Wyoming Catholic Cowboys

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Faith and Reason

Grace perfects our reason

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Tuesday, July 14, 2020

St. Kateri Tekakwitha pray for us!

Inculturation vs. Syncretism

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Monday, July 13, 2020

Just Ranchin

I think if young men really knew how fun the priesthood could be they'd flock to it. Here's my Monday

Every cowboy needs a couple cowgirls around him. Here is my Grandma Ruth and Aunt Vic. They were passing through so they stopped to buy me lunch. I love them

Here's what I'm really excited for. This is my old buddy Dave Craig's horse Boone. It's so great his name is Boone, just like DB's horse. Dave died in the saddle two months ago. It's an honor to get his horse back up and running.

King St. Henry and the Kingdom of God

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you!

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Sunday, July 12, 2020

The Truth Will Set You Free

Be not afraid to speak the truth in love

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Friday, July 10, 2020

A Typical Wyoming Catholic Cowboy Priest's Vacation

Some people wonder what priests do on their days off. I figure my vaca's are pretty typical for priests, at least for Wyoming Catholic Cowboy priests. Here's what my past five days back home in the Big Horn Basin looked like.

The week started out with a hotshot trip to Pinedale WY with Fr. Carl Beavers and Dad to pick up a tractor from Fr. Carl's buddy Joe. We arrived back in Worland Monday at midnight with the only casualty being an antelope on the Red Desert.

The next morning we were up with the sun to celebrate Mass with some family, Uncle Phil, Aunt Rhonda, Mom and the Beavs. Fr. Carl is a Wyoming Catholic priest. There's nothing he doesn't know, or at least has an opinion on, and his stalwartlyness is not only admirable, but also inspirational. I hope I can be like Fr. Carl Beavers when I grow up.

As we hauled his tractor to Dayton and picked up his car in Buffalo, we discovered he had lost his alternator belt. These two shade tree mechanics had her up and running in no time.

Since we were in the mood for mechanics, Dad and I tackled putting a new head gasket on our little JD-450 dozer. Dad, I, and dozers go way back.

This is not a pose. I did get my hands dirty. But I think I'll stick with my cowboy hat, even though this is a ba Black Tooth Saddle Bronc hat.

There she be, four cylinders of pure muscle. Fun little project.

So we had to take her up to the mountains and put her to the test dragging some dead trees out of the creek.

Dad's a better cat skinner than I

These stumps could have cost us our friendship. Instead they stand as a testament to the power of working together as father and son in cooperation with the grace of God.

I know that there's nothing Dad would rather do on his birthday than load fire wood

So we went paddle boarding instead

Not bad for a 69 year old Wyoming Catholic Cowboy

I should have started out on my knees too, that way I wouldn't have fallen in. But you always got to think of the cool factor.

I love life in Wyoming. Today is her birthday, 130 years old. I told my buddy one day that my dad and Wyoming share the same birthday, and he told me: "Your dad is Wyoming." I agree. Dad taught me everything I know about being a man. What a great grace to spend a few days with him and Mom and all those whom I love and have made me the man I am today. I got to get back to Gillette so I can get some rest. On to the next one...

Sunday, July 5, 2020

I'm Proud to be an American...

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What an awesome weekend. I'm so thankful to live in America. I'm so thankful to be Catholic. And I'm so thankful to be a Cowboy.

Special thanks to my buddy Twain Ayers. Providence brought us together. Not sure who helped who more, but I do know I'd still be staring at my saddle if it wouldn't have been for him. You have a gift for coaching rodeo, Twain. May God bless your journey. Thanks for being on mine.

Pregame

The Ride

A Real Ride

One to the next one.

Dad and I. You always got my back.

2020 is not a summer for wimps. It's a summer for Cowboys. We work hard, we play hard. These are my boys: Seth Hostetler, Lee Noel & Kurt Mentele. Wyoming Catholic Cowboys don't roll alone. We need each other to lean on. Thanks to all of you too. We did buck for America and we will continue to do so. Life is a rodeo, you get bucked off, you get back on again. In all seriousness, this'll probably be my last stab at saddle bronc. The only way to get better is to get on a lot more horses. That's probably more time and effort than I have to give. Check it off the bucket list I guess. But for now, we're on to the next one!