Births and Birthdays!

It's great to be back home and to visit with family and to assist in my home parish. John 6 is one of my favorite Gospel passages and was a joy to preach on. On Saturday night Howard and Jody Thielemier hosted a reunion for descendants of Ben and Katie Thielemier - my great -grandparents from whom my middle name, Benjamin, is derived. The potluck offerings made for a feast and it was good to visit with family not often seen.

After Sunday morning Masses we had lunch at my grandfather's house and a good meal was topped off with not one but two dessert offerings - Key lime pie and a chocolate birthday cake for my niece who turns 7 this week. I pitched-in to help buy Hannah Montana the Movie as a birthday gift. My niece was thrilled but I fear I have contributed directly to the Montana Empire!

Congratulations to my cousin Craig and his wife April who gave birth last Monday to their first child, Paul Christopher Wurtz. I look forward to the upcoming baptism, which I am promised will not interfere with the 3:30 p.m. (ET) kickoff between Notre Dame and Michigan. ;-)