This week I did something I have never done before.  I went to New York City.  OK, technically I might not have been in the city.  I went to Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston.  I flew into JFK airport and to me that is “the city.”  People are always surprised when I tell them I have never been to New York City.  Most people I know who go there do so to see a ball game, a play, or a show.  None of that interests me.

So, what got me to go to the city?  A PCNY meeting – that’s Priests’ Council of New York.  A couple of weeks ago I wrote about being appointed to our diocesan priests’ council and subsequently being selected to be a representative from our diocese to PCNY.  Well, this was the first meeting for me.  We met from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and then at 3:30, the NYS Bishops joined us for a presentation on the new translations of the Mass parts and we ended with dinner.

Our meeting was a good sharing of practices in the eight dioceses of New York State.  This is not a decision making committee.  It exists to share ideas and different ways of serving in our ministry. 

You might want to ask if I did any touring in New York City.  The answer is no.  This trip happened on short notice and having never been there before I decided to just do business this trip.  However, PCNY meets four times a year so maybe on a future trip I will take some time to enjoy the sites.  I don’t take much vacation.  When I do take vacation time, I tend to spend the time at my dad’s catching up on yard work.  I love being outside in the beautiful outdoors that God has created for us.  That’s why when I go on retreat, I like to find a retreat in the middle of nowhere with trails to hike.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff