Poor Clare

 The road to happiness is poverty, poverty of spirit.

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The Blood of Martyrs is the Seed of the Church

 The world needs more Christian martyrs. St. Lawrence pray for us!

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Think from the Heart

 Praying is to the soul what sleep is to the body.

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Own it Kurt

Cowboys come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Here's my ole buddy Kurt Mentele. He rides the steel horses. There's just something freeing about having two wheels underneath you. Keeps you childlike I think. Kurt does an awesome job of wearing his hat. He keeps his heart light, always puts God first, and most of all, keeps cool.

Kurt in his bike shop off of Black Tooth Ave. Dirt or street, he can fix it. Sit tall in the saddle partner. 

Surf Wyoming

Thursday ran me up north to hang out with some friends of mine, Jason and Cheri Irvin, buried way north of Recluse WY.  Beautiful ride and fun time with good cowboy folks. After I crashed with them, I made my over to the Big Horns to hang for the day.

Jason and his pup lead the way of a steep ole pasture looking for wayward bulls. No success, but fun time

Look close and you will see just a few monster bucks in this area

 

Chief and I along the Powder River after leaving the Irvin's Friday morning

Headed for the Big Horns

It was a good trail, but longer and rockier than I had anticipated

There she be, Lake Angeline

Thanks partner for the lift up. Now it's time to surf

Elizabeth, Dad, Kendrick, and Carter getting ready to surf Meadowlark Lake Saturday morning 

 Kendrick cutting his teeth with the live load

Fun couple of days. The pastoral visit up north was great. Riding into and surfing Lake Angeline was challenging but worth it. Hanging with family is priceless. Now it's Sunday. A time for rest...

Man, That'd be Nice to be on Mount Tabor With the Boys...

You have!

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Riding Herd

On the first three Wednesdays of the month I make a run out to the missions to check on the flock. While I was at it I checked on the herd as well. This week was Hulett. 

If you travel to the Black Hills in August you got to take the steel horse

The cows are sure taking to their new pasture. Fat and sassy 

These ole girls look like 4H steers. I think 24 will be the first to go

This is my boy Joe, he's lovin life in Wyoming.

You ain't no cowboy unless you walk around with a piece of Timothy in your mouth!

After Mass on the feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major: Joe, Terry, Fr. Super Puncher, Tom, Chrystal, & Linda

Inspired words

Hugh Cook and I grabbed a burger at the Tower on our way home. Not a bad view as we enjoyed our Wyoming beef and cold Coors Light. Life as a missionary priest in God's country is pretty tough duty. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Grace and Coors Light

Yesterday I was privileged to celebrate a Catholic grand slam: Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, and Eucharist. 

Don't Take the Bait Kelly

The most common lure that the devil uses to get us off our game is What if?

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Life is a Rodeo

Life is a rodeo. You get bucked off, you get back on again.

Thanks Missy for your video

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Well Done Good and Faithful Servant

On Thursday, July 23, a shock went out across the Diocese, Fr. Carl Beavers had suddenly died. That was a gut blow. Turns out he was out irrigating his pasture and had a heart attack. Not a bad way to go. Cowboys like that I don't think really die, they just leave us. They're kind of like Elijah in the Old Testament who was carried away by a fiery chariot. Would that I could receive a double portion of his spirit. You can go two ways on losses like this: be super sad that he's not with us anymore, or thank God for the gift that he was while we had him. I choose the latter. I was also blessed to be asked to lay Fr. Carl to rest. The only stipulation I had was that he deserved a Wyoming Catholic Cowboy burial. Here's to you Father. I still want to be like you when I grow up.

Fr. Carl liked old Chevy's so Dad brought up our 48' to carry him to his resting place

Fr. Carl's old buddy Zeke Zebroski brought in his horses to lead the procession with a riderless horse, his old hat, and boots put in backwards as a cowboy's sign of farewell to his family and friends 

Cowboy ride...

Thanks James for the picture

The Knights of Columbus gave him a proper Honor Guard tribute

We pray for you Fr. Carl. Please pray for us!

Well done good and faithful servant. Rest in peace Fr. Carl

Until we meet again... this Bud's for you. 

What a beautiful tribute to a man who touched a lot of lives.  Special thanks to Dad for the truck, Mom for the picture taking, Paul Casey for his play list, Zeke Zebroski for his horses, The Knights of Columbus #3477 for everything, John Chick and Denise Lubken for the vocals and guitar, and all of Fr. Carl's family and friends who joined us to send him home. You'll be missed brother, but your memory will ever be in our hearts.

Lovin the Liturgy

The Liturgy is drinking in the grace of God

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