friar Rich, OFM Conv. I do not have a green thumb. At least, not yet. I’ve almost killed my aloe plant, which I’m told should be one of the easiest plants to cultivate. Fortunately, one of the friars here is an outstanding gardener and has prescribed a course of treatment to save it. We have several gardening spots either at the friary or the parish where we’ve been working as the good weather permits: transplanting some plants, removing others, getting the vegetables into the ground, and the perpetual chore of weeding. In between his gardening guidance, he often repeats the same phrase: “It’s all about planting seeds.” But even outside the garden, the phrase finds use. Several times, as we’ve been running errands, we’ve had an unexpected encounter or event call our attention. What first seems like a chance happening quickly turns into something else as the increasing number of coincidences compound into something beyond mere chance - a moment of grace. Then, when i
friar Rich, OFM Conv. It's hard to believe that a year has already passed since the Franciscan Center in Shamokin/Coal Township was blessed. We could not have asked for better weather, a better turnout, or better anything! Four other student friars and myself had just arrived from a weeklong retreat in New Mexico, and that was the first stop on a summer long experience reflecting on our minoritas as friars and the preferential option for the poor. It would wind up being an incredible experience. During the dedication, Bishop Gainer used a phrase that really stood out to me (I wrote a blog post about it): "A rising tide lifts all the boats". Throughout the rest of my stay in Shamokin, in all the different people I spoke with, I saw how the Holy Spirit was moving in little ways to start to make a difference. But that movement was not confined to Shamokin, but throughout the rest of the places we visited in Appalachia and Latin America. As part o