February 1999
Dear Friends and Benefactors,
This month Fr. Alessio,
who is resident at St. Joseph's Priory in Harare, is the first of our
priests in southern Africa to make use of the special study session at
the Society's seminary in Winona, Minnesota. He will have a week of studies
in the blissfully cold and freezing climate of the norther USA: The part
I will miss is the traditional ice hockey game at the end between?seminarians
and visiting priests. In sending Fr. Alessio over we are allowing him
the opportunity of visiting his home afterwards for 4 weeks at Paterson,
New Jersey. We expect Fr. Alessio to come back with copious notes to share
with us. In mentioning this we thank all the people who have contributed
to the Priests' Study Session fund. This is an ongoing fund which we will
continue to use for the very necessary reason of sending the priests overseas
to take part in the gatherings of their brother priests. Since most of
our funds have disappeared in this first trip we again appeal to all the
faithful for contributions to this fund. Perhaps some faithful from Durban
and Harare would like also to contribute for the sake of their priests.
On a sadder note I mention the loss of a very good friend of the Priory who passed away on the day after Christmas. Our accountant who often made himself available to cook meals when the Sisters were gone. In the few years we have known John Sandham had become an almost integral part of Priory life. May he rest in peace. I imagine it will be asking too much of God to find another accountant who can cook also.
May the good lord bless and keep you,
Fr. Gerspacher.
