For someone who seems to be on an eternal pilgrimage, this
year has been one of quietly enjoying home. In contrast to most years my
travels have been brief and seldom.
Winter in South Dakota can be a difficult pilgrimage. It
amazes me each year that dressing to go outside can consume as much time as it
does. The question arises: Do I have enough clothing on my body to feel
comfortable in the house? How much more do I need to add if I am going
outside? Do I need a down filled parka,
or will a leather jacket do? Where is my stocking cap? Do I need my thigh-high
boots or will hiking shoes suffice? And then, there is the removal of all of
this upon reaching one’s destination, and the reclothing when one decides to
return home. Some day I will time all this and tuck away this important
information. It won’t change anything, I know, but at least I will know. About
the middle of February I long for the summer days when a t-shirt and shorts
will do for the journey to the fitness center!
 |
| Christ Cathedral in Victoria, BC |
One of the few pilgrimages this year took place in February.
The priors of the Anglican Benedictine Canons met for their annual meeting in
Victoria, B.C. It was wonderful to see
Fr. Martin-Joseph Brokenleg, Br. Gene and the community in Victoria. Fr.
Chad-Joseph and Br. Phillip-Martin from Tempe, AZ joined us there. Fr. Martin
had arranged a complete day of teaching and prayer in the Benedictine
tradition. Fr. Chad-Joseph, Fr. Martin-Joseph and I provided the teaching and
facilitated the discussions as thirty people participated in the experience of
being a Benedictine for a day. The hospitality was gracious. The venue was the
Anglican Cathedral in Victoria, a lovely building. During the priors’ meeting I
was chosen as prior-general of our communities. Our former prior-general and
his community had departed the Anglican Church and become Roman Catholics. It
is not a position that I sought but accepted as part of my own personal
pilgrimage which sometimes involves being led where we sought not to go.
 |
| Priors of the Anglican Benedictine Canons |
During the weekend there was a music festival taking place
and the Cathedral participated in that festival by providing the choir and
orchestra for Evensong on Sunday. I was able to stay an extra day and enjoy the
city and some time with my friends.
 |
| The Benedictine Oratory |
I completed my time as supply priest at a local parish which
provided a place for our Benedictine community. We needed a place to be and,
thankfully, our cathedral church provided that place. The Bishop of South
Dakota moved his offices to Pierre which left a good deal of space formerly
occupied by the diocesan offices at the cathedral. The dean graciously offered
us a room which we have been converting into our Oratory and Chapter Room. It
has come together very nicely and we appreciate having a place to meet for our
weekly Eucharist and monthly Chapter Meeting.
 |
| Max sunbathing |
Friends and I traveled to Collegeville, MN, and Minneapolis
for a weekend in July. They had never been to St. John’s Abbey. I am always
happy to return to the Abbey having visited many times and taken several
courses and workshops there. We were able to attend the Sunday liturgy at Mt.
Olive Lutheran in Minneapolis which is always a superb experience. We also
shopped at IKEA. On our return we visited Faribault to see the exterior of the
first cathedral in America. We had to experience the interior by looking
through the windows since the doors were locked.
That same weekend my dear Max was in the hospital suffering
from many things. As we were on our way to Collegeville the phone call came
informing me that he had died. His
immune mitigated hemolytic anemia had returned. He was suffering from a kidney
stone and acute renal failure and finally pneumonia after receiving fluids to
relieve his dehydration. We miss him. As all who knew him said, he was such a
sweet kitty.
Our Benedictine Community assumed the management of the
cathedral bookstore during this past year.
Part of that responsibility is taking car loads of books and “stuff” to
diocesan convention in Pierre, which we did on the last weekend in September.
The convention is considerably more brief than in former years when the
planning of the liturgies fell on the shoulders of my diocesan commission. It
is always good to see the faithful friends from around the diocese. Thirty-five
children from the Sudanese community here in Sioux Falls at my former parish
traveled to Pierre and performed at the convention. It was so good to see them taking part.
 |
| Dignity |
Since I had not traveled across South Dakota in recent
history until convention weekend, a stop at Chamberlin was necessary so that I
could see the beautiful statue at the top of the hill. Dale Lamphere, an artist
from Sturgis, fashioned the wonderful creation called “Dignity.” It is a huge
and beautiful depiction of a Native American woman. Check it out: https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/explore-with-us/spotlights/dignity-earth-sky
 |
| The spires of the basilica at Holy Hill |
The annual pilgrimage to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to the first
shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in America takes place in October. Friends
from Denver flew to Sioux Falls and drove with me to Wisconsin. It is always a
trip full of spiritual experiences and fun times. Our entire Benedictine
Community and some friends were also able to attend giving us a total of 10
present at the pilgrimage. We also visited
St. Agnes by the Lake in Algoma, the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in
Champion, WI, Holy Hill in Hubertus, WI, and the Shine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
and the Franciscan Sisters mother house in LaCrosse, WI. It was a joy-filled week of prayer and
reunion with dear friends.
 |
| View from the doorway. |
To complete the pilgrimages for the year, my friend Craig
invited me to spend a week in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We’ve been there several times. It is totally relaxing to sit on the beach
with a good book, take a walk in the beautiful sand and eat at some fantastic
restaurants. It is a true pilgrimage of refreshment.
 |
| View from the terrace |
The resort in which we stayed, however, was in the midst of
destruction/construction. The view from our front door was not the best. The
giant jack-hammer used to accomplish the destruction was in operation most of
the day. It could not be heard at the
beach, thankfully. The view from our patio was much more pleasant.
 |
| Cabo dressed for Christmas |
Coming from South Dakota it was amusing to see the Christmas
decorations complete with snowflakes! One wonders if the natives have any idea
of what a snowflake is, other than decoration.
 |
| Sophia surveying her domain |
Following my return from Mexico, Sophia came to live with
us. She is a beautiful cat still
acclimating to the household and coming to terms with Makarios, who has been
resident here for 16 years and is convinced that he owns the place. Sophia came
from a rescue shelter to be a companion for a resident at Dow Rummel Village.
Shortly after her arrival her new mistress had to move to full nursing care.
Sophia lived by herself (with care) in the apartment for a time until it was
determined that the nursing placement was permanent. She then moved in with
another resident who offered her to me. So, she has had a least four different
homes in, what is thought to be, three years.
I’m awaiting a new set of lenses so that I can see more
clearly. It’s the first change in my prescription that I’ve had in more than 10
years. I guess I’m due for that. My
health is very good. I enjoy singing in the choir at the cathedral, some supply
work at the altar from time to time, being a substitute organist and being with
my Benedictine community.
Thanks for letting me share my year with you. Blessings and prayers for, hopefully, a peaceful 2018.
