My wasn't that terrible -- the killing of all those children and others out in the state of Connecticut? When I first saw the news about that I first wanted to get angry, then I wanted to cry and finally I said I can only pray for them. It just seems to me that this country is coming more and more to not respect human life. I don't like to say this but I cannot help but wonder whether killing babies before they are even born has made us more and more insenstive to the value of every human life. Having been through one tragedy like this myself it really seems to have an effect on me. I think so much, not only of those who lost their lives at such a young age, but of their families. As for the children who survived you have to wonder if they will ever want to go back to school. Let us all continue to pray for them -- the living as well as those who were killed.
A couple weeks ago I was so happy to see one of the students who graduated from our seminary college. Greg Dolan who attended school here from 2000-2004 and then later dropped out of the seminary, stopped by for a visit. He is now in his last year of medical school out in the state of Washington. He will graduate in the spring 2013 and he was travelling around to visit pediatric hospitals. He wants to specialize in pediatrics and he is looking for a place to go for his residency. Picture on the right of Greg and Fr. Kenneth.
One of my pride and joys after 53-54 years of being a priest is that I got to preside at the marriage of all thirteen of my nephews and nieces. Now their children are getting married but I tell them it is not possible for me to travel and preside at all the grandnephews and nieces weddings.
I am also happy to have been able to preside at the wedding of a couple good friends. Both of them were at one time seminarians but discerned they were not called to the priesthood. In August of 1999 I presided at the wedding of Steve and Christy Arnold at Leavenworth, Kansas. They now live in Minnesota where Steve is now a permanent deacon and are the parents of five children.
Steve and Christy and their children: Sam, Isabelle,
Nathan, Lucy and Benjamin.
In May of 2008 I presided at the wedding of Benjamin and Alicia Darnell in Springfield, Mo. They now have two children. Benjamin is a youth director at Our Lady of the Rosary parish in Wea, KS.
Students all left for Christmas vacation this past Thursday. They are off for about three weeks returning in January.
As we all prepare for Christmas these last days of Advent hopefully we will all keep in mind what we are celebrating on this feast--the birth of Jesus Christ, Son of God, who took on our human nature in order to bring us salvation and eternal life.
God bless you all.
