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October Newsletter
Reunion at Littlemore
This past Sunday, Littlemore hosted the first Eucharistic Congress Reunion for the Diocese of Northwest Iowa. Yes, fall is here and the festivities of the June Congress are fading a bit . We talked of our experiences in Quebec City around the camp fire in Littlemore's Deer Park. My wife,Kathy spoke of the French Adoration Chapel we visited. I remembered that well. Boarding a city bus in search of a French Adoration chapel seemed a bit daunting to this unfamiliar soul.
Asking for directions in a French-speaking province in my stumbling French did nothing for my self-confidence! Thoughts of home and the prairie flowers along Littlemore's Indian Creek flooded my mind. Then a voice from a seat near us on the bus: "I will take you there." Ivan, a Haitian lad, in his early twenties, living in Canada, was also attending the Eucharistic Congress. After three bus transfers, a ferry ride across the St. Lawrence River and then a 20-minute ride in Ivan's small Ford, we, grateful pilgrims, arrived at the chapel.
The tiny chapel, called Sainte Jeanne d'Arc, was a throwback to the glorious 17th century when France truly was the first daughter of the Church. We adored and thanked God for our newfound friend and for the graces of the Eucharistic Congress.
Ivan brought us back to where we started. As we parted, Sue asked him what he liked most about his visit to Quebec City. "This," he said, "being with you three. I did not know how to adore. Now I do."
I only wished I had one of our Messenger Publications booklets on making a Holy Hour to give him! By the grace of God, we will meet again at the next Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 2012!
Our distress over being lost in a far off country led me to think about Cardinal Newman's beautiful hymn, Lead Kindly Light and how Christ is the light of our dark world.
Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!
The night is dark and I am far from home, lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
Please visit our web site, www.catholictruthsociety.com and see what we have to offer. We call them "books for the journey." And won't you join us on this most exciting journey, especially in these troubled times.
