Thanks to Redeemer Pacific College

I had a great time up in Canada at the Redeemer Pacific Marian Conference. I got to go first, which meant that the jitters were gone lickety-split and I could enjoy the rest of the day without worrying about all the different ways I might screw up. In particular, I enjoyed the afternoon presentations by Msgr. Eduardo Chavez, who was the postulator for St. Juan Diego’s cause. That guy has forgotten more about the apparition of Guadalupe than I will ever know. He was a terrific speaker, despite his struggles with English, and I learn lots of new and interesting stuff (as that December 12 was in 1531, the solstice because the calendar has not yet been reformed, and that this mattered because of the symbolic significance of the day in Aztec culture). Also, the hostility between Church and secular power in Mexico goes way back. The more you look at the event, the more supernatural it looks.

I also had fun getting to chat with Bp. Ken Nowakowski, the bishop of the Ukrainian Rite Eparchy of New Westminster (doesn’t that sound *grand*?). He’s a great guy and we hit it off at dinner, spending the evening swapping stories. You know how it is when you meet a person with whom you just immediately make friends? It was like that. I was very grateful for the evening.

And, of course, I had a great time hanging out with Tom and Diane Hamel. Tom is the Prez at RPC and he and Diane are just terrific folks. I stayed at their house Friday night and then we all drove down to Seattle after dinner on Saturday. Tom, like me, is an inveterate punster. I’m pleased to be able to report that I named his last car (Vlad the Impala) as well as his newest acquisition (Gluteus Maxima). If you are looking for a terrific and affordable small Catholic school, consider Redeemer Pacific.