What a wonderful week we have had.  I will break it down into several posts.  First, I want to tell you about our very wonderful Bishop.  May 20th was St. Madeleine’s Confirmation night.  As a confirmation teacher I was invited to attend dinner with our Bishop Galeone at Fr. Sebastian’s house.  What a wonderful experience it was to sit down at a meal with the Bishop and listen to him tell wonderful stories of his life as a missionary priest in Peru.  What a gift to have an opportunity to get to know our Bishop in a more personal way.  After Dinner we met again at the church for the Confirmation.  His homily was beautiful and very inspirational.  I prayed that the children’s ears would hear his words and that their hearts would be open to the wisdom he was sharing with them.

Here is a picture of Tom and I with the Bishop.  Tom was my co-teacher.   

On our way to Mass the following morning I was rehearsing with the children how to great the Bishop.

Mom:  “You may say good morning Bishop.  Or good morning Bishop Galeone.  Or good morning your Excellency.”

Joshua with nervous laugh:  “Your Excellency? He’s not a prince or a knight”

Mom: “Well, he is almost like one of Jesus princes.’”

Joshua with a DUH tone: “But he doesn’t fight.” aka he doe not have a sword.

I laughed: “Sure honey just like St. Michael the Archangel.  He fights the Devil everyday.”

Joshua: silence

The Bishop celebrated the morning mass.  His homily was one I will never forget.  It was the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus.  In his homily he spoke of his love for Jesus.  What a powerful moment listening as this beautiful man expressed his love for Jesus.  “I love you Jesus, I love you.  Wow!  I get goose bumps hearing his voice repeat it in my memory.  Afterwards he lead us over to a ground breaking ceremony for our new building.  Max of course was the ham of the event.         

That evening San Juan, my sister’s parish, had their Confirmation.  Lucas served for the Bishop, so I “had” to go to that as well.  Heeheehee!  I told the Bishop I had become a Bishop Groupie.  :-)  He laughed, probably thinking that I am really a Bishop stalker.

I would like to remind us all to pray for our Bishops.  I would also like to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for our Bishop Galeone here in the Diocese of St. Augustine.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your humble, faithful servant Bishop Victor Galeone.  Please continue to bless him and us through him as he continues to lead your flock.  We ask that you grant him the strength and courage to continue the work you have given him.  For the intentions of our Bishop - Our Father…….  Hail Mary……..  Glory be…….