September 9, 2020
+ JMJ
Dear Galesburg family,
How can I thank you for the wonderful farewell reception this past Sunday and for all the beautiful cards and meaningful messages? How can I adequately express my gratitude for your thoughtfulness and generosity? I feel like the most loved priest in the world! How I wish that I could acknowledge each of you individually but I hope you will understand that is not very realistic in the face of learning my new responsibilities.
Yesterday on the feast of Our Lady’s birthday [and Father Joseph’s – he would be 60] I made a “first deposit” on a life long debt to you all by offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for your intentions. I also wanted to share with you the good news that yesterday I had a colonoscopy following the one year anniversary of my colon cancer surgery. No cancer, no polyps and I do not have to go back for 3 years! Praise God and God bless you for your support and prayers.
Speaking of prayers, I will be following the prayer chain here as one of the ways that we will stay connected. Auf wiedersehen!
Father Bill
Please click here to read the article “Stop hiding from the truth,” says WI Bishop in epic Sermon by Lindsey Kettner. Recommended by Father Miller.
“Over the course of nearly nineteen minutes, Bishop Ricken laid it all on the table—racism, abortion, the sexual abuse crisis, immigration, the pandemic. He passionately and fearlessly addressed the things that need to be said, even if the culture doesn’t want to hear them”