The top ten “optic changing” experiences in my life:
In chronological order:
The top ten “optic changing” experiences in my life:
In chronological order:
1. “Windshield surveys” (and subsequent “wellness checks” of residents) of Appalachia like communities near Emmitsburg, Maryland, with Sr. Roberta Sobus, DC, junior and senior year of college (1982-1984).
2. The witnessing of the murder of 19 year old Maurice Sturdivant in an alley behind St. Ann Church, Baltimore, Maryland (December 21, 1983).
3. Three months living in a leprosy camp in Ghana, West Africa (as a “seminarian” on a “missionary internship” during the summer of 1991).
4. As a newly ordained priest, presiding at countless funerals for young people who passed away after suffering from AIDS (most of whom had been drug addicts). A significant part of those experiences were the interaction I had with grieving and guilt-ridden family members, especially parents of the deceased (1992-1998) .
5. My experiences as a “student” in “front parlor seminary training.” During the first several years of my priesthood (and even until today!) I discovered I had almost “no easy answers” to the real-life issues and struggles people brought to the “front parlor” of the rectory. I “received” and learned more in the “front parlor” than I gave or “taught” (1992 to the present)
6. The overdose death of 28 year old “parishioner” Michael Johnson, a Brooklyn neighborhood drug-addicted alcoholic with whom I had been well acquainted for at least six years (1998).
7. The experience of coming “face-to-face” with abject poverty in Central America during my two and half years living and making extensive travels there, particularly in the country of Honduras (1998-2000).
8. An experience of the “incarnation” in the Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth, in the Holy Land (October 2008).
9. A very emotional visit to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland (2014).
10. Experiences getting to know, service, and ministry to homeless and drug-addicted people while stationed at St. Wenceslaus Church, in the inner-city of East Baltimore (2015-2018 and beyond).
Of these “top ten” I believe the following were the “most significant” for me:
1. Leprosy camp in Ghana, West Africa (summer of 1991).
2. Funerals with family members and friends for those who were drug-addicted victims of AIDS (1992-1998).
3. The overdose death of 28 year old drug-addict and alcoholic “parishioner” Michael Johnson (1998).
4. Visit to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland (2014).
5. Getting to know, serve, and ministry to homeless and drug-addicted people in East Baltimore (2015-2018 and beyond).
1. “Windshield surveys” (and subsequent “wellness checks” of residents) of Appalachia like communities near Emmitsburg, Maryland, with Sr. Roberta Sobus, DC, junior and senior year of college (1982-1984).
2. The witnessing of the murder of 19 year old Maurice Sturdivant in an alley behind St. Ann Church, Baltimore, Maryland (December 21, 1983).
3. Three months living in a leprosy camp in Ghana, West Africa (as a “seminarian” on a “missionary internship” during the summer of 1991).
4. As a newly ordained priest, presiding at countless funerals for young people who passed away after suffering from AIDS (most of whom had been drug addicts). A significant part of those experiences were the interaction I had with grieving and guilt-ridden family members, especially parents of the deceased (1992-1998) .
5. My experiences as a “student” in “front parlor seminary training.” During the first several years of my priesthood (and even until today!) I discovered I had almost “no easy answers” to the real-life issues and struggles people brought to the “front parlor” of the rectory. I “received” and learned more in the “front parlor” than I gave or “taught” (1992 to the present)
6. The overdose death of 28 year old “parishioner” Michael Johnson, a Brooklyn neighborhood drug-addicted alcoholic with whom I had been well acquainted for at least six years (1998).
7. The experience of coming “face-to-face” with abject poverty in Central America during my two and half years living and making extensive travels there, particularly in the country of Honduras (1998-2000).
8. An experience of the “incarnation” in the Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth, in the Holy Land (October 2008).
9. A very emotional visit to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland (2014).
10. Experiences getting to know, service, and ministry to homeless and drug-addicted people while stationed at St. Wenceslaus Church, in the inner-city of East Baltimore (2015-2018 and beyond).
Of these “top ten” I believe the following were the “most significant” for me:
1. Leprosy camp in Ghana, West Africa (summer of 1991).
2. Funerals with family members and friends for those who were drug-addicted victims of AIDS (1992-1998).
3. The overdose death of 28 year old drug-addict and alcoholic “parishioner” Michael Johnson (1998).
4. Visit to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland (2014).
5. Getting to know, serve, and ministry to homeless and drug-addicted people in East Baltimore (2015-2018 and beyond).
