We like our visiting priests.

 There are two who are most frequently with us on Sunday morning.

They lead us in prayer so well and they preach so well.

We are so grateful.  We are so blessed.

for three years.  Father Ken is certainly considered a “good debt”. We are in no hurry

to pay back this loan.  Our seminary and our parish hope that his bishop will forget

where he is.  He is a priest for thirty-three years, is trained in Scripture with a graduate

degree, including studies in Jerusalem.  He has been a campus minister and a parish

priest for the families and students at Bowling Green University.  Since his Toledo diocese

inaugurated its online adult education series, Father Ken has taught some of the cyber-

courses, including “Have I Ever Got News for You: An Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels.” 

His homilies are well-crafted, moving and insightful.  He is wise and gentle, has a love of

scripture and a kindness toward people.  He is a well-respected and much-appreciated

teacher and mentor.  He is a seasoned and patient pastor.

 Father Jim Bok is a Franciscan priest. Yes, he’s the one who tells the jokes. Father

Jim and our pastor were “kids” together, ordained about the same time and serving

in the same parish in their younger years. Having been a high school teacher and

principal, he is now the development director and a member of the leadership team

of the local Franciscans. Father Jim makes us laugh and sometimes groan, helping us

o have a sense of humor about life itself and to believe in a God who has a sense of

humor about our antics and stumbles in life. His preaching is practical and peppered

with stories. He fosters devotion to St. Anthony as a helper in finding what is lost, and

gathers help for the poor in Anthony’s name: St. Anthony’s Bread. He jokes that, as

you pray to find things, he prays that you will lose things – and be moved to invoke

the assistance of St. Anthony and afterwards to offer gifts in thanksgiving to Anthony’s

poor.