A glorious day filled with one celebration after another

I had one of those days today that was just full of joy and celebration.  This morning as I prepared to head to MHT for Sunday Mass duties I put EWTN on the TV and watched the joy of a newly ordained Priest offering his 1st Mass.  Besides the obvious joy of such an occassion I watched fondly as my EWTN viewing over the years meant that I was familiar with the new Priest as he served at EWTN as a brother, reader, acolyte, deacon until this Sunday when he was the new Priest offering his 1st Mass!

This morning also brought a  baptism for our MHT family and I was excited to see the family again as I presided at their wedding a little over a year ago.  And I met the bride & groom at the altar.  Literally!  I was a last minute substitute for an injured Priest who could not make it so I stepped in.  Now they are baptizing their new son and I'm only there to assist the Priest.  But then the family was delayed and Father had to attend to another appointment so guess who baptized the baby; last minute?  Yes, I stepped in again and all was joyful.  And little Henry James was baptized.

From MHT I drove back to my home parish to participate in the Mass for the 40th anniversary of my longtime St. Jane Pastor, Fr. Robert.  Having watched a new Priest celebrate his 1st Mass earlier in the day and then to see the joy of a Priest still loving his ministry 40 years later.  At the end of Mass, demonstrating the obedience of a faithful Priest, Fr. Robert announced the Archbishop's decision to transfer him to another parish next month.  Everyone was so surprised but understood that this is part of the mission Fr. Robert promised to obey back in 1972!

After attending the reception for Fr. Robert I drove back across town to attend the MHT family picnic.  Obviously with today's solemnity, this Sunday is our parish feast day.  So we celebrated with a picnic.  I got to visit with so many of the parishioners.

If that would not be enough; I then returned home, packed up the car and took my bride to the Mississippi Gulf Coast for a little 2 day celebration of our 35th wedding anniversary.  I'll post more about that later.

So today was a day full of joy!  Thanks be to God!!