“Prodigal”

Definition: spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant!

I am in Augusta this weekend for the annual Diocesan Youth Conference (D.Y.C.) which will be held at St. Teresa Catholic Church in Grovetown.  This is an annual retreat of about 300 of our high school aged youth from parishes throughout the diocese.  There will be great Praise and Worship music, Eucharistic adoration, talks about Jesus and our Catholic Faith, confessions and outdoor games.  I attend in my position as vocation director, having information about priesthood and religious life on my display table, and being available to answer questions and to meet the young people.  The youth who attend are often some of the most engaged in their Faith, and many of them are already in our vocation office database.  I will also be hearing confessions, giving conferences and celebrating the closing mass.  

While I am in Augusta, I will also visit our retired priests and especially those who are in our assisted living homes.  This is another part of my job as Vicar for Priestly Life and Vocations.  (I will not visit with Fr. Jerry Ragan since he will be here covering at St. Michael’s! ) Finally, beginning on Sunday, I will be preaching a parish Lenten mission to the people of St. Teresa of Avila parish.   I will return to Tybee on Wednesday in time for the 6:00 evening mass.  

Considering today’s Gospel, you may be thinking that your pastor is a prodigal priest!   I do not think that I am spending money freely or recklessly, but I am away from home quite a lot.  I do thank you for your kindness and patience with me, as my diocesan duties do take me away from St. Michael’s more often than I would like.  

Please join me in saying a prayer for these 300 young Catholics at the D.Y.C.; that their Faith will grow, that they will truly fall in love with Jesus, and follow Him all the way to Heaven!

Fr. Brett Brannen

Pastor