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.

Fr. Vdp, Sr. Marie hosanna 001This is my daughter Jeanette and Father VanderPutten, ready for Africa. The “holy men” in Africa grow full beards. 🙂

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAA 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

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