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Longtime University of Notre Dame philosophy professor and popular novelist (Father Dowling mysteries, among others), Ralph McInerny, is suffering from cancer. Please place him in your prayers. He was scheduled to speak at the commencement ceremonies for Providence Academy in Plymouth and had to cancel.
Professor McInerny was born in Minnesota and received his Bachelor's degree from the St. Paul Seminary
He was replaced at the commencement by the shy and retiring Father Bill Baer, rector of the St. John Vianney college seminary at the University of St. Thomas.
3 comments:
Baer's address to the graduates of PA was really great. Knowing he was speaking to a class with some State-winning track athletes in relays, he had 4 of our relay girls come up and help him out. He handed a copy of McInerny's speech to the first girl, saying it represented the Deposit of Faith handed on to us from Christ through his Church. She handed it on to the 2nd girl, who represented the parents, who handed it on to the students (3rd girl) who are to hand it on to others (4th girl). He hit exactly the right notes to convince his audience of the wisdom of passing on the Faith whole and entire with nothing left out. Brilliant!
Great addition, Geometricus!
Almost none of us can remember who spoke at our graduation ceremonies, let alone what they said. I'd bet the Providence grads will remember that presentation by Father Baer for the rest of their lives.
I can't remember anything about what the speaker at my college graduation said. I do know his title, but not his name (President of the State U of NY at Stonybrook).
But the next day, going to Mass with my parents at St. Olaf's, there was a visiting priest. The irascible and well-loved Fr. Frank Fleming took a day off for some reason.
The visiting pastor, whose name or job I can't remember gave a sermon (that's what we called them in those days) whose theme was "You don't always get your first choice in life."
To illustrate his point, he asked the full congregation, "Tell me you husbands and wives out there, did you marry your first love?"
There was a deathly silence for a few seconds and then the packed church broke out into uproarious laughter. But I noticed that none of the married couples seemed to be looking at their spouses as they laughed.
But I've always thought that that was a good theme for a commencement address, even though it was a sermon.
Great addition, Geometricus!
Almost none of us can remember who spoke at our graduation ceremonies, let alone what they said. I'd bet the Providence grads will remember that presentation by Father Baer for the rest of their lives.
I can't remember anything about what the speaker at my college graduation said. I do know his title, but not his name (President of the State U of NY at Stonybrook).
But the next day, going to Mass with my parents at St. Olaf's, there was a visiting priest. The irascible and well-loved Fr. Frank Fleming took a day off for some reason.
The visiting pastor, whose name or job I can't remember gave a sermon (that's what we called them in those days) whose theme was "You don't always get your first choice in life."
To illustrate his point, he asked the full congregation, "Tell me you husbands and wives out there, did you marry your first love?"
There was a deathly silence for a few seconds and then the packed church broke out into uproarious laughter. But I noticed that none of the married couples seemed to be looking at their spouses as they laughed.
But I've always thought that that was a good theme for a commencement address, even though it was a sermon.
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