My Community - Yours truly, Brother Vinh, Deacon Lucio, Father Louis, Father John, Father Matthew, and Brother Thomas |
Dear Family and Friends,
Sometimes the greatest treasures are hidden in plain sight.
Mary's Poinsettia |
Take Brother Thomas. A few days ago I had bought a mini poinsettia
for the statue of Mary in our chapel. After a few days, it started to wilt. Now
I love plants, but they’re often mysterious to me. I water them and they die. I
don’t water them and… they die! Then yesterday as I was cooking breakfast out
of the corner of my eye I saw brother Thomas carrying the little poinsettia
around. He did something by the sink with it, then set it out in the hallway
for a little, then a few hours later, there was the poinsettia back by the
Blessed Mother, just like new. Now, maybe he made some little side trip to the
florist, but I think he actually has some kind of special power over plants. You’d
never have thought!
Brother Thomas meets his match |
Or there’s Brother Vinh. I’m running out of hair, but while
I still have some, I’m the kind of guy who goes to Great Clips and gets the $10
haircut. Usually I look like a hedgehog for about two weeks afterwards, and
then things even out. But Brother Vinh cuts hair. So I asked him the other day
to cut mine. He agreed, sat me down, and then went to work. Afterwards I was
shocked: gone was the usual itchy-icky-I’d-better-take-a-shower feel! I’m no
judge of haircuts, but I got plenty of compliments and definitely skipped the
hedgehog stage this time. Brother Vinh’s haircut made me feel good.
Brother Vinh |
You see, these men I live with don’t just do work. They pour their hearts into
what they do. I’ll never forget the time I asked my mom what her secret was to
her always making utterly scrumptious and delicious food. She simply replied: “As
I cook, I love everyone who I’m cooking for.” And that’s it! That’s the secret!
That’s what makes her food different, as well as Father Louis’, that’s what
makes Brother Vinh’s haircuts so different, that’s what makes Brother Thomas
caring touch so amazing. Love. I consider myself blessed to have a mother who
is so steeped in it, and to have brothers who incarnate it.
Sunday I head to Rome with 13 pilgrims, please send any
prayer intentions you may have my way.
Also, as Christmas approaches I wanted to let you know my
own needs, in case you feel called to support me. Would you be willing to help my
ministry? I receive a part-time salary ($12,000), which pays for a little over
half of my yearly expenses. Healthcare, transportation, clothes, food, and
other supplies cost me about $22,000 a year. Would you please ask our Lord if he would have you do to support my mission as a priest and missionary?
You can make a tax-deductible donation to my religious
community here in Cincinnati via our website http://www.ohiolc.org/donate.html
, or send a check to:
LC Pastoral Services
8162 Chestershire Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45241
My Amazon wishlist is here. I can always use Amazon gift cards for books and the like.
I also would like to purchase five bible commentaries for software I use called Verbum. They each cost about $40. You could donate here.
You will be in my prayers this Advent!
God bless you,
Father Kevin