Ohio Dominican Appalachia Spring Mission Trip

Bro. Mickey O'Neill Mcgrath, OSFS Bro. Mickey McGrath is an Oblate of St. Francis De Sales, an artist, author, and speaker. Please visit www.bromickeymcgrath.com and www.embracedbygod.org

Today we celebrate St.Monica, the lovingly persistent mother of St. Augustine. Since they are northern African saints, I was delighted when our Bishop in the Diocese of Camden commissioned this painting for a newly created- and culturally diverse- Parish named for her in Atlantic City- thus the boardwalk!

Last night John, from St. Xavier in Chicago, designed and coordinated the creation of our plaque of service. What a great job! Today the students from St. Xavier University in Chicago and Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, bid Joppa Mountain (Toppa Joppa), outside of Rutledge, TN, and the Glenmary Mission housed there, “Good-bye.” We made our trips home. ODU arrived home at 4:00 pm. Now to the realities that are ours because of the Coronavirus: 2 more days of Spring Break and then classes on line with students sent home, unless they need to stay on campus for some reason. Staff will be here, so Ohio Dominican is not closed but it is a very different reality. Let’s pray for all touched by this virus, which includes all of us in some way. ❤️🙏🏻😇

Today we said Good-bye to our Notre Dame comes anions. They had to go home a day early to prepare to leave campus for three weeks. St. Xavier and Ohio Dominican cleaned, barbecued, relaxed, refreshed, reflected, and then shared in repast at a local restaurant with live music. Our last act is to prepare our wall hanging to commemorate this week before returning home on Saturday. Meister Eckhart, OP, said: “If all you pray is Thank you, it would be enough. Thank You ND, St X, ODU, Glenmary, and the Appalachian people.❤️🙏😀

Today was Build A Shed and Joppa Pottery, with McDonald and Ann day; followed by Prayer at Washburn Missionary Baptist; Final Reflections; and Multiple Card Games, including a Euchre Tournament (Ryan and I lost). Notre Dame leaves on Friday 😥 and St Xavier and Ohio Dominican leave on Saturday. What a blessed week.❤️

Wednesday is for Norma’s, building a deck; and visiting St. Theresa of Kalkotta Parish, where I presided and preached (thank you Fr. Neil and Deacon Larry; and then reflecting, Star-gazing, and relaxing. God is good! All the time!!❤️🙏😇

We had quite a good day at Kingswood Home for children in foster care. We moved materials, blew leaves off of roofs, joked with and were guided by Ernie, played together and shared life. I was with Group B: Kadijah, Melanie, and Ryan, and we were blessed.

Jennifer, Kadijah and I left Ohio Dominican this morning and arrived safely on Toppa Joppa Mountain in Rutledge, TN for our week of ministry with Glenmary Home Missioners and students from Notre Dame in South Bend, IN and Xavier University in Chicago, IL. Pray for and with us this week, for the people we’ll meet, and we promise to pray for you.

We are going back to Toppa Joppa, outside of Rutledge, TN, March 8-14, 2020. We’re at 3 going and I would love to have more as part of our 2020AppODU team. Please contact Fr. Paul, [email protected] to get the link to register. We want you...and you...and you...and, that means you, too!

We have wonderful students and faculty at ODU! Congratulations!🎉

I’m catching up for the last few days. We needed to leave early because I got sick. Still weak, but, hopefully, nothing too serious. Please pray. The pictures include ODU Students, their group, and my work group for the week. We were very blessed by our hosts: Joe, Bob, Maggie, and Maria, and by the students from St. Xavier in Chicago and Notre Dame in South Bend.

Day #2 my group worked at a residence for children, Kingswood. We dropped a floor. I handed off the pieces and vacuumed. We painted floorboards. There weren’t any ODU students in my group, but a group with three of our people will be forwarding pictures. In the evening we relaxed with cards and reflection. It was a blessed and tiring day.