A good PR man

     Sorry for the lack of a post yesterday, but I found myself settling into a bit of a depression and found it difficult to post.  The depression occurred because of an event that morning.  For those not from Western Pennsylvania, there is a certain groundhog named Phil who hibernates in a small Central Pennsylvania town named Punxsutawney, and who on February 2nd is taken from his place of hibernation to meet the world.  If he does not see his shadow, Spring is near.  If he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of Winter.
  Well, Phil saw his shadow!  Little wonder, what with all of the lights from the TV cameras.  And I dislike Winter intensely... thus the depression!  However, if the next six weeks are like the Winter so far, it won't be bad.

     Today's reading from the Hebrew Scriptures is from Sirach.  We have been reading about David the King from the Book of Samuel, viewing the whole picture, with all of his successes and failures.  We have seen his greatness despite his human frailties.  Today, though, we have a great press release from Sirach, who gives us an overview of David's life and accomplishments with an emphasis on his greatness.  There is a brief mention of sin, but no elaboration.  I was struck by the positive spin that the author placed upon the man.  If only we all had such a good PR person telling our story!  It is refreshing, though, given the tremendous efforts to be negative and destructive about the people before our eyes.

     I concelebrated the funeral of a parishioner today - Tom McAraw - who died at the age of 82.  Tom and his wife, Mary, are good parishioners who usually attended the 8:30 am Mass on Sunday.  Tom was an usher, along with his brother-in-law, Jim, at that Mass.  I said concelebrate, because there are two priests nephews in the family from the Pittsburgh Diocese, Fathers David Schorr (a seminary classmate of mine) and John McKenna.  One of Tom and Mary's sons is in the Diaconate program for the Erie Diocese, and a number of his classmates travelled to be with the family.  It was a great celebration of life.  Tom served family, community, country and church with quiet grace and a constant smile.  May he rest in peace.

     Today was also the feast of Saint Blase, a early bishop and martyr for the faith that the world knows as an intercessor for ailments of the throat.  The traditional Blessings of Throats took place at the morning Mass, and at the request of the McAraw family, also during the funeral liturgy.  We had more than usual at morning Mass, for I find that people love the sacramentals of the church.

     And finally, Catholic Schools Week at Queen of Angels came to a conclusion with a volleyball game this afternoon between the Middle School Students and the Faculty and Administration, including Father John Moineau, one of the pastors.  I sat this one out by necessity, and joined in the cheering (for both sides).