Entrance to the monastery
\Considering my last blog goes back to May, 2013, and that at that time I wrote about my new assignment, and that I have now been at my new assignment at Norfolk, Nebraska for almost three months, I thought it was time I again start writing on this blog. Some of you have probably read some things that I have written on Facebook or maybe you even received an e-mail from me. At any rate I am happy here at this assignment. I don't have to overwork but I do keep busy most of the time. Here is my, more or less daily schedule. I actually arise (and my alarm set) for 5:40 AM. I clean up and then use thirty or forty five minutes praying, doing lectio etc. I also drink a couple cups of coffee at this time. At about 6:00 AM I go out my back door and then about 50 or 60 yards to the back door of the monastery (Immaculata Monastery). I pray morning prayer with the Sisters at 6:25 AM and then celebrate Mass for them almost immediately after morning prayer at 7:00 AM. A number of lay people also come for this Mass on a daily basis.
I then eat breakfast with the Sisters, go back to my residence and at about 8:45 AM walk over to the St. Joseph Care Center where I celebrate another Mass each day at 9:30 AM. I go over early in order to pray the rosary with the residents and others at 9:05 AM. After that Mass I take Communion with me and go around to visit patients. Some of the Catholics in the home are able to come to daily Mass but others I take communion to in their rooms I visit all the patients whether they are Catholic or not.
I am usually leaving the Care Center anytime from 10:45 to 11:15 AM. At 11:55 AM I pray day prayer with the Sisters and then eat lunch with them. My afternoons are for the most part rather free except for preparing a homily for the next day or doing computer work, preparing a talk for some group that has asked me to speak to them etc. I pray vespers on my own and get my own evening meal.
At night I read or watch the Kansas City Royals on T.V. Thank
God there is a Fox station that carries their games up here. Around 9:00 PM I go to bed.
I do get asked to do other things. This past week on Wednesday evening I took the Safe Environment training for the archdiocese of Omaha. They do not use the Virtus program but rather one that was developed by Boys Town I believe. It is much like Virtus but the Archbishop wants all the priests to go through this program. Then on Thursday evening I was asked to give the talk for the regular Norfolk Serra Club. Last night I helped the two diocesan priests who are stationed here: Father Dan Andrews and Fr. Greg Carl, hear confessions for a Quest retreat. About 90 freshmen and sophomores were either making or helping with the retreat.
We have had more rain up here than you have had and it has not been too hot -- that is, until the last few days when it has been way up in the 90's and very high humidity.
I live in a two bedroom house owned by the Sisters and located on the next street behind the monastery. The Nursing Home is just across the street from the monastery. I like the city of Norfolk. Just about the right size with a population of around 25,000. Has most things you need and yet it is not so large that I am forever getting lost. Everybody I meet is very friendly and I don't need to tell you the Sisters are very good to me.
Sister Kevin on the left and Sister Pia Portmann
on the right. Sister Pia is the prioress She is from
Switzerland originally
If you would like to see more photos go to my Smugmug Photo Site
and then look for the album called "Norfolk Nebraska photos."
My e-mail is still the same as when I was at Conception:
kenneth@conception.edu and my phone number here at Norfolk is 402-371-5657
My e-mail is still the same as when I was at Conception:
kenneth@conception.edu and my phone number here at Norfolk is 402-371-5657
I hope to write on this blog about once a week but check back now and then to see if I have anything new. God bless you all.
