Articulating Hope - Deacon Vernon's Blog

Bishop Michael Sheridan--Rest In Peace

9/27/2022

Bishop Sheridan (top left) was an auxiliary bishop in St. Louis when I was ordained a deacon. He later went on to become the bishop of the Diocese of Colorado Springs, and he served in that role until his retirement. I just received word today that he died this morning after a brief battle with cancer.

As I look at this photo from June 5, 1999, I realize that none of us are "spring chickens" any more. However, it is a sobering thought to think that out of the 13 individuals in the picture, five of them have been called home to the Lord.

"Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the soul of Bishop Sheridan, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."

St. Vincent De Paul Feast Day

9/27/2022

I want to extend best wishes for a happy feast day to all of the Vincentians. My life has been greatly impacted by members of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) going back to 1978. I am grateful for your witness to the faith.

The Vincentians have been around since 1625. They currently have 3,106 members in 507 local communities in 95 countries. That truly is a universal outreach.

If you ever travel to Perryville, Missouri, I would recommend a stop at the Miraculous Medal Shrine which is home to the Vincentian community. It is a beautiful and serene setting.

To all of you who serve in the many different St. Vincent De Paul Thrift Stores across the country, thank you for your kindness and witness to the faith.

I give a special tip of the hat to the Mall of St. Vincent De Paul Thrift Store in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

LifeChoice Pregnancy Care Center Open House

9/26/2022

Congratulations to LifeChoice Pregnancy Care Center on your new location at 1001 W. 31st Street in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I hope your "open house" tomorrow (Sep. 27) showcases your work beautifully to the wider community.

One of the last things I did before moving away from Cheyenne in 2018 was to bless the mobile unit. I was grateful to see that mobile unit still in use when when I drove by the new location today. Thank you to all the staff and financial supporters of this wonderful organization. You are making a difference.

Here are a couple of memories from June 13, 2018 when we celebrated the ultrasound machine being available for use on the mobile unit.

Retirement--The Stock Market--Stewardship

9/25/2022

The Scripture readings during the month of September give us an opportunity to reflect upon wealth. What is true wealth? Are we trying to serve both God and mammon? How do we use our resources to help the poor? Are we being good stewards of what has been entrusted to our care?

In modern day America, company pensions are few and far between. Many people now try to plan for retirement by contributing to 401 k plans (or 403 b plans if you work in the nonprofit world). Those folks who are nearing retirement age are possibly experiencing a little more anxiety about their future than they were a year ago. The downturn in the stock market has diminished the retirement savings of people in some pretty dramatic ways in recent weeks and months.

People who were living paycheck to paycheck prior to the onslaught of the devastating inflation rates now find themselves unable to acquire even the basic necessities of life. They turn to others for help. Unfortunately, social service agencies find that the demand for their services are skyrocketing, but in many instances, their resources are also diminishing. Many of the donors who financially supported the work of nonprofit agencies in the past now find themselves in need of those services. It is a vicious cycle with no easy answer.

As we ponder today's Gospel story of the rich man and Lazarus, let us be sure to keep our eyes focused on Jesus. The challenges of life can seem quite daunting at times. In addition to financial difficulties, we typically experience other events that add to our suffering. This can include health problems, the death of a loved one, broken relationships, or a myriad of other issues. When several of these items enter our life simultaneously, the burden can feel excruciating.

As I look ahead to next week's readings, the very first line of the first reading from Habakkuk says, "How long, O Lord? I cry for help but you do not listen!" That resonates with me. The Gospel follows up with a message that also speaks to me, and it somewhat addresses my attitude when I feel like the Lord is not listening. "The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.'"

Ah yes. Here it comes. The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."

Reflection Questions:
1. How will you seek to grow in faith this week?
2. How will you serve the poor this week?
3. In what ways are you living out the spiritual and corporal works of mercy?
4. What does "living stewardship" mean to you?

The First Day of Autumn--Is It Time For Hockey?

9/22/2022

I had the pleasure of visiting the Cheyenne Ice and Events Center yesterday. As I toured the facility, I had an opportunity to see some of the work that goes on behind the scenes. Watching the ice getting a makeover was just a bonus.

The Mountain West has temperatures in the 40's this morning with some dense fog. The feel of Autumn is in the air. The cool, crisp temperatures can be refreshing, but it also signals the end of warm summer days. Does that realization bring you excitement and energy, or does it bring a hint of sadness? Maybe a little of both?

Reflection Questions:

1. As the seasons change, do I sense the mighty wonder of God who created this magnificent and beautiful world? How does that impact me?

2. What areas of my life need some smoothing out? Since I can't just bring out a Zamboni machine to accomplish that task, what methods will I use for my spiritual and human growth?

3. How does prayer fit into my journey of life?

Have a blessed day to start the Season of Autumn 2022!

