hey fr murphy, hold down the fort.
well, the transformation begins: pedro santana has been added to the title...
well, the transformation begins: pedro santana has been added to the title...
It has come to my attention that a few of you may be concerned about my well being. Life in Haiti looks riotous from the media reports. Relax, all is quiet on our western front. The major part of my yesterday was spent in and around Haiti and yes, the country side is in flames, children run naked, the road ways are barely passible, but that's normal and no one seems upset about things.
A neighboring parish in Restauración
I hope everyone is enjoying the snow. We don't even have local Winter Olympic coverage down here. With a year and a half worth of experience in the mission, firsts are getting rarer to come by. Today, I experienced a couple! My first midday meal with Dominicans that didn't include rice and beans, and a 35 mile one way trip to make a phone call. The trip took me outside the northern border of the parish to a town called Restauración. This town is full of trees and greenery, such a contrast to this very dry time of year in Bánica. Most remarkalbe in my mind was that as soon as I got out of my parish (of course) the road rivals Skyline Drive in beauty and quality. (Sorry, no picture--I ran out of memory stick)
ladies and gentlemen, the time has come for my yearly retreat. i'm heading out this morning with great hope that i can land in philly this afternoon in the midst of a thunder snow. pray my friend fr hamill finds a worthy vehicle for the pick up...
i'll be praying for all of you - please keep me in your prayers, i'll post something after retreat.
i'll be praying for all of you - please keep me in your prayers, i'll post something after retreat.
Bishop Loverde's brought many glad tiddings to our part of the world. None probably more exciting to both Fr. Gee and I than his blessing our latest crazy hair-brained scheme - Make Fr. Murphy a pastor. For those who may know said priest and are right now putting thoughts together for a letter to the Bishop getting him to rethink his obviously tropically influenced decision, please know he's washed his hands of the matter and rests with a clear conscience that I'm Bishop Grullón's worry. Fr. Gee is feeling a certain lightness and ease now that half of his charge is placed on the shoulders of another. The plan is to have Fr. Gee remain at his post in Bánica and its chapels and have Fr. Murphy take over the parish of San José in Pedro Santana and its chapel communities. The dynamic duo will spit pastoral duties to concern themselves with the needs of each particular parish throughtout the day, but return come dinner time to regale each other with events of his own mission field. Our harmonious "casa curial" will not suffer from the split. Nor will your ability to keep in touch with us or support the mission be effected. Bishop Loverde has also initiated a certain "Mission Task Force" to facilitate better the support back home. I guess now I, Fr. Murphy, ought to see what I can do to get Pedro Santana worked into our blogspot name The Banica Mission.
after a pleasant 45 minute ride into the mountains, the bishop celebrated Mass in cercadillo.
here's a post-Mass shot of him with the people:
here's a post-Mass shot of him with the people:
the bishop has arrived, no worse for the wear and tear of the roads.
we'll have some pics tomorrow, but i forgot to tell you all of the new dog.
here he is with the other one:
we'll have some pics tomorrow, but i forgot to tell you all of the new dog.
here he is with the other one:
