The Goodbye Party

I didn't plan on going over to the Church to help with the party this morning early. I planned to just go to Mass with Joe and then go down and celebrate with Father Nnaso. Well, the guilts got me. I laid there thinking that they might need me...so I got ready and went over and helped out before Mass. As you can see, in the picture below...we had lots of food. Everthing you could think of for a summer brunch was there. It seems that most women know how to plan so there is enough food. We had no idea how many would come, but we were ready for any number. It was supposed to be a light brunch...everything was so fresh and good. The kids love this kind of food...and they filled their plates. We adults did too. We had a roomful of parishioners. Everyone wanted to say goodbye to Father. He walked around the room greeting everyone and not taking time to eat. We told him to fill his plate and sit down. He sat with the kids...they had just had a camp at Church called Totus Tuus and Father soaked all the kids with his super soaker. He has a picture in his office with his super soaker.

Here he is smiling, but deep inside I know he was hurting just a little bit. He hasn't been here but a few years and really didn't get everything done that he wanted to accomplish. He still had plans for an Adoration Chapel to be built next to the Church. A building that would be open 24 hrs. for anyone to come to Adoration and prayer. He said at Mass that he hoped the Priest who replaced him would follow through with those plans. He told us that each Priest comes with ideas of his own on how to better the Church. They survey the situation and see what it is that this particular Church could use. It takes about a year for Priests to start doing "their thing." He just got started with his plans. He is going to a nearby Parish that is in the process of raising the moneys to build a new Church. Since he is good with fund raising...I think that's why the Bishop is taking him away from us so soon. Here he is with us this morning. He's a lovely man...so kind and gentle. You know, when your Priest is there during times of trouble for you...serious illness, a death in the family, serious operations, or blessed events like marrying you, being there for the birth of a child, or bringing you into the Church...he becomes very special to you. He's been there for both of us and we are going to miss him terribly.

Balisha