happy 40th anniversary, monsignor :)

today was monsignor's 40th anniversary of his ordination...being in my capacity of pushy caterer who can't sit in the background for any event regarding food, i went in early and helped two of the women from sodality make cookie trays, went home and got my camera, and was the one designated to cut the cake along with one of the head chefs from the culinary institute at the college my husband graduated from (her mom's one of monsignor's secretaries). i think about 250 people attended his little reception and he seemed pleased.

i was very emotional at mass today - my son is going through another *thing* and he made the right decision by meeting me at church and we had a very long, very serious talk about this past weekend before mass started. i love this kid with all my heart, i pray for his decision making ability now more than i did when he was younger.

this mass was beautiful - it was concelebrated by four priests and the music selection, oh! the last song the choir sang was "in remembrance" by Ragan Courtney and Buryl Red - i don't know if this is a common hymn, but the accompanying music, just reflecting on it now, is enough to turn me back into a puddle again. it was truly beautiful.

one of the things monsignor mentioned is yesterday he had the privilege of attending an ordination - when he was ordained 40 years ago, there was 30 or so men in his class. yesterday for our diocese, only 1 priest was ordained. he said he knew a lot of it had to do with the scandal of the priests over the past years, but he said vocations are out there and available if you prayerfully consider them.

he also said if his mother were in attendance at mass, she'd be the first one to tell you that it was a miracle he had held one job for so long :)

he is a holy man of God and a blessing to know.