In Tribute to Two Amazing Priests

I want to give special recognition to two amazing priests today, who are both departing for new assignments:

Father Dave has served as director of the St. Augustine Mission for 12 years.  He has truly poured himself into this ministry of serving those who are in dire need on the Omaha and Winnebago Reservations.  He has worked hard to raise the funds to support the mission, and the school at St. Augustine.  In fundraising efforts, he highlights the wonderful things happening, and the amazing potential the students show, especially in the calendar St. Augustine creates every year with professional photos of students in traditional outfits.  He has indeed helped breathe so much life into the community there, actively engaging with the culture:  He has participated in the weekly sweat lodge ceremony, and created CDs of beautiful Native American-oriented music, featuring some of his amazing flute music.

He was also so hospitable to my group from St. Teresa's when we went there in March 2013 on a mission/service trip, even down to the little things like giving us towels when we participated in the sweat lodge ceremony, spending time at meals with us to talk about the culture there, and giving us some shrimp for dinner on our last night there to go with our vegetable stir-fry.  (The picture above is one I took during that trip, when he was sharing with us about the history of the Our Lady of Fatima (Roman) Catholic Worship Center in Macy, NE.)

Father Kevin is an extraordinary priest who has accomplished so much in the nearly 19 1/2 years he's served as pastor at St. Teresa of Avila (Roman) Catholic Student Center at Valparaiso University in Indiana.  The community there has seen so much growth, especially in the facilities of the church, now including a sanctuary and a ministry life center with lots of meeting space.

He knows how to pray, and encourage his flock spiritually.  And he knows how to play, unleashing the full force of his energy, especially in leading us in "Partying Hard with Jesus Christ".

The 11 AM Mass on his Farewell Weekend this past Sunday featured many of the unique marks of his ministry:  Many of his favorite songs (including "No Longer Strangers"), inspiring words in his homily and even remarks at the start of Mass, his dousing sprinkling rite, gathering the community for an anointing, tambourine music and high-fives in the recessional, and swinging children around after the end of Mass (see the pictures below that I took of him).  And there was a great feast to follow at the reception--along with lots of White Sox decorations for a big-time fan who's moving closer to the South Side of Chicago.  (It was a celebration similar in many ways to that marking the 25-year anniversary of his ordination two years ago this month.)

Here's a picture I took of the sign outside St. Teresa's along Lincolnway this past weekend.

So here's sending some prayers your way, Father Dave, as you go to ministry in Omaha--at least, I think that's where he's headed--and Father Kevin as you head to Gary.

And here's sending some prayers the way of Father Mark who is taking over as St. Augustine Mission director and Father Chris who is coming as the new pastor at St. Teresa's.