We talk about this season of Lent being a time to slow down and be with the Lord. Yet as a priest, I find things pick up and are go go go. Yet in that go go go, I can see God moving in peoples lives.

This last week we had our parish mission. In the name of St Luke’s, I would like to thank Fr Tom Niehaus for leading our mission. I believe everyone who came to hear the conferences was deeply touched. I want to thank all of you that came to any part of the mission, it shows your great love for the Lord and your desire to grow closer to him. We all need to spend a little more time just sitting in the love of the Lord.

During Lent, I am helping out at MANY penance services (from St Luke’s to Deephaven). In these penance services I get to witness many people returning to the sacrament after a long time away. I always feel blessed that the Lord puts me in those positions of extending his grace. On March 4th, 11th, and 18th I am helping with an extended time of confessions at St Henry in Monticello. They are offering confessions from 1:00pm to 7:00pm on those Fridays. I will be helping from 1:00pm to 5:00pm, so I can get back for our Stations of the Cross. These are wonderful opportunities to return to the sacrament if it has been a long time. Often times when someone comes to me and it has been a long time, I will say “Welcome Home!! I’m glad your here.”

The other thing that Lent reminds me of is that we have a very limited time on this earth. I love the saying, “No one will get out of this world alive!” It is so true, yet we put this off again and again. I will do that tomorrow. This past Monday I went to the funeral of a brother priest. Not just any priest, he was my Pastor when I was growing up. Fr Keller retired in 1987, my parents kept in touch with him and I remember visiting him with my parents now and then. Two years ago I received a call that he was moving out of the house he was in and into a care center. The person that called told me, “Fr Keller would like to give you his books, vestments, and his altar.” I was floored with the generosity of this gift. As I met with his nieces and nephew Monday at the funeral, a few of them said, “He talked about you all the time.” Again, I was overcome by the care this priest had for me. I have his altar set up at the rectory, and many of his priestly items (old sick call kits, pyxes, and various other items) displayed on a shelf.

Fr Keller’s, as all priest who die, was fully vested for Mass as he lay in his casket. For he has gone to join the Lord at the Altar in Heaven. I already find myself asking Fr Keller to strengthen me in my priesthood, that I may make every day count.

Blessings on all of you as we walk this Lenten journey together.

Fr Backer