You celebrated well today!
The parade begins! Politics are commonplace in parades. Notice the right hip of this candidate. This candidate declares his message on a truck that pumps septic tanks. This vendor is still flying his Trump flag. Congratulations to the people of Burns, Wyoming.
You celebrated well today!
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I had the pleasure of going to Little America to attend the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce annual banquet last night. There were 600 people in attendance. This was the first major event with a lot of people in attendance that I have attended since the beginning of the pandemic. It felt refreshing to see this gathering happen. Congratulations to all of the award winners at last night's festivities. Thank you for the many ways you support the Cheyenne community. The same thing could be said about each of the nominees as well. Thank you for the many ways you give back to your local community. It is appreciated. Many thanks to the leadership team of Jonah Bank for inviting Margaret and I to be part of your table for the evening. Congratulations to Mike Williams (far left in the photo above) on receiving the CHAMBER SPIRIT AWARD. Thank you, Mike, for all you do for the Cheyenne community.
My day on Friday began at 4:30 A.M. and did not end until after midnight, but it was an awesome day. I was up and going at 6:30 A.M. this morning to head to Burns, Wyoming for Burns Day. I made it to Burns in time for the pancake breakfast, enjoyed watching the parade, and then quickly worked my way through the various parts of town to see the many vendors. Pictures will be coming soon. Have a blessed weekend! I did not know I had a place, and it was established before my birth. At least it appears that my business is diversified. Is going on a "Sunday Drive" still a thing? I occasionally take a drive with no firm destination in mind, but if the price of gas continues to go up I may need to stop doing that.
Anyway, I went for a drive a couple of weeks ago by myself and eventually got lost. Imagine my surprise when I came upon Vern's Place in LaPorte, Colorado. Of course I had to stop to take photos. Please note--even though I was lost, I did not ask for directions. My manhood is still firmly intact. (My phone was not getting a signal and GPS was not an option.) What's the point of this story? There is no point at all. Have a great weekend! Having a park near the office is very nice for taking a lunchtime walk--at least for the few weeks of warm weather that Wyoming gets in a year. However, someone should have informed the geese not to do their business all over the sidewalk. The geese and the squirrels are certainly not afraid of people. One squirrel ran up to me as I was walking around the lake. When he reached the point of being within a couple of feet of me, I explained to him the social distancing protocol due to COVID. He did not seem impressed. I got a little warm on my trek around the lake, but it was quite peaceful and very much appreciated. I am grateful for these small gifts that come throughout the day. The pace has been quite steady these last few weeks. Thus, moments of quiet and peace are welcome. I intend to attend the Chamber of Commerce Banquet tomorrow (Friday) evening in Cheyenne after a full day of work. I plan to travel to Burns, Wyoming on Saturday morning to attend Burns Day. It looks like a fantastic event. I will need to be in Fort Collins, Colorado on Saturday afternoon to preach at Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton at 5:00 P.M. I will also preach at Mass at 8:00 A.M. on Sunday morning at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. (I may need a nap Sunday afternoon.)
Blessings and peace! I am only into the second week of my new role, but it has been heartwarming to see the many ways the Cheyenne community serves those in need. Today I visited Recover Wyoming. According to their brochure, "Recover Wyoming provides a variety of programs and services which support and advocate for the possibility of long-term recovery from addiction." It was a pleasure visiting with the Executive Director, Lana Mahoney, and getting a brief tour and explanation of the services being offered. I had the opportunity to visit Needs Inc. yesterday. I met the Executive Director, Taylor Albert, and was given a tour of the facility. I learned about their programs and met some of the staff and volunteers that keep the place humming along. Below is a photo of a few of the folks I had the opportunity to meet. As noted in an earlier blog, I had the opportunity to visit Meals on Wheels on Friday. I am only starting to scratch the surface of all the good work being done in Laramie County to serve others. This is going to be an enlightening journey.
Reflection Questions: Who needs you to pray for them today? What is one specific thing you can do today to help make someone's life better? Have you considered volunteering with an organization that can use your skills? Diaconate Ordination on June 5, 1999 (How It Started) June 5, 2021 (How It Is Going) Just kidding! There are only some days when I feel like this. Today marks my 22nd anniversary as a deacon. I am amazed at where this journey has taken my family since I started full time ministry in July of 2000. (I went to school an additional year following my ordination in 1999 before beginning full time ministry.) I want to thank everyone who has crossed my path during these years of ministry. I have been blessed to work in numerous (arch)dioceses including: St. Louis, Missouri Pueblo, Colorado Cheyenne, Wyoming Charleston, South Carolina Des Moines, Iowa Denver, Colorado Most of my photos are from my work in the Diocese of Cheyenne. Many thanks to one of my co-workers for capturing so many moments during the years 2010 through 2018. I don't remember the exact years of some of the photos, but I hope you enjoy seeing some of my memories anyway. Several of my classmates are now deceased. May they rest in peace! Margaret and I were a little younger back on June 5, 1999. We celebrated a major anniversary at St. Barbara's Parish in Powell, Wyoming. Since I went to Northwest (Community) College in Powell in 1979, it was a real treat to be back in town about 30 years later. Ash Wednesday at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Cheyenne, Wyoming Easter Vigil at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Cheyenne, Wyoming I have had the privilege to speak at many events. Professional development for Catholic school teachers and staff has been a very important task in my ministry. Assisting Archbishop Broglio with the Sacrament of Confirmation each year at F.E. Warren Air Force Base was something I really enjoyed doing. Getting to spend time with Archbishop Chaput on a few occasions was always a treat. Thankfully, our paths crossed another time or two after he left the Archdiocese of Denver. Chrism Mass at St. Patrick's in Casper, Wyoming Holy Thursday at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Cheyenne, Wyoming Christmas at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Cheyenne, Wyoming To everyone who has impacted my ministry throughout these 22 years--
I simply say THANK YOU! Please know of my prayers for all of you today. Margaret (my wife) and I spent our first week together as carpool buddies. We both started new jobs on Tuesday in Cheyenne. We decided to end the week by stopping at the Depot Plaza immediately after work to live the night life. Okay, we are not as young as we used to be. We did not last very long in the heat. It is great to see people getting out and enjoying life again. Food trucks, live music, and possibly some adult beverages being consumed by patrons, created a fun but respectful environment. We did not stay long enough to see if it got rowdy later on. Take care of one another. Have a blessed weekend!
This week began another new adventure in my life. This past Tuesday, on June 1, 2021, I became the Executive Director for United Way of Laramie County in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It seems we have come full circle in just a few years. Could it be that I missed the Wyoming wind, the blizzards, and the frigid cold? No. I don't think so. (Having a grandchild in Cheyenne may have played a small role in this venture.) I am also looking forward to reconnecting with people that I have not seen in a few years now.
One commitment that I have made to myself as the Executive Director is to get out into the community and visit our partners and sponsors. While the administrative work in the office has to get completed, I also have a need to be out and about to see what is being accomplished in the community. I kept that promise today. I had the pleasure of visiting Meals on Wheels in Cheyenne this morning. According to their website, they served 5,752 hot, nutritious meals to homebound seniors last month. They had 1,157 hours of work volunteered just last month. Wow! This place is amazing. I give a tip of the hat today to the leadership, staff, and volunteers at Meals on Wheels. I am happy that United Way can partner with you to accomplish such a wonderful service to our community. |
AuthorThis is my personal blog. The opinions expressed are those of Deacon Vernon and the blog's readers. This site operates independently and is not affiliated with any other entity. The information I provide is on an "as-is" basis. I make no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information on this blog. I will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information. Furthermore, I will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use. |