continue at JSKenosha — Father Benjamin Reese stands at the altar and lifts the Eucharist with his outstretched arms, for the smattering of faithful in the pews. There is no sound, but the clanging of its gold-plated vessel.
Six women, on their knees, begin to pray. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee...
But Reese is silent.
His own prayers these days are internal.
Robbed of his voice by a degenerative — and ultimately fatal — disease, Reese continues to serve alongside Father Dwight Campbell at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Therese of Lisieux parishes in Kenosha.
After 23 years as a Catholic priest, nearly half his life, exposing the Eucharist for this ancient devotion is one of the few priestly duties he can still perform.
"It is frustrating now. But I attend Mass daily," Reese said in the robotic voice emanating from the iPad he now uses to communicate.
"I am still praying for a healing," he said. "If God could make a donkey speak, I think he could make me speak."
HT TB
1 comment:
He is a very fine priest who has been asked to carry a tremendous cross.
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