Spiritual Reflection

Today is the feast day of St. John of Capistrano.  There is a mission in California named after him and that is San Juan Capistrano by St. Junipero Serra.  The history of this great mission is that every year on the feast of St. Joseph, swallows from Argentina fly here.  Tourists from all over come to witness this phenomenon.  They fly here because many, many years ago, Fr. Sullivan from the mission was in town and a shopkeeper was chasing these swallows with a broomstick.  He destroyed their nests and claimed these birds were a nuisance.  Fr. Sullivan told the birds to follow him, and they could have a home at the mission and they have been coming back every year.

Tomorrow some special people are coming to join others who have made mission cruises with Fr. Bob and me.  We will be visiting the national shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville.  We also tour the Association of the Medal and conclude with the tour of the Vincentian retirement center.  The next day we will visit the two cathedrals and the Arch in St. Louis.  On Saturday we will have our closing mission mass and dinner.  Would appreciate your prayers for a successful mission.