Preparing to celebrate

Fr. Joseph gave me this memento of his ordination to the priesthood when I met him at my Vancouver, Washington parish in 2001, when he spent the summer with us. We have been writing to each other, me from the Pacific Northwest, he from Uganda (East Africa) ever since. Now he is preparing to celebrate his silver jubilee — twenty-five years as a priest.

Today I sent him this card along with a contribution to the souvenir magazine he is preparing to accompany the celebration. Snail mail takes forever to arrive, and checks take forever to clear. I hope my gift arrives in good time.

When I grumble about the failings of computer technology and the Internet, I need to remember that they have made this wonderful friendship possible.