Father, all the elements of nature obey your command.  Calm the storms and hurricanes that threaten us and turn our fear of your power into praise of your goodness.  Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen.

I am just south of Jacksonville, Florida at Marywood Retreat Center for the Annual Retreat for the Priests of the Diocese of Savannah.  I’ve never experienced the level of anxiety that I have in the last few days.  There have been times of peace but I am finding that my faith isn’t as strong as I’d hoped it might be.

Retreat is scheduled to end on Friday morning but Fr. John Lyons and I will head out after the late afternoon conference today (Wednesday) so that we can be at home to prepare.  Tomorrow morning I will offer a Mass at 8am.  Please join me if you can so that we can have a sense that no matter what comes our way, the Lord will stand with us.

We’ll follow the directions of the local emergency management folks as to whether or not we’ll be on the Island for the weekend Masses.  If anyone our Faith Community does not have a place to evacuate to, please let me know and I will see what I can arrange with my friends in Augusta. 

All will be well.  But let’s be smart and prepare as we wait for directions from our local authorities.  - Fr. Jerry