When Memories Pop Up On Your Social Media Page

9/19/2022

Where does the time go? It was seven years ago today (September 19, 2015) that I had the pleasure of being with the dicaconate community of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Missouri. I have been blessed to lead many retreats and days of recollection through the years, but this still remains one of my favorite retreat experiences.

The impact of deacons and their wives in the local community throughout the United States has been nothing short of amazing. Today, I tip my hat to those serving in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. Thank you for your ministry.

"Focus on Being Productive Instead of Busy." ~ T. Ferris

9/12/2022

"Why do it right the first time when I can do it again on overtime?" I was a young man just a couple years into my adult working life when this mantra was hammered home to me. I was stunned to say the least. I grew up on a farm and was taught to do things right. Take care of your equipment so it takes care of you.

Working on the family farm did not include an hourly wage. It was simply what you did to help the operation make a profit. The work ethic I learned at home was certainly different than what I learned elsewhere. Getting overtime pay was great if there was really a need to be working overtime. Doing shoddy work the first time just to create overtime was something I refused to even contemplate.

Can you imagine what our world would look like if we all engaged in our work for the glory of God? That would be productive--not simply busy!

Reaching New Audiences One Invitation At A Time

9/9/2022

It was a joy for me to join students yesterday at Laramie County Community College (LCCC) for a discussion about "Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector". Although my educational background is in the social and behavioral sciences, along with theology and pastoral ministry, my presentation was given to students in the Business and Accounting Pathway.

I am grateful for everything that I have learned through the years in many different venues. My degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice gave me the foundation I needed to better understand people. My work experience as a police officer in St. Louis County Missouri and as a correctional officer at the United States Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois exposed me to a whole different world that I never encountered growing up on a farm in rural Missouri.

Those experiences shaped my desire to want to help people BEFORE they became connected to the criminal justice system or suffered traumatic events such as homelessness. How do we create communities where people build one another up rather than steal, assault, and even kill one another? My classes in college revealed the dysfunctional behavior present in society, but it was a very different feeling when I had the opportunity to see it up close and personal each and every day when I went to work.

I am convinced that the only hope for our society is to be renewed in faith. If we look at the story of salvation history, we see the ebb and flow of things. When a society "walked with God," they flourished. When a society did not "walk with God, the outcomes were generally quite devastating.

I shared a story with the students about a king who had a boulder placed in the middle of the main roadway into and out of the kingdom. People complained about the boulder being in the way, but worked to get their horses and carts around the obstacle. Some people began to curse the king for not having the boulder removed.

Finally a local merchant came upon the boulder and saw the struggle that so many people were having trying to get around the boulder. He decided to try to move the boulder out of the roadway. Other travelers simply stood by and watched as he struggled to inch the boulder off of the roadway. He was finally able to get it moved to the side of the road. As he made his way back to his horse and small cart, he saw a moneybag where the boulder had been. In the bag were ten gold coins and a note from the king thanking him for moving the boulder.

In our world today, will we help remove the obstacles to our human growth, or will we simply be bystanders complaining about the injustices of life? I invited the students to be part of the solution to society's problems. I invite you to do the same.

80 Years Ago My Parents Said, "I Do." Sep. 5, 1942

9/5/2022

The above photo is 30 years old (1992). It is one of just a few mementos I have from when we celebrated my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. Dad died just a short 17 months after this celebration. Mom lived into her 90's and died in 2015. Although mom and dad are both deceased, my brothers and I are still kicking. I am the youngest of the three, and it is quite obvious that each of my older brothers have aged immensely since this photo was taken 30 years ago. Thankfully, the tall guy on the end remains young and dapper to this day.

The reality may tell a different story. Although I am the youngest of the sons, I may have aged more than my siblings. I am grateful that both of them have had fewer health problems throughout the course of their lives. My health issues started at birth, and unfortunately, some of those issues set the stage for developing cancer at age 25. Two battles against cancer, open heart surgery, and a few lesser challenges along the way have taken a toll. Getting COVID last year certainly did not help matters either.

I simply reflect back today to ponder the goodness of the journey. It has not been an easy journey by any stretch of the imagination, but I am grateful for the love and support of family in the midst of all the challenges. Having family support is not a gift I take for granted. I know that many people are not so lucky to have that kind support system when they need it.

Blessings and peace to my brothers. A tip of the hat to my parents as we give thanks on this--their 80th wedding anniversary!

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of my parents, my grandparents, all my relatives, friends, and benefactors, and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

Are You Ready To Soar To New Heights?

9/3/2022

The photo doesn't fully capture the magnitude of the crowd, but it gives a clue as to the popularity of the hot air balloon. There is just something about watching a massive balloon soaring in the sky.

This balloon eventually flew directly over me as it prepared to land. It was a majestic sight to behold.

This balloon landed right next to where I was parked. The ground crew certainly works hard to make all of this a possibility.

I give a tip of the hat today to all the people of Windsor, Colorado as they celebrate their 100th annual fall festival.

Have a blessed weekend! May the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with abundant blessings. Don't be afraid to soar to new heights with the gifts God has given you!