People had been waiting for some time at St. Barnabas Lay education center. We have seen this building on the cover of Church Life. Bp Burt helped consecrate it in 1974 after OH raised 32,000 of its 50,000 cost. Then it poured rain and the consecraters tracked the red mud onto the newly consecrated floor. No rain this time, but a warm welcome and how surreal to be in a place I had seen in pictures and heard about for four years seven time zones away from OH. We had a great meal and conversations with hospital, parish and priest groupings. Brendan said later, that was one of his finest moments to see those conversations finally happening after two years of his work.

After dinner we walked down the hill slightly to St. Michael’s and All Angels where we found the choir practicing. Joe Bridges, fortunately for you, recorded them singing and dancing. To see a three year old boy in front with two other girls, yet beautifully in step, not with the girls he could see but with three teen boys two rows behind him brought tears to my eyes. I was awed. (He did turn his head occasionally to see them.)