurking in the vast subterranean roots that remain buried. This would most likely infest any new elm before it even had a chance.

More's the pity, because there had been talk of transplanting one of the three remaining elms first planted by then seminarian John Barth back in the 1980s. One elm still graces the roadway leading down to the dump from the upper cemetery. This will now remain undisturbed as a new species is sought.

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Twenty men gathered around the Founders' Tomb for the weekly rosary for vocations---an all-time record! Joining the 16 members in prayer were two Maryknoll seminarians and two Vietnamese seminarians with us for the summer from the archdiocese of Hanoi who are studying at the SVD seminary in Epworth, Iowa.

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The search continues for a music and choir director to succeed (no one can ever replace!) Ms. Lucille Naughton who plans to retire at the end of September (but will assist at the Centenary Mass at St. Patrick's cathedral on October 30.)

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A new policy has been put into place by which Society members wishing to avail themselves of gasoline at our garage will find the pump locked during lunch hour and whenever Mr. Ivan Reyes, our mechanic, is away. But not to fret! A phone in the box next to the garage door will automatically ring Security to come and unlock the pump for you. I will not divulge just why such a policy is necessary, but suffice it to say this mystery is filed along with the Case of the Diasappearing Purificators, Vestments, Holy Water Bucket and Aspergellum, National Catholic Reporter, AMERICA and Magnificat publications, not to mention the two HUGE Chinese vases.

October surprises?

+ We welcome Fr. Dave Smith, newly from Tanzania, who has arrived at Mother Knoll to take up his new role as Maryknoll's Chief Financial Officer, replacing outgoing CFO Fr.Richard Callahan. Dave shared some interesting tidbits of news from Tanzania, currently in the midst of a presidential election. Tales of chicanery and dirty tricks rivals anything going on here in the U.S., one week from midterms.

I strongly urged Dave to get involved in some kind of week-end ministry, just so he can get out of this loony bin and maintain his sanity. Interestingly enough, Dave said I was the second person to suggest that in the past 30 minutes. I maintain you can tell by how a person conducts himself here whether or not he gets away on weekends or not.

+ Super G, Fr. Ed Dougherty is, even as we speak, visiting the DPRK for the first time. (One wag at dinner suggested he's there to pick up tips. Another countered that the new heir designate could pick up a few pointers himself.) Fr. Gerry Hammond, who visits several times a year with the Bell Foundation that supplies medical supplies to the North, is accompanying him. Would be nice if Gerry finally gets permission to establish a residency in Pyongyang. Wouldn't THAT be a great way to inaugurate our centenary celebrations!

+ Keep sending prayers for the Holy Spirit to bless participants at the vocation retreat going on right now at Los Altos. Fr. Dennis Moorman, Fr. Jim Madden and Deacon Steve De Martino are directing the retreat for five prospects.

+ The new security system in now active. You'll need a swipe card to get in any door except the main entrance. I doubt this will curb the mysterious recent disappearance of the purificators from the sacristy, along with the new aspergellum, the old aspergellum, both holy water buckets, and complete set of summer vestments. Seems the foxes are living in the chicken coop.