Good Bye

Just tears, no words

That's my man!

So, just have to say that Scott did a great job with his interview at the airport yesterday.
What do you think?

http://www.wate.com/story/21360537/knoxvilles-cardinal-rigali-heads-to-rome-to-select-next-pope#.US1IU09f8Dk.email?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8499855

Sorry I can't put the video in the post. I don't know how to do that yet. (I'm open to tutoring)
I think it might add to the anticipation though.

"Live" blogging the Cardinal's send-off

11:05 We are leaving home headed for the airport. All of us are excited.

11:20 Arrive and park. You just can't believe how awesomely small this airport is.

11:25 Arrive in terminal, meet up with Jeff,  and unroll our poster. A very nice gentleman gives us the rundown on what will be happening and directs us over near the ticket counter.

11:27 Realize that I left the memory card for the camera in the computer at home because I just HAD to put previous picture up before we left. Frowny-face.

11:30 Get ourselves in a prime spot to cheer and wave. Excitement builds as more people are arriving and more news crews and reporters (!).

11:35 Beth and kids arrive to join the celebration. Waiting and watching continues.

11:45 Cardinal Rigali's car pulls in front of the terminal. Lots of excitement and cheering.
He enters the building and greets the crowd warmly. Stops to talk with Knox Catholic HS students.
Greets others, then comes to talk to us. He was sure to talk with and bless each one of the children. So wonderful!

11:50 While the Cardinal is checking in at the ticket counter, we move down the terminal to join the others already lining the walkway.

12:00 Here he comes. Everyone is clapping. He greets, speaks with, shakes hands with those who have come to send him off and comments on how great it is to have all these prayers going with him.
He stops to talk to the kids again.

12:15 Cardinal gets to the security line and gives a farewell wave. Crowd cheers and claps again.
The news crews are busy filming, interviewing, taking pictures. Scott gets pulled aside by Channel 6 news and interviewed. He rocked it. (Plus he looked great:) We will have to wait and see what they put on the news.

12:25 Mom calls Dad. He tells her he saw us on the noon news.

1:15 It's over. I can't believe it. He is on his way and we feel like we are part of it all! We just got home and I am still shaking with excitement.

I guess I'll have to post pictures later. I am hoping that I can get some emailed to me.

In the meantime see if you  recognize any of these people:)  (click on blue words)

UPDATE: pictures coming in, but this is from the news...check out pictures in article...

Great Joy!

We are having an exciting time here as Catholics in East Tennessee.

Our diocese is home to Cardinal Justin Rigali, the retired Archbishop of Philadelphia.
We were so excited to be able to go to Mass on Sunday, where he was celebrating, as a kind of send-off as he is leaving for THE CONCLAVE TODAY!!!

We will be joining Catholics from all over the diocese at the airport today to show our support and send him off with our prayers to Vatican City to elect our new Holy Father. (Can you say once in a lifetime opportunity?) We are getting ready to leave so I'll update later...

Have a cow, man!

Another advantage of living in the south is being able to frequent the fantastic dining establishment, Chick-fil-A. To the untrained eye, it might seem as if I was getting fresh with the Chick-Fil-A cow, but I know something you don't know. The part of the Chick-fil-A cow is currently being played by my darling nephew. I probably shouldn't publish which one (but his name rhymes with Hogan). Our lunch was most probably prepared by my charming godson, who is a Chick-fil-A veteran, also on duty this afternoon.

 

Thanks for a wonderful dining experience gentlemen!

From our home to yours

 

Happy St. Valentine's Day

If I were to meet Pope Benedict XVI

If I had the chance to meet our Holy Father, I have a few things I would like to say.

Like:
Your Holiness (can I call him that?),

 I'm sorry I didn't cry tears of joy when I heard your name announced as JPII's successor. I wish I had. I didn't know you then. (I cried tears of sadness on Monday morning, after hearing the news of your abdication)
 I did however rings bells when your plane touched down on your visit to the US. I still carry it in my jacket pocket. It will probably always stay there.

Thank you for your spiritual direction, your example, your gentle suggestions, your wisdom. I will forever carry your words in my heart.

May God reward you for your humility and courage. I can only imagine that this has been a difficult time for you. I pray you get some much needed rest, but please let us know how you are doing. We would love to hear from you, and will be waiting to hear from you.

I love you.


There are several prayers circulating for the Holy Father, his successor, the church.
These are some I have seen:

Prayers for Benedict XVI
Pro Pontifice

V. Let us pray for our Sovereign Pontiff, Benedict XVI.
R. The Lord preserve him and give him life, and make
him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will
of his enemies.

Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy upon thy servant Benedict XVI,
our Supreme Pontiff, and direct him, according to thy loving-kindness, in
the way of eternal salvation; that, of thy gift, he may ever desire that
which is pleasing unto thee and may accomplish it with all his might. Through
Christ our Lord. Amen. (Collection of Indulgences)
  ­­­­­­­­­­­­­

In Thanksgiving
O God, who in your wondrous providence chose your servant Pope Benedict XVI
to preside over your Church, we give you most hearty thanks for the years
of his faithful service, praying that, after having served as the Vicar of your
Son on earth, he may enjoy your abundant blessing in this life and, at life’s end, be received
by your Son into eternal glory. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.


For the Election of a Pope
 O God, eternal Shepherd, who govern your flock with unfailing care,
grant in your boundless fatherly love a pastor for your Church
who will please you by his holiness and to us show watchful care.
 Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,  who lives and reigns
with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.


For the Newly Elected Pope
O God, who in your providential design
willed that your Church be built
upon blessed Peter, whom you set over the other apostles,
look with favor, we pray, on N. our Pope,
and grant that he, whom you have made Peter’s successor,
may be for your people a visible source and foundation
of unity in faith and of communion.
 Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.


O God, Shepherd and ruler of all the faithful,
Look favorably on your servant N,
whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd;
 grant, we pray, that, by word and example,
he may be of service to those over whom he presides
so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care,
he may come to everlasting life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.
                                      
--From new Roman Missal


I have also seen a novena for Pope Benedict and the Papacy

Will you join me in praying for our beloved Holy Father and his successor?