Thanks to Fr. Justin and Fr. John

Our province thanks Father Justin and Father John for their faithful service to the people of Tucson in Santa Cruz Parish they will be greatly missed. Fr. Justin Vakko and Fr. John Williamson served at Santa Cruz Parish for over five years. They generously gave to the ministry building relationships and sharing their Carmelite charism in Tucson. Fr. Justin, beside acting as parroquial vicar, was a Spiritual Assiant for the Lay Carmelites (OCDS) in Phoenix. Active in the our youth group, he was coach for the Santat Cruz Parish School volleyball team, which he lead to the regional finals. Fr. John became a household name throughtout the town. His love for the people was immense. He was seen visiting the sick at hospitals, the imprisoned, making daily home visits, helping persons with food and clothing, even going to Nogales, Mexico, just south of Tucson, to bring clothing for an orphanage there. These two great men will be greatly missed by us and we wish them well on their next assigment, Fr. Justin who is now Parrochial Vicar in a Church in Winter Haven, FL and Fr. John assigned at the Carmelite Monastery in Kensigton, in London.

Above: Fr. Paul being welcomed by Fr. Godfrey (postulant) at Entebbe Airport

Fr. Paul Joins Uganda Mission Community On Sunday, February 18, St. Therese Church in Alhambra hosted a rousing reception in the Parish Hall—a combination farewell to Fr. Paul Koenig and welcome to Bro. Laurence Poncini. It was splendid. Leading up to the celebration, Fr. Jan Lundberg (who, incidentally, had entered the Order with Fr. Paul back in 1986) made the comment: “Fr. Paul is the perfect person to go to the mission—he never gets sick, and he’ll eat anything!” (What better qualifications for a missionary, eh?)

Well, three weeks later, on the eve of his scheduled departure from Rome to Uganda, Fr. Paul did get sick. The brethren took him to a local hospital where he was admitted and spent the next three nights—including his birthday! As they might have said in the Old West: “He was purty near worn to a dog-eared frazzle.” Needless to say, his travel plans were scuttled. Two weeks later, “tanned, rested and ready” (as former President Richard M. Nixon once described himself), Fr. Paul arrived at Da Vinci Airport for his flight to Entebbe, only to find another surprise. In the U.S., airlines operate under a “piece concept,” i.e., you may check two pieces of luggage. This airline from Rome to Africa utilizes a “weight concept,” i.e., the total weight of your checked luggage may not exceed 20 kilos (weight limit for one only carry-on piece is 5 kilos). In other words, my luggage was overweight. Fr. Gerald Werner pointed out that the Latin word for luggage is “impedimenta”—so true! “So what can I do?” says I. - - - - - “You may pay an extra fee,” they say. “How much would that be?” asks I. - - - - - “One thousand nine hundred euros,” they reply. Well, between you and me and the lamp post, that sounds a little bit high to me. Picking myself up off the terminal floor, I headed back to the Teresianum, regrouped, repacked, and flew out on the next feasible flight, one week later. Third time’s the charm! Fr. Charles Serrao (rector of the International College, where I stayed), Fr. Reginald Foster (the premier Latinist in the whole doggone Church, i.e., world, is one of our own—from Wisconsin, no less—whodah thunk it?!), Bro. Ramiro Casale (my trusty guide and translator), and the Pope (needs no introduction) all send their warmest regards. All were so hospitable. I am sure Fr. Stephen Watson would have wanted to greet y’all as well, but he was not in Rome at the time. He had left me an envelope, however. When I opened it, I just about fell over. There inside were three crisp new 10,000-shilling bills. Turns out, that equates to about three $5 bills in Uganda legal tender! Turns out, the contents of that envelope just about equaled the value of the entire collection at each of our three packed, standing-room-only Masses on Easter Sunday here at St. Kizito Parish in Kyengeza! So the gift from Fr. Steve went from looking like a lot, to a little, to a lot! It has been said that the people of Uganda are known for two things especially: their friendliness and their music. Both have been very much in evidence since my arrival. When I would meet people, invariably would come the greeting, “You are most welcome here, Fathah.” The harmonies and rhythms at the Easter Masses were absolutely beautiful. The children are remarkable—their joy and enthusiasm are contagious. Anybody who has spent a summer in California or Arizona has experienced higher temperatures than I have felt here in Uganda. Even though the equator runs near here, our high plateau’s elevation takes the “torrid” out of “torrid zone.” The terrain is rolling hills, stretching as far as the eye can see. Everything is green—lush vegetation abounds everywhere. Right on our property, you can take out a machete and chop down ripe bananas, mangoes, pineapples, passion fruit, jackfruit, avocados—and then there’s the garden! Next time you’re in Africa, stop by and say hello. Thank y’all for your ongoing support. Let’s remember to pray for one another—God bless us all! Fr. Paul Koenig, OCD