Ready, Set, Go! WOOF!!!

October is a big month for the Casas. On the 24th is the big run. This has been a great fund raiser and will be especially important this year with our Project Hope construction plans at Sagrada Familia. If you'd like to support all the two-legged and four-legged runners, check out this webpage

Regional Clergy Meeting

Today Padre Ron had the regional clergy gather for fellowship. We met at 10 a.m. for Morning Prayer, had coffee, gathered in the Seminary Library to share our challenges and victories in ministry, and then we headed off for a late lunch together. Padre Alejandro and Deacon Justo's challenges are different from those of Padre Ruben and Lay Minister Luis. Likewise Salvador's concerns and Padre Juan Carlos's are different perspectives of the San Lucas School. Sometimes the perspective of one outside the situation brings a fresh light to help the incumbent see something he or she has missed. Everyone enjoyed the day. Luis felt a bit out of place as he is not yet ordained. But if truth be known, he as led as many services as some others and is the only lay minister who has moved and serves in full-time ministry. We are still looking forward to his speedy ordination. Padre Juan Carlos took the photo for me.

Seminarians Lose Out

Right now we have 5 seminarians in the Liturgics II class. We had to double up and do two classes on our final meeting before the exam. Nevertheless, Padre left time for a little quiz at the end of class! Sorry, folks! You knew it might happen and it did! Still, everyone has enjoyed learning more about the Eucharist, the Holy Week services and how Abbess Egeria wrote back to her sisters about the celebrations in Jerusalem in 381 a.d. and how similar they are to ours today!

Confession

Ok, Padre Ron has to confess. He is putting this on the blog for our granddaughter Sadie. Grammi is visiting some of the international miners' exhibits with other clergy families and a little downtime PR. He wishes he could have gone, too!

Project Hope Takes Off!

Wow! GOD IS GOOD!...all the time! ALL THE TIME...God is good! Well, we are about to do the "first stone" ceremony at Sagrada Familia on Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m. This is the ground breaking ceremony for the dormitory unit so needed there. Who do we thank?
ALL our supporting churches and those wonderful individuals who have had a burden for our Casas Hogares kids. Christ Church, Plano, got the ball rolling when it seemed too overwhelming for us to attempt, and it has been awesome to see how many friends and churches have taken up the banner from as far away as England. We planned it in phases to be completed as funds are available: Phase 1-a much needed retaining wall and dorm unit for 12 girls. Phase 2-a similar upstairs unit for 12 boys. Phase 3-an expanded kitchen and dining room with computer room and library. Phase 4- a possible set of 4 bedrooms for "transitional" living before launch to fully independent living. Pray that this construction will be finished by Feb. 2010 so we can move over the next set of teenagers from Casa Hogar San Jose when the "Roof Dog" team comes down.

You can see the plans at http://ronandvicki.net/first_stone.htm