 Accomplishments at Saint Albert have been across the board during this academic year. I extend my congratulations to the speech and robotics team for their endeavors. Your hard work has borne great fruit. Many thanks to the teachers, coaches, parents, and supporters who have been instrumental in making all of this possible. 
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 Multiple commitments still await me today. However, after returning from Yaretzy's funeral I will admit that my heart isn't in it. My heart grieves for the family, all of Yaretzy's classmates and friends, and the entire community impacted by the death of this seven year old child. Words seem so empty at a time like this. Rest in peace, dear child.
 Friday morning began as any other day. However, it was only a few minutes after I arrived at school that things changed abruptly. I was informed that our first grade student, Yaretzy Aguilar, had lost her battle with brain cancer.
Now that I have had a day to process this information, I am still stunned. How do we make sense of a child dying at such a young age? Cancer is a familiar term to me. I was diagnosed with cancer the first time at the age of 25. After surgery and months of chemotherapy treatments, I finally emerged victorious from the battle. The physical and emotional scars remain, but I have been blessed with an additional three decades of life. Why do some survive and some do not? That is a question for which I have no answer. After I finished chemo treatments back in 1986, I helped the chaplain at the hospital begin a support group for families coping with life-threatening illnesses. The group was called, "Make Today Count." That is exactly what we tried to do. My involvement with that group lasted ten years. I met many wonderful people going through some very difficult times. It was uplifting to see many people survive and win the battle against their disease. Unfortunately, it was not always a success story that we witnessed. I saw a number of people just a few years younger than me succumb to their illness. The question would always come back to my mind, "Why did I survive?" I met my future wife at the support group. On the day of our wedding, a 20 year old nursing student from the University of Missouri lost her battle. I just sat with her in the hospital lobby a few months earlier watching the Fourth of July fireworks over the Missouri River in St. Charles, Missouri. My life continued; hers was cut short. Once again, "Why did I survive?" I do not have answers to all of the big philosophical questions. I am simply trying my best to live life in accord with God's will. I don't always do it well, but the goal of my daily pursuits is to constantly improve. That is my hope. The reason for the title of my website and my book, "ARTICULATING HOPE," is that I know many people are hurting from the challenges of day-to-day life. I want to encourage each person that is struggling to keep up the good fight. As I ponder Yaretzy's death, I can't even imagine the anguish her family must be feeling. I know our school community and others will offer support, but the loss will certainly be overwhelming. I ask my dear readers to please wrap this family in a blanket of prayer. Who needs your love and support today? Reach out to them and give it.  Our telephones have made it easy to take photographs. Due to that ease, I have accumulated thousands of photos. I enjoy glancing through my many saved photos from year to year to savor some of the memories. On this date last year I was sitting on a dock in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina enjoying the sunset. (Let me sit here now and savor that calm setting and reflect upon the warmer temperatures that went along with the view.)
As I prepare to hit the road this morning, I do not have to feel sad about missing the warmth and beauty of Hilton Head Island. A great journey awaits me today as I head to Des Moines, Iowa for a meeting. Who is jealous of me now? Yes, it was a lackluster attempt at a little humor. Enjoy your Friday and have a splendid weekend! God's blessings are all around you regardless of where you are. I won't use a photo today. I want to just paint a picture in your mind of Jesus preaching to our congregations in today's society. How do you think it would go over if he used words or phrases such as, "Brood of Vipers"; "Hypocrites"; or "Whitewashed Tombs?"
Picture yourself in a leadership role in the Church and ponder these very pointed accusations. Would you prefer to have a millstone tied around your neck and be tossed into the sea rather than leading someone astray? I will admit that it makes me nervous when I meditate upon the Scriptures dealing with religious leaders. The responsibilities of a person holding a leadership position are quite significant. The consequences of failed leadership will also be quite distressing. Thankfully, there is grace and mercy as well. In today's Gospel, Jesus tells Peter, "Get behind me Satan." This was no watered down, politically correct rebuke. Wow! This was said to an apostle. This same apostle became the rock upon which Jesus built His Church. Peter should give each of us hope in our own journey. REFLECTION: What is Jesus attempting to correct in our own lives today? Are we listening?  Since I am not real familiar with Omaha rush hour traffic, I decided to leave plenty early this morning for my in studio interview at Spirit Catholic Radio. My early arrival allowed ample time to pray the Liturgy of the Hours and a rosary before I went on the air. The chapel at the studio is a beautiful and peaceful place for prayer. It was a wonderful start to my day.
I want to thank Jen Brown and Bruce McGregor for their warm hospitality. More importantly, I want to thank them for their witness to the faith. Each time I have been at Spirit Catholic Radio, I have seen Jen and Bruce enter the chapel and pray together before going on the air. They seek the intercession of the saints in a profound way for all of the listeners. I have been sincerely touched by this act of charity from these two radio personalities. It was a pleasure to discuss Saint Albert and our "Superstar" status. Thanks again to all who voted for us. If you would like to listen to the ten minute interview, you can find it here: spiritcatholicradio.com/program/spirit-mornings/ Scroll down the page until you see the sound tracks. Then scroll through the listings until until you see my name on today's date.  Jen Brown has invited me back to the studio to celebrate Saint Albert being named a "Superstar Catholic School." An early trip over to Omaha in the morning will prepare me to be on the air at 7:40 A.M. Plan now to catch my quick ten minute interview to celebrate the accomplishments of Saint Albert.    I walked into the room and I was greeted with a "kissing booth." What can go wrong here? These charming individuals calmed my nerves and my chocolate craving with some Hershey Kisses.  The object of the game was to throw a piece of candy into the mouth of Patrick Mahomes. Let's just say that the quarterback's accuracy is much better than mine.  I have done pretty well at Skee Ball in the past. Not today. The student felt sorry for me and gave me a piece of candy anyway.   Creativity and a lot of fun. Another beautiful day at Saint Albert Catholic Schools!
 I arrived at school just after 5:30 am this morning. There are some positives to doing that. As I walked through each corridor I was able to see the handiwork on the walls. The photo above is just one example.
After I walked through the entire building checking on the heating system, I paused for a moment in the chapel. I was the only person on the entire campus and I had this moment to stop in and visit Jesus. What a quiet and wonderful blessing this brief visit turned out to be. It is my intention to pray each day for all of the students, teachers, staff, parents, grandparents, and all of the benefactors who make our school possible. The legacy we are leaving is powerful, and I want to be sure we are wrapping it in prayer constantly. Finally, I did not get a blog posted for World Day of the Sick on February 11. This day of prayer on the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes is one of my favorites. The sick hold a place very near and dear to my heart, because I know what it is to suffer through serious illness. I know the strength and perseverance required while going through it. The power of intercessory prayer helped me get through it many years ago. I now strive to do the same for others what was done for me. If you are suffering, please know that I prayed for you in a very special way the day before yesterday. I just did not write about it at the time. My dear readers, keep the faith. Keep praying. Jesus will move powerfully in your midst. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the power of the holy Spirit be with you always!  The season of Lent is typically full for me. Even in my new locale the calendar is beginning to be filled in quite nicely. I enjoy being able to proclaim the Gospel message as extensively as possible, especially during Lent.
On Friday, February 28, at 6:00 pm, I will give a one hour reflection at St. Patrick's Parish in Council Bluffs. We had a great turnout in Advent. I hope our Lenten gathering is even larger. From March 14 through March 18, I will lead a parish mission for St. Peter's Parish in Council Bluffs. I will preach at all of the weekend Masses on March 14 and March 15. There will then be a one hour presentation on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The topics will be Faith, Hope, and Healing. Each topic will stand on its own. Thus, if you can't make it all three nights, I hope you will come on the evenings you can. The start time for the evening presentations has not yet been established. Finally, I am looking forward to leading a retreat for the deacons and their wives here in the Diocese of Des Moines on March 21 and March 22. After 20 years of diaconal ministry, I have come to especially appreciate these opportunities to lead retreats for my fellow deacons and their wives. Ash Wednesday is February 26. Make plans now for a fruitful Lenten journey. |
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. |
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