Wednesday (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

  • After assigning some of the tasks that had been marked for this week start dates further off in the future, there were 50 candidates remaining. I chose 12 of the best and brightest (OK, maybe some because they're old and/or short and easy) to take on today.
  • Morning Prayer in the cathedral.
  • Prepared readings and the seed of a homily for the midday Mass.
  • Phoned one of our priests, whom I had heard took a nasty fall in his home last night. All seems to be well.
  • Put finishing touches on the liturgy booklet for Saturday's Chrism Mass, and worked with Sue to figure how to get it printed. I used to do this easily when I was in parish work, but that was with a different printer, which makes a huge difference in how you format a document, etc. etc. We're just not set up for that in the diocesan office, so it's a learning curve every time.
  • Attended to a request for continuing ed financial support from one of our priests.
  • Attended to an administrative detail pertaining to the Canterbury pilgrimage.
  • Attended to an administrative detail regarding the cathedral chapter.
  • Replied to an email from Fr David Peters, canonically resident in the diocese of serving as an Army reserve chaplain in Austin, TX. He happened to have been at Fort Hood when the shooting occurred last week, and had occasion to minister to soldiers who were with one of those who died, a sergeant from Effingham.
  • Dealt with two other administrivia items by email.
  • Presided and preached at the 12:15 Mass in the cathedral chapel, observing the lesser feast of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Pastor & Martyr.
  • Somewhat quick lunch at Obed & Isaac with Fr David Copley of the national church staff, who is the designated liaison officer with the Diocese of Springfield.
  • Met with Fr Copley and five of the six Rural Deans plus the Archdeacon for about 90 minutes. He was here for an introductory visit, share some of the resources available through the Church Center staff, and listen to some of our feedback. We did have some.
  • Organized and spent some time prayerfully sitting with the scripture readings for Ascension (May 29), the first step in the construction of a homily for the occasion to be delivered at Christ Church, Fitchburg, MA.
  • Dealt with a long-delayed chore that will help me be better prepared for next month's Nashotah House Board of Trustees meeting. This was the last of the 12 tasks for the day that I took on in the morning, so ... a good day from that perspective.
  • Evening Prayer in the office.
  • Drove out to Decatur to deliver the final of my five Leten teaching presentations. Back home a little before 9:00.
  • Watched the Cubs close out a win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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