Father VanderPutten has been assigned to Nigeria and has been waiting for his visa to come through since January. It has finally come through and he will be leaving us July 10th for at least 3 years!
We ask for prayers for him. We have heard of the unrest in Nigeria and it makes us nervous for him, though he isn’t phased by it.
This is a picture of Father with his youngest sister, Sister Marie Hosanna from the Dominican Order. It was taken a few years back.
This is my daughter Jeanette and Father VanderPutten, ready for Africa. The “holy men” in Africa grow full beards. π
A Prayer for Priests:
Keep them, I pray Thee dearest Lord.
Keep them, for they are Thine …
Thy priests whose lives burn out before
Thy consecrated shrine
Keep them, for they are in the world,
Though from the world apart.
When earthly pleasures tempt, allure,
Shelter them in Thy Heart.
In the hours of loneliness and pain,
When all their life of sacrifice
For souls seems but in vain.
Keep them and O remember, Lord
They have no one but Thee
Yet they have only human hearts,
With human frailty.
I pray Thee for thy faithful and fervent priest,
For the unfaithful and tepid priest,
For the young priest, the dying priest,
For the priests who gave me the sacraments
Keep them as spotless as the Host,
That daily they caress;
Deign dear Lord every thought,
Word and deed, to bless. Amen
I will keep Father VanderPutten in my prayers. There are so many valiant Priests and it is good and necessary to share with others, their beautiful stories of faithful service.
Thank you Lora! I know Father is grateful for your prayers!
Father VanderPutten will be in our prayers also! Let him know Becky and Katie Colf are in Cameroon, Africa now. They left the 1st and will be there a month. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to see them.. in Africa?! hint hint Father. God be with you!
I will let him know. He left early this morning and so I will email your message to him. God bless you!