De profundis

Yesterday after the Sung Mass we rented a minivan and a car and 12 of us with the rector drove out to the Rockland Cemetery in Sparkill, NY, about 21 miles up the Hudson off the Palisades. It was a beautiful if very warm day and we were thankful that the St. Ignatius section was mercifully shaded by a very tall oak tree with branches that seemed like arms upraised to heaven. After visiting all the graves, we had a short prayer service in front of Fr. Ritchie's grave. It was well nigh time we paid a visit to the place as it had been 11 years since the last burial there. The large crucifix at the entrance needs repairing and some stones had fallen over but otherwise it looked pretty good even with no regular care. It was almost 3:00 by the time we made our way over to Piermont for a very welcome lunch at The Turning Point, which was just the perfect place even with the loud music going on underneath us. On the way back we drove down Broadway from the GW Bridge and said a prayer for the Zabriskies in the Trinity Uptown cemetery as we passed.

While at the cemetery we were also able to pick up the memorial stones from our monument engraver from Nyack for three parishioners that have died and are awaiting final interment in our columbarium at the church, so now we can finally get poor Carolyn into her niche after three long years of waiting in the pantry.

Almighty God, who has knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant, we beseech thee, to thy whole Church in paradise and on earth, thy light and thy peace. Amen.

Independence Day

I am the Good Shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd. (St. John 10:14-16)

A week ago today, on the feast of St. Irenaeus, our rector made his declaration of independence, effective October 1. The Gospel at Mass before the vestry meeting was from St. John, the parable of the Good Shepherd. I had received a report the day before that the announcement was coming and upon hearing this parable could not help thinking rather bitterly that our shepherd had revealed himself as only a hireling after all, not really as concerned about us and our future as the one Good Shepherd is, but then I realized that perhaps he does have our best interest at heart in confessing that his health and energy are not what they need to be to do the job. I think we had all imagined we would have more than 3 months to adjust and make preparations for the transition, but perhaps it is better this way. We will move on and hopefully find a good shepherd, one with more zeal and energy to try and make our little sheepfold stronger and healthier. In the meantime we must carry on and find a suitable interim, one that will keep the flock together while we self-study and search.

Good Shepherd, pray for us, Amen.