Monday, August 27, 2018
Dear Friends,
It has been so, so, SOOO long since I have written a blog letter. I cannot remember when, but I do know I was in Kenya when I last wrote. Now I am in Toledo, Ohio, in the USA. and settling in to my new house and working situation, that is, finishing a book for publication that I have almost finished the first draft of it. On June 29 I said "goodbye" to a beautiful place, a place and its people I had come to love and always will love. But it was clear I needed to move on. I was feeling a kind of mental burnout in the kind of work I was doing--listening closely to the souls of people day after day. I was with some 250 people over 5 years, seeing each of them 8 times over 8 days, 30-45 minutes each day. So that is at least 2000 hours of listening closely and then guiding these people on retreat. Some people I saw for 30 days, yes 30! I felt I needed to change the kind of work I was doing, so intense is its manner. I could not do this while staying in Kenya. Besides, I was having a lot of trouble with the way some of the foods were being cooked. So much fried food! I often got dysentary and frequently felt "off balance," weak. It seemed more and more that the good Lord was saying I needed to return to the USA. At the same time I never got malaria, and I was never robbed at gunpoint. All in all it was a very meaningful chapter in my life, a great gift to me from God. I am so very glad I said "yes" to His invitation to go with Him to East Africa and experience firsthand a young, vibrant church/nation. It certainly has sensitized me to certain things back here in the States.
..................................................................................................................Anyway, I want to say "hi" after a very long break from this blog and am hoping to get back soon to my book on how God draws us over our lifetime through desires that are increasingly more noble, more generous and trusting, more loving until there comes the day when our deepest desire is realized--wanting only God and with all we have and are, and then experiencing everything in creation being given back to us but this time we are free to relate to everything in complete spiritual freedom with no disordered self- centered love but are free like God to relate with no attachment but rather with profound selfless love. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
God bless for now!
Bernie Owens
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Wow! I just saw this. So glad you feel good about your African experience, and returning to the States. You are a treasure to all who have the blessing to know you in whatever capacity you choose or where you choose to live. May God always bless you and your every endeavor Dear Father Bernie. _/\_
ReplyDeleteCame across this by accident really, but had heard that you were back in the states. Was good to read your latest update. Hope Ohio is beginning to feel like home and that you are finding all you need there. Let us know when your book is published so we can check it out ��. My aunt - Dorothy Sullivan - lets me know when she's seen you and what your latest is. She really loves your masses, Bernie! Wishing you all the best, Bernie, and continuing to hold you in prayer. May our good and loving God soak you in the richest of graces!! Blessings, Amy Pearce
ReplyDeleteFeel inspired reading this. You were great inspiration to my spiritual life as a lay person of Sp.guide course in mwangaza. Can remember you advising as as lay people to share the experience and what was being imparted to us with our members of our scc. So,after completion of the course, when asked by my parish priest what next:my response was the same; I will start sharing the experiences and knowledge attained with my scc. Am grateful to the Lord for the wonderful works being done by laypeople in conjuction with our Priests in the parish. Kindly let us know when your new paperback will be out.
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I was so lucky to get an opportunity of receiving Spiritual help from you.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your love, support, and guidance. We were so blessed to have you in Kenya.
Your spiritual guidance, advice, support and classes have been inspirational over the past couple of years. I thank God for you and hope to continue sharing what you taught me with others.
Hi, Father Bernie,I think of you every so often, and this is one, and found your blog! I heard you are in Ohio, and I hope you are feeling at home now, We met on our wonderful trip to Guadalupe, and I wanted to tell you our pilgrimage, including your spiritual assistance, was one of the great blessings of my life. I was able to connect Cecelia Hijar with Michael Semaan of Prayer Pilgrimages, and the Hijars provided his group of 12 pilgrims, I think, with a wonderful tour. I think they went in 2014 or 2015. Since before and then, we had/have gone on several pilgrimages with Michael in the states and Canada, and to Fatima 2017, Lourdes and the saints of Paris for the Fatima 100th anniversary, and to Rome 2018-2019 with our St. Hugo's choir. Michael took us to the UP in October for a pilgrimage to Cross in the Woods, and trekking the footsteps of Fr. Marquette and Bishop Barraga. What wonderful men. I hope they are declared saints soon. Have a beautiful Christmas, May God bless you with his richest blessings, as He always has! Carol Cousineau
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