from our confreres

I have reflected on Loran’s wisdom over the years when thinking about family, classmates, students, friends and co-workers. It helps to know that everyone is odd and to be able to laught about it. Jesus found imperfect people, too. He taught them, healed them, forgave them, and laughed with them (“He was like us in all things but sin”).

In reflecting on life and other distractions this week after Easter and before spring really blossoms, I am savoring memories of Dave and other good friends who have fortified me over the years and cherish those memories and the blessings that come with them.

It is easy, it seems to me, to be overwhelmed these days with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and all the suffering and death innocent people are experiencing.

We start the week with Palm Sunday and end it with Easter about to burst forth. Christian communities around the world will be concluding Lent and celebrating the Risen Christ. Jews will be celebrating Passover. Ukrainians will be clinging to life, many in a new country where they take refuge.

My friend and confrere, Vitaliy, is moving around Ukraine driving trucks and riding trains to move tons of medical supplies and food to Ukrainians.

Rev. John T. Richardson, C.M., former president of DePaul University, passed away on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at the age of 98 after a lenghty illness. He leaves behind a long legacy of faith and leadership.

I had lunch at the Yurt Café of a cheddar cheese panini at a table with fresh tulips in a small vase … Meanwhile, my boss was telling me about the 101,000 tins of meat we delivered to Kharkiv, Ukraine, and how my Vincentian friend, Vitaliy, was loading up smaller trucks to get the tins delivered. He said 65 people were living in the basement of our project there. They were in the basement because the Russians had blown a hole in the roof. For eight minutes the shelling stopped giving them the opportunity to get the tins out. The recipients will not be getting their lunches with fresh tulips.

Let me say right off the bat that I have never liked the season of Lent.  I’ve been a priest for almost 40 years, and I should know better. Yet I still dread the buzzkill of Ash Wednesday.

Our day is full and exciting but the sub-story is all the calls, emails and worry we do about our people in Ukraine and the staff in other countries who are raising money, receiving refugees and sending supplies